Guanatos City Mexican Restaurant

The food here is great but it’s often closed (at least when I go there), even at lunch and dinner during the week. The menu is diverse with foods not commonly found in Oceanside, i.e. birria grilled cheese, birria ramen, carne en el jugo, vampiros, etc. Lots of different meats, including cabeza, lengua, barbacoa, adobada and many more. The sopes are just right — a little crispy and not too thick. Everything is made from scratch, including their tortillas and champurrado.

Holy cow! I'm so lucky to find this place, it's right in front of us and didn't even notice it here before. Highly recommend the birria beef queso tacos, hands down the best around here. I do restaurant reviews around the world (top1%) and a travel author, and we are lucky to have this place close by, what a great find!

We stumbled on this restaurant while on a mission to find Birria ramen. It was a happy accident that it was also taco Tuesday and they serve $1 street tacos. I had the lengua, goat, and carnitas tacos. The lengua was juicy and tender, the goat was a little gamey but delicious, and the carnitas were pretty good. My husband had the chicken adobado, carne asada, and the carnitas. He was quite happy with his selection. The tortillas were fresh and the salsas that they brought to us were unique and well balanced between fresh, creamy, and spicy. Our friend has the Barria ramen. You could choose between beef and goat - he chose the goat. The broth was a less concentrated consume and it came with an egg and corn. He dipped a queso birria in the ramen to finish it off. Overall he said it was quite tasty but may have liked the broth to be a bit more concentrated. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The amenities were clean and well taken care of. I liked the counter height tables. We will come back :)

Guanatos City Mexican restaurant was pretty good and not too bad. The food was absolutely delicious, besides the stuffed peppers actually. They were just okay, kinda greeesy and bland. The barria Ramen was out of this world though. They also had really good salsas. The habanero salsa was really good. The rest of the menu looked decent and I can't wait to get some more yumyum in the tumtum. Ok Bye

Took the family for a visit on a Monday evening. Service was friendly and patient as we explored the menu. They totally simplified things for the kids and worked with us through our questions. Food was yummy. Loved the green sauce but the pricing was a bit high for my liking. Kids loved their French fries. Venue was more spacious than I expected and there were a couple tables that easily fit 6-8 people if your in a group. There is a small TV in corner they play music on, so if you want it quieter, don’t sit near it. Overall, I might go back and give another item or two on the menu try but the wife and kids felt like it was good, but not great.

WOW!!! The meats are tender and full of authentic flavors, the food is amazing! I can't believe I have been driving past this place and never knew it was here. The goat crispy taco was the best goat I have ever had, the lengua was tender and delicious, and the lamb tacos were awesome. Each had its own unique flavor profile, I can't say enough about the quality of food here. Love their tacos!!!! Will be back!

Guanato's City is the business yo! The food is delicious 😋 with so much flavor 😋 and the staff was friendly a d helpful 👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼 I got the tacos dorados (all 4 flavors) and the wifey got the queso tacos 🌮 de birria ... Man, we cleaned our plates 🍽 🙌🏽 You gotta come try this place out.

I'll try not to go into much detail. It's overpriced food and terrible service on this establishment. I will not lie, Food is Good but I will stay away from this restaurant, I can spend my hard earned money someplace else where it's appreciated, they overcharge on a lot and they don’t let you know until receipt is printed. I ask the lady (I wish I have gotten her name) to explain to me the two extra charges on my receipt, ( if for any reason someone believes that I'm lying- I upload my receipt) instead of offering a clear explanation she got upset just because I asked that. After that unfriendly encounter I decided to cancel my order and walk away, But wait! there is more: I also asked her why did she charge me extra fees for using my credit card? she said to me " you people are all the same" while she was doing the refund she also told me that "please don't come again". Trust me I'll never go back and have told several friends/people of my horrible experience there. Check this out regarding Extra charge on Credit cards: generally cannot add a surcharge for credit card use in California because Senate Bill 478 requires businesses to include all mandatory fees in the advertised price, effectively banning surcharges at checkout.

