Death By Tequila

Sorry, I only had lemonade which was very tasty. We had a pear salad w steak, a bowl of vegetables & another of potatoes, happy hour ceviche & carnitas & short rib tacos. I have to say the blue corn tortillas were very rubbery, hard to chew. I ate the meats & veggies which were tasty. All of the dishes had nice presentation & were flavorful but the point of the tortilla is to eat all of it. The ceviche was excellent & spicy. I WILL try a margarita on my next visit.

I had an incredible experience at the restaurant last Friday! The live music added a great vibe to the already lively atmosphere. The new menu items were simply fantastic, and I highly recommend trying them out. First, I had the La Costa Tajin Machine cocktail, which was refreshingly spicy and perfectly balanced. The Shrimp Aguachile was the standout dish for me - the shrimp was incredibly fresh and the flavors were bright and bold. The Lobster Ceviche was another delicious highlight, with the tender chunks of lobster complementing the tangy ceviche perfectly. The Calamari was cooked to perfection and had a wonderful crunch to it. The Whole Roasted Corn was an excellent side dish and the perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal. The Baja Fish Taco and Gobernador Taco were both amazing - the fish was flaky and flavorful, and the toppings were spot-on. The Mushroom Barbacoa taco was bursting with flavor and had a great texture. The Soft Shell Crab taco was also excellent - the crab was fresh and the taco was perfectly seasoned.

Had an amazing happy hour here this weekend. The food, service and cocktails were awesome. We tried the pineapple habanero salsa and some of the happy hour taco selections including the mushroom tacos and everything was really tasty. We tried a few of the margaritas and some mezcal selections and we were impressed. We will be coming back for sure!

Loved the atmosphere and selection of small plates and unusual cocktails. We ordered tuna aguachile, oysters au gratin, fried shishito peppers, fish and shrimp tacos. Fire roasted salsa is delicious!

Go for happy hour and try the blistered tempura shishitos. The classic margarita & classic Paloma were so good we didn't try any of the flavor enhancers, but you can add charred pineapple, jalapeños, basil, etc. We had the salsa trio that comes with guacamole & chips: high quality. Everyone was happy with their tacos as well.

Just popped in because I heard this place has a coolness factor…. Not disappointed!!! Ordered the Passion Fruit and Hibiscus margaritas. Not only were they served up sexy, they tasted amazing! Got to try (and possibly name) the bartenders newest creation. It’s either the Nothing Fancy, Lori or Snap Dragon. And the ceviche was delicious, however we preferred chips over the crispy tostada. Will definitely come back!!!

Look, if you want to learn about tequila and mezcal this is the spot. I drink tequila for a hobby and stumbled upon this place as I was walking by. Mind blown by the selection of real tequila and the knowledge from the bar. It’s very rare you’ll find a place with such an array of tequilas and mezcals. Don’t worry though if you’re more into mixed drinks. This place is still amazing. My gf got a mixed drink and I got a sampler of the Paloma - excellent. Can’t comment on the food as I was more interested in the drinks !

The tacos here are alright for the most part, even if they lack soul. The best tacos I've eaten have something elemental about them. They taste like they came from somebody’s home kitchen, with meats straight off of somebody’s backyard grill. Great tacos feel like there has been true labor involved, true passion and love put into their construction. Conversely, the tacos that I get at places like Death by Tequila taste like they have been formulaically engineered by a culinary school grad to bomb the mouth with flavor as fast as possible, and then be forgotten almost as quickly. Some of it could be laziness, honestly. For example, Death by Tequila uses small corn tortillas from La Fe in Escondido. I sometimes buy these same tortillas for home-use from Sprouts and Whole Foods. They’re pretty good, but it is inexplicable that a place like this isn’t making their own tortillas. Hell, for what they’re charging (>$5 per taco on average), they should be growing and nixtamalizing their own corn, then grinding their own masa. But I digress. The "Carnitas Taco" is the worst of the group. Rather than what you and I would consider to be carnitas, It is instead flaccid braised Duroc pork with a very sweet pineapple-chipotle salsa. Whatever this is, it bears absolutely zero resemblance to anything that anyone would prepare in a cazo, and it simply did not taste good to boot. The "Barbacoa Taco" is made with braised beef cheek, and is the "spiciest" of the tacos I tried here. It is cinnamon-y and sweet, and I can appreciate what they tried to do, even if it registers as an average taco for San Diego County. Better are the "Market Fish Tacos" and the "Spicy Mole Tacos," the latter being a decent and piquant potato taco, and the former featuring lightly-seasoned, mild grilled opah garnished with dill. Their riff on the Fish Taco is both different and defiant but, again, about on par with others in San Diego. I understand that food isn't the true priority here, and perhaps this review is a wee unfair because I'm reviewing a cocktail bar meant for an early-to-mid-20s crowd as if it were a serious restaurant for grown-ups. But if you want to P.R. your way into Troy Johnson’s “Eat This” list, and convince San Diego Magazine to name you the “Best New Restaurant,” you're painting a target on your back. With great hype comes great scrutiny.

