Tony's Jacal

I went to high school at Santa Fe Christian just up the street and we used to come to Fidel‘s and Tony’s Jacal often. Too many times to count once senior lunches became a thing. Fidel‘s was always the go to main spot, but it would often get too busy and crowded so Tony’s Jacal was a solid second option. It’s a traditional sit down Mexican restaurant with truly great flavors and quick service. It’s quite large on the inside, they have indoor seating and out, and when you sit down you’re given a number and then when you are ready to check out and pay, you leave the table and give the cashier your number and then pay at the front. A unique system, but it works. Parking is also extremely easy, there are plenty of free spaces all around the restaurant as there is a large parking lot attached on the side and then back. Everything that we ordered came out very fast and our server was friendly. I started off with a cup of the Albondigas Soup and loved it. It really hit the spot on a cold November night and I would happily order it again. For my entrée, I chose the El Rey combo and selected Carne Asada and Chile Colorado (red). Both were great as expected and the tortillas were fresh and delicious. Every part of the meal was honestly really good and I have zero complaints. Pricing is fair, the menu is huge, and service is fast. It’s a great option if you’re in the mood for some great Mexican food.

We had a wonderful dinner for two. It is hard to find an authentic Mexican restaurant that does not use lard in their frying. Tony’s does not. We started with a cold draft from the extensive beer list. Some of the drinks and the tequila six selection Looks wonderful as well. We started with a basket of chips with salsa and ordered a large guacamole, which frankly was not that large, but it was wonderful. It was served on a bit of lettuce. Companion had the potato enchilada which he said was wonderful, vegan, And served with vegan beans spiced rice and they’re wonderful cabbage salad, which taste like it has a very light mayonnaise dressing on it but thick cut and not like coleslaw. I had the mixed seafood enchilada which was really really good. It had a sauce on top of it and again the vegan beans And rice and a very chocolate flavored molè on the side. We passed on dessert. They did not give you a check at the table, the first time I have ever seen this, but you finish and go up to a desk and give them your table number. They have what you ordered and they enter it there. Not sure I’d like the system as it doesn’t give you a lot of time to check Whether they are accurate. See my photos the bathroom needed a little bit more attention and was messy. The atmosphere of the place is wonderful. It’s like one big party. The outdoor dining area is gorgeous with a central flower garden and a waterfall. Very authentic delicious Mexican food with an amazing variety on the menu. Would definitely go again.

A Magical Last Night at Tony’s Jacal I was really hoping to revisit Tony’s Jacal on my last night in San Diego—and wishes do come true. The moment I walked in, I remembered exactly why I love this place: the warm, authentic atmosphere, the friendly and fun staff, and of course, the delicious food. It’s a bit hidden, but that only adds to its charm. They only take reservations for parties of 10 or more, so bring friends or be prepared to wait 20–45 minutes. If you do wait, head to the bar and see Milka—she was absolutely wonderful, keeping us refreshed and sharing helpful info, like Sunday early bar hours. Once seated, Carla took over and handled everything with grace, getting our large order spot-on despite the busy evening. Portions were generous, food was flavorful, and the mariachi band took the whole experience to the next level. If it's your birthday, get ready for the entire staff to sing to you in Spanish—such a fun and memorable touch. Viva México and viva Tony’s Jacal! A true gem with a long history of making magic—and wishes—come true.

Best authentic Mexican food experience we’ve had in years, including our most recent trips down to Mexico. Highly recommend!! If I was local I would eat here at least once a month. Loved every bite and great service and atmosphere. Spent $60 with tip to feed two adults (no alcohol) and it was worth it.

Delightful! Solid “American” Mexican — classics, mole, and Tex-Mex queso all happily coexisting. Great margaritas! Addictive thin, crunchy chips. Delicate flour tortillas.

This is one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants…I always love sitting in the outdoor patio area. The water fountain and tropical plants really add to the ambiance. The drinks are amazing. I got the pina colada. The service is friendly. The food is delicious. I love the enchiladas.

Enjoyed Margaritas and Mexican food with family. Vibrant atmosphere and very supportive and cooperative staff. Food was delicious.

