Tamarindo Del Mar

Lively, contemporary, Latin restaurant with a great patio and full bar. The staff was friendly, attentive and efficient. The menu has familiar Mexican food favorites, but also some elevated dishes with a creative twist. We enjoyed the spicy Elote Spears and the Octopus+Mahi Tacos. Great depth of flavor, texture and spice.

We rode up as a group of four motorcyclists from Orange County and had an awesome lunch here. The staff was super friendly, service was fast, and the patio atmosphere was perfect. The chips and salsa were fresh, the guacamole was excellent, and all our dishes (fish tacos, enchiladas, carne asada) were delicious. Ice-cold beers made everything even better. Great spot in Del Mar-we’ll definitely be back.

I had two great dinners here with friendly service and great tacos! The margaritas were made with fresh strawberries, and the tacos were delicious. It is located on Camino del Mar, in the front of a complex with some other stores and restaurants. Plenty of outdoor seating and close to the beach. Can't wait to come back!!

Score!! Mexican with a twist! Loved the food! So flavorful and unique! Had Lavender-cocorita, wow, delicious!! A lime margarita. Shrimp diablo was amazing! Enough fire to be yummy but not too much. Had it with salad instead of rice. Chicken enchilada was very good. I loved the personal sized gas fire for your table! Semi outdoor patio, festive music, and excellent service!! This is a winner!

The wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday and had a really good authentic experience. The food and drinks were delicious and our waiter was very kind and helpful with discussing the area and things to do, as we were just visiting. The Carne Asada Tacos were delicious and the rice & beans are a must to go along with. I wish we had the ability to come back at night because all of the outdoor patio tables have mini fireplaces built into them and I bet the experience is very relaxing. It’s at a great location as well. Highly recommend!

If you want fake tacos this is the place to go Saltiest and worst taco I’ve ever had, so salty it was not even edible. Presentation of the corn left 90% of it just literally plain without the mayo and cheese…I’m not paying for plain corn?? Also how do you have a restaurant called Tamarindo with servers who don’t even know what it means? Would not recommend or come back.

This place was excellent. Great quality food and service. Eerything we had tasted was delicious. Their Oaxacan Mole was the best, tasted authentic with quality ingredients. Their drinks are great. We will be visiting again! They have portions big enough to share. We can'tt wait to go back and try the other things on the menu. Saw that they have a good happy hour too 😊.

Love going to Tamarindo. Excellent service everytime I’ve been there! And the food is always fresh and delicious. The chips and salsa, their interesting guacamole, the chicken enchiladas and the pescado Vera Cruz were all so tasty. And the pineapple jalapeño margarita totally hit the spot. The table with the fire pit was a perfect location to sit and chat as well as people watch.

My friend and I had a great experience here and the location was great being close to the beach. The ambiance is lovely and we sat on the patio and the loved the fires inside the table. There was a great space indoors too with lots of seating. We loved our waitress and she was so easy going and helped us choose the best menu items. Our drinks were very tasty and we enjoyed them! The elote spears were yummy and a bit spicy-- always love something more unique! The chicken enchiladas were amazing and I substituted the sauce for their mole sauce and it wasn't too sweet which was so great. The sea bass was tasty as well and the potatoes, cauliflower and sauce were a perfect addition to this well seasoned and well cooked fish. We liked how the guacamole came out with the ingredients on the sides of the bowl. It was fun mixing them all together ourselves and seeing them all individually. Street parking can be a bit tricky depending on the time of day or day of the week. We parked in the garage close by on a weekday which was free for the first hour and $3/hour after that. I would recommend checking this place out!

Stopped by yesterday for lunch. Service - 5/5 really good. Very attentive. She had a great smile, very warm demeanor Ambiance - 5/5 we ate outside with heaters over us. Very relaxing vibe Food - 4/5 ordered a beer with arugula and greens. I guess I expected more beets than what was provided since the title began with that. They tasted great so wished they were more of them or maybe mixed into the salad. Queso fundido was the bomb. I should have had this as my entree. It wasn't overly greasy. Enjoyed the pepper strips and sprinkle of onion. Street tacos were ok. The adobado meat was on the bland side. Presentation was on mark. The chips were sprinkled with a flavored salt. They were so tasty

Came for dinner after drinks. Ambiance was ok. Wait staff was great and prices were pretty reasonable. Being on the ground floor, couldn't see much of the oceans. But thankfully every patio table has a small fire pit. Was great for the cold night Food is good. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Chips and salsa was amazing. Their chips are on the thinner side. I'm def coming again.

