Ortega's, A Mexican Bistro Reviews

During these pandemic times patio seating is the hot commodity. A friend & I came here just for the happy hour $5 Margaritas. Our server supplied complimentary chips and salsa so we didn't need to really order any additional food. It was a very pleasant place to just sit and relax. Thank you.

Came here for a Saturday night dinner and found parking on the street. Were immediately seated and given menus. Ordered the Guac which they prepare for you tableside (highly recommend!). We each ordered one of the taco trios. They are accommodating for people with dietary restrictions.

we made reservations vis Open table for Ortega's as I had dined there a while back. Nice greeting from smiling host and we were seated at a window. We ordered the cheese enchiladas and the Huanchingo Caesar salad. The food was great ...nice and fresh. Our server Diana T could not have been more friendly and helpful. Please make it a point to visit this place...in HIllcrest a diverse and charming part of san Diego,

I have been to Ortega's many times, this is a very good restaurant. I stopped by solely for their Puerto Nuevo Tortilla Soup. It is quite delicious. It is made with chicken stock, gaujillo chiles, cheese, and strips of crispy corn tortillas. I love this soup, especially if you add lime juice. I also ordered 2 sides of flour tortillas to go..They are the best flour tortillas in San Diego...it reminds me of the home made tortillas my mom used to make...Highly recommend this restaurant. The service is always good and their prices are reasonable..only minor complaint is I would like to see this place a bit cleaner..also parking is very limited. You have to park on the street or in a lot. But the food makes up for it...

My husband and I tried Ortega's for dinner one night while on vacation. Our waiter was awesome and had great personality. We started with the table side guacamole, and it might've been THE best guacamole I've ever tasted. Sooooo good. For entree's we got the steak taco trio and the fish taco trio. The steak had excellent flavor and the fish tacos were very good with the home made flour tortillas! Would highly recommend if staying in Hillcrest area and want to eat local.

Ortega’s is dependably great for food, service and value. Try the happy hour for a first introduction. Very nice atmosphere and authentic food. Start with a margarita and some quest fundido. The Baja shrimp tacos are amazing. The bartender is on the case and the food is wonderful. Try it.

As a Mexican and native San Diegan, I KNOW MY MEXICAN FOOD. I've tried it all: low-end dives, mid-range, fast-food and high-end re-invented Mexican. This place offers a refreshing reprieve from the pervasive Mexican dives (cheap eats) that are found on every street corner in San Diego, where you can forget about ambiance, service and expect fast food (and know that you will likely get something on your clothes, either from sitting at a table that hasn't been cleaned, or brushing up against any part of the greasy venue), which explains why people take it "to go." Ortega's offers the opposite! You can expect exceptional food, service and ambiance, but without a ridiculous price tag. This is not an upscale Mexican place that is pretentious and unwelcoming with a menu that is not recognisable. Nope, the menu is exceptional, including the Wagyu Beef Burrito (Oh, my!); I had the Carnitas plate and it was exceptional, huge portion at a reasonable price. The servers were great, including the batman, who made a seriously great margarita! And here's the best part, you and your friends will want to stay, chat over Margaritas, chips and salsa, you will be relaxed and enjoy an amazing evening. I highly recommend it!

Delicious food, authentic yet healthy! beautiful interior décor, as well as outdoor patio. If the price for lobster is a bit much, enjoy all the other incredible entrees or appetizers! the guacamole made right at your table is fantastic, and the chicken mole enchiladas are a must!!!

I stopped in for a mid-week lunch, based upon their American Airlines dining program affiliation, and was so pleased that I did. Ordered Carnitas Hash with scrambled eggs, and was delighted with the flavor. The portion was enormous -- at least 3 eggs, and lots of slow roasted, tasty pork chunks, mixed in with bits of roasted potatoes, with a wonderful verde tomatillo sauce on top. Lucious! Served piping hot from the kitchen. My only mistake was not to order the eggs over easy rather than scrambled (which is the default preparation). I added an unsweetened ice tea which was delicious but pricey (at $3.75). Service was superb -- friendly and helpful. Very light lunch crowd mid-week.

Ok place. The vegetarian burrito is amazing. Price of beer/margaritas takes away from the entire experience though. Just a little more than they probably should be (go for the $6 margarita - it's not so bad). Interesting layout and atmosphere. They have a patio, complimentary chips and salsa, decent location and a pay by the hour lot across the street if no street parking available. This place could be great if they rethought their market a little.

The. Best. Mexican. Food. Ever. Period.

Absolutely love the intimate dining areas; great for group or intimate dining for two. Unique twists on several Mexican classics, while maintaining the traditional menu items as well. Try the almond margarita - fantastic!

We were visiting my wife's brother and sister in law in Mission Hills our sister in law suggested a little exercise. We walked down to this restaurant which was about 2 miles from their home. A little challenge for us old folks but boy was the walk worth it. Service was exceptional from David. The restaurant is kind of stuck in a commercial area but it is very large inside and a lot of outside seating as well. the Carnitas hash and eggs were wonderful as were the (to die for) french toast. The mimosa and bloody mary were a good addition to a wonderful breakfast....large menu too

This place is a gem!! The appetizers alone are worth it! The guacamole is amazing and so is their quaso! I also had a top shelf strawberry mint margarita and it was to die for!! Roy our server was very personable and didn’t lead us astray when he recommended items on the menu. He even gave us some good trip advice. Even if you don’t have room left after your delicious meal you have to get the coconut flan for dessert!

Had the chance to drop in while attending a convention. I really enjoyed this location. The food was great, and the staff was very friendly. The only bad thing is parking. This is not a parking friendly location. You may have to walk two to three blocks depending on the time of day you make your visit.

The restaurant itself is really nice, kind of a nice blend of old and new. The food is pretty much the same as you would get at El Torito and the chicken mole that I had was not as good as Jimmy Carter's or Lalo's.

My husband and I have been spending weekends in San Diego for a while now we have just found a great place to eat Ortega's Mexican Bistro. We started off with a pomegrante margarita which was great, and had the half grilled lobster and carne asada served with rice and beans and the best hand made flour tortilla yummy.......we had table side guacamole. We have discovered a new great restaurant we are definitely going back to next time we are in San Diego. Everything was sooooo good can't wait to go back....Would reccomend trying, probably one of the best mexican dinners I have had.

Went to this Mexican bistro twice during our stay and enjoyed both times. Excellent grilled lobster, shrimp tacos, homemade tortillas, table side prepared guacamole and other dishes. None of the usual tourist kitsch, just a solid southwestern decor with great food and excellent service.

This place is a decent Mexican food restaurant with a good vibe and nice outdoor seating. The food is decent but nothing to write home about and the chips both times I have been here were old and stale. I have been here on two separate occasions and both times the Margaritas were very sugary and watered down. You don't get a lot of bang for your buck and @ $10 I expected a little more. This restaurant is not a terrible choice for Mexican food, but I do not think I will return as there are many other better Mexican options in the area. If you go here I recommend the Queso Fundido which is a good appetizer option and is large enough to be a meal.

