Pokez Mexican Restaurant Reviews

As a Mexican is hard for me to find a good place in America to eat really good Mexican food, and pokez is the option if you are in downtown San Diego, good service, your food shows up super fast in your table,try the enchiladas for me are the best in downtown, drink a beer for reasonable price, definitely a good place.

We went to Pokez on a weekday for lunch and I can very honestly tell you, both my fiancee and I have never had better Mexican food ever. The food is very different from what is normally passed around as Mexican. The spices are excellent. Both of us are vegetarian and very picky with regards to food. Yet despite all these constraints, we just loved it. Very friendly people and very cheap. It is not the most romantic of places to go to, but as far as a restaurant is concerned, they serve the best food. My fiancee had the Machacha with potatoes in the breakfast menu and I had a vegetarian burrito and both were mindblowing. Also, the free chips and salsa were worth a mention. The salsa was fresh and amazing. If you are in SD, you should have food here. The best.

Stopped for a quick meal on a Sunday. Liked the decor though not too sure about some of the displays in the restaurant. Seemed friendly, service was slow but very friendly. I would recommend this place.

This was the most interesting restaurant I have eaten. Please go there. It is very "earthy" and they do have vegatarian. Don't dress up; this a place where you get good food for a great price!

My husband and I had dinner here on Sunday after a very busy Comicon weekend. I think the staff were a bit overwhelmed by the crazy weekend because we had to ask if we could seat ourselves after we and another couple were ignored for 10 minutes. After we were seated the servers were very nice and provided good service. The food was decent. My husband ordered enchiladas with tofu but when it came it had chicken in it. It took awhile to get what he ordered, but it was good and he enjoyed his meal. I would like to go back to see if it is more enjoyable when it is not such a crazy weekend. The servers were nice young men! The place is quirky and cute.

This place is amazing. Great food great service. I love the decor. Very retro. I love the salsa very fresh. A variety of food including vegetarian food. Everything on the menu is delicious never disappointed.

Found the restaurant online and decided to try based on the reviews. Food did not disappoint and good prices. I had the Carne Asada enchiladas and my husband had the steak fajitas. The salsa was excellent as well! Worth trying!

I was looking forward to this place - vegan options and generally positive reviews. When it took ~20 minutes to be seated (with no one ahead of us and open tables) we should have gone elsewhere. It then took more than an hour to be served. It's a tiny place, and after a while there were only a few diners left. When we asked a couple times, our server said "it's almost ready." There was apparently no restroom for customers, we had exactly one basket of chips, and our server mainly seemed annoyed. We were starving by the time our food arrived, and it wasn't worth the wait. Maybe they were extremely short-staffed that day - but this was hands-down my worst dining experience ever.

Stumbled across this place as I was wandering around Gaslamp. I was drawn in by the funky street-art decoration. I had a vegan fajita, which was huge and very well-spiced.

This place has got its local atmosphere, good food at good prices, even Mexican breakfasts! Yay to them.

The service was friendly. The waitress gave me some leads on popular dishes and recommendations based on how hungry I was. The packed my lunch to go with everything I needed for my picnic on the bay.

We tried out Pokez because they offer vegan and veggie options. The food was delicious. The chips suck. But the rest of the food was excellent! The staff are casual but courteous. This urban establishment is worthy of repeat business!

Awesome food, we were in San Diego at Christmas time and were looking for great Mexican food. Trip advisor led us here and I am so thankful, best Mexican food we had our whole trip. Our server was super friendly. The place doesnt look like much but dont let the appearance fool you, its a great place to eat!!

Huge portions, tasty food. Many vegetarian options and vegans options. The place should be cleaned..

I discovered Pokez in 2010, on my previous trip to San Diego. The food is authentic, excellent, and dare I use the word, CHEAP. A number of good vegan and vegetarian options are available. If you like finding local, modest restaurants where you can enjoy really great food at a reasonable price, eat here! Note: It ain't fancy, so if you're a bit snooty, or are trying to impress someone snooty, go somewhere else. I know this: any time I am back in San Diego, I will be eating here.

