Birria’s El Padrino

I ordered a menudo honestly people this is the nastiest menudo I’ve ever had!!! 🤦‍♀️😣🤢 First of all the skin was still hard the chilli sauce they used was not good the flavor was gross 🤢 this was either too old and undercooked or it was undercooked and the flavor of the stew chillis used wore definitely not for menudo!! I would not recommend this place. Last but not least the supposedly warm tortillas wore hard and cold. Very disappointed… 🙅‍♀️

The Birria juice here is made most likely with the blood of Christ!!! (Consome) Not a joke but it’s better than holy water and the whole shebang. You can create a cult out of this birria. On my way to Mexico but this place feels like a portal to the Aztecs or some other weird place because the birria juice (consome) is off the charts. God bless Mexico 100% 🇲🇽

Best carne asada fries in oceanside/ vista. I moved here in april from Chula vista, after looking for a replacement for weeks and weeks and experiencing many really bad places... Ill never go back after trying these. Truly unbeatable.

The horchata is SO GOOD! We’ve been getting it every month. I love their agua de piña as well.

The GOAT! I came in on Taco Tuesday, asked about the barbacoa because sometimes it's not just beef, and confirmed you can pick either beef or goat! So I got a goat barbacoa quesotaco. And then I got a birria broth to dip it in... 🤤 (Their quesotacos have cheese melted into the inside of the two tortillas.) That's it. Only tried tacos. Carne asada is on point too and the carnitas is awesome. Their house habanero sauce overwhelmed me but tastes so good...

Every time I have come to this location, I’m nothing less than impressed. The Birria tacos are to die for, and most recently I tried the Birria ramen. ZERO COMPLAINTS!! The flavor, the portion size…everything is perfection. Keep up the fantastic work!!

Not the best pictures but pictures don’t do justice to how the burria tastes! The consame has Birria in it ❤️❤️ Birria tostadas! In Oceanside I don’t think the birria gets any better from a fast food restaurant. They should be by the beach and having higher prices because their food is home made and the cashier and the cool work really hard and she always is very polite! But I know she’s tired because she runs an entire really busy restaurant! I appreciate this restaurant so much for really putting effort into their food!

We always enjoy trying something new and found this little gem recently. The fish burrito is really good and tasty. (Gonna try the fish tacos today). The bean and cheese burritos are excellent. Also, try the mini queso tacos because they are tender, juicy and come with a juice / broth cup for dipping or you can pour it on your mini tacos. Over all, I give it a grade of Super-Yum. 😋

We had heard great things about thus taquería, so while we were in a lunch break for our soccer tournament, we rushed over to try it out. We were not disappointed! I ordered the quesabirria tacos and they were delicious! I wish I had enough room to have eaten more of them! The restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall, but it's clean and cute. The service we received was fast, respectful and kind. I'm so glad we got to try it out. When we are back in Oceanside again, we will definitely stop by!

I really hate leaving bad reviews, but when it matters, I have to speak up. This was my first time here, and I ordered the birria de res. What I received was nothing like the picture, the meat I got was shredded, while the photo clearly shows chunks. When I mentioned this, the staff insisted it was the same meat. Maybe technically it was, but it looked like something reheated multiple times until it fell apart. I told them I couldn't eat it because it wasn't what I ordered or expected. So I decided to switch and ordered the buche tacos with rice and beans. Unfortunately, that was even worse. The food was so salty it was completely inedible. As for the birria ramen? You're better off going home and making instant ramen yourself. Needless to say, I won't be coming back. Really disappointed.

I needed to get my taco fix, and this place did not disappoint! I got the quesabirria taco plate and washed it down with a pineapple agua fresca! Sooo good! Will definitely be back!

I loved the Quesabirria Tacos at Birrias El Padrino in Oceanside! It's one of my favorite foods because of the tenderness of the meat and all the flavor from the tacos and consomé. This one met my expectations! The only drawback of ordering them takeout is that the tortilla isn't as crispy.

This place is great if you want to get fresh & authentic Mexican food! I LOVE their quesabirria tacos and the chili relleno entree. The staffer that took our order was super kind and helpful. Benched seating is available, Mexican music playing and native artwork/images on the walls. It's a dine in or takeout kinda place. You simply order at the counter. Looked like they also have delivery options. Delicioso!!!

Best quesa birria tacos and all the menu 100% recommend great staff and service will not be disappointed !