Tony's Jacal is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that has been serving authentic cuisine since 1946. The staff's warmth and attentiveness make you feel right at home. As you savor their renowned turkey tacos, don't be surprised if a seagull swoops by, eyeing your meal—it's all part of the coastal charm. With a beautiful outdoor patio and a menu boasting fresh, local ingredients, Tony's offers a memorable dining experience where friendly service and feathered spectators coexist in perfect harmony. We had the grilled Mexican Platter for 2 and it was amazing. The staff was awesome I'd love to go back and eat everything else and try a beer or three.

TallGirl, AdventurousAunt, TallDad, RedHeadHottie and her Family and I all went out to dinner here the other night. Oh. My. GoodNess!!!!!! RedHeadHottie and family have been patrons here for over 40 years. They know the menu like the back of their hand. We were a party of 10. Every entree we had was amazing. FroM salad to empanadas, Chile rellenos. I want to focus on a few things: Service - Sandra was our waitstaff, she was epic!!! Food - quality, quantity and taste - on point! Parking - easy :) Drinks. We had a variety. Margaritas, beers, sodas. I had my favorite Spicy Margarita!! I don't drink often, but when I do, it's this. And this one was made to perfection. It even made want to have more then my self imposed "one". Dessert. I think we ordered everything they offered. So. I had to have a bite of them all! For those who love sweet - get the dessert burrito!! The natural sweetness of the banana, with the simple add of a little chocolate is a natural pairing. It tastes almost Cuban, and is amazing!! For the purist - the churros were out of this world amazing! Fresh, hot, light, amazingly cinnamonly. Churros perfection on a plate. For classic tastes - fried ice cream. This one had a lot of whip cream on it. It was also encased in a good selection of flavors and textures. I think I tasted, oats, coconut, maybe some honey and chocolate wrapped around the ice cream (before it was fried). The ice cream was classic vanilla. All were good choices based on what your favorite flavors. It was less then a week ago, and I'm already craving to go back!!

I gotta say this has to be some of the worst Mexican food I have had. Service was rough and they had us sitting in folding chairs instead of their nice ones. SMH. I ordered chili verde and assumed with it being verde it'd be green but it was like tomato sauce and water. So much water that it seemed like I was eating a soup and not to mention the plate only had 5 pieces of pork. No one at my table liked their food and were all Hispanic. This places is just playing with all the rich white people. Please, DO NOT go here if you're looking for any Mexican food. Better places around.

I love the food at Tony's- in fact, I'd give that 5 stars. I often eat in the bar and always enjoy that. The service in the bar is efficient and when they recognize you they're somewhat friendly. One thousand percent more friendly than the wait staff. In the future, I will only dine in the bar. The service in the restaurant earned ZERO stars. We've dined in the restaurant or on the patio 3-4 times and in the past the service was somewhat friendly- until we get to the cashier- that has been a terrible experience every time. Today, we interacted with multiple people and they were all SO rude and unfriendly. Like absolutely miserable. So miserable that I'm writing this review - and I really like Tony's and the food. The staff members don't make eye contact and heaven forbid they smile or engage in conversation. These particular staff members have been working here for YEARS. So clearly, management doesn't care that the service is so unfriendly. There was a sign on the table: Fish taco special $11. I asked what that entailed, the gal who served our water said, "I don't know. I guess a fish taco with rice and beans? I'm not sure". And she didn't care to find out. When we left, my companion said, "that's it, I'll never come here again. Which is disappointing because the food is great and I like to support local, independent businesses." The cashier's rudeness was the cherry on top. He literally walked away 3 times while assisting us so it took more than 5 minutes to close out. My biggest regret today is that I didn't realize my companion tipped in cash. I left a 15% tip, begrudgingly- note I usually tip 20+%. When we got in the car we realized we both tipped and I laughed and said, well, there we go, rewarding terrible service by giving a 30% tip... I'm pretty surprised to read all these reviews saying the service is great. It's not. The food is great and it comes out hot.

A local favorite family hangout and very busy Friday and Saturday night. I recommend you make a reservation during those times of the week. Expansive menu. Full bar so order to your heart's content. Their margaritas looked amazing. Good selection of beers. I had their full dinner platter. Steak was good and cooked to your liking. Large dining area so lots of places to sit with booth space. Outdoor seatings are available with a beautiful garden view. Private limited parking is available with street parking across the street. Great service and comfort good food. Place has been around awhile I was told. You pay for your meals at the cashier counter and tell them your table number. There you will meet the nice lady who owns this place. Cheers!

