Las Olas

What a perfect spot right by the beach! 🌊🏝️ Exactly what you’re looking for when you want to take a relaxed break from the sand and enjoy some seriously good food. The nachos in the photo say it all: crispy, generously loaded, juicy grilled chicken, tons of perfectly melted cheese, and a big scoop of fresh guacamole on top. That first bite with the epic cheese pull was a highlight on its own 😄 Every single bite was packed with flavor. On top of that, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Attentive without being over the top, just easygoing and genuinely warm. The whole atmosphere fits the beach vibe perfectly. If you’re spending the day at the beach and want a great lunch with amazing food and a relaxed setting, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back!

Unfortunately, this place significantly Mrs. the Mark when it comes to Mexican/Tex-Mex food. I will say that the spicy bean dip is pretty tasty. It is not spicy at all, but melted cheese mixed with refried beans is going to be good. I also enjoy their chips and salsa. The chips taste freshly made, and the salsa is a little spicy. Now for the bad parts. Do not order chicken here at any cost. It is so dry and impossible to eat. The burritos here are also tasteless. There’s absolutely no flavor and then they smother it in sour cream and their green sauce, which are also lacking a lot of flavor as well. It was tough getting that burrito down. Additionally, staff are not helpful. We asked multiple times for hot sauce, and the staff told us they would get it, but it never came throughout our entire meal. The venue itself is very crowded and extremely noisy. Overall, this is a place I would avoid, especially if you are looking for good Mexican food. There are many other options that provide several magnitudes better service and food.

A good way to end an evening with a very laid back chill vibe . Restaurant is located right off the highway on the beach . Food is top notch Mexican classics with amazing fish tacos and ice cold beers . Not heavy or oily at all with the perfect crisp and crunch . Yum Staff is great : the guys do a super job to accommodate all needs and are fast ! Parking lot is large and free which was a nice plus considering how pricey San Diego parking can be . It does get loud as the evening progresses and may be hard to carry on a conversation towards the end of the meal for us , but the great food made this an after thought . Make sure you walk across to the beach for an amazing sunset and chill vibe A great place and looking forward to come back

Authentic, distinct and delicious would be an understatement! I just keep coming back. This time I enjoyed the Chile Verde, and there was a lot left after everyone had a *taste". It's all good, hard to claim a favorite here! I'll just keep on coming back. Tip: they open at 11am. 11:05, a line has already formed, so plan accordingly.

Very tasty food, not too salty, just right. The food came fairly quick and was hot. There was lots of flavor to the whole beans and my Chile relleno burrito to which I added shrimp for extra money. The staff was very friendly and took our orders promptly. I look forward to coming back here again.

Our server was super and food was delivered fast and hot. So glad we went. Beautiful location

First time back since they transitioned back to full service, and it was phenomenal! Food was out very quickly, and was delicious! Hannah took phenomenal care of us!!

Very very very crowded Best nachos I've ever had in a restaurant Drinks probably some of the worst Between the drinks and seating it's s good place to go but the rest of the food i had was very mid tier Spicy salsa was also delicious

It was Friday, around 330pm. It was crowded (even at the bar area) but we were able to get a seat outside patio area. Got the street and beach view I wanted and some fresh air. My first time at Las Olas, but not for my partner. It's been years since her last visit. Her visits have always been good. We were greeted immediately by the hostess, polite and friendly. Served cups of water and our server arrived at our table minutes later. Also, friendly, polite, patient and informative. If there was anything she missed, another server took care of it. Team work. Not only did our server check in a few times, so did other servers nearby. Food was good and their home made salsa was tasty. Not too spicy, it was just right. Overall experience at Las Olas was great

A cute little restaurant on the beach but when you want inside, it's just where everyone hangs out. Many people are by the bar just for the drinks alone. That itself is the ambiance! The shrimp tasted fresh and everything else was just the perfect comfort food! Would come again!