My favorite veggie burrito I have ever had! The ingredients are always so fresh and delicious, and the burrito is always nice and hot. All three of their salsas are perfect, too. Each one offers something different, whether in spice or in flavor. Service is always very quick, and the inside of the restaurant is always clean. I love this place! Be sure to give it a try if you haven't already.

The carne asada fries aren't that good, the fries itself are nasty and could be A LOT better, I don't know who puts re fried beans on fries but that should not be a thing at all! The "avocado" was literally just 4 slices of avocado ... lol

I am kinda sad to say the food was average. A bit bland in flavor, both birria and carnitas. The adobada was better. So it''d be a 3 for the food... middle of the pack. But we walked in at 1:00 pm, and most tables had not been cleaned from former patrons. It took 20 minutes to get 4 tacos and a burrito. Not really the lunch "rush", literally and not.

Was craving tacos so decided to try this place. Omg, so good! Loved the flavor. I only got two tacos, a beef quesataco & beef birria taco. I have to admit, I wanted more. Maybe next time, I'll get the combo. So, if you're in the area, try this place! I should probably go for Taco Tuesday!

If you're in Oceanside, this restaurant is a must-visit for an authentic Mexican culinary experience. Their homemade tortillas elevate each dish, and the freshness is evident in every bite. My favorite highlights include the bean and cheese burrito, which is both hearty and flavorful, and the lengua tacos, known for their rich, savory taste. The welcoming atmosphere and reliable seating make it a comfortable choice, even on to-go orders! This restaurant stands out in the local dining scene, offering a genuine taste of Mexican cuisine!Always be on the lookout for their specials that they have posted on a board when you first walk in!

Ok this was my wife & I maybe 5th visit! It remains my favorite Mexican restaurant in the surrounding area. The food & service never let us down and every new dish we try is a HIT. Service very good, Foodexcellent, Ambience very good & clean. Valueagain very good! Try it already, oh reminder closed on Wednesday, got me don't know why Wednesday.

Saw a post from our fav eatingoceanside and knew we had to check out their birria grilled cheese. Glad we did it totally lived up to the hype. Food was hot and ready within 10 minutes, worth every penny! Can't believe we haven't been here before! We will 100% be back.

This place had great tacos. Was recommended to us and we were very happy since we live right down the street. We ordered adobada, pollo, and asada tacos and they were all very tender and flavorful. Their home made tortillas were very authentic and taste amazing. The service was very limited since this is an establishment where you order your food at the register. Cannot comment too much on it other than they were very welcoming upon our entry. My only gripe is that they don't offer chips and salsa and they don't have a salsa bar.

The best Mexican hands around the area Everything is good , big taco shop that's really nice but still delicious and authentic Salsas are tasty and while it's slightly more than some of the other places it's worth it Go here you won't be sorry !

I found this place in Oceanside located on Mission Ave. Every Tuesday tacos are $1.00. That's right, tacos are $1.00. This restaurant is clean, the staff friendly , and the food tastes delicious. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the area. I give this place 4 stars . Enjoy my friends.

The food here is great. We have a very picky teen, and have tried about 4 other places since moving here and he will only go to Guanatos. Their carne asada burritos are the best! I really like their staff and the restaurant is always clean

this by far is one of the hidden gems in Oceanside! Family owned and operated you have to try the Chilaquiles and the quesa birria tacos. They are fantastic. The atmosphere is great. The people are very nice and the place is clean! I believe Guanatos City is a global brand! one day you will say that you ate here when it wasn't as hot! Congratulations on bringing Authentic Mexican food of Guadalajara to Oceanside!

Some of the best tacos and salsa I've ever had!! The only complaint I have about this place is the wait time and that fact that they don't bring out any appetizers, not even chips and salsa, while you wait for your food.

