Don Bravo

During my recent visits to Don Bravos Authentic Mexican Cuisine at 5504 La Jolla Blvd in La Jolla, CA, I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of their food and service. On consecutive evenings, I enjoyed their carne asada tacos and carnitas tacos, both of which were flavorful and satisfying. The no-frills, fast service, combined with the delicious food, made for an excellent dining experience. I highly recommend Don Bravos for anyone seeking authentic Mexican cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

It was OK, but given the price, I didn't think it was good value. You can take a look at my picture and see if you think it was worth it. Technically the food wasn't bad, but Don Bravo was simply not competitive in a city like San Diego, or even just one neighborhood like PB.

Tried a few street tacos. Carnitas and also fried fish. Fish was better. Carnitas were a bit dry. Tortillas (corn) were good. Thick enough that you only needed one per taco. Best thing was the price. Street tacos were $3 each. My girlfriend got a two taco platter. $8 for two. Both reasonably priced. Her grilled Mahi Mahi were better than either of mine.

I’ve been going here since I was younger and have never had an issue. The food has always been mid, but I enjoy supporting small businesses and it’s the closest Mexican restaurant to my house. Customer service has always been lacking, but tonight it felt exceptionally rude. Not only were staff giving me and my group dirty looks, but they were also rushing us with our order, even though it was a slow night. I was blatantly disrespected by the woman working the cash register (whom I’ve never seen before, I assume she works the food truck), and on top of this, the food given to me was poorly wrapped, luke-warm, and was considerably small/ill prepared compared to the many other times I’ve ordered this meal. I’m incredibly disappointed by this, and I will not be coming back after years of it being a go-to.

Food is either too salty or too bland. The mahi mahi tacos were dry and tasteless, really disappointing. There’s definitely better Mexican food elsewhere in La Jolla, at better quality and lower prices/ better value. Been here twice and will not return.

Casual neighborhood spot with simple quality utterly comforting food. Highly recommend fried and grilled fish. Portions are huge and burritos are enormous. Salsas are delicious and varied. Never change Don Bravo!

Good salsa. But my order of carnitas tacos was dry, leathery. Sit out back and look up, beyond the parking lot to the ocean and horizon.

Every time I'm in San Diego, I stop here for the best fish tacos of my life. These pictures are almost 2 year apart, and the tacos taste exactly the same. My wife got an Enchilada plate and loved it (though she would have like more cheese, but we're originally from Wisconsin so there you go). You will NOT be disappointed coming to Don Bravo. Simply the best.

Tried a few street tacos. Carnitas and also fried fish. Fish was better. Carnitas were a bit dry. Tortillas (corn) were good. Thick enough that you only needed one per taco. Best thing was the price. Street tacos were $3 each. My girlfriend got a two taco platter. $8 for two. Both reasonably priced. Her grilled Mahi Mahi were better than either of mine.

Neighhood go to Mex Food and if your in a hurry jump out back to the food truck and he makes amazing fish tacos etc.

If you're looking for real Baja style fish tacos in La Jolla be sure to stop here. We were in search of a mom and pop taco spot and Don Bravo came through. Prices were great and the tacos were huge! The rice was very authentic, reminded me of my Grandmas. Don Bravo has their own parking lot and an amazing ocean view just a block down the street. They serve beer, margaritas and an array of other dishes, hard shell tacos, soft tacos, enchiladas and more. We will definitely be back to enjoy their other items.

I had some tacos and rice+ beans which were great. I'd be excited to try a burrito next time. Make sure you sit outside and soak in the ocean view!

Talk about consistency. I first started coming here back in '98 when living down the street. Over the years I come back every time I'm in the area. Food is always so good. We will be back soon.

Not very fresh food. Fish tacos & beef don't taste good/fresh. The tables & salsa bar were uncleaned. No point in saying anything. They know what they do & don't do.

Great food , worth the wait in line. Very inexpensive and popular with the locals. Takeout only. Cheapest food in La Jolla followed by Fish Tacos at the beach. Follow the surfers

Carne asada burrito is small and lacks flavor. For $12 it should be bigger and better. Salsa bar is mid at best. They charge a $0.79 service fee for credit card. Many better options in La Jolla.

Great Service, great people,incredible food amazing environment quick service cheap merchandise best fish tacos in the world if your looking for a place to ear I recommend here.

I waited almost an hour for a bean and cheese burrito. Are you kidding me? I was beginning to think someone took a break and ate my dinner. An hour wait is unexceptionable. I understand Bird Stock event was going on. Perhaps too many people called out. Orders for food were missed placed. I would suggest for next year to hire more people to help with the excessive amount of people. My burrito was over priced and mediocre. Also, how was my burrito lukewarm! Someone explain to me why chips were 6 bucks. For chips I know were not handmake. Do yourself a favor and not go here. Wait times are too long, food is not great and food is over priced. Ambiance is loud . Not a traditional style mexican restaurant .

