Hernandez Hideaway Restaurant

love the authentic vibe good food. love that there is a mild lake to hike with my dogs 🐕 around and have a drink or meal after. I had the lobster burrito it was huge and full of tasty lobster. Amazing 🤩 service can't wait to try a margarita next time. it's not cheap, I do wish they had a special or happy hour, however the portions were worth it because I can make a meal last with left overs, and the lobster was fresh. I think if it were priced a bit better for drinks/sides/kids meal it would be more busy but I will definitely try to make it in a couple times a month because my dogs love the lake as well.

This restaurant is a little hard to find, it's tucked away off the beaten path but worth the trip. The food and margaritas were amazing. The staff were super friendly and very willing to make sure you were happy with your food and drinks. We were not locals but went on the recommendation of our daughters friend. It seems like a place the locals come however even though this was our first visit, the staff made us feel very welcome. This restaurant is most definitely recommended!

Food: The guacamole was so delicious, and the salsa was quite tasty as well. My partner and I split the carnitas plate. The carnitas was pretty dry and did not have too much of a wow factor for the $24. Perhaps it wasn’t in its freshest state. Seems as if it might have sat under a heat lamp too long. However, again, the plate did come with a decent portion and the delicious guacamole. We did have to ask for the olives the menu stated the plate came with, as it did not come with the olives. Service: I would suggest that prices for sides be stated on the menu, because we were quite surprised by the price of the side of guacamole ($6.50) and side of sour cream ($5.50) by the time the bill came. Atmosphere: Clean, calm atmosphere with good music playing (visiting during lunch on a Wednesday)

A random find as we were exploring lake Hodges. Great food, vibe and service. The seafood platter was delish - everything was fresh and tender (especially cod and scallops). Comes with 3 tortillas so plenty of food. They also recommend the Cadillac margarita, which my partner enjoyed but I thought was a bit strong. Quite reasonably priced. Interesting decor, adobe house vibes with retro art work. Interesting fact - the owner of the place nice yes the margarita back in the day!

Great food, kind and great hospitality would come here again.

Richard is light in this world and the entire staff are so beautiful.there we’re so blessed to have Hernandez hideaway and Escondido truly hidden gem. Margaritas on point. Rolled tacos were amazing. Have a blessed and elegant day.

Local hangout for those living in the Lake Hodges area. So close to those along the Del Dios Highway. Great Mexican food and Margaritas! Local atmosphere let's you relax and enjoy those you came with. During the Racing Season this is a great place to stop while heading east to the Escondido area or to I 15 going north or south. Check the history of the Margarita on their menu. Another trip to the Hideaway after the races at Del Mar. Five of us had great Mexican food and margaritas by the pitcher! Service was on top of their game with all of our needs met! If you have never been there you should check it out after the races or just to get excellent food! I suggest the shrimp quesadillas! Another night celebrating with the family at the Hide-A-Way! All of us had great time in a private room where we could talk and enjoy our family’s company. The food as always was superb! We had everything from chips and salsa, margaritas, enchiladas, burritos and tacos. The end of the night was a birthday dessert!

Great little hideaway for a good meal and great margaritas. Stop by and enjoy their delicious food and drinks.

I really don't understand the bad reviews. We went and had a great time! There were four of us and we shared 3 pitchers of the margaritas which were amazing! I don't normally drink those or tequila in general but they were delicious! The food? Even better! The hard shell tacos are delicious and the chili relleno was great too! The chips n salsa were also very good! We didn't have stale chips. Our server Erica was great! She was funny and checked on us frequently! We didn't wait long for our food at all. We went pretty early but we had a great time here and the food and drinks were great. Great little spot/hidden gem. Definitely will be back!!

