El Chingon

I had been here 2 years ago. I’m so happy to see it’s still running during COVID. The food size was decent and tacos were amazing. I highly recommend the dish with shrimp, steak, and chicken. The waiter also gave us a fire show over the pan. You can choose indoor or outdoor. I have never been to the evening dinning session, but heard that pretty amazing with great DJ too. All in all, I highly recommend here for their amazing food and good service.

Really cool vibe, food is really good, tacos were so dang good, enchiladas were also fantastic, heck; the chips and salsa were even fresh. Salsa not that watery cheap stuff, oh no! Three different flavors were served with the chips. All three were tasty!! Now!! The Margaritas made by Joe were the best my wife and I have had, Classic Margarita on the Rocks... Heck yes, you'll love them... Full bar, so they'll have your favorites.. Service was top notch 👌 by everyone working on 9-24-22 Thanks, Robert and Cece Burke

It was my first time visiting El Chingon, and I was thoroughly impressed!! We sat at the bar for lunch and our bartender was super friendly and helpful. The watermelon margarita with spicy/chili rim was really good. I ordered the three Taco platter. All three tacos were packed with flavor, fresh, and excellent. Both salsas, which came with chips, I really enjoyed. If you are in the area and looking for Mexican food, I would definitely keep El Chingon on the top of your list.

They were able to seat our large party of 12 on a Friday night, which was great! The service was fast and everyone was helpful. The food was pretty good but not amazing. Burritos were huge and could be shared. Everything was a bit spicy-which I like but others may not appreciate. We were there around 7 pm so by the end of our meal, music was very loud and it was transitioning into the evening club vibe.

Best place for taco Tuesday in downtown San Diego! 2 dollar tacos which are all delicious, I got the mix play of 5 different tacos for $10! Beers were cheaper as well $5 for a tecate. Tacos were fantastic here go for taco Tuesday and you can’t beat that deal!

Loved the atmosphere, the music playing. Going during the day is more relaxed. Make any drink ‘Bad Ass’ and get a corresponding paleta & candy stick to compliment. Fajitas were average, as expected. They add some flame to it for show but nothing extra about them.

This is a cool place to come and have some good Mexican food. Downtown San Diego. The memorabilia up on the wall draws you in. The music was a little too loud but that's because I'm old. The margaritas a little too expensive but that's because I'm cheap. They do not disappoint and straight to the Head.That's the vibe here turn up ,turn loud, and turn loose. Can't go wrong with anything your order. Complementary salsa and chips 🔥👍 must visit!!

Visited here from LA and I gotta say the food was delicious!! True Mexican flavored food, the drinks were also incredible and the ambiance was the best! I strongly recommend this place!! I’ll sure be back, No Doubt!

Food was Good. Service was pretty quick. Ambiance was great !!! I recommend this place to anyone visiting San Diego for the 1st time !!!

El Chingon delivers a memorable dining experience with its vibrant atmosphere and inventive Mexican cuisine. The lively decor and energetic vibe set the stage for a feast that's both flavorful and fun. We started with: - Queso Fundido: Gooey and melty, served with tortillas. - Badass Fries: Asada fries generously topped with guacamole and tangy salsa. Super crispy fries and came in a generous portion! GREAT for sharing. For the main course, we enjoyed: - Taco Plate: A variety of well-seasoned tacos with fresh toppings! We got fish, birria (came with small consome), and shrimp. - Parrillada Chingona: Super IMPRESSIVE platter of tender beef, juicy chicken, carnitas, and flavorful and buttery shrimp, accompanied by guacamole, grilled veggies and more queso. We made some absolutely mouthwatering fajitas. To top it off, the margaritas were a highlight: - Chamoy Mango Margarita: Strong, sweet, tangy, and spicy. My favorite! - Madero Margarita: Less sour, but just as strong, and the chamoy straw and watermelon popsicle was a hit! With friendly service (shoutout to our server Hannah) and huge drinks, El Chingon is a must-visit for anyone in San Diego looking for a feast!