We have had friends mention Ortega's over the years, but we just never got there. Last week, we had a hankering for Mexican and decided this was the day to try it. There is a little parking lot directly out front, but if its full turn right at the light and park behind the thrift store...it is only $3 at night and it was a 90 second walk to the restaurant. We liked the décor...we sat by the fireplace by the bar. They don't have a huge selection of wines, but the 2 chardonnays on the menu were both good. They were not expensive, but they weren't cheap, no-name ones either. Margarita's were flying out of the bar, but we didn't try one...we'll do that next time. They have a great looking menu with all the usual choices, but we wanted the Baja grilled lobster. I got the whole and my husband got the I/2 lobster with steak. Just so you know...Mexican lobsters have no claws, so you only get the tails. These were cooked perfectly!! Very impressed...grilled lobster can be tough, but these were excellent. We also had the table side guacamole. It was very good, but a little hot for my taste. You can have them use less jalapeno since they make right there for you. We usually go to Old Town or La Jolla for Mexican food, but we liked this better than our usual places. We have friends visiting next month and this is where we will go.

I organized a dinner at Ortega's for 27 Canadian delegates. It started out as 15 but had grown to 27 over the course of the day of our trip. They were very flexible in accommodating us at three adjacent tables and everybody loved their food.

We had eaten here the last time we visited and decided to try it again. Good choice! To start I found a parking spot right outside the door which is like hitting the lottery. The chips and salsa were delicious to start. My wife ordered a lobster and shrimp special and I had crab enchiladas. Both were excellent. The service was quick and attentive in a very relaxed atmosphere. Probably be back next time we visit.

I was there at happy hour, probably change of shift. Management sat me and took my order. My cadillac margarita had no color or bite and I asked if the Gran Marnier had been left out. The manager/waiter told me it had not, and that was that. Then the real waiter arrived and when I voiced my concern, he immediately fixed the problem by bringing a shot of Gran Marnier. I had cerviche which was delicious.I then ordered a salad, a chicken taco and another cadillac margarita. The food was good, but the cocktail was over the top sweet and almost undrinkable. I had already complained once and that's my limit, so I left half the cocktail. My server Roy was excellent and I would recommend him. The food was good. Avoid the Magaritas would be my advice.

I have eaten at Ortega's numerous times and have always been satisfied with the taste of the food and the service they provide. My family and I had a large party to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Our server, Jonathan was very attentive, efficient, and overall a good waiter. He was nice enough to provide a free dessert for me daughter along with a candle on it. Anyhow, six adults and two children ate. With drinks...total bill without tip was $106.32...not too bad. Everyone enjoyed their food and ambiance. Highly recommend. The only negative is that it is located in a small strip mall...so likely you may have to park on the street or pay at a lot. There are two parking lots nearby. My husband and I paid 10.00 for 1 1/2 hours (it was on a Sunday). Try their Puerto Nuevo Tortilla soup. Muy delicioso.

Great service. Guacamole made table side. Homemade tortillas. Best steak and lobster even though it is a Mexican restaurant. Hidden in a strip mall but so worth searching for. Highly recommend it.

I was sorry to find that Ortega's has gone downhill since I was last there. First of all, I ended up with a really bad migraine because they now use MSG, totally unnecessary. I had a Chile Relleno which was swimming in a bland, red sauce, making it totally soggy. My friend had the vegetarian tacos, and the grease was just dripping off them. The only good thing I can say is the margaritas are still good. But I won't be back!

Maybe we came at the wrong time, in between Sunday brunch and before dinner. Service pleasant, but had to keep asking for drink refills. Food ok. Fresh tasting but nothing memorable. Prices fair. Atmosphere nice. No major complaints, but everything just ok. I would give it another try , but won't rush back.

Fantastic in a word! Everything we ate here was wonderful! Some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. Started with Tortilla soup which was exceptional followed by steak and lobster which was prepared perfectly followed by coconut flan and the chocolate brownie dessert which was also out of this world. In addition, I had one of the best margaritas I have ever had. Marty was our attentive terrific waiter. I would not hesitate to go back here. This is one of the best reviews I have ever written and I have been to over 70 countries.

This place was cozy and had a relaxing atmosphere. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and their crab enchiladas were amazing! When we come back, we'll be sharing entres. The portions were generous. The prices were a little high, but worth it.

Had some family visiting and wanted to get some Puerto Nuevo style lobster. Disappointed to find that Ortega's was substituting a lobster tail only and that the price was $38! So we ordered the Chicken Pippen, flat iron steak with quetilcoche mushroom sauce, fish tacos, and chicken enchiladas in mole sauce. All the food was excellent and the mole sauce is the second best we've had. Our waitress was pushing drinks and dessert pretty heavily but other than that was friendly and took care of us well.

Tableside Guacamole was fantasic, great service, great food and a lovely atmosphere. My husband had the carnitas, and I enjoyed the crab enchiladas.

This is the 3rd time I've eaten here and once again everything is wonderful. From the chips and salsa to the Pomegranate Margarita's I've always been impressed. The service is fast and friendly and it's a great mix of locals and visitors. This is associated with the Ortega's restaurants in Puerto Nuevo, Baja California. I'll continue to make this a choice every time I come to San Diego. The only negative is the parking situation.

Food is very delicious...but portions are small. My husband and I ordered to go. We had 2 Puerto Nuevo soups (this soup is amazing), 2 flour tortillas, 1 Carnitas Torta, 1 Shrimp Taco, and a complimentary chips with salsa. Total was 48.50. If you wish to eat al fresco there is a tent outside the restaurant. Customer service is very good. Only real con is the parking (very limited). Most likely you will need to park on the street. Highly recommend. Especially the Puerto Nuevo soup.

Mexican cuisine is perhap my favourtie of all and in terms of authentic Mexican cuisne, Oretga's is a as close to true Mexican cuisne as I've had in the United States. If you are expecting "Mex-Tex", this isn't the place. While I have little to quibble about with respect to the calibre of food, I found service the evening we dined there to be wanting bordering on neglect of their customers and we were not alone in that regard. I would be inclined to rate this restaurant somewhat lower were it not for the well-prepared meals and reasonable prices. Of the restaurants we dined at in the Hillcrest District, Ortega's is at the bottom of our list. Food- very good - service wanting.

I liked my dish very much. It was a Huichinango (Red Snapper) and possibly one of the best red snapper dishes I have ever tasted. My wife's Dorado Veracruz was not as good. The Kobe Beef Burrito was also mostly beans; you had a hard time tasting the meat. It should have been more expensive and contain more beans. My wife's pomegranate marguerita was excellent. The sopesitas was also pretty good. Also: everything was very loaded with lard and my wife complained that she had a tough time sleeping because her food was very salty. So, I would say that you _can_ have a decent meal at this restaurant, it is clean, the service is generally good and the atmosphere is fine. It could be a 4 star if not for the lard and salt.

We got recommendation from the locals to visit this restaurant. Gorgeous food and staff. Specially guacamole, they make it just in front of your eyes. Worth visiting.