Delicious! Was out for a drive while visiting the area recently was hungry and stumbled on this place. Was seated immediately in a lovely seat outside with warm sunshine on my face (they did offer to pull the shades if needed). Chips and salsa were brought as soon as I was seated and the waitress was ready for my order. Feeling a bit indecisive but hungry I wasn't sure if enchiladas or tacos were the way to go. Based on the recommendation of the waitress I went tacos and opted for one steak one chicken. Didn't have to wait long before being presented with a delicious looking plate of food, which of course I excitedly dug right into. Overall the food was very good but I must say the carne asada was AWESOME! Both had amazing flavors and really didn't seem to lack anything. Didn't try anything else but would highly recommend the carne asada anything (plate or tacos) if In the area.

So we were eating gelato next door, saw this place & thought let's try it out. We came in for just appetizers cuz we just ate gelato. We sat out in the patio and there was a little fire in the middle of our table. Cool little ambiance. We ordered Potato rolled tacos - first time trying potato rolled tacos. Surprisingly yummy Short Rib Quesadillas- yummy too Complimentary chips and salsa - also good Tamarind Lemonade - which I liked We will be back to try other things for sure

A wonderful casual restaurant to enjoy some authentic Mexican food with a twist. Service was very good even though it was a weekend and the place was full . In my list of places to repeat in the San Diego area

We had a team outing of 30 people and I was amazed with the service and how they organized it pretty well. Service was really good and food came out quickly also without much wait considering such a big party. Food was amazing, I had the best quesadilla ever, it was crunchy from outside and filling was amazing inside. Zucchini taco, chicken enchiladas was also good. I feel rolled taco could have been little better. I am not a big salad fan, but their beet root salad was really good. Ocean view and the food made our team outing event memorable, everyone loved the food. Thank you tamarindo team for your extraordinary hospitality.

Update: we came back for our anniversary, we are shocked the churros has changed a lot, the sauce was not chocolate and the churros is way different than what we ce here for, and the mango margarita has no mango flavor. The beet salad only had a single beet in it

I came here for the vibes around Del Mar. However, the food itself was a bit subpar. The "auga fresca" definitely tasted like boxed juice, with a bit of a medicinal taste. The chips for the free salsa & chips at the start were very thin and overseasoned. They were able to accomodate my gluten-free request for the enchiladas, which was appreciated. They unfortunately didn't have any specific type of vegetarian enchiladas, so it was cheese enchiladas. It was pretty average overall, nothing particularly remarkable in terms of flavor. The ice cold lettuce/tomatoes placed right on top of the enchiladas also made for a strange temperature contrast, which was easily fixed by placing those on the side. Overall, the food wasn't terrible, but also not great given the ton of options in San Diego and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn't actively come back here unless it was part of some large group event.

Visited Tamrindo Del Mar and loved the vibrant flavors! The dishes were a perfect blend of freshness and spice, transporting my taste buds straight to coastal Mexico. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, making it an ideal spot for a memorable meal. The view was spectacular. Highly recommend trying the specialties for an authentic experience! The guacamole, tacos, burritos everything was delicious #TamrindoDelMar #MexicanCuisine #FoodieAdventures #TasteOfMexico #FoodReview #Yum

I haven't been here in awhile since my first visit but this was a good one! We were getting together with some family and everyone had been asking about going here for dinner on a Sunday night. We were easily able to get a reservation and it wasn't too busy even though it was a perfect day outside. We sat inside at a corner booth space which was nice because we had lots of table space. We enjoyed the chips and salsa (probably a little too much) so we did not indulge in any appetizers. We all ordered different entrées but I went with the sea bass as it is my favorite fish to order. Everything was super flavorful and it honestly was the perfect portion, at least for me, I really enjoyed it compared to my last visit. There is a paid lot you can park in below the shopping center in case street parking is difficult. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and we had a great time getting together at this spot.

The fourth of July here was a little tame in the bar but friendly wait staff. Ordered their classic margarita. Good. Sat at a bar table facing the ocean. Great! Ordered the carne asada play with corn tortillas. The beef was a little fatty and the beans, rice and corn were cold. I have had better. Probably will try this place again in a non holiday night.

The food was so good! Our server Brad M was attentive and helpful! He was great at explaining the menu and offering suggestions! The atmosphere is great, we were able to sit outdoors even in the chill because of the table top fire places!