Taco Tuesday Definitely come thru on a Tuesday for $2 carnitas, pollo or mushroom tacos. Outside patio is nice Service was good Carnitas tacos for $2 are Would be back on a Tuesday!

Happy Hour. Service was good, air-conditioning, and cool vibe. Tacos: Fish, pork and beef all lacked salt and flavor. Beef too chewy and fatty. No condiments on table and only hot sauce on request was Tapatío. Two good things: corn tortilla and house wine. But we came for the tacos and they were just not good. Cannot recommend.

Stopped by to find they are closed and the location is currently for lease. Bummed we were not able to try their amazing happy hour.

Back and forth on this review but overall- all 4 of us left frustrated and disappointed at the experience. Cons- very stale chips we couldn't get replaced, poor service, and a grumpy server who kept disappearing. Multiple times we ran out of water and cocktails. We asked a busser for water and our server when we saw them. The place was more than 1/2 empty the atmosphere in a lot of ways feels like a pop up. We wanted to order more drinks and food but we gave up, asked for our check from the bar tender when they dropped off drinks, and left. Pros- the drinks are cute and tasty, the guac was fantastic, and everyone enjoyed the ceviche. The oysters were basic, I've had better and worse. The kitchen did a great job. Hopefully the service was a Saturday staffing issue. Overall if you want cute instagram pics and good guac, go here. As for me it's a one and done.

If you're looking for a high quality, additive-free tequila bar, look no further. You can order 1 oz or 2 oz pours. Great place to come try tequilas you've been thinking about adding to your home bar but want to try first. Cheers.

Unfortunately this isn't my favorite spot. The food was underwhelming and lacking in flavor. The service was not very attentive to us. The prices were high for what we got. I guess the drinks were nice, so I think that's the only reason I would go back. We got a few food items: Ceviche Mushroom chorizo empanadas Mango salsa Short rib tacos Carnitas tacos Overall it was a little disappointing because we have seen this place over Instagram and everything. But I wouldn't come here to eat again.

The inside of this place is really cute and aesthetic. The mural on the back wall is beautifully done and give the place a pop of art. Our waiter was awesome and was able to recommend top dishes from the menu. I LOVED the lobster ceviche (hence the lack of picture). It was extremely refreshing and had all the perfect flavor combinations. If you're expecting a traditional minced ceviche - it's different. The tacos themselves were unique. The duck was amazing, the crab was tasty, but the carne asada was meh. The drinks were all absolutely delicious and so beautifully presented. They offer all types of flavors from spicy, to sour, to fruity. There's definitely something for everyone here if you're looking to go and get a drink.

I was really looking forward to coming here because I remember really liking it a few years ago when I first tried it. I will say that it's a cute place and they do have some good drink options. We got the beef taquitos to start with, they were crispy but a little dry. All they came with was a little drizzle of sour cream so I asked for salsa and our server told us it's an UPCHARGE!! never in my life have I gone to a Mexican restaurant and they charge extra for salsa. That was a shock to me. I also got two tacos: The fish taco which was okay and not my favorite but I did enjoy the carne asada ones! They're about $8 a taco so not cheap but they're decent sized.

Absolutely LOVED this place. Will go back over and over. Not only was the service exceptional but so was the food. SERVICE: shoutout to Brandon who was our waiter. He recommended great options for food and drinks, and was attentive. He helped make our whole experience such a positive one. Even when the drink came out wrong, he immediately corrected it. FOOD: Having celiac's it meant a great deal to know the restaurant is a gluten free restaurant. The individuals I dined with are not allergic to gluten; but they said the tortillas were some of the best tortilla's they've had.. and I can't disagree. I would probably opt out of the salsa trio dish and order guacamole bc some of the salsa was just too spicy. The drinks were great. Ambiance: Great outdoor and indoor, felt open and airy, not too stuffy. Great place for a date, family dinner, get together with friends or anything really. Definitely will be back. I knocked it a star bc portion to price was a little pricey. Also there was a weird smell (trash can smell) and we weren't sure if it was bc we sat by the back where the back door was, or if it was coming from outside.

