Costa Brava

Spanish restaurant · San Diego

Costa Brava

Spanish restaurant · San Diego

1

1653 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

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Highlights

Authentic Spanish tapas, paella, sangria & a rustic patio  

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1653 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109 Get directions

costabravasd.com
@costabravasd

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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1653 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109 Get directions

+1 858 273 1218
costabravasd.com
@costabravasd

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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Where to Eat in Pacific Beach

"Hidden behind a wall of ivy is this longtime Pacific Beach fixture, a Spanish restaurant that isn’t short on atmosphere, with a menu of hot and cold tapas along with paella and other steak and seafood dishes. Want to host an at-home tapas party? Check out Pata Negra Market, the restaurant’s nearby gourmet food store." - Candice Woo, Grace Cassidy

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-pacific-beach-san-diego
View Postcard for Costa Brava

Maan Kyeso

Google
I came with my family of four for lunch here and it was absolutely delicious. We ordered a paella, filet mignon, and the porterhouse steak—all of which tasted great. We ordered several appetizers but each portion fit perfectly, each coming in small rounded plates. Overall I would definitely come visit again.

Shane Coles

Google
Popular spot for traditional Spanish tapas. Ample wine list and sangria available by the glass or pitcher. Good selection of Spanish cheeses. Really enjoyed the ham croquettes, and the patatas bravas. Fresh bread with garlic bread also so so tasty. Paella had good flavor, took 30min but no soccorat. Overall would definitely come back for more!

Danielle M

Google
One of the few spots in PB that stands the test of time. Their sangria is delicious, get a pitcher. So many great tapas to try! Happy hour is Wednesday and Thursday 5-6pm.

Joe McGowan

Google
Cute enough restaurant. Metal table and chairs. Could benefit with a table cloth. Garlic mushrooms were very good. Bread was nice. The croquet Jamon was unremarkable. The paella mixta was good but lacked the saffron flavor, and there was zero socarrat. Plenty of chicken, sausage, and seafood. It was good but not great.

Winnie Tsay

Google
We didn’t order the paella but the tapas are so good! The server is also very friendly! My personal favorites are the octopus, lamb skewer and mushrooms !

Selena D

Google
I met up with some friends here while visiting the area, and was blown away with this place. The ambiance of the entire restaurant was incredibly warm and homey. Our server Orlando was awesome, we loved getting to chat with him a bit over the course of our visit! We started off with a pitcher of the house sangria, which was great! My party and I tried several of the small plates, all of which were really tasty. Some of our favorites were the shrimp in garlic, the spicy potatoes, the filet mignon skewers, and the bread! For dessert we shared the chocolate cheesecake and the flan. I'm not a chocolate person, but my friends assured me that the cheesecake was VERY good. The flan was magical. Overall we had GREAT time here!

Qian

Google
The dishes were mediocre. The octopus we had was overcooked, especially after we had a good octopus dish the day before with pretty much the same price. The seafood medley had 3 dead mussels. The Pan Y Aioli was good though, and we loved the dessert. Our waiter seemed to be avoiding interactions with us while greeting other tables very normally and well. I was okay with no interactions other than ordering and paying the check. But when there was a contrast there, it was hard to ignore the difference in treatment. The other staff were nice and responsive.

Michael Hansen

Google
Wow! If you want an authentic Spanish meal experience, look no further! Great food, attentive and friendly service, awesome Spanish wine menu. I can't recommend this enough. We are from out of town, but will be back the next time we're in San Diego.
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Secil O.

Yelp
We were looking for a cozy tapas place that allows dogs and found this gem on Yelp. The outdoor seating has a wonderful ambiance, making it feel like an integral part of the restaurant. A few steps lead up to it, and a thick vine layer separates it from the street, creating a cozy, secluded atmosphere. The large doors were open, seamlessly connecting the outdoor area with the indoor space. It definitely reminded us of our trip to Barcelona. Of course, I started with the ACEITUNAS ALIÑADAS, marinated olives complemented with pickled onion, peppers, and cornichons. They were very good. Next, we had the ALMEJAS A LA MARINERA​, steamed clams in a delicious tomato sauce, perfect for dipping our bread. We also enjoyed some dry and sweet vermouth to taste but options. Both were delicious. My partner ordered the CROQUETAS DE BACALAO despite my warnings. I'm not a fan of fried food and we had hit-or-miss experiences with it in Barcelona, as it can get too greasy and heavy. However, he was pleasantly surprised - they were not greasy and just right. The PATATAS A LA BRAVA had the perfect level of spiciness. The boys enjoyed some JAMÓN SERRANO, PULPO A LA GALLEGA, and CARACOLES AL ALI-OLI. We finished with TARTA DE CHOCOLATE, which are usually too heavy for me, but this one was lighter than usual and quite good. It was a delicious dinner in a great ambiance. We definitely felt like we were transported back to Spain. On a side note, we had our dogs with us, and they seated us in a good spot for the dogs to relax. They brought water for them immediately, which was really nice. The service was very friendly and nice. UEFA 2024 Championship was going on, and we watched it on TV during our dinner. We had a nice chat about the games with the staff. Let's see if they are going to win the championship this year.
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Dara T.