I'm Addicted to this place. Please try the tamarindo Margarita or tamarindo lemonade. The staff is always so friendly. Food is amazing and the ambiance is great for a date or casual dining. This has become my go to spot for Mexican near the beach.

My friends and I dined here for dinner on a Thursday night. We were a party of 6 and were seated right away. We got to sit outside, but it was very cozy and warm. There are tables with little fire pits which are the cutest. They also have indoor seating available. During the day, you can get a beautiful view and you're right near the ocean. The service was great and very attentive. The prices are a little high, but you're paying for food and location. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area and craving some yummy Mexican food. Food review: Ceviche: (4/5) Very fresh and simple. The portion was a lot smaller than we thought. Guacamole: (5/5) This was a surprising dish. It comes out with pomegranate, radish, and queso panela which was very interesting. They come chopped up on top and you have to mix it in. It was delicious and a very generous portion. Chicken/short rib quesadilla: (5/5) Very flavorful and tender meat. The cheese crisp on the outside was so delicious. They come as 3 little mini taco quesadillas which I loved. Caesar salad: (2/5) This was one of the worst and most overpriced salads I've ever gotten. The croutons were huge, very minimal dressing, and not much lettuce in the salad. The chicken we got on the side was extremely dry. Octopus tacos: My friend ordered these and said they were delicious and very generous portion. Comes with a side of rice and beans as well. Lavender lemonade: (5/5) I could've drank an endless amount of this. So delicious. Definitely on the sweeter side, but so good. I squeezed some fresh lemon slices into it as well. I'm not drinking alcohol, but my friends ordered the rose margarita which was the special for the night and they loved it. Spicy margarita was also reported and delicious!

We went here for happy hour and each got a marg then split the chile like shrimp, elote stuffed avocado, and bbq spare ribs. Between the three of us this was definitely a sufficient amount of food. We didn't expect the elote stuffed avocado to come fried and unstuffed as it did. I will say, the chile lime shrimp was amazing and the coconut rice was so good! These were all going for a great price on happy hour. Our waitress was also very friendly and brought the energy to our happy hour.

Delicious food, great drinks & good service from Charlie. Started with All The Loves margarita which is not too sweet, perfect blend of rosemary-mango-habanero tequila. Not too sweet with a mild kick. Don't skip the Mexican Elote Spears for an appetizer. Absolutely phenomenal! Shrimp tacos were really good. Felt like the prices were decent as well.

tamarindo is a mexican restaurant located in the heart of del mar, california, that serves a variety of latin-inspired dishes. the restaurant offers outdoor seating, a full bar and happy hour specials. the service was top notch and the food was unique and tasteful. what we had: carne asada plate grilled skirt steak onion, corn salsa, chimichurri, black beans, cilantro lime rice, flour tortilla + shrimp chicken tortilla soup shredded chicken, vegetable mix, peppers, jack cheese, avocado, tortilla strips. short rib tamarindo braised short rib, tomato, corn salsa, baby kale, tamarind glaze, sweet corn puree smokey coolada dmino maguey cuava mez.cal, coconut puree, pineapple vejo fashioned bullet rye whiskey, simple syrup, black walnut bitters

Great spot in Del Mar for some solid Mexican food! Food: Good sized food and drink menu. The elote and rolled tacos were good options for sharing. Forgot to take a picture of our tacos but would definitely get the Octopus + Mahi tacos again. Service: Out waiter was solid and consistent with checking in. No complaints! Ambiance: Our group were seated in the patio and I think I prefer the patio over the inside (on a nice clear evening like we had). Beach vibes and a lot of seating for groups. Water: Solid water service but was focused more on my margarita!

