La Puerta Reviews

Cool and busy place in the Gaslamp area. I had the Mexico City salad and it was delicious. The appetizers were half off for happy hour so I had to try the chips and guacamole which was wonderful.

Very chic upbeat Mexican restaurant in the heart of Gaslamp Quarter, the vibe is modern and stylish, I love the bar and booth area! The food is not really authentic, the drinks is ok, the service is good overall it’s good! PS: buy the drinks here, but buy tacos right next door called “El Cabron” it’s better 😁 Verdict: I will not come back! 😊

Loved everything about this place! The food was superb- excellent flavors and yummy sauces. The atmosphere was fun- great music and the decor was spot-on for a cool rebellious music theme. The service was attentive. Overall everything fell into place for our expo and we really enjoyed ourselves. We’ll definitely be back next time we visit San Diego.

We really enjoyed this. One of the better places to eat in San Diego. Their tacos were excellent, pricing is reasonable too

I stopped here on my way to a concert out in Chula Vista based on great reviews and they were spot on. I had the three street taco combination and it was perfect. I said at the bar and Robert the bartender took great care of me. A very fun atmosphere. Next time in town I will stop her again. Highly recommended.

This spot is great for dinner. They do have really some fantastic food on their menu. I would recommend their Guacamole and Ranchero Shrimp. Service was fast and professional. Prices were a mid range for me. Atmosphere was great to enjoy your food and drink.

This is a great place to enjoy some delicious mexican food. Great service, great flavor. They have a lot of meal options for everybody and also delicious drinks! The restaurant has a great atmosphere too.

We grabbed lunch at La Puerta while touring the city on the trolley. We sat in a booth in the back with our 1-year old since there were no baby chairs. The waitress brought the house salsas: a red salsa and verde salsa. Both salsas were full of rich flavor! Coupled with the house chips, it was a great start to the meal. My wife and I split the Carne Asada 1 lb burrito. We added cheese, beans and rice to the burrito. It was delicious! The fresh roasted poblano pepper was delicious and super spicy. It easily filled us up just eating half the burrito. We ordered cheese quesadilla for our toddler. The whole meal was great. The only caution I would give to parents visiting La Puerta is the men’s bathroom was not very family friendly with lots of images of people giving the finger. Aside from that, the food and service is top notch!

Ordered takeout on a Sunday night from this very busy, popular restaurant with highly rated burritos. Order the Pastor Burrito and the Carne Asada Burrito. They were both HUGE and delicious. Definitely recommend but make sure you have a reservation or order well in advance of your desired pick up time!

Street tacos were totally worth the 30 minute wait. The carne asada was tasty but the cochinita street taco was amazing! Great tortillas! Fun bar-style environment with great mugshots of famous rockers on the wall.

La Puerta in downtown San Diego has both excellent Mexican food and a genuine So Cal vibe. We had great service from Chloe on a busy Friday as it was both Happy Hour and a Padres home game. Happy Hour is an unbelievable deal as ALL drinks and a bunch of appetizers are priced at 50% off. Appetizer portions are large and could easily work well for dinner. Everything we tried was delicious (guac and carnitas quesadillas appetizers) and pollo asado burrito.

This place is walking distance from several hotels - very easy to find. We went for the happy hour (3-5), which was outstanding. Food was great. Good portions. Friendly service. I would only say that if you don't like loud music, grab one of the many outdoor tables.

Title says it all, the mexican food is well done (if a little slow), and the tequilla and mezcal menu was substantial. Not many booths, so reserve if you are more than a couple people.

Delicious food, good portions, the five dishes we ordered were exquisite, the place was very nice, good service and reasonable prices.

Tastiest Mexican food here the pork taco was amazing , it was a Wednesday evening and we walked straight in .

We were seated right away on the outside tables. From here it went downhill …. Our drinks were great but they didn’t have the salted and takin rim. Our chips and salsa never arrived and we had to ask for them once we noticed every one was getting them except us. Our food was a big let down, we had the veggie tacos plate and mix and match taco plate. The veggie tacos didn’t have any any veggies other than onion and sweet peppers. Also our plates were not hot, like it felt like the food was sitting for like 7 to 10 mins waiting for server to bring it to the table. The highlight of the night were saving grace potato flautitas. Our server changed mid way too as she went on a break. All in all very disappointed and will not recommend. The big let down for us was to see the servers and hostess and their friends hang out at the entrance of the restaurant like it was a high school bench. I am sure the kitchen and the other crew would like some help in the back! Just for the owners and the management to note… keep them busy as they are just having fun and not working

Average margaritas and Very stingy portions on their guacamole, chips were thick and too salty, hurt our throats and overall a poor experience. Horrible service of course! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!

Felt a little rushed with how fast they seat, order and serve. I'm sure that's a great thing for some folks, but I can't shake the rushed feeling to eat and run Ordered tacos and a margarita and both were really good. The plate came with beans and corn and the margarita was really good. Place was very busy. I also bought the Nachos (chips and cheese), but honestly didn't care for them and left most. Should have just gone with the complimentary chips and salsa.

Fantastic food- especially the guac. We had to wait 90 minutes to get seated and even then, there was a free table just waiting there for 20 minutes empty. The food was worth the wait though.

Fantastic Mexican food. Delicious tacos and the guacamole and chips were probably some of the best we’ve had including our trips to Mexico. Our best meal in San Diego, great margaritas too.