My heart races and my taste buds start dancing whenever I make a reservation at Ortega's! Pavlov's Dogs have nothing on my saliva production as the waitress settles down the bowl of freshly made chips and a salsa that needs just a SMALL touch of hot sauce to bring it perfection! As for the main course.. what to recommend... ALL of it! I have NEVER had anything less than amazing meals here! John and Juan (the owners), are SO personable and friendly, that just chatting with them makes a trip here worthwhile! Add in the wonderful food and you have far more than a great meal, you have a true experience!

This was close to our holiday accommodation in Hillcrest so we decided to visit based on the reviews. It did not disappoint the food was plentiful and delicious. Service was fast and low key but faultless. Highly recommend this for no fuss tasty Mexican food

As classy as can be, that’s the first impression you get when stepping in to this not so hidden gem in the heart of Hillcrest. We went there on a Wednesday night and accordingly, the place was not full. Our server could thus ensure we were waited on in a timely manner for each step of this wonderful and plentiful meal. We shared a Poblano Portobello Quesadilla appetizer which was totally out of bounds. My wife then had the audacity of ordering the Mahi Mahi Taco Trio, knowing that usually, after 1.5 taco, she’s totally fulfilled. To offset this gargantuous challenge, I ordered the Puerto Nuevo-style Tortilla soup, knowing I would eventually have a “side” of Mahi Mahi Taco at my disposal. All three dishes were stupendous. The service friendly, not pushy and quite courteous. And the ambiance is at the opposite of all those Chi-Chi tex-mex joints that thrive on watered down slushy margaritas and ultra salted tortilla chips destined to make you order drinks. Une classe à part as we say in French.

This is one of the first restaurants I visited while in San Diego and it was just okay. I had the crab enchiladas, for some reason I was expecting them to taste way better than they actually did, so I was very disappointed. The service was poor also; the waiter was not very attentive. Needless to say I won’t be returning.

My cousin from Hawaii was in town and wanted to eat Mexican food, considering the lack of good Mexican in Hawaii. So I brought her here since it's a nice sit down instead of heading to a taco stand. Friendly greeting when we walked in. I had never been in before, and the place is pretty big. We sat in the dining area with the fireplace. Nice ambiance. Our friendly server explained some of the specials and gave us a little time to decide. Although, I did order a bottle of the Malbec since I was familiar with the vineyard. We started with the queso fundido which not many places make. Chirozo and melted cheese dip with tortillas to scoop up the deliciousness. I also tried the chicken tortilla soup, which was decent...a little more brothy than I like. Nadene ordered the chicken enchiladas which she loved. Her fellow flight attendant ordered the steak burrito which was a good size. I tried the chicken mole which as okay. I mean, I compare moles to Cantina Mayahuel's and none can compare. Service was attentive and they let us take our time and catch up. I guess we were there for about 3 1/2 hours. I would definitely come back. Looking over their brunch menu, I'd like to try their French toast and a mimosita....overall, definitely worth checking out.

They advertised $2 Margarita on Tuesdays It happen I was there so I sat at the bar to order one Margarita the waiter told me I have to order from the menu enable for me to get the $2 margarita so I ordered soup . When i asked the check he charged me $7 for the Margarita when I asked he said it must be full plate dinner order. I left him $6 tip maybe he will learn to treat people with honesty and honor what he advertise. Its not about the $5 difference in the price because I left him $6 tip when my whole bill was $14 but its about honesty in your advertisement. P.S the Margarita wasn't that good also.

A beautiful Mexican place, well maintained. The staff was friendly and efficient. Food was served in generous quantities. The price is fair

... and awesome guacamole!! Great Mexican food, homemade tortillas (the best ever), great margaritas, even the chips are unique and delicious; just as its original location in Puerto Nuevo! It just needs the ocean view. Great service too. Kids enjoyed it as well.

I have been to this restaurant at least three times and it didn't dawn on me until the last time that they specialize in seafood. I say this because I have had different selections and while all were pretty spectacular, none were fish. From the Steak Burrito to the Chicken Mole Enchiladas to the Chicken Pippian all were pretty fantastic and it never occurred to me to order a fish dish. And they do have Lobster and different selection of seafood. They have a good selection of beer, tequila and the atmosphere is both relaxed, warm and friendly. Service has always been top notch. Last time I ordered a beer and it wasn't as cold as I had hoped. They were quick to bring me a new frosted glass and that solved the problem. I will go back soon and this time venture into the seafood menu. If it's half as good as the rest of their selection, I'll be a happy camper. By the way, great place to bring friends or people from out of town.

Try the carnitas and the beans. This is a great Mexican place. A little bit pricey for Mexican but worth it.

LOVE THIS PLACE! awesome salsa and chips! start out with cabrillo or pomagranite margaritas and fish ceviche....then go for the shrimp tacos, carnitas, or chicken mole'! can't beat margarita tuesdays either! we go at least once a week for food or just salsa and chips with some drinks. YUM!

They mix your guacamole at the table, with fresh tomato, onion, cilantro, garlic paste, and roasted lime. It's fresh and absolutely delicious. At happy hour, you can get two tacos (beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp) for about $5 with beans. Their beans are great, and the tacos are amazing. You can't beat a deal like that. They also have drink specials, quesadillas, etc. There's no view, and the outside area is busy and loud, but the food is fresh, tasty and inexpensive.

For some reason, my husband was not enchanted with either his margarita or his crab enchiladas, but my daughter and I loved our shrimp and snapper tacos and our margaritas and the hip wonder of being in the Hillcrest neighborhood. There are lots of Mexican eateries in San Diego, but this is the place for seafood.

Appreciated this as we could do an open table reservation. Food was decent. Noise level very loud and difficult to talk to friends. Typical Mexican music. Service was good.

Good for brunch. Hit and miss though.

The area is a very artsy-trendy area... delightful to visit. We were a party of two. Immediately walking into this establishment we fell in love with it. It was charming and inviting. Service was impeccable and the food was delish! I can't say enough about the service! You feel as if you are old friends! Many of the dishes are prepared with mole... if you are not familiar with this ingredient ask the waiter first for a sample taste. It has a strong distinctive taste. Guacamole is prepared table side. They are reportedly famous for their lobster... we decided to save that dish for our next visit!

Food is typical Mexican-nothing special. However, the guacamole made at your table is superb and the house margaritas were some of the best I have ever had.

We stopped at Ortega's on our way to the airport just because we passed it on the way. What a find! It's a tiny place in a tiny shopping area on a busy street so you have to be looking for it or you'll drive right by. The food was excellent! I live in Texas where Mexican food is a dietary staple so I've had everything from superb to "wouldn't touch it again" and this ranks up there with the best.

...but this place was special. The people were the friendliest servers we had on our 10 day trip. But the food was what stood out. EVERYTHING was good. We went to their Cocina in Ocean Beach. It was small and intimate. It was especially fun to sit at the bar and watch the cook make his amazing concoctions. The POLLO POBLANO was so good I would make a special trip to get it the next time I'm in the area. Not to be missed.

