Jimmy Carter's Mexican Cafe

This is good food for the price. They have an outdoor patio section and it’s dog friendly. They also have Guava Mimosas. The value will get me to go back and try some of the other menu items.

Don't let the name fool you. This place is actually a Mexican restaurant. The expectation wasn't very high considering we are exposed to authentic Mexican food in deep in South Texas. They made believers outta us. Food was really good. I had the Breakfast Mexican Burrito and the wife had the Chilaquiles. Absolutely delicious. They did not disappoint. Service was great. We will definitely be back

Great Mexican food near Balboa Park. I had the carnitas plate and a margarita (both excellent). The Tlaquepaque sauce is particularly good.

Just discovered this place and I loved it! Great, authentic flavorful Mexican food at its finest. Loved the hand-made flour tortillas. Will definitely return soon!! Baltazar was friendly and quick with funny story.

Walked here from a nearby hotel as it was recommended. Ordered a Chili Relleno and Burrito - came with a basket of chips and salsa which they kindly refilled for free (even though menu stated one per table). They chips were fresh and even still a little warm when brought out. The Chili Relleno was pretty good and a generous serving. The burrito was gigantic but it was so good I finished it off...although I was stuffed! I ordered my burrito with a side of the Guajillo sauce which was great but it's a little sad that they charge 2 bucks for that. But hey, it's still a huge serving and it made the dish that much better. Service was fast and so friendly. The decorations and paintings also make it a fun place to dine at.

Food was overwhelming. The sauce covered my whole plate which explains why the meat was lukewarm. The drinks were okay. The lady bar manager is inconsistent with her drinks. Bought the same drink, one was sweet and the other too much alcohol. As for the ambiance, carpet was soaking wet. This place needs some serious work.

Had a very nice lunch at this long-standing neighborhood cafe. I've eaten here many times over the years and have never had a bad meal. The shrimp taco salad and a shredded chicken quesadilla were delicious and a great value. The menu has a great selection of authentic Mexican and other dishes. The sidewalk tables are also great for people-watching. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I recommend you give them a try. Margaritas are great here too!

Recommended by a friend. We were seated right away with the waiter arriving promptly. The menu included both breakfast and lunch items. I had the machaca burrito with rice and beans while hubby had the shrimp 🦐 burrito a la carte. Happy that I could exclude bell pepper from my burrito which told me food was made fresh. We were served chips and salsa. Chips were served warm and very fresh. The salsa was very flavorful. My burrito was excellent 👍. Hubby said he would give his burrito 4½ 🌟 stars. And the rice and beans I really enjoyed. Will return soon!

Jimmy Carter's deserves a higher rating. The food and service are excellent! We started the meal with a complimentary basket of chips and salsa fresca. Their salsa is delicious and the chips were fresh. When it comes to the main course, they have a decent variety of options to choose from. I went with one of their traditional dishes, the Chicken Mole. It was hands down the best mole I've had in San Diego. It was served with rice and beans, which were also delicious. Portions are fairly large. Service was exceptional and the restaurant has a fun and colorful ambiance. Don't sleep on Jimmy Carter's!

Great local stop a short walk from Balboa Park. There's a high bar for Mexican cuisine in San Diego and this place holds its own. Came here for breakfast with some friends on a whim. The indoor space was as colorful and fun as the storefront would suggest - the dividers between each booth are painted with some really beautiful artwork which caught my eye. They have indoor and outdoor seating so we sat outside. The menu had a ton of options. I went with the standard burrito with pollo asado and thought it was delicious - the chicken itself was really well seasoned and tasted somewhat sweet. The burrito was also well packed and held together a lot better than many others I've tried. We also ordered tlaquepaque sauce for the table - it's listed on the menu as their most popular and I see why. If you love your taste buds - don't skip this sauce! The portions are large (be prepared to take some home, especially if you get a combo plate!) and the prices are extremely generous for what you get. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

This place has been around forever, but seems to have improved after the pandemic! The decor hasn't changed since I remembered it from the early 2000's and it's kitschy and fun. There is a full bar in the back. We ordered within 5 min of sitting down and the food came out as we requested - all at once because we were hungry. For an appetizer I had the pepper poppers that were wrapped in bacon and filled with Oaxacan cheese. As with any jalepeños, it's a bit of roulette on how spicy each one is. I don't know why I expected them to be deep fried, but they weren't. To be fair the menu said "these are not like any you have had". Somehow it was bland even with the bacon, cheese, and jalapeño. For an entree I had the Tlaquepaque pollo asado, and it was very flavorful. Pinto beans and rice were fresh and not dried out, and the tortilla was steaming hot.