I ate dinner at La Puerta when on a visit to San Diego. The decor and atmosphere were very good, a good bar scene restaurant. It took some while to get me seated which was frustrating as there were lots of open tables, it just seemed to take ages to get them cleared and ready for new diners waiting. There was no one waiting in front of me and I must have waited 15 minutes at the front of a half empty restaurant. Once I did get seated I started with the Chips & Guacamole which were really good. I felt the menu for entree's was a bit limited compared to other Mexican restaurants I have dined at in the USA. For my entree I had the Mix 'n' Match Taco's which were pretty good. Prices were reasonable with my bill coming to $42 including a Mexican Lager and Tax. Due to the wait time and limited entree options I have rated my 'overall experience' as Average, although I want to note that the food was good.

Went here on our last day in the states food and cocktails were really good save a few bucks by going during happy hour although you might have to wait so get there earlier

The food was amazing. The happy hour is fantastic with half price drinks, apps and quesadillas. The staff is so friendly! Sergio was our favorite waiter! I can't wait to go back to SD again so I can eat here! THIS PLACE IS THE BEST!

Went when they opened and ha a great lunch! I had the shrimp street tacos which were delish! It was served with the corn poblano cream which was awesomepoblano cream

BOTTOM LINE: Exceptional service. Exceptional drinks. Exceptional food. Awesome scene and vibe!! We loved everything about La Puerta. First, there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We sat indoor and were quite comfortable (there were plexiglass dividers between booths). Joe was the most attentive server - we felt lucky to have him as our waiter. The margaritas are the way to go - don’t bother with the cocktails (I had the Jet Liner and didn’t like it at all...). Bark at the Moon (a little spicey!) and the traditional margarita was awesome. Really refreshing and hit the spot. The guacamole and cheese fundido was pure perfection. We could have feasted on that all night long! We had the street tacos, surf and turf tacos, Cali burrito and carne asada quesadilla. All of our plates were clean when we were done. We even ordered extra rice we enjoyed it that much. We did have an issue where one of our surf and turf tacos did not arrive (took about 20 minutes to get after the rest of us received our meals) but Joe took care of that and didn’t charge us. We appreciated that gesture. The inside vibe is super cool. Very active. Staff wear rock t-shirts and are great with guests. Great music playing. Only downside? No La Puerta t-shirts in our size! Don’t miss this place - you’ll love it!

Our party of 4 loved this place, which was recommended by our hotel concierge. Casual place with sidewalk seating and out-of-this-world authentic food. The flavored margaritas, chips & guac, and the tacos were raved about. Great place for lunch or dinner.

Restaurant/bar in the best American style, but with the Mexican atmosphere and food expected in San Diego. Fantastic taco combo at a fair price.

Having spent a long day sightseeing we needed food. We strolled around Gaslamp looking for something suitable. The Main Street was disappointing but one street across we heard this place. Some restaurants looked really empty. In my opinion if it’s busy it must be ok. It certainly was. Quick service. Only downside once we finished eating I felt they were desperate for our table.

Had a nice dinner here with more food than we could finish. Started out with some great chips and salsa. Ordered burritos that were very generous portions. Food was excellent and would recommend to anyone for authentic Mexican food.

This is a fun downtown place to get great Mexican food and cocktails. On Mondays they offer half price tacos, quesadillas and some cocktails. Its got a local vibe, music, extensive tequila options and friendly service. They also have fun skull logo items.

This is a great Mexican Restaurant with high quality ingredients. The place is small and gets busy quick. We both had burritos, Had the surf and turf and the California, both wet with red and green sauce. The burritos was cooked perfect and was bursting with flavor, its huge so bring your appetite.

We were in town for 5 days and accidentally started our trip at LA Puerta. They won us over with their awesome hapoy hour, fantastic drinks, and amazing staff and we stopped by almost every day. Special shout outs to Nick, Saba, and Terissa who were brilliant!

This is the first place we stopped landing in San Diego coming from Texas. Location is great in the gaslamp district. Big open front door to experience the weather and people watch. Had a cocktail and beer to go with their guacamole and tostaditas (think a mini shrimp taco, but better). Both were excellent. Very good atmosphere and the hostess and sever during our visit were very friendly. We swung by again on Saturday night, and it was packed with people having a great night out (not rowdy, just fun) Best for adults - couples or groups Looks to be a good after work spot Not a big place, so seating is what it is.

La Puerta has great margaritas and great food. Packed with fans mid-afternoon. Worth a visit for authentic Mexican food when you are in San Diego.

Very busy, but quick service. Delicious queso flameado. Homemade tortillas. Little dark inside. Seemed a bit more like a bar than a restaurant- atmosphere.

Went for happy hour, did not leave happy. Even at half price, the margaritas were not worth the money. They were all ice in a small mug. The guacamole bowl was decent but the chips were so thick they were almost pita chips. The taco plate was ok but barely a meal. The place had a buzz to it, but we certainly won’t be back.

I’m sure this place is fine. I stopped in after work. No fish tacos....what? Then they allow people to smoke in front of the open door. Well, all the smoke blows into the restaurant and the entire place stinks of smoke. Could not take it so we both left. Sure, you are a patron and want to smoke. Move away from the open door/window. Just rude smokers.

La Puerta is a hidden gem in the gaslamp district. Four of us came in for a late lunch and had a variety of food from the menu. After several starters, we tested several burritos, nachos, and quesadilla. Even the side dishes were a surprise! The chili corn mixture was out of this world. Prices were reasonable and we were full enough that we skipped dinner.

This is a great restaurant. The decor is amazing - the walls and menus all feature classic album artwork. The food is delicious and the service was good.

Packed place. Food was delicious. But my rating is based on the service. To begin with seating host gave my reservation to someone else without checking the name. The meal host was wonderful. But the person brought the food and placed it on the table next to us. Overall a Little bit careless services.

