El Tejate Restaurant

Portions are worth your every penny. Everything was well seasoned. They didn't offer aguas frescas and their non alcoholic refreshments were limited however their food is great! My kids who are picky eaters devoured the quesadillas. My favorite was the Torta. Plenty of parking available in the back and also allows for good flow of entry and exit from the premises. Restroom facilities are shared with the Thai restaurant next door but very well maintained. Will def come here again!

The good: The food is delicious, and the margaritas well made. You definitely need to try the enchiladas or the chile relleno (with delicious corn tortillas on the side). This is not the typical Mexican fare you get locally since the food is more Oaxacan style rather than the usual Baja Californian style you usually see in Southern California. If you like moles and tlayudas, then it is definitely worth a visit. Tomas is very hospitable and friendly. The not so good: While Tomas is very hospitable, and friendly, the service here is extremely slow. Basically it is ONLY Tomas usually running the whole show: seating; taking orders; waiting tables; bartending; bussing and cleaning tables (using a very strong smelling cleaner!). In addition, there seems to be only one or two cooks, so once ordered, food is very slow to come out. What it means for the customer is waiting -a LOT of waiting… to be seated (no hostess, just a bell to ring and eventually Tomas will be by to seat you); to get chips; to get drinks ordered; to get food. Tomas is literally running around trying to “do it all”. They REALLY need extra help all around. Also, the building itself has seen better days and seems to be in poor shape (it is a shared building with a Thai restaurant); and has a musty;mildewy smell to it. It also lacks ambiance: the tables and chairs have also seen better days; and while your margarita drinks are in glasses; water is served in plastic cups; and while your food is on plates, you get plastic forks and knives. Even the front door to the restaurant feels more like you’re going into a dive bar rather than a restaurant. There seems to be a lot of this dichotomy going on. And finally, there’s the menu - or more specifically the prices on the menu. Whatever you see there, chuck it out - they are just plain wrong. They do have a sticker on the front of the menu that states: “some items will have an additional charge due to current supply costs.” What this means in the real world: Chile Relleno: $15.99 menu price/$16.99 charged; Margaritas: $8.99 menu price/$10.99 charged; Mrmelitas appetizer: $8.99 menu price/$9.99 charged. Only one item out of 5 was charged the menu price. To top that off, they overcharged the sales tax (8% instead of 7.75% tax rate for Carlsbad). Final conclusion: The food makes this place worth it. Honestly some of the best in town. Just plan on staying awhile.

Went there awhile back with my Dad. The server was friendly and brought out drinks quickly, but the food took a long time to come out. I ordered the cecina burrito, and the meat was super super dry, and also seasoned with way too much salt, it was the only thing I could taste. My dad ordered the Tlayuda Mixta, and his food was also super dry and overly salted, while the tlayuda was apparently stale. While the staff was awesome and I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, I would not recommend coming here.

Delicious food! I was there for dinner on a Wednesday and the service was fast. Staff was very friendly. We ordered memelitas, enchiladas de mole, tasajo con Chile y Hongos and horchata con tuna. Everything was amazing. I have been to the Escondido location and both were great. I have been to Oaxaca and had this food there and it is very similar. I will be back 😄

Out here in sand Diego found this amazing spot . Food is delicious and has authentic Mexican taste . I got the green enchiladas . The chips and salsa are also very good . Definitely recommend it . Service is awesome too .

Homemade tortillas, mole, salsas, rice, beans, everything ! What an amazing meal! Everything is homemade and made from scratch. The ingredients are so fresh, the owner is so kind! We were very impressed! The Mexican good here is very authentic and comes fro the state of Oaxaquena. This place should be on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives without a doubt!

Authentic Mexican food ! The same as you would receive in Oaxaca Mexico !! Everything was authentic even the service !! Excellent stop after Legoland , my family was very happy with this choice

I stopped in here just for a beer at 3:30 on a Friday while waiting for my ride. The place was empty empty. I ordered one draft pacifico. It was flat to the point where the guy who poured it stirred it with a spoon to give it "suds". Bill came, $13.86- for a crap Pacifico.. Whaaaaaat?? I know why it's empty now!!