Del Mar, Ca. We dined here before a show at The Sound. I selected this place because I could not get a dinner reservation at any of the other restaurants in this huge complex. It is categorized as Mexican but it is more like Cuban/Latin. We arrived a bit early for our res and had to wait outside for ten minutes. Not too bad, the place was very busy (The Whole Complex Was) and it was only 5:30. I noticed that the hostess was able to accommodate a party of nine without a reservation as long as they agreed to stay and hour and a half or less. She was busy and efficient at trying to get walk in's seated. Impressive. The waitstaff also was alert and prompt. Immediately upon being seated chips and salsa appeared. The salsa didn't look that great but was good. It had a roasted chile flavor with no hint of vinegar. The chips were machine cut typical triangles but tasted fresh and crunchy without being oily. Our waitress arrived soon to take our drink orders but we knew what we wanted from the on line menu. The elote is excellent, not done in the Mexican style (Not Smothered in Mayo). The corn is cut length wise into easy to eat spears. It tasted like it had been roasted on an open fire, not sure if it actually was. The sauce has a good amount of heat but no lingering burn, I loved it. The fig mole chicken is a must if you like mole, just because it showcases what is possible with this dish. Nothing like the Mexican version, the chocolate does not have the typical bitter aftertaste. The chocolate and spiced, combined with fig, begats a silky textured, faintly sweet combination of the ingredients, none overpowering. The chicken is plated as a stack of pulled tender breast meat cooked in a mild chile sauce. The mole is presented in a small terra cotta pot along with rice and black beans. The rice is really good. A lime cilantro hint of flavor but not fried. It is light and fluffy and delicious. The black beans were just ok. Poured onto the plate like a liquid reminiscent of a cheap Mexican take out. They should consider serving the beans without the liquid, my opinion. The liquid mess uglys the plating. The shrimp enchiladas are another wonderful dish that departs from the traditional Mexican. Fresh tortillas, lightly baked encasing perfectly cooked shrimp with the tails removed. Crispy lettuce gives it a crunch and the combination of sauce and spice is excellent. I read that portion size was too small for some reviewers but I found both dishes to be adequate in this respect and I can eat a lot. All our food arrived quickly and we did not even finish our chips. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive. I was a bit put off by the dirty floor on arrival but it was quickly swept up. The lavender lemonade is a failure. It is not fresh squeezed lemonade but tastes just like lemonade from a drink dispenser. They add lavender and tamarind syrup and the final product just does not work. I would summarize it as a bit yucky. The downside to this complex is parking. You are channeled into this driveway leading to an underground garage with no way to turn around or escape. You take your ticket from the machine to find that there are many cars idling or slowly roaming about looking for a space. The machine must know how many cars it has let in but the machine doesn't care. Cars follow pedestrians hoping they are leaving. The restaurants in this complex DO NOT VALIDATE your parking stub. It might be a lot easier if you are willing to walk a bit and find street parking on the other side of the road heading south.

Had a beautiful meal here outside in the breeze. Pictures looked gorgeous and I enjoyed new flavors, which is always a plus. Even if you are seated inside, they keep the doors open so you get a bit of the light and breeze. Service was attentive and relatively quick too. Parking is behind the restaurant in a garage, with the first hr free and every +30 min, +$3 (as of 05/2024). Seaside Molcajete - came steaming with a rim of crispy cheese. Gorgeous presentation and seafood in the stew was cooked beautifully. Comes with a side of toasted bread, but when we ran out, we found tortilla chips worked reasonably well. A seriously beautiful meal/appetizer depending on how many people you have. Highly recommend this for larger groups! Mexican Elote Spears - gorgeous presentation and seasoned well. I would order again if I wanted to impress someone, but if I wanted these again I'd just make them myself. A smaller detail, but I could appreciate that after we ate here, no one felt excessively bloated as heavier foods can often cause. Other items on the menu also look incredible - I will definitely be back.

We had most our meals here during holiday and everything we had was excellent. The service is slow but the food is worth the wait. The bar drinks are not consistent but otherwise I do recommend eating here while staying at The Diria

An old childhood friend who has lived in San Diego for over 20 years picked this place for us to meet with our families. I loved the outdoor seating area, the fact that it has an attached (pay-to-park) parking garage, is only a few blocks from the beach, and is next door to (currently) the #1 gelato place in the nation! Our server was incredibly kind and patient, especially because both of my kids were riled up from being stuck in the car with the July 4th holiday traffic for over an hour. Thankfully my friend had been here before and was able to make quick recommendations on the food. The chips and salsa were good, and made even better after she asked for the spicier salsa! We started with the queso fundido, sans chorizo since we are all vegetarian. The tortillas and fundido were both well-made and flavorful. The kids had ordered off the kids menu - burritos and quesadillas. I remember thinking, that's a lot of food for a kids meal! Great portions - you will definitely have left overs. The adults shared the Peruvian red potato rolled tacos - wonderful if you're a potato fan, and the crispy zucchini tacos - which were fantastic! They definitely do not skimp on the spices or flavors which lets the authenticity of the food shine. It was a beautiful day out and it was lovely to enjoy the ocean air and catch up with our friends. I would come back next time I'm in the area.

