Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant

This is a cute little restaurant in the heart of downtown La Mesa. It is very adorable inside. The food we ordered was nothing too special but decent and plentiful. Their carrot cake is yummy, iI think they add coconut to it. They have outdoor seating as well. We'll definitely return here. Staff was friendly.

I’m just wondering if the new owners have actually started using Mario’s Amazing recipes. When we we there, it was NOTHING like the OG! Sad really, if it’s not broken. He worked there as a cook, he knows the recipes, probably backwards and forwards. The rolled tacos are worse than a taco stand (Costco) Beef taco, same. Mario’s recipes had delicious FLAVORED shredded beef. Rice is different, chips, salsa , even the rice. That was very unique and now it is blah! Come on!! Go back to the original, you’ll get more customers. This photo is from the REAL Mario’s, if it’s still on the website, that is false advertising!! Compare this to your food! Ick!

One of the Best Mexican restaurants in San Diego in my opinion. Good and Friendly Service!!!

Cute Mexican restaurant in La Mesa. We enjoyed our breakfast of huevos rancheros and enchiladas. We will be back!

I’m honesty upset I have not tried this place sooner after living in La Mesa for over 3 years I only now tried this spot! The food is very tasty. I had the steak ranchero which the beef was very tender and you can taste the spices. The beans are creamy and delicious! The rice was also cooked wonderfully! The only thing I wished they had spicier salsa! But the salsa that comes with the chips is authentic and fresh, really good! This is my New Mexican spot in La Mesa

Don't know how I missed this place for so long, but I'm super glad I was directed here by a friend. There are so many Mexican restaurants here in San Diego it's kinda daunting trying to find a really consistent place. This was my third time visiting and most definitely will not be my last. Personalized service from the owner, awesome food and Margaritas, nice atmosphere without sometimes overpowering decorations like a lot places have, just enough to be pleasing. If I wanted overpowering, I'd go to Tijuana! Nuff said. Go there. Pretty good chance you won't be disappointed. I've been eating Mexican food 60 years, from here to Texas.

I started going to Mario’s 40+ years ago. Knew Mario when he had the little kitchen on Center Street in La Mesa… then expanded to the old fishing tackle shop… and finally his move to La Mesa Blvd. Whether I picked up items on my way to a job site or being the ‘go to’ place for family & events… Mario’s has always been my favorite Mexican Restaurant! So many memories there! Saturday Brunch in La Mesa - What a picture perfect day it is! So it's off to the outside patio at Mario's... Cheese Enchiladas, Fried Eggs & Bacon w/Refried Beans & Rice for me. Chorizo & Eggs Burrito w/Ranchero Sauce for Louise. Beautiful and delicious!

Tasty Mexican food! Nice quaint restaurant in La Mesa. Overall, good food. I'm not sure what their specialty is, but I enjoy their dishes each time I come. I had their tamale last time I came and liked it. Actually, their tamales are larger than others, so you may need to only order one. The venue is smaller, so it probably the max party size may be 6-8-- but this adds to their charm. They have an outdoor patio, if that is your preference. Additionally, they just redecorated. Prices are fairly affordable. This place is worth checking out.

What a fantastic find in La Mesa - thanks fellow Yelpers! It's been a minute since I've experienced some great authentic Mexican food and I was excited to get over to Mario's. We parked in their parking lot, located behind what we think use to be a house. We passed the softly lit patio and admired the glow and warmth. We noticed street parking is available along this downtown edge of La Mesa, which is also easy to walk. The gorgeous Christmas lights and exterior decorations should have prepared us for the eye candy awaiting inside, but WOW, what a burst of vibrant color the interior holds! We were greeted warmly immediately upon entering and shown to a table and offered drinks, chip and salsa. While noshing, we perused the menu and made our selections: Christmas + Mexican food = TAMALES! So I chose the in-house made pork tamale plate with ranchera sauce and cheese. Hubs chose the a la carte large beef burrito, also with ranchera sauce and cheese. BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING! Hit the mark perfectly for what we were craving. LOADS of delicious meat filled each of our selections. The masa of my tamale was light and fluffy. Hospitality was delightful and attentive, even as the restaurant filled with more locals and some large parties. Before leaving, we made use of the baños and were delighted to find adorable drawings of characters looking like they stepped from the "It's A Small World" ride at Disneyland directing us towards the Damas and Caballeros "rooms". So cute! A delightful and delicious meal warmed our hearts on a chilly December night in La Mesa and we look forward to eating here again. Cheers! "CC"