It has been at least 15 years since we have dined at Hernandez Hideaway. What was once a favorite of ours has taken a turn for the worse. We entered last night and approached a vacant reception desk. No host, waiting patiently for at least 10 minutes a waiter approached us and showed us to a table for four. Menus are brought and waiter ask about drinks. We have to inquire if they have a drink menu and he brings a stained and dirty card with a list of their drinks without prices. Chips and salsa to the table and another 10 minutes pass until food order is taken. I opted for carnitas and my wife the chili verde. Our friends order carnitas and one has a green salad as well. Salad arrives with meals and waiter accidentally spills chili verde on the table. We are in need of another drink and a round is ordered. Absolutely nothing special about the food. Carnitas are now $23 and based on quality and portion are overpriced. My wife opted for her chili verde to be served without rice and beans which they did but came at full price. Hell, the dinner salad was nearly $13. Pretty much every item was overpriced. Service was poor at best and that was mostly because they were grossly understaffed. Our companions were freaked out because our waiters manbunn seemed to be loose and ready to drop hair on their food. Hernandez Hideaway used to be a special place for our family where we would get together and enjoy a nice meal. Our impression based on last night is that nobody cares anymore. Perhaps they are struggling or perhaps they need to make serious changes in the area of personnel. Don't know but the outcome from this visit changed my view of this once outstanding restaurant.

I took my three grandsons here for lunch. First impression: old building but it contributes to an old ambiance for Mexican dining. The chips and salsa were great, and our dishes are very generously sized! Service was efficient and friendly! Everyone liked their food with leftovers going home. (My only criticism is that they don't have draft beers on tap; only bottle beers.)

Damn, the reviews that mentioned food poisoning or sickness following a visit here seemed far enough in history I assumed they'd have figured their stuff out by now. Nope. Got sick. Ate a few of their complementary chips and salsa, most of a combo plate with chile relleno and cheese enchilada, along with a virgin blended strawberry margarita and a glass of still water. I spent the entire next day in massive GI pain accompanied by several other symptoms that I won't mention. The taste of the food was ok except rice was super dry and the chile relleno wasn't really what you expect a chile relleno to be. Also the place is a little musty... Anyway, I'll never go back despite the lovely service by Kelly.

Hadn't eaten here in several years so wanted to try it again based on quick (and mixed) Yelp review. Location is great and ambience is funky and old school which I love. However acoustics in the main dining room are loud and hard to hear especially w big parties. I was underwhelmed w the food which was bland. I had a chicken tostada that was piled high w lettuce and sour cream, very little chicken on the bottom and quite flavorless. My son had lobster tacos which he said were just ok. My husband had a chimichanga which was small and dry. The best part of our meal was the flan. Bill was over $130 for 3 people and only 2 drinks. Not impressed by the food and definitely not a value. With so many other good Mexican food options around we probably won't return. Sorry HH.

I love this place, it's always great food, amazing service and such a cute little spot. Their food and margaritas never disappoint!

Hernandez Hideaway has been a north county staple for decades!! Same food quality and excellent margaritas!! Service was great.

Great local spot to grab a margarita and some tasty Mexican food! Good service, fun chill vibes!

Met friends here for lunch. Cool atmosphere, friendly people and good food! Margaritas were on point! We had an amazing lunch with good friends and good conversation. Friends ate the two taco (carne) plate, hubs had the chile relleno cheese enchilada plate and I had the cheese crisp. Ended the meal with bunuelos with ice cream. Cleaned our plates!! We plan to go again!

Wow was this place good! Located in the middle of nowhere near lake Hodges you'd never know this place was here! The inside is very nice, with plenty of seating. Service was fantastic the entire time, and the menu was very large and offered a lot of seafood as well. The guacamole was fresh and delicious but what was outstanding was our entrees! The chilli relleno was excellent! Lots of cheese and cooked perfect! The enchilada was great and the tostada was huge! Fantastic Mexican food, cute atmosphere and great service! This place doesn't deserve anything less than 5 stars!

I don't know how anyone could mess up nachos so bad. Soggy nachos, meat was dog food grade, and then covered it in refried beans out of the can and sour cream to hide the atrociousness they made.