Food and service were good Restaurant was clean. Family recipes and great location San Diego has many restaraunts but this play stacks up well with the bigger places

Having heard that this restaurant was an authentic experience with Oaxacan cuisine and had great mole dishes, we decided to try it recently. First, it was cash only since their system was down when we went. Secondly, the price point here is incredibly high. For an enchilada dish which only included 3 chicken mole enchiladas and rice, no beans, it cost $22.99 (which doesn't match prices we saw posted on Yelp photos, but consistent with their website so check there for accuracy) , which honestly would have gladly paid if it were worthwhile. The mole sauce tasted as if it were from a jar and the chicken was incredibly dry. Very disappointing period, but at that price even more so. The verde sauce for our other enchilada ($22.99 this one did include black beans with rice) order was extremely spicy (and we aren't novices to spice/heat) though nothing about spice levels were mentioned when we ordered. Finally the chicken burrito ($15.99) we ordered was huge, too bad there was hardly any chicken in it and loaded with rice but again with chicken being so incredibly dry, perhaps this wasn't a bad thing. The guacamole ($12.99) was fresh and was the only exception and we enjoyed it very much but again, very pricey for guacamole and we had to pay for chips ($3.99)! Not sure if this was an off night for this restaurant but at those exorbitant prices, not looking to repeat this experience. Won't be returning. Ever.

Muy mala experiencia Lamentablemente, tuvimos una pésima experiencia en este lugar. Desde que llegamos, la atención fue grosera y poco profesional. La señora que nos atendió tuvo una actitud muy prepotente y despectiva hacia mi familia. No solo nos habló de forma grosera, sino que además tardaron mucho en atendernos, a pesar de que el restaurante no estaba lleno. Lo más decepcionante fue que, en lugar de ofrecer una solución o disculparse, decidieron corrernos del establecimiento de una manera completamente inapropiada. Es una lástima que un lugar que debería ofrecer hospitalidad y buen trato a sus clientes termine siendo una experiencia tan desagradable. No lo recomiendo en absoluto. Nadie debería ser tratado así, mucho menos en un lugar público.

We were checking in late to our hotel and the front desk gal recommended El Tejate. She explained that it was Oaxacan food which was great because one of the gals in our group wanted to try some mole! We drove the .7 miles from our hotel to the restaurant. We missed the first entrance so we wrapped around. It was a tiny bit confusing once we got out of the car. There is a Thai restaurant in the same building. Entering from the back of the building had us going through a darkened banquet room and then upstairs into the main restaurant area. It is a small dining area, maybe able to accommodate 40-ish people. Our party of 8 sat down in the middle of the room and joined one other customer. The server came out and took our orders after bringing out a couple of small baskets of chips and salsa. Our food came out pretty quickly. It was tasty. The burritos were GIGANTIC! The shrimp cocktail was super spicy as was the michelada that my friend ordered. 3 of us ordered burritos, 1 got a torta, 1 got fajitas, 1 shrimp cocktail, 1 enchiladas with mole and I got a single asada taco. My dad had the second half of the burrito for lunch the next day. Three of the other 7 took home leftovers. Portion sizes were great. The only thing that left a bad taste in our mouth was that a tip had automatically been added on. When we paid with the electronic device, it asked for a 2-5% tip so naturally we chose one. We just didn't know we added on an additional tip. Kind of sketchy, but we are thinking it might be a San Diego thing. Overall the food was good and the location was great!

Shady service. I ordered the chilaquiles rojos and the waitress asked what meat would i like on them. I got the tasajo (carne asada) and when bill came it was 8$ extra. She asked so i assumed that it was included in the 18$ plate. Also, they added a 2$ "not ordered in the morning" fee. So in all total was $30 for chilaquiles that did not fill you up w its very small portion and only contained no more than 1 tortillas worth of serving. Id stay away or ask questions if anything else will be extra. Its NO WHERE ON MENU of extra costs or extra fee for cooking at certain times. I did not like the taste nor the SHADY surprise fees. Waitress said its on menu......i opened the menu and asked her to show me and couldnt find it (surprisingly). Ill never go back. Oh and their mens bathroom was.....well....look at the picture

Steak burrito was 10/10! I didn't know what to expect but the food was seriously amazing.