Since the lockdown lifted I have been cruising around looking for outdoor tables to enjoy happy hour. Alas, happy hour isn't offered so much any more due to the pandemic and hard times for these restaurants not being able to serve indoors. But I got a good table here off the sidewalk and Robby was just so friendly. I ordered a Mexican Lager and he supplied good salsas and chips. The carne asada quesadilla was the best I have ever had. It was so well made and so tasty with more great sauces. Kaira took over serving and I had her bring me a box to take half of it home. And the next day it was still just as good. So great food and great service. Thank you.

We were delighted by the friendly and attentive service, the fun casual atmosphere (music and decor), but especially the food. Everything was so fresh and obviously just made with the freshest ingredients. I had the bean and cheese burrito, (when I told her I was vegetarian she offered to put in a request for vegetarian beans!) while my husband had the Mix and match tacos - shrimp, pork and carne asada. We also had the chips and guacamole- very clearly fresh chips! The food hit the spot and we highly recommend this little place downtown

Wonderful, friendly service. Great Asada taco's. We were seated right away and it was happy hour. Quick service, very attentive staff. Had a good meal and loved the music!

I had a trio of tacos and it was really good! Loved the sides too. Lively atmosphere. Cool spot overall.

Amazing margaritas and tacos . Place is laid back with great service. This is the best Mexican food I have tasted, nowhere close back in the Uk . Definitely worth a trip out to Mission Hills

Super good food, small hick-up on the order but handled perfectly. Tacos were really good. I will be back next time in San Diego.

While on a busienss trip everyone wanted to plan a Mexican night. We had 9 guests in our party and were seated promptly in a round table in the back of the main room. Shortly after being seated the lights were dimmed to the point we couldn't see our food when brought out. Probably OK because the quesadilla and tacos had more cheese than anything. The best thing they have is the guacamole bowl with pico on top.

Neat restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter. We were seated quickly and service was good. Being from Texas, I am always cautious on Mexican restaurants since they are generally bland compared to Tex-Mex. Nice surprise here. Food was well prepared with a good amount of spice. Previous reviews raved about the margaritas, but we did not think they were any different than what we make at home. Well worth a visit. Good prices, especially for San Diego

Great drink prices, good atmosphere and just busy all the time! We only had appetizers so can't really comment on the dinners

On a referral from a friendly lady at the mall, we took a lunch trip to la puerta in the Gaslamp district. We loved it all. Guacamole is a meal in itself but we Ordered the carne asada tacos and the veggie quesadilla. Delicious. Also, loved the decor. Celebrity angst.

They do not accept reservations so arrive early or plan a short wait. The food & drinks were amazingly good, atmosphere a little loud but cozy. Prices are very reasonable, as well.

Nice outside seating and close to the hotels along Harbor Drive, here we were staying at the Hyatt. Just a quick walk to get there. Our server, Tania, was outstanding! She explained everything in detail about happy hour and made sure our food was exactly as we ordered. Even the gentleman server working alongside her checked on us as well. Couldn't ask for better service! Food was delicious! I had the shrimp quesadilla, the queso fundido with carnitas. Yummy margaritas too! The sopa de Pozole was delicious as well! We will definitely be back!

Love this place. A highlight of my visit to San Diego. Amazing tacos, and really friendly, wonderful service. Next time here, I’m coming back!

The food here is very average. The nacho starter came out and seemed fresh. The main meals were tasteless. The service was rushed and pretty poor too. This is a glorified fast food joint for tourists who are looking for a large selection of beers and tequila. Do not go here if you are a foodie. Not quite sure why this is rated so highly on here and google.

Everything we ordered was completely delicious. The shrimp quesadilla was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. If I was staying in San Diego another night I would have gone there again. Only thing is it’s quite noisy.

My daughter and I had dinner here in January 2023 while visiting San Diego. The servers were very friendly and attentive. The food was so good! We had potato flautitas as an appetizer, and I had veggie tacos and my daughter had a veggie-topped plate of french fries. No problems finding vegetarian food here. I also had a quality margarita. The place was pretty small and had a bar atmosphere, with a big TV where a football game was playing, but it never got loud enough to feel like we were at a sporting event (thankfully). I definitely recommend this place if you're in the area.

Loud place. Younger crowd but food is excellent. My wife and I split a chicken burritto with red sauce on half and green on other half. Chips and salsa were excellent. Very tasty Sangria along with top shelf Margarita. Nothing fancy. Left full. Great service.

Came at happy hour so the drinks & some appetizers were half priced. The guac & chips were huge and really good. Had the mix & match tacos. Everything was priced well.

Happened on this place via TripAdvisor & couldn’t have been more Happy! Great food & service. Will go again when in area & strongly recommend!!!

Absolutely great Mexican restaurant! Saturday early evening 6 PM. Got no reservation, got table for two immediately though the place was packed. Very friendly and efficient service. Ate the surf n' turf burrito, the best burrito ever had! Highly recommend this place!

We came across La Puerta on a Saturday morning, a little too early for a margarita lunch but just in time to enjoy the lively atmosphere. When we arrived around 10:30 am, the place was rather quiet. The menu was full of taco options and breakfast dishes, making it hard to decide. We chose guacamole and the Shrimp and Steak tacos, which were excellent. The tacos were a bit greasy but came with a generous serving of rice, beans, and vegetables in sauce. The amount of food was satisfying, and the flavors were great. I particularly enjoyed the vegetables mixed with the rice. As we ate, the restaurant quickly filled up, and a line started forming outside. It seemed to be a popular spot for tourists, and we felt lucky to have arrived early. La Puerta provided a good meal, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a tasty meal in San Diego.

I've been wanting to try this place and it's Lways very busy at nite so decided to grab a late lunch while at a conference downtown. The carnitas street tacos were average, rice and beans nothing to write home about. Chips and salsa were good. Was expecting more authentic taste.