Cute restaurant across from the beach in Del Mar. I had the Shrimp Diablo which was delicious. I would probably ask for it without the Jack cheese next time since I'm not much of a cheese person. I asked for the dish to be prepared extra spicy and they added Serrano peppers and what appeared to be cayenne pepper. Still, it wasn't spicy to me. I added the habanero salsa (+4.00) I asked for on the side and that did the trick. I also ordered a double margarita and it was delicious, well balanced with no sugary additions, it tasted really clean. My husband got the chicken enchiladas and loved it. Service was excellent as well. Good people watching on the patio due to the popular gelato spot right next door. If I'm ever in the area again, would definitely stop in for a margarita and possibly food, too.

Had the pleasure of visiting Tamarindo Del Mar for the first time on a Sunday around brunch time. It's wasn't super crowded and was a nice day out. The decor and vibe of the restaurant were pretty cool! Parking was easy enough. Underground pay parking. I was there about 2 1/2 hours and paid $9. The service was good. Not excellent! The food was delicious and priced well for the portions. The rice was actually very fluffy and airy. It really balanced the shrimp dish which had a very flavorful and rich creamy sauce. I'd have to say- the chips and salsa might have been the best part. I love tasting different salsas and their salsa was definitely good! Overall a nice spot to check out if you're in Del Mar!

Food was very tasty! My nephew made reservations for 3 of us, since we thought it would be crowded for an early Saturday lunch, but there were plenty of tables when we arrived. We ate inside, but since the restaurant has open windows/doors, it was still a little chilly. We were lucky to find street parking a block away...I think there's a parking lot, but I don't know if the restaurant validates.

We recently enjoyed Friday Happy Hour. We loved the house margaritas upgraded to Cadillac style. Must try: BBQ Spareribs, Elote Avocado, and the Chili Lime Shrimp. Food, drinks, service, and ambiance, all great! We lucked into parking on PCH but you may also use the parking garage.

Great spot for Mexican food in Del Mar! The view is so beautiful and the staff is incredibly friendly... not to mention dog-friendly. My friend brought her and they offered a doggy menu and water. Such a nice touch. We ordered fish tacos and shrimp tacos with a side of rice and beans. They were tasty! I also liked the seasonings on the chips! Would deff return!

We where referred to this restaurant by our concierge at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Did not disappoint. Lovely decor and inviting ambience. Our service was excellent and friendly. Started with a michelada and tamarind margarita. For an appetizer we had the elotes spears that were delicious and spicy. We got the Carne Asada plate and the chicken enchiladas. Both were very fresh and tasty. For desert we went with the homemade churros. Delicious from start to finish.

Visited with a friend during the sunset hour around 5 PM. Great patio and solid service. It was busy for a weekday evening. People waiting to be seated by 6:30 PM. Happy hour is only at the Bar.

This place was bustling around dinner time on a Friday evening. Some larger parties, some more intimate couples. We were out on a whim for date night and really liked the ambience here. They were quick about offering housemade chips and salsa and I loved the salsa. Sometimes, restaurants pack a lot of spice into their salsas, but I am weak and cannot handle my spice, so I appreciated the milder sauce they had here. We kind of went wild on the food ordering. Started with some elote, which were grilled very nicely in spears. Eating them was a bit messy. I had the short rib tamarindo which was our favorite dish of the night. Beef was super juicy and tender and the entire plate of food was absolute flavor town. Great mix of textures so your palate wouldn't get bored. Definitely a great entree. My partner had chicken enchiladas and subbed the sauce for fig mole. The mole was fantastic but I'm not a huge fan of chicken enchiladas. One thing we quickly realized here are the generous portions. But not quick enough to not order an additional plate of food first. We also shared a plate of octopus and mahi tacos, which were loaded and not "street taco"-sized which we thought they'd be. The mango pico is so fresh and balances the creamy spicy of the chipotle sauce. As if that wasn't enough, we were crazy and also ordered dessert. We had the flan which came with churro crisps that I loved but my partner felt meh about. The flan itself was smooth and delicate. Not too sweet either. Parking was easy in the garage underneath the plaza. I recommend dinner here and the only reason we haven't returned is because we don't live in the area. You'll leave with a happy belly (and plenty of leftovers if you order insanely like we did).

