Casa Guadalajara

Casa Guadalajara – Old Town San Diego ⭐️ Ambiance: ★★★★★ Beautiful outdoor seating with vibrant umbrellas, colorful chairs, and a lovely central fountain. It’s a great spot to soak up the San Diego sunshine in a festive setting. ⭐️ Service: ★★★★★ Friendly and attentive service throughout our visit. Staff were prompt and helpful, which added to the overall experience. Alexandra was an incredibly friendly and attentive server. ⭐️ Food: ★★★★☆ Portions are generous and the pricing is fair. The refried beanswere the standout—. Shrimp fajitas were tasty and plentiful. However, the chips were a letdown. Burned taste and bland, even on the second try. The guacamole also missed the mark, tasting pre-made and lacking fresh flavor. ⭐️ Drinks: ★★☆☆☆ Tried the spicy cucumber margarita, but it was overly sweet and dominated by the mix. Not balanced or refreshing—unfortunately, a miss in the drink department.

I really enjoy this restaurant. It was busy but with such a good vibe. Service was excellent and the food was delicious. I had a grilled fish taco and we had the shredded beef enchiladas (which were outstanding!) the area is filled with history. Love it.

Total experience was overall satisfying here for our first time at Casa Guadalajara. I ordered the chili Colorado and wasn’t a big fan of it so I switched it for the breaded shrimp tacos and those were amazing! I’ll definitely come back and try something else on the menu. The waitress was amazing. I forget her name she was the blonde lady and her service was absolutely exceptional when we go back to San Diego will come by and try something else on the menu very lovely restaurant and a nice area in Mission Bay.

My fiancée and I ate here on a recent anniversary trip to San Diego, and found it to be REALLY good! While in the Old Town area, this spot is a bit off the beaten path, more on the outskirts, close to the Old Town Transit Station (easy walking distance). It’s a popular restaurant for sure, and they don’t take reservations, unfortunately. There is a waitlist on their site — but not a standard reservation system. We went to late lunch/early dinner on a Sunday afternoon and there was a short wait — maybe 10-15 minutes (we were told 25-30, but it was much faster). The restaurant is expansive, featuring indoor and patio seating. I definitely recommend the patio, as inside is festive and VERY loud, often with a full house and live music being played. The patio was comfortable, clean, and had heat lamps and table umbrellas offering plenty of warmth and protection from the sun as well. Really nice patio space! Chips and salsa is served right after you’re seated, and it’s good — it’s “traditional” salsa, not too chunky, not too thin. Not too spicy, either, which was nice. The chips were thick and we salted them before eating — too bland, otherwise. My fiancée had Carne Asada Tacos and after adding the accompanying pico and guacamole, they were very tasty. The carne asada chucks were big and the portions were generous — but the meat wasn’t as flavorful as we like (which happens more often than not with carne asada at Mexican restaurants). Again, once everything was combined, the tacos were yummy, so she was very satisfied with her meal. I had the Guadalajara Taco Salad, which was very flavorful and very good! The cilantro lime dressing was fantastic and the chicken was plentiful and perfectly seasoned/cooked. The presentation was beautiful and we were both very happy with our main course choices. Dessert was flan, which I’m not a big fan of — but my fiancée said was very good and ate most of as we relaxed and enjoyed our time on the patio. Service was good here and very friendly. The pricing was fair, considering where this restaurant is — places in Los Angeles charge just as much or more and aren’t nearly as good. So the pricing here is solid and not a rip. If we were San Diego locals, we’d definitely frequent this spot! And we absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting the Old Town area!

This restaurant is so beautiful! The vibrant colors and artwork are amazing. We received our food very fast after ordering and our waitress made sure to periodically check on us. The food is so good and very authentic! You get very large portions and the food is priced well. This place will for sure be a go to whenever we visit the San Diego area!