I am sad to say this has to be the worst Mexican place I have ever been to. First of all my order took over 40 minutes to get to my food. I even asked the lady on the cash register and she told me it would take 20 mins at the latest. Second, the food was lukewarm when I received it . Thirdly, the service was okay. My friends and I also missed our reservation because the food took way to long. Its sad to say I will not be returning. Do you not come here if you are going to be in a hurry . Apparently 40 minutes isn't enough time to give customers their food warm.

I ordered the Don Bravo bowl without rice and loaded it with salsa and fresh cilantro...it was awesome! Smokey flavor and the carne asada was perfectly grilled. A great little authentic place! Beautiful view of the ocean as well.

My friend wanted a piña colada from here and we decided to stop by for that and a couple of food for the beach which was not too short of a drive away. You can get a great view of the ocean dining out on the patio! The inside is very casual as if you were eating at home. The place had some cool piñatas hung around the shop which was a cute touch. I didn't know what to order but they had two signs that indicated their fish tacos were one of the best things to get, so I opted for one. They have a nice selection of hot sauces in which you get your containers when you receive your order. They were pretty generous with the toppings from the bar as I saw jalapeños, diced onions, and limes. I liked the chipotle sauce the best! It was flavorful with my fish taco. My friend ordered their carne asada fries and they were pretty standard as the fries weren't as crispy as I've had compared to other carne asada fries. Overall, I would give Don Bravos a 4 for the quality of their food and service!

I would give this place 1 star but the food isn't bad. Been here twice, live up the street in Windansea. Came in here with a friend tonight for taco Tuesday which is advertised as: "2.49 Fish Tacos, $3.49 carne Asada tacos" After we ordered and looked at our receipt we realized we had been charged the regular price, not the taco Tuesday price. So I asked the cashier and manager (?) man in his late 20's, not sure his name, why we were charged the regular price? The cashier and manager didn't really have an answer and asked me what the taco Tuesday prices are ?? Shouldn't you know that? He didn't apologize so I asked if instead of refunding us we could get a drink and he said no because that's not the same and then tried to have me pay the difference for the drink. I said no it's fine I'm just trying to make it easy and you don't have to refund two tickets. He said no that's harder and it's not the same so I said fine refund us, he refunded us the wrong amount and refunded my friend's purchase to the wrong credit card. I went up after we grabbed our food and said "look you messed up twice and he said no that's your card" the card DOES NOT MATCH but he kept insisting we're wrong and said "Fine what do you want? A drink? What??" He grabbed two cups and slammed them down in front of us. It was so aggressive and rude, I told them they have shitty customer service and I meant it. I'm shocked anyone comes back here. Don't waste your money.

Amazing tacos! And I'm really picky about my tacos having them tried all over the world. Also, it's right by the beach, so you have a beautiful ocean view as you dine outside. This place is a must try!

Great food. Perfect for a post surf sesh. And a great place to meet up with friends. I've had the breakfast burrito multiple times and intend to come back!

Good food, larger portions than expected however took longer than expected too. Very busy place with both indoor and outdoor seating

Great spot near the cliffs in La Jolla. Authentic Taco Shop with lots of choices. Has parking. Has alcohol. Gets busy at lunch but worth the wait.

This is my go-to spot for amazing Mexican food by the beach. My dad and I love coming here, especially for their shrimp, carnitas, and birria tacos--they're always on point. Good service and casual ambiance. The green salsa is a must-try!

The food inside the restaurant I have never liked. I find myself disappointed by it any time I try it. The hidden gem here is the Birria Truck in back. The tortillas are fresh. The Birria is fire. And frankly it's the best tacos I've had in San Diego. Or at least it's up there! Move over Tacos El Gordo. The service at the truck is excellent. Inside they can be a little overwhelmed or forgetful but I only really go inside to get a margarita. The ambiance on the back deck is great because you have a clear view of the ocean. I've gone here dozens of times so I have to recommend it if you know what to order.

We stumbled upon this Mexican restaurant after surfing in nearby Tourmaline beach. Decided to give it a try because their tacos are advertised to be around $2.50/piece only to find out it's going to be for small street tacos. We ended up getting the normal size ones, one battered fish taco and an adobada. The fish taco for $3 was huge and the fish was golden crispy and delicious! I like how they served it in a corn tortilla as I think most places in SD use flour. The adobada taco meanwhile came out to about $5.50 which is so overpriced considering there's nothing out of ordinary about it. Giving this place a 3.5 just for the misleading ad about their promo and for how pricey the adobada is. The fish taco was good, though.