Owner is very nice but could be more hospitable. Tlayudas are amazing. Lot of quesillo(oaxacan cheese) and either order no meat or with meat which comes with all three type of meat spicy pork, beef tasajo and chorizo. Chile rellenos is delicioso and it stuffed with quesillo and topped with delicious mexican tomatoe sauce and comes with rice and black beans. And everything is made fresh to order. This place needs more recognition. The place is very unique and traditional style. And right off the exit of freeway five in carlsbad village. You must check this place out for the authentic mexican cuisine.

I came here to try the chapulines taco, a variety of grasshopper apparently unique to Oaxaca that thrives in cornfields there when conditions are wet, making it an excellent accompaniment to the huitlacoche ("corn smut" fungus) "empanada" which is a large corn tortilla quesadilla with cheese, onions, quite a few jalapenos, and the tasty black huitlacoche paste. I suppose it's like eating squid ink pasta--black foods may not look super appetizing, but can taste wonderful and this did. The server told me chapulines are growing in popularity. Once you get past any queasiness about that first bite, the chapulines are excellent, with an oddly artichoke-like flavor. I love me some artichokes, and obviously I like to try weird foods. I'd go back to try the Oaxacan style mole. The jalapenos hidden inside my empanada/quesadilla plus the super spicy salsa that came with the introductory chips suggest either the cooks here or the region of Oaxaca like very spicy food, so be aware or beware. Parking is abundant, service is friendly. I would say prices are on the high side for a modest establishment, but the food I had was quite good, and inflation is a thing. Oh, and know in advance that they don't offer free refills on fountain drinks which is surprising at $3.99 a pop (pun intended).

The food was flavorful and yummy. I ordered the quesillo (oxacan cheese) enchiladas with mole negro. It comes with rice that was pretty good. My bf ordered enchiladas Verdes with quesillo too. His plate came with black beans and rice. The chips and salsa were subpar though. The salsa was smoky but too spicy alone. Like, I'd rather use that salsa over food than with chips. The restaurant has a small eating area. Restrooms are shared with the restaurant next door. The server balanced his tables efficiently and chatted with his patrons.

The food is delicious, must try their mole negro! The chicken caldo is very good. Everything tastes fresh and homemade. Always coming back, the service is excellent & the restaurant is always clean.

I love mole negro. By pure luck I found this place. Is comparable with places in LA that I've been to. Their black mole is delicious. It goes well with cecina. Service is great as well and restaurant is clean and has a pleasant enviroment. Finished my meal with a delicious cafe de olla

The chili relleno is delicious. This is the best one I've found. It does creep me out a little they serve bugs. The service is very friendly but the ambiance is not for me.

This food spot is a must visit if you're ever craving authentic Mexican food! It was my first time here and I left very satisfied. I had the pleasure to meet the owner who was very kind and provided attentive service. I ordered the chilaquiles verdes paired with beans, rice, and eggs, along with the cafe de olla. The authentic flavors took me back to my childhood reminiscing my Mexican mothers food. Amazing food and service I seriously recommend this restaurant if you want a taste of real Mexican flavors. I look forward to going back soon!!

Food was ok, I've been to establishments with great customer service and the food not so great but the service is what brings me back so I get to the main topic which is the service. My mom has been wanting to try this place out for over a year now so my brother and I decided to take her for her birthday last night. We brought a cake and it was an inconvenience for the man to have it placed in one of their fridges. My family waited 15 minutes for me to arrive and no one was offered water until I got there. My mom asked the difference in the two types of dishes and he sarcastically said the same name of each meal (because that explains it all and how dare we not know the type of meat they use) laughed and still didn't explain. When his friends arrived though... he rushed to serve them and bring them their drinks. The ambiance was cold, could barely hear music and quite frankly a sad establishment. I am all for Mexican restaurants especially with traditional Mexican food but I'm surprised this place is still standing. The two employees there didn't seem to care. I've never regretted spending money at a restaurant until last night. A real waste. We ended up taking our cake back and cut it in our home.