Late Friday afternoon Dinner Service was maybe the Best we have Ever Had Very Clean and well kept Dinner was very good My Fish Burrito was a little skimpy on Fish Carne Asada Burrito was good They kept us well supplied with chips and Salsa A Great Place for a Good Meal with friends

Great service fun environment and great ambiance! We ordered the piña coladas The shrimp enchiladas (so good!!) Their chips and salsa is also very appealing! If you're in the area this is a must try old style Mexican food eatery, you feel like a blast from the past

During a recent trip to Solana Beach for a Birthday day trip, we came across this restaurant and decided to head over after doing a couple things and sight seeing a bit nearby. The reviews and pictures looked good but our experience was very meh and the food simply wasn't there for me After grabbing a coffee in town and walking down by the beach a bit we headed over to the restaurant and found a spot in the lot across the street. After walking in I was surprised at how large this restaurant truly is. The have a large patio in the front to the left upon entry as well as 3 large dining rooms inside. The restaurant itself was quite busy so I had a feeling this was going to be good but I left with a feeling of regret and being unsatisfied. We were quickly greeted and ushered to a seat near the back but had no menus and sat for sometime before we were acknowledged and provided menus and had drink orders taken. After looking over the menu I was quickly sold on the combination of the turkey enchilada (this sounded like a great variation of the chicken enchiladas I would normally order) and the Chile Relleno (which is my standard go to dish). As we waited for the food the seats around us filled up and we got stuck next to a couple of older ladies who were loud, complaining about everything in their life and constantly getting in and out of their seating directly next to our table. I was surprised to see the food came out quite quickly and looked good but one bite into each and I was already done. The Chile Relleno was not covered in sauce and tasted like nothing but batter and had no flavor whatsoever and the turkey meat inside the enchilada was so chewy it was hard for me to get this down. I made significant progress on both dishes nonetheless but threw in the white flag. The service was decent enough and the pricing was on point with what I would expect for this type of restaurant but the food simply was not good. The coolest part of the place to me was the birdcage outside in the courtyard near the parking lot and the rice and beans that accompanied my combo were the best part of my meal. Despite the fairly positive reviews this place did not hit it for me and I would more than likely never return based off this experience. There are so many wonderful Mexican and Latin food options in San Diego County and for me this one simply fell flat and left a bitter taste in my mouth. The Hacienda vibe was nice but not enough to entice me to come back.

This place has been around for many years. It has the best Mexican vegetable soups for lunch. They come in beef or chicken depending on the day. Very substantial and filling with plenty of vegetables. Also, the only place locally that serves a turkey taco. You really cannot find turkey tacos anywhere else. The turkey is roasted white breast meat. The taco comes with a cabbage slaw which adds a good vinegary balance to the richness of the hard shelled turkey taco. Combination dinners are also very delicious. Their chile relleno is good also. There is indoor dining or outside dining on the patio. The atmosphere is very comfortable and service is fast and efficient. Parking is usually plentiful during the lunch and early dinner hours.

Absolutely loved the ambience and the option of eating indoor or outdoor! Plenty of heaters outdoor so you wouldn't feel chilly in this crazy spring weather! Wonderful service, very accommodating for dietary restrictions at our table. Delicious drinks, and extremely flavorful, rice, and rest of the meal!will definitely be back!

Ambiance - family feel restaurant and big. There is plenty of inside and outside seating. I felt like I was in Mexico. Service - very fast and friendly. You pay at the front desk, so you don't need to wait for check. Food - lots of choice. I got the bean tostada and turkey taco. It was plenty of food and I like the hot salsa.

So many have told us that this is better than Fidels, one of of our favorites, so we try once a year only to be disappointed. Recently tried carne asada burrito, but not very good. Meat was more like braised with no char or crispness. Much better at Rudy's. Chips are definitely better than Fidels. Still requires paying at cashier, where there was a wait.

Amazing Margaritas! After struggling to find somewhere in Solana that would be able to seat us, my friend suggested we try Tony's Jacal for its ample space and having positive dining experiences in the past. I was a little, worried that there wouldn't be anything vegetarian, but the restaurant offers no lard beans... and they were made for a pretty tasty burrito. Usually I am not the biggest fan of margaritas, but the fresh fruit strawberry margarita here was phenomenal! The decor inside and decorative outdoor seating make a Tony's Jacal a unique dining experience that offers options for anyone!