Had read this was highly rated, we stopped by before a Padres game and wait was 1/2 hour. Worth the wait, awesome food and service. Lovely place so don’t expect quiet. Others places around it had no wait but this has great reviews so they get the business.

We enjoyed our dinner at La Puerta. They have an interesting menu and if you don't see what you want, ask and they may have it. They have some unique ways of preparing traditional fare. The food was great and our server, Nia, was fantastic. She was friendly and very attentive. They have indoor and outdoor dining. They do not take reservations but the wait was not terrible. It is a bit noisy both inside and out. Prices are very reasonable.

Good: good late night tacos and drinks in gas lamp area. We went there around 11 pm and still served food. No wait time for the table. Friendly waitress. Bad: not the cleanest place. There are other restaurants serving better tacos.

Had a last minute choice to make for dinner tonight, boy did we choose wisely! We’re greeted promptly & politely, seated right away and our server was there in a flash with water & menus. It was a game day at Petco so the crowd was a little loud but we were still able to carry on a conversation. Half off drinks during happy hour and the two we had were both delicious, Mojito and House margarita. Our food came out QUICKLY. In fact, beat our drinks to the table. The carnitas is definitely the go to! Very good! I tried both the red & green sauce on my burrito - the green is excellent and just the right heat. The red is average and not worth the added heat. We’ll definitely be back!

Really cool place. Ambiance is awesome. Great decor and not too loud. Had a burrito which was amazing. My wife enjoyed the street tacos. Marg was good and the beer ice cold. Great little place.

Nice spot for groups, good food and their signature cocktail, Bark at the Moon - margarita is one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had. From the US and I mean east to west coast to Canada to Jamaica to Mexico to Aruba to Italy, it’s the best.

A friend tipped us that this was the perfrct place to celebrate a special occasion, and she was right. Wonderful, relaxing dinner with great service and a view second to none. Easily the best views in San Diego!

Really wanted to try the famous tacos I hear about from my friends’ CA trips. They really delivered. Fantastic tacos. My only regret is not being able to try them all. I got the three taco sampler dinner.

I had spotted this Mexican restaurant even before the departure of our on the road, but once I arrived in San Diego even the reception of our hotel described it as the best in the city. We show up for dinner time, the place is overflowing, they give us a half-hour wait that we occupy by turning a little around the Gaslamp district. Once we sat at the table we ordered nachos with guacamole and a Burrito each. I must admit that everything was of a very high quality and really very very tasty both burritos, only flaw were gigantic and we struggled to finish them both. The bill was consistent with what was eaten, the impeccable service, the only thing that could annoy is the level of music inside the club, it almost seems to be in a disco. All in all though go if you want a real Mexican restaurant experience of the highest level

They weren't that hungry so we just came for a cocktail. We couldn't go in because there were two of us under 21 and it was after 8pm. We sat outside and had two different types of margaritas and guacamole. All very good and even the two cocktails! We suggest

This is a great restaurant with good food, friendly service, and a rock-music inspired ambience. We were a group of 8 who went there for lunch. Some of us were vegetarian, while others ate meat. The menu has enough options for all kinds of dietary constraints and preferences. The food was super delicious, served well (and quick), and always with a smile. The person assisting us at the restaurant was friendly and happy to guide and advise us on menu options, including the various IPA (ale) that we tried. I would recommend this restaurant for small- to medium-sized groups looking for Mexican street food. There was a good selection of homemade sauces that varied in their degree of spicy from benign to mild to strong, but always flavorful.

This place was recommended by a friend and I can see why. The food was delicious and the drinks were on point! When in the Gaslamp District, check it out..

With a few colleagues we stayed in this Mexican attracted by the great reviews. Friday night without reservation they make us wait about ten minutes at the bar but then they give us the table immediately. I had a selection of meat tacos (chicken, beef and pork) accompanied by rice and beans. Really minimal wait for excellent dishes. I struggled to understand what I was eating because where I was sitting it was so dark that you could not see anything...

I don't know why more places don't do their chips this way. They were spectacular. Fresh ingredients, good service

Wandered in off the street and was impressed by the quality of the food and the personality of the restaurant.

I was in the mood for Mexican food & found this place walking around the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. It’s definitely a place that I’ll return to. The food is very fresh & the service is friendly. The atmosphere is kind of funky too. It has a warehouse feel to the dining room. There’s also outdoor seating available. Again, everything was fresh & flavorful, & the service could not have been more welcoming & professional. Thanks 🌮 👍

Perfect lunch spot! We checked into our hotel and walked over for lunch. We were seated quickly, service was great! All of the food was delicious! From the first salsas and margaritas to all of the tacos. A definite must go when downtown!

Super Service and delicious mexican food! Our First visit in San Diego with a Perfect Place for Dinner!!!….. loved it!!!

Really enjoyed the margaritas, tacos and guacamole. Even the chips and salsa were top notch. Unique atmosphere, very casual with a rock theme.

Best breakfast in town! The food is delicious and the vibe is AWESOME! This was our first time here and we LOVED IT! Great all American + Mexican food!

Coolest atmosphere ever!! Food was outstanding!! Guac and chips appetizer, and shrimp tacos (street tacos) were divine! Don't miss the "Bark at the Moon" serrano-infused margarita. Killer Happy Hour. Great music. Staff is obviously happy; very friendly and hospitable. We absolutely adored this place and would return again and again.

This appeared to be the only restaurant in the area still open at 10pm. Still going strong at that hour, with excellent Mexican food and very attractive and fun environment.