Our favorite place to eat in Old Town San Diego! Wonderful atmosphere, and welcoming service from our waiter Benjamin. The food came out in a timely manor after ordering. It’s presentation was mouthwatering . We ordered the steak fajitas, enchiladas suizas, al pastor tacos, a coffee, Jamaica, horchata, and a deep fried icecream. The food was delicious and fresh as usual!!. The coffee was perfect. The horchata and Jamaica is not as good as homemade, however it is still enjoyable. You’re never going to find Mexican food the same as homemade. No place is perfect! There is so many different Mexican food styles as well throughout Mexico, and the USA. However we consistently go back to Casa Guadalajara because their food is not only consistently fresh, it is most similar to our family’s homemade food from the Mexico City area and Sinaloa area. Not only that you are receiving your money’s worth for now days. If you’re going to pay a pretty penny to eat out you want a full plate of quality, fresh, delicious food. You also want a clean, welcoming, charming, and enjoyable experience. We grew up in San Diego and have tried every Mexican restaurant in Old Town San Diego and for us Casa Guadalajara is the closest to homemade we can find when dining out.

Amazing salsa that comes with chips the moment u are seated. All the servings are huge and flavourful. Authentic Mexican food here with great ambience and settings!

Horrible Mexican food. The beef fajitas were bland. The flour tortillas fell apart too easily. The beans, rice, and salsa needed more flavor. I like that the beans are 'de olla' and not refried and pureed. But they were still bland. The guac was awful; I could hardly taste the avocados. I had to add salt to the salsa; it was so bland. If I had a wedge of lime, I would have squeezed it into the salsa along with the salt. I like to take the fajitas, vegetables, beans, rice, and guac and make a big burrito with them. I couldn't because the flour tortillas fell apart too easily; they were on the verge of being soggy. The cocktails were good, though. But we will not be back. And we can get good cocktails somewhere else. The cluttered decor on steroids made this place look like a combination of a Mexican gift shop, antique store, museum,and a haunted house. I don't care about the decor, I care about the food. Decor is for tourists, not for locals of SW United States. If you want great food with unpretentious decor, try Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store in Palm Desert, California near Palm Springs. ago, I used to frequent a terrific mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant in Palmdale, CA, called Speedy Joe's. Best beef fajitas and salsa I have ever had. Very flavorful. It's been years since I last went, as I no longer live there, so I'm unsure if they still have the same manager or cook. I'm a Mexican food cook who learned from my Mexican Mom. She would not dare serve such bland food as I got here. I make my own chips, salsa, and guac. My chips are hard and crunchy; my salsa is simple yet very flavorful. For my guacamole, I only add salt, diced onions, and a little bit of my famous salsa. The main flavor of my guacamole is avocados, and it is not overpowered by adding foreign, funky ingredients (like lime juice) that detract from the flavor of avocados. Being in San Diego, I can't believe how busy your restaurant was (on a Wednesday), knowing that the Mexican food you serve is sub-par. At least the beef fajitas had no pink in them; we Mexicans tend to like our beef nearly well-done — no pink! I did like the generous portion of vegetables on the beef fajitas plate. I love cooked vegetables. You need to go to the San Fernando Valley, just north of LA, and visit the taco stands, try their beef tacos and salsas, and get their recipes. That's what I did. Along with what my mom taught me and the terrific recipes I've picked up here and there, and by making them my own, I've learned how to make some very flavorful Mexican food. By the way, I would like to thank you for your very level-headed and kind response to my original bad review. I could tell it was not computer-generated since you addressed my specific concerns. But, alas, I will still not be back. Thank you for your time.

Incredibly fast service. Excellent food. Great band/music. Super friendly servers! Would come here over and over again. 10/10!