Taco Bell-style restaurants have dominated the So-Cal food scene for decades but dishes from Texcoco and Oaxaca have started popping up and Jalisco-style birria places are nearly as ubiquitous as the various "bertos" -- (Robertos, Albertos, Eribertos, Filibertos, etc.). I've had Tlayudas (giant griddled corn tortillas smeared with black beans and topped with quesillo (stringy Oaxacan cheese), avocado, tomatoes, and meat (typically chicken, chorizo, cecina (marinated and grilled pork) or tasajo (marinated and grilled beef), Memelitas ("tostadas" with grilled corn tortillas, quesillo, and avocado), Tamals (steamed Oaxacan tamales wrapped in banana leaves), and Chapulines (a fried grasshopper snack) and am particularly fond of the different moles. I have a passing familiarity with Oaxacan food but still struggled with the menu. there's a reason this place is on my list of not your abuelita's Mexican food. dining hint: don't confuse Oaxacan empanadas with the two-bite Salvadorian version. El Tejate's are huge. i told my sixteen-year-old the Huitlacoche Empanada was mushroom and cheese (why screw up a perfectly good lie with the truth, right?). Tomas, our host, was engaging, attentive, and boundlessly proud of his food. I get it. everything was made fresh in-house and delicious. we're taught food made with love is good. the corollary is food made with love celebrating the food culture it's rooted in is great.

This a gem place, very authentic Mexican food from Oaxaca a bit pricy but the food and drinks make out for it

Was super excited to try Oaxacan Mexican food especially after reading the reviews about the mole. We ordered the mole negro and pollo burrito. My mole negro came with shredded chicken. The sauce was yummy but the chicken was so incredibly dry and under seasoned. It was like chicken breast that had been over cooked then refrigerated for a couple days then shredded. So dry and firm it was hard to enjoy. 1/5 My husbands pollo burrito was very good. Roasted beautifully and had great flavor. The chicken in his burrito was moist and well seasoned. 4.5/5 The avocado served with both dishes was perfectly ripe and suuuuper fresh. Not one blemish. Service was pretty slow. But understandably because it looked like there was only one person as the host/server/food runner. When we first arrived we had to wait awhile til someone came to seat us but while we were eating there were people that had entered and were standing for at least 10 mins before being greeted. Regardless, because the burrito was so yummy we'd definitely come back to try other items.

Somebody please tell me how this is okay. I was told to scan the menu- cool. I get the bill and notice there is a difference in price for our drinks. We ask to clarify but instead the manager is just rude. This establishment cannot provide you with a menu with its "current" pricing. This individual doesn't even acknowledge the mistake; as if it's my fault. He states "you didn't ask for the right size " but for the record the menu doesn't have pricing based in size. Even has the audacity to make a statement "if you can't pay for it, just say so". We paid but feel they need to be upfront with pricing. If the menu is wrong or not up to date just mention it instead of being rude.

Awesome truly Oaxacan food in a clean, bright, simple space: freshest tortillas and meals prepared upon request. Welcoming super courteous service. Easy parking. Not far from the beach. Highly recommend to anyone new to or familiar with the cuisine of Oaxaca. Support local small business!

Tomas and his wonderful family run a great restaraunt! We stopped by on our way back to LA and enjoyed some delicious meals. When I say we covered all bases : Torta, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, burrito and we ALL enjoyed our meals. Great service from them and authentic made from scratch meals = ready for the trip back home! Definitely stopping by every time we head to San Diego. See you soon El Tejate

I want to piggyback on the message that was left by Edith C. 8 days ago. We just left this place as the manager was super rude. When we arrived there was no one there to seat us and my husband went to look for someone. The manager seemed to have been bothered by that. Then he proceeded by telling us we could not bring in our hot coffee in. We left because his vibe was a bad one. He just lost 2 customers as we will never return and we will let others know not to go there.

What a wonderful experience. Easy parking, welcoming staff that makes you feel right at home and food made with love. It doesn't get better than that! Best kept secret in Carlsbad.

Food 5/5 chicken mole, mushroom quesadilla, "Mexican" pizza Service 3/5 very slow service be prepared to wait a while Overall solid 4 stars because food and delicious, prices are slightly higher then expected ($18+ plates) we just blame that on inflation. For 2 ppl bill was about $72! (x2 entrees, x1 app, and x2 horchatas)

Do not visit this establishment! Manager is so rude! As a proud brown individual I will say food is nowhere near authentic. And environment is not welcoming or family oriented. DO NOT Give them any of your hard earned money! Not worth it at all. I am ashamed to call El Tejado a Family Restaurant. Closed it down!!! Oh it does not deserve Any stars :(

Food was good. I had a chicken taco with a beer and hubby had shrimp burrito. It was over priced. I looked at the yelp menu so I didn't get to see everything. The owner not very friendly until we had to check out. It's a small place. Not planning on going back or recommending.