Yelp
I don't remember exactly all the items that we ordered, but it was mostly tapas and everything was really good. One item that really stuck out was the oxtail tapas, it was tender and flavorful. We were there to celebrate our friends birthday and the service for the most part was good. Perhaps because we had a big group, the server forgot to get my drink order while everyone in the group put one in so I got my drink late and missed the cheers. Overall, good vibe, good service, good food, reasonable price.
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David M.

Yelp
Great vibe. Lovely space. Much larger than it seems. The food, however, lacked flavor....specifically salt. Is not hard to get excited about tapas and choosing and selecting many dishes. You can never go wrong with shrimp in olive oil with garlic and chiles flakes. It seems as though the chef forgot to add salt. Is embarrassing to ask for salt but we did in order to enjoy the dish. This was the case with many of our dishes. Hit or miss with the food here. Curious what the best spot for real Spanish Tapas is in San Diego. Will continue searching to find out.
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Katherine K.

Yelp
The restaurant itself was soo much bigger than I expected and they have a beautiful outdoor seating area in the back. My date and I decided to try their Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp in garlic), Tapa de Conejo (rabbit), Champinones al Ajillo (mushrooms) and Patatas a la Brava. I was a bit disappointed by the shrimp as it didn't have a strong garlic flavor, which is the whole point to the dish. The rabbit was pretty good! It was cooked beautifully and while I liked the sauce, I had to wipe a lot off to actually taste the rabbit because there was too much of it. The mushrooms were really nicely flavored and I would get it again. The potatoes were good, but the spicy Ali-oli wasn't spicy at all and the amount they put on ended up making the potatoes lose their crispiness fairly quickly. While this place wasn't as good as the reviews made me believe it would be, it was still very good and I would come back to try some of their other things. I'd give it a 3.5, but I will round it to 4.
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Phuong H.

Yelp
Ask if there's seating in the back patio, it makes the experience way better! My family and I ordered a number of things on my menu but a few that I highly recommend - SHRIMP & GARLIC BACON WRAPPED DATES POTATOES SHARABLE TAPPAS We also got the sangria which I don't really recommend because it was really watered down but if you're into wine then you should definitely go for a glass! The service was amazing; they were super quick and welcoming.
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Ann C.

Yelp
We were craving paella tonight so we were so excited that Costa Brava had a paella mixta and were dog friendly for our fur baby Peanut. We sat in the nicely heated patio area and noticed how many people came in on a Thursday night. Our service Matt was really friendly and when he saw that we brought our fur baby, he quickly brought over a water bowl for Peanut. We study the menu and read the reviews before we came. We got their Croquetas de Bacalao and Patatas A La Brava to start. Both were delicious, especially with their spicy aioli on the papas. We then ordered their paella mixta for 2 which was so good, full of seafood, sausage, and pollo. My boyfriend even said it was one of the best paella he's had and I have to agree. If you want a cute date night, pet friendly, and delicious food place, give this place a try. Just make sure you come early to find street parking because that was the only thing that gave us a bit of a headache.
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Norge Y.

Yelp
Our visit was on a Friday night, 6:30pm. We had reservations but there were many open tables when we arrived. It did get crowded as the evening went on. Costa Brava has the very authentic feel of a true tapas restaurant. I do believe even the wait staff is imported from Spain! The decor is inviting and there are a few different types of dining areas for different experiences. The menu has a long selection of hot and cold tapas, soups and salads, and entrees-size dishes. The tapas are genuinely good for sharing and have enough bites for four-six people. If you go this route, only order a few items at a time as the food will come out as soon as they're ready and you can be overwhelmed with a full table of multiple dishes. The wine list is extensive. Don't be afraid to ask your waiter for a recommendation and let him know what you like. Happy Hour Wednesdays and Thursdays 5pm-6pm and music by various artists on certain days so check their website. There are many, many dishes to try...and wine! I look forward to returning for more fare.
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Isabelle W.

Yelp
Costa Brava is truly the best hidden gem. You would never expect such an authentic and amazing Spanish restaurant to be tucked away in the heart of PB (and across from Trader Joe's). Everything I have tried from this restaurant has been incredible. The tapas are great for sharing and you can definitely get full after ordering a few of these. I highly recommend the potatoes, calamari, and croquettes. Such a great place to take friends and family for some awesome Spanish food!
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Caitlin N.