My friends and I went here for happy hour and discovered they were having a dinner special. We all had lobster with steak and I believe 1 person got the lobster with shrimp. I love Puerto Nuevo style lobster and although this dinner was good, it wasn't close to how delicious it is in MX. The service was great though and the chips and salsa were really good. Parking in the little plaza where this is located is very small and busy. You have to park on the street which is not an easy task. I would return to try other items on the menu and/or for the happy hour we initially were going to do.

The Margueritas are very tasty & the food here is very yummy! There is a very relaxed atmosphere - very nice

I love this place. The food is always good and tastes incredibly fresh. I have yet to come to this place and order something and be disappointed with it. The service is always good and the people that seat you are always pleasant and very friendly. It's refreshing to be served so well when you go to a restaurant.

If you are looking to relive day trips of old to Puerto Nuevo, about 35 miles south of San Diego in Baja, Mexico, just drive to 3rd and University Avenue in Hillcrest (San Diego) and enjoy an even healthier version of the spiny lobster feast. We went in October, the beginning of the season and the lobster was perfectly prepared and uber fresh. It is accompanied by the best, fresh tortillas, beans and rice and lines. And, the margaritas are great, too! Ole!

I have been at this restaurant numerous times. It does not disappoint. My husband had the queso fundido which is served with corn and flour tortillas. I ordered the Puerto Nuevo-Style Tortilla Soup which is made with with chicken stock, gaujillo chiles, and cheese. Prior to eating our lunch, our waiter brought us chips and salsa..Did not care for the salsa (not spicy enough)...we ordered another salsa which was better and spicy. I would recommend (AGAIN) this restaurant. Friendly and efficient service..a bit slow on weekends..it is located in the heart of Hillcrest..

It was just alright. I got the plantain encrusted snapper and it was cooked well but had a strange taste to it. I did really like the salsa, delicious and spicy. My dining partner's fish tacos were pretty good but not glorious. All in all it was okay and the beers were EXPENSIVE!!! I wouldn't pick to go to this place again but would go along if a crowd wanted it.

This restaurant is located in Ocean Beach a couple of blocks from the beach and pier. It is not Much to look at from the outside but the inside has character and fits into the beach community. There is outside seating which does not look that appealing and a bar area inside. The food and service are fantastic. I had the calamari fajitas which were absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had. Prices are mid range with good chips and salsa included. I am craving a return trip!

Visiting family in the San Diego area and had a hankering for Mexican food, so to Trip Advisor I go! Read the reviews, sounded decent so we gave it a try. Not a traditional Mexican food menu, but some very good food! The salsa is great and was told the Mahi Mahi taco trio was excellent!!

Nice location in Hillcrest. Spacious and well appointed. Service was excellent. They have some exotic drinks including Mexican and Cuban cocktails which were quite good. Got the lobster and the fish tacos. Both were very good. The lobster was a tad tough. Other alternative would be to go with surf and turf or do half lobster and half shrimps. Would go back again for the sauces

Small menu, great guacamole, beans and carnitas...parking is an issue however the food and service are good

A quick review on this restaurant. We randomly picked this place for a late lunch. It offers amazing Mexican food. The guacamole is freshly made at the table and tastes amazing. We also had the beef burrito, which was one of the best I have ever had. The staff was friendly and the service was very good. The restaurant also provides outdoor seating, which I would recommend on a hot day. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and the bathroom was nice and clean.

Excellent Mexican food here - we had the fish tacos and the carnitas plate. Both were delicious - fresh flavours and very nicely executed. Great service as well.

When you want something more rewarding and gracious than the typical Mexican cafe that churns out predictable combo plates that just fill you up, you are ready for Ortega's in Hillcrest. Large, comfortable tables, cloth napkins, and the quiet atmosphere immediately suggest fine dining rather than fast food. When you open the menu, there is not a combination plate in sight. I had the shrimp enchiladas, filled with mushrooms, spinach, and diced scampi (not those tasteless, rubbery "bay shrimp"), covered with an elegant rosa sauce-delectable and served in a most generous portion . On other visits I have enjoyed the crab enchiladas, a parallel dining pleasure. The rice may have been predictable, but the beans were NOT refried, but cooked whole and served in a small ramekin that kept them warm and succulent. The flan here is the best in San Diego County--Rich, firm, and slightly creamy, with a hint of vanilla. When your bumptious relatives come to town, send them to the dives in Old Town. But if you want to make an excellent impression on genuine friends and colleagues, take them to Ortega's!

Mahi Mahi trio tacos are delicious and dot forget their presidio margaritas.,

After a long day we wanted to relax and be served a good meal and drink in a pleasant atmosphere with friendly staff and tasteful decor - found it at Ortega! Brook was an awesome waitress who offered variations to the menu items to get it just right for my husband.

We LOVE Ortega's! Great prices and great Mexican food. When our daughter visits from New Jersey, we stop at Ortega's on the way home from the airport! She has also taken takeout from Ortega's for the flights home. Love the chips and salsa. Menu offers variety of options for vegetarians. We recommend the veggie burrito, fish tacos, lobster and anything with mole sauce. Parking lot has limited number of spaces, so be prepared to either pay for parking at one of the neighborhood lots or try to find free parking in the neighborhood and walk.

Our hotel recommended this place for a late dinner. Great guacamole made table side and the fish tacos were very good.

In all of San Diego, Ortegas wins, hands down, the award for the best ceviches. We tried the shrimp ceviche and it was so fresh and delicious! Highly recommended. In addition, our favorite dishes would have to be the snow crab enchiladas and chicken mole. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, very swanky for a mexican restaurant, and in the warmer months you can sit at one of the outdoor tables. Will definitely be back on my next visit to San Diego!

There are so many poor TexMex type Mexican restaurants in San Diego that you begin to despair of finding something that offers real taste. Ortega's is one of the rare exceptions. My wife and I have been here several times and have always left pleased and I have often left with a bowl of their great Puerto Nuevo tortilla soup so I can enjoy it again at home. This is a great soup. We went for lunch most recently and again came away well satisfied. As well as the soup we began with Ortega's excellent guacamole, made table side and including roasted garlic and roasted lime. Next I had the Carnitas Torta - slow roasted pork on toasted telera bread with guacamole and garlic aioli sauce. Delicious! My wife had a Poblano Mushroom Quesadilla which was also very good. It was very quiet inside, service was excellent and we went home happy again.

My daughter and a friend had lunch here this weekend. I have been at this restaurant and so I ordered a Puerto Nuevo soup to go. The soup was okay..but on their website they mention avocado and monterey jack cheese. I did not get any. I had the soup IN the restaurant and did have cheese and avocado. I guess orders to go are not thought of as important. No bueno.

The guacamole is made table side. The best in the area. Good margaritas, the bar menu is a good start. Service was very good, food delicious and the experience perfect!

Many Mexican restaurants don't serve chile rellenos but Ortega's were really delicious. Next time we will go for dinner and share the lobster, prepared Mexican style.