I am putting three stars because it wasn't bad, but I was not impressed and will not be going back. It was basically overpriced Mexican/Oaxacan food. There were hardly any people there when we got there. Looked like just the manager/owner/waiter and some friends watching a soccer game and a lady cooking. My husband ordered a chicken burrito. He says it was good, but has had way better burritos for less money. I had black mole, it was also good and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something that was wow. The service was also "meh" I felt like I was almost bothering the server/owner/manager/man by being there. So thanks, but no thanks.

We loved this place! Best molé I've ever had and I will be thinking about this meal for a long time. Chicken fajitas also amazing. Authentic and special Oaxacan food, run by a lovely family who we had such a great time chatting with. Amazing service and a total gem. Can't wait to come back!

I wish I was able to give half stars because I did really enjoy the place and I want to give a 3.5 out of 5! The positives are that the place is so cute and staff is amazing and the food is really good ! The biggest reason I have to give this place a lower score is because it's just way too much money for what you get. I got the enchiladas and the salsa verde is some of the best ever but they were about 21$ and the plate was decent but I can go to other places and get more on my plate for even less money! I eat A LOT of enchiladas and these weren't better than ur standard! They were good but not worth the amount of money unfortunately ‍ that being said, I would still go back especially if they have a happy hour or specials !

I really wish I didn't have to give this place a 3 star. I thought the traditional oaxacan flavors were unbelievable and intricate. However, the high prices did not match the food we were served. My Chile Relleño came out later than everyone else's meals which was still ok! I know this dish takes longer. What I had a problem with was that the Chile Relleño was so hot it started to sweat and causes my dish to have extra liquid leaking into the sauce. My friend ordered the Thayuda Mixtas with beef and pork. He requested no cheese on his dish since he is lactose intolerant. His dish came out with cheese smothered all over it. He was too shy to say anything but I was livid since we told the server about his intolerance to cheese! The server was manning the entire restaurant with no help which was impressive - but at what cost? I would suggest coming here if you want to try out oaxacan traditional flavors. Just be prepared for higher prices and potentially order misses!

Best mole ever! This place has amazing food, great margaritas and wonderful service. I highly recommend it and will be back for sure.

Be careful when the bill is presented. He overcharge the prices. Food is expensive. Not menus and lack of staff only 2 people working. Slow service.. Ambience death and smell like old building.

I love this place! I always get their chorizo con huevos Plate *chefs kiss*soooo good it's my favorite!!! Today my husband got the quesadilla botanas and man! Those were soo good too!! The cheese Their salsa, service and everything we've tried has been really good! It is on the pricier side and has gone up every time we visit but honestly, worth it

The ambiance is nice. Good Mexican vibes. But I can't say the same about service, had to call over a few times. The menu was giving you the Oaxacan feeling like "damn this food is gonna be bomb!" Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I got the torta Oaxacan and I literally at 1/4 of it. Meat tasted nasty left it untouched. When I saw the chorizo on the tlayuda I already knew it was going to be a disappointment. Idk any of their financing but if ocean side charges a lot for rent and they are charging a lot for their food, they should go a little higher. I wouldn't mind paying it, but please use higher quality meat to match your prices.

Food was really great. They make everything from scratch, including their tortillas. The burrito huge. Their cecina was full of flavor. It took a little time to get the food, but well worth it. Ambiance could use a little work, but it was very clean. I will be back for sure.

Came in with a party of 8 on a Saturday night. Restaurant was quiet and clean. Ordered red mole, beefsteak tlayuda, enchiladas, and the beefsteak plate. The red mole was literally the best I've ever had, spicy, smooth, and packed with chicken. Tlayuda was a new experience for us and that was delicious as well. Many kid friendly options on the menu and the gentleman serving us was happy to explain different menu items. I'd definitely return when I'm the area.