Yelp
This was a fantastic meal! Came here with a group of friends on a Friday night and the food was phenomenal. We each ordered a tapas to share (5 in total) and was then recommended to order a three-person portion of the paella mixta. The tapas arrived so quickly to our table and they were gone in a bat of an eye, but it did give our stomachs time to settle before the paella arrived. Some notable tapas mentions are the garlic shrimp, the spicy potatoes, and the oxtail. Now, the paella was amazing! The flavors were fantastic, the muscle and clam shells remained intact so you weren't eating broken pieces in the rice, and as someone who isn't a big calamari fan, this calamari in this dish was so tender and not chewy. This dish was a huge hit and the three-person portion was plenty of food for the 5 of us after we ate the tapas. Our waiter did not let us leave without trying a dessert and we're glad he convinced us to try their creme brûlée. Not too sweet or vanilla custard base and just the right amount of torches sugar on the top. It was the perfect way to end the meal! Highly recommend this restaurant, and I honestly can't wait to come back!
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Victor W.

Yelp
Wow.... Blew me away... brought be back to Barcelona with the food they served. The garlic with shrimp was amazing... the flavor they had and the soft fried garlic in the oil! What a joy for us to eat. The service was great and our waiter was super helpful with popular dishes, parking is a bit hard... look for street parking. The interior was so homey and romantic, definitely a nice date night type of dinner where you just enjoy food, drink a bit, and enjoy the restaurant vibes. My only knock was the sangria. It was good but it was mostly ice, 3 sips and it was gone... maybe order the pitcher next time!
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Penny R.

Yelp
The food was delicious! The ambience was quaint and lovely when we went on Mother's Day. Service was spot on!
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Caitlin D.

Yelp
I went on a Sunday! So no happy hour. The hostess felt more closed off in the beginning, not many smiles to welcome us~ until we smiled at her. The men working the tables, were also pretty quiet and abrupt when setting things down. But over time through the dinner it seemed like they were warming up because they were cracking jokes and smiling more! The atmosphere was really nice. There was a warm glow surrounding our seating area. There was greenery, warm lights, and an red overhang. They had plenty of seating: front patio, inside, bar area, and back patio. I loved the spicy potatoes, although I think they could have used a bit more heat. I loved how big the pieces of potato were. They were crispy on the outside and cooked perfectly on the inside. Came out fresh and hot! The chicken in white wine was good, but a little on the dry side. I wish there was more of that white wine sauce because I love to dip my bread in it! I think they pre bake the bread and then throw it back in to warm it up during service. I only say this because my bread was a bit dark...nearing burnt spectrum the second time. For my tastes, I didn't enjoy the ham croquette. I think it was the texture. The flavor was good! My aunt really liked them. The cold tomato, salad, and ham toast was light and refreshing. A good way to break up the fried food eating. But nothing to rave over! I think, it was a bit bland and the ham totally carried the flavor profile. But it was a new experience for me. Nearing the end we ordered the shrimp and garlic, to try something new. It was actually pretty good! My mom enjoyed dipping the bread in the garlic oil and topping it with the garlic chunks that came with it. The crème Catalana came out in a deep white ramekin to my surprise. I thought it would be in the same tapas ceramic that the other food came in. This dessert could have been shared between three people easily. It was good! Custardy and sweet. The total came out pretty steep. We ordered: 3 spicy potatoes, 1 chicken in white wine, 1 ham croquettes, 1 tomato/ham toast, 1 shrimp in garlic, some bread with aioli which used to be complimentary but I'm not sure anymore. For dessert we had 2 crème Catalana. (Only drank water). Overall, the food was pretty tasty. And I liked the ambiance (for the most part). It was a lovely place to eat with my family and aunt visiting. I'd come here again, but maybe only during happy hour.
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Amy K.

Yelp
It was pretty decent. I would love to come and try more items. Parking is street parking only. I think there are problems if you park across the street in the shopping area parking. We tried: Championes a La vinegtetta- mushrooms in vinaigrette. Delightful and full of flavor. Olive stuff with anchovies - I didn't try but my boyfriend devoured all of it Pollo al ajillo- the chicken was very tender but I didn't get much of the garlic flavor Pulpo al vinagrette - super soft octopus and very fresh cilantro, onion and pepper seasoning Mixto paella - one panful is enough for 4 people so with two of us there were leftovers. This was very delicious with tiny hot dog and chicken with tons of seafood.
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Tania C.

Yelp
Heard so much about this place, so we went with big expectations. Well sitting outside was nice but the noise level everywhere at the restaurant was absolutely horrible. If you are looking for a place with great ambiance, this is not one of them. Food was very very average. We asked for tapas of course. I loved Spanish food. Had so much tapas in NJ, but these ones, were nothing special. The ox tail tapa had so much sauce, it was too overpowering. However, glad I tried it. Now I know. Although this place is not for me, if you are in the are, try them out, maybe your experience will be different. Happy meals!
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Peter H.