I found this to be an enjoyable old fashioned Mexican restaurant. The food and ambiance both stay true to that old fashioned vibe. I had the three item combo with a beef taco, cheese enchilada and chile relleno and all were quite good. Nothing mind-blowing happening, but the ambiance made it worthwhile and satisfying. I found the service to be friendly but slow. I was happy to notice that my stomach felt surprisingly content after all the food I ate, so that was a big bonus. The chips were perhaps the biggest aspect that I wish could be improved. The salsa was quite good, but the chips were nothing special and I feel that fresher, hotter chips would definitely level things up with the first impression. All in all, I'll be happy to stop in again when I'm in that area.

As a true human garbage disposal- I must say the nachos were horrendous. Never in my life did I think I'd ever leave a 1 star review (especially considering the gorgeous ambience and that I am far from a picky eater) but D-A-M-N those were some bad nachos. Movie theatre nachos beat those. (No disrespect to the people working in the back- it's just some real white washed Mexican food).

This is the WORST Mexican food I've ever had. Granted, it was a certain demographic with doctor prescribed low sodium, non seasoned food, who were the patrons tonight. But I am APPALLED. Terrible service, the food was AWFUL. And the price point was absurd. Do NOT go here for the ambience; it was a money pit!

This has been a long standing restaurant in our family. My dad passed away this year. And I was missing him, so, I wanted to go to "all the familiar places". The menu here is stable, and hasn't changed at all since I've been going here. So, I ordered the enchilada pie, which I have always loved and still love, and a margarita. The evening we stopped in, a week night, this place was hoppppong. With one bar tender, one wait staff and a whole bunch of us locals. So give yourself extra time and patience. Our waiter, was one of the most skilled multi-tankers I have seen this year. With about 25-30 covers he had it all. Our chips were full, our cups never empty for long, and he was personable. The tables, which he was also bussing, were not empty to long before they were turned again. The food - tops The service - The best they could do The drinks - yes please The ambiance- still the original vibe it's alwys been. If you're new to town or a tourist, you won't likely find this place, but, it's worth it if you can :)

My friend and I went to the lake and the older bartender with white hair was very rude, he gave us a mean look and told my friend he can't have his dog in here. My friend specified his dog is a service dog and the guy rudely said, "Well it can do its service outside." If you have a service dog, this place doesn't care about the ADA and will kick you out.

One star less for the owners opinions. No need to share your backwardness. Staff is great. Kelly, Heather, Monica, Theresa and Richard. Great team. Good house marga. My fav is the enchilada pie. No one else has this delish! Great chips and salsa. I think the chips are air fried. Never greasy.

Just had a great lunch at Hernandez Hideaway. It's a hideaway because it's tucked within the winding roads leading to Lake Hodges. My best friend and I had an assortment of items. The cheese and chicken enchiladas were amazing. The red salsa was just the right amount of spice and they had a really wonderful salsa verde that was served with chips upon request too. My tostada grande was on point! I'm trying to stay low carb so even though I love beans I just asked for chicken. All the pieces of chicken tasted like they were stewed in-house not salty not chewy just delicate: how I would make it at home! We also had guacamole to start accompanied by two tequila martinis with fresh citrus. The chips were brought hot to the table and the service was perfect. I hope I have her name right, but it was "Neeli" (?) She was so pleasant and fun to talk to and the service couldn't have been more prompt. No doubt Hernandez hideaway has been an Escondido special spot for decades and it remains to be so. Happy to say that we will definitely be back. I really enjoy the vibe here and how casual it is and the food is consistently good! Cheers!