A friend who is a driver recommended I come here. He had just given the owner a ride. The owner told him it was the most authentic food in San Diego. And for him to stop in with his family. His treat. So my friend did exactly that, My friend told the waiter and another staff. He was still charged. Perhaps the owner should have gift cards with him so he can just hand them out.

Such a gem. My mom told me she and my grandma love this place. I didn't know what to expect based on the name. Upon arriving we had great, attentive and friendly service. The food was delicious and very fair priced. I will be back!

My girlfriend who came from out of town was like we're going to Jimmy's for brunch and we met at this cute Mexican restaurant in Bankers Hill, it is called Jimmy Carter's Mexican restaurant. This place has been my favorite place from day one. It's everything included. The decor, the service of their staff members, the food, the quickness, it's just my place to go for a Michelada with Tajin on the rim, especially if I come by myself. Since I had gotten my nails done and I didn't want to get my freshly painted nails dirty, I asked for all the fixing for the taquitos to be put on the side so that I can dip and scoop my chips from the salsa and chips into the mixture of the taquito toppings. It was just perfect! Chow some Jimmy's soon.

Authentic, delicious and fair priced food. Great service and location. Small venue but they also have some outside seating which is nice. And dog friendly in the outside seating.

Great family restaurant. Staff are pleasant and kind hearted. I can tell there are a grip of regulars that come here. Love to see all the Latino families here! Glad I don't live in San Diego- I would eat here every day. I had the homemade hash and eggs with a giant hot flour tortilla. I added a side of hollendaise because it made it that much mo betta'! Would have been fine without it so don't feel obliged to order. I also had the cafe de olla. Glad it isn't sweetened already. I could add Splenda! The red sangria was perfect and loved the chips and salsa. You have to order them intentionally, but there is no cost. Will return!!

Wow to the soup. We had a cup of Tortilla Soup and a cup of Albondiga soup. VERY good and I'll be back just this tasty starter. Great salsa and free chips. Tomatillo was my fave. Loved the strong guava margarita. Ok loved the two strong guava margaritas. The chile relleno was delicious and super filling. Carne asada taco has a great flavor and was not over cooked. The fish taco? Expected it to be battered and fried, butlo my companion didn't read the description carefully. Looking forward to returning.

Chili relleno was excellent as well as carnitas however the tortillas not good. The add on ($4) beans and rice were minimal portions although tasted well

We were in town for the weekend, so our local friend gave us some food suggestions for dinner. Of course, we were immediately intrigued by the name Jimmy Carter's. We were running late to dinner so our two friends who were able to get there early ordered some drinks & appetizers before we got there, then ordered our food for us. The food apparently arrived much quicker than the appetizers, so the waitstaff reheated our food for us when we arrived. They have a very extensive menu, offering options for both meat eaters and vegetarians alike. I settled on the meatless ground crumbles tostada which was a nice surprise, but unfortunately my dish was caked in sour cream even after no sour cream was ordered. I didn't want to send it back though, so I scraped most of it off and ate the rest. It was very tasty! I also found the rice to be good. The service was good, the ambiance was loud, and the food was tasty. After a long day of travel, it's hard to mess up a good meal though, so the jury is still out but I would come back and try this place again!

Hands down .. the absolute BEST Mexican food in San Diego, maybe the world :D Seriously, yummy margaritas, incredible food, and let's talk about their Tlaquepaque salsa, truly life-changing. The best part of JC's, however, is their staff and service. Always smiling, friendly, and helpful .. especially Maria! Will be back again, and again, and again ...