Come here if you want to wait 55 mins or more just for your food to come out. Ridiculous! On top of that I was with a party of 6 and they didn't bring everyone's order out together. Out of courtesy I waited for eveyones food to come out before I started to eat but by that time my food was COLD!! Ridiculous.

The vibe of the place felt more like we were going to a food truck instead of a restaurant , having to order at the counter & take a number, which also our food took a long time to come out. The food was okay but it wasnt 100% satisfactory. The price of food is also quite high considering it was okay. I recommend going to try out but more so if your looking for something quick.

Yummy tacos and great deals on taco Tuesdays! I've had the buche tacos the most and they are my favorite. The champurrado is delicious as well and it's served in a nice traditional mug.

Place is always clean food is fresh and delicious and best customer service open area including outdoors also sells beer

Food: Was very tasty, correct temperature, well presented and plentiful in quantity. Service: Friendly but extremely slow. See the reason in paragraph below for better understanding. Served time: We waited 50mins for our food. Ambience: Family orientated with latino/Mexican culture. Parking: Plenty in parking lot Cleanliness: Clean and presentable My first time here, I saw it had a high rating and decided to take the whole family (4) to try it out on Sunday mid-day lunch. There was a line and the place was quite full. The lady at the register I believe was the shift lead was very nice and explained to us we could leave an open account to order more if we wanted more. I thought that was cool, open check is not seen much in smaller restaurants. They serve alcohol so I think that would be good if I came back with friends. We ordered plain quesabirrias for kids and a total of 5 tacos for the adults. To put it nicely the family was so upset to wait so long that I am sure they are going to roast me later. When paying I inquired as to if this is the normal wait times. I guess two people called out and when they do this happens. I suggest cutting your losses because the food was great but this experience will be hard for me to convince the family to come back. I saw others wrote reviews on the same issue, please fix that hate to see a bad reputation to a great place. Suggestion: If you are behind let the customers know about the wait time at the register. This will make a big difference in angry reviews. Ensure chips are served immediately. I had to ask for some to hold us over at the 25 mins mark. I do recommend this place and hope all who go have a great experience the food is delicious.

If you are looking for delicious goat, tongue or tripe, this is the place. Their tacos are flavorful and good size. The consommé to dip your food is rich and delicious. I haven't eaten anything that wasn't top notch. Authentic Mexican food at its best! And I should know, I live half time in punta banda!

I've been here almost a dozen times, and my go-to items are the potato taco, beef mulita and carne en su jugo. I've had the torta and I wasn't a fan- the tomato sauce made the bread very mushy and it wasn't easy to eat. The taco comes in the same tomato sauce, which is a perfect accompaniment for the mulita- I like to dip the mulita in it and the portions together make for a filling meal. Both are a bit bland but they serve a few salsas that make up for that. I'm not sure how authentic the carne en su jugo is with the bacon, but the beef is always tender and lean and I just love bacon. The dish comes with a bunch of hand-made tortillas and I get two meals out of it! I've watched the prices increase quite regularly in a mere few months. While it's expected given the current events of the world, it seems a tad high for what is essentially Mexican comfort food. Overall, I would definitely return and I hope this restaurant gains traction. It's hardly ever busy here. I've seen so many businesses fail that I often wonder if the building itself is cursed. Pros: - solid, limited menu - house-made tortillas - quality ingredients - lots of parking - indoor and outdoor seating Cons: - prices on table displays don't reflect current pricing, and they're going up kind of fast - bar seating tables are way too high and tables too narrow

We've ordered to go orders a few times now and everything we have ordered has been fantastic! The birriaquesa tacos are a house favorite! Don't pass this place up!

5:30 on a Taco Tuesday and there are 2 other people in the restaurant....not encouraging. We order the Taco Special . $1 tacos. We got 3 Carne Asada, 3 carnitas 1 Pollo asada, 1 Adobada. And two cans of Coke. Total $12.95. ....That was the good news. The Tacos were dry meat and basically flavorless. The Red sauce was super spicy ( I loved it) didn't try the green. I had high hopes for this place....but won't be back. Price is good, Tacos were less than average. Bummer.

