ESPADÍN

I have come here twice. The atmosphere is good. The place is clean and we were served quickly. The food is just OK. I wouldn’t come back for the food. However, I was very impressed by the drinks. There was an older gentleman who had just started working here. He said it was his second day but I could tell he may be new to Espadín but not to bartending because his drinks were bomb. He made us a spicy cucumber margarita that I think about often now. If they could get their food game to improve, I would be going there often. Until then…

We were welcomed and seated right away. It did take them a minute to take our drink and food order but it was busy. The place is small but it works. They do offer patio seating. All the workers had a pleasant attitude and were helpful. All the food that we tried was good. We had the carne asada burrito, carne asada quesadilla, and the red sauce chilaquiles with carne asada. It took quite some time to get our food but again the place was busy. The prices were the same as surrounding restaurants. One complaint was the male restroom. There was no toilet paper and there was urine all over the floor. If you're in the area try them out but be willing to wait. The carne asada was the best I've had in quite some time.

Skinny margarita is the bomb! Kieran was amazing! Sat outside but very cute inside as well. Ceviche was awesome?

My review is based mainly on my opinion about the food that I tried. Location itself is cool it really looks nice and service was fine . We went for a happy hour which has 3 food options , we ordered 2 of them and both were covered in some kind of mayo sauces, this is something non of us liked, overall I wish I only went there for the margarita which was good. My kids are very used to eat at Mexican restaurants and this is the very first time ever they didn't like the food . My husband had to ask for 3 different beers before to guess one that was available.

Omg the Manager Cody was sooo sweet and took good care of us. I was visiting from out of town and he made us feel like family. The queso was 10/10 and the margsssssss got us right!

We came to enjoy the mezcal flight, we ordered the elote, ceviche, and I tried 3 different tacos. We were just traveling Mexico last month and I wanted to try out their mezcal selection. The flight was good, you get 4x 1/2oz glasses served for 18 bucks. The food was good though as others have mentioned definitely on the more pricy side. I would imagine Taco Tuesday would be a great time to stop in. Staff were all super friendly and attentive.

Highly recommend ESPADÍN for anyone craving a memorable dining experience. What truly made our experience memorable was our server. He was personable, attentive, and offered spot-on recommendations that made the meal even more enjoyable. With its inviting atmosphere and creative cocktails, this restaurant is a gem that’s definitely worth checking out!

Nice location with outdoor patio and everything sunshine. I happen to get the taco Tuesday special. Carne asada in the taco was like a stew meat, with sauce similar to Chile Colorado, I didn't enjoy it. Chips are good, think and crispy. Salsa options are not typical, I didn't care for the Verde as it had too much lime, the red salsa was a bit sweet, a bit like a mole. Excellent service from Jordan

Yesterday was my second time at Espandín. Let's start off with the environment. Espandín is located in Old Town Temecula and has a central location on the corner. With that being said, parking can be difficult because Old Town tends to get very busy on a Saturday. We walked in and it was not busy. The host/server told us to pick any table we would like. We chose outside, but they had just cleaned up the area, so our chairs were stacked. The host/server quickly helped us get the chairs down and place them at our table. The server was attentive and kept checking in on us. Now the food. When we were sat down, we were given complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were perfect and not overly salty or greasy. The salsa was very mild and had a great flavor. I ordered a 2 taco combo plate ($14.95) with carne asada and carnitas. The carne asada was just okay, it was cut into thicker piece, which is not my preference. It was also topped with guacamole, which was not the best I've had. The carnitas however were magnificent topped with pickled onions, cilantro, and salsa. The rice was not traditional Mexican rice and did have a bit of a crunch to it rather than a toast before cooking. The beans were just plain pinto beans, not refried beans, but they were good. While this place, is not extremely traditional, it is a great spot in Old Town Temecula with fairly good food. I'm looking forward to coming back again.