As good Mexican food as we've had anywhere. Very cheap, and the vegetarian options are extensive, much to our daughter's delight. Service was friendly and reasonably fast, and the home made corn chips and salsa supplied on arrival made the wait seem even shorter. Try the combo No 13, it made a convert of our son to Mexican food.

The food here is really well done. The salsa is excellent and the guac is super fresh. I love grabbing a quick lunch here

Loving me some Pokez on our recent trip to San Diego. Was recommended by a vegan friend, and it did not disappoint! There is something there for everyone, meat eaters and veggie eaters alike! The place has character, great music, and a overall cool relaxed vibe! The options are plenty and the portions are HUGE. My husband ordered the shrimp fajitas, and I munched on the veggie quesadillas. Caution...box up what you have left and give it to the several homeless people in the area. Sadly they are a plenty, and the food is even plentier and very cheap! Oh...no booze served there! Staff is cool. Muy bueno, gracias!

good food, quirky enough to be interesting, good service, waiter when i left shook my hand and said he was glad to meet me. if tats and urban chic upset you, try Burger King

this is fresh from a couple of hours ago. we went out for an early lunch. the restaurant was recommended by my Vegan companion. the restaurant is very low key, and if you dont really know about it, you may miss it. however, it is in the middle of downtown SD. the ambiance is very informal, but very clean, in spite of the multi-colored walls. we opted for the all day breakfast menu. my companion went for the Vegan Machaca at $7.25 and i ordered the Carne Asada Breakfast Burrito at $8 the vegan dish was full of great vegetables with sauteed tofu and Mex. style pickled veggie leaves. my burrito had probably close to 1 pound of most delicious Beef (Carne) Asada plus the beans cheese and the pickled veggies. unless you plan to skip all meals until the day after, you shouldn't finish the entire portion. one more thing, the restroom is immaculate. this restaurant is a must when visiting SD.

Had a hankering for chilaquiles verdes and BOY did they deliver!!! Just enough acid and heat, just the way I like it!!! The atmosphere reminded me of my college days/daze, but way hipper. Now if they only had Jarritos ...

This place has a very unique culture and vibe, however, the moment you walk in you feel apart of the family. Their food is amazing and fresh, unique flavors and blends for both vegetarians and "normal" people. When the menu says hot "spicy" they mean it! Don't waste your time trying to find metered parking, pay the 10 bucks and park in the lot directly across the street!

The tofu, yes tofu, burrito dry and vegan on a whole wheat torilla is awesome.

Food was ok, service good. First basket of chips is free, there is a charge for other chips. Carne Asade had good flavor.

Delicious food, vegan & vegetarian options galore, and they carry & sell this outstanding, rare, traditional hot sauce from Guadalajara MX called Abuelita Guille. ♥️🔥 Stock up!

We walked into this "hole in the wall" place with its busy-looking decor questioning our decision to try it. We were SO pleasantly surprised! The food is delicious! The lettuce and tomatoes were so fresh I wondered whether they were picked from a garden out back. The meat was spiced just right, nothing was oily, and my vegetarian son had more choices than I have ever seen before. As stated in other reviews, the prices are very reasonable and the portions are huge (I think that to-go boxes come standard with your order). While we were dining there was a steady stream of families, business workers and couples coming to eat in or take out. Despite the obvious "regulars" the staff were friendly to us and seemed genuinely happy that we had tried their restaurant.

Its not your typical restaurant i'll admit, the service was ok, wasnt anything special, but the food was absolutely beautiful! I had the chicken fajitas and they were amazing, the chicken was cooked just right, full of flavour and dripping in some kind gravey like juice, it was deliscious! The portions were massive, so i struggled to finish it, even though i really wanted to lol! We didnt have to wait too long for the, in the mean time they keep you topped up with nachos and a salsa and chilli type dip, they're also very yummy! ITs not expensive at all, maybe around 15 dollars per person inc tip.