Not only are the drinks good here but the food is phenomenal. We couldn't decide on one thing so we got a few apps and a taco each. Everything was so full of flavor. The service was the right amount of quiet and attentive. It's a casual vibe here, much like Encinitas. Highly recommend, especially if you have a foodie friend and love well crafted drinks.

Pretentious, over priced, food is mediocre. Service was extremely slow and lacking. Came here for dinner one night and the whole experience was not great. The restaurant has a DJ and the music was really loud, everyone was trying to talk louder than the DJ. I couldn't even hear myself speak. We had early dinner somewhere else and so was only there for a light bite and a drink. The tanjin one was decent but pricey, also couldn't taste the alcohol in there. Ordered the ceviche and that took a good 20min to come out. Portion size is pretty small. The chips were really bad, very dry and same as bags from the grocery store. The ceviche was whatever, average at best. Got 2 tacos, one short rib, that was pretty good, one lobster special taco, very plain no flavors and a bit dry. We waited almost an hour after ordering to get the tacos. Drinks not refilled, server was nice but didn't really make any recommendations on the menu or help us order. Needless to say, we are not coming back.

Two words...enchilada sauce!! My sister & I split two mushroom barbacoa tacos (SO good!) and the cheese enchiladas. The cheese enchiladas were hands down the best we've ever had! They were stuffed with the perfect amount of cheese - not too cheesy or hard to swallow/chew like so many enchiladas out there. And the SAUCE!! So flavorful with a spicy kick that we so appreciated & have never experienced elsewhere. I would buy bottles of that stuff if I could! The mushroom barbacoa tacos were also excellent!! It didn't taste or look like we were eating mushrooms which was very much appreciated. Highly recommend!!

Walking through downtown Encinitas, my friend and I stopped by for a light dinner and luckily caught happy hour! We each got a taco and corn on the cob that had a great kick to the salsa and crema on top. Our margaritas were a great price ($10) each and we definitely felt them by the end of the meal so you get your moneys worth. I loved the tortillas on the tacos; they are homemade and blue corn, my favorite, which is a rarity to see. I'm not sure I would eat here if it weren't for happy hour, however, because the prices are ridiculous for just one taco. You can definitely expect fast and kind service if you stop by though!

San Diego Taco Series, Part 7 "Life is a highway. I want to ride it all night long. If you're going my way I want to drive it all night long." Tom Cochrane Apparently not everyone is familiar with this song because while traveling down Taco Highway together, we unexpectedly found our 4 passengers all requesting different exits. Our trip began innocently enough with each passenger featuring excellent presentation skills and the same unique tortillas. However, it didn't take long until all were traveling divergent paths. The "Local Fish Taco" left us as soon as we approached Fishy Boulevard, the "Gobernador Taco" departed at Spicy Street, the "Duroc Carnitas Taco" was overwhelmed by the other flavors and missed his exit entirely, but the "Short Rib Asada Taco" signaled and exited as planned at Yummy Way. While there were a few road hazards along this route, we'd still recommend that y'all circle this destination on your Thomas Guide and make time for a visit. Overall the food was good enough to keep your passengers from incessantly asking "are we there yet?" And that's...Henry's Take. #sandiegotacos

I really love the drinks here! And I've been coming back for the margaritas for awhile now. I tried the food for the first time after months of wanting to try it! The sweet potatoes were delicious. The aioli it was served with was so yummy. Also got the chips and salsa trio - this cost $17 which seemed a bit high but it was very tasty and we ate it quick! So I guess it's worth it lol. I got 3 tacos - the avocado, the shrimp, and the soft shell crab taco. The shrimp and crab taco were so good. I'd definitely order these again! I love the tortillas that they are served on. The avocado taco was underwhelming and not my favorite at all. I personally just wouldn't order it again. The pescado was perfectly cooked. I just wasn't a huge fan of the sides that it came with. It wasn't the best pairing to me. The drinks are always 10/10 here! I ordered the guava margarita this time and it was super tasty! I love that the drinks here aren't too strong. You can taste the fruit and all the flavors! The food seems to be hit or miss according to the people I went with. But the drinks never disappoint!