This is a great restaurant! My wife and I stopped in while visiting for a conference in November and we really enjoyed our meal. The atmosphere is fun and we really liked that the menus were different album covers and that they have famous mugshots all along the walls. Our server was great and she provided excellent service throughout the meal. Our margaritas were delicious and the chips and salsa were great as well (the flavor of the salsa was fantastic). We both got a taco sampler and every single one was delicious, flavorful, and well-constructed. This is a place that we'd visit often if it was near us in Nashville. This is a great place and we highly recommend it!

Fun atmosphere, great food, though avoid the Mexican lager on tap if you don’t like watery beer! The prawn tacos were fab.

I’m not quite sure how to best describe La Puerta. It is dark, with lots of wood and a long bar. So, there is a bit of a saloon feel. But, there’s far more to this story. Above the bar there was a 1960's/1970's movie playing in which one of the main characters appeared to be a Lucha Libre wrestler. The front of the restaurant, nearest the street, has floor to ceiling wallpaper with photos of mug shots from various musicians. There are also portraits of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, both wearing rock & roll t-shirts. The men’s room had floor-to-ceiling wallpaper of rock stars flipping-off the photographer. So, this place has a bit of character. As for the actual reason for our visit: the service was great and the food was very tasty. I had the choose your own mix of 3 street tacos. I chose the Carnitas, Ranchero Shrimp and the Al Pastor. The Carnitas (slow-roasted pork, guacamole, pico de gallo) was my hands-down favorite. In addition to good food, La Puerta had the largest tequila menu that either of us had ever seen. Overall, it was a good lunch in an entertaining environment.

These guys know food. Not your average Mexican combo plate. They have thought every dish through. Try the fries plate - a take on a poutin! Taco’s had protein that was very high quality .. The cream and the components , herbs , top notch…..

Ok this is the best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to in a very long time. We asked our concierge at the hotel where we can have great Mexican food and she said La Puerta. This restaurant will not disappoint. She was NOT mistaken. Wow! We asked the sweet person at the bar (Marisa) what she suggests and she said she was new and that she’d ask the seasoned server (Jacob) what he suggests. He said the Taqueso Carne. Oh my gosh what an incredible meal! Great flavors and the rice and beans were incredible. Jacob and Marisa define excellence. They know customer service. This is our place whenever we are in San Diego. I’m not a drinker but my husband enjoys a margarita now and then and it was outstanding. Great service, ambience and incredible food. Simply the best!

Cocktails, tacos and nachos are ok and tasty. Nevertheless, there is too much noise, music is really too loud.

We had planned to go elsewhere and found this place on this site. We ate tacos five times at different places over the course of a ten day trip and these were average at best. Description seemed to be a bit more than just tacos. That was not the case. Somewhat limited menu.

Despite located near the tourist trap area this is actually a good place for food that also caters to locals. The food was ok - not a culinary epiphany but still tasty. Was seated at the bar and was catered to by the bartender Sully who provided a warm og charming experience. The decor is not to my liking, to the raw site and not cozy. More a bar experience.

Tasty beverages and foods. Guacamole was great. Pozole was amazing. Veggie tacos were very delicious as well both with cheeses as well as vegan.

We really loves this place. The wait staff was incredible and attentive and their suggestions were on point. Great drinks too

The Tostaditas app was festive in appearance but ate very flat - salsa was needed, and even more badly needed was a pop of flavorful richness like maybe a chipotle or cilantro crema. The grilled veggie burrito was lovely to behold, it truly was, but the filling was of bizarre texture, lacked much in the way of flavor, and was desperately dry. I travel frequently for business and often dine out alone. To request a table rather than the always first-offered bar seat, and then be treated like some unreasonable pariah, is gravely unacceptable. Service was disinterested, a bit condescending and in the end, disappointing. The ambiance was fun, lively and conjured up an edgy Mexico City taqueria. The soundtrack was excellent; strong marks here.

I was in San Diego visiting friends for the weekend and went to La Puerta based on proximity to our hotel and the amazing reviews I had read. It happened to be Happy Hour when I arrived, which meant ALL ALCOHOL was half-priced. This was helpful and appreciated because I love Don Julio 1942 and happy hour made it do-able. If you're into tequila or mezcal, they have an extensive selection of each. The vibe of the restaurant is tacos and rock & roll, with a mix of high booths, tables, high tables, and a long bar. I wasn't sure what to order, but wanted a burrito. The server recommended the Viva Mexico Buritto - one of their specialities: Arranchera Steak, Grilled Onion & Poblano Jack and Panela Cheese, Crema, Guacamole. I got it wet, half red sauce and half green sauce. It's a 1lb burrito and I was full about 2/3 of the way through, but it was so good, I ate every bite (and slurped up all the sauce). The flavors, temperature, ingredients - everything was perfect. Service was good - helpful, friendly, and attentive, but not rushed (which was nice). I look forward to returning when I visit San Diego again.

This spot is fantastic. The restaurant has great decor and design. The service was spot on even though the restaurant was full by 11 am on a Sunday. The tequila selection was vast and the spicy margarita I had was very good. Both of the salsas served with the chips were great. We split surf and turf burrito. The quality of the ingredients shown through. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Popped in last night around 9:30 for a late bite to eat - outstanding food, drink and atmosphere! Had street tacos that were perfect. Plate included refried beans, mex rice and peppers and onions sauté which were all surprising good. If you like tequila/mezcal drinks, this is the spot. Had the Bark at the Moon margarita and Tippa My Tongue mezcal cocktail. Both were exceptional. Fun and funky vibe with solid music. Enjoyed the wall of celebrity mug shots!

Good Mexican combo, fun and engaging atmosphere. Good portions but a couple sloppy service issues. We were bumped on seating accidentally by host that was not careful. We were given a different size drink than asked. The guacamole was served with chips buried in it rather than dip your own making it hard to share and not very easy to enjoy.