This is a very small local place with a non fancy sitting area. It is not appealing to the eye, BUT the best Mexican food you can choose to have. Everything is fresh and very nicely served and the price is amazing. Their Sangria is very good. We were staying in downtown San Diego and came back to eat a 2nd time!!!! Don't leave San Diego without tasting authentic Mexican food.

We had a blast at this place. The food was very good at a very good price. It isn't the nicest establishment, but that's what makes it special. We had a few cocktails so I ended up playing the piano that they have in the main dining area... we chuckled.

I love the food at Pokez, especially the chicken and steak fajitas with rice and beans. I also love the Chile Rellenos. Their food is fresh and delicious and I always enjoy it. The prices are reasonable and you get a large portions. You can get most items French style - with fries under the food. It is not a fancy restaurant but who needs fancy when you have amazing food.

Mexican is a go to for me with a Gluten free diet. We came in based on reviews we have seen on TR and elsewhere. We were not disappointed, the tortillas they provide you to start were great. I had the chillaquiles, not the best ive had, but they were good. My husband had the Huevos rancheros, they were delicious and I would have that again. They had a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, I already recommended this to my sister that is Gluten-free and Vegan. The staff was friendly and attentive.

Vegetarian Mexican. Only bummer is that it's downtown.

Pokez is great. It's funky, a local cornerstone of downtown before all of the money came into downtown for a facelift. Go support a local family's dream of providing affordable, delicious & generously portioned Mexican food for every member of your posey vegan to low carb no one walks away hungry! Make sure you wait to be seated ;)

Had an excellent meal at Pokez with friends while visiting San Diego for the first time - the portions are huge, and they offer a huge selection of vegan and vegetarian Mexican food options. Prices are super reasonable, and the atmosphere reminded me of places that I love at home. The food tasted amazing and staff was friendly and accommodating. Had an easy walk to this spot from the Gas lamp district, even in the rain.

This place is like going to Tijuana without leaving San Diego. The place has local Mexican cuisine and the feel and look as well. Super unpretentious. Warning: no air conditioning. Plates are $10 on average, big portions, no margaritas either - just Mexican beer. We had an authentic experience.

I used to live next door and would go there often. I don't go out of my way to go there now, but I love the food and the freaky people!

It's not right in the center and it looks a bit outdated and shabby but it's worth a visit if u want to enjoy some nice Mexican food for really cheap prices, especially for San Diego. The portions are huge, could not even finish a burrito on my own which cost only 7 dollars. It tasted nice. They have a lot of vegetarian options as well. So I would recommend going here for a cheap but nice meal.

Large portions for a low price. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Friendly staff with the meal served hot and fresh.

Stopped in with friends while we were walking around. Kinda of a hole in the wall place but the food was great! Very authentic, clean, quiet, and good service. Overall some great Mexican food and a good lunch with friends.

I used to live in San Diego and really miss good Mexican food, which cannot be had in Montana. We were staying a block away so we went for lunch. The beef flautas were incredible. My wife ordered a combination plate and couldn't finish it there so much food. She liked all of it. A pretty funky place but very good food.

This little Mexican restaurant is situated in Downtown San Diego, only streets away from the Gaslamp District. I was staying nearby and in need of some quick and tasty food the evening I arrived. This place was suggested to me. I’m vegetarian and the choices are endless; they do everything with veggie options. You get tortilla chips and home-made salsa to start with while you wait on your meal. Not only is the food delicious, but the portions are huge and it’s so nice! I ate here 4 nights out of the 6 I was here because of the quality. The service is fantastic too, with the friendliest servers you’ll meet. I was here during Comic-con and the place was busy in the evenings, but even when it was packed you didn’t have to wait long for your meal. This was the highlight of my trip to San Diego and I actually looked forward to eating here in the evenings. Eat here, you won’t be disappointed and tip well, they deserve it.

Visited on a Friday evening. Smallish place. Lots of menu options, including several gluten-free dishes. Mild funky vibe. Totally filling dinner for two, $25 with tip.

Great food for Mexican lovers. They have a huge choice of dishes, and prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is very special, it's really a local restaurant.