I had not been to Hernandez hideaway in several years. And after reading all the reviews which were all over the place, I went to see for myself. I must say everything was top notch, the drinks, the food, the complementary chips and salsa. There were six adults, each ordering a different item. The chicken was tender, chili. Riano's were delicious, and enchiladas were perfect. Ignore the bad reviews and try it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

How could things go so bad? I haven't been here for years, but remembered it is such a lively fun place that was usually full of people and everybody happy. There was a certain vibe when we walked in. That didn't feel quite bright. The place was empty. We were the only two in the dining room. The decor was the same, which was good. They didn't ruin that funky vibe, but there were American flags everywhere, which is not a bad thing, but it wasn't Fourth of July and it just felt strange. Even the bartender had a shirt that was a flag. No problem, they appeared to only be one waiter. He was nice and friendly. The prices had hiked up a lot so there really wasn't anything under $20 that you could order at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but that's not completely unusual prices have gone up everywhere but, then the food came. The enchilada pie was about a quarter of the size that it used to be. The tortillas used to stack it or dark brown so they obvious been fried too long. But worse, is pretty obvious that it had been either sitting in a warmer for a long time or cooked a couple days ago. Oh well, I can always eat the rice and beans but no. The beans had a sour taste so I knew they had gone bad. The rice was dry. The guacamole was a dark green color. At first, I thought maybe it was one of the frozen guacamoles, but it was off. We had taquitos they were fried so dark. On a few scattered lettuce leaves. Really the only edible item of the meal was the sour cream. I stopped eating as soon as I tasted the sour beans because I didn't want to risk getting sick. But I did anyway. About a hour later, my stomach started growling and well I don't need to fill you in with the rest. It didn't hit my companion until later, but she's suffering from a little G.I. upset as well. It was just so sad. I loved that place and had so many good memories there. I asked the waiter if there was a change in ownership or management and he said they've had the same chef for 40 years. Maybe he was off that day or something. Because I've seen recent reviews that have been glowing stating the food is great. I'm a former restaurant owner and I know there can be some mixup and bad days, but this was more than that. I really hope they get their act together and bring back the ambience that used to be Hernandez hideaway.

As a true "human garbage disposal" i must say the nachos were absolutely horrendous. Never in my life did i think id ever leave a 1 star review (especially considering how far i am from being a picky eater and the stunnning location) but DAMN those were some bad nachos. Would have rather paid that price for some movie theater nachos. Also, no disrespect to the people working. Its just some bland, mediocre white-washed Mexican food.

I have never considered Hernandez' Hideaway a fine dining destination, it is more of a watering hole with a laid back old school vibe. On the way home from the Wild Animal Park our family stopped in for a quick snack and drink. Our excellent waitress brought out ice water for everyone and delicious chips and salsa. We ordered nachos and asked for the meat on the side and they came back with perfectly cooked nachos, complete with veggie beans and and all of the fixings. They were generous with sour cream and guacamole and the bowl of beef on the side was huge. When I dine at a hole in the wall restaurant I do not order seafood or anything that they do not serve a lot which works in my favor. It was fast, fresh and perfect.

This place never disappoints. The best service, food, and ambiance in the area. We will always come back. Cadillac Rita and Enchilada Pie. And the chips, salsa, and guac. Super Yumbo.

Incredibly flavorless food. Margaritas were undrinkable and the servers were rude. Will not be back.

Great atmosphere. Great food! So worth coming back again. A down to earth feeling in the place.

Moved back to San Diego after 20 years, is Rick and Sabina still the owners? Thanks always had great food!

Kelly is the man! We went on a walk around Lake Hodges, then stopped for chips, salsa, and margaritas. We loved the atmosphere and service so much that we brought my mother back the same week. The classic margarita was tasty! I had the quesadilla with beef and the chile relleno. I loved the sauce, relleno, and the beans. The quesadilla had more of a taco birria vibe, so keep that in mind or ask for less meat. It's our new favorite Mexican spot!