5 Stars for Don Bravos!!!!! The Battered Fish Tacos are big and they come out really fast. This is more of a local spot and isn't overrun by tourists and/or college kids. Calumet Park is around the corner and a great place to take your food to go for a taco picnic.

The inside is nothing to write home about. Very rudimentary. They were stapling the vinyl tablecloth to the tables when I was there. Staff is a bit uncaring about getting in the way. Not the most attentive folks. Both times I was there the condiment bar cilantro and mild salsa was nearly empty. They did refill it upon request. I definitely would not go here for the service or atmosphere, but there were several groups outside having a great time. The food was very good. My burrito was delicious!! So were my tacos. My wife also enjoyed her tacos. Chips and salsa were also good. There's better Mexican food in San Diego, but there's something very fun & charming about this place. Especially if you're looking for a quick meal on the run. Definitely worth a try.

This place definitely deserves a rating in the 4's. I came in for a taco and the guy behind the counter was very friendly. The salsa bar is great, with at least 4 salsas, jalapeños, limes and cilantro. I ordered a surf & turf taco ($6.50) and it was tasty. I liked the corn tortilla. The view of bird rock is nice too. I'll be back to try more.

Food was pretty good actually but the interactions with the cashier made it hard to enjoy this place unfortunately. I asked where the bathroom was and the guy pointed to the door and said, "outside". I went outside but the bathroom door was locked. I really had to piss so I waited patiently for 10 minutes for the guy to come out. After waiting an excruciating 15 minutes, there was still no one coming out. I went back inside and told the cashier, "Someone must be having some trouble in the bathroom!" To which the cashier laughed and said, "You have to use the key". Which was obscurely placed next to the sodas, never mentioned to me, made me feel stupid for waiting for 15 minutes and then laughed at me. Ill feel stupid all on my own thank you. Not returning

Such a great vibe and the food was fantastic. Prices were definitely worth the amount of food you get. Would highly recommend if you're in the area

Came with my kids and they thought I was trying to steal a soft drink because my 4 year old went to go get orange juice instead of water when I was getting a table. Mind you I bought 4 drinks already... also they are shiesty with their meat in the burritos, go down the street and skip this place, it's changed ... way overpriced!

Kind of a long wait, but the food is good! Nothing that is extremely to die for, but it is decent mexican food. Also has a nice view from the outside back patio area as you can kind of see a bit of the ocean!

We like Don Bravos chicken taco combo with rice and beans. Its always good, and you can choose your salsas or fresh cilantro to spice it up.

The food is wonderful The service is awful Took 43 minutes to get my food from the time I placed my order and was told my food would be ready in 15 to 20 minutes.

If you want to eat today, you better order yesterday. We waited waaaaaaaaay too long for our order. Street taco and cheese enchilada ordered 44 minutes ago and still waiting. No crowd. No bueno!!!

Uhmphhh so I heard that this place was known for their "lobster" burrito so I got it to go. It took them about 20' for to make to go. When I arrived the pick up guy was weirdo, there were two lines order and pick up order lines... so I head to pick up line to pick up my order and he said go wait in line?!!! And then he called me back up a second later... wtf?! Also they give you two containers for sauce abs when you ask for extra container for sauce he looked annoyed.. Dayumnnnn don't be so cheap for asking for extra sauce cup?!! Ok for the lobster roll.... Uhhhhb yeah that one should be called shrimp roll... lol they put pieces of shrimp and call it lobster rolll I really wanna support small businesses during times like this but really annoying when places like this exist...if u knkow what I mean...

Fish Taco is sublime! Service was awesome! The ambience is perfect! Would recommend this!

Here is the one and only review you'll ever need for this place: The food and service are subpar and the vibe and view is great.

The food is mediocre. Oscars a half a mile away is 1 million times better not to mention much more affordable. Also, Birdrock is such a quaint community and Dan bravo Restaurant is so rundown with so many signs furniture falling apart paint shipping it diminishes the charm of, such a darling neighborhood

I loved the food. everything was really good, especially the salsa. I had no problem. The Carne Asada is very good.

Food quality is excellent and always tastes very fresh. I recommend the fish burritos and beef enchiladas.

I was in the area and decided to order the two seafood tacos combo (mahi mahi and calamari). It is advertised on their menu that it comes with rice, beans, tortillas and salad for $15.99, however My order didn't come with any additional toritillas except for what was already on the taco. I also ordered their flan ($4.99). Total was $22.61. Pros: -They have tables inside -Self serve salsa section -Lots of daily specials -Their tacos are huge Cons: -their menu stated that their combos come with Tortillas but it was unclear if that meant additional tortillas or the tortilla on the taco

Want authentic Mexican food? Don Bravo's is the spot. The absolute best in San Diego hands down!