My wife and her best friend wanted to take our mutual friend out for dinner to thank her for being so generous and hospitable when they visited her overseas. Our friend wanted to eat Mexican food because nothing beats Mexican food in San Diego. We let her choose and she decided on Casa Guadalajara. We enjoyed quality time with our friend grubbing on a scrumptious meal. We had a fun time catching up, so much so, that our waiter had the gall to tell us that a family was waiting. I took down a star for that tacky request. Casa is located in Old Town San Diego. The restaurant can be found on the corner of Taylor and Juan Streets. It is across from the California Department of Transportation. A strong positive about Casa is that it has its own parking lot, which it shares with the Bazaar Del Mundo International Shops. Old Town can get busy, so not having to contend with street parking or parking a good distance from the other popular Mexican restaurants are why I would recommend dining here. As you enter Casa, you'll be greeted by La Tortilleria, where you can watch ladies making tortillas. The restaurant is very colorful, the floor tile looks weathered and gives off an adobe brick vibe, there are beautiful painted murals, and there are plenty of Mexican inspired trinkets and art pieces. It's a spacious restaurant with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Our burly, Mexican waiter provided us with friendly and attentive customer service. My only issue with him was that he hurried us to finish our visit by informing us that a family was waiting, which was tasteless in my opinion. What I really enjoy about eating at sit down Mexican restaurants is chowing down on their complimentary tortilla chips and salsa. Casa's free chips and salsa were some of the best I've eaten and they kept coming without us having to ask. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa wasn't too spicy, even though I could have handled more spice. Another positive about Casa is that you definitely get value for your money. Like all food prices, everything has gone up, but at least here at Casa, the large plates of Mexican dishes makes you feel like you're getting your money's worth. For my entree, I ordered the Ultimate Trio Fajitas, which comes with marinated and grilled beef, chicken, and shrimp along with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes on a sizzling platter served with guacamole, rice, beans, and hot, handmade flour tortillas. You'll see from my pics that you'll get an abundant amount of food. Not only does it look like a lot of food, you'll be stuffed eating everything. The shrimp were hearty, the beef were tender, and the chicken were cooked just right. All of the protein were seasoned, the vegetables were sautéed, and every single ingredient ate really well with the hot, fresh tortilla. The guacamole was freshly made, the pico de gallo added some much needed acidity, and the rice was tasty. I wasn't a fan of the beans. We all had a blast spending time with our mutual, whom I've known since high school. I got to thank her personally for being so kind to my wife and her best friend and also thank her with a delicious meal at Casa Guadalajara.

The food was delicious and our server, Veronica, was very sweet. The only reason I don't give a 5 review is because of Diana at the front. We walked in as a party of 4 asking to sit in the cantina for happy hour. She said there were no tables available. Her coworker was within earshot and said there was a corner table in the cantina available for us to sit at. Diana argued that the table was a 6 top and she didn't want to seat us there. I asked once more and she said in a very aggravated and rude tone "there are no open seats. You cannot sit there". She then walked us to the back corner of the restaurant and did not honor happy hour pricing. All that said, I would go back, but management needs to know about Diana with a bad attitude

Amazing food. Amazing ambiance with a mariachi band. Amazing margaritas. I cannot say enough about this place. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting SD.

The not fish fish tacos were amazing and I would love to have a steady stream of these on a regular basis. The guac was also quite good too! The chips were very fresh. We did take out so can't speak to anything else but they prepared it super quickly and it was very well packaged. Highly recommend!

Came here with a big group over Memorial Day weekend. We were told the wait would be 30-40 minutes but ended up only waiting about 10. We were sat outside and it was chilly out but there were plenty of heaters near our table. Our server, Michelle got our orders in quickly and was helpful and kind. I ordered a skinny margarita and mango shrimp tacos. The portions are HUGE and the ingredients were fresh. We did have a few items that were held up in the kitchen but we were kept updated about everything.

Fun spot in Old Town. Has Mariachi playing while eating. We had carne asada tacos, fajitas and chips and salsa with a skinny margarita. Food tasted fine nothing fancy probably more here for the colorful ambience. Service was friendly.

We decided to pop by this place while in the San Diego area. This place is now our "go to" for a great lunch. First of all , the old Spanish style decor is absolutely beautiful and we were seated immediately. Instead of the classic margarita which I usually order, I decided to try the pomegranate margarita instead. I was pleased, it was hand made.. not the premix nasty stuff (There are a few pre mixed drinks on the menu, just ask the helpful waitress) The Baja taco were tasty and the steak and shrimp plate was a great, served with a generous portion of food. The homemade tortillas were definitely the icing on the cake ! This is a great breakfast / lunch or dinner spot ! All in All, if have a craving for tasty Mexican food .. this is definitely your jam!