I admit that I am a gringo and therefore my title of the "best mexican food" has to be considered in my appraisal. I am new to the San Diego area but not to Mexican food. I got my first taste many years ago when I lived in LA while going to UCLA. Then I moved back to Washington DC which has a huge population of hispanics (i.e., spanish people from all over the world). Therefore, there were lots of spanish style restaurants. I love all kinds of spanish food and have been looking for a decent enchilada and good marguerita for the last year. I finally found both at Ortega's. Hubby and I went there on a whim because we wanted a meal and entertainment. Ortega's advertised a 3-piece combo so we decided to take a chance. The food and margueritas were outstanding. On top of that the music was great and there was no cover charge. For those who just wanted a meal without music, there was plenty of space in other rooms. There is also a patio area. In other words, it has it all... except for on-street parking. But, there are plenty of cheap parking lots where you only pay $5 for the evening. We will definitely go back.

I no longer cross the border to Rosarito for Lobster. Ortega's in Hillcrest Lobster is just as good, a little pricier but worth avoiding the hassle of crossing the border.

So I text my friend let's go eat lobster, she replies yes I am so excited I respond Ortega's I get another yes I am excited. So she comes to pick me up I stop to get cash I tell her I even got small bills for the Tolls, here is where it all goes North not South LoL.. she is like what tolls are there on University.. oh man on two different pages but I heard it was owned by the same family. So we head out for Lunch ... Get there greeted right away and we chose to sit in the Cantina nice area. Our waiter was quick to get to us we ordered the ceviche which was really good and on happy hour. Also ordered a couple margarita on happy hour as well mango mint margarita is a must I didn't order this I ordered the pom margarita .. bad choice not very good you could leave that one off your list. But the Mango Mint so yummy. And then to try the lobster it was $39 Market Price for a pretty decent size lobster , served with beans, rice (okay),flour tortillas. I wanted to order tortilla soup to keep it like I was in Puerto Nuevo but there were to many things inside that soup not like the broth little bit of cheese and a few chips and avocado. I disn't want to be dissapointed so I didnt' try it. But the Lobster was good not great like Puerto Nuevo, but let's say this if you dont' want to cross the border and you are craving Puerto Nuevo style lobster this is the place to go. I will be going back their happy hour is very tempting. Also the waiter did say if you call and make a reservation for a party of 6 or more the lobster is a little bit cheaper I think he said like 5 dollars less and it comes with avocado.

Delicious food, inexpensive Tex Mex menu, great margaritas, very friendly and welcoming service; can't wait to go back to the HIllcrest area of SD.

We hadn't been to Ortega's since 2005, back when it was a tiny restaurant with only 12 tables. Some friends recently mentioned it, so we thought we'd give it a try. It was great! Being a Monday night, it wasn't grounded (there was a large party upstairs but we never heard or saw them, just saw the bartenders making copious margaritas). I ordered the Puerto Nuevo Lobster & Steak dinner which was outstanding and it was a VERY reasonable price $26.95! My husband ordered the Chicken Mole Enchiladas and they were also very good. We had drinks in the bar before dinner and everyone was very cordial. Our waiter was quite attentive which given the fact he was also the bartender was a bonus! We'll definitely be back!

Ok, I'm not a great lover of Mexican food, but this was the least enjoyable I've had. I would give it a 1 based only on my experience, except my dining companions enjoyed their meals so I think I just chose the wrong thing. Mahi Mahi fish tacos, three of them - the fish was dry, the cabbage didn't taste like it had cilantro or jalapeños or lime or garlic added to it, it was just boring, tasteless and unappetizing. I could taste artificial sweetener in the marguerita , yuk. However, I did try a taste of the fish with plantains and it was much better. Warm and friendly but drab atmosphere. Not impressed.

Read a recent review of this place and the rave over the mole. Went for brunch and never made it to mile : the carnitas hash and eggs were out of this world! Shared the dish with a friend who ordered the chicken tamale. ..also very good! Fresh warm flour tortillas are fantastic. Will definitely be back soon. ....can't wait to try the mole!

We ran across this very cute mexican bistro while we were out shopping on our weekend trip down to San Diego. Food was excellent, a little pricey but worth the money. Service was outstanding & food was delicious!!! We dined inside due to the afternoon heat but bistro had a great patio for outdoor dining. Very trendy decor and clean. Will definitely visit again.

Ortegas is always our "go to" place for out of town visitors. And that's because we love it ourselves. Today was a slow day so we went for late lunch and it was incredible. The service, food, ambiance were all superb. And we had a nice visit with the owner.

My wife and I are visiting San Diego for the first time. We wanted authentic Mexican food and happened to ask a local resident instead of using online reviews. That led us to Ortega's. We were not disappointed at all. From the very personal service, to the amazing food. It was a perfect experience for our trip. We were surprised how low this place was on the trip advisor list (28th) for Mexican restaurants. We couldn't imagine anything better.

5 of us decided to meet for brunch. Wait was a little over an hour which we knew would be the case. Walked around some of the local stores on University as it was a beautiful day. When we came back we went to the bar for a mimosa until table was ready. Our server Marco was very nice, helpful and attentive. In fact all the the staff we encountered were very nice and working hard to take care of the customers. Food was good and we would definitely go back.

I am always skeptical of Mexican restaurants because I consider myself a great Mexican food cook(so I have been told). I came with my daughter and a friend visiting from Bahrain and it was wonderful. I had the best titos lemon drop martini ever!!! The food was delicious and everything was fresh and the ambiance was great! The flour tortillas are to die for!!! I should have asked for names ..but everyone was equally friendly and attentive. Loved it!! Will go back for sure!!

We spent some time in the Ocean Beach CA area and ate here a few times. Outstanding Mexican cuisine! Mole, lobster enchiladas and catch of the day we’re all great!

Thought we would give them a try. Big mistake. Poor service. Watered down drinks and just okay food. We will not be back.

No complaints about this restaurant. Very much enjoyed the tacos, enchiladas, chips and salsa. This is a very nice restaurant and not expensive. Service was very good with hospitable staff. Interior is very nice and lots of windows and their is an outside covered patio to enjoy the great San Diego temperatures.

Had not been here for a long time, so was pleasantly surprised and chagrined at what we had missed. the service on the patio remains a little slow but the food does make up for it. The shrimp ceviche is on the Happy Hour menu, available on the patio, and great, especially at that price. The tequila selection is decent and reasonably priced. The Banana Crusted Huachinango is superb dish, and is not fast food Mexican but competes with any seafood restaurant. As long as not in a rush, excellent experience.

Better oh much better than the food in old town. Ortega's also has the only ever tamarind(o) margarita I have ever had. The baja tacos were a bit of a let down, but I will assume it was 30 minutes from closing time perhaps?

Good yelp reviews led us to this place for a early dinner taking advantage of happy hour prices. Chips and salsa were complimentary, and we ordered fresh table-side guacamole and two house margaritas to start. We each ordered a two taco special (which was still a part of happy hour) - poblano queso and baja steak. Decent meal for a reasonable price in the heart of Hillcrest.