Sitting outside and watching the crowds with a cold “Howl at the Moon” margarita in your hand is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon in the Gaslamp District. Stopped in for a late lunch with family and enjoyed the carnitas street tacos and the shrimp especial tacos. Service was a little laid back but the food was excellent, as were the drinks.

Best tacos I’ve ever had! The service for being extremely busy was spot on. I was quite pleased with the overall experience!

Saturday evening so there was a 40 minute wait for a table. Well worth the wait!! They sat us at the outside bar to wait and got the happy hour drinks going. We ended up eating outside and had a great time!! The happy hour prices are terrific and the tacos and drinks were top notch.

Small but quaint restaurant that is bustling with people and good food. They move fast so don’t let the line out front deter you. It’s delicious and a fun atmosphere.

Loved La Puerta - great menu and the food was amazing. Great service and just overall great atmosphere. We went at 6pm on a Monday evening and it was packed!

Went here today and got the “Angel of Harlem” which is Serrano Peppers, Hibuscus Infused Tequila, Strawberry Purée, Agave Necture, Lemon Lime Soda. Also got the “Bark at the Moon” Margarita. Both drinks were good!

Great food. Chips and salsa were wonderful, loved the green sauce. Tacos were fabulous as was the service and really good beer. We did get cussed out by a homeless dude but that's California's problem not the restaurant. highly recommend this restaurant.

Nice and friendly service. Good choice of beers, food is excellent, and the bathrooms are the most Rock'n'roll ever. The waitress provided me good information, and, although it wascreally crowdy managed to find a seat.

I think every business can be read it on service in the service here was so slow it was ridiculous. Every single time we had to ask for service. The drinks are served in 6 ounce glasses, so you do not get a lot of margarita for the price. Additionally the food was just mediocre at best

Stopped here for a quick bite and was so happy I did. I went with the mix-n-match tacos and was very pleased with my three choices: carne asada, shrimp, and adobo pork. Rice, corn, and refried beans came with and they were all good. I would definitely return here in the future

In the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego is La Puerta. They have great food and pretty good service. I've been twice while visiting downtown SD and have enjoyed both trips. The California burritos are a must, as well as their apps and sides. Good food that is usually pretty quick. But it can be really busy and loud inside. You can normally expect a wait. I have also tried a to-go order from here and was equally satisfied, just be sure to give them plenty of time. Their burritos are worth the wait.

A couple of us arrived at the restaurant around 5pm and it was not too busy. We started talking to a local that comes all the time and loves La Puerta. Happy hour specials were good and the service was fine. The street tacos were a very good choice and came out fast. It was a good place to eat and visit.

My wife and I loved this spot! The fact that we could get breakfast tacos at 12:30 was amazing! Additionally, the open aired feel to this restaurant was so peaceful! They had good a selection of drinks, and the staff were friendly! All in all, would totally recommend this place.

Located on 4th and by Market street. Patio or sidewalk seating. They have the famous people mug shot wall paper. Only have chicken asada tacos. I was hoping for chicken flautas, but they only have pork or potato flautas. :( Not a big fan of their menu to be honest, good for pork or beef lovers. Our waitress asked if we needed a minute. She set up us up with water and and a can of silverware. We ended up getting their chicken asada, chicken quesadilla, guacamole, no cheese and potato flautas. $42.03. The potato flautas were okay, the sauce with it is fine, not a lot of flavor to it. The chicken asada is grilled chicken with some pico on it, needed some hot salsa, as it’s quite plain. The chicken quesadilla is heavy on the cheese, sparse on the meat and less in the chicken quesadilla than in the 3 taco chicken asada. As it was heavy on the cheese, it was dripping cheese oil as you bit into it. We started off with one waitress and ended with a different one.

Enjoyed drinks at the bar waiting for our table - Low Rider made by Rachel was one of the best cocktails I’ve had! Deliciois Queso Fundido with chorizo, burritos, (order with sauce!), and mix and match tacos. Great service too! We were seated in the corner table with candles - best in the house!

Our Uber driver said one of his favorite restaurants was La Puerta. Since it was a few blocks from our hotel, we gave it a try. The margaritas were above average. We split the pastor quesadillas and although they were not loaded with ingredients were above average. The atmosphere was a dive bar. Would I recommend, probably not.

The food here was very good. We ordered the chips and queso, street tacos and a cheese quesadilla. I really enjoyed the choose 3 street tacos. You could choose 3 different kinds to try. We ate outside, which was really nice, until the loud noise thing started. There are 2 of these grates right by the restaurant and one was right by our table. It was really hard to hear the waiter or the person I was sitting by. Other than that, I would highly recommend this restaurant!

Great atmosphere and incredibly tasty street tacos! Service was quick and other customers at the bar were very friendly. Asked about switching the screen to a soccer game for an out of town fan and they did so immediately. I liked everything but the Ranchero Shrimp tacos were particularly good!

The other reviews are correct...the food is really good. The drinks are also good, but small and everything is way overpriced; I guess that comes with being popular. Service was good, so there is nothing to fault with the restaurant or food, just prepare to overpay for the experience.

Food was the best we had in San Diego. Bar vibe is great. Love the mug shot theme and the music was a great selection. Bar staff were super helpful and mixed some great cocktails. Beer choice is great- we were in town four nights and went twice!!

Best happy hour food and drink specials. Inside was quite loud. We sat outside, weather was lovely and the service was great. We shared a quesdilla and the nachos. Both were delicious, but the nachos were or favorite. The margaritas were delicious, with great lime flavor.