My wife and I discovered Hernandez' Hideaway after watching a Dateline episode on the Escondido serial-murderer/rapist/evil incarnate John Albert Gardner. This was his regular hangout during his unspeakably sinful crime spree, and he was arrested at the Hernandez Hideaway bar in 2009. Despite the awful way we discovered it, we thought the restaurant looked interesting (we love restaurants in remote locales) and drove down to Lake Escondido to have dinner. I'm rating 4 stars because the food and service met our standards, and I always want to support small businesses rather than big corporations. However, a big concern: once you enter, it feels like the owners want you to know and accept their politics. Maga heaven. Not subtle either. I was very disappointed to see this, but it also made sense considering an evil man who basically hunted young women in the area felt Hernandez Hideaway was his safe place. If eating in this type of Trump-loving environment disturbs you, be warned. If you walked into this place with a mask, I wouldn't be surprised if you faced undeserved ridicule. That aside, the enchilada pie was as delicious as everyone says it is. Plenty of parking. Festive, hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. You want the decent food and drinks? You got it. You want a friendly-place where you feel welcome? Well... unfortunately, this place curates and caters to a certain type of regular customer. If they sense you are not of that ilk, it's very possible you may not be treated with the same kindness and respect.

We took 10 friends there on Sunday for lunch - they set up a table in one raised area and it was perfect! We had great food, and terrific service. Especially good: chicken tostado & shrimp quesadilla. Loved the chips & salsa. Highly recommended this place -

Not Mexican food!! Carne asada was boiled. Chile verde very watered down.Very expensive for the quality. Best part was the chips and Salsa. Service very friendly

Standing room only on Mothers Day! What an epic place. The team works super hard. Drinks are STRONG! Food is great. Beautiful location. Love the haters from covid all mad. Don't go here then. They can't handle more business.

Truly *the best* margaritas, and also the best traditional socal Mexican food, in SD. Has a classic vibe inside and a beautiful location tucked away by the lake! I don't get why the yelp reviews are so poor. Come see for yourself -- but definitely designate a driver if you're ordering margarita pitchers. :P

Got so sick eating here. Only thing that I ate differently from everyone else was the rice. Symptoms started within 30 minutes. Had to leave midway through dinner.

Visited 1/7/2023 1/7/2023 Yesterday Loretta and I were going nuts staying home in the cold and rain. It's was a beautiful day for a drive so we headed for this place that's been on my bucket list to try for some time now. I didn't have high expectations and boy were we surprised how outstanding this Mexican Restaurant was. Nestled above Lake Hodges in the outskirts of Escondido all alone on the road to the lake sits a very homey clean restaurant and bar. The staff were very friendly and nice. The menu selection is good although a bit higher priced for a Mexican Restaurant than most. They claim to have had the first Margaritas in California and I must say they were very tasty. They only have one size (Small) $8.00ea. Loretta Lee had The Tostada Surprema with shredded beef. It was excellent. I went for A three item Combo. Cheese Enchilada, A homemade Pork Tamale, and a homemade Chiles Relleno. Everything was Amazingly Good including the beans and rice. In fact the Beans were very tasty and the rice was perfection. The homemade Salsa was A hit for me, chunky and flavorful with a slight bite to it. All and all a 4 Star experience and we both can't wait to come back for another visit. Definitely Recommend. Hernandez' Hideaway 19320 Lake Dr, Escondido, CA

Went last night , sorry I did not read the reviews first. Chips were stale, salsa way too hot , even for those whom love it spicy ! Portions were small considering the outrageous prices. Food was very bland, beans watery, rice was dry with no flavor. And to top it off I barely made it home on our 20 minute drive before I got really sick. I wish that I had never gone to this place ... Stay Away....

I absolutely love HH. The restaurant is tucked away next to Lake Hodges. The chips and salsa are delicious. The serve margaritas by the glass, half pitcher or pitcher and they are amazing. I ordered the shrip quesadilla which comes with guacamole, sour cream, a huge side of Mexican rice and refitted beans with cheese. I wasn't able to finish everything. I did finish the quesadilla. We usually sit at the bar and talk to the bartender Richard if it isn't too busy. The staff is friendly, the restaurant is clean, the food is great; Hernandez' Hideaway is a great spot to check out!