Good, authentic Mexican located in the heart of Hillcrest. A few outside tables right next to the parking lot. Friendly service.

This is the first restaurant I ate at, on my first visit to California and I was pleasantly surprised. I went for lunch and the food was fantastic. I had fish taco and my daughter had a burrito and it was delicious. I thought Chicago had good Mexican restaurants, I think California beat them for sure. The staff were very friendly and the service was quick. We sat at the outside patio and people watched which is always fun to do. I recommend stopping here for lunch for a great meal.

Yum! We hadn't had a grilled lobster in quite some time. And, we didn't have to go into Mexico to get it....not safe anymore. But the food and service was very good. Freshly made table-side guacamole is highly recommended. Good margaritas. So sad we live so far from San Diego. A "must do" on our return visit.

This is a small-ish Mexican "bistro" that's tucked into the corner of a small-ish strip mall. You have to look for it, but the search is worth your time. Be sure to order the guacamole that is made table side - and the margaritas are the perfect accompanyment. I've never had a meal there that wasn't as good as what I've had in Puerto Vallarta. This is NOT your typical fast Mexican food which can be fun in a pinch, but a meal to sit back and enjoy. Service is good but food and drinks are better.

Chicken mole enchilada entree was very good! Mole was well prepared. Would like to eat in the dining room next time... ambience is very appealing. They have a happy hour too.

We chose Ortega's because it was a very hot day, and we could tell they ad air-conditioning. We'd also been told that all the restaurants in Hillcrest were good, and we felt like Mexican. But I have to say, I have never had such a good chicken enchilada ever. Try the enchilada verde. The salsa is very good, too.

We got recommended Ortega's by the hotel concierge. Authentic Mexican food is virtually impossible to get in our home country New Zealand, so we were keen for some of the genuine article, especially being so close to the Mexican border. Ortega's did not disappoint. The food was spot on and the atmosphere and service was brilliant. Nice to have a "latino" 3 piece band playing as well, with some stunning musicians - my 13 year old daughter is learning guitar, so they took her under their wing and let her sit close and take it in. It was a really good night at a reasonable price. You wont be disappointed.

Ate there twice in 4 days. First time was better than second. Shrimp ceviche was fresh, vibrant and balanced. My pork was amazing, fresh tortillas were excellent. My jamaica and my wife's horchata were the best either of us had ever had. My fish tacos the second night were over-battered, bland and greasy. House made guacamole and salsa are very good. We'd eat there again.

The Baja seafood was good. The lobster we had was a bit overcooked but still good. The fish was good but the serving was small. Not a bad place.

This looks like a nice little local restaurant and it could also have been if the food and drinks hadn’t been terrible. We started off with a frozen margarita which was too sweet and contained little or no tequila. The starter was ok (how hard can it be with guacamole and chips), but all mains were terrible. The shrimp tacos were drizzling with fat (my wife had to pour it off) and the steak was cooked grey although we asked for medium rare. Actually everything that had to do with the mains was poor and we didn’t finish the meal. Don’t go to this place. Go somewhere else.

Thought we would try it since it's a lot closer than going to Mexico. Almost as good. We had the daily special which is half lobster tail and steak Lobster very good steak was a cheaper cut, next time I would have the lobster with shrimp same price. Very reasonable too. Even the whole lobster dinner is a good price. The bar was a little noisy during happy hour. But a very friendly crowd. One guy was having the queso fundido and said it was great, must try next time.

Good and reasonably priced Margaritas, Table Side Guacamole, and a whole lobster to share for two made this a very pleasant afternoon at an outside table in December.

In San Diego visiting family and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant that would take a reservation and also not be too noisy. We decided to try Ortega's. It started out well with very good chips and a excellent salsa. After that it was average to poor. Comments were.. Premium margarita was very weak. Guacamole made at the table wasn't anything special. One person did not finish his burrito. My son said the steak was fine but the items accompanying them were mediocre. That seemed to be a common theme. Positive comments about the vegetarian platter. After dinner we ordered a Mexican coffee, a beer, and a Mojito. It took an inordinate amount of time. Next time in San Diego, we will look elsewhere.

great food and a great place to take a date

Ate here July 22, 2012 on a recommendation from our B&B owners and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. We sat outside and the manager sent a complimentary guacamole appetizer made at the table and it was delicious. My wife and I had the shrimp and fish ceviche which was fresh and appetizing. The service was excellent, margarita prices were high ($10 each) but bottled beers were reasonable ($5). Fellow patrons were entertaining, atmosphere was electric due to the Gay Pride weekend. We would definitely return and recommend this restaurant to anyone.

I came here in April for work, and enjoyed eating here very much! The waitress made the guacamole in front of us and it was delicious. I had a veggie burrito which was very filling! Food and service were good -- that's good enough for me!

Truly delicious cuisine served in the Hillcrest district ( Mission Hills) that features Baja white wines, huge rock lobster tail, homemade tortillas and slow roasted carnitas. Refried beans are some of the best I have tasted. Portions are ample. Salads and tableside guacamole good starters. Gluten-free meals available. Vegetarians would love its Chile relleno and taco trios. Happy hour here 3pm to 6pm. Specials abound nightly. Cordial staff. Only downside is non existence of parking. Recommend ride share to establishment. Groups welcome but call ahead.

From the pomegranate margaritas to the queso fundido and of course the lobster everything was perfect! Their beans are so delicious. They took really good care of our party, we had a birthday to remember.

Every time we come to San Diego we eat here. Not fancy but delicious. This is the famous Puerto Nuevo lobster from day gone by in Baja, when you used to surf all day and drive up for a delicious lobster dinner for a few bucks. Well it's a few more bucks but still great. I used to go to Puerto Nuevo all the time when we lived in So. cal and this is very indicative of that bygone era. Don't e spect fancy, but delicious!,

I found this restaurant after I googled top 10 Mexican restaurants in San Diego. I actually live in San Diego and thought I had tried most Mexican restaurants in the county that were considered the best. However, this was a great discovery. As a Mexican American I am often weary about certain "Mexican" restaurants as their menus often do not reflect an authentic cuisine. Ortega's provides a very good menu. I tried their Puerto Nuevo Tortilla Soup made with gaujillo chiles, roasted tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, avocado, and tortilla strips. Ortega's has a brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. I have not had the opportunity to eat dinner there but I hope to return soon. My husband and daughter also agreed that the food is delicious and has authentic Mexican flavors. I highly recommend this restaurant. Besides excellent food, staff is friendly and efficient, and prices are reasonable.

Yummy Mexican food. I was really impressed by the freshness and quality of food. Their salsa is very mild but delicious- wish we had more of it! And the tableside guacamole is just the right amount for 3-4 people. We almost ordered a second bowl. I had the shrimp tacos, which were amazing. Great sauce. The beans served with it I didn’t enjoy, but I really don’t like beans generally speaking. I shared a horchata with my husband, which was also very good and not too heavy. He had the lobster which was very good as well. We would come back!