We loved our drinks and food. And the chips and salsa were great too! All delicious! Wonderful selection of tequila. Our waitress, Kaira, was knowledgeable and personable! Wish we lived closer to come back again and again!

The tacos here are fantastic! We tried the carnitas, ranchero shrimp, pollo asado, and the surf and turf tacos and all of them were delicious. The shells were perfect and the flavor combinations were divine. My wife and I agreed that the surf and turf tacos were the best and something special. These rival the best tacos we've ever had and we'd eat here again for sure. The service was also great. The entire staff was friendly. Our server seemed very happy. All that said, while we were waiting in the back of the restaurant for our table to be ready, we saw a cockroach crawling along the wood paneling and going into and out of the cracks and crevices around the photos and drawing. We ignored it and still ate here after seeing that (at a table, not in that waiting area although you could eat there, too). We would still eat here again. But just a heads up ya'll.

Great Mexican food! Fresh guacamole and the drinks were good. Quesadillas was yummy and the burrito was huge. Very filling. Good service!

Over a decade ago, I happened upon La Puerta on a business trip and quite enjoyed it. Being in the neighborhood again, I went back -- and I was so glad to find out it was as excellent as I remembered it being. Delicious tacos filled to overflowing; mix-and-match the multiple delicious options; some come with guac (no ridiculous $2 upcharge for a teaspoon of guac like you'll find on the East Coast). And the tacos come with beans, rice, chips, salsa. Plus friendly and attentive service. It was everything I was looking for. Plus, my wife and I were on East Coast time - but when we showed up around 10:30 Sunday morning, there was no judgment when we skipped their breakfast options and went straight to lunch. Much appreciated!

First time here, we'd go back in a heartbeat. Tacos were very good, large size for street tacos. Spouse had a huge burrito but it was so good he ate it all. Outside seating was okay, our server was friendly but service was slow, maybe because they were so busy.

I was recommended by a friend to come here and wow… Amazing tasty food and a great atmosphere! Taco Tuesday offer is a must and I can’t wait to head back!

Fabulous food and drinks and great service. Loved the atmosphere too and the frozen margaritas were top notch. I’m not a massive Mexican food fan but the flavours were so subtle. I recommend the quesadillas

We went here on a Friday night (early) and really enjoyed the food, drinks and people. They don’t carry “mainstream” tequilas, but their recommendations were excellent. Would definitely go back.

Our first night in San Diego and after popping out for some groceries, we chances upon this eatery. The service was excellent even down to the doorman looking after our bag of groceries! The food was simple and plentiful but a little over salted for our liking. But overall a good place to enjoy with a chilled atmosphere.

Food was so good, and came out so quick even though it was quite busy. The waitress was very nice and helpful. Will definitely come back again

Overall good food, but a little more "US" than "Mexican". Enormous burrito sizes with not always fresh ingredients. Nice interior space and would be fun for gatherings of friends, but not the best dining experience. Especially with so much good Mexican food around.

We had some of the best tacos and cocktails ever! The restaurant has a lot of character and the waitresses were very good. A definite must on a visit to the Gas Lamp District.

Went with two friends on a Friday night. Definitely a popular place. Despite the fact that the waiter needed to fight his way through the standing crowds, the service was outstanding. The food was good. I personally didn't lke the way they served the guac....dumped on top of the chips...but that may just be me. It was a great evening.

The food here was very good. The seasonings and sides were unusual and very well done. While they serve the normal Tex-Mex menu, each item has a little twist that makes it especially good. The guacamole has unusual toppings which make it exceptional. The one pound burritos are massive, so be warned. Did not think the drinks were exceptional, however.

Food was incredible. We had a sampling of everything. The guacamole was to die for. We had the Carne Asada tacos. Also had the Pollo asado quesadillas. And my son went crazy over the bean and cheese and rice burrito. Wonderful atmosphere. Could tell it was a very popular place with how busy it was. we will definitely keep it on our list to be back.

A little on the high end for a Mexican restaurant but the quality was there. Went for the chips and guacamole and although a very small portion it didn’t disappoint!!

Really cool restaurant with cool, quirky decor! Huge portion of chips and guac, and the best burritos we’ve ever had! Great service! Great atmosphere!

We found this restaurant a few years ago and it’s never disappointed when we return. Their appetizers have unique twist and the quesadillas creatively great! Bring your appetite when you order dinner as the servings are LARGE. Servers & Bartenders are friendly, fun, helpful and serve great tasting drinks. Tequila selection is large. Happy Hours are amazing. La Puerta attracts crowds for good reasons

That and that alone is work another visit and another. Too bad I don't live near by or else I'd be there too often.

I gave this a try because of a good trip advisor rating and I have had fish all week and was craving something different. I asked the server for her favorite drink and meal. I could count on one hand how many times I have had a margarita lol it so so good I ordered 2 more. And surprise it’s happy hour until 7 so half price drinks and eats. She brought me 3 different tacos. Pork, shrimp and ??? But it didn’t matter I just about licked the plate clean. It presents a little worn but don’t let that fool you. They definitely know what they are doing here! Fantastic.

Don’t look like much, but do not pass it by. Great food and service. We had the pork and fry bowl. I kept looking for a few French fries with all the meat. Healthy American portion as well.

Ordered carne asada tacos and carnitas. Meat was tough and taco was very oily. Not very good. Staff was pleasant and drinks were adequate.

The food was delicious and they had a great selection of tequila based cocktails. The atmosphere was really good with great music and the service was very nice

Great for some cocktails and casual Mexican food. Lively ambiance and good service but a bit loud if you're trying to have a conversation. We didn't have reservations on a Friday night but got seated within 20 minutes. We sat outside and had a drink while waiting.