I feel so bad I wasn't impressed with Espadin. I was here for a friends bday. I'll say this.....the vibe was nice, the staff was very sweet but unfortunately the food was not good. I ordered the enchiladas and the tortillas were hard and the enchiladas themselves were dry. The drinks were okay. Not much else to say.... Happy yelping mis amigos y amigas amigos

The location was nice, pretty central in Old Town Temecula but other that it's subpar. I was already worried because as we sat down we could hear people walking past exclaiming that the place was bad and to not eat there. The carne asada and pollo asada tacos had no flavor to them, the shells were overly greasy and fell apart as soon as I grabbed them, pinto beans were just salty, and the Spanish rice was so clumpy and mushed it felt like Play-Doh. The salsa they gave you at the beginning was all spice and no actual flavor. The service was fine at the beginning, the greeter was so friendly but our actual server just didn't listen. They have a vegan plate and we asked if the rice and beans would be vegan too, she said that we could just sub black beans and everything would still be vegan. Plate came out with black beans, but Spanish rice, which she told us has chicken stock in it. When she came back we explained that this isn't vegan, she was just going to scrap it off the plate, which is still cross contamination. We asked if we could just get a three taco plate and no rice or beans. Plate comes back out, only two tacos and a shit ton of beans. TLDR: Food has no flavor staff doesn't actually listen or know about the food they are serving. Would not recommend.

My favorite place to eat! Amazing food The best Margaritas and love the ambiance.. my 5th time eating here and o Ky lived in the area 8 months! Came from LA and am a total foodie!! Hands down at the top of my list for great dinner or lunch!!

So it's no secret finding a lunch spot on Mother's Day is hard! We walked through Old Town and most restaurants had over an hour wait. I noticed Espadín had tables and thought it was worth a shot. Also, it was getting really hot and I was ready for some air conditioning. We were seated immediately and our server got our drinks. We ordered a grilled Caesar salad, green chilaquiles with eggs, and guacamole. The guacamole was so fresh and had a great lime flavor. The grilled Caesar was the star of the show! The dressing was amazing. The chilaquiles were also good. I was a little nervous at first since they weren't busy when we walked in compared to the other restaurants on the street, but it ended up being a great surprise how good everything was!

I ordered a combo burrito combo with a large coke. And 2 crunchy chicken tacos no cheese. My burrito was tiny. I was very surprised and disappointed.

I came here to have brunch with some friends. We were all satisfied with everything about this place! The energy is very upbeat, they have fun music playing and the employees were very happy and friendly. The food was DELICIOUS. My friends and I are still thinking about our meals. I ordered the Nachos and they were SOOOO good. I can't emphasize it enough how much my friends and I loved our experience here! I can't wait to come back.

First time visiting while in Temecula and it was a cute little place serving really good Mexican food. It wasn't too casual nor too ritzy, perfect for a casual date or one to make a first impression on. The service was super friendly and always around to help. We had the chicken tacos (can you say presentation?!) and I had their cheese mole enchiladas with a side of rice and whole beans. They were both really good and fresh. I had their Coco Loco Margarita and of course I had to have a second cause it was so good.

My bestie and I came here for dinner and had the best experience. Nick and Cody were the best and gave us the most joyful & hilarious time. 12/10 would recommend. We loved the book wall and just the overall decor of the restaurant. We had the chicken enchiladas and they were phenomenal.

We are new to the area and trying out all the Downtown restaurants. Unfortunately this one did not really hit for us. We got a carne asada combo plate which the meat was rubbery, and tough, and had no flavor. The beans and rice were plain and had nothing to it, but again it was beans and rice. The fried avocados had zero flavor. The batter is normally what gives this dish flavor, but it lacked alot of seasoning. The ceviche was decent. The tostadas were a bit hard/stale. I had to ask for salt for all the dishes and they all lacked salt/seasoning. I was really rooting for this place as it had a nice ambiance, and seemed fun. It had some nice music, and modern looking. Unfortunately it lacked in the food. Our waitress was friendly, and we did mention that the meat in the tacos were tough. She said she would pass the message on. Hopefully they are able to improve all of this.

I just have to say -- even though this wasn't a recent visit, I still think about their chicken mole because it's that good! Every time I've been to Espadín, the food has been amazing and full of flavor. The chicken mole is absolutely delicious, and I've never been disappointed , not once! It's one of those restaurants that just makes you feel happy and satisfied every time you go. Definitely one of my favorites for authentic Mexican food.