Yelp
Costa Brava in San Diego offers a delightful taste of Spanish cuisine with a Californian twist. The menu boasts a variety of tapas that showcase fresh, high-quality ingredients. From the flavorful paella to the exquisite seafood dishes, each plate reflects culinary expertise. The ambiance is charming, with a mix of casual and upscale elements. The attentive staff adds to the overall positive dining experience, providing excellent recommendations and service. Whether you're a fan of Spanish cuisine or looking to explore new flavors, Costa Brava is a gem in San Diego that delivers a memorable dining journey.
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Isamu G.

Yelp
Nice ambiance and cool waiters. Service is average, and food was pretty good. Only downside is the portions are relatively small considering their price tag.
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Imee C.

Yelp
Friend was visiting from FL. We had reservations. When we arrived, we were seated right away. They only have street parking. If you plan in coming here, plan ahead as looking for parking in PB is a little difficult. We ordered tapas. We got our food pretty quick from the time we ordered. They served bread with some aioli spread. Pretty good. The oxtail was very tender. The octopus was the best of all the dish we ordered. It wasnt bad for a casual place.
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Tiffany T.

Yelp
Oh my goodness the food is so good here. The parking is a challenge, but what do you expect for PB? The girls and I came here for happy hour and I think we had a sampling of everything on the menu including their sangria. There is a cute little garden in the area in the back that is so gorgeous. If I had known it was back there, I would have requested we got seated back there. It's easy to think you can park in the shopping mall across the street however if you do I think you will get towed so just find street parking. If you come early you can find something. The service is good and quick and that is very important when you are starving after a long day at work! :) I'm sure we will be back when I feel like braving the traffic to get into the PB area and want to hunt for parking.
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Roger P.

Yelp
My favorite meals are ones with many dishes to share and that's really the only way to fully enjoy Costa Brava. Their menu boasts an impressive selection of both hot and cold tapas but there aren't any pictures. Their website has everything and you should ask your servers for recommendations. Located in Pacific Beach on one of the busiest streets, the restaurant doesn't have many options for parking. There's a huge parking lot across the street but unless you're a customer for the stores there, you'll risk getting towed. The restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks but if you're coming during peak dinner hours, make a reservation through Yelp beforehand. Service is incredibly friendly here too! Each table gets bread and you can ask for more throughout your meal. Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp in garlic): If not for the shrimp, order this for the garlic oil! The shrimp itself was pretty average but at least it was pre-peeled. But what really made this stand out was the oil and we kept asking for more bread to dip. Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus with olive oil and spicy paprika): At first look, you might think that the portion isn't worth it. Pictures will show how thinly they're sliced but man, were these some of the most tender octopus I've ever had! And on top of that, the sauce was another contender for best dip of the night. Not spicy at all. Patatas a la Brava (Spicy potatoes): If you could only get one thing, I recommend the potatoes. The sauce itself is really good and each potato piece was crispy on the outside. That's not something you'd expect when you get chunks as big as these. Despite being described as spicy potatoes, this was not spicy at all. Tapa de Rabo de Toro (Oxtail slowly braised in a rioja wine sauce): We ordered the tapas size but you can get a whole entrée, aka a larger portion. Besides the potatoes, the oxtail was something we all wish there was more of. The tapas size comes with just one piece, smothered in the red wine sauce which tasted similar to Beef Bourguignon. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender! Croquetas de Jamon (Iberico ham croquettes): Comes with 4 pieces. Crispy exterior but besides that, I thought the dish was pretty average. It didn't really stand out for me. Tapa de Conejo (Braised rabbit with vegetables and white wine): The meat was also fall-off-the-bone tender but I thought the flavor was a little lacking. It's a decent portion, about enough for one person (if people weren't sharing food). Champinones al Ajillo (Sautéed mushrooms in garlic & Sherry wine): This was the most disappointing dish we had. We generally never have issues with a mushroom taste and a garlic/sherry wine sauce sounded really good. But there was barely any flavor. It was the only dish that we didn't finish and didn't take back home. Paella Mixta (Traditional saffron rice dish with chorizo sausage, chicken, shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari): 2 person minimum. I think if you have more people, you can pay for larger portions but because we wanted to try a variety, we got the minimum amount. The paella was one of the last dishes to come out and because of that, I was already pretty full from everything else. There's a generous serving of seafood and chorizo but I thought the flavor was a little lacking, especially compared to the potatoes and oxtail. For the 4 of us, the portions were perfect, especially because we ordered 8 different things. But with more people in the group, you might have to double up on some dishes. But I highly recommend and I'll definitely be back to try everything else!
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Fiona M.