This is probably one of the dirtiest restaurants i,ve been in SD. The food is fantastic and there was a line to get in, it was well worth it. Fantastic Mexican food. The waitress her name was Precious is the most amazing worker I've seen !

Excellent find while wandering San Diego for a day. We had a meat eater, two vegetarians and a vegan at our table and everybody left stuffed! The food was fresh, the portions were generous and the staff was just great, answering all of our questions about the menu and helping us with substitutions when available. Good thing we had a long walk home because we were FULL of delicious food. And - very reasonable prices. Go there - go now!

Visited: 19/06/2023 The food here was delicious. We had the fajitas with tofu and a nice cold home brew beer, and a potato, mushroom, tofu chimichanga. The portion sizes were huge, and was really tasty. The restaurant wasn't too busy when we visited so the food came out pretty quickly. The theming in the restaurant is very unique and interesting with plenty to look at while you wait for your food. They have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options here which was nice. We only took 1 star off as they ask for a tip at the time of ordering, which is awkward as you haven't eaten yet, and you order yourself at the counter, so you don't know what to add for any service or food.

Pokez was just a block down from where we were staying, so we knew we had to check it out! As two vegans, the wide range of options on the menu were very exciting! Since we were there for breakfast first, we tried the Vegan Chorizo with beans and rice, which was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the restaurant. Another dish we loved were the vegan chimichangas! I'm sure the meat dishes would be great too, so I think this place is perfect for any lover of Mexican food. The complimentary salsa and chips were also a delicious way to start the meal. The staff were all super friendly and the service was fast. I've never written a tripadvisor review before, but I just wanted to say thank you to Pokez, we'll miss you so much!! Hopefully catch you again next year x

This is a place that may not have a 5 star seating area, but the food is amazing. It is also a great place for the Vegan. Their potato rolled tacos are unbelievable.

Go Pokez! Had the vegan machaca, which tasted better than the "real" machaca. I moved away a few years ago, and this was a place I had to visit on my visit back to San Diego. Man, I missed Pokez!

This place is not air conditioned, and it was pretty warm in there, Portions are very large, and the descriptions are not very good. Food was fine, but nothing to get excited about.

This is a kind of dumpy looking old restaurant. However, the food is good and the portions large. The chips are ok but not as good as Chipotle which are thinnier, crispier with nice saltiness and lime. My cheese quesidilla was very large. However, the bill was over $12 which is expensive for what I ordered. Not sure yet if I'd go back with all the great Mexican restaurants around town.

Pokez rocks! It's probably my favorite restaurant in San Diego. Bomb diggity food, easy to find, overall awesome. Been going there for years. Plus they're super affordable for the amount of food you get. The decor inside is a bit different for some, but I think it is great because they are true to themselves, not trying to be hip or swanky like other new restaurants downtown. Keep doin' what you do best!

Was here the second time and it was great again. The taste of the food is very good, it is fresh and fast served. The ambience is also very nice.. So I call it "an round thing" Bravo zulu

Lives up to the Hole-in-the-wall name. Nothing special to look at, but food is Good!

Spicy and flavorful salsa. Great vegan choices for the few and far between. Family run and owned for years- support your local businesses!!

Awesome Mexican Food. Traveled from San Antonio,TX to try their food. Boy, was I surprised. Big portions and reasonable prices. My wife ordered a taco shell salad, and it was great. I ordered a flauta plate of beef. These flautas were HUGE and delicious. I've never seen anything that big in a flauta. Elvia took our order and was very attentive. We met the owner, Pokez. He was proud of his restaurant and our comments. I will return as soon as I can.Overall great place to eat. Thanks to you and your staff, Pokez.

Really tasty and authentic Mexican food for reasonable prices. You won't leave this place hungry. Best Mexican food I had in SD.

Good service. flavor is not abundant. not bad, but would like more spices and originality. Great burritos, ok brunch.

great Mexican food done with a little touch of san diegos urban style

Good lunch place. Vegetarian friendly. In times when I crave a tofu burrito. Not a place to go if you are looking for a authentic Mexican meal. Staff has always been friendly.