Always professional service, great food, attentive servers, clean facilities and parking seems to some become available when I pull in luckily!

We have heard that this is THE BEST Mexican in North County San Diego and our experience was beyond exoectations! Milca was our amazing server and she was so attentive. The food was authentic, fresh and flavorful. This place is the real deal!

I've lived here 25 years and didn't even know this place existed. I came for a birthday party. The staff was so nice and wanted to make us happy. The carne asada chimichanga was amazing. The blended Cadillac margarita was strong and yummy. We parked across the street which is available for this restaurant after 7 pm. I'll be back!

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Great business. I made the mistake of judging based on a previous picture and or post. Tony responded with utmost respect and honesty. Lesson learned and I support his business. Great work and service.

House margarita is good. Had the smothered carnitas burrito for dinner. It was good but could have used some sour cream or something a little extra. We waited about 30 minutes for a table for 5. We sat inside the bar and waited for our restaurant table. It's very loud. They call your parties name over a blaring speaker and it actually startled me, it was so loud. The restaurant itself is beautiful and traditional. I would have loved to eat outside in the garden area. Service was pretty good at first but we waited quite a while for our check and to pay. We also had to ask for water refills a few times.

We first visited Tony's Jacal sometime in the early 80's. This place has been serving Mexican food for 78 years. We arrived at 5:05 PM and were told it will be 35 minutes for a table. We head to the bar, order a couple cold ones and enjoy some complimentary chips and salsa while we wait for our table. It has been 16 years since we last dined here. Hard not to reminisce of past visits to this longtime institution. Table ready, we order some drinks and dive into the massive menu. I decide on the "A Su Gusto" with a turkey taco and chile relleno as my food items. My wife orders the regular shrimp ceviche. I enjoyed my turkey taco and the chile relleno, although a bit eggy was tasty as well. My wife said her shrimp ceviche was very good and enough for leftovers to take home. Service was spotty at best and there is a charge for any salsas not included with the chips. Tony's Jacal has withstood the test of time. They are doing something right and to this day an incredibly popular restaurant. We will be back. Hell, where else can I find turkey tacos.

This historic restaurant still lives up to its reputation. Absolutely delicious. I love that the chili rellenos are not ruined with sauce like at other restaurants. Always say yes to the cabbage salad. This place is alike a warm hug from your favorite abuelita. Sit by the fireplace in the winter, or on the sunny, flower-filled patio in summer, and feel truly satisfied.

We started coming to this place a year ago It's always good the service is great the tamales are my favorite very authentic

Came in to get a quick bite and do some work near the bar. Was pleasantly surprised by some birds singing in a cage. That's a nice touch. Daniel was my server, prompt, quick, helpful. Free chips and salsa! Had an a la carte chicken enchilada with tomatillo sauce and crema. Nice ambiance, a lot of indoor and outdoor options to choose for dining. Jose, the floor manager, is always prompt to greet from the host stand. Owner, Ray Jr, continues the Gonzalez legacy. *read their story on the website. I was looking for options to place Online Orders on their website or make Online Reservations.

Love this place and it is family owned since it was founded. I have been coming here since I was 7 years old, so 61 years. Food is amazing and service is great. Place is fun and can get very busy, especially during the races. They have a beautiful patio that is very popular and for the kids they have a big birdcage you can look at through the window.

The ambiance of the restaurant reminds me of the Mexican restaurants I went to growing up in Texas. Nothing fancy, just a nice cozy comfortable feel. It was packed outside and inside on Thursday night. I heard them tell the party if 6 that came up it would be an hour wait. I placed an order to go and it was ready pretty quickly. The salsa was beautiful and so fresh, just a tad too spicy for me. My husband loved it though. I ordered a large bean and cheese burrito. It was good, just not the best I've ever had. I would be happy to go again and try their enchiladas.