Yelp
What a delightful hidden culinary adventure on the busiest street in PB! Costa Brava is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. Well worth the effort in every way! The place gets quite busy so be sure to make a reservation. The ambiance is nice, with patio and indoor dining as well as a bar. It can get a bit loud as the restaurant fills up. We were a party of 6 and while the restaurant was quite busy, we were definitely not neglected. The staff were very accommodating and from the beginning set the tone for an amazing dining experience. We shared some "tapas" to include a salad, Manchego cheese, Marinated Olives, Marinated Octopus, Fire Roasted Peppers stuffed with Seafood and wait for it...the star of the show...Shrimp in Garlic. The Shrimp with Garlic was was extraordinary. Each bite was a burst of pure garlicky goodness. This tapas is not to be missed! For main courses we shared Salmon, Rabbit, and of course, Paella. The Paella was the jewel of the main courses. The Paella is served for minimum of 2 people and was a delectable treasure trove with saffron infused rice, shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and chorizo. It was a seafood lovers dream! Overall we were very pleased with Costa Brava and the exceptional experience all around. As for upgrades...best to make a reservation and allow time for street parking.
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Devon P.

Yelp
Amazing Spanish tapas. Service was great but terrible parking options. Get the anguillas, it's a Spanish delicacy and you won't regret it.
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Silvia A.

Yelp
Good Spanish food and from Spain, so I know my food. Service very good too! I recommend this place if you want to try food from Spain
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Paige T.

Yelp
Favorite place for tapas! The vibe inside the restaurant is cute and the service is always top notch. Matt is my favorite waiter and my friends and I always request him when we come in! I've tried most of the menu and everything is always so so good. Always get the sangria! :)))
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Ruby R.

Yelp
Beautiful ambiance. Delicious tapas! We tried a couple of soups, small plates, camarones, meatballs, potatoes... traditional and tasty!
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Erica B.

Yelp
Huge fan of this place. Have been coming by here for years. The entrance gives it a private feel and the environment is something you would find in Spain. The food and service is really good. I love the bacon wrapped dates. Tapas style food.
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Jeongmin H.

Yelp
Everything was absolutely phenomenal - the ambiance, service, and of course the food. Highly recommend their black rice dish. At first glance, everyone's reaction was "wtf" but it was sooo flavorful with added texture from the squid. Just as a heads up, be aware of bugs for outdoor seating. I got stung by some bug, which I still don't know what exactly it was, despite wearing long jeans and its stinger got stuck inside my leg which I had a pretty bad allergic reaction to. Still recovering from the bite but I think my dining experience here kinda made up for it haha
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Yianni A.

Yelp
As we come here again after our yearly ritual this place is always amazing, friendly, staff very attentive and food exceptional. Best Tapas place in San Diego!!! Chorizo is always my favorite tapas and of course best Patatas Bravas!!
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Jose F.

Yelp
Food, ambiance and service are always fantastic! Its a gem in PB! The paella mixta is the way to go! The bread is fantastic and the service is great!
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Leang E.

Yelp
It was good that we made reservations as there were people waiting. We ordered a pitcher of Sangria to share soon after we were seated. It was just what I needed after a rough work day. We quickly put in a Paella Mixta order in addition to the patatas a la brava, octopus, filet mignon skewers, jamon Iberico, jamon bruschetta, clams special with the white wine sauce, bacon wrapped dates, stuffed red peppers with seafood. I enjoyed almost everything as I just did not care for the octopus. The desserts were very delicious as we shared the creme brûlée and the ice cream. Our waitress was Lenore was on it in the beginning but that kind of tapered off as it took her a bit to reappear when we wanted to order dessert and get our bill.
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Mafalda C.

Yelp
We had a great time, thanks to our waiter who was the funniest! Food was delicious, I forgot to get pics of all the tapas. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are very nice. They have a great list of wines - and I have tried the sangria before. Definitely a little gem in the Pacific beach neighborhood!
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Michelle N.