This is a cute Mexican restaurant in Old Town. The portion sizes were big that I made a whole other meal out of my leftovers The Chicken mole enchiladas were good but not amazing. I would try something else next time Their medium sized margaritas were huge They have a nice sized parking lot which is nice since it can be hard to find parking in Old Town I went on a Thursday night and didn't need reservations

If you're looking for a real Mexican restaurant experience while in San Diego, this is the place. The waitresses all dress up in the traditional wear, and they have Mariachi playing and singing too. Service is quick! Once you've ordered, your dish will be brought out in less than 10 minutes. They make delicious and fresh hand-made tortillas, the salsa and sides are flavorful, as are all of their tacos. The carne asada plate is good, but it's not exactly made the traditional way, and the chips could be better. Everything else though, is excellent!

Food was basic though guacamole was actually quite good! Food came out quickly but people were not the most friendly. There is a nice outdoor space to hangout with friends but the 2 star review is for the fact that two of their bathrooms were clogged, bathrooms were quite dirty and when we left the restaurant, I saw a rat run across their door which sealed the deal from a 3 star to a 2 star review. Would not recommend to others unless you are looking for mediocre Mexicali cuisine quickly. It is also more expensive than what it is worth. Would not come back. It was convenient that there is a small parking lot associated with the restaurant and no issues finding parking on a weekday evening.

Good mexican food in a very nice looking restaurant. We're always seated very quickly and the food comes out pretty fast (maybe is all the margaritas and chips and salsa that keeps us busy lol!) I always order something different but this time I had the steak ranchero. It was really good!

Came here for dinner cause it was across from our hotel and we didn't want to drive anywhere for dinner. Put our name down for 3 they said it'd be 15/20 minute wait. Cool no problem. 30/40 minutes goes by and still not seated and people who showed up after us are being seated before us, kind of annoying, bout 3 separate parties got seated before us and showed up after. Finally get seated after about 45/50 minutes. Waitress comes by and takes our drink order, another comes by n drops off the chips and salsa. Chips n salsa we're good, waitress came with our drinks and took our order, we ordered a kids fish sticks n fries, Queso Fundido Con Chorizo, and fajitas, when the waitress asked me what I'd like and I said fajitas, but what kind did she recommend and she said the steak, so I said cool I'll take that. Food didn't take that long maybe 15/20 minutes. They were pretty busy on that Saturday night. Food comes, the fish n fries were good, fish seemed like one these use in a fish taco, nice fry to it, good flavor, the fries were good as well. The chorizo dip was delicious. Highly recommend. The steak fajitas however, were terrible, probably the worst tasting fajitas I've ever had. The onions n peppers tasted like grilled tomato, the steak was flavorless and chewy, I was very disappointed, I didn't think you could mess up fajitas but yeah it's possible. But it's whatever I still ate what I could and sad to say I didn't end up taking the rest back as leftovers. The pot beans were good and the rice was decent. The fresh tortillas were nice. It's always a treat when you get fresh made tortillas. The inside was decent, but damn they cram the tables and chairs in there so it's a tight fit, not a lot of space to sit comfortably. Overall I probably wouldn't go back but if you do try it get the Chorizo dip, that is really good.

Casa Guadalajara is one of my favorites! The plates are very well portioned and delicious one of my favorites is the fajitas with steak shrimp and chicken. The mole is to die for. The coconut shrimp appetizer also very very good. You can't go wrong with Casa Guadalajara always delivering excellent! Customer service with great ambiance outdoors or inside thank you casa Guadalajara. Five stars all the way!

Went here for one of our regular (G,M) lunch outings. Walking to our seats I anticipated a wonderful lunch and was not disappointed! They were super busy so we perched ourselves at the bar (no waiting) and ordered from there. My order was the Pollo en Mole Pippin de Pepita Verde dish and a margarita of course. Just an excellent dish overall. The chicken was moist and tender, paired with the pumpkin seed mole sauce made it over the top delicious. The rice, beans and slaw tasted amazing all by themselves. However it was fun to mix up my bites. Our bartender was wonderful and very attentive. As always this place is festively decorated with a warm atmosphere. An excellent place for lunch!

Overall I liked this place, food is good, We tried fajitas and burrito. I can say burrito is better,pre juicy. Overall atmosphere inside is great, was live music, they walk inside restaurant and sing, it was great experience, service was great, very pleasant and polite. Will remained and will go back. Next time will try carne asada.