What can I say about Espadin. The menu was a little different than what I am accustomed to regarding Mexican food, but it is by far a beautiful restaurant we sat at the bar and the bartender was cool and laid-back but friendly at the same time he was a bartender and the server on the floor at the time we arrive it wasn't very busy, but he still kept his eye on the prize.

Espadín is conveniently located in the heart of Old Town Temecula, on Front Street. The restaurant is well appointed with traditional Mexican decor, featuring lights and flowers. The food is exceptional. The chips and salsa is flavorful, with a bit of a kick. The super nachos are the perfect amalgamation of flavors and textures. Crispy, salted tortilla chips are topped with cheese, pickled jalapeños and onions, cilantro, and includes pinto beans. A perfect start to your meal. The chimichanga burrito is crispy, with a fried exterior, and loaded with an assortment of fillings and protein. Service is exemplary, offering recommendations and exercising patience to navigate the menu. The team is prompt and professional. This is a great restaurant to bring friends, for a date, or simply if you're in need of a great burrito.

I was so excited to see queso dip on the menu as an appetizer, and the queso dip was good! You can sit there and fill up on chips and queso! You don't see too many restaurants with queso dip on the menu. We even ordered an extra queso to take home for leftovers. We had the cheese enchiladas and was able to add carnitas to the enchilada and it was really good. We also had the carne fajitas, and those were delicious as well! Cody was our server tonight, he was so great! He is fun, friendly, has a great attitude and a great sense of humor and his customer service is spot on. He would take the time to conversate with us and answer any questions we had. The rest of the staff were very helpful too. We had other staff members check on us when it got busy.

What a prime location and beautiful restaurant to have the experience be ruined by mediocre food and sub par service . I asked if they had house made tortillas , the server said no . But they are on the menu , so super confused . We had the fried avocado app , it was nothing but grease and zero flavor . My sopes were soggy and the asada was over done . No one ever came and checked if we needed anything , wine glasses sat empty . It looked like managers were non existent , although I did see someone at the bar on their phone . I suppose it explains why every other place downtown was packed with a wait list and you could just walk on in here and be seated . Bummer , looked promising . So many great options in this area , keep looking .

Came on the Friday of the Temecula Rod Run. The streets of course was packed. This play didn't seemed too busy to we decided to try the place out. We were seated right away. During the busy time you would expect everyone to help out where they can, but there was one chick taking over the whole middle big table to wrap and fold utensils and napkins, why? The line outside was growing. Our server was young but very attentive to us everytime she passed by. The kitchen was slow, so I didn't know if they weren't used to all the people coming in. There was a couple at the bar standing and pretty much making out. There was a server behind me asking a table how their food was and the husband yelled out these clams are horrible. He said he loves clams but those were horrible. He was kind of embarrassing to be next to that table but the server was very polite still and handled it great. The place is very trendy and a nice place to sit. There is outside seating that is long the sidewalk to the street which is nice, the bathrooms were clean as well. The food was good and the amount is filling. Only problem I had was the length of time for the food to come out. But we just kept asking for chips and salsa.

Came in on Monday and sat at the bar. Kiki the bartender was awesome, very friendly and attentive. We had a few margaritas which were tasty and refreshing. We ate the taquitos on the happy hour menu, they were crispy and had good flavor but some guacamole would have been nice on them. We also had the ceviche and that was also tasty and fresh. The highlight was the bone marrow dish, wow that thing was delicious and came with homemade tortillas. The restaurant ambience was nice and had a good vibe. The only problem I had was that there were too many fruit flies at the bar which is usually a cleaning issue especially behind the bar. I also wish the bone marrow came with more of the sauces that were on the plate and maybe some more food options for happy hour. All in all we will be back to visit Kiki and have some more margaritas and that bone marrow.

This is my family and friend's favorite Mexican restaurant in Old Town Temecula. It's always a delight to dine here while on a day trip out from Orange County. The food is excellent and the spicy salsa is to die for! The service is always great too as the staff is so attentive and friendly. Shoutout to Nick, he's awesome. I also really love the aesthetically modern and relaxing ambiance they've got inside. I'll definitely be back here again.