Yelp
I didn't even know we had a Spanish Tapas restaurant until one of our friends asked us to go for his birthday dinner! I'm a huge fan of sharing several plates, so this was right up my alley. - PARKING- Costa Brava is right on Garnet Ave, one of Pacific Beach's main streets. This means it may get difficult finding parking on weekends, and even busy meal times on weekdays! They have a sign to not park across the street in the shopping plaza as you may get towed! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - I made a reservation for 4 at 6pm on a Saturday evening through Yelp Reservations. Good thing I did, as the restaurant became increasingly busier as the night went on! The outside is very unassuming, but once you walk in, you are opened into a bustling yet cozy environment. They have tables in the outdoor back patio, but we were seated in the middle of the indoor/outdoor arrangements. Service is extremely welcoming - I personally felt like family throughout the entire meal service! As the restaurant got busier towards the end of our dinner, we did find it hard to get a hold of our waiter. Understandably, it seemed like they were running back and forth to help out several tables at once - he also wanted to ensure we got our birthday dessert before handing us our check. - FOOD - There's so many tapas to choose from, but with limited stomach space, we decided on the following: Patatas a la Brava ($7.75): Absolutely the favorite of the night! Crispy, crunchy exterior, but fluffy potato interior. The Spicy aioli was so good - we kept on dipping the potatoes and our bread back into the sauce! Gambas al Ajillo ($11.95): Shrimp in a Garlic Oil sauce, nothing too crazy about the Shrimp, but we really enjoyed the Garlic Oil! Again, kept dipping the bread back into it! Pulpo a la Gallega ($14.95): This came as a recommendation from our waiter, and we were so glad we ordered it! The octopus was so tender, no chew at all! The sauce again was absolutely delicious! Tapa de Conejo ($17.50): I was expecting the rabbit to be more game-y tasting, but it didn't have that funk at all. Fell off the bone fairly easily as well. Tapa de Rabo de Toro ($17.50): I personally liked this Oxtail more than the rabbit, as the meat was more tender and the flavor was more to my liking. It reminded us of Beef Bourguignon. Champinones al Ajillo ($8.25): Usually Mushrooms are solid, but there wasn't much flavor in this dish compared to the others. Maybe if we hadn't eaten all the other tapas, this would have been fine, but in comparison, this was our least favorite. Croquetas de Jamon (4pc - $9.50): Crispy exterior, nice and flavorful interior! I think this was my second favorite tapas of the night. Paella Mixta ($27.50/pp): We wanted to have many tapas but still try the Paella out, so we opted for a 2 person serving (which is also the minimum). This was the perfect portion for the 4 of us including the other tapas we ate. Good amount of seafood and protein too! I do think the rice could have had more flavoring. Flan ($9.00): This was our friend's birthday dessert that they brought out with a candle. This flan is more solid/structured than custard-y! Delicous flavor and we appreciated the gesture. - OVERALL - A wonderful first time experience having Spanish Tapas in San Diego. I will absolutely come back to try out more of the tapas we didn't get to this time, and look forward to the welcoming environment again.
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Rebecca C.

Yelp
I've been here once a decade. Quality is amazing and consistent. We asked to sit inside because it was raining. They obliged. The waiter and servers were amazing and attentive. The pleasant surprise of live music and friendly chatter all around us totally made our dinner experience special.
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Sean P.

Yelp
Food takes longer to prepare so take that into consideration, parking is also a nightmare. Great quality Spanish cuisine, had the salmon and lobster dish. Great value overall. I'd definitely visit this place again.
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Colton B.

Yelp
This is my favorite place in all of San Diego. The food is fantastic and the service is even better.
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Audrey L.

Yelp
How have I not been here before? It's a cute Spanish restaurant in PB. They have a front patio and back patio. I was surprised to see how packed it was for a Wednesday night. Their menu is super authentic with mostly hot and cold tapas, and a few entrees. We opted for a pitcher of Sangria that was really good! For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas (of course since they were my favorite in Spain). The anchovies stuffed olives surprised me! I'm not a big fan of anchovies but they were delicious! We also ordered the mushrooms in garlic and olive oil and the pulpo. Everything was incredible! We ended the meal with bacon wrapped dates, crème brûlée and carajillos. I'm already planning my next trip here!
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Chaitra M.

Yelp
Inconsistent experiences and mediocre tapas. The ambience was great both times I went, but the service and food are interesting to say the least. The first time I went there was for sangria. We also got calamari and a crème brûlée. I enjoyed the sangria and the calamari with the aioli sauce, but the crème brûlée was orange on the inside. A week later I went with a large group of friends. The waiter wasn't attentive and we had to ask for waters for the whole table multiple times until we finally got it towards the end of our meal. When we sat down we had ordered 3 pitchers of sangria, but they only brought us 2. The calamari was not good this time, and everything else was just okay. The shrimp was not deveined. The only thing really worth it here is the sangria.
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Ryan B.

Yelp
Loved coming here. We had a group of 7 so we were able to try a bunch of different tapas. The decor and ambiance were very cool and it is much bigger on the inside than it looks. We sat outside where they had a man playing Spanish guitar. Everything we ordered was excellent, especially the oxtail, bacon wrapped dates, and filet skewers. I would be happy to go back again especially with a big group.
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Sophia M.

Yelp
My husband and I missed Spanish tapas we had in Spain. We were so glad that we found this place. This place was awesome! We love the variety of their food. My husband and I with two toddlers ordered 11 dishes of tapas to share. We were so satisfied! Only if we had more space in our tummy, we would love to keep ordering. The best hame in the world was a must have. It really taste so good. It's pricy for sure. But definitely worths it! Sardines in olive oil was so Spanish. It was flavorful with the sauce. Fresh Anchovies in olive oil came with lots of garlic and parsley. So good! Octopus with olive oil and Spicy paprika was very tender and delicious! Iberico Ham croquettes was also one of my favorite. Most croquettes I had at other places were blend. But their Iberico Ham stood out in this dish. Very tasty. I am also interested in Dry Cod fish croquettes. We will definitely try it next time. Baby eels were something new to me. It tasted like noddles. I could never guessed what it was. It came with a ton of garlic. We also recommend Cheese board. We can't wait to go back and try more!