Very good! So flavorful and the owner Tomas was very nice and hospitable. Loved it. Ended with an organic coffee with cinnamon.

I must say, the food surpassed my expectations. Despite encountering numerous mixed reviews beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and flavor.

Stopped by for a snack in this Oaxacan restaurant and ordered black mole tamale with pork - best tamale I have ever had period. Very flavorful, plenty of meat, great mole. Quite filling as well - did not order anything else and left satisfied. Disclaimer: never been to Oaxaca :)

Eat here! Just do it, you'll thank me. There is love in this food. Had dinner on a chilly Friday night. Between the 3 of we had, mole negro, pork tacos and tasado. The texture of the fresh handmade tortillas is chewy and holds up to whatever you add. So delicious!!! The atmosphere is a no frills.

Finally someplace different. Got a coupon and it was 2 for 1 and I thought why not. Small place with good parking. Casual for sure but looked to have beer and wine. Draft beer as well. Chips and salsa that had a kick to start. Fresh and thin chips. Love at first bite. Very different Oaxacan (sp?) food. Traditional from that area. The mole looked awesome and what we had was great. I agree with my fellow Yelpers it's so much more interesting that the same stuff we all love. Plenty of room for both. The beef burrito was huge. 2 meals and lots going on inside. Great flavors. The pizza thing was so crispy and big. I'd personally add more avocado, but I'll ask next time. It was delicious. So glad to have it here. I'll be back!

Found this restaurant on my way home from the airport. Food is delicious the tajado tlayuda is amazing!!!!! The server has been attentive the whole time we were dining.

Deliciosa, y muy grande!!! The salsa was marvelous. We also ordered the quesadillas and they were amazing, the tortillas are made in the restaurant. The place is clean, and the service was great. The waiter was kind, and helpful. Loved the place.

We are vacationing in San Diego and we found this restaurant. This was the best Mexican food we've ever had. They make everything in-house and even their tortillas are homemade. You will not regret eating here!

Wow what a pleasant find! We were at a soccer tournament in the area and were looking for somewhere to eat and ran into El Tejate. Having come from Mexican heritage I had tried Horchata, but never con nieve de tuna. So good! Also tried the Tejate drink - deelish! Food was bomb too! Had the chilaquiles verdes and enfrijoladas. Def recommend!

They have a lot that is not crowded at all on the weekends. Super close to the freeway on/off ramps too so a great place to stop if you're driving up and down the 5! We came in thinking this was fast casual but its a sit down situation. They bring you chips and spicy sals while you wait for your food though which is always nice to munch on! I ordered a taco and mole tamale and omg THEY WERE BOTH SO GOOD. The tacos have homemade tortillas and are giant (so don't be deceived and think they're street taco size). The mole tamale was HEAVENLY!! They do a phenomenal mole and the tamale was also giant so I left very fully and happy. Service felt a little slow but not unreasonable at all. Definitely a great place to try in the area!

The food was outstanding. We wanted to try something different. The service was very good. Our server patiently explained the food to us since we had no idea. Too bad it is way out of our way. We were in this area for another reason and heard about this place by a friend.

Very excellent flavors. Delicious . Menu is a bit confusing to those who may not understand true Oaxacan cuisine, however the fajitas had excellent flavor. Also authentic pork tacos cut and marinated in the back was perfectly seasoned. I accented with salad verde and it in one of the best I've had!

I think more people need to eat here. The owner is so kind and the food is delicious. Made fresh to order and the flavors are on point. Not your typical Mexican restaurant. Happy whenever I'm in the area so I can stop by this hidden gem.

Quedé decepcionada de este lugar. Primero pedí dos cajas para llevar pues éramos dos personas y la muchacha dijo que no me podía dar dos y que la caja grande la cobraban. Nunca me han cobrado cajas y he ido a ligar de mejor prestigio que este. Después cuando trajo la cuenta automáticamente sin preguntarme añadió el 18% de propina en donde decía para un grupo grande cuando éramos dos. Cuando le dije que porque había puesto para grupo grande dijo que eran órdenes del dueño. En primer lugar es ilegal que cobran un porcentaje sin tu consentimiento y que no te avisen. Gente tengan cuidado cuando les den la cuenta.