In old town, which is pretty cool. Server was helpful. Had the fish tacos, which apparently one has to eat in southern California. They really weren't much to write home about. The beans were okay, although not refried, which is my preference.

I was so happy this place could accommodate my group of 15 on a Saturday night! The space is really cool -open air with a modern and hip vibe. It felt like something you'd see in a city so it was cool to experience in a smaller town. The drinks were amazing. I got a pomegranate margarita and had a sip of the cucumber one and they were divine! So many fun options and they were not overly sweet or pre-batched. I ordered the shrimp enchiladas and they were great! Definitely only enough food for one person, no leftovers, so don't expect a huge portion like you might see at a classic Mexican spot. The rice and beans are where they lost me. Both were super dry and flavorless. I could tell by looking at them that they wouldn't be very good, and my tastebuds agreed. Overall a good experience with friendly service, just bummed about the sides.

This place was great! Food was good, service was too! We sat outside and I like how the layout is all pretty open. Music was great! I will definitely be back!

Not sure how this place got less than 4 stars on Yelp. Went there tonight and tried their carne asada tacos. It is, by far, the best carne asada tacos that we have had in town. The meat was well seasoned, tender, and yet has a light crisp on the outside. The flavor was incredible. Add a side of guacamole and it is some of the best street tacos I've ever had from a restaurant! The staff were very attentive and helpful. The ambiance is nice too, feels cozy and rustic.

Came in after golfing at crossed creek, Enrique definitely had the vibe. I'm born and raised oside. Never been before but had the ceviche and some beers. Don't go to old town tmec since it's hot af, during summer but would recommend this place. Don't ever write reviews but totally will be back. Mucho Tiamo

We already ate lunxh there. Thanks Nick for the great service, good drinks and chips !

Burned birria. Consommé was amazing, but look at how burned those birrias are. The other person's birria were the same from the other table. Disappointed. Server was also trying to take our plate before we were done eating. Ambiance was quiet cause no one was there. There was a reason why people I know told us not to come here.

This place is great! The hostess is amazing, she went above and beyond for us. The food was very delicious. We had the ceviche appetizer and carne asada. The carne asada was tender and the ceviche was a good portion. Would definitely come back.

I've been here 4-5 times now (mainly for a quick stop for Happy Hour) -- the food AND service are hit or miss. /: We've had to flag the waiter down after waiting 30 min just to order and even get water. We thought the service would be better if we sat at the bar but even then it can be a hassle. I do appreciate the free chips and salsa though. If it tastes stale, ask for another basket! Note: If you park nearby, make sure you're actually in a parking spot. We watched a cop give someone a ticket right out front because they weren't in a parking spot with the white corners on the street.

Eh, "just okay". We stopped in because we had limited time and this place wasn't busy. The highlights were the friendly service and the chips + salsa. I ordered the white fish, which was supposed to have "squash blossoms" but came with tons of onions, pickled peppers and sliced zucchini. No big deal but there were So. Many. Beans. Literally a huge bed of beans. The fish was slightly undercooked and over-salted, but still edible. I tried the chicken mole and wasn't a fan. There was way too much of the sauce and it was overwhelmingly chocolaty. I've had mole before with a better balance of flavors. I enjoyed the decor and ambience; the ceiling was painted blue and the window panes on the walls gave it an al fresco vibe. Overall, I don't know if I would come back as there are so many other options in the area. Pros: - simple menu - friendly - ambience Cons: - food is "just okay"

The service was horrible and the food was bland. We had reservations for a party of 6. When we got there it was pretty much empty...now I know why. First & last time.

Subpar food, high prices, & no air conditioning for dinner in mid July in the IE! There's so many other restaurants in Old Town Temecula,, don't bother with this one.