Great service! We decided to stop for margaritas after shopping all day and found this fun spot! We didn't want to have a big meal so decided on chips, guacamole, and salsa. That hit the spot! Perfect pairing and satisfied our snack needs before our dinner later on. Gage was a great server and made sure we were happy with the drinks and chips/salsa. Even refilled our chip bowl! He was very attentive and checked on us frequently. Highly recommend this place!

This was our last stop on our downtown Encinitas foodie crawl. We did not have a reservation so we were placed on a waitlist. So if you're planning on dining here, be sure to make a reservation to avoid the wait! There are both indoor and outdoor dining. We had a group of 5 and a dog, so it was outdoors for us. There are heat lamps for those that get cold easily like myself. Cuatro Salsas: This was a good starter to share amongst friends. The pineapple habanero was delicious but definitely fire! I enjoyed the pomegranate on top of the guacamole. Who would have thought those two go so well together! They only serve one bowl of chips, definitely not enough. So be sure to get extra. Duroc Carnitas: SO SALTY. Took one bite and did not even finish the rest. Tried to just pick at the meat and eat it with the side of rice and beans that we had ordered separately, but it was unbearably salty. Grilled Spanish Octopus: This dish came out cold. It must have been sitting somewhere for awhile, not under any heat lamps. Anything "grilled" should have came out warmer than room temperature. The octopus was bland. The food was disappointing. It's great for photos but not for the taste bud.

As a person who didn't like tequila, I'm now a fan! Absolutely delicious drinks and food. Shawn was an awesome bartender Food; Calamari Shrimp Aguachile Taco Platter @deathbytequila #foodie #food #foodphotography #foodies #foodstagram #yummy #foodielife #eeeeeats #foodpics #foodieforlife #foodiefriday #foodpic #huffposttaste #yum #foodieblogger #foods #tasty #foodietribe #foodie_features #foodoftheday #eat #foodgawker #instagood #foodaholicpro #foodporn @foodaholicpro

Trendy place with nice decor, and probably an excellent tequila selection, but I came for lunch and wasn't ready to start pounding tequila at that moment, so I can't speak to the quality or selection in that regard, unfortunately. I will have to concur with the others who gave lukewarm review for the food. The food is kind of overpriced and underwhelming for Mexican fare. File this under happy hours/bars. I probably would not come here for the food, but it does have a fun vibe.

Very mid! People must go here just for the drinks? We only got waters.. I got two asada tacos, and wow, they were dry. The guac on them was pretty good, but did not make up for how dry and chewy the tacos were. Welp! Overpriced and alright. Seems to be on par with most San Diego upscale tacos. When I go back to Santa Cruz I'll get some real tacos, lol. Wish it didn't have to be that way, was excited!

smaller venue with solid tacos + quick and easy service! no line and seated immediately. the server was kind and gave us suggestions and tips on the menu. Drinks were excellent and their spicy margarita is one of the best I've had. The carne asade tacos were incredible and tasted authentic. Music was quite loud for a date / intimate setting but also made it feel more intimate since you had to be closer to speak to your date. Overall would recommend and go again!

We came here for the tequila - but will come back for the tequila ... and the food! As a foodie with a partner who has stated in the past that he would like it if food came in pill form (but loves craft cocktails) I'm always looking for restaurants that offer both. Death by tequila did not disappoint. Their tequila old fashioned is so delicious - although if you don't like chocolate I wouldn't order it. I got the tea Ana and also really enjoyed it. We also very much enjoyed our guac, tuna crude and fish tacos. We left stuffed and happy and plan to come back again soon. Pics of tequilas because our food and didn't last long enough for us to capture it. Highly recommend

I've been waiting to try this place since it opened. We sat on the outdoor patio. It's absolutely amazing. We started with the salsa sampler, and the pineapple habanero salsa was the perfect sweet and spice combo. Our server made two fantastic suggestions for us, the spicy mezcal margarita and the salsa sampler. We also ordered the smoked sweet potatoes, and they were perfectly soft on the inside and crispy in the outside. I also tried the short rib taco, which was a good size. The service was impeccable. Four different employees came to our table to check on us throughout our lunch!