Even tho it had 3 1/2 stars, we gave it a try. Well we give it 3. Long wait to place order. The "chef special (birria tacos) was the worst birria I've ever had, and it was extremely cold. 60 outside and 50 degrees inside. Music was good. But I'm freezing. Worst birria tacos ever. Sorry.

**Absolutely Horrible Customer Service--Avoid This Place!** My experience at this establishment was beyond unacceptable. The manager, who seemed to think he owned the place, showed no respect whatsoever. He actually told me to "get the f*** out of my club." It's shocking that someone with such an unprofessional attitude is allowed to represent this business. If I were the owner, I'd fire him on the spot. It's people like him that drive customers away and hurt the business. The whole issue started because a bartender accused me of "staring" at her. Honestly, it was laughable. If the staff feels uncomfortable with customers simply looking at them, maybe they should dress more appropriately, or the management should address their work environment. On top of that, despite spending a good amount of money, they had the nerve to throw away my drinks. Talk about a waste of time and money! If you value good customer service, do yourself a favor and avoid this place. They don't deserve your hard-earned money or your time. This place is an absolute joke.

I recently visited this restaurant based on positive reviews and the inviting atmosphere. Unfortunately, during my meal, I discovered a staple in my tacos. I informed the staff, and a supervisor offered a replacement. However, I requested to speak with a manager to provide feedback, as is customary. Despite repeated requests, the manager did not come out to address the situation, citing being "busy." This response, in my view, reflects a lack of leadership and respect for customer concerns. While I do not expect compensation, I believe it is essential for management to engage directly with customers to address issues and demonstrate commitment to customer satisfaction. Regrettably, based on this experience, I am unable to recommend your restaurant.

Our last restaurant/bar stop at the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego, CA was at El Chingon Bad ass Mexican. We enjoyed the ambiance and give it a 4/5 stars to the following: -Carnitas burrito with rice, beans, sour cream and guacamole. -The complementary chips and salsa. -Chocolate cheesecake 3.8/5. We give the following drinks 3/5 stars: -Mango margarita -Pancho Villa Tamarindo margaritas. The drinks could've sweeter the way most Mexican restaurants serve them. The service was excellent!! I definitely would go back for the same carnitas burrito. Happy Yelping :)

I went around 3pm on a Wednesday, so needless to say it wasn't that busy. Good for me cause I got seated right away in the booth. The waitress was really nice and so was the nice gentleman that served me chips and salsa. I ordered the margarita flight. The small cups came individually, I thought they would place the flight on a board, so that was disappointing, but no biggie. I ordered the chicken enchilada's verde. It was good and so was the rice and beans. However the enchiladas started to get cold, dry and hard fast. I ordered a Modero margarita. It was good! The presentation was cool, but I didn't eat the ice cream bar. Beware though! They charge a 'Non Cash Tender Adjustment' charge because I used my credit card. So dumb. I would go back one more time because my fiancé wants to try it, but maybe not again.

Came here from the courthouse, which was roughly a 20 minute walk each way. It was a spur of the moment decision as I aimed to try a different spot every day I was serving. The volumn of the music was just loud enough that I didn't hear theconversations of neighboring tables. I have received great service before, but this was some of the greatest service ever. This must be an awesome employer as I have never seen someone so happy to be at work. The waitress who served my table was very attentive and was all smiles whenever she came by. Food was great. I had not known when I walked in at the time, but this place apparently has multiple business names. Got a taco plate with carnitas, birria, and al pastor. It was an overall great experience.