The food tastes great. I love the Frida pictures and although it's small it's really cute! I got breakfast items both times that I've gone here and it was good. The salsa for the chips is good as well, we all enjoyed it. The tortillas d harina are definitely the star of the show! So delicious. The service was good once we got seated. I would say that it was a little awkward when we first walked in with it being such a small space, you can see all the staff behind the counter and although I definitely understand that they are busy a "hello we'll be right with you would be great and add to the customer service. Instead we awkwardly waited there until someone came out to seat us. This happened both times that I came here. All in all I would definitely come back great spot to grab breakfast/lunch.

Still delicious, as always. I'm happy this place is still kicking. There's nothing that beats the outside seating area on a sunny day.

First time at Jimmy Carter's which came highly recommended. First thoughts, the complimentary chips and salsa were great. The two salsas they brought out were very good. My partner ordered a taco bowl with soyrizo and he wasn't very satisfied. He felt like some of the components were missing, like sour cream, which was supposed to be included. My fajitas were pretty good. The meat was flavorful. I wish they had homemade tortillas. I wish it came with more sour cream and guac, as well. Only a tablespoon of guac was included. I asked for a side of their chipotle sauce which was verrryyyyy good. Highly recommended.

Overall, the food was good. Not great, but good. Their chips and salsa were very good, though even the mild salsa was a bit hot for some people (I liked it, my MIL didn't). The server was relatively friendly and helpful, though a bit rushed. The two dishes I tried was the Colorado Beef, and the Tlaquepaque pork. The beef had a strong flavor of chili powder, like you could buy in the grocery. Didn't strike me as homemade Colorado sauce. The pork was better. I had never had that, and I thought it was tasty. I'll give it four stars, but just barely. I did like the look of their specials board. Some different offerings than you would get in many places.

Great Mexican food ! I love their Guacamole,, Salsa , chips Soups ,crispy tavos, burritos ect.. I love this place!! A nice Mexican restaurant with very good service. IA great place especially if you are looking for a good quick dinner that can be ordered, and served within 15 mins!!!!

I've come here multiple times before, and will be back! The food is great, I especially love their Tlaquepaque sauce, pozole, and guac. The margs are always great and they have a wide selection. Great service every time!

Food was good, service was okay. Location not the best...but I would recommend and would come back again.

Having worked in the area, I have passed Jimmy Carter's on numerous occasions. However, each time I did, I looked at Jimmy Carter's with a slight head tilt; I mean c'mon, who names a Mexican joint Jimmy Carter's? With each passing glance of skepticism, I scoured the restaurant for patrons who might have given JC's the street cred I had so desperately hoped to find. Unfortunately, I was largely left empty handed, so I'd essentially written JC's off as a tourist-trap. Although their reviews have been pretty favorable, I'd pretty much disregarded them on the whole. It just seemed like a place that had strong margaritas, but mediocre grub. Well, one sick afternoon I happened upon the area, and opted for Jimmy Carter's green chicken pozole, and chicken tortilla soups. Each was about $15 and came with salsa but no tortillas...no tortillas??? To be completely transparent, my neighbor clamors about their pozole so I figured it was my best shot at getting one of JC's prime offerings. To my surprise, both soups were solid; they both had a large amount of shredded dark and white meat chicken, which was great. The tortilla soup came with chips on the side and contained big chunks of carrots and celery. The pozole also came hominy in it. I thought that $15 without tortillas was a bit pricey, but overall we really enjoyed them. Were they the best soups around, no, but they definitely got the job done, whilst simultaneously crushing all of my preconceived notions. As they say, you can't, and shouldn't, judge a book by its cover. The jury is still out in the rest of the food, but JC's represented themselves very well today. Thanks to the cast and crew at Jimmy Carter's for a nice meal.

My sister and I were staying at a hotel across the street from Jimmy Carter's. We wanted to grab some food to-go to eat at sunset cliffs. We first tried calling the restaurant but the line was disconnected. We walked to the restaurant and placed our order with the waiter there (super friendly). It was not very busy since it was like past 5pm so we did not have to wait long for our food. My sister got the carne asada burrito and I got the chicken burrito (you can choose grilled or shredded chicken, I chose shredded). Even though we did not eat the burritos right away, they were delicious! The burrito was big and filled with our choice of meat, and not majority rice or beans like other places do. The burritos were also decently sized, so it felt worth the price. I would've liked some tortilla chips thrown in but I've seen from other reviews that you get them for free when you dine-in.