J E.

Yelp
1. This place is very dirty. I sat near the TV in the front patio and there was a thick layer of dust next to where they keep all the clean dishes and utensils. Additionally, the ceiling next to the TV had water damage and was falling off 2. We got a paella and there were broken muscle shells all over. We love tapas and have been to other places, never once we had such experience. 3. Our server was very very rude. He did not check on us once and never said thank you when he brought out the bill and we paid. He was very short with us and did not talk to us at all. But we saw him talking to other tables, no problem. We were never rude with him in the first place, so not sure why he was like that. 4. This is a very overhyped and overpriced place. Paella is 30 bucks per person, minimum 2 people. You have to spend at least 60 dollars to eat quite a small amount. Again, it wasn't that good.

Katy J.

Yelp
Amazing service and food!!! We always have an amazing time when we go. Jamie, is the best server, and is always wonderful.
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Mara P.

Yelp
Usually, dining here is a 5 star experience, but I would say this was a 4 star experience. We came here for NYE with another couple and while the food was all as delicious as usual, service was somewhat lacking. We were a bit disappointed that there was a different NYE menu being offered, without any warning on the website or reservation. It didn't have any special items added, but they had taken off several of the items we had planned on ordering - most notably, the croquetas. Also, each dish was priced a few dollars higher than usual. Service was a bit slow and one of the dishes we ordered (the ox tail) was forgotten until the very end of our meal when our plates had already been cleared off the table and our waiter asked if we had ever gotten it. By that point, we didn't really want it anymore, but he brought it over and we kind of ended up just having to eat it even though we didn't want it any more. And they had taken my bread with my plate so I didn't have bread to dip in the ox tail sauce :( Anyways, food and atmosphere were great as usual but had to take a star off for forgotten dish/slow service and surprise menu.
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Naomi G.

Yelp
Fun tapas place in PB! Very surprised by the inside of the restaurant and was sat towards the back patio which had a very European flair to it. My group shared several plates of tapas and they provide complimentary bread to eat with it. I recommend getting the garlic shrimp and dunking the bread in the garlicky oil which is the move. Other dishes that were good were the bacon wrapped dates, bread with tomato and jamon, patatas bravas and octopus.
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Rob H.

Yelp
Food was excellent. Our server could tell we didn't understand the menu so he was VERY helpful. Loved the live flamenco guitar!

Corinne E.

Yelp
Food, service and ambience were all great! Food was super flavorful! We enjoyed the small plates allowing us to all share and try new things!
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Sandy P.

Yelp
My family of 12 and I came Sunday night for my moms birthday. We ordered so many tapas cause they were all great. The entrees did not dissapoint either. I got a margarita which was highly strong for me. And also had a martini espresso. The espresso martini was my favorite alcohol drink. I also like the creme brulee. It paired up well with the cafe con leche I had with it. I like how they had great decor and the music wasn't too loud. Our main waiter was so friendly and nice all the times, he had good vibes and my family felt pleased. I think his name was Gustavo. The other waiters that were serving our food and clearing some stuff of our table were great. Never seen a place change the dishes from all of us so we can enjoy the food. Oh and the paella was to die for. Very tasty and great meats on it. Overall the experience was unique and will definetely be back to try more
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Marty P.

Yelp
My friend and I chose this restaurant for my last dinner in San Diego. It turned out to be a fantastic choice! I love the ambiance of this restaurant. Our waiter made our visit even more memorable. Loved his personality and the level of service he offered us. We started off with a pitcher of Sangria. If you like Sangria, do not pass this up! It was a fantastic quality! We enjoyed it so much that when I left for the men's room, my buddy placed an order for another one. Beware that each drink of Sangria goes down very smoothly. I've had Sangria many times before and this was the best for me. We ordered a few appetizers to get us started. We started with the sautéed mushrooms in garlic and sherry sauce along with octopus with olive oil and spicy paprika. For my entree I ordered braised rabbit with herbs, tomato, onion, carrots, and white wine with fried potatoes. I do not remember what my friend ordered. What I do remember is that I sampled his entree and enjoyed it a lot! My rabbit entree was good. I was unaware of how much bone there is in a rabbit entree. I would probably order something else if I were to return here. We didn't stop after our entrees were finished. I love breaking bread with a fellow "foodie." Initially, we ordered a creme brûlée with coffee. I had a decaf coffee which was fabulous. I didn't need to put any cream in it. It was that good! My buddy ordered a popular Spanish coffee beverage that is commonly consumed in Spain. He very much enjoyed it! Creme brûlée was fantastic! So, I didn't stop here. I asked the waiter to put an order in for flan. So glad I did because the flan was amazing! Our waiter was initially razzing us, in good humor, about us sharing a dessert. My friend and I got a really good laugh out of it. I very much enjoyed my visit to this lovely place. It was such the perfect bookend to a marvelous trip. I felt satiated as my buddy drove me to the airport, after dinner. I would do this all over again and wouldn't do anything differently. This was another sort of "spur of the moment" decision to dine here. Neither of us planned this days or weeks in advance. It flew on our radar earlier in the day. I very much recommend checking this place out for quality food from Spain. It definitely doesn't disappoint! Also, check the menu prices to ensure that this place is within your budget. Hopefully it is as you will be in for a treat! Enjoy!
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Melanie P.