Bad ass Mexican means bad ass review. I rarely write bad reviews, but this was worth mentioning. From the first encounter with the hostess at the door, she did not look like she wanted to be there nor was she attentive. When she finally seated us I asked for her name and she said it doesn't matter since she was off and leaving. Wtf? Not the most appropriate interaction nor was it professional. This was just the beginning. We then got another hostess and she seemed nice at first. She asked us for any food or drinks and tried selling us bottle service. She then went into saying that a large party and seating inside could only take 3 credit cards max. I told her not everyone will be drinking or eating. She says well you can order separately then, but would have to be seated outside. I was irked. We ended up outside. Heat lamps weren't working and took forever for them to light up. I had to mention that it needed to be turned on multiple times since it was chilly outside. Server seemed bothered by the request. You can just tell from her facial expression, demeanor, and lack of enthusiasm that she did not want to be there nor serve us. I was beyond annoyed at this point. So many other reasons for the low rating: took 30 minutes for my friend to get his beer after multiple requests, the drinks were overpriced ($15 for a small margarita) not worth it for the amount you get, $12 shot of tequila which looked like less than a shot, and the food was subpar. I was with a mix of ethnicities and we all agreed it tasted like white Mexican food. Honestly though, Taco Bell is better. My friend said there was a lack in seasoning even salt. Everyone seemed disappointed with the quality of food. Where is the chef? Is there a chef? For a mexican restaurant/bar you would think they would represent authentic Mexican cuisine. I guess the negative Yelp reviews were right. It does get loud inside at the bar so expect to scream at your neighbor. This isn't really my scene but came to support a colleague as she is leaving our department. Otherwise, I would never ever step foot in here. Stools, chairs, couch, and tables need an upgrade. Interior seemed rundown. I wasn't drunk, but the uneven stools and unleveled patio made me wobble as if I was. The only good thing I enjoyed was the sparkling bottled mineral water. That gets 2 stars. Shady business tactics. Just read the other bad reviews. You have been warned. Enter with caution.

3.5 stars... Poking around Gaslamp and came across this joint...we visited their sister property last week, so we thought we'd give it a shot! Ordered the guacamole...fresh avocado mixed with veggies and served with tortilla chips...very tasty! My only complaints were the lack of local beers... .394 was the only one! And it was a bit loud... Ambiance is circus rock saloon, service was friendly and helpful, and prices were above expectation. Good for tourists, but not my jam... this joint does not make the list.

El Chingon is one of my favorite spots downtown! Might actually be my favorite. The food and drinks that they serve during the day are amazing. Portions are really good sizes too. At night it turns into a bar/club and the music is SO GOOD. I live close by and I have never had a bad time here!

Another great time at El Chingon. We went to a bunch of places for my wife's birthday and this was the nightcap. We were regulars years ago when it was Rodney time! We were lucky enough to get great seats in the patio. Morgan was our server and she was great. We had a bunch of drinks and they were great. She even brought out a Bday shot out for my wife! We had a wonderful time and they had mariachis there as well. Couldn't of asked for a better time here. I love this place!!

4.5 stars. I loved my food! Very fresh, well seasoned and cooked. I got one birria taco, a Baja Fish burrito and some Mezcal to sip. The taco and burrito were excellent. The burrito is HUGE! So, if you're not very hungry, be ready to bring the rest home - it'll make for an amazing midnight snack. One little downer was my drink. It was just alright. But the customer service more than made up for it. They were attentive, but not so much so that they're always in your face, which is the sweet spot, in my opinion. The ambiance was nice. Felt it might cater to a younger crowd, so the venue might be a little to loud and dark for some. But overall, really great!

I was eating my lunch after a beautiful game at the San Diego Padres baseball game and to my surprise, I found a staple in my mouth when I brought it up to the waiter she sent her supervisor over. I asked her supervisor to count my mail. He told me he could not do that only bring me out another plate. I asked to speak to the manager. He told me the manager was too busy to talk to me. The manager never came out.