I got the combo fajitas with chicken and beef fajitas. There was a little bit of a wait during the weekends. They give out a good amount of food. The food was flavorful. It comes with rice, beans, and tortillas. They had people dancing and singing. It's a nice place to get together with family and friends.

Kids liked the food Mole was forgettable The guac was decent The house made chips were surprisingly weak. How is that possible?? Worst of all, the clothes smelled of Mexican food afterwards. This means the restaurant had poor ventilation

Came here on a Sunday night via trolley as we didn't want to worry about parking. It is right next to Old Town so you can walk around the area conveniently. We were a group of 8 and only had to wait 5-10 mins before getting seated. They do not take reservations. The restaurant has a traditional Mexican ambiance to it with indoor and outdoor seating available. They have great decor. Felt like I was in a different country. They also have a mariachi band performing who sing very well. Food was decent, I got guadalajara beef enchiladas. Portion was huge and would be ok for 2 people. Wished the enchiladas were more saucy and that they had more cilantro. It also came with rice too which I think could use more flavor. Our friends ordered drinks which were HUGE so give that a try! Service was awesome too. Would like to come back and try their breakfast items.

Across the street from hotel, easy stroll... Very busy Thursday night but several seats at the bar. Stone IPA on tap, right in my beer lane. Picked from the Favorites section of the menu, the Burrito Gualajara...chicken not beef. Enormous. Delicious! Finished with liquid dessert, a Traditional Marg, rocks, large. Go here!

So, as it turns out, this restaurant was right across the street from my hotel. I decided to try it for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by how good the service was and how tasty the food was. I very much enjoyed a combo plate that consisted of a Carnitas Taco, a Chile Relleno, Rice and Beans. The restaurant is festively decorated and feels like you're somewhere in Mexico. I will probably come back tomorrow morning or the next day for breakfast. I do recommend this place for good food and service.

Good food great service. The waiter was very friendly polite and very fast with our order

Must say that I am a little confused by the bad reviews because our experience was great. The service was excellent and the food rivaled almost every Mexican restaurant we have in the Fresno area. I had the shrimp and avocado crisp, a stray from my usual and was glad that I did. My son had mango shrimp tacos that he loved. The rest of the family shared their enjoyment of the meals.

When in the area Casa G has been my meetup spot for over a decade due to its proximity to Old Town shops, ability to accommodate large groups and overall decor. The food is good, not exceptional but reliable enough for everyone to enjoy their meal. The drinks have always been tasty, having a margarita or two is must. Best for those that are mobile and not hard of hearing as this restaurant has minimal parking and is a 5/5 on noise. It's so loud you'll likely only be able to hear the person directly next to you making it difficult for anyone hearing impaired to participate in conversations. Recommend stopping in if in the area for a bar menu pick me up.

Our dishes this afternoon were spot on! Sunny patio and a great waiter, Ulises was so friendly and attentive; much appreciated! The tables are so clean and the patio is the best atmosphere for authentic Mexican cuisine and atmosphere! Drinks came quickly as did fresh warm chips and salsa! Refills on chips are free! Just another great meal and service!

I went here last weekend with my family while visiting San Diego. We were not disappointed. I'm so glad not much has changed since the last time my husband and I came to visit. Their mole is outstanding! The flavors were delicious. Service was excellent and very quick. Our waiter was incredibly attentive and friendly. We loved the outdoor seating. It was very inviting and spacious. We will definitely be back next time we're in San Diego.

I came with a group of coworkers. The service was very friendly. When they bring out chips and salsa, they bring out individual ramekins of salsa for each person. Salsa was pretty tasty. I couldn't decide, so I went with the enchilada trio because it came with a chicken, beef, and cheese enchilada. My favorite was the beef. Decent amount of parking in the lot, otherwise street parking is also available.

I've driven past Casa Guadalajara many times and this was my first visit. I like that they have a large parking lot. They have an outdoor dining area but we opted to sit inside. It wasn't crowded. They gave us a table in the corner and the room was rather dark for lunchtime. Chips and salsa arrived very quickly and it was very tasty. But we waited at least ten minutes for someone to come take our order and by then, the chips and salsa were all gone. I had the Vegetarian Tostada. It was good and an enormous amount of food. I had to take the leftovers home. I would come back here again.