My first visit here, and it won't be my last. I wanted a change from that big Mexican restaurant in Grossmont Center, and my son recommended Mario's. It's really easy to find on La Mesa Boulevard, close to the intersection of University Avenue. Hard to miss after dark due to the bright attractive lighting. And to make matters even better, the sign outside proclaimed "Happy Hour"! Upon entry, we were greeted immediately, and offered a choice of seating locations. The decor is Mexican folksy, and rather relaxing. I noticed some outdoor tables and it seems this place is dog-friendly. Chips and salsa were served upon being seated. Fresh warm chips and excellent salsa! Not long after, the Happy Hour Lime Margaritas arrived in cute, rim-salted mason jars with handles. They were OK, typical of Happy Hour drinks. My entree was the Two Burritos Rancheros ($15.99), which was accompanied by generous portions of rice and refried beans. The Ranchero sauce was delightful. My order was one beef and one chicken burrito. These protein fillings were generous and quite tasty. I ended up with some take-home leftovers. I am not aware of how authentic my entree was, but it suited this American-born San Diego resident just fine. We declined the suggestion of dessert (Too full!). Service by Karen V was timely and personable. I am already scheming my next visit.

Uninspired, standard Mexican fare. I ordered the Baja Shrimp Burrito. The few shrimp, themselves, were delicious but enclosed in what seemed to be two tortillas (waaaay too much unappetizing floury crap), with a scant amount of the promised vegetables, and dripping in an unnecessary sauce. The accompanying refried bean were delicious, but it's hard to go wrong with refried bean. This was most certainly overpriced for what I got. The atmosphere is nice, tho'. It's a clean establishment, with beautiful tables and prettily upholstered seating. Free parking in the back. All-in-all, I'd rather drive across town to a more interesting, authentic, and better value than return here.

Have wanted to try Mario's for years and finally made it for lunch. The atmosphere is festive and welcoming, and the service was attentive and friendly, but the food was a hit-or-miss situation. The chile relleno was a hit, but the carnitas were dry and the chicken mole was boring/lacking in any distinctive flavor.

It has been a while since I've been to Mario's de La Mesa. I heard the new family who owns and runs it now has made some positive changes to the menu, like adding the Taco Tuesdays special. Street tacos are $2.95 all day long. I came in for lunch and ordered an iced cold beer and two carnitas tacos and one carne asada tacos. The street tacos, although they were small, they came generously filled with their appropriate protein. The carnitas were very good. They were a touch dry but not by much. I liked that they were tender but also had some crispy bits inside as well. They came with only chopped white onions and cilantro. I was hoping for a little guacamole, which would have been great with the carnitas. Going double on the corn tortillas would have been good, too. The carne asada taco was good, too. The meat was well seasoned and tender to eat. The carne taco also only came with cilantro and onions. Where's the guac? Just a little. Both the green sauce that came with the tacos and the red hot sauce that came with the tortillas chips were very good. They had good flavor and heat. The tortilla chips they offer when you dine in are good eating. The service was very good. They lady who took my order and served was very nice. I liked that they served your beer in an ice cold glass or mug. That is the way to roll.

My family and I were looking for good Mexican mole but my mom was underwhelmed. Same thing for the albóndigas not bad just not great. I liked their fried food like their surtido mixto appetizer which is a medley of fried Mexican finger foods. I also liked their sautéed shrimp. Their rice and beans are delicious and authentic. Unfortunately the churros were also a miss. Not sure I'll give this place another try but maybe in person someday.

Carina our waitress was amazing! Look at this food :) 3 taco trio, authentic rice and beans. Good chips. Nice patio :)

Food very delicious and satisfying .. really good customer service, very sanitized and clean place to come and eat with your family .

I have always driven by this little cute and cozy Mexican restaurant but have always been too busy to stop. Today was the day finally I got to try Mario's! I really love that they have a parking lot of their own so you don't have to have that challenge of trying to find parking. I drove right in the parking lot and walked right in. It's a Saturday early afternoon and thankfully not too many people. They had festive both Spanish and American music playing in the background to enjoy while eating. I started off by ordering an iced tea. Of course, I was enjoying the chips and salsa at the table. The salsa is tangy with a little kick. The perfect spice, not too mild, not too spicy but just right! My entree consisted of one cheese and one chicken enchilada with rice and beans. A wonderful homemade taste and so flavorful! The decor is happy and delightful reminiscent of being in Mexico. My waiter was super efficient and friendly! Kudos to the cooks also for making such flavorful food! I will be returning to Mario's when I am in La Mesa, it is a little sweet Mexican cozy haven to escape to when one needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of life! Mario's of La Mesa thank you for providing the perfect restaurant experience! Tell them Carla sent you! #la mesa #san diego # city of la mesa # san diego magazine

Great place if you are in the mood for authentic Mexican food! The service is top notch! Constantly getting checked up on, and never having empty glasses. The chips and salsa were wonderful and the guacamole was flavorful! The crunchy beef taco was really good, the beef was so juicy and the shell was nice and crunchy. The enchiladas were just okay to me, I wasn't a huge fan of the enchilada sauce. Other than that, excellent place if you want some fantastic service and large margaritas!