The restaurant is in a strip mall sharing the parking lot with other business. The parking lot is very small and there is limited street parking. The menu is extensive. There are no substitutions of dishes on the menu. Inside or outside dining. Breakfast is served until 4 PM. The service was very good and the dishes were served hot.

My husband took me here for my birthday based on a recommendation someone gave him. All I can say is that I would have preferred drive-through food. I had the shrimp tacos, can you say bitter? The jalapeno margarita was gross as well. The beans tasted like they had been sitting out and spoiled. If you think there isn't "bad" Mexican food in San Diego, think again. In addition, this place was NOT friendly or welcoming at all. I guess it's okay if you haven't really had good Mexican food but we have so 4 thumbs down for this joint!

Everything we ordered was delicious. Starting with the perfectly spiced soup. We had the lobster and shrimp special, grilled dorado veracruz (mahi mahi), and adobo carnitas tacos. Each dish was extraordinarily special. We will be back! and often.

My husband and I had dinner here tonight after a long day of sightseeing in San Diego. I had the mahi mahi tacos and my husband had the Grilled Dorado Veracruz - grilled mahi mahi in a delicious sauce. Would definitely recommend the Grilled Dorado Veracruz. It was delicious. The tacos were good, the portion was way too much for me. They also have very good margaritas - fresh squeezed juice, no pre-made mixer. Service was good and atmosphere was welcoming.

I love this restaurant. Everything on the menu is new, delicious, and creative and I never get sick of going there. The atmosphere is casual but it still has a very nice ambiance, and very friendly service. The only thing I would change is that they need bigger salsa dishes... because it's delicious! I've been there for dinner several times (about 10) and it's always refreshing to be back. I'd like to try the Sunday brunch.

Not a place for a traditional stuffed burrito from a taco truck, but their focus is on pippian and mole.... queso fundito app could have been my meal (melted cheese, with chorizo, grilled onions and peppers) and we literally asked to take it away so we had room for entrees. Dorado fish was good and spicy, chicken pippian flavorful.

We went in for a late night dinner and wanted some lobster. We ordered the lobster feast and added shrimp. We also ordered the table side guacamole. The lobster was great and the shrimp too. Very, very good. The highlight was the flour tortillas. I don't think I have ever eaten a flour tortilla that tastes so good. The server was good and the atmosphere was nice. We will definitely go again.

We were very pleased with our meals at Ortega’s. We started with Margaritas and an appetizer, the Baja Shrimp Ceviche. The marinade of tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeños was excellent. Our two main courses were also very good. The Carnitas, tender slow roasted pork cubed and topped with tangy tomatillo verde sauce and garnished with pico de gallo was delicious. The Chicken Mole Enchiladas were two corn tortillas stuffed with fresh house roasted chicken and jack cheese, topped with spicy/sweet mole sauce, cotija and fresco cheese blend, seasoned cabbage, pico de gallo and mexican crema. No complaints here! The service was excellent and the prices reasonable. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

The Tamarind Margarita was out of this world yummy! We had the Mushroom Tacos and the Mahi Mahi Tacos! So good all around! This is in a fabulous neighborhood too!

I had a wonderful meal here. The steak was cooked perfectly and the homemade tortilla was delicious! What was the best was the salsa, it was totally different than the typical Pico de Gallo, so good.

The chips were thin and crispy (our 2nd basket was even hot), the salsa was fresh and delicious and we ordered the guacamole that was prepared at the table. Hands down, the best guac I've ever eaten (even my own!). The homemade tortillas were absolutely wonderful and the crab enchiladas were heaven. Although we were stuffed, we had dessert and it lived up to its expectations. Great service and atmosphere.

I used to love going down to Puerta Nueva for lobster but now you don't have to! Just as good as Mexico without the border crossing! We had tails this time as they did. Not have whole lobster, they were even better! Had enough for another meal the next day!went for lunch, service was great.tortillas were to die for! Greta sides of rice and beans with great fresh chips and salsa. Can not wait to go back! Parking can be difficult as it is located in a tiny shopping center. Go around the corner on the street to find ample parking spots, well worth it!

Very good mexican food, innovative dishes. Chips and salsa were outstanding. Margaritas were disappointing, rather weak and not much flavor. Parking is a challenge, allow plenty of time to find a spot.

We took our German visitors here for dinner at happy hour. We had great drinks and really good carnitas tacos along with ceviche. The salsa was spicy and fresh. Service was good and we will return.

Nice food. A little bit more pricy than the Mexican restaurant a cross the street, fiesta cantina but better quality of food.

I recently discovered Ortegas Bistro. I have to admit the food and service is very good. But, to tell you the truth, I will not be returning again. Why? THEY WILL OVERCHARGE YOUR DEBIT/CREDIT CARD BY 15%!!! I have eaten at Ortega's several times now. The last time I visited, my bill totaled approximately $97. The service was great and I left enough to round the bill out to $120. I paid with my debit card. With great surprise, I returned home to find a pending charge of $138 for Ortegas Bistro. Unfortunately, this put my account into the negative causing some hefty penalties. I contacted my bank and told them the story. I figured it was a mistake on Ortegas part. Then I realized that the amount overchraged was exactly 15% of the total. Luckily, the bank graciously refunded me the overdraft fees. However, I looked farther into the problem. I've been to Ortega's 3 times...each time they have done this. The only reason I realized it this time was because it threw my account into overdraft. I contacted the management at Ortega's to inquire into the problem. My message was taken and I never received a phone call. Then I sent a letter with no response. Recently, I went to the restaurant and tried to speak to the management. I was told to wait for an owner. After waiting for 30 minutes for a man who seemed more interested in yelling at his staff, I left. I just think it is pretty rotten for a business to place a hold like that on a bill after leaving a good tip. They obviously don't care about their customers. In the interim, they were able to use $18 of my money for 4 days (the amount of time it took for the pending charge to be corrected). If this happened only once, I was chalked it up to some kind of error. But, out of all the times I have been there, this has happened. In the long-run, they lost a customer. Know that if you pay with a debit/credit card here, they will hold an additional 15% for 4 days; without even a simple explanation from the owners.

While in San Diego we ate at some very high end restaurants and this turned out to be one of the best meals we had in six nights. The Baja style lobster is out of this world and a real bargain at $28 including shrimp, beans rice, tortillas and chips and salsa. The atmosphere is not great, but who cares, the food is delicious. I used to eat in Puerto Nuevo back in the 80's when you could get a lobster dinner for about $8, and this is very reminiscent of that. You will not be disappointed in this restaurant.

This is a great resturant! My wife and mother both enjoyed the meals. Service was outstanding. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends and family. Keep up the great service and outstanding food!!!

I had Ortega's Beef Burrito, which is actually Carne Asada. It was some of the best steak I've had in a burrito. And the guacamole is prepared at the table and it is awesome! Service was great! I highly recommend this place!

We had lunch here on a Tuesday which includes a $2 margaurita, which was great. The food was good and the service was good as well. We would eat here again.