This is hands down the best Mexican restaurant in SD. If you are looking for authentic, flavorful, home cooked Mexican food with a comforting atmosphere and exceptional service, I can't think of another place like Jimmy's. I can't believe it took me so long to write this review. I wish someone had told me about Jimmy's a long time ago. It is a hidden gem that is worth the trip. Try it once and you will come back again and again just as we do. The staff which includes Brandon, Marlon, Maria, Mike, Jaime and others makes it absolutely wonderful. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Family fun restaurant in downtown SD. Super popular so get there early! Great margaritas. I think Jimmy is the bartender.

My father often goes to Jimmy Carter's and, when we come down to San Diego, we normally make a trip there. A must have each time are the calamari, which are always cooked really well, very tender, with a good peppery crust. This past time I went they had a habanero chicken enchilada on special and I hope that that is there every time I go there. It's so unusual to find a dish at a sit down Mexican restaurant that's legitimately spicy, and this brought the heat and was delicious. Margaritas are good and service is great. It falls in line with a lot of the established sit down Mexican places in San Diego like Tio Leo's, Guadalajara, and Fidel's. It's my favorite of those. Well worth a visit.

The food was good. Above average for the area and decent serving sizes. Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but when you want some good Mexican food for the night, this place is it. The service was incredible. The staff was friendly and multiple people came by to make sure our table was taken care of. They even gave us extra rice since the server said it looked like I didn't get as much as he thought I should have. Local place is worth trying and coming back to.

Nice little Mexican joint near balboa Park. Very authentic food. We had food from the brunch menu. Huevos Rancheros was quite nice. Offered with several different house sauces. Egg cooked nicely with the side of rice and beans. Staff were super friendly and was quick to get the food out. Definitely will be coming back.

I like the food. They are always very attentive. Can be a bit salty and heavy at times so taste it before you put any salt on it. There is a nice variety of American and Mexican and some vegetarian options. I'll come back!! Love the chicken enchilada and chicken tortilla soup!!

My husband and I are visiting from Palm Springs and were trying to find a restaurant we had eaten at before but forgot its name. This was not that restaurant, but we enjoyed ourselves all the same. We were greeted by a few different employees, and the atmosphere felt friendly. We sat down at a table outside and enjoyed the nice afternoon. The server brought chips and salsa. The green had a great spice to it, and was really tasty. We each ordered a margarita, which was delicious. I ordered a fantastic burrito with rice and beans, which satisfied my taste buds. This restaurant was good and had a nice vibe to it. We'll have to remember to come back here.

Terrible. Anyone who gives this place more than 2 or 3 stars is delusional. Super basic. Overpriced. Poor service. Food super bland. Opposite of authentic. I feel like I got robbed.

Interesting name, Jimmy Carter's, for a surprisingly authentic Mexican-style decor and food. The portions were generous and served temperature hot. We love everything ordered except for the cocktails. Our margaritas were sub-par. We actually had to ask for a refund for one. Our servers were friendly but very slow when asked for extra sauces or things. They did have a burger on their menu to appease Jimmy Cater or to justify the name.

i am obsessed- me and my husband have officially claimed this as our only tex mex spot we go to. You can automatically tell whats about to go down based on the free chips and salsa. This place gives you two a green verde salsa (INSANE I CAN SLEEP AND BATHE IN THIS) and a pico. We split the chicken and shrimp fajitas and wow best fajitas ive had. normally places just sautee them up but this spot actually has flavor, sauce, and the juices locked in. Margs were strong too can't get better than this! we will be back

Came for the food stayed bc of the amazing staff! They treated us like we were family. Jimmy Carter's is my safe place! Don't even get me started on the food. Everything was perfectly cooked and so delicious. You can taste the freshness in the food. I wish I had stronger vocabulary so I can describe the food better but I don't. If you are looking for authentic Mexican style food your search ENDS here! Seriously, stop your search and head straight to Jimmy Carter's now! Why are you still reading?!? Go go go!!