The evening we went was on a weekend during prime time, but Service was still good despite having to wait a bit for a table. Great atmosphere and the food and drinks were delicious. Prices were good for the portion size. We will definitely be back!

Food: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 5/5 We came to Old Town during Halloween weekend and everything was decorated for Dia de los Muertos. So festive! We popped in here for a late breakfast/early lunch since there was plenty of free parking. I was in the mood for breakfast, so I ordered the Chilaquiles con Huevo which was ok. We also ordered the steak and chicken fajitas which were delicious. It came out on an iron plate that was sizzling hot, a couple fresh tortillas, and a plate of beans and rice. Service was to be desired, however. The waiter was disinterested, a bit condescending, and seemed like he was done for the day... it was 11am. Hope his day gets better! I suppose when you have a constant supply of hungry tourists, it doesn't matter whether service is good or not.

What a great find! We joined friends for lunch and they've been coming here for years. They brought me gluten free chips. VERY well versed in gluten free food. Everything was delicious. Great salsa also. Staff was courteous and timely! We sat on the patio and it's VERY pleasant!

Feels like a long-established Mexican dining house on one edge of Old Town. They only stay open till 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, which was surprising. We dined there last week during a family trip to San Diego. Our son-in-law and daughter picked the restaurant, we we met up there after negotiating traffic and parking in the area. Dear Hubby, Sweet Granddaughter, and I had parked several blocks away and walked through the pedestrian zone of Old Town to make it to Casa Guadalajara. We were seated inside. I understand that they have a nice outdoor patio, as well. When we first arrived, there was live music being performed in the main dining rooms. They wrapped up early, around 8:15. The noise level was still high as the place was full, and sound echoes off the tiled surfaces. Our waiter took great care of us, which was appreciated. He had a great personality, too. Seemed like he'd been doing his job for a long time and did it well. Foodwise, I appreciate their handmade tortillas, though I wish the flour ones were smaller. It was awkward to make a taco out of fajita fixings with an oversized tortilla. DH and I split an order of sizzling shrimp fajitas. They were good, but not as good as one of our favorite places is Simi Valley (El Patio makes excellent ones!). The sauce was on the heavy side, which tended to overwhelm the shrimp. The amount of rice, beans, and guacamole was very generous. We actually took some leftovers from a shared platter! The younger generation had ordered Camaroncitos Fritos as an appetizer for the table to share. Thumbs up on the flavor of those shrimp! I also ordered a virgin peach margarita, which I'd happily do again. We were ready to go for a walk after the boisterous noise level in the restaurant and a full meal.

The food was incredible. Definitely recommend this place as their service is better than amazing. There's singers around and the seating is perfect. Excellent restaurant.

I haven't had mexican in Old Town for far too long so we decided to try out a place we haven't been. We walked in on saturday at 2 and were seated right away in the garden. Loved the decor and the garden is basically another room that is open air but covered for the most part. For drinks we got the Rolls Royce and Tres Generaciones margs. The Rolls Royce is a top notch margarita served with a shot of grand marnier, 10/10. Tres Generaciones is good just not on the same level. Still dreaming about the Rolls Royce days later. We had a half order of chipotle chicken taquitos for an app (4/5), Ensenada Fish Tacos (4.5/5) and the Cheese Crisp with Shrimp (4/5). The hot sauce with the tacos was so good. The flan (3/5) was average. Overall it was the best food I've had in old town. 4 star rating is due to the fact that the whole time we were there we never received water even though every table around us had it and we specifically asked for it.