Ordered whole Lobster Dinner 44.00 Started off with some chips and Salsa. The Salsa is some mashed muck that doesn’t even resemble Salsa. Chips worse than store bought. The whole Lobster was not whoever it was two medium to small half tails that didn’t even come from the same Lobster. The Guacamole was missing a lot of avocado because the used so many tomatoes and onion you hot very little avocado. One of the meals had hair on the Lobster. They were nice enough to replace the meal And did not charge for the meal

Split guacamole, shrimp ceviche with margaritas (got my own😁) for a late lunch. All were very good. Liked their chips, loved their salsa a little sweet! Will be back To try Chili Poblano and Mole...says sweet but spicy ...looking forward to next time!

From the nacho salsa to the hot tortillas to the entres with tasty sauces and the best refried beans I have ever tasted, it was all good. My friend had the mahi mahi (they called it Grilled Dorado Veracruz, which was perfectly prepared) and I had the Chicken Pippian (with creamy pumpkin seed pippian sauce). The chicken was slightly dry but compensated for by the delicious sauce and the perfectly prepared rice and vegetables. Wonderful coffee. Friendly service in a nice atmosphere - we chose the quieter side of the restaurant away from the bar. We arrived at 8:30 pm on a Sunday evening without reservations.

Great place to fill up before bar hopping on University Avenue. I really can't remember what I had, but I finished every morsel on my plate. Nuff said.

Excellent food! We had a 90 minute wait at Snooze so tried this place. Very good ambiance, service could have been better, but the food was outstanding. We had the shrimp omellete which was big enough for two people, the French toast and a delicious Hievos Rancheros. We will be back!

Our family of 5 ate here while on vacation to San Diego. We had our Mexican au pair with us and even she agreed the food was awesome! I had the lobster and was delicious!

Two friends and me decided to eat brunch at Ortega’s, and I was definitely game since I had not tried them. The atmosphere was as expected given our current restrictions, but they made the best of it. The service was very friendly and prompt and our order was correct. The food was very good (French toast was very tasty) as were our margaritas. A very good experience overall!

On arrival we weren’t sure as it was quite dark and dingy outside. But a recommendation is a recommendation. We were seated. Not very joyfully. We travelled a fair distance when other Mexican restaurants on our doorstep. Disappointed. To say the least Complete lack of atmosphere. We were sat all on our own. The waiters and staff weren’t very cheerful. Where was the spice?? No spice in the food and no spice in the experience. Boring!!!! The children’s meals are over priced and bland. The trio fish tacos were great but I’m sure we could have got these elsewhere.

The food was good and the service was polite. We tried to use our passport dining discount and it was disallowed because of some small print. Evidently our discount could not be used on special items. That's all fine and good except the verbiage is placed in a very auspicious location. Unless you really put some serious thought into it you would never understand the small print. It's very vaguely printed I believe this was done purposely just to deceive to get extra money from the customer. Even though the food was good this type of experience causes customers never to return and they also share a very bad vibe with their friends. With as many options as there are available today it's important to be upfront with the customer. We're just now getting moved back into San Diego. This was not a very good welcome gift. You were on my list of restaurants we would like to visit. But, I will never dine here again and I will be sure to share this experience with my friends. Honesty is everything. PS. I feel bad about not leaving a gratuity because I know your workers work hard. But due to the fact you doubled our bill with your sleight of hand put us out of our budget and we could no longer afford to do that. For that I apologize to the server but not to the establishment.

Took the family here last week and was so impressed with the food. Food is exactly like our trips to Puerto Nuevo! Great Chips and Salsa and the best tortillas! Parking is rough but there is a $5 lot one block over.

I chose this place on the basis of the tripadvisor reviews, and I was not disappointed. I am allergic to shellfish, and so I couldn't try the lobster, but I had the snapper (Banana Crusted Huachinango) and it was excellent. I cannot remember the last time I had mexican food this good in a long while (and I lived in Northern California for ten years). Flavours were not too intense and were well balance. Fresh, thick corn tortillas. Service was friendly and good. I sat outside on the small patio. The University St. vibe was enjoyable on a sunny Sunday evening although the bar across the street was ridiculously loud. Other reviews have mentioned the parking situation. The lot for this mini strip mall only holds about ten cars, and there was a constant stream of cars driving through the lot not finding a spot. I biked here so no worries.

Excellent food with good service. Mole is best in San Diego. Other dish was good and good presentation.

Baja deep fried lobster and steak the best ! The lobster deep fried huge portions. The spicy cucumber margarita delicious!! The steak lobster special only 35.00

Ortega’s is one of our “go to” local Mexican restaurants. The food is delicious especially the Chicken Pipian and the Grilled Fish Tacos. The ambience is great and even has an outdoor cafe along with the fireplace in the cantina. The staff, especially David, are always friendly and make you feel welcome. There’s also a late night Happy Hour during the weekend always a welcome in this town!

Solid breakfast spot

I have been here countless times and for any guest visiting San Diego, this place is a must for Mexican cuisine. This is not a taco shop nor a typical Mexican restaurant and instead has traditional Mexican dishes. Not often to I find this many items on the menu that I absolutely love and it's hard to pick a favorite so I'm going to list some of my favs. Plates: Carnitas Chicken and Mole Enchiladas Chicken Verde Enchiladas Ortegas Filet Burrito Sides: Table side guacamole (a must) Queso Fundido Drinks: Mexican Hot Chocolate (a must) Mexica Soda Sangria Pomegranate Margarita Mango Mojito Michelada Also, they have a very good breakfast and THE BEST french toast. Ortegas is located in Hillcrest in the gay area. The services is always great and they treat you like family. Parking can be a little challenging but there are plenty of lots in the area.

We stayed at Hillcrest House on Front street, where the owner suggested we eat at Ortegas. It was so good! The salsa was delicious, and my husband's crab enchiladas were out of this world!! Great service, great atmosphere.

Being a local I am SUPER picky about my Mexican food. This place NEVER disappoints. The service is a little hit and miss and It gets super noisy for Sunday brunch..but, otherwise relaxing. Drinks are amazing (prickly pear mimosas, sangria..delicious). Breakfast: Carnitas Hash, Chilaquiles, and (believe it or not) the best french toast I have EVER, had! For happy hour: (happy hour is inexpensive) Tacos, and guacamole (made at your table) are 1/2 off, a terrific value. Drinks are cheap too. Dinner: Banana encrusted Huachinango, Mahi Mahi Tacos. This place puts most "Mexican" restaurants to shame.

The food is really good at this Mexican restaurant in the heart of the Hillcrest District. Great ambiance, great wait staff, and a wonderful assortment of traditional, and less traditional dishes. You may find parking a challenge, so consider parking behind the drug store across the street. It was a great experience and we'll be back when we're once again in San Diego.

On our last night of a four-day visit, we decided to try Ortega's. We had to park a few blocks away, but it was worth it! I had the lobster, which was fantastic! The service AND food were outstanding. Definitely worth a visit!