Visited this place today on 6/17 for breakfast with my daughter. Place is small but roomy. Big selection of food and drinks. Service was great from beginning to end. My daughter enjoyed el cafe de olla with her breakfast. Recommend this place for for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Lived in San Diego for many years and moved away in 2015. Came back to visit for a friend's birthday and stayed at a nearby hotel. Came to Jimmy Carter's once for dinner (carnitas) and once for breakfast (breakfast burrito). Service and food were outstanding! Good quality, great portion size, reasonable cost for what you get. I'm just bummed I was too full to eat the chips they gave me for both meals! haha Make sure your hotel has a mini fridge because you will likely have leftovers that you won't want to throw away!

Really friendly service and really mediocre (and that's being kind) food. I hadn't been here in 15 year or so years and maybe there was a reason. How does a tamale come out with steam coming from it looking piping hot but the meat inside is cold. COLD!!! Not even luke warm. It defies the laws of physics (and probably thermodynamics). The guacamole was decent. The other tamales I ordered were massive clumps of masa with bland meat inside. The Chile relleno was definitely the highlight. It was also really bizarre how each batch of chips had a smell and taste different from its predecessor. Either the oil they were frying them in was getting worse or better? No idea. My friend didn't like her fish taco but enjoyed her surf and turf ones. I love supporting local businesses, especially ones that have been around for so long but sorry, this just wasn't good.

Overall, I had a mixed experience at the restaurant. The food was okay, but the fish taco stood out with its remarkable flavor. The combination of tender fish and an array of spices created a delightful burst of taste in every bite. However, I found the pozole to be a bit disappointing as it turned out to be overly salty.

Jimmy Carter's is a delightful Mexican restaurant near Balboa Park ... a tradition on Bankers Hill.  We've been here numerous times over the last 10 years, and every visit had been great.  Service is fast and attentive.  The margaritas are awesome ... made with fresh lime juice and not a bar mix.  My favorite is made with jalapeño infused tequila.  Food portions and drinks are substantial.   Street parking only.  Food . . . . . .  4/5 Service . . . .  4/5 Ambiance . . 3/5 Margaritas . .5/5

Cute little Mexican restaurant- very colorful and vibey! The chips were still hot but refills are $2.50, coming from Texas I have never heard of that before. The service was sweet but very slow. I got a Fish Tacos and a Soyrizo taco. The fish taco was pretty good, fresh tasting fish. The soyrizo was flavorless, and not that special. At almost $7 for a single taco, I would not come back.

I honestly waivered between 3 and 4 stars for Jimmy Carter's Mexican Café and unfortunately the visit was just not memorable or tasty enough to garner that full 4th star... Jimmy Carter's sits on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Spruce and is a colorful building inside and out, decorated with all the tchotchkes, artwork and décor of a Midwest or Tex-Mex style Mexican restaurant. it has a homey local feel, but it also very welcoming of out of towners. The place is not massive, but they make due a decent sized inside dining area and bar, along with a covered patio. We popped in one afternoon for a late lunch and grabbed a table outside. Our server was quick to greet us and get our orders, which included drinks and appetizers. For the apps, we went with the chicken nachos, guacamole and a shredded beef quesadilla. The guac was basic, nothing really special and along with the salsa, the chips that were served with them both were slightly stale. The sadly carried over to the chips that our nachos were comprised of. In addition, the nachos were underwhelming and were almost ballpark variety of nachos with a bland-ish cheese sauce and a thin layer of beans under all the chips. On the other hand, the shredded beef quesadilla was delicious and the saving grace to our afternoon meal! The beef was tender, well seasoned and absolute perfection! Overall, our visit to JC's was underwhelming and given some neighboring spots slinging the same variety of food, JC's is not high on our "return to" list.

Service was great, our waiter recommended great options for us to order. Food was delicious! Their chipotle sauce was amazing!! Ambiance was nice, it gave very authentic Mexican restaurant vibes, family friendly.

The food wasnt good. Service great. I had the Guajillo sauce with enchiladas. Nope

If you like the food in Old Town, but don't want to go to Old Town, this is the place for you.