Fun Fact: "Death by Tequila" is named that way because (as per their website): "our vibe is all about passion, community and good times. But there's no light without darkness. No life without death. And the tension between the two is our source of creativity. It's where we feel alive..." - They are as simple or complex as can be - depending on your taste. The food is actually good - the short rib taco is tasty as its filled with tender asada meat, guac, green onion, radish and salsa verde. All the flavors blend really well together. The avocado taco was surprisingly tasty - battered avocado deep fried , topped with radish jalepeno slaw and crema, my taste buds were exploding with excitement. The cilantro rice was subpar at most - it tasted more like buttered fried rice with a hint of cilantro. I love cilantro rice and you've got to add a lot of cilantro for it to be a great cilantro rice. Craft cocktails, margaritas, & pitchers here are great & very eye-catching. From activated charcoal type drinks, to other flavors such as coconut, chai, to simpler but tasty ones like "50 shades of green" filled with vodka, basil cucumber and topo chico -there is something for everyone. I loved having the "Los Muertos" , which had serrano infused tepozan blanco tequila, activated charcoal, agave, and lime. Although this place was pretty good taste wise - I was hoping for more of a selection in tacos (currently they have 4-5 taco choices). The cilantro rice could be improved, and the price ($7-$8) per taco could be sweetened with a sweet 2 or 3 taco deal. Overall, its a great place to visit if you want to try something different when it comes to more gourmet tacos.

Amazing! The drinks and food and the incredible service! The margaritas were absolutely fantastic! The right amount of alcohol and margarita mix! Fresh and clean! The drinks exceeded my expectations enough that wifey and I had two orders! The food was also fantastic and the guacamole and chips were hands down the best! The pickled onions what a perfect garnish on top! We had the shrimp and , the Carnitas taco to share! Everything was absolutely phenomenal! Looking forward to going back for another Margarita and Taco in the near future! We will be back for sure!

I would like to acknowledge your employee Gage. We were walking around and he guided us to your house tequila blanco which was amazing. He was friendly and informative.

This is our 3rd or 4th time here and there's never been a reason to review it since nothing stood out, bad or good. But tonight we had exceptional service so thought it was time to finally review. The food is definitely good. We've never had anything here that didn't taste great. We sat outside tonight and we were served by Aiko and the service was amazing. We finally discovered their branded tequila which was literally the first tequila I've ever tasted that didn't need a chaser! If you are a tequila drinker, or want to be one, get their house tequila. And sit in Aiko's section. You won't be disappointed!

Excellent food, service and ambiance. We were a big group and the server masterfully handled the group. Enjoyed it all around.

Happy hr Mon-Sat 3-6pm & ALL day Sunday. LOVE the carne asada tacos!!! Sweet potatoes ok. Cuatro salsas SO good! Pineapple habanero & guac are the best!

A great place for food and drinks. The service is great and the variety of food offerings is good.

My first impression of "Death by Tequila" was that it really does not aspire to be a restaurant for adult diners, but rather a trendy hook-up bar. Owned by a married couple, one of whom is a real-estate investment banking mogul, the other a former P.R. manager for Playboy, "Death by Tequila" claims to deliver "Modern Baja Cuisine." As I skimmed through its menu of such Mexican delights as 'quinoa with pomegranate seeds,' 'smoked salmon on "artisanal" toast,' and 'hot wings,' I braced myself for the worst. I won't lie to you, the tacos here are alright for the most part, but they're pricey and they lack soul. The best tacos I've eaten in my life have something elemental about them, tasting like they came from somebody's home, their meats straight off of someone's backyard grill. Great tacos taste like they are great by accident. Conversely, the tacos that I get at places like Death by Tequila taste like they have been formulaically engineered by a culinary school grad to bomb the mouth with flavor as fast as possible, and then be forgotten almost as quickly. Some of it could be laziness. For example, Death by Tequila uses small corn tortillas from La Fe in San Marcos. I sometimes buy these same tortillas for home-use from Sprouts and Whole Foods. They're pretty good, but it is inexplicable that a place like this isn't making their own tortillas. Hell, for what they're charging, they should even be nixtamalizing their own corn, then grinding their own masa. But I digress. The "Carnitas Taco" is the worst of the group. Rather than what you and I would consider to be carnitas, it is instead Duroc pork braised until flaccid in a very sweet pineapple-chipotle salsa. Whatever this is, it bears absolutely zero resemblance to anything that anyone would prepare in a cazo, and my tongue registered it as mediocre. The "Barbacoa Taco" is made with braised beef cheeks, and is the "spiciest" of the tacos I tried here. It is cinnamon-y and sweet, and I can appreciate what they tried to do, even if also an average-ish taco for San Diego County. Better are the "Market Fish Tacos" and the "Spicy Mole Tacos," the latter being a decent piquant potato taco, and the former featuring a lightly-seasoned chunk of mild opah garnished with dill. Their riff on the Fish Taco is both different and defiant but, again, about on par with others in San Diego. In response to legitimate complaints from other Yelpers about food quality and portion size, Death by Tequila's social media ambassador has retorted that the food here is "locally-sourced, organic when possible, fresh-squeezed, handmade and 'farm-to-table.'" That's all well and good, but you're completely missing the point, guys. If your food does not taste phenomenal at the prices you're charging, who cares about the other stuff. To another Yelper, Death by Tequila's response was that their "menu is created tapas-style and meant for sharing, which is why the portions may not be [what] guests are accustomed to." "Guests" like me are accustomed to getting appropriate value for what I pay for. That means that if I must pay premium North County restaurant prices for a taco, it better be a) damn tasty, b) damn big, and c) preferably both. I understand that food isn't the true priority here, and perhaps this review is a wee unfair because I'm reviewing a cocktail bar meant for an early-to-mid-20s crowd as if it were a serious restaurant for grown-ups. But if you want to P.R. your way into Troy Johnson's "Eat This" list, and convince San Diego Magazine to name you the "Best New Restaurant," you're painting a target on your back: with great hype should come great scrutiny. Food/Décor/Service: 3.8/4.2/4.1 Taco Score: Market Fish Taco (80/100), Black Mole Taco (80/100), Barbacoa Taco (75/100), Carnitas Taco (65/100) What to Order: Market Fish Taco, Los Muertos Cocktail