My friend and I met up for one of our last suppers (alas I am moving) and we both desperately wanted to go to Monarch for the ocean sunset view. Unfortunately the wait was over a hour and we were starving! Thankfully, my friend said the mexican restaurant on the street level was delicious so we gladly clopped down to the first floor full of sunsetless peasants. We were sat immediately, brought drinks and chips so so fast, and after some strange men wouldn't leave my friend and I alone, a waitress interrupted them so we could be saved! Already 5 stars!! We ordered the potato tacos and chicken enchiladas and lemme tell ya, these dishes were so damn delicious, I almost wish we hadn't bought them to share. Not to mention that our waiter was absolutely lovely and attentive to us, never once forgetting to refill our water. I loved him. Thank you Tamarindo for a great dinner!

Awesome food. Great new addition to Del Mar. We needed another Mexican restaurant here and not only is the food amazing, the drinks and ocean view are almost unbeatable. I'd get the Mahi Mahi tacos, Pescado or tortilla soup. Great service too - they're friendly and quick!

After the horse races my husband and I wanted to eat dinner in town and explore the cute downtown strip in Del Mar! This was place was extremely popular and had great vibes! Definitely a fun place for a date night or out with friends for sure. We made reservations and good thing we did bc it was packed! We ordered Chicken Mole which had a great flavor. You couldn't taste the fig which we were concerned about, however it was pretty sweet for my palate. My husband however enjoyed it. The shrimp Diablo was good but the sauce was not as flavorful as I would have liked and also too watery for my liking. This definitely didn't taste as authentic as I was used to. The salmon ceviche was nice but nothing amazing. Chips and salsa were great bc we're starving. I would say this place is nice to try but I prolly wouldn't come back!

I had such a nice time @tamarindosd tasting a variety of delicious menu items. The Pacific Fish Tostada made with lime cured fish loin was a refreshing balance of citrus. Their Grande Guacamole was a unique take with Queso fresco and pomegranates added into to it. Yummy!! We had the Crispy Zucchini Tacos and Ahi Tacos. Both were refreshing and flavorful. The Braised Short Rib on Sweet Corn Puree melted in my mouth accompanied by a Lavender Lemonade.

Food, service and location are great! We sat outside and enjoyed our lunch -- rolled tacos, shrimp Caesar salad and ranchero burrito. All dishes were yummy along with the chips and salsa. Drinks were a hit too. Our server, Brad, was very friendly and attentive. Plus, it's right next to the parking garage! Definitely will return here.

The service is excellent and the food is great. Try the fish tacos. You can hardly eat the whole plate.

Tacos and entrees were delicious, as well as the Guacamole. MARGARITAS were dreadfull, dreadfully, sugar water...disgusting. Young woman behind bar Wednesday evening, have no clue how to mix and balance a great Margariita. $18 for a 2oz cheap Tequila sugar bomb...awful!

Service is great. The foods are delicious I love all I ordered . My husband love the carne asada tacos

We came here for a friends birthday and it was really good! The ambience and service was great too! The only thing for me was my entree was closer to room temp than hot. But the taste was good. We also got the corn for an appetizer that we liked. It is spicy though! Overall great little spot!

Elote spears were FIRE! Overall the food was tasty. Cocktails were delish. Service was on point. And the open air dining area was lively with music. My wife loved the carnitas taco! Beef short rib was tender and juicy. My new fav. We will definitely be back for more!

Awesome atmosphere with an excellent bar tender. She was attentive and super friendly. The carne asada plate was amazing and so tender. Lots of food so make sure you are hungry.

Wow! Loved my dining experience here! Everything was absolutely delicious, great service and view of the ocean, perfection! My favorites were the elote spears and octopus & mahi tacos. Can't wait to go back!