We just moved to the neighborhood and were thrilled to see this cute place right up the street. You order from a sullen gitl who is more interested in her phone than you as a customer and when she brings your food she NEVER checks back with you, if you need something, you need to get up and ask her for it and she is put out by the request. I ordered 2 steak tacos and a Chili Relleno , plus sides and a beer. The tacos had a smattering of beef gristle and a heap of raw cabbage cut into square inch quarters, The Chili Relleno was Raw, could not even cut it with a knife. Did not feel welcome ther, foos and service were bad. Sad because I would probably be going there 4 or 5 times a week. I have about 12 years of restaurant experience and I loved it. These people are not loving it.

I like to eat vegetarian when I can, and the tofu in the chimichanga was the best tofu ever!! Awesome food.

Way better than the Mexican food we have in the East Coast. The prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get.

My husband, toddler and I went to Pokez tonight as we heard good things about it.. however, after 20 minutes of being seated without being given a menu or offered a drink, we walked out. The servers completely ignored us.

Was in town for a trip and was pointed here. I got the fajitas, so much food, the sauce on the chicken was amazing. Nothing fancy inside, but the food! The only issue was trying to decide what to choose.

So we're in SD hearing from everyone how amazing the Mexican food is. We're cautious, pessimistic as we know the tourist trap oh to well. We hear about Pokez and we hear it is not in a "touristy" area. No Old Town, No Gas Lamp, No on the Water. It's in town with a bunch of condos and apartments that most would walk right by. They were right, besides the interesting art work nothing to make you stop and say Wow. Food off the charts, Sangria Amazing and wait staff part of the family. Never had Mexican food this good. We're here for 4 more days and already figuring out when to go back. It's a must visit for all the tourists of SD!! Enjoy. Oh yeah, check out the jukebox.

At first we were not sure if we could get meat based dishes since it says vegetarian - the menu shows plenty of meat options as well. I had a shrimp quesadilla - very large and cheesy, shrimp done well. The salsa was a bit peppery, more so than the items we ordered. Very inexpensive. Typical beer selection.

Ordered a chicken with rice burrito. The portion is big but the taste is bad. I will not go back to this restaurant anymore.

This was my first visit to Pokez! In a word: YUM!!! Great food, spicy salsa, and a super relaxed vibe! Go with an open mind, and an empty stomach...you won't be disappointed!

If you are vegetarian/vegan, and you want Mexican food, this is the place to go. I am not familiar with their non-veggie items, but the Soyrizo (chorizo but with tofu instead) is worth the trip to this amazing gem in San Diego! The decor is Che meets up with Joe Strummer. (If you get the references, you'll dig it.)

Pokez is a staple of San Diego. The restaurant is vegan and carnivore friendly. You will not be disappointed with anything you order.

Huge portions. Very reasonably priced. Ordered Fajitas, Tofu Ranchero and Veggie Quesadilla. Delicious especially the flavored tofu.

Pokez Rules! The food is fantastic and the servers are great. I love the huge burritos and also Tom's Deep Plate when I want a traditional plate! The tacos are on point, and breakfast too!

I am very thankful that there is a Mexican place with a lot more than beans and rice for vegetarians. I had a Chimichanga (a fried burrito) with tofu and my husband had a tofu fajita. The tofu was well seasoned and the food was good. I think though that maybe addition of grilled onions, sweet peppers and black beans could have added to the flavors. The fajita was great!

This place was packed for lunch on NYE (as we walked to the restaurant, others looked dead). Service good, food fresh, chips & salsa good. A lot of vegetarian options. There is no bar, but they serve beer at least (I don't know about liquor). The place is small. Pokez was also recommended by a local:)

Had rolled tacos. YUM! My bf lived in SD and said this was the best Mexican food in the area. I am a believe. Eat here, thats all. Just eat here.

Delicious, authentic food with several vegetarian and vegan options. Not far from the hotels - just under a mile from the waterfront and on what seemed like the outskirts of the gaslamp district. Well worth the trip! We went as a family (12, 15 year old kids) and walked from the Marriott Marquis & Marina. The kids loved the food as did we - can't wait to try it for breakfast next. We also liked that it wasn't in the middle of all the craziness of 4th/5th Avenue. It was a bit quieter of an area which we liked. And the prices were super reasonable. If you're thinking about going don't hesitate! It was amazing!