OMM-Oh my mexican. Simple authentic and tasty. this might be the best mole in town and we added a fluffy Relleno which was the perfect pairing. Two skinny's and it's a complete meal. :)

Made an OpenTable reservation for 6 on a Saturday evening, they had our table ready and had comfortable seating. We ordered the guac to start and drinks, after that the server took a very long time ti come back and take our order. But once the order was taken the service was better, my whole family enjoyed their meal which came out in a timely fashion. The food was so good none of us really had leftovers! We had a Concha French toast that's on their breakfast menu for our dessert. Unfortunately I forgot to take more pictures, but next time I will.

That was a two napkin taco! Freshly made, abundant ingredients, and huge chunks of avocado in the guacamole. The enchilada sauce is delicious and the beans clearly a family recipe. Patio ambiance, colorful dining rooms, a very satisfying experience. (If you don't know, look up their story. He used to be the busboy, now he owns the restaurant!)

We absolutely Love Mario's! Food and drinks are great, and just a overall perfect spot for my family and I. Has seating both outside and inside.

The best Carne Asada around. Amazing flavors. Great service. You can't go wrong. We've been coming here for years and it's as good as it gets. Enjoy!

Just around the corner from the main strip in La Mesa is a hidden gem. This authentically feeling restaurant is ready to serve you all of the flavors and textures: spicy, crunchy, juicy, cheesy, fresh, aromatic,... ove delicious! Read the specials board on your way in because they have LOTS of options here and everything that came out of the kitchen looked incredible. I will almost always get an enchilada plate when I go to a Mexican restaurant, there's something about the cheese, sauce, and bean/rice that are so comforting. they served some great food - so much so that I couldn't finish and was stoked to have leftovers. My friend got the carnitas plate and it was a HUGE portion of meat that was tender and carefully prepared. The staff were great and made sure we had everything we needed, they were present and available, but not overbearing. We got there for a very early dinner, around 4 and there were only a clfew other people inside. We walked down the block afterwards to help digest this amazing meal and when we came back around 530, we saw that it had filled up, which is great to see - I love when good businesses are doing well!

Came in during Oktoberfest and was disappointed. First off the staff are all super friendly and accommodating which is the only reason they get 2 stars and not 1. The food is not good at all, The salsas aren't good , and the margaritas taste like Gatorade. I feel like their using cheap ingredients and cutting corners on the margaritas by using a mixer which makes the drinks taste suuuuuper sweet.

When I'm in the mood for cheesy, good Mexican food, Mario's is where I go. Love this spot. It's super cute inside and they offer patio seating. The service is always friendly and you can tell they take pride in their work. Their portions are pretty big. They start off with chips and salsa, which is always fresh. Their menu is expansive and has all the favorites. They serve breakfast, have a wide variety of soups, and desserts. I really enjoy the chile relleno. It's a good size, never any seeds, and the sauce is good. You really can't go wrong with anything you order. Parking is ok. They have a small lot behind the restaurant and few street spots. It's just at the end of the village, so it's a little bit easier to find a spot. Try them out!

We sat outside because I brought my dog, that's why it's a little dark. But the place is super cute and family friendly. The customer service is pretty friendly. The food is amazing!!! The salsa is pretty good and a little spicy. The enchilada is soooo good!! Perfect amount of meat and cheese! It's so delicious!! I ordered horchata also, and it tastes so fresh with the perfectly sweeten. My daughter got the hot chocolate, and she says it's the best hot chocolate. She ordered the enchiladas plate and loves it!! For dessert, we got the tres leches cake, and that's the best tres leches cake!! It's so fresh and delicious!! We will definitely be back to try more because it's so good!! #supportsmallbusiness

Love this place. If you want to eat healthy, low fat Mexican food, Mario's makes it easy! I always order the single shredded chicken taco on lettuce instead of a tortilla, no sour cream, and avocado instead of guacamole. Then I add a side of their amazing pico de gallo- best anywhere! Juan the owner who often takes care of us is so sweet and never bats an eye at my crazy annoying order! They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating so we can bring our corgi with us!