When restaurants are called iconic or legendary that's a really high bar to live up to. Las Olas does it perfectly. Incredible service today we had Michael who just was right there with everything. Plus brought over some birthday churros. Thank you what do you want to sit outside inside at the bar you get the same vibe which is fun. Now you get to the food start with the chips and move onto either tacos, enchiladas, burritos, all with a perfect portion of rice and beans. The margaritas are off the hook today we went skinny margarita and they were so good we had to have another... I know shocking but on a birthday day you get to do what you want. And believe it or not las Olas what's the very first restaurant we went to when we moved to Carlsbad still perfect thank you everybody for making it a great day

We stopped here on the way to a beach in Cardiff where the kid wanted to play. The location is great, right across from the ocean. The positives: Lots of free parking. Service was 5 stars. Our waitress Lindsay was enthusiastic and very attentive. Ambience is 5 stars. The inside is simply captivating with colorful Mexican tiles throughout. It feels like a place you want to eat or hang out in the small but very attractive bar. The negative: The food is sub-par and does not meet even mediocre. Why the restaurant was packed on a Sunday is a mystery to me. The food was not more than 2 stars and that may be generous. I had the combo with a crispy taco and cheese enchilada. My crispy taco was very greasy and had no flavor. The cheese enchilada had no flavor. The rice had no flavor. I did not even try the refried beans. The wife had seafood enchiladas and they had no flavor. At least there was not fishy taste because there was no taste. Her rice was undercooked. The kid did not like her cheese quesadilla because there was no flavor. The prices were reasonable but whatever the price was, it was not worth it. I told the wife that if this was the first time that I ever had Mexican, I would never eat Mexican food again. My advice is to keep driving past this place. There are so many highly rated restaurants close by, don't waste your time or money at Las Olas.

We came for lunch because we were craving Mexican. This was my second time here, which was over a year ago. I remembered the food being bomb the last time I was here so we opted for this place again. I ordered the Cardiff combo - which was the fish taco and chile rellano which also came with rice and beans. The chile rellano was good. Flavor was good and had good amount of cheese. When I got around to eating the fish taco, the corn tortilla was already starting to fall apart . The deep fried cod tasted a bit too overcooked as well, which didn't help with the overall experience with this entree. The service was good though. I left feeling disappointed. I think it will be another year before I find myself back here again. The jury is still out on that.

I've been to this location a few times now and the food is always great, service is fast, and servers are nice. I always get the sour cream chicken enchiladas. The sauce is incredible and I absolutely love their refried beans.

Las Olas is a total MUST if you're in the area. Parking can be a little wild (dirt lot vibes), but grab a margarita to go and head across the street to George's for a killer view of the waves or sunset...Or just to watch the dogs go by. I had the nachos and the sour cream enchiladas. The margaritas are strong. Pro tip: if you're planning on more than two, just get a pitcher. Now, the "not-so-perfect" stuff: the bathroom always has a line and isn't exactly sparkling clean (sand gets everywhere), and it really sucks that they no longer let dogs on the patio. But honestly? None of that takes away from how great this spot is. Crowded, messy, sandy bathrooms and all, Las Olas is still a total winner. Bonus tip: if you have the time, check out some of the older pictures on the walls. they're pretty classic and really show how long this place has been a local favorite.

I really liked this place! I wasn't sure what to expect but had heard good things, so thought I'd give it a try! The Great - The top shelf margarita was gooood! As were the chips! The food was great too! The Good - The chips were really good as was the service. The Bad - It seemed kind of dirty The Ugly - NA I would totally go back here and can't wait to do so. A little bit of a hike for me, but worth it.

Wow this is a beautiful place with wonderful employees and soooo delicious food. I really like the vibe so relaxing while waiting for our breakfast. Thank you for the great experience guys.

Unfortunately, this place significantly Mrs. the Mark when it comes to Mexican/Tex-Mex food. I will say that the spicy bean dip is pretty tasty. It is not spicy at all, but melted cheese mixed with refried beans is going to be good. I also enjoy their chips and salsa. The chips taste freshly made, and the salsa is a little spicy. Now for the bad parts. Do not order chicken here at any cost. It is so dry and impossible to eat. The burritos here are also tasteless. There's absolutely no flavor and then they smother it in sour cream and their green sauce, which are also lacking a lot of flavor as well. It was tough getting that burrito down. Additionally, staff are not helpful. We asked multiple times for hot sauce, and the staff told us they would get it, but it never came throughout our entire meal. The venue itself is very crowded and extremely noisy. Overall, this is a place I would avoid, especially if you are looking for good Mexican food. There are many other options that provide several magnitudes better service and food.

A popular Mexican restaurant. Has a Baja vibe with indoor and outdoor seating. The service was very good. Our waiter was excellent; very friendly and great at managing his tables. The food was good. The fish taco was good. The fish was crispy and soft on the inside. Personally I think the tortilla needed to be 2 because of the cabbage but it was good. The chile relleno was delicious (#14 Cardiff by the Sea Combo). Parking is available but it's popular at had to park in the spare lot which is a dirt. But didn't have a problem parking.