They have declined in quality and today didn't deliver more than half the order. They wanted me to come to them for the missing orders. This defers the purpose of delivery. I will no longer order from this company. Once good, now bad.

Best Mexican food in north county. Birria is amazing and always taste the same, California burrito and soups are great as well!

The food was only ok. Burritos were huge, just didn't love the flavors. The salsas were yummy and were the only reason I was able to finish even half of my burrito.

Yumm! I don't think anyone can come close to them. These taste like authentic birria tacos, the ones I love from Mexico. I got the 3 quesabirria tacos with consome 10/10.

Little hole in the wall that has amazing birria. I had the mini quesatacos with a pineapple agua fresca and it was amazing - my husband was losing his mind. Highly recommend for the birria fix! Everyone was super friendly. Cant wait to come back and try their plates.

Omgahhhhh I finally tried their Birria Ramen I have a lil appetite and this is very nicely proportioned! They're not cheap on the meat at all! The broth es muy bueno! It's no where near being watered down! You could easily add some packaged ramen to this if you wanted more noodles. I've jus learned with adding extra noodles it always messes up the broth to noodle ratio. Guess you need to ask for both extra noodles and broth to make it technically taste the same. I usually like more noodles then meat but not with this! So good! Almost forgot to write this but sitting here eating it as left overs and it's still good if you don't mind leftovers. Plus obsessed with their hot sauce too! They have so many great things on their menu I have yet to try jus can't stop getting the quesabirrias lol. They also have specials on Friday and it's less expensive if you pay with cash. One of these days I'm going to go there for breakfast for sure. Mmmm now I want a quesabirria too they add so much cheese Highly recommend this place and of course it's going to be better if you dine in. I get mine to go and it's the best ramen and quesabirrias I've had. I really like their choice of noodles as well. There is also a spot next to them for great drinks, not alcoholic and ice cream! We love their Mangonada over there. Both great spots to get some eats.

Been looking for a place to have huevos a la mexicana. It's always been kind of a cozy staple for me, and definitely did a lot of Yelp searching to find good places to go. Some places don't even include tortillas with their huevos a la mexicana, which is why I chose this place. The place is clean, the cashier was very friendly (compared to some Mexican restaurants that treat you like you're unwelcome for not speaking Spanish), the 3 clearly house made salsas are fire, and I look forward to coming back for the birria. Definitely recommend.

Great Food, got the Carne Asada burrito, and Pollo asada Nachos. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. Service was very good as well.

Consistently good. I've had the burritos, tacos, and plates. They always hit the spot. Great portions for the price and always flavorful. I still need to try the menudo but I'm sure it's good too.

Top notch everything is fresh the meat is seasoned well and very tender. Great portions for the price your paying my favorite taco shop wish it was 24 hours

Definitely one of my favorite places for some good tacos in North County! Getting here is pretty easy and parking isn't so bad either. I've been here twice and seem to get parking in front of the place so easily. It's also never crowded here where most of the people seem to take food as take out instead of dining in but I've always eaten here since it's nice and fresh! There are plenty of seats as it's never full so you'll be able to find a seat easily. Some of the tables are not fully clean and some of the booths are pretty tight too but it's not so bad. I was surprised that this place has lengua so I always get lengua when I come here. But unfortunately they were out of the lengua do my next choice would be the birria, which they're known for. I should try out their other tacos as they all taste good and they got some really good special deals they have for each day or several days. I recommend this place whether you want to come here to dine in or take for takeout - this place knows how to make their tacos!

If birria is in the name--and it is--that's what I'm getting. You order seafood at a seafood restaurant, steak at a steakhouse, and so on. Don't yell at me if you order shrimp at a chicken sandwich restaurant and it sucks. The birria burrito seriously delivers. It's a giant beast absolutely stuffed with extremely tender birria and some chopped onions and cilantro. There is zero filler here. It's a very good burrito on its own but I highly recommend also getting some consomé. I would say that the burrito on its own could use a tad more flavor and that's where the consomé or salsa saves the day. (By the way, you have to purchase the consomé separately.) When I have a choice of tacos or burritos, I'm almost always on Team Burrito but the quesabirria taco here is fantastic. The gooey melted cheese really puts it over the top. The salsas in the salsa bar have good heat but nothing unbearable like some places. My food was ready five minutes after ordering. There is free parking in the lot. Birria fans, this is your happy place.