Growing up in Encinitas I have no idea why I've never been here. Actually I do my family loved a different Mexican food restaurant not to be named in this review. I brought my in laws here when they were visiting having wanted to try it for a long time. Why oh why was I so deprived of this restaurant throughout my childhood It's so good Everything was amazing The margaritas were the best I've ever had I love that the menu allowed me to order a bunch or smaller items for my kids to share but also to try different things Will definitely be back

We were visiting Carlsbad Legoland and a local told me about this place and said it's their absolute favorite restaurant in the Carlsbad area. It was such a cute restaurant. We sat outside by the neat water fountain thing with plants and parrot decorations. My son was excited and walked around looking at their plants and chasing birds. We had the turkey taco, the carnitas tamale, and the Wednesday special Beef Soup. I loved loved loved the soup! It's a huge portion with big hunks of beef stew. The turkey was moist and tasty. The carnitas was good too, but the tamale was thick and maybe overshadowed the carnitas. I should have gotten the carnitas plate instead. Best service we received during the entire trip. The server was attentative despite the large crowd of customers. He explained things to us and helped us make a decision. He recommended the beef soup ;) The margarita was made so perfectly also! We will return the next time we are nearby!

Great food and service. We enjoy sitting outside in the beautiful courtyard...so peaceful and relaxing. It is difficult to find Tony's on an Internet search.

I love the decor or this place. Old school over the top hacienda vibes. We came at 5:30 on a Saturday night, and it was of course packed! For a table for 2 we had an hour wait. Luckily we were able to snag a table at the bar while we waited, Our favorite dish was the El Patron combo. The chicken verde enchilada stole the show. Tequila cocktails were good, but I think I'd go more traditional next time. I'd come back for another date night when we're not in a rush and happy to have an excuse to hang out longer anyways.

Delicious spicy flavorful meals. Authentic salsa and food. Chipotle Shrimp, fish tacos and carne asada tacos were ordered by the family. I will definitely be back again. .

Local family-run institution with legit OG Mexican cooking. I bring everyone who visits SD and wants Mexican here, they always rave and ask to go back (one friend 3 times in 5 days). Service is always great, never felt rushed or wondered what happened. The patio is a treasure, the back bar is an oasis - where you occasionally spot someone famous and continue on without interrupting them or embarrassing yourself. The Cadillac Margaritas are so f'ing good you should order a pitcher to start -- de nada. Turkey is an unusual standout among traditional Mexican (eg Turkey Tacos/Quesadilla not Chicken) - give it a try.

Love the turkey nachos. Great food and drinks. Plan a night out at Tony's Solana beach.

I had no idea this place even existed until my neighbor said let's go to dinner.... Here. I said, where? Started in 1946!!! Running strong because of great service and this Turkey Taco... what???? Turkey? Taco? I'm confused. Well you walk into the Mexican garden of Eden and it all starts to make sense. This is how a hidden gem of 75 years lasts 75 years. Chips and Cadillac on point! Salsa same. I just wanted these Turkey tacos and nothing more. So that's where I went. OMG with a side of great guacamole and I'm home. Plus a salad that's cooked. Again are you kidding me? Perfect texture combination with the crispy tacos. Great fun vibe and wonderful food. I'm hooked like the rest of North County!!!!

From all the reviews I read, I expected much more from this place. The servers were OK, but nothing they did made them stand out of the crowd. Not many smiles and they never did come back to check on us after we received our food. I'm pretty sure the cadillac margarita I ordered showed up with a shot of fireball instead of grand marnier. I kept trying to figure out the weird taste and it was too late by the time I did. The food was very good, the crab quesadillas flavor was great, but it was so tough, I couldn't cut it. Maybe we went on a off night, I will try again, but as my first visit, it was disappointing.

Excellent neighborhood hole-in-the-wall option for some truly solid Mexican food. The dishes are bursting with flavor but still very light - be sure to start off with a tortilla soup which isn't heavy but light, amazingly savory, and filled with shredded white meat chicken. It's served with queso and avocado on the side too. Then continue your journey with a great combo - try the birria taco, enchiladas verdes, or wet burrito. The ambiance is low key, no-frills, and very festive. Plus they have some great outdoor seating in a garden (yes with a fake parrot). If you are in Carlsbad, make the trek here. Just trust me on this.

We loooove this place. It never disappoints. My go to's are the nachos... chicken tortilla soup... half tostada (it's big!) I love the bean rice and cheese burrito, I add the sauce and guac and sour cream. Also I usually get a silver surfer or one of the specialty margaritas. My hubby always gets chimichanga or combo with turkey taco and enchilada. Always delicious, and the chips and salsa are always on point. The service here is amazing and everyone is always so friendly and I love how everyone works together. Ambiance is wonderful. Great place, great food, great people. Two thumbs up and def five stars!