Gaslamp Downtown is one of my favorite go-to place when dining. One of our recent choices to try here in Gaslamp was this place called " EL CHINGON BAD ASS MEXICAN " We got seated inside, but it was too Dim , so I asked to be seated outside. They were very nice to accommodate our request right away. The complementary Chips came while we were choosing our food. It was easy for me to spot the food I like and ordered it right away. I ordered : *PARILLADA CHINGONA - Carnitas, grilled skirt steak, grilled chicken, chicken breast, shrimp, queso fundido, guacamole, beans, rice, tortilla, and pepper. (SERVES 2-4 ) *MARAGARITA FLIGHT - 3 mini margaritas While waiting for our food we also checked in on YELP and we got a sample of their "Taste of El Chingon" Chef choice food item. When our PARILLADA CHINGONA came omg it's a lot!!! There was lots and lots of meats! I love it! The first thing that I tasted was the one in the middle that looked like a Lasagna, it was the Queso Fondido, it's so good! Then I tried each meat and they were all tasty, I also tried the Shrimp and it was so well seasoned, my Son likes it a lot. Everything in the PARRILADA CHINGONA was worth it. It says it serves 2 to 4 people, but I feel like it can be shared with more than 4 people.. My Mini Margarita flight was cute and they all tasted delicious. The Sample of the Taco they provided on the check-in was also so good, a bit spicy, but yummy too. Our Server was very Friendly and very quick at attending to what we needed. I like the food, and the food portions were great. Parking, as always, is tough in downtown. I'm definitely coming back here for more.

The decor of this place caught my eye, which is why we decided to give this place a try the first day that we were in Gaslamp area of San Diego. The decor correlates with a theme that reminds me of the movie Coco. There is something new to take in all over the place. The seating area caught my eye immediately upon walking in. The sofas look like they are made of old gym mats and are worn slam out (see pics). I think it's time for an upgrade. Now, the food and drinks were not so appealing. We went for Happy Hour. They offer a $6 margarita. Don't order it! It's a premix and I should've known better. Next, we tried the fish tacos. Don't, I repeat don't order those either. Everything was good but the fish. The fish had a gray color to it. So, I did not finish the taco. The bathroom area was clean and easily accessible. I wasn't sure what was going on with the toilet seat (see pic). It's something to ponder.

Had a blast after the Dodgers vs Padres game here at Chingon in downtown San Diego at the Gaslamp having tacos and chicharrón with a bomb margarita and a chamoy paleta, Hana was such a great host and made sure we had a great night

Loved my margarita. Food was on point. Service was great. Would definitely come back again!

The food here isn't bad! Ordered the Cali burrito with my cousin. It was shareable because we weren't super hungry and it filled us up. I like that this place is a restaurant and club. However, when we ordered tequila shots, they didn't taste the same even though we ordered the same kind. I wasn't a fan of the watermelon margarita either. Had a weird after taste. Service was good! I also came here for the club on a different night - which is more for my 3 star review. The cover was way too much, even after waiting in line for almost an hour. I do like the music they play. The dj had good variety. It was just so packed and the drinks were way over priced.

I want to start off by saying I love this place, but I understand why it doesn't have the best reviews. The drinks are expensive yes, but I thought the were pretty good! They're Mexican candy shot is also a must. The food on the other hand is ehh. We get the parrillada for a group and it's the best deal. It serves 4-5 people and it has a bunch of different meats with rice, beans, and tortillas. Again the flavor is ehh but the salsas make it so much better. I've had great experiences with the service so no bad reviews there. The music is always great too! Again I love this place and while the food may not be all that, it's still such a fun place!

Recently visited this place for dinner. We sat at their sister restaurant Havana. We wanted to check our their indoor ambiance and were able to get a table upstairs! The ambiance was very nice and comforting. We loved the little detailing and the cuban theme. My husband got the chicken enchiladas and I got the veggie fajitas. Our server was very nice and ensured that they took good care of us. He was on top of everything and also worked were us to modify our dishes. My husband loved his enchiladas. It was not overly cheesy and very authentic. I loved my fajitas. It was a lot of food for the both of us. They also had a good variety of salsa with great flavors. To top it off, the server got is a complimentary chocolate cake which was absolutely delicious!!!!! I highly recommend checking out this restaurant.