This place NEVER MISSES!! Birria is bomb, full of flavor, herbs & spices. The consome is not watery and sooo good. Been here so many times and i've tried something new every time, they have so much to chose from not just birria. The encremadas and enchorizadas are good. Chilaquiles are good. Asada is good. Can't beat their 3 mini quesabirria special either!

Food amazing, Service superb! We got the Birria Ramen, its a must have. But my all time favorites here are the QuesiBirria Tacos Combo and the Al pastor tacos.

OMG best birria I've ever had!! The consumé is delicious and the salsas, WHOA! If you like spice then you'll love them! My boyfriend who loves spice says he can't even mess with them, but I endure the pain. We have had other tacos, burritos, and ramen seriously everything has always been great! Good amount of food for the price and the flavor will have you coming back. Order ahead because this place gets packed during dinner time.

Had the chance to try this place a couple of times in the last two months, and have not been disappointed either time! Love the burritos and also the family platters are such a great meal for groups. The staff is very nice, and all of their sauces at the self-serve bar are super good - can't go wrong with any of them. Would definitely recommend checking this place out.

The place was absolutely amazing!! We got the 10 mini quesabirria's special. It was so flavorful that we didn't need any salsa and I'm a salsa freak! The consome was better than some I've had near TJ. It had so much flavor and was super meaty that I finished it as soup! Service was pretty fast and it's a clean sit down restaurant with seating inside and outside. The 1 star reviews must be a joke or from competition or scorned lovers haha

I had two quesabirrias and they were absolutely delicious! I loved the crispy fried tortillas and the juicy tender goat meat! The salsa bar is tasty too, with a variety of sauces with different degrees of spicy. I will come back here anytime that I'm in the mood for the best goat meat in North County!!!

Tucked away and worth the discovery. After perusing on Yelp we came across Birria's El Padrino and the first image that popped up was the QUESABIRRIA. Oh my goodness! That photo combined with the fantastic reviews sealed the deal. We ordered a number 1, 9, 18 and the kids mini tacos. Drinks are a la carte with plenty of options to choose from. The process is kept simple: head to the register to order while standing next to the menu, pick a table and collect your delicious food once ready. The woman at the register was nice and even went out of her way to say goodbye at we left. The tables and interior are clean and if you need the restroom, look for the keep on a stick near the napkin dispenser. We each enjoyed our entrees tremendously and highly recommend you make a visit.

To that girl that swapped my burrito on purpose and didn't think I'd come back for the correct one I hope u get fired. Every other women in this establishment has been more then kind. I don't know what I did to offend you but you suck at being a decent person and that's all you have to be working at the cash register. Don't worry I'm not coming back but June 1st 2025 right before closing you know who u are. Maybe yall are a family business but you're not good for their business. Honest review.

I love the food here. It's delicious and affordable. They are always so nice when I order and the food comes quickly. It's also a very relaxed place to eat so there no pressure to grab and go.

They give you a lot for food and it was all very yummy and balanced. LOOOOOVE the amount of cilantro they give you ! Meat was just a tad bit overdone for me but overall had great flavor.

I have been on the hunt for a good birria spot for what felt like forever--scrolling through reviews, asking friends, and trying a few places that just didn't hit the mark. Then I found Birria El Padrino, and wow, it was worth the search! Definitely comparable to the birria places in LA. The birria tacos were everything I'd been looking for--crispy on the outside, filled with tender, flavorful meat, and perfectly paired with their dipping. I also tried their birria quesadilla, and let me tell you, it was SOO good. The portions were generous, and everything was fresh and made with care.

Food is always spectacular!! I usually get a California burrito! Usually the service is pretty good, they usually remember me lol !!

We have been ordering through Grubhub and the food is amazing. I love the Chilaquiles and the salsas are flavorful. Not watered down at all.

Huge fan of the spot. I love coming here. I usually phone my order here, and by the time i arrive, its ready. My go to order is the trio fries. They're basically carne asada fries but with shrimp (sea) and pollo (air?), and carne asada (land). It gets pretty busy on friday and saturday nights with teenagers. They keep it clean too. its my go to mexican spot in oceanside.

Food is great but IMO never get it to go. Stay and eat there so you can enjoy it while it's hot , it hits different after you get it home and it warm. Love Birria taco so far.

Birria is to die for!!! so tasty!!! the salsas are spicy and very flavorful!! service is great too!! you crave Birria... this is the place to go!

This place is delicious. Staff is welcoming and friendly food was within a timely manner. Totally recommend this place.