Don't go for the ambiance because there isn't any - we did take out - but the food was as good as any Mexican I have had anywhere and the prices were crazy low considering the quality and quantity of food.

Yummmmy. One of my absolute favorites. Yes, it's partly due to the fact that when I go I'm finally the person in the room with the LEAST tattos. Despite the fact I feel more at home here than other places, the food is stand alone yummy. It's super cheap, family owned and operated (at least I think...and that's how it feels) and super mellow. Bring coins for parking meters.

Great cheap food and service with a smile, nice portions with lots of flavour with a nice vibe inside.

My wife and I just had the best burrito ever! It's called the heart attack, but we survived. So delicious!

While we are not Mexican cuisine experts, this place was great. It was on the same block as out Air B n B, so it was convenient to start with. THe reviews were promising for Pokez, we went hungry and left ready to explode. The food was huge and tasty. We had a great night out at Pokez, the staff were super helpful and efficient. the meals were massive- like OMG. everyone loved their meal. Great price. GOod location downtown Awesome staff. Worth a visit. Dont eat luch before visiting.

Had the pleasure of dining here one evening. I was in town for a conference and this was recommended to me. The ambiance is that of a dive bar. There is a jukebox that plays tunes. The tables and chairs are simple. Clearly this place is not meant to be fancy. The service was by committee with several wait staff. Orders were taken promptly and drinks provided. The food was great. I had the enchiladas and a taco. They were quite good. There are a large variety of choices and they all looked great. The potato tacos were quite good. The guacamole was also very tasty. I tried the sangria but I cannot recommend it. I do not think it was that great. The other drawback about this place: No margaritas. To conclude: Great Mexican joint with dive bar like atmosphere. Will definitely return!

This place is just amazing! The food is excellent, the prices are right and the environment couldn't be more Mexican!

slow service, but inepensive and healthy

Good semi-sitdown mexican food

This was just what we expected. It was a funky little place with quick and friendly service and fantastic food. The veggie taco was loaded with veggies and more than I could eat. My husband's veggie burrito required two hands to eat and was delicious. The restaurant was packed on a Friday night, but service was still attentive and our entrees came out fast. The only drawback was finding a parking spot!

VERY affordable. SUPER yummy. AMAZING service. If you are looking for a local place to eat downtown with extremely reasonable prices, do not miss this place. I had two huge vegetarian enchiladas for 3.75. CRAZY! So great and NOT touristy which is awesome if you are looking to avoid chain restaurants. I'm vegan and I love Mexican food so this place was perfect. But, they also have meat for you carnivores and omnivores out there. Punk, Freak, and Kid friendly. LOVED IT!

I had friends coming to visit me and one of them was a vegetarian so we wanted to find a Mexican place that could accommodate for them, my meat eating friends, and my food allergies. We chose Pokez and boy are we glad we found it! The food was delicious, there are a lot of options, and the people who work there are very nice. Excellent value as well. There's street parking but if it's full, there's a parking lot right across the street. I will definitely go back and visit again!

Can be slow, but very tasty mexican vegetarian dishes and a cool "alt" crowd

I went here by recommendation of a vegan friend of mine. I am a weekday vegetarian, and the moment I walked in, I knew this was a great choice. The staff was friendly, and I love the small town feel inside. Coming from Tucson, I am particular about Mexican food, and I love small restaurants. The menu is diverse for non vegan/vegetarian diners, and the salsa was delicious! I always make sure to stop in at Pokez every time I am in town.

We arrived at Pokez just after opening and just so we could have a nice Mexican breakfast. The portions were huge (especially the machaca which had so much chicken in it, I could hardly find the egg. Amazing! My husband had huevos rancheros and declared them wonderful as well. The atmosphere is interesting and the service was sweet. We were almost the only ones in the place on a Tuesday morning so we had a great experience all to ourselves. No long lines. No cranky people around us. Best part, two meals and a cup of coffee were less than $20!