The fish tacos were quite disappointing, boarding on bad. Flavorless and overly fried. On the other hand, my girlfriend got the seafood enchiladas and those were excellent. Great service and fun atmosphere. Just won't do any fried fish here in the future.

Last week I contracted with Las Olas to cater and event at my gym we did a taco bar and I've never seen people so happy and over 40 people ran Ted and raved how good the food was the presentation. They made it easy so I could do it online I didn't even have to go into the restaurant. The customer service was five star. The food was five star. I can't Moore highly recommend someone to use for your catering needs than Las Olas. If you want to make a big hit this is where you do it. I'm still hearing about it a week later such a great experience!

My girlfriend and I stopped by Las Olas in Cardiff for a late lunch and had such a great experience, thanks in large part to our amazing server, Liz! Hostess was also great too. Even though we didn't order much & took our time catching up (we hadn't seen each other in a while), Liz was incredibly kind, patient, and upbeat the entire time. We ordered fish tacos (delicious as always), and she kept our sodas refilled without us even having to ask. Her friendly and welcoming attitude made us feel so comfortable and taken care of. It's clear she really cares about her customers. Thanks, Liz, for making our lunch feel special, we'll definitely be back!

Service was GREAT! Ambiance is Great! Across from the beach, pretty views and classic surf decor. Food was super disappointing. Fish tacos were ok, the salsa was good and the fry on the fish was nice but lacked flavor and kinda greasy. Potato taco had great lettuce and cheese but the potatoes tasted like flaky boxed mashed potatoes with no flavor. Cheese enchilada was ok, lots of cheese was good and yummy rice. Wish the chips and salsa came with your meal but $3 isn't expensive for them. Margaritas were DELICIOUS. Overall, fun vibe, go for the margaritas and service.

First and last time visiting this restaurant. I ordered a "chile relleno" and a beer for lunch. The beer came out and it was "flat". Then the food came out. As soon as the plate was handed to me, I was grossed out. It looked like wet dog food. And the smell! I was ready to vomit. My boyfriend took a bite to see if it was edible, but I refused. I picked at the rice and beans which were fine. But the chile relleno itself was horrible. It looked like gravy was poured over it and cheese was added. Traditionally, a chile relleno is dipped in an egg batter and then friend. Nope. They did not do that. The chunks you see are pieces of carne asada, that's why I said it looks like dog food. My appetite was ruined.

Be prepared to wait at least twenty minutes on a Saturday night! The ambiance is pretty lively and the service was still great despite all the filled tables. The chips and guac were so yummy because they came out warm. I ordered the sour cream chicken enchiladas combo that came with rice and refried beans. The portions were great, but I felt like the chicken was really dry. While there was nothing else particularly wrong with my order, I feel like I've had better quality enchiladas elsewhere.

Haven't been here in 25 years and it still tastes amazing. Stella our server was amazing and the Margaritas were great!!! Mom loved this spot. I hope to be back here soon.

My niece recommended Las Olas during our trip to San Diego. We took the drive up the coast to Cardiff. Guava Margarita special, very refreshing. We had the Fish Taco Combo super tasty & it was a lunch special! Casual little spot on the other side of the coast highway, we sat in the alfresco area at the front. Staff was friendly. Food service was fast. Ample parking.

Loved this restaurant right across from the beach. Great margaritas and guac dip. Friendly service and a laid back vibe. Don't let the exterior fool you. This place is amazing and fun.

The food was so tasty 10/10 the atmosphere was great and the server was so friendly. We came with our family and we had a great time. One thing I might gonna concerned about nois it is a noisy restaurant. we defanatly would love to try this restaurant again.

Moy Bien It was delicious, great price and location The fish tacos. Chips and Margarita were excellent.

Good food, friendly service, very noisy due to being very busy, felt a bit cramped, decent pricing, downside is no ala carte menu.

The food was awful. The restaurant was packed, so I expected it to be good -- but I think people must keep coming out of nostalgia, because the quality just isn't there anymore. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and couldn't have them with green sauce or refried beans because they contain gluten (I have to eat gluten-free). What I got instead was dry, cubed chicken wrapped in a tortilla topped with what tasted like plain tomato sauce straight from the can. Completely bland and unappetizing. I honestly don't understand how food like this makes it out of the kitchen.