I came here for drinks with friends on a Saturday night and we had to wait awhile for a table. This place is super popular! While we waited we grabbed tacos from a different spot and so we only ended up drinking at Death by Tequila. Unfortunately after one round most people were ready to move on to the next spot so I only had the one drink. It was some kind of hibiscus something. So sorry I don't remember, but I probably won't get anything with hibiscus in it off their menu again. It was fine, but overall the drink fell flat for me. I know a different spot in town to get a killer mezcal and hibiscus drink so I guess my expectations were too high. As far as everyone else goes, most enjoyed their drinks, but no one put up a huge protest when people were ready to move on after their first round. I'll definitely be back to find a drink that better suits me and to try the food!

Come on a Sunday around 5:30.. was sat right away and the host was sweet. Took about 10-15 minutes to be greeted by a server. It wasn't that busy about a few tables outside and few taken inside. I had came for the bone marrow but they had ran out for the day .. but that didn't hinder the experience. My server had made some pretty good recommendations especially for the cocktail.. I had asked for something on the sweeter side and the recommendation of the watermelon margarita had satisfied. The skull ice was a very appreciated and added some flare to the drink.. definitely an Instagram worthy pic. The Gobernador Taco was my favorite out of the dishes .. had a slight kick but was pretty refreshing for the hot day. The carne asada taco was everything you expect of an asada taco.. I do appreciate the taco shells construction though.. didn't break or crack with the filling inside and wasn't dry at all. The smoked sweet potatoes was an interesting plate.. the chipotle crema adds a slight heat to the smokiness of the sweet potato. I had also ordered a Cajeta Semifredo dessert which was like a meringue dessert.. honestly not my favorite and does require a certain taste. Will probably go for something else next time. Overall a nice restaurant for a date night or lunch with the girls. The bar is beautiful and they have a great selection of tequila and mezcal!! Big plus in my opinion. Until next time

years ago they had a real chef who prepared some very original Mexican foods and paired dishes with funky novel tequila cocktails. Those days are long gone the food is awful, much worse than cheaper street tacos. Its loud and the service doesn't exist. Very slow, very overpriced. Your paying for the real estate . Good option if its critical for you to eat in this area and don't care about quality or service.