Large portions, delicious Mexican food and friendly and fun service! We came to Mario's for a work event and got to enjoy the entire outside patio area. I'm not sure why I don't come to La Mesa more often. They've got a surprising number of great spots. While this one fairs more casual, the food doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed the salad which was on a crispy fried tortilla and loaded with pollo asado. I also got a side of a mole enchilada. The mole was delicious! Everything tasted home cooked and comforting! Top it off with a beer on a sunny day and you're golden. Can't speak highly enough about the friendly service. Our waiter was a hoot and so nice!

It would be awesome if just once when we showed up the tables were wiped down. There is always crud stuck to the table.

Food was so delicious, i haven't been here for years and was craving it! Staff was great , didn't have to wait long to order or get drinks I order the mix fajitas very flavorful and seasoned to perfection My daughter ordered the carnitas and that was a hit as well We also ordered pozole and they are very generous with the chicken, seasoned well i would like a little more spice but it was so delicious We will definitely be going back !

I was down visiting my son at SDSU and found the most amazing Mexican food. It is definitely a hidden treasure. Mario's has a fabulous happy hour! Margaritas were delicious and the food was even better. We had taco and enchilada plates and the portion sizes were big. The prices are reasonable too! They have a nice outdoor patio where you can sit in the sun. The owner Juan came to check on everything and we had a nice conversation. We noticed afterwards that they have a big parking lot in the back so you do not have to find street parking . I will definitely be back when I'm in the area!

As a taco shop connoisseur who has ratings up on yelp, I had to give this shop my 5 stars as a first timer pickup. I shamelessly over paid at other places in the area and now I know where my new go to in La mesa is! Great burritos and service!

Great food! Reasonably priced! Cute decorations and ambience! Excellent service! They have a parking lot which is hard to find in La Mesa. Thumbs up this is a great place.

Food is Very Tasty, the service is exceptional, and the ambiance will keep us coming back. Came here first the first time for my mom's birthday and everyone here is so friendly. Parking is in the back. Prices are reasonable. The food is good like Grandma's. Restaurant is in a pretty part of La Mesa. We will be coming back.

Great service, love the ambiance, perfect for dates, family, and of course let's not forget the main reason for being there: the amazing food. Highly recommended!

I am traveling to San Diego for business this week. Mario's was recommended to my group & I wasn't sure on trying new places. However we went and it was more than I expected. The food, the margaritas,my waiter Juan were all amazing. I ate the special of shrimp- garlic, wonderful! We definitely be back to eat @ Mario's. The downfall is the parking lot, not enough spaces for the customers but worth a little walk once you complete your evening. Thank you for the excellent experience.

This was one of the best decisions we have made when trying a new restaurant. 100% recommend! They are family owned and the service was amazing. The drinks!!!! The food was so good and the churros topped it off! The art on the walls was probably my favorite thing about the restaurant, so cute!!

Great service, amazing food! Chilaquiles salsa verde 2 eggs over easy and a mimosa. Love the music!

The was really good especially the chips and salsa. I was disappointed that they didn't serve real margaritas. The service was excellent! Servers and helpers were friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is very clean and it looks like they just remodeled the restaurant. Unfortunately because they don't serve real margaritas, we probably won't go back.

My buddy recommended this place and went with my brother and his wife and my buddy's family. Located in a house in a regular neighborhood with a rather large parking lot. Food tasted like good old fashioned authentically prepared Mexican food. Chips n salsa were actually excellent without having them tainted with cilantro. :-) Only hiccup that occurred was that I wanted a side order of shrimp enchiladas ala carte and was told I had to get the full plate with no exceptions. Everyone enjoyed their food without complaint which doesn't happen very often. For sure will be back!

This is my new go-to for sit down Mexican food. The enchilada sauce was amazing as were the homemade salsas. I wish the pozole was made with pork instead of chicken but otherwise this place is awesome.

Absolutely awful. I ordered the shrimp fajita plate on DoorDash and it didn't come with tortillas...?! Or mushrooms or guacamole.. all of which are listed on the page. The manager said "it doesn't come with any of that." Then changed his story and said I didn't select the option for tortillas. THERE IS NO OPTION! Only The option to buy! First and LAST time ever going there. Tried the shrimp and it was mushy and bland. never again, what bad customer service!!