I loved their Caldo de Pollo. Perfect for a chilly Winter Evening! The red salsa that came with it was very spicy for me, but I just added a few drops to the broth and it did the trick! I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. They seem to have a good variety and that they are very authentic. I would like to try the Birra Ramen next!

Guanatos City catered a party I hosted on 3/9/25 for 30ish people. We've had their breakfast burritos and really like them. For the party, I ordered rice, beans, pollo asado, birria, and adobada. The order included an abundance of corn tortillas, chopped cilantro and onions, and three kinds of salsas (all of which were amazing). All my guests raved about the food and were surprised to hear it was from Guanatos City. Many have driven by it but never stopped in to eat. Now they will for sure! The food is delicious and owner Anna is a pleasure to do business with. Highly recommend.

Good food large selection of tap beers. Go for Taco Tuesday. Good ambiance. Customer service is attentive and the prices are fair.

The food is always made fresh hot, and delicious. The owner is very attentive when you are ordering, and very careful about your food allergies. Everyone is very nice, and checking on you if you need anything else or refills. Very clean dining area, and restroom.

Food is so bomb, carne en su jugo and the tacos de birria were so bomb. Will definitely be coming back!

Very delicious food. The chile rellenos are delicious and the carne en su jugo as well

i had the birria ramen and it was quite underwhelming. However, i understand it wasnt apart of their specialties and my family said the tacos were "fire"

Not enough people leave reviews for food they enjoy these days! This establishment serves incredible food. The staff is always smiling and happy to help. Their taco Tuesday deals are awesome and their house beers on tap are delicious. I ordered 30 tacos to go yesterday they honored their taco Tuesday deal and they were ready within not even 10 minutes. I hope this place stays around for a long time because we will be repeat customers again and again.

This is my favorite restaurant!! I am originally from Jalisco and I go there often but when I don't go, I miss the food so much and this place reminds me of home. The tortas ahogadas remind me so much of the tortas ahogadas from Guadalajara!! I come here often, and the food is delicious every time. Guess its safe to say that I am the #1 customer . Today is Wednesday and it's closed, so I am sitting here in the parking lot writing a review instead cause I miss your food. I will be back. I will post a pic from 2 weeks ago.

I haven't posted a review in years (seriously, check!) but I had to polish the old typewriter to give a good review to this restaurant! So, ok, not a full five but a very strong and solid 4*! Truthfully would have given it a 4.5 but I digress. Why not the full five? Though the food is good the prices are a bit high. The flavors are rich and filling, not saturated with spices but just the right amount. The quesobirria are a bit dry and could use a bit of the consomé, adding a bit would help a lot. Drinking fountain could add to the choices and perhaps a bit more choices in terms of salsas could help! Overall, I do like this place a lot, textures of the tacos and tortas are right and I would certainly come back again, I have been there a few times now!

It's good! I placed an order for pick up today. Thought I'd try something new, and this came recommended from a friend. I had the Torta Ahogada. I was underwhelmed. Not really my taste, but it was good/different. I think it was the bread that threw me off. Wasn't the standard Mexican dish I was expecting. Maybe it's too authentic for me. I would definitely try again. Their mulita looks amazing, so I would come back to try that out. Service was okay. Didn't get the warmest welcome, but they weren't rude. I thought the dining area was awesome! Very open and spacious. People were even hanging in there with their laptops working. They had a tv on for entertainment as well. Lots of parking and lots of other shops nearby as well.