We ate here on Nov 2nd and our server was Gustavo, best service ever. He was kind, caring, and made excellent recommendations. The food we ordered was amazing. I had a California burrito and it was perfect. My husband had tacos, 1 chicken, 1beef, it was amazing. The salsa and chips were fire Then we got flan for dessert and it was delicious. I highly recommend this place. We will totally go there again.

The food was fresh and hot, the service by Dus was timely, attentive, and accurate, while the atmosphere was casual and pleasant. I would come back with friends And family again. I give it five stars, recommend!

You cannot be at this lunch spot located right on PCH. Locals and tourists were enjoying the lunch specials with great prices and food. The fish taco was super crispy and the beans tasted of pork lard and were sooo goood. Not oversalted...which is often a complaint if mine at Mexican restaurants. Great service and clean bathroom as well.

Great spot for a quick lunch. Got there with only one couple ordering in front of us. Ordering was fast, efficient and easy. Lots of seating and a really great salsa bar. We sat down and had our food within 10 minutes. Great for a weekday work lunch. Ordered a spicy margarita which was very delicious. Great flavor and a great kick. The fish tacos were OK, the flautas were very good. Loved the different salsas you can try. The view is pretty nice of both the lagoon and the ocean. If you sit on the patio, you get a great ocean breeze. Fun little spot for lunch and drinks!

Nice little spot with solid Mexican food - a little Americanized but not by much, just across from the beach... the vibe is great. The service was fast and cordial. They also sell t-shirts at decent prices and they just hit the spot for a local souvenir. Don't expect the hard spice of a fully authentic Mexican truck or spot... but it's pretty close and the quality of the food is very good. Great beach stop, especially at night. But it gets busy.

Good ol' fashioned Mexican food in a beach like setting. (Ok so you are arias from the beach). For this area, the prices are good but if you are visiting from Milwaukee, it is expensive. The food is excellent and appropriate proportions. It's very tasty and the bar is excellent. This is not the Ritz but a local favorite. Eat enjoy and pit your toes on the sand across the street.

Las olas...where did you go wrong??? Oh that's right! Covid. If this is your first time and it's after 2023, you'll enjoy it as there is nothing to compare it to. You order at the counter and find a seat. Drinks are pre-mixed and service is fast. Super casual ambiance 5 stars! Now if you've been here before covid...this is where the star deduction happens. Back then it was a sit down restaurant with strong margaritas, great service, great food and delicious food. Overall, it's still good but I do miss the old las ols

Came here recently (second time in a couple months, which I'm not complaining about) for what we called a "senior dinner" at around 5-5:30 on a Saturday. Because we were at the onset of the dinner rush, we were immediately seated on the front patio which was nice with the heaters. Our server was friendly, attentive, and patient since we got margaritas and chips before ordering our entrees. I was very happy to hear that lobster was available (it was sold out last time), and my tacos plus marg hit the spot. I will say that $40 for a half lobster was steep but I gave into my craving.

We still love Las Olas! Great place for old-school southern Californian Mexican food! Not Tex-Mex, go to Texas for that...this is the real deal! Homemade chips with fresh homemade salsas and guacamole...not hot, just full of flavor! Cold beer, including NA and delicious Margie's! Everything is good, including the fish and shrimp soup, the cabbage salad, you really can't go wrong!

Woah! Okay this place is WAY better than a few years ago! The carne asada fajitas were so good and tasty. Order the black refried beans instead of regular refried so flavorful! Cant wait to come back! Good service and ambience.

Went for Taco Tuesday and they have all day happy hour menu. Margaritas for $5 and it was delicious!! There was a bit of a wait, but you can order at the bar and sit outside and wait to be called. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We went at sunset and had the best time! Nachos are a must!

The food was ok. The service was awful! The view was great. It was crowded. The guacamole was bland and lacked flavor- even a little salt would have helped. The fish tacos were ok. Did I mention the service was really bad!!!

My all time favorite Mexican food restaurant! Margaritas, so good! And, the bean dip, yummmm! Everything I've tasted has been good!! Happy hour seems too good to be true, but it really is that amazing! Everyone working is always awesome! Right across hwy 1 from the ocean!

LAURA IS THE BEST SERVER!!!! She was so attentive and patient with my grandma who has trouble hearing. We always come here for our grandma/granddaughter dates and this was by far the best experience so far. We absolutely love this place and love it even more now we know who to ask for when we come in . Drinks are always amazing such good happy energy around. Great view and vibe and great tacos lol. Thank you thank you thank you!