This was a great find in the gas lamp district and only 5 minutes away from our hotel. We waited only 20 minutes and ordered. We had the guacamole and chips, small chopped salad and the surf and turf tacos. Everything came within 10 minutes of ordering! The guac was amazing and a huge serving in a bowl. It came with two salads, both were mild in heat. The salad came with a spicy kick of a dressing, but it was delicious. My tacos were a huge serving of three street tacos with steak, shrimp and vegetables. The rice, beans and vegetable sides were perfect too! Our server was amazing too!

Covid means they can seat fewer at one time... but the wait was worth it. I’m including pictures which don’t adequately tell you how tasty everything was. Even the rice and beans which are normally “fillers” were really good!

This was recommended to us by a friend as the best Mexican food in the area. It is a busy place, and that's because it is so good. Service was great, as was the food. Definitely order the Guac! Yummy!

Walked in for lunch, it was not busy. Hostess sat us quickly and a server came over and we requested water while looking over the menu. The decor of this restaurant is odd, didn't really get the vibe they were going for. Food was decent, nothing great but definitely edible. The service was just not consistent. We were not brought out tortilla chips and salsa. Saw another table was presented with chips so we asked the hostess, who quickly brought them out, said they were complimentary. Not sure why our server didn't do this upon arrival. The off service we received was a disappointment.

We asked several locals where they would recommend for Mexican. La Puerta was a unanimous recommendation and lived up to the hype

We visited this place twice whilst in San Diego Both visits certainly did not disappoint Food was incredible, and staff were very friendly It is relatively small and gets busy however both times we got seated immediately Highly recommend!

The food was delicious and fast. Just the right amount of heat. Margarita was perfect. Sitting outside was perfect, but it’s very cool inside- walls are lined with celebrity mug shots. :) Highly recommend!

Absolutely delicious plentiful meal with seating in or out. We sat out as it was a lovely night. Great service friendly welcoming. Price was good and good selection of drinks.

A new fave spot here in San Diego! So glad someone told us about this place! We knew to expect great food-but we were pumped to walk into the coolest place ever and enjoy delicious freshly made margaritas while we waited for a table! Surprisingly we came on a Monday and were told it was Happy Hour all day: HALF OFF AL DRINKS and APPETIZERS!! The restaurant is small-which added to the casual and friendly vibe. We loved the wallpaper, which was filled with mug shots of famous celebrities!!! Additionally, the wall in the back caught our attention with the “shrine” for famous celebs that died at age 27! Our server was Kaila, and she was so friendly! We enjoyed the taco platter that had the most delicious refined beans and rice! The Carne Asada Tacos were just perfect! My husband loved the Al Pastor the best. An extra bonus which made this place even BETTER: they played the best jams all night!!! Tonight it was mostly grungy 90’s music and we loved every song they played. I highly recommend visiting! Tip: since they don’t take reservations, check in with the Yelp app to take advantage of getting “in line” faster. We will definitely return!

Been so many times, I can’t even begin to try counting. The food is always great, beer cold and the staff are always outstanding. Great location I can walk to, what more can you ask for? Except maybe a longer happy hour? Lol. Hahaha

Food was plentiful and excellent! Plan on taking home leftovers. Service swift and very helpful with food recommendations. Don’t plan on bringing small children it’s extremely loud and the ones that were there were screaming their heads off! Lots of delicious cocktails with a ginormous tequila selection! Make sure to check out the wallpaper with lots of fun facts!

We had one opportunity for Mexican food is San Diego and this is where we went. We ordered a lot of food for four people, appetizers, tacos, entrees. I had the carne asada fries... everything was amazing!

This restaurant was hopping on a Thursday night at 6pm. It had a great relaxed and fun vibe with indoor and outdoor seating options, big screen TV with the football game in. The service was superb and the food excellent

Enjoyed dining with business colleagues during a recent stay in San Diego. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious! Ordered three street tacos... chicken, steak and pork. Each were excellent. Ordered guacamole and queso with chips. The very best queso ever! There was nothing bad here.

Very nice Mexican restaurant in San Diego--reasonably priced, excellent food, friendly service. We would go back.

Great happy hour, highly recommended, however you should have more than one server as the poor guy was running ragged. Guacamole and quesadillas were amazing. Fresh and came out fast. Slightly disappointed on their draft beers as 3 different types offered were flat. Were exchanged without issues. Was informed CO2 issues. The hazy IPA was exceptional. All said , a must place to eat when in San Diego.

Super fun atmosphere, great service, great tacos but oh my goodness the margaritas!!!!! Sort of broken for drinking them anywhere else! Our waitress was a spitfire also, a must try while in San Diego!

We decided to try this restaurant based on its fame and we didn't have to think again! When we arrived the place was full, but we were seated after less than 5 minutes. It is located in the historic Gaslamp District, easily accessible by car. The Mexican cuisine dishes are all plentiful and truly excellent, accompanied by more or less spicy sauces, all made even better by excellent service and welcome nachos. Absolutely recommended!

Seated after a wait which is no problem for a busy venue - we were then not given any chips and salsa despite every other table having them; had to wait ages for service and then had meals arrive at different times; and to top it all off, despite asking for substitutions with my meal, it didn't have them. Might have been an off night judging by the rest of the reviews but on the whole very poor.

I' have been travelling and was looking for a quick Lunch. Did see this place when walking by. Nice place hence did decide to take place on an outside table. Service was quick and friendly. Food, I had the guacamole and nachos to Start, followed by a special "Fries with shrimp and steak" It was very tasty and I enjoyed Lunch. Will come back once in a while.

We had a small diner in the bar/restaurant. Stuff was friendly and recommended some drinks. Also food was good and fast on the table as we had a salad and a ceviche. We would really recommend to come here.