Great service at the bar and when all our 8 guests arrived we went to our table and the waitress was fabulous she didn't seem perturbed with the constant noise of chatter and requests for water with lemon or extra utensils, photo op of our guests, more delicious flour tortillas, another margaritas drinks. Or spilt the bill by 4... The usual way we get the looks and eyebrow lifting of certain waitresses staff. She was great Gabriela, The food was great as usual we were there for two hours at lunch and parking was good, lunch crowd was good. Our food arrived awesome and delicious

Food: Casa Guadalajara provided a disappointing experience as my friend's sister, who has a celery allergy, was assured by the server, Vanessa, 3 times that the poblano rice contained only spinach. However, after taking a few bites, she discovered celery pieces, resulting in a severe allergic reaction. Service: The response from the staff, particularly the manager, was unsatisfactory. Instead of addressing the serious situation promptly, they inappropriately asked for payment continuously while my friend's sister was dealing with a medical emergency. Keep in mind, only ONE bite was taken from the food. The lack of empathy and understanding from the manager was particularly frustrating. The manager turned the blame on customer's allergic reaction instead. They also did not give an incident report or even acknowledge they almost killed someone. He said there was no printed receipt or anything in the POS system to show if the allergy was written down or not... Ambiance: The overall atmosphere was marred by the unfortunate incident. The manager's attempt to shift blame and insinuate that it was my friend's sister's fault, coupled with the refusal to provide an incident report, created a tense and unpleasant environment. This overshadowed any positive aspects of the dining experience.

Ordered shrimp fajitas and the shrimp wasn't cooked all the way. Dont even bother trying ro ssk for helo from they manager they dont care. No I dont recommend. They also dont care if you Have celiac disease we asked for gluten-free menu. The waiter gave us a gluten-free menu after telling them that my wife had celiac disease. She ordered guacamole off the gluten-free menu. They served it to us in a flour tostada shell we asked isn't this flower tostada shell flour and he said yes it's not gluten-free. It's flour and we're like we told you we needed it to be gluten-free . He didn't apologize he didn't make it right she couldn't eat it. They didn't give us a new one and they still charged us for that one.

Fish taco plate was amazing, margaritas were giant & delicious. Service was decent & ambiance was pretty casual. Brought a big group of 14 of us & we all enjoyed.

I attended an event here with an organization. They offered a buffet style meal for the even. The food is really good, my favorite was the mahi mahi and chicken mole. Salsas could pack a little more heat. Flavor is good but definitely no heat. It is obvious who this restaurant is geared towards. When I looked around, I was probably the only Latina there other than the staff. At the event, they offered Pepsi, diet Pepsi, iced tea, and water. I asked the waiter for an horchata knowing that I would have to pay for it. However, his immediate response was we don't have that. Really? No horchata at a Mexican restaurant? I know it wasn't a matter of it not being on the catering menu as many from the group were ordering alcoholic beverages. He could have easily told me that it wasn't included but I could order it and pay for it. Is the food here the most authentic? I'm going to have to say not. Is it good? Yes it is. There is so much competition in Old Town that I feel they could step up their game.

Rating 3 to 3.5 So in the last month I've visited this place 3 times! I've had family come into town so each time we have brought them here. Unfortunately I must say that we've had non consistent service and food. Kinda disappointing because we've saved our special family occasions to dine here and spend $$ here. We've ordered the following.. Concha de Guacamole A crisp flour shell filled with housemade guacamole sprinkled with cheese and served with Casa tortilla chips. Carne Asada & Grilled Shrimp Carne Asada & Grilled Shrimp Carne Asada, three large Shrimp. Each shrimp ,Mexican Rice, Refried beans, side of fresh Guacamole. Camarones ala Diabla Shrimp,spicy Chipotle Salsa ,Mexican Rice, Black Beans, Cilantro Lime Fiesta slaw Grilled Fish Tacos Grilled pescado blanco in soft corn tortillas topped with cabbage and salsa blanca, served with pico de gallo, black beans and cilantro lime fiesta slaw. Crispy Shrimp & Mango Tacos Crispy spicy shrimp in soft flour tortillas, topped with cabbage, pico de gallo mango and white sauce, served with jicama slaw, black beans and chipotle sauce on the side. Ensenada Fish Tacos Crispy battered pescado blanco in soft corn tortillas with cabbage, pico de gallo and a spicy Ensenada salsa, served with black beans and cilantro lime fiesta slaw. Our servers each visit were ok. I feel they were rushed and busy, while others just eager to go home. I didn't feel the warmth of being welcomed. Just felt hurried. The food was ok. Some of the dishes were overly salty. This place has had great memories in the past but I may have to move forward elsewhere.

amazing food but awful worker who got our order wrong and tried telling us we ordered it wrong. our food came out about 30 minutes after our groups did and the server did not stop with the attitude. Linen, work on it.