The many eateries and the social restaurants there I have found many places with the best food and the many that are of the ones that cook food to long and yet they have drinks there to take the taste away and the flavor for those that have had chicken taquitos that were fried over the time limit for the hardening of the tortilla and the meat. Yes, Elchin Gon does have some of the best drinks they are a bit odd with popsicles in them and the oversized syrup drinks with seasoning powder on the rim of the glass if that's a drink I stuck with a small house margarita. The days that I had went over to the restaurant is just before the New Years Eve Day and the looks of the restaurant they had nothing set up for New Years Eve and the decorations they had were more for the fiestas nothing for the New Years, To see the many other restaurants were decorated and the restaurants having shipments of drinks other having shipments of wine and the Champagne being delivered that was stocking up for New Years Eve. The time I came in on was their Happy Hour with just a few people that was inside I took a place at the far end of the bar to get a good look at the bar to see if they had clean service area. The bartender who wase a female server the one thing that she kept walking by was the open cooler behind the bar and the beer that was getting warm. When you come to a happy hour you may get hot food and the other hand there are many times you may get cold food when I had placed my order, I had asked the bartender she told me about the taco combos and the specials for the tacos great prices, so I had ordered Potatoe tacos and chicken taquitos and a small happy Hour Margaritta which was one of the smallest glasses . when the server came out with my order, he came out with a different plate someone else's order. To see that told me the server was not reading the ticket and grabbing plates he went back to the kitchen to get my order. After receiving my order, it was not something to expect to see the order that was overcooked and the rolled tacos were overcooked, yet some parts were able to be eaten. As a Yelp Reviewer this one restaurant that I had considered for the top 20 restaurants, yet the food told more of the restaurant and the way the food is cooked and presented. To have tacos that fell apart and the rolled tacos that were to be soft fried and with the ingredients and the toppings that were a messy topping. Yet with the drinks they could more to the general public and not to have the many dark colors and over syruped tastes.

Went to try this place 3 days in a row. And yet we still have zero clue how good or bad the food is somehow, because the service is absolutely horrid! The place looks super cool. Always seems to be about half full. However, the first time the hostess blew us off after we had been standing in the front of the line for over 30 min. The other 2 times there was no hostess, but we stood at the hostess podium as the wait staff slowly roamed all around us w/o ever acknowledging we even existed. I absolutely hate folks who write reviews all the time. They sit on their comfy couch in pjs on their laptop literally shutting small businesses down all over the country w/their miserable lives being projected onto a poor business w/every key stroke they make. So I have vowed to never be that person. The person who tries to act like they know how to run a restaurant better than the people who actually do. To be such a miserable person that I have to make everyone else miserable in the world as well. That's just not me. But this place can not possible be a 5 star when they wouldn't even take the time to let customers come in w/over half the restaurant empty every single time. It was not a staffing issue because there were SOOOO many staff members floating around just chilling. Heck some were even taking drinks at the bar. I feel like they are taking up the space that could be occupied by an outstanding restaurant that actually wants to serve people.

This place! So good! Sat outside and had lunch and it was a good call! Had a local craft beer , Estrallitas, so good and fish tacos! Great service And food! And clean restrooms to boot! Highly recommended!

We had to wait in line for what seemed like eternity while others were seated before us. For no reason. Once we were seated. No one came to take our drink order. When they did come to take our order, we were ready with the food order as well. I was starving so I ordered the steak fajitas. They were not good. The steak was so tough, but I was hungry. So I ate it. The ambiance was lacking since we weee all the way at the edge of the restaurant practically in the street But- my friend loves her burrito. My other friend wanted to love her papa taco, but hated it.

Great time good music bathroom attendant Chloe goes above and beyond ! Amazing service quick bartenders. I did not order food but drinks were fine

Came here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, it was nice out so we were able to sit inside. Considering how busy gaslamp normally is, it was very nice in the afternoon. We were seated immediately and the servers were pretty fast! We got the taco platter and a margaritas flight. The flavors I got were the mango frozen, watermelon and traditional. The mango was not the greatest but generally I don't like frozen margaritas. It was also mostly just chamoy. The watermelon one was by far my favorite. As far as the tacos, my favorite was the al pastor. The fish was underwhelming and the shrimp was about average. The overall prices felt like a bit much too, it would have likely been better to walk to tacos el Gordo for tacos.