When my cousin and I were trying to decide where to eat and me told me about the history of Jimmy Carter's Mexican Cafe I quickly said "Yes, please!" Who can resist a traditional Mexican restaurant from Jimmy Carter (no, not the former President but yes, an actual man named Jimmy Carter). My cousin was so happy they had Cafe de Olla. He educated some of the history of the drink. Yum! My cousin had one of the daily specials: sea bass tacos with rice and beans. Believe me, he ate every last morsel on his plate! I didn't even need to ask if he enjoyed his meal. I got the pork chile colorado. They had pork or chicken options but the waiter said of course the pork is better. One of the daily specials was also a beef chile colorado option. I always enjoy the flavor of chile Colorado and this sauce was thick and powerful with a nice kick. This plate also included rice and beans. For each plate you have the option of black or pinto beans. My plate had the option for corn or flour tortillas. Gosh, my plate was so humongous that I didn't even get close to finishing half my plate. The decor of the restaurant was casual and comfortable. We were able to eat with Frida Kahlo. Ok, maybe not. But we were able to eat with a huge painted portrait of Frida in our booth so it was almost like she was sitting with us. All in all, a great restaurant and a great restaurant. Staff were amazing. Definitely give it a try if you're ever in the Hillcrest area.

Hard to go wrong here. May be better than North County establishments. Table salsa and chips amazing. Beans and rice are legit. Telaquepauque? Sauce is the JAM.

I enjoyed a pleasant time at Jimmy Carter's. Trust me. What I enjoyed was nachos with fake meat and extra cheese. What was enjoyable was both the flavor and also the fake meat was very good. It can be hard to enjoy fake meat beacuse many of them are over seasoned or just plain terrible. What was not enjoyable was the fire my hand was in before eating (not at Jimmy Carter's but in my car on the way over - family is very important though and I will update you on my car that I left on the freeway later - was also disappointed that Salt didn't even buy me a drink) I was surprised I hadn't eaten here before. It was all very good. The green salsa was spicy for you that cannot enjoy spice but very delicious! Thank You

We were looking for a place to get some lunch after visiting the zoo. Mexican was the only flavor we could all agree on and this was close and rated well. We arrived about 3 and there were a few tables occupied. The restaurant is small but there's a cantina attached. It has a cozy south of the boarder vibe with Spanish versions of popular songs in the background. We were able to seat ourselves and someone came to give us menus and drinks quickly. The menu isn't huge which is nice. There's plenty of options for different preferences. They gave us chips and a couple of salsa options, both spicy and delicious! We tried the guac appetizer which I recommended. I had the chili verde which tasted homemade and traditionally prepared. Everyone was happy with their selections and we were all happy we found it!

Fun, colorful decor, friendly staff, nice outdoor seating. We loved the cinnamon coffee and hot chocolate, and all enjoyed our breakfasts: Jimmy's Skillet, Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros Jalisco style, and Eggs Benedict, all with Tlaquepaque sauce. The sauce was so delicious that we ordered extra to take home.

Inside of Jimmy Carter's is very fun and cute. A lot of unique finds around the walls. Inside did not look too busy from my perspective but it did take a while for our orders to be taken and food to come out. The food was a bit bland in my option. Salsas are tasty though

Driving back from Balboa Park, we stopped here for some food and drinks, great service, food and atmosphere, very colorful decor. Dustin for sure is a good bartender. We ordered a carnitas plate and it was tasty and delicious. Chips and salsa are good too! Salsas are super tasty.

I'm not sure if it was my hunger or if the plate I received was actually good but I thought it was a pretty decent meal. I ordered the chicken mole plate which turned out pretty good. The mole has flavor and sweetness to it which is how I like it. I also like how the chicken is diced and not whole because it makes it easier to eat. I also ordered an alcoholic drink which is called the spiced horchata borracha drink. It's a bit strong but still has an horchata flavor to it. Theres a reason they include 'borracha' in the title of their drink because I really did feel myself getting buzzed as I was drinking it. The food and drinks were overall good but the reason this place gets bumped down to two stars is because of the service and cleanliness of this place. When we got the menus, they were pretty dirty. They had some salsa on the pages as you flipped through as well as some wet spots. The bathroom also did not have any seat covers which really bugged me. Our waiter was not interested at all to attend us as well. He seemed as though he was in a rush with an attitude and never checked in to ask if we needed anything or any refills. We had to ask for napkins and waited a long time for our food/drinks as well as for the check. Would not recommend this place.