Came here around 3 for a Friday happy hour with my coworkers. We opted for an outside table since the sun was still out. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. Shortly after we were seated, we got chips and salsa. The salsa was mild and flavorful. We ordered (not pictured) margaritas, all flavors were happy hour price, $7. There were options for happy hour meals/small bites but we ordered the shrimp ceviche (with two tostadas), beef enchiladas, a bean and cheese burrito, and the super chicken nachos. Each was plenty of food! 4 drinks and 4 dishes + tip ~ $140

We had a party of 11 and the service was good. They were mostly attentive with utensils, and chips&salsa. I wish they refilled our waters though. I ordered the duck "carnitas" Huarache while my fiancé ordered the carnitas chimichanga. I ordered two cantaritos palmoas. The duck was good and the toppings of arugula & black beans were good. The picked onions and radish were a nice touch. The Huarache itself was not that great. It was dry, and harder than it should be. The chimichanga was barely fried. The green salsa on it was delicious but we didn't like the red salsa. My first drink was good and strong. The second drink was very weak in comparison. I could not taste any tequila in the second one.

First time here and not impressed. Started off with delicious salsa and it just went downhill. Service was subpar, we waited quite a bit for our food even though there was only a handful of people seated. The rice and carnitas were both extremely salty. I couldn't finish either. My husband ordered the shrimp ceviche and it didn't taste like real shrimp. I wouldn't recommend.

No a bad spot for some Mexican food it was just a little inconsistent but the proteins were all cooked really well but the chips didn't taste fresh. The service was normal and we went early so the space was not super full.

We usually love this place, as the food is great, which is why it's getting 3 stars. But it was a windy and super cold tonight when we tried to have dinner here with our 8 month old. We specifically came out to have dinner here, even against our baby's bedtime... but the doors were locked at 7:30pm. SUCH a disappointment... :(

I would consider this place 4.4 stars but because the existing one is 3.7- figured I'd inflate it a bit. The chairs could be better matched. There's like 6 different type of chairs here which is kind of funny. Kieran was a great server, very friendly and helpful. The quesadillas got good reviews from my table. I got the chicken mole with negro mole. It was quite good. Could've used more mole but Kieran did bring more. Chips and salsa were free first round. We got free chips and salsa second round too but not sure if that's normal.

Went here on Valentine's Day. Great place, good staff and their live music is good and takes requests.

My wife and I celebrated our pre-wedding dinner at Espadin, and it was one of the highlights of our entire wedding weekend. From the start, Rick and Andrea--the owners--were incredible. Incredibly communicative, kind, and genuinely excited to have us there. They made us feel completely welcome. They listened, understood our needs, and worked out a great deal that allowed us to provide food and drinks for all our guests without sacrificing quality. The food was phenomenal. The queso wasn't just a favorite that night--it became one of the standout dishes of the entire weekend. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and thoughtfull. And the drinks were outstanding--creative, top quality, and made with serious attention to craft. The vibe at Espadin is everything you want--great decor, amazing energy, and zero pretension. It's the kind of place that hits the sweet spot between elevated and approachable. We also stopped by their sister establishment, Thompson & Twain, and had another phenomenal experience. Rick and Andrea clearly care deeply about creating memorable experiences for their guests, and it shows in everything they do. If you're in Temecula and want a place that nails hospitality, flavor, and atmosphere--Espadin is it.

Immediate aroma of delicious food upon entry. Friendly and welcoming staff. The hostess at the front was sweet the server was quick and helpful. Bartender was superb! Highly recommend the churros and ice cream, the micheladas, definitely try a few of their cocktails you won't be disappointed! Salsa has heat but not aggressively hot. Music was not overbearing but pleasant vibe was relaxing and enjoyable.

Excellent experience from start to finish. We wandered in late and the manager and staff couldn't have been more charming and accommodating. The upscale California infused menu was a welcome breath of fresh air for us terrible road trip food. A bone marrow and cilantro entrée caught my eye as did a vegetable quesadilla with fresh mushroom. But it was late, so I opted for a light dinner of shrimp, ceviche and a cucumber margarita. Both were beautiful to see and excellent consume. The contemporary Latin music on the sound system was cheerful. Although we were among the last customers, the ambience still lively, and we never felt rushed. Wish we were going to be in town longer so we could go there again.