HORRRRRRIBLE SERIVICE. I came in with a party of 6, excited to try the famous turkey burrito. They reluctantly took my family's order, rolled their eyes each time we ordered anything, acted angry to be there..food wasn't even good. Wish I went somewhere else. Wasted my money here, whole experience was simply not good. Go anywhere else for Mexican food. They'll actually be happy that you're there unlike this place.. Turkey burrito tasted very mediocre as well. Hate writing bad reviews but this place was a huge let down.

Was recommended to stop by Tony's if I was ever in the area and I'm glad I did. My family sat at their outdoor area which is beautiful, lots of plants and a nice water display. There was plenty of staff and our food got to us quickly. Everything was delicious. You can tell the locals like it here because the restaurant was packed at 11am on a Friday.

My family has been going to Tony Jacal's for 30 years. And even though we are Spanish ourselves, we thoroughly enjoy eating at Tony Jacals! The ambience is like walking into Mexico! You immediately relax but also get into a festive mood! I no longer drink but wow do I miss those Margaritas! Everything offered at Tony Jacal's is authentic, authentic, authentic! It is several family generations owned. They use old family recipes that you can't get anywhere else. They do not cut corners or use inferior ingredients and everything is cooked fresh. It's family friendly but also a great first date venue. If you like Mexican cuisine, Tony Jacal's is a must try! The other places will disappoint you but Tony Jacals will leave you full and happy!

Awesome history and good food here! I was very surprised to learn about the history of this place and wonder why I haven't heard of it before? I stopped by here this weekend with my aunt who has been coming here since the late 50's? Wow! She came here in high school when it was a gas station shack or just a small shack? Back then they had a small menu but it was all amazing. Now they have a huge menu and so far what I tried was very good. Parking was pretty decent because of the residential sort of location. I was expecting a lot worse since it is Solana beach. The place is nice and old and very homey. Tons of décor and old pictures and nostalgia. Exactly what you want in an old Mexican restaurant. Customer service wasn't great but not terrible. They were straight to business and no small talk. The food was all correct and came out fairly quickly. The food was very good. We started with the shrimp ceviche. It was ok. Mine only a few shrimp pieces and mostly all veggies. I am a ceviche snob and like it a certain way. It was well prepared and just my own personal preference that I would not get it again. For the main meal we ordered the chicken enchiladas Verde and Turkey Tacos. My favorites from the meal were the Verde sauce, rice and beans. the chicken was tender and tasty and the tacos were so crunchy and pretty good. The side of coleslaw on the plate wasn't very good. I would have been just fine if it was left off the plate. Overall this was a good meal and I will definitely be back. I want to try about 10 more things on the huge menu. Check this place out if you are in the area. Their is something for everyone here.

Food is not what it used to be, old reheated turkey enchilada tastes like crap and chips were refried probably in motor oil. Service was very bad I got my tortillas on end of my meal after I had to ask for it, our drinks we had to order three times before we got them, and when we want to pay it was over 15 minutes and still waiting. After my wife went up front and ask for check, they said that we have to go up front to pay! Why they didn't tell us when we ask for it?! We used to go here a lot but this was last time.

Tony's Jacal really checks the box on just about every single item I like about a Mexican sit down restaurant. The first thing I have to say is that the bartenders and the servers here all are so friendly and cool. They just want you to have a good time and will accommodate accordingly. Big menu with lots of different mix and match options. I recommend the big sampler appetizer items. It's dark and there are plenty of spots to sit and chill. The parking lot is kind of weird

The food was not great at all and the prices are very expensive. I was expecting authentic Mexican food and we found it to fall short. Also the prices are way too expensive for the quality of food. The service was not great. We had to waive down the waiters a few times for refills.

Ok, they now serve the menu in the bar, so that is no longer an issue. This place is a popular place and is typically crowded. I'm still not a big fan of their margaritas, but their happy hour I'd a great deal. Ove their quesadillas and guacamole. Tony's is a local icon and a fun place.