This is bar none the worst restaurant experience my girlfriend and I have had since moving to California. I rarely write reviews for service of any kind (if memory serves correct this may be my first restaurant review) - but an experience this bad deserves a write-up so others can make the best decision and steer clear. For those who don't want the light reading, it is an overpriced, under-serviced, disappointing dining experience and your dollars would be better spent just about anywhere in the area. Let's go through the lunch: -Arrival and Atmosphere The restaurant is based on the Main Street of downtown Encinitas, a cute downtown that we love spending time in. Like many other restaurants on this main strip, it has the option of high top and low top small tables along the sidewalk, with some more tables in an "outdoor seating nook" that's closer to the road but more removed from foot traffic. We arrived at a less busy hour with plenty of seating options available both inside and out - when we asked to sit outside, the hostess was reluctant to sit us at a table that was away from the sidewalk despite us asking. I'd understand if there was concern about the size of the party, but the table itself only had 3 chairs around it. Restrooms were also used prior to the actual start of lunch - the restroom used did not have toilet paper or paper towels and was overall a mess. Doesn't set the tone for a nice meal. -Service Upon sitting down, we waited about 10 minutes before anyone even approached our table. When they did, we put in an order of chips and salsa platter and a margarita each - about as basic as you can get for a Mexican restaurant. The chips and salsa came out fairly fast, however it was about 20 more minutes before our drinks arrived. It was clear that they had completely forgotten about our order and even after our server checked in and realized, it was still another 10 before the drinks actually came out. We realized that any opportunity to actually talk with an employee of the restaurant was a rare and golden moment, so we rushed putting in our food order and paying the check - not ideal and brings me to the next key area of focus. -Food (& Prices) I'll start with the latter - the pricing on the menu of this place is UNREAL. $18 for chips and salsas. $18-20 for two small tacos and a small rice and beans side. $26 for a BASIC CHICKEN QUESADILLA. $15+ for a margarita. It's the kind of pricing you could barely wrap your head around for a fantastic dining experience, let alone a place that forgets you exist. My girlfriend had her eyes on pollo asado tacos, which they notified they are out of/not serving. Again, a basic menu item that many people look to as an alternative to beef-based entrees. As a backup she went for the chicken quesadilla - it was as bland and basic as one could come, like something you make on your own stove at home. She found herself dipping it in our $18 salsa just to feel something. I ordered the carne asada tacos. They came cold and undercooked. We were extremely hungry at this point in the day and couldn't bring ourselves to finish our meals, they were that bad. As I was finishing my first taco a different server walked over with a second tray of tacos which they had clearly made by mistake. They seemed frustrated as if it was our doing. I have never left a restaurant wanting to lean in to the next table they sat and whisper "don't do this." Until today. Hoping that this review at least guides future visitors in a better direction, from your seats here you can see about 5 restaurants that will give you a better experience.

The braised beef flautas? YES. Even on a Saturday night you could tell the drinks were made with detail. Music was giving and food/drinks were perfect for a Saturday pregame.

Death by Tequila has good modern Mexican food. My favorites are the Duroc carnitas taco, gobernador taco, and the soft shell crab taco (not always available). Get the cuanto salsas because they're all good!! The chips are perfectly crisp, lightly salted, and go so well with all the salsa's and guac. The BEST drink is the Tajin Machine if you like spice and tequila. Shout out to Brandon P for his excellent customer service!! We were well taken care of with him!!!

Thanks to Yelp we found this spot. Our experience started with the nice hostess with brilliant blue eyes who loves to twirl her hair, very sweet young lady. This is a hip spot in Encinitas, just walking in you get the vibe. Smallish with a nice bar and cool décor. That said, it was a really nice Saturday afternoon so we sat outside on the sidewalk under an umbrella, it was idyllic. Server was Eirka T who was friendly with a chill vibe. I threw myself into a specialty jalapeno margarita, which was perfectly spicy and taste amazing on a hot day. If I was not driving back to Los Angeles I would have dared death and had another, especially the way that Erika recommended with a mezcal floater, next time. For lunch I had the carnitas burrito which was delicious, plenty big and I had two helpings of the fresh salsa. My daughter went lighter and had the strawberry Chamoy salad, which was fresh and refreshing, the cheese was so good! For me the salad would have been an ideal side, but she was filled after eating it... and a few bites of my burrito. A small compact menu that I'd go back and explore, everything was super fresh and the preparation was all fantastic. It's a Mex/Baja local, so don't expect typical enchiladas and traditional Mexican fare, this is a special hybrid menu with unique adaptations.

Two stars because the drinks are good. But the food, oh my goodness 0/10. I hate giving bad reviews but I really need to speak the truth. First of all, the portions are unbelievably small. (It was two of us) We went during happy hour, I get it -- the portions are going to be smaller....but I've gone to many happy hours and the portions are NEVER this small and for that price??? Geez. We started with the ceviche first, and it was the tiniest thing you'd ever seen. Lacked flavor and salt. Three bites and we were done. The tostada that it came with, had no salt either so the entire ceviche experience was bland. We then ordered the habanero pineapple salsa... the chips were SO salty and the salsa tasted like straight up crushed pineapple from a can. It has a slight kick at the end because habanero IS HOT. We had to dust the chips because the salt was too much. We then get the queso fundido. This was by far thee worst. SO SO salty it was almost inedible. We didn't get chips with it (which it comes with) I'm assuming they thought we were going to use the chips from the pineapple salsa... so imagine salty chips with a very very salty dip... we had to put pineapple salsa on top of the queso to balance out the saltiness. It was a weird combination for sure but we had to do it, we were not going to let this go to waste because everything was VERY expensive. I can't imagine going here during non happy hour...it's a fortune for tasteless food. I was in complete shock after we were done. We were also still hungry so we had to go buy food elsewhere. So much for a birthday celebration. The drinks were good, I'd probably come back just for the drink and that's it.