We have been there 3 times now and it was delicious everytime. Their staff is always friendly and even if it's kinda busy you never have to wait long for your food. Before every meal you get a bowl of tortilla chips with their housemade salsa - just great! I've always tried something else and the portions are massive and really really good every single time. I only could finish the whole thing once, but you get a box and you'll be happy to have more of it later on. Also it is not expensive at all what makes it even better. We can really highly recommend this place to everyone who likes delicious mexican food. P.S.: They have an awesome jukebox, for 1$ you can choose 3 of your favorite songs. Cheers!

We always love a vegetarian restaurant wherever we travel, especially with local food. This place didn't disappoint. It is not a fancy place but it had a nice selection of Mexican-American food.

We really enjoyed our Mexican food here. Really good value. Had enough leftover for a whole other meal. Was extremely slow coming though and the place was not busy.

Just a quick solo visit. Casual dining and take out option. Fast service, friendly service, large portions of tasty goodies. Very inexpensive, enjoy!

A large menu of great Mexican dishes with lots of choices for vegetarians and meat eaters alike as well as those with gluten issues. The menu is so large that it's hard to pick just one dish. The food is fresh and tasty and while the entrance is dark and not very inviting, this place is definitely worth a visit. Service tends to be a little slow as they get very busy but the wait staff work hard to try and keep everyone happy.

We were recommended this restaurant by a member of staff at our hostel so thought we would check it out and very glad we did! You may not choose to enter this restaurant in passing without recommendation as the exterior is a bit dark and uninviting but never judge a book by its cover!! We were pleasantly surprised by the range of Mexican food on offer which was also vegetarian friendly. All dishes that we saw come out of the kitchen were large portions of excellent looking, fresh food. We ordered a tofu burrito and a tostada salad which were extremely tasty and authentic Please try this restaurant for affordable good quality food in a laid back casual environment We would love to come back!

We wanted to try this local favorite and we were not disappointed. The service was slower than expected, but they did get busy really fast. The sangria was very good and the salsa just hot enough. We will be back.

Lots of vegetarian options; quite delectable food. Service can be a bit slow, but they do their best.

Ha...Don't let the title fool you: "A Mexican Vegetarian Eatery". Because they serve an abundance of meat and seafood lovers delights. Super cool urban edgy joint, graffiti artwork masterpieces every where you look, even in the banos. While I am not a vegetarian, I decided to dive off the deep end and order a vegan chorizo and bean burrito with sauce "Christmas style" (red and green sauce combo). It was fabulously good. I'm still full and that meal was two days ago. Servers are helpful and super attentive. Try out this local spot, you'll be telling your friends about it.

The food here is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the service is wonderful. What more could you ask for in low key amazing Mexican food?

This is a place that is super friendly to those of us with diet restrictions, or alternative food style choices. I have brought my carnivorous, vegan, and vegetarian friends and we have all been able to find something delicious to eat. Since you are in California, eat a California burrito! Nothing is better than some delicious avocado in pretty much... anything. I highly suggest this awesome little spot for a fun, and eclectic place to bring friends and family.

Service is bad, but the tufu potato burrito is yummilicious!

The food here was AMAZING. hands down, the best vegan Mexican food in San Diego. Service is ok, prices are reasonable. Would definitely recommend.

I've lived in San Diego for years, but recently switched to a vegan diet. I was very pleasantly surprised by how many vegan options were on the menu at Pokez. I ordered the Veggie Machata burrito and it was delicious!

This restaurant is on corner of 10th and E streets. A little on the questionable part of the city but I risked getting there for dinner. Excellent value for money. A hearty meal with 2 beers costed under $20. Vegetarians will be comfortable ordering meals as menu items are clearly marked. Courteous and quick service. Highly recommended.

Very good food. This was one of our favorites. They have a lot of options, everything we got tasted great. Food was very fresh and delicious. Very reasonable prices especially for the area. Indoor and outdoor dining. No margaritas but did have sangria which was good. Definitely go back!