Mammoth amounts of food. The salsa was really good. The atmosphere was fun and I guess you could say it was your typical Americanized Mexican restaurant! We will be back.

I had enchiladas suizas. They sent it in a foil tray. It was a pretty large meal. Beans were awesome. Tasted like they may have had chorizo in them. All the food was flavorful. The chips and salsa were a big hit. Never have eaten here before. We were staying at the local in and had just come back from European vacation and had no energy to go out to eat. We had it delivered which was a great choice. Service was wonderful. They forgot our quesadilla and did their best to get it to us quickly. Which was much appreciated.

From the moment I entered the restaurant and got a waft of the hand-made tortillas I knew this place would have a lot of potential. They did a great job of capturing the Mexican feeling with the decor, service members, and live Mariachi band! The food was amazing. It tasted like it was made by a mother. Though it might not be abuela's cooking, eating their food took me back to my childhood eating with my huge familia!

During our time in San Diego this place was recommended to us by our Uber driver as one of the best Mexican restaurants and we decided to give it a try, needless to say we were not disappointed. The food was abundant so there was enough to take back home. I had the mango margarita and it was perfect after a day of exploring. The chicken taquitos with the addition of rice, beans, guac, etc was also appetizing. The service was great and it did not take long for us to be seated after we arrived. We sat outside and it was a beautiful sunny day to have a satisfying lunch.

There's no shortage of Mexican eatery options when visiting Old Town San Diego, so the hardest decision is deciding which one to visit with Cafe Coyote and Casa de Reyes just a few minutes away. I absolutely love a place with personality and vibe, so I was sold once I saw some pictures of Casa Guadalajara. It did not disappoint, as both the indoor and outdoor areas were absolutely beautiful, with a colorful bar and great decor throughout. The holiday season decorations only added to my enjoyment. Even the napkins were colorfully tasteful with their design. Meals start with complimentary chips and salsa. They came out quick and tasted great, with a wonderfully robust salsa that had a decent kick to it without being too intense. The chicken quesadillas (3.5) were tasty. While nothing stood out about the recipe, it was prepared using fresh ingredients, and no complaints about the quality of chicken, cheese, or tortilla used. While menu prices are a bit on the high side, the atmosphere and vibe are the star of the show here. Service was friendly from a waitress in a beautifully colorful outfit. I am a bit disappointed since I missed out on live music as the waitress mentioned they have a mariachi band playing on certain nights of the week. I may have to visit again just to check out the mariachi band next time as I've never had a meal with one performing before. Overall, you can't go wrong with a meal at Casa Guadalajara, and I recommend it to others looking forward to meals in places with great decor and atmosphere. They have plenty of free parking adjacent to the restaurant in their own lot.

Great first time ! Would come again! Interior was gorgeous and service was fast ! Great food !

Best Mexican food in Old Town. Sure, there are a lot of tourists, but if you want to spend the day in Old Town, this is the place to go. It's run well, and the food is great (I love a Margarita that's the size of a bird bath). Great food. I'll be back.

Always busy, consistent food, friendly service. Good flavor in the carne asada tacos. I really enjoyed the chopped salad, the dressing is great. The margaritas are okay, not the best. The salsa is so good, but I wish they'd serve it in a wider bowl and get rid of the tiny plastic cups. Although you're apt to get a few bird droppings on your head or plate, it is like meal entertainment to watch the crazy birds if you sit in the patio. They are not shy!

First time here, it has a really nice patio seating, and the indoor seating is nice as well. It was pretty packed in here. The chips are homemade, salsa IMO lacked flavor just ok. I had the chicken fajitas with a side of rice and beans, the very first bite of the beans they tasted off to me, I had my husband taste them he said they tasted like they had chipotle or something in them personally wasn't a fan of the beans or the rice. Everyone at the table said their food was just ok and service was decent. Would I go back, probably I try to give things more than once chance.