Off the beaten path, Hernandez HideAway is well worth the drive! Situated adjacent to Lake Hodges in southwest Esco, it's such a lovely drive down Del Dios Road through Elfin Forest. The building itself is quite old and historic. Built around the same time as Lake Hodges Dam (~1918). Eventually it transformed into this charming Mexican restaurant in 1972. Supposedly home of the original margarita! If you order one here, it is definitely legit. Probably among the top 3 margs I've had in the county. The menu is unique. Not necessarily the standard fare you'd find at run of the mill Mexican restaurants. Everything I've ordered here has been outstanding. Especially their huge beef burrito blanketed with a delicious enchilada sauce that I could take a bath in. Highly recommended.

Food is good & so are drinks. But don't bother if you have a dog & are sent to the patio. They might as well tell you to "order take out" & bring your own plates. No service at all.

Great hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. Good solid Mexican food with no frills or attitude. Been coming here for 25 years and it never disappoints! I love the chimichanga.

It's a pretty well hidden place in lake Hodges. The food is good not great but if you're hungry it will do nothing else around lol. The drinks are well made the bartender was really friendly. My only thing is they have a patio and if you want to eat outside you have to order out from the bartender which is strange why have a patio to begin with. No biggie overall but just in case you want to eat in the patio.

Literally thieves. Chimichanga, one bottle of Pacifico, and a 20% tip showed up as a $65 charge. Also, the chips were stale.

I really should have thought more about where I was stopping. I decided to stop here because SIRI said it was the closest Mexican food place to where I was. I was with two friends and we all wanted Mexican food. I got there and I couldn't really remember why the place looked familiar. I walked in and the place had a strange funk to it and the lady gave me this look that made me want to leave right away. My friend immediately pointed to this shit show of signs and we left. I can't even imagine what the food and service would have been. Don't go here if you want to have good food, leave without having some sort of food illness, or not have politics with dinner. Glad we didn't stay after reading reviews.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, customer oriented staff. A great recommendation by very close friends!

Best place ever! Strong margs and great service!!! It's my favorite place to go Hidden Gem

I stumbled onto this while searching for a good scenic drive (and food) destination. Out of the way, outdoor patio Mexican across the street from Hodges. Nice. Let's do this. Note to self: Read the reviews first. The patio had nobody and nothing but a coat of dust, at prime lunch time on a beautiful weekend with the lake right there. Even the fully screened off outdoor area was left unmaintained. That was only slightly worth thinking about since the lot was full, until spotting the four-page printout taped near the door: A laundry list of no-law-enforcement-allowed right-to-refuse type demands citing the Patriot Act of all things. You know, the literal opposite of no law enforcement allowed. So lack of patio access is probably enforced, then. No official restaurant rating in view, compared to... anywhere else. At this point, I'm guessing asking for an outdoor table was risking saliva in your enchilada. I think I'll drive a bit more. Reading now, I apparently dodged a case of food poisoning, and possibly car damage from the regulars. I suspect the owner holds their nose just keeping the name, to lure the unwary.

The Bartender talks so loud you think she's HolleringThe waiters was forgetful we ordered our food and then she asked me what did you want and she asked me if I wanted a margarita she stepped away came back asked me again did you want a margarita then she serve my husband a Coke came back with a Diet Coke after the second time I asked for Flower tortillas my husband asked for corn we got all corn we ordered the Manchaca it didn't have any flavor The best recommendation for the service to carry a note pad and it's good for her to have cooks to taste your own food First and last time I will come here

Great environment in the restaurant, excellent food, the Margaritas are not that great.

The service is always superb. Greeted with a hello. Never feel rushed. A great placed to have a gathering of friends and family. Food is well prepared and large portions. The Cadillac margarita is awesome. Restaurant is clean with a great atmosphere. 5 stars to them

Fantastic food and environment. Kelly our server was fantastic, I have never seen a server work so hard to take care of guests. We will be back again very soon!