My buddy was DJing here. I went to go visit him to see what it's all about. We had a few drinks and I ordered two Birria tacos. The drinks were good but I was really impressed with the food. I didn't think it was going to be that good.

Had an outing at the Gas Lamp district. Stopped by at this location around 11am for Mexican food. Hoping to eat some breakfast but was denied since they don't serve breakfast at this establishment. Ordered me a Cali Burrito with a 3 liter beer to share. Food was great but service is very slow. Kept reminding our waiter to bring napkins , utensils and water. He seemed to forget everytime he came by. We asked twice. Service is slow but Food was ok. If you have time to kill. This place is perfect for you. Nice Ambiance of Downtown San Diego to chill and drink some brew.

Went for the happy hour, just your typical happy hour nothing too special. Drinks were okay. If you check in on yelp, you will get a free gift which was for me a taco that seemed to be sitting in grease for a while.

I don't want to parrot the whole "I never leave a bad review" but I feel its my duty as a member of the public to warn anyone who reads to STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! My company took our yearly trip, and this year it was San Diego. We stayed in the gaslamp district and after a long night enjoying the city Friday night, we woke up Saturday in need of some solid Mexican food. Walking down the street we noticed the colorful exterior of this..."restaurant" and decided to give it a chance. Upon approaching we were greeted by a friendly hostess who seemed a bit lost but managed to seat us outside at one of 10 wobbly tables on the patio. Our server came over and took our drink orders (there was 4 of us, so a round of waters and 3 sprites) and returned with water and 3 cups filled to the brim with ice and a splash of sprite. No biggie, I'm not here for sprite so we placed our orders, I got the California burrito and a pacifico to drink. So while we wait for our "food" not once does our server come by and offer us any refills or check on our table, and lemme tell you it wasn't busy in the slightest. Still, as much as we like to drink we came here for some bad ass Mexican and that's what we expected. Let me say this..when they say this place is bad ass Mexican yall they aren't lying in the least bit. The carne asada was this flavorless, dry filling, coupled with the most under cooked french fries and some gross cream sauce. truly the worst burrito I have ever encountered in life. Everyone at our table had an issue with their plates. One co-worker got a massive hunk of mystery meat and fat tucked into her Birria Nachos. Another one ordered chicken fajitas that they dumped a shot of tequila on and lit on fire, probably trying to take away from the fact that their chicken is not only tasteless but an abomination unto man. One ordered a singular shrimp taco and clarified 3 separate times that he wanted it fried. They brought this man the most pitiful grilled shrimp taco this worlds ever seen. If you enjoy $14 dollar pacifico tall boys and the smell of urine to go along with your "meal" or whatever it is they call that stuff they put on our plates be my guest but Id strongly advise against it. In the battle of whose got the better Mexican food..LA vs SD...its not even close, San Diego should be forced to relocate to Arizona if this is what they call Mexican food.

Came in with a party of 7, wait time was pretty good not too bad for a Saturday. The environment is super fun, loud music and occasional fog smoke. If you're here for the vibes, drinks, and a good time it's a perfect place. It's not the best authentic Mexican food, I would give that alone 3 stars. However, our server was great and took care of us well. I would recommend for the experience .

Took a group in for some drink. What a fun place. Great drinks, fabulous staff. Solid music. A nice fun environment.

My sister in law found this place and we decided to try it out. I got chicken fajitas which was really good. I got a margarita flight but I didn't really like the sandía one I got . It tasted as if they used watermelon that wasn't good anymore. They did messed up on my nieces order, she ordered a carne asada quesadilla but it was plain and didn't bring her lemonade maybe 10-15 minutes after since they didn't had kids cups anymore, but they fixed her order.They do charged 15 % or 20% gratitud automatically since it was 7 adults and 3 children, so 10 people in total. I think that's why the manager was there when they would bring our orders to make sure everything was okay. Overall I enjoyed the music they were playing since it was reggaeton music.