Meh. Loved the patio and service, but the food was just okay. Not terrible by any means but the quality and flavors were definitely lacking. I was looking forward to a margarita but they don't make it with tequila so I passed.

We had a wonderful first visit, and it won't be our last. The staff were friendly and courteous, but the food! I had shrimp enchiladas which were rich, creamy and fabulous. Thank you, Carina, Miguel, and all the cooks. A neighborhood treasure. Marjorie and Richard

Absolutely my new favorite place for Menudo! The other food they serve is just as amazing, they also have their own parking lot which is nice. All lit up for Christmas and all the staff who work there are really nice and professional.

Such a cute spot. Good food and lovely people. It feels family whenever we dine here. Good portions, yummy and price point is decent. No weird upcharges. I love to support local businesses that are worth it and this spot has always been a fave. Parking is sometimes problematic, just fyi. I've dined on the patio (which is super cute w/my dog) and the inside is cute and comfy.

Sets the standard for a family style restaurant in La Mesa. Good service, all the basics to eat, in a friendly family style atmosphere. They have outdoor seating - and are dog friendly (they bring bowls of water too!). It's a bit tucked away, but plenty of seating, so we didn't have to wait.

Ugh, I love this place too much. I've been here a dozen or so times, and get the same exact thing every time: the carne asada burrito. Mario's just does it right. Juicy steak but not greasy. Seasoned just right. I prefer to eat inside since the wait staff is always so friendly and accommodating to my kids.

Sorry was not impressed. It was more or less a taco shop with waiters.. So I get the mail book coupon, buy one entree get one free, if you buy two drinks. That's all coupon says, ok so go in and now its 'well you can buy anything but the free meal can only be combo or burrito'..'how about the specials of the house' 'no'..welI didn't come in to negotiate terms of a coupon.. I go with beef fajitas, mom with with combo #2 beef taco/cheese enchilada. Mom's play looks fine, is tasty, but nothing like WOW or anything. For me? Where's the beef? serisouly, $22 plate and I barely got enough beef to fill a street taco..all sitting on a huge pile of onions, bell peppers, etc. Rice/Bean sides are ok, not bad but not good. Also, side of hot carrots was $5 bucks..and Jamaica drink didn't have refills. There's just way too many mexican restaurants to warrant a return here.

I have eaten here several times, and the food is always delicious. I've enjoyed their chicken fajitas, which are enough for two people. I've also had their mole enchiladas, which are excellent as well. The service is always polite and attentive. They also have a pleasant outdoor area for eating, so you can enjoy sunshine on a nice day.

I always enjoyed eating here but last time I ate lunch there I was a bit disappointed. First, they brought us some rancid tortilla chips. You could smell them from a mile away, I can't believe they put them on our table. Of course they did replace them. The next thing I don't like, but probably it doesn't bother some people, was instead of giving us a paper bill with everything we ate itemized the waitress came over with her tablet and just told us how much we owe. when I asked to look at the bill, she just seemed a little confused like that was not possible. I never did see the bill

The service was great and the food was great. Only complaint I have is the portion size of the meat on the fajitas. Other than that very nice evening.

Berry berry good, I had the machaca and eggs.. lots of flavor and tender beef... I got it with potatoes.. they were a bit lacking.. lite on flavor.. and boiled then lightly fried.. wife got the chili relleno.. we were not disappointed.. she got it topped with shrimp.. shrimp was tasty and perfectly cooked... Chips and salsa were a highlight.. the table salsa very tasty.. I asked for their spicy salsa also enjoyable.. the service is not to be beat...

This place has the prices of a sit down restaurant but the quality of a fast food place....if not lower. We started with chips and salsa, it was free but the salsa tasted super bland except for the strong pepper taste. I got a chicken mole dish. The mole again was bland and the chicken was the driest toughest Iv had EVER! My daughter got the fajitas and again the meat was tough and dry as cardboard. I honestly feel like they are cooking and reheating the meat for it to taste this dry. THE ONLY thing that was good about the place was the service. All the people who helped us was very kind.

Food was that great traditional Mexican, nothing foofy or trendy. Try the chile relleno. It was superb! Everything we had (tostada, beans, burrito, shredded beef taco) was fresh, HOT. And very tasty. Toward the end of our lunch service slowed, but it's because of a shift change. We weren't in a hurry, so didn't mind. Patio was perfect for the dog, and they brought out a water bowl for him. Will go back anytime have the guitars services at Moze!

Cute little spot in La Mesa with an outdoor patio! The food and service were great. Can't wait to come again and try their breakfast.