Food was good, quesabirria tacos were stuffed full of meat and cheese!!! They do not skip out on the servings!!!! Customer service was great & food was cooked and out quickly. Definitely recommend and you can call in your order as well.

We had a delicious birria tostada that was loaded with lots of tender beef, cheese and onions. The dipping consume was very good and had chunks of beef in it. The carnitas Quesadilla was also very good, lots of meat and cheese. They fry their chips to order, so they come out hot and crisp. Red salsa is on the hot side, green is mild and I loved it. The counter staff was very friendly and helpful, food came out quickly. Small but comfortable dining area plus a few tables outside. I would definitely eat here again. But order less, food is big!

I finally found a decent place for Birria tacos thanks to Scott T. for the recommendation. This place serves you meaty and I mean MEATY, moist, delicious Birria tacos. We ordered two each of the quesabirria and Birria de Chivo tacos. We also ordered a medium consommé and a Mexican coke. There was so much meat, my wife could only eat one; so that meant more for me! There was a salsa bar that included spicy pickled onions. It looked like there were chopped habanero in it. It definitely gave it a kick. We tried each and all were very good. The orange/red salsa was the spiciest salsa of course. I had to take it easy because of my stomach and I have to golf Torrey Pines tomorrow. I don't want to have to chase the bathroom in the middle of a round if you know what I mean! If you want one of the best birria tacos around or just Birria, don't skip this place! It's truly legit and yes, they taste as good as it looks!

Love the fish tacos and Birria de res Torta!! The food and service is amazing. Order ahead sometimes the line is long but it moves fast

The food was delicious and worth the price! Huge portions and it was very filling. It was very clean and the man was kind enough to explain and was very respectful.

Good food at reasonable prices and quick service. Their team is very helpful and made great suggestions on things to try on the menu.

Pretty good birria tacos! We got regular birria tacos and queso birria tacos and the queso was definitely the best! It had a ton of flavor although it was pretty oily and heavy. They don't have water cups so we had to buy a bottle of water. We came on a Sunday afternoon and there was only one other person getting take out. Service was very fast and the person taking our order was friendly.

This place is legit! Really delicious! Not fancy... but I don't need fancy. Breakfast is yummy and a deal! Special M - Th. Salsa is on point as well. Highly recommended.

There are a lot of Mexican shops between me and Birria's El Padrono, but I pass the others to go here... The food is always great... And I don't know if the lady working the register owns or manages the place, but she is always so kind, helpful and professional... It is worth going out of your way to eat here. I always get the red hot sauce. It is delicious... One time they had a special extra spicy hot sauce that was great too... Try this place at least once

Love this local place! We came here twice in a week. Delicious birrias, shrimp burrito, homemade guacamole. Their Chile Colorado is hot as heck though so my husband will not be getting that again. I love the shrimp burrito- they make it not spicy. Yay!

Our first time as a family visiting this place to enjoy a nice place to eat. I can't remember but it was ok off a customer service and the food was hot but like good as any other places I've visited multiple times. Might be coming back though

I noticed that they serve Lingua when I went in and I tried to order a Lingua Torta but the cashier refused to accept the order because it wasn't on her menu. I did order a Lingua Burrito but it was not nearly as good as a Torta. I finally threw away the tortilla and ate the meat, again, not what would have been in a Torta. That's the first time I've ordered this dish at a Mexican restaurant which does have Lingua and doesn't offer it on a Torta, although it makes other Tortas, when the restaurant was not happy to accept the order and make what I wanted. This process is called "Accommodating a Customer", and you have to do it when you're a restaurant and it doesn't represent additional problems in the kitchen unless you want the customer to be dissatisfied. Also my lunch partner didn't think his beef tacos were up there with other TexMex restaurants.

The birria tacos were so so good!!!! My first time trying it! Definitely would come back to this!! And the menudo was off the hook. Piping hot and very much homemade. The flavor was so comforting. Best menudo I've had at a Mexican restaurant. They are extremely busy but food is made piping fresh!! They take credit cards and charge a fee if you charge less than $10.

Outstanding Mexican food with huge portions and reasonable prices. One of Oceanside's most precious hidden gems! El Padrino is a hole in the wall between KFC and Mission Seafood Market off of Mission Ave. Inside, this spacious restaurant has a massive menu of Mexican eats from burritos and tacos to mulitas, soups, and colossal quesadillas. Everything I've had here has been outstanding and is very affordable. The quesadillas are large pizza sized, so split these with at least two adults!