I do not like giving a bad review but it was so bad I have to. I had out of town guests who wanted Mexican so I looked up best in Gas Lamp. I will start with the good, the salsa (green and red) with chips was great. Sadly the food was inedible. There were 4 of us, 3 ordered the Mex Salad with different protein choices. My salad had rotten lettuce and frozen or rotten cucumbers. The other guest ordered the surf and turf burrito. We met for a 45 year reunion so I did not complain. I couldn't finish my meal and the surf and turf burrito person couldn't eat more than 3 bites. Find another place to eat or just stop by for a drink.

The interior is wonderful, and the service was fast! Everyone was really nice. U went there for lunch, and had the shrimp, Jorge's Pescado (fish) and birria tacos with a side of beans and rice. My favorites were the shrimp and fish ones. They serve chips and two salsas (tomatillo and red pepper I think) at the start (no charge fyi, they just do that) and they were both really flavorful! The red pepper one has a noticeable kick to it, which is more than a lot of other places that serve chips and salsa to start with. The taco plate was $16 (3 tacos plus beans and rice) so it was also at a really good price point and filled me up. I sat outside, but the indoor area was very lively. I highly recommend this place!

The first time I went here during covid it was excellent! The Cali burrito was one of the best I've ever had. Idk what happened between that time and now, but they got to fire that cook or train them better because the tortilla was cold, the burrito was wrapped incorrectly so you have to rewrap it, the way they make the carne is different and tasteless, and the cheese wasn't melted. The drinks were good and the bartender was lovely. The chips and salsas were excellent! The price was decent. The staff was nice, but I probably won't ever come back after that burrito.

Amaaaazing. One of the best fajitas I have ever had! Great steak and chicken! Juicy, tender, excellent seasoning, fresh. Sides were good. Place is fun and server was extremely friendly.

This place gives off a Miami vibe, but on a much smaller scale. It is relatively small, with a small VIP area in the front, booths along the wall, a couple of tables in the back, and a full bar with seating. The bartenders are walking around with skimpy outfits, and are very nice and attentive. In addition to alcohol, they serve some food including Mexican favs. The prices are on par with every other comparable place in the Gaslamp Quarter. There is a DJ booth that is above and overlooks the bar and seating area. Certain nights and times, they charge a cash only cover charge, which varies. It is usually about $15, give or take. They play upbeat Hispanic music with a few hip-hop jams sprinkled in. The bar sells merchandise too. I came on a slow night, early in the evening, and they were not charging cover. This is a fun little spot that can fill up very quickly. I have past it a few times with people overflowing out of the door. It does suffer from the Gaslamp District parking issues of having limited metered street parking nearby or pricey commercial lots/garages. The street in front of the place is blocked off from vehicular traffic on Wednesday to Sunday nights and is only open to foot traffic. This is a cool little spot to check out if you are in the Gaslamp District. Even though I did not personally try it, I hear that they have good food. They also have a friendly staff, the hottest jams, and adult beverages.

I love Mexican food and have loved it for years, even before I was born! Lol ;-) El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican must always be a stop when in San Diego. So far I haven't had anything bad but then again the menu is very extensive. One Page of food choices and One Page of drink options. They are one of few restaurant company's within the GBOD Hospitality Food Group so that should give you an idea of the type and quality of food; Havana 1920, Meze Greek Fusion, and Prohibition Liquor Bar. Since I wasn't sure what to order, I'm going to recommend their Bad Ass Fajitas as my server suggested this. You can choose your type of protein or do what I did was get the combination of Beef, Chicken and Shrimp. This was perfect after having a night of drinking the night before in Gas Lamp District! The combo was great. It's full of hot, fresh vegetables on a sizzling platter. Yes, a lot of veggies. I did have to ask for a doggie bag at the end of dinner as I couldn't finish my entree. I would recommend to go there before dinner hours. Even though the restaurant is large, either have a seat at the bar, a table inside, or they also have an outdoor dining area. Music playlist was awesome, good Hispanic club music and Top 40 on blast!