Amazing! Staff was so nice, professional and prompt. I had a really bad day prior to my just as bad tinder date (the real reason why I went to this place) that day. So seeing such enthusiasm and welcoming environment the staff has made us beyond a complete understatement. I unfortunately couldn't eat much, so I settled with their Quattro salsas. Right after I ordered their old fashion 2.0 And let me tell you, I love my old fashions. But they used tequila which was phenomenal! I couldn't get enough of their guacamole -which I devoured! And that pineapple habeñero salsa was also delish! I have been dying to dine here since I saw this place from my drive home from work. I'm glad that this place took a great turn of my day. Btw, Kendra H. was just so cool! Thank you for being my server, you really made that first time truly remarkable and worth to come back.

Only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 star is because of the lack of customer service from the bartender. He seemed very stand-off ish. Didn't care to hold a conversation with our party even though we tried twice. Pros: Our server, thank god was very nice and always attentive. Food was very tasty and fresh. I didn't care much about the Chorizo burrito but we loved their yellow tail ceviche, guacamole was delicious, and my Ahi Tina was great! Besides the bartender, this was a great place.

The service was good. We got the three salsas..loved the habernero one the best. Also got the empanadas..since I don't eat much shellfish. It was good flavour and big enough as a meal. I also got the jalapeño margaritas ans it was green and oh so good. It was hot enough too!

Cool little spot in Encinitas, they had a DJ and seating outside and inside. A little pricey for my taste since food was a 3/10. We order the Ahi Aguachiles (looked like dog food). We also ordered the ceviche, that was horrible too. We sent it back since it looked warm and like it had been sitting there for hours. The drinks were good. If all you need is drinks, then this might be it.

My husband and I wanted to try out something different but just all based tequila drinks, and we found this spot! Drinks are great! There's a kick to it, Food is good portion very flavorful and the cuatro salsa is to die for! Our favorite drinks were the tajin machine! A bit spicy but you keep wanting more sips! The tropical tea party is also one of our favorite

I've been wanting to go here for a really long time now, so my friend and I finally went here for dinner since we were nearby. We were seated outside, so it can be a little disruptive with all the passerbys. We ended up sharing the aguachile and a couple of tacos. She also got a cocktail as well. Her smokey paloma wasn't as pretty as some of the other drinks I saw, but the sips I had were refreshing. The chips included in the aguachile were colorful and not oily. The aguachile was rather small, but very flavorful! Both tacos were very tasty! We got the brisket and duroc carnitas, and my half didn't have much fat in it, which I liked. I'm glad there is another location in Del Mar, which is a little closer to me and another location opening up soon in Liberty Station that I would like to check out when they open.

I just love the interior design of this place! It's so earthy yet contemporary. Nina was our server she was excellent! She was very friendly and knowledge about the menu. We tried so many apps here and just as many drinks. I started with a margarita flight, guava, passion fruit and hibiscus. All were made from in house juices and used great tequila, not the cheap stuff like at other places. My bf had a mezcal old fashion, followed by a black drink that I cannot recall the name of. We loved loved loved the chips with the three different salsa, you must order them! Aguachiles were served on a large seashell, so cool. They were flavorful and citrusy.

This place is SO good my friend and I are here for the fourth time in the past two weeks ha! Seriously, the drinks are delicious and perfectly strong, the food is 10/10. I recommend the carnitas taco it is SO DAMN GOOD! They add crumbled chicharrón that takes it over the top. When in Encinitas give DBT a try you won't regret. Bonus - staff is awesome!!!

One very rude staff member. We used to love this place. Sad to say came today and likely won't go back. They open at 11. We got there at 11:05. As we stepped into the entry the male that was working there harshly says "We're closed." We said, "I thought you opened at 11?" He looks at his watch and rudely says "We are setting up." This could have gone very differently. We were in no rush, and would have happily waited a few minutes. But he was so rude from the start, it would be a miserable experience with him waiting on us.

Great place and nice ambiance. They used to serve octopus, but not anymore. The lobster ceviche was great! The salsas were great too!