Yelp
This place is always a go to spot for excellent tapas. For first timers, this place can be hard to spot due to the heavy hedge walls partially concealing the restaurant. It may be tempting to park across the street in the Trader Joe's parking lot, but you may be towed. Park at your own risk. Parking is available on the street when you circle around. The menu is quite vast when it comes to tapas. There's a wide selection of cold and hot tapas, which makes it difficult to decide which ones to try. Before I get into the tapas, they give you the bread hot and fresh. To maintain the heat of the rolls, they give you piece of bread. If you want more, you need to request another one. A bread basket is not left at the table, which is smart, because it minimizes waste and the bread is always hot. Drink: Sangria. Of course I had to get it. It was delicious and the only thing I regretted was not getting another. Hot Tapas: Gambas Al Ajillo. Shrimp in the shell tossed in a garlic sauce. This was a tasty garlic sauce that I didn't mind getting all over my hands. Patatas Ala Brava: I love the crispy chunks of potatoes that were dressed in a creamy, spicy sauce. Choricito Frito: Sautéed chorizo sausage that was super tasty and delicious especially when paired with the other side dishes and bread. Main: Paella De Mariscos. I have to say that this paella was very delicious. It was savory with the seafood flavors permeating the saffron infused rice. We ordered paella for two people, even though there were four of us since the tapas make you quite full. Dessert: Flan. My daughter, who is not a fan of flan, actually loved this dish. The consistency and flavor was amazing. I was inspired to make my own flan at home, which I didn't do, because it's way easier to just eat it here. Service was fast and we got our tapas within minutes of ordering. The paella took a little while, which we were fine with us since we were so stuffed, you need some digestion time in between. Definitely one of the best tapas places in town!

Maddi F.

Yelp
Love this place. The food is so good and the staff is so friendly. It also comes out so quickly! We tried so many things, but the seafood paella and patatas bravas were so good! Will absolutely go back. We had a reservation and got sat immediately but I did witness a lot of people w no reservations get sent away, even early in the night. So just make sure you have one!
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Daniela A.

Yelp
Have been wanting to come here for a while, I love tapas! Our Server Gustavo was so kind to us and was so so tentative! He recommended a great wine and made sure our glasses were constantly full. The inside was very Spanish in decor with a live guitar player that made the ambiance so inviting. We had some bread which held us over while we waited for the food. We ordered the Pulpo A La Vinagreta (octopus), Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp in garlic), Croquetas de Pollo (chicken croquettes), Rabas (fried calamari), Datiles Con Tocino (dates wrapped in bacon) and the Paella de Marisco (shrimp paella). Oh and flan for dessert! The pulpo a La vinagreta was delicious with a sauce I could dip my Dre's in after and it was cooked perfectly! The Gambas al ajillo also had good flavor and were cooked perfectly as well. The croquetas de pollo were nice and crispy, not greasy and the chicken inside was well seasoned. The rabas (calamari) was lightly breaded but just a little too soft for calamari.. they were cut into skinny fry shapes then fried which I wasn't really a fan of.. they were just okay. I'd skip it next time since there's so many better options on the menu. The datiles con tocino (dates wrapped in bacon) were delicious sweet and savory with a nice sauce on the plate to compliment them. The paella though.. the paella was the best I have ever had! It was delicious? All the seafood in it was cooked to perfection and the rice has so much delicious flavor oh my gosh I would get an order to go and just go home and enjoy it if I could! And the flan for desert was absolutely amazing.. the best I've ever had.. and I'm Mexican! Crazy I know!! Over all such a nice vibe with great service and energy all around. Perfect for any crowd!
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Andrea W.

Yelp
I finally made to Costa Brava and I'm so glad I did. Great atmosphere, beautiful hardwood floor and few antiques spread out in the different rooms. The patio is really cozy. Loved the hanging lights and the grapevines. :) We ordered different hot tapas. All really yummy. Great service with smiley friendly faces. Need to go back and try their paella!