I like the vibe, music and complimentary salsa and chips but I was really disappointed in the chicken they use, please upgrade and use chicken breast.

The atmosphere is very happy and makes you want to dance! The servers are kind and very attentive. I got the taco plate and it is definitely worth it, the el pastro taco came with pineapple on top which paired perfectly. The potato taco had the perfect amount of Spicy! Now the drinks! I thought that the margarita was a little too sweet but the Paloma was different that other Paloma's I have had since it was clear but it tasted amazing. I highly recommend coming here!

Having visited from Hawaii, we definitely wanted our fill on Mexican food. Is this authentic? I dont know, but it was good and plentiful. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp district, it's lined up with eateries galore surrounding it. However, the food as we passed by looked outstanding. And it was. The energy was contagious, they have a DJ inside if you dine in. We dined outside and as it was Labor Day weekend, pumped with people all over. Having checked in on Yelp, we received a free ceviche!! It was packed, flavorful and delicious. Thanks Yelp for allowing us a free item to try! My friend and I both got enchiladas. I got cheese, she got chicken. The rice that came with the plate was just ok and I'm not huge on beans so left them behind. I also ordered a veggie taco. Ok that I could have done without. It was i believe deep fried (the tortilla) but chewy when i got it. Bleh. Plus the amount of chips w salsa, the free Yelp ceviche and our entrees was more than enough that we could not finish. By the time we were leaving, there was a carded line forming. Maybe with the DJ, it becomes a dance party too. lol. My high score is for service, atmosphere and amount of food. Again, the ceviche wAs bomb and enchiladas filling. If you don't like loud and fun, this is not a place for you. If in the area again, I would definitely return.

The food here is Terrible I had better at the school cafetería. Food is all frozen from costco I wouldn't even feed it to my dog.

Went for taco Tuesday on my birthday The promoter did a great job but everybody else sucked . We spent most of our time waiting to get charged . She didn't even ask how we wanted to split the bill. She split it on her own how she wanted to Then Never got refills of water or offered any kind of refill , messed up one of the orders Then the " manager" came up and said he had a shot from somebody that left it behind and wanted to give it to us for us to find out that it was my birthday shot when we asked the waiter about it & the fact it wasn't even busy and our food wasn't even warm when we got it overall bad experience & was my first stop that night

Trendy spot in the Gaslamp neighborhood with delicious tacos and equally delicious margaritas. They were a generous portion with quick service!

Guys golf trip we attended on 10/20/23 Food was good, food service was good but we got 2 big sizzling fajita plates and they put the plate too close to the edges with the handle out and I turned and the handle burned my arm. They sent a lady to take my statement and repeatedly ask if I wanted medical attention to sign this form. I don't feel the care for the burn was there and they did not even offer to comp drinks or dinner. It was like we burned you o well. Sucks because the place is cool but they can give a shit if something happens. It was a white burn (brown skin) so I knew it would get worse too. Need better service than that especially after an injury.

Interesting little place! The vibe over all feels clubby but still has seating available. The music was very loud but manageable. Our server was EXCELLENT, the bar was extremely slow with making drinks. We got a margarita flight and draft beer and it took well over 15 mins. Free chips and salsa was provided which was very yummy! We got the birria tacos with the cheese (definitely recommend) and a fish taco and al pastor taco. Really good flavors on everything and a good amount of sauce! Would I come again, probably not but I think it's worth checking out if you're in town!

Service is terrible. Sat at the bar for 10 minutes without even getting acknowledged. By the time the bartender noticed me she seemed annoyed when I ordered. Was going to order food but just decided to close out and leave. With so many good options in the area I would not recommend going here