I've been to Guadalajara Mexico and had some authentic food over there. I thought I'd never taste it again until I came to Guanatos restaurant. In fact it's even better than some of the restaurants I've tried over there! When I come to Guanatos I always get the deep fried potato and beans tacos. They are mouthwatering especially when you squirt some lemon on them. When I'm very hungry I get the "Torta ahogada" which is basically like a French bread but mexican. They cut it in half and put meat inside. It's served partly submerged in a delicious tomato sauce. I always put their hot sauce on everything because I like it spicy! Guanatos is our to go place whenever we hang out with friends and family and everyone always loves their homesey delicious food. We always come out feeling happy and satisfied thanks to everyone in Guanatos. Ps. They have a perfect outdoor patio where you can sit with your dogs and enjoy your meal.

We ordered two burritos, it took 30 minutes for the food to come out. I ordered mine without rice. They were so delicious. I am not sure I would come here again. They also have a service fee of 2.5%, which I don't understand.

I've been to tons of Mexican restaurants all over California and Mexico. In this case I think people are overly excited that there's a good Mexican place in the area but definitely not 4 1/2 star material. The quesabirria had no flavor I smothered it is salsa to get flavor. The Carne en su jugo was GOOD not GREAT and very small portions for the price. Now what I do like is there hand made tortillas those where really good. My son had the tacos Dorados and there were pretty good. My main problem was we waited 40 minutes for food on average any restaurant even ones that freshly prepare everything take 15to 20 minutes. More that likely will not return

Best Tacos! This place is a hidden gem. I had the Quesatacos with beef Birria and consommé. It was outstanding! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Really good green salsa. Check it out and support a local business

Only came in for a couple tacos (adobada and lengua) but both were great and the tortillas were excellent. Can't wait to come back and try more.

5/5 10/10 no hay falla Rec. 1. Carne en su jugo 2. Tacos de Cabeza sin albur 3.chiles rellenos 4.tacos de birria de res/ borrego 5.torta de birria cn frijolitos(camarones) ------ 1.IPA Guanatos City 2. Palomazooooo/Rusa/Cantarito 3.cubetitia De Chela

SOOOO DELICIOUS! Best tacos in north county. Definitely recommend! We enjoyed their quesotacos and carne asada fries.

Great tasting food and service. Loved the torras ahogadas and the mulitas. Will be back again soon!

Great, authentic Mexican food at a decent price. Everything was awesome! Potato tacos were yummy and it was served in a red sauce that was great for dipping my mulitas in. Mulitas were just the way I like em. Only down side it didn't have guac..I'm sure I can add it next time if it's at reasonable price. But it was still great without having guacamole. Looking forward to to trying their burritos and u can add cheese at no extra charge! Nothing else to say except my tummy is very happy!! Gracias Guanatos!

This is not Mexican fast food. It's obvious that they really care about flavor. The food is fantastic and of good quality. Worth coming here for the tortillas alone! Give them a try. You will be delighted. There are some hidden gems in this old shopping center!

A family favorite for my brother and I. I've been here a number of times and finally felt it was time for a review. My brother is obsessed with their whole beans and always orders a large container to go. Everything I've had here is PHENOMENAL. We dream of this place. The birria and consume is fantastic, the mulitas are like a hug from the inside, the caldo de pollo will cure any ailment you're experiencing. Oh and everyone working is the nicest. Be prepared, the wait for food is longer than expected but everything is home made and ABSOLUTELY worth the wait.

best authentic birria tacos in the area! staff is super friendly and the place in clean and fast

Super bomb food! Highly recommend. Authentic, definitely return every time I'm in the area!

Pretty damn close to the traditional tortas from Guadalajara! Wish they were a little bigger but very tasty.

Fantastic menudo, con patas too! They have micheladas (and Bohemia beer!). I have only been once so far, but I CERTAINLY will be back.

I love love this place especially when I'm hungover craving some menudo, and the tortillas seem hand made so they're super good, very lovely service Everytime im there Im met with a smile, my fiancé and I loved this plate we got with cabeza beans and rice with tortillas and it we ate it sooo fast 10/10 never misses