We drive all the way from San Clemente to eat the delicious food at Las Olas. The restaurant is fun and authentic and service is great.

Love las olas, their chicken nachos are always our go too and their boozy maitai is so yummy! It's a local favorite

I chose Las Olas for my birthday lunch after a friend highly recommended this Mexican restaurant. We weren't disappointed. The location is divine, right across from the beach, so we found a table by the window, which had a great view. Our waiter was so friendly as we ordered our drinks; margarita & beer, chips and salsa. All came out quickly, chips crispy, salsa with just the right amount of bite to it. We then ordered a Quesadilla filled with carnitas meat to split. Our order came out instantly, hot and perfectly cooked, the meat was tender and blended throughout with the cheese inside the tortilla. After we finished and received the bill I happened to mention it was my birthday. Our waiter immediately said "Do you want a Flan for dessert? Happy Birthday!" So impressed with him and the flan, we took a walk across the street next to the beautiful beach before driving home to Oceanside. Can't wait to go back!!!

Had been wanting to try this place forever! A dear friend took me and I'm so glad she did! I mean, who has a chile rellano with shrimp inside? Delicious! Food was excellent, service was great. A bunch of nice to look at surfer guys work here ;-) salsa, and chips were addicting! And you can choose to walk Cardiff Beach before or after your meal. What else can you ask for? Can't wait to go back.

Visited for happy hour for their $5 fish tacos and margs. Also ordered the nachos with carne asada and that was absolutely DELISH! The service was a little slow at first but other than that I love eating at this classic spot near the water.

This place has gone down hill as far as service, ambiance and pricing but the food is still so good that I will keep going back. Expected a wait on a Sunday afternoon during summer but it took an hour to get our food after being seated. The weird thing was watching tables getting seated and served, and quite literally leaving before we even got our entrees with no recognition or apology. Hard to get beverage refills and they leave the silverware and napkins on the table to grab yourself, so if it's not being managed regularly you'll be left with only one knife and a couple napkins. Bummed that they charge for chips and salsa now, which would have been okay if we were given a refill of either. It's a tough location because beach goers will park in their dirt lot and run across the street to the beach, and then return to use their restrooms. The back section leading to the bathroom had wet floors and bathroom line went outside the back door just to wash my hands before eating. In spite of the less than ideal situation, the food is still really delicious with fresh ingredients and minimal grease compared to other authentic Mexican food restaurants. Their green sauce for wet burritos is so so good, I will literally scrape the plate to every drop. I wouldn't call Las Olas fast paced casual dining by any means, but if you have the time to spend and are looking for a really good meal, the food is always consistent.

Veterans and veterans' supporters beware. Very disappointed to say that Las Olas Mexican Restaurant does not recognize Veterans Day, except to charge more for happy-hour cocktails and food. The server clarified that no happy-hour prices are extended to anyone on this American holiday, including veterans. This used to be a favorite Mexican restaurant in our community to frequent but as a parent of a veteran, my family, friends and I will take our Mexican appetite elsewhere.

What a great little spot!! We were wanting good local tacos and Las Olas did not disappoint! Great staff, view and even better tacos! Will be back!!!!

Love the location and the atmosphere, but man the food really needs some help. Ordered a chile relleno and it had cubed chicken on top instead of shredded chicken stuffed in it. The enchilada was filled with cubed chicken instead of shredded chicken and it was super rubbery. Almost like some pieces were pure fat. The whole plate was a pile of slop. The margaritas were great though and the bartender was really nice. I want to love it but it was not worth $90 for 2 people.

Everything is great, food, service. . . But we went just before sunset so it was an uncomfortable 15 minutes or so being blinded by the sun. Didn't see any blinds.

We came here on a Saturday evening at 6 pm. The wait was 45 minutes for a table for four. The hostesses encouraged us to grab a drink at the bar, which was packed. Luckily, you can drink outside as you wait for your table. Our waiter was great and the food was really good. The margaritas were divine. The parking is a bit of a nightmare. They have a VERY small paved parking lot with only a handful of spaces, and then a dirt lot where people park however they want to. We had to circle for 15 minutes before getting a spot in the dirt lot. I saw some reviews that this is a tourist trap, and I can definitely see that. It's right across the street from the beach and gives off touristy vibes.