Great location, you cannot miss this place right by The Monarch. Reservations were easy to make online, had no issues there. Sasha was very sweet, and man this place was busy, I mean yeah 5 de Mayo, everyone was running up and down getting people their food. Good job everyone. Appetizers tried: Ceviche 7/10, more veggies and mango than shrimp itself. It was good but very different than what I am used too. Elote (Corn): 15/10 must have, the citrus sour cream combo with the chili was absolutely delicious! Entrees: Oaxacan Mole: 10/10: now if you've had mole, especially from Oaxaca, you know there is a kick to it but this one was great, the beans and rice the little pot was so cute! Level spice a solid six. Gulf shrimp Diablo: 15/10 (this was my pick) absolutely nailed it in every department, serving size- the cilantro rice, bomb. Spice level: eight! Carne asada plate: 30/10 whomever does the marinating of this is invited to the carne asada. Even amounts of the softest meat the onions were well grilled and seasoned Drinks: tamarindo, so good and spicy. I loved every sip I took. Sasha, you rock girl. You made our experience here wonderful. THANK YOU!!!! You should get bonus points. Checking in with the host: 0/10 well the host has the most valuable impact for new customers like myself. However we were not greeted kindly, actually had a lot of sass coming from this host in which immediately I was stunned because I've heard good things about this place. I ignored the rude host and was still positive in giving this place a try, even though that was enough for me to not recommend this place to anyone yet even then stay. I would have given this location a 5star, due to Sasha's great service and the food, however, the interaction with the host was unacceptable. Especially since we found out later that she is the GM of this place. Thank you Liz, Manager of this location for hearing my feedback regarding your host that evening and I hope she does not greet others the way she did to us.

We stumbled upon Tamarindo on Instagram and decided to stop by to try out their food while in the Del Mar area. - PARKING - They have a paid parking structure attached, but it seems like they raised prices recently - Free for the first hour only, then $3.00 for every 30 minutes after. If you're lucky, there's also street parking if you can find a spot! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Quite a large restaurant space, with indoor and outdoor options available. It was a nice sunny day so we opted to sit outside. Our server was extremely friendly and so enthusiastic during our entire visit, and it really changed my mood for the better! Her positive vibe definitely made our experience here even better! She gave several recommendations and we obliged to almost all of them, and were so happy we did as they were all hits! - FOOD - Complimentary Chips and Salsa!!! The salsa was so good too! Elote Spears ($12.00): Super easy to eat as they've cut the corn along the core for you, and sprinkled on top are all the flavorings. I do think it was on the saltier side, but nothing a refreshing drink can't fix. Carne Asada Plate ($27.00): Definitely a spectacle when it first comes out on the sizzling plate! The smell was so good as the steam went up from the Carne Asada, Onions and Bell Peppers. The Carne Asada was super tender too! The plate comes with tortillas, rice, beans and chimichurri sauce. Seafood Molcajete ($43.00): Another eye-catcher!!! This comes in a huge Molcajete bowl, overflowing with crispy cheese on the outside and gooey cheese and seafood inside it. This says meal for 2 or starter for 4 on the menu, but I think it could feed more! Really great sharing item, as well as a delicious option that I don't see very often at other places! Churros ($8.00): This now comes with a Dulce de Leche dipping sauce rather than Chocolate, and I personally think that was a great switch! The Churros smelled super good... but unfortunately were quite brittle and easy to snap apart. The inside and outside was not very crunchy, moreso a doughy texture. It was still nice to end off on with the flavors being on point, but I wish these had a bit more structure to them as they kept falling apart. - OVERALL - A great spot in Del Mar to grab some Mexican cuisine! Would love to come back to try out more of their extensive menu!

Food , Service and Ambiance were absolutely perfect . What a great place to find after seeing a spectacular sunset walking distance away. I was able to do the walk in but seems like best case scenario is to make a reservation . I will try that next time because wife and I will definitely be back next time we want great eats, great drinks, great service, and cool Ambiance. Doesn't everyone love a good find by accident sometimes.

Food was amazing and service was great. My boys didn't stop at one crunchy Carne Asada but 3. Their Oaxacan Mole 5 stars! Delicious! Plates were big! Definitely to show if you go with girgirlfriends, you will wan5oto share the anand taste momore amazing dishes. Husband had the CarCarne Asada n shrimp plate, it was also a 5. Came with their white rice and black beans. Our friend had the Enchiladas with rajas, also delicious! Yes, i tasted all 3 dishes. I am that girl! Ambiance was nice, Family Friendly but not roudy. Could be a date spot or a spot with friends too. Sits on the qitner with huge open space. Unfortantely the nighr qe went the fog and mist was heavy. Definitely recommend!

This place has a beautiful location. I enjoyed the vegetarian tacos but otherwise the vegetarian menu is a bit limited. I've been back twice and likely will go again.

Service was wonderful, food was good, ambiance was awesome We loved the beautiful ocean views, all the staff was super nice and helpful, the chips and salsa was really good and refreshing loved the addition of tajin , the corn spears were yummy and spicy, my enchilada was decent(not great), my husband enjoyed his fish taco. We will definitely be back to try more menu items!