Won't be eating here again. Even if American Express and Resy offered it for free. The supervisor on duty was very nice. 2 Taco plate: - Carne Asada - was actually good - Whitefish- don't order it. -Beans- calling them warm would be offensive to warm. -Rice - ditto Churro Sunday-do yourself a favor. Never order this. The churro itself wasn't even warm and seemed like it was premade. Also tasted like chalk. The ice cream itself was completely melted and very much the consistency of soup, which implied that this dessert was sitting around. I don't give bad reviews often. But this was a very poor performing kitchen.

Came with a group for dinner. Started at the bar for cocktails, the bartenders were super friendly and made great cocktails. As for the food, it left a lot to be desired. The food took forever to come out which is understandable for a large group, but many of the people in my group were delivered cold food. I had the carne Asada burrito, it was flavorless at best. I took the two bites you see in the picture and that was it. Second time going and probably the last for food. I would go back to the bar.

Great Mexican spot. Fantastic restaurant space with great seating and staff. The food is amazing as well, with a great array of options.

I came here on a short trip to Temecula with a friend. First time going to Espadín. As we are in a hurry, they serve food quickly. But we were less impressed with the food. We ordered Tacos Combo and Carnitas Burritos. Somewhat overcooked and they lack seasoning and taste. Carnitas Burritos with pork meat inside, taste too greasy and I just finished one-third of it. Service is good but may mess bill. After communication, our server was nice and helps to remove the extra charges and I tip him well.

We were a party of 4 celebrating my husband birthday. The place is beautiful, our waiter "Jordan" absolutely amazing!! The chips and salsa were good but it stopped there. I've never been to Mexican restaurant with such horrible food. Honestly, the food was such a big disappointment. Our bill was over $100 dollars the drinks were awful "margaritas" the food was the worst Mexican food I've ever had. We ordered chips and guacamole, the guacamole was bland was missing salt and lemon. I ordered the southwest salad and looked like they never washed the salad, the chicken had no flavor, it didn't come with anything, I had to ask the waiter to bring me tortillas chips, it was hands down the worst salad I've ever had in my life! My husband and my friend's fiancé ordered enchiladas "chicken mole and red cheese" awful they didn't eat it. My friend ordered "sopes" they served the sopes with whole beans and spinach on top. Sopes are supposed to be served with refried beans. Nothing had flavor. We left the place hungry and upset that we spent so much money and still hungry.

Espadín is a tasty treat, if you find yourself in Old Town Temecula yearning for some Mexican food and thirsty for some tequila. We liked their Scallop appetizers and the grill fish tacos (photos) a lot. Nice heat and flavor. Another hit was their interpretation of Nachos, again lots of flavor. Btw if you like heat, ask for their spicy salsa after your server drops off the chips. Seven on a ten scale. Mercy! We were less impressed with Carne Asada tacos and burritos. Somewhat overcooked and they lacking seasoning and taste. Though the molé sauce can be over the top with heat. Expect to pay Old Town prices at Espadín, which can sometimes be crowded with tourists. Three and a Half Stars, "A-Okay"

I've had other food from them, and it always is good. However, today they just amped up the experience, hands down the BEST shrimp taco in the area, and you really can't beat the $6 a la carte pricing. Truly *chefs kiss quality! Paired with a tequila soda with a splash of pineapple

First time here. I met a new friend here for a late lunch. The space inside is not very big. It appears bigger from the outside. It's mostly a bar with some table seating indoors and outdoors. There was a slight wait to get a table. A nice gentleman by the name of Ron was very warm & welcoming. Our waitress was very friendly but not as attentive as we would've liked but she was also a bartender. We were given the customary chips and salsa and it was very good. My friend ordered the pollo tacos and I ordered the carne asada tacos. The rice and beans were okay. The meat in my carne asada taco was overcooked rendering it a bit unpalatable. It would've been nice to have a choice of it cooked medium rare. I just could not get over the charred taste. It had so much promise especially with the presentation on the plate. My friend wanted to share the churros dessert with ice cream sprinkled with sliced almonds. It was okay. Churros we're a bit bland & undercooked. I would probably come back and try their other fare. Sorry but first time around I was not impressed. However, we really liked Ron and his hospitality.

We LOVED the vegan sopes and vegan fajitas. Very flavorful. Cucumber margarita & El Jefe cocktails were tasty. Decor was stylish. Our server/bartender Kieran was super friendly and helpful.