I would give negative stars, if possible. My friend and I have always gone to Fidel's next door, but someone told me this place was their favorite. We weren't that hungry, so we thought we'd give it a try. I stood directly in front of the hostess for 6 min, while she filled out the schedule for large parties, and finally asked if there was any chance that we could get a table for two. All I got was a slight smile, and then got completely ignored. I worked in restaurants for 12 years, and was always told that your attention went first to the person who was standing in front of you. This "hostess" was so inhospitable, I will never go there again.

Bottom line. Tony's is a landmark Mexican restaurant. And for good reason. Food and staff. The family who owns it has kept it the same for decades. If your ever in the area I would say give them a try. Especially their signature Turkey Tacos ". 5 Stars for the staff, the food and being around for so long. That alone tell you their special.

Great spot in Solana Beach area. Food was fresh and service was excellent. Try the turkey tacos and enchiladas

Ambiance is key to A great restaurant experience. And this place has the nice dim lighting inside and authentic decor. The service was outstanding and it is a well run family business. Stop by and check out a piece of history. They are known for their turkey tacos although I did not try them first time, but I will next time!

Our friends took us here before a concert at Bellyup. Food and service were great. Liked the old restaurant vibe. Loved the salsa.

My husband and I finally tried Tony's after years of going to the other restaurant next door. We think of Tony's as the place that serves turkey and has a big parking lot with security so no one else parks there. We went at a time that was in between lunch and dinner on the weekend. There was plenty of patrons and employees. They do things a little different here. They bring chips and water first. Then someone else brings salsa. We watched this service at other tables. It appears that anyone working can take your order at any time. They were helpful since it was our first visit. One server recommended the turkey taco even though that just sounds so weird to me. I don't even like turkey for Thanksgiving but I decided to try it with a side of fries. I almost always order fries at Mexican restaurants because if you know you know. I liked the turkey taco despite it being turkey and it was turkey breast which is a good thing. The fries were also good. My husband liked the turkey taco too but enjoyed the turkey tamale even more. When it was time to pay the bill, we were not aware that you walk up to the register and tell them your table number instead of getting a check delivered to your table. Overall, the food was good and service was ok.

I love heading down to Solana Beach. After living in Encinitas for more than a decade and eating at every nearby place, getting a chance to come down and have dinner at Fish Market or The Brigantine was a great change of pace. So, having the opportunity to head over to Tony Jacal's was tough to pass up. My mother, along with my aunt and uncle, used to come here for family breakfast and lunch after going to church as kids. They have fond memories and were all excited to come back after all these years. And while they were very happy, reliving old memories and falling back into the joy of old comfort dishes, I found the food to be average and the overall experience a bit lacking. First off, the decor is fantastic. The outside especially as it's adorned with papel picados, strings of lights, and enough gorgeous potted plants to landscape a small zoo. Likewise, the interior has artwork, pottery, and a gorgeous fountain with a full bar and plenty of seating. It's a homey and comfortable place to dine. We started with the Stuffed Jalapeños, which despite being fried, still had a lukewarm center of cream cheese that was gritty and unappealing. We had a large group of eight people and no one was willing to finish off the platter of them. I don't remember the taste being bad in anyway, it was just the texture and temperature were so off-putting for all of us. I ordered the Veggie Burrito with Rice added on the inside. Everything had a good flavor, the beans were rich and salty, the rice was firm, and the whole of it was coated in a red enchilada sauce. Still, while I enjoyed it, and I know that I basically just ordered a simple bean burrito, it's still of a taste and quality akin to what you could get at a typical Roberto's. My wife had the El Marinero Combination Plate, which consisted of a Chile Relleno and a Fish Taco with Beans and Rice on the side. She enjoyed it, though liking the relleno from Betty's in Encinitas (sadly gone now) a bit more. And our son ate the fish taco, enjoying it as any five year old would. Again, the whole meal was not bad, but pretty basic. I assume it's that homestyle food that my family and I used to eat as kids that was the initial draw. With the warm chips and salsa to fill you up when you sit down, it's tough to say that we could have gone home still hungry and unsatisfied. But wandering through while heading to the bathroom and seeing a plastic jug of salsa (I think it was Pace), it's also tough to say that I'm really impressed in anyway. I think I like my beans a bit more, I know I like my aunt's rice a bit more; if I ever come back it will likely be to make my mother smile for a weekend brunch.