The service was insanely slow! Waited 35 minutes for a carne asada burrito with one person ordering ahead of me. Was so hungry by time food was ready and unfortunately it was no good. Barely anything to it besides tortilla. With th all the similar restaurants around not worth it.

The street tacos for $1.99 each was a pretty good deal. I got the potato, fried fish, and carnitas. All three were very delicious. The sangria was also really good. Had outdoor seating where you could see the ocean. Great atmosphere. Service was pretty good also. Their salas we're delicious as well.

**TOURIST BAE-CATION REVIEW** Drinks - 3/5 Service -5/5 Ambiance - 5/5 Overall: Saw this spot as I was having breakfast across the street. IM HERE FOR THE TACOOOOSSS!!!! lol. it was early so it wasn't busy at all the server was patient as i read through the MANY signs posted before I saw the taco options. Very spacious inside and they have a lil balcony attachment outside to accommodate the owners with dogs (A LOT UT HERE IN SD). I don't think you can go wrong with any of their taco selections just stick to proteins your most comfortable with. had frozen Mecal margaritas, stick to the original the added flavors are just too sweet in my opinion. REAL REAL TACOOOSSSS HAPPY EATING!!

Came here just to get a quick bite and boy was it lengthy. Literally ordered two tacos and took nearly 30 minutes. I wouldn't have mind if it was hot but tacos came out cold. I'm not particularly a fan of places that hardly heat their tortillas. The fish tacos were standard, not bad but not great. Salsa was good. The restaurant was not crowded by any means. Places to sit.

This place is a must every time I'm in SD. Located in beautiful La Jolla. The burritos are amazing! This was our first time trying the rolled tacos not bad but really dry the black beans were good!

Sooooo delicious! I've been here 3+ times and will continue to come back. Rolled tacos, carne asada burrito, and their cane asada nachos/fries are all 10/10.

Ordered a combo plate and asked for hard shell tacos on both. One was hard shell the other was soft. Ordered a carne asada burrito and it was not warm and missing guacamole. When I called he said bring the food back and we'll see...There are way too many other excellent taco shops in San Diego and more affordable. Humberto's in Golden Hills, las Cuatras Milpas in Barrio Logan, Taco Shop in North Park, Oscars in Hillcrest. Can't say I will be returning especially with the attitude.

What an absolute disappointment. I've been coming to Don Bravo for over ten years and I have recommended them to more people than I can count. Unfortunately, I won't be eating here ever again. First off, the wait time was disgusting. We arrived around 630pm this evening and ordered two burritos and two fish tacos. Waiting in line took about 10-15 minutes, and our food was delivered to us 50+ minutes later (based on the time on our receipt). In addition, they only called about 6-8 other orders in the 50 minutes we were there, so it's not like they were slammed. I could completely overlook the wait time though, if the food was any good. But it isn't. In fact, the food here is among the worst Mexican food I've ever had in San Diego. The salsa is bland, not even mildly spicy, and tastes like it came out of a giant plastic bag. The fish tacos, which Don Bravos used to be known for, were easily the worst I've had in years. The fish had zero flavor, was way over-breaded, and the sauces/etc on the taco were bland and didn't compliment each other at all. I didn't even eat the second taco -- that's how bad it was. The California burrito was easily the worst California burrito I've had in years. The tortilla was ok, but the carne asada was bland (noticing a theme?), dry, and tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. The guacamole was also flavorless, and the French fries were not good either -- and there was also way too many French fries and not nearly enough meat, cheese, or guacamole. This place used to be a phenomenal spot with an incredible view of the ocean. They still have the view, but everything else about this place has gone to s**t. What an absolute shame, but this place is a 0 out of 10. Not worth coming to for any reason. Also, they now charge a 3.5% credit card surcharge (which means they are profiting off credit card surcharges, since most vendors pay 2.5% to 3%, and they charge $5 for stale chips and salsa (this used to be free). The owners of this place should be ashamed of themselves. I hope they get their act together and start making food like they used to, or make room for someone else who will.

This place is amazing! We come here all the time and food is always delicious and fast!

Quick stop for two tacos. For the $2 taco Tuesday price every day you can't really beat this! I wasn't sure I wanted anything. Luckily my fiancé decided to run in and grab two tacos. A carnitas and a chicken one. I preferred the carnitas (pork) taco! Worth a try if you're on a budget and in a rush!