Loved the atmosphere and vibe of this place, the stickers on the walls and the tattooed and friendly staff. The service was a bit slow (on a week night) but helpful and didn't fuss about the small changes to the menu. Be aware that their combos are ginormous and could easily feed 2 or even 3 people. Loved the welcoming (and free!) nachos and salsa put on your table as soon as you arrive.

We went to this place for dinner because we read it was veg-friendly and it really was. It was also super yum-friendly, as everything was delicious and the portions were large and the prices were reasonable. It's like a bomb Mexican restaurant in a dive bar.

after checking into our hotel we grabed a bite here. Portions were big and the sangria was delicious. Salsa served with chips (no charge) what perfect for me to hot for the Mrs

Ate here twice during a short weekend in San Diego. Servings are large - can take about 1/3 to 1/2 home as leftovers. Very funky atmosphere - lots of skater stickers. Highly reccommended for people looking for local flavor as well as an extremely casual atmosphere. Service is a little slow and nonchalant.

Food was alright. Super chill and our waiter was attentative. We ordered a Breakfast Burrito. We rate 6/10. Great portion on the plate. Fresh and we'll presented. Tasting was just ok. We also ordered Combo #6. Bean Burrito was ok. Quesadilla was pretty large and tasty. Beef Taco was really crunchy and good. Came with a side of beans and rice. Rate it 7.5/10 All the items were reasonably priced as well. Not too shabby of a place. Mind you I only hold ratings 9-10 with exceptional services and quality only.

We choose this restaurant based on reviews we had read. We walked from our hotel to the restaurant and had to wait over 45 minutes for a table on a Sunday. We waited because it had to be good, but it was just average Mexican food. The building is very decorated and interesting. Very small, not many tables, but they do have food to go. We had nachos and the Mexican Pizza, both were good.

For the cost of burritos i wanted it to be better than eating at el gordo.. this was completely devoid of flavor. They dont use lettuce.. they use cabbage. This is not a burrito. Everyone in there but me was a drug addict. I asked if the meat was really even meat or some vegan meat and the waitress asked if i had been there before and i said no and she told me to get out and dont come back after.

Funky atmosphere, nice people. A little on the dark side, so bring your reading glasses... If you order anything "diablo" be aware it is EXTREMELY HOT! Good chips and salsa while you wait.

We came in with a group of 13 and they were so helpful in accommodating us. Really kind servers, the prices are very fair especially compared to other places in the area. Would recommend.

Pseudo Mexican b.s.

Our crew went in on a Sunday before noon and enjoyed some of the best burritos. The ambiance is part punk & part burrito joint. Chips and salsa are free and super tasty to start. Don't be afraid to order a beer and kick back for a bit and enjoy one of the good spots to find in SD.

My children, who eats vegan, took me to Pokez while we were vacationing in San Diego. It's tough for Vegans and carnivores to find a restaurants that is equally satisfying for both. Pokez fills the bill. My kids had vegan nachos and a vegan burrito. Both were good. The nachos were exceptional. I had the chicken chimi. I've been looking for a good chicken chimi for 10 years since my favorite place to get one closed. The one at Pokez was excellent. I'm an older women. I generally don't eat a lot. Although I couldn't finish it., I did make a big dent in it, The family highly recommends this restaurant.

We asked a merchant in Gas Lamp where to get some good, Tasty local Mexican food, and we were directed to Pokez. Freee chips and salsa, then quick service. Interesting decor, as every spot glad graffiti , or so it seemed. Within walking distance to a Gas Lamp.

Went here for dinner. Great vegetarian options - I hadn't had flautas in years (they're pretty much never vegetarian) and they were really good. Portions are huge, so come prepared for that. Husband enjoyed three tacos. Also liked that the rice was vegetarian (rather than being cooked with chicken stock, as it is many places) and the beans were great. My only wish was that they had a liquor license - I'm not a beer drinker, and they didn't have any other alcoholic options. A margarita or paloma would have been really nice.

If you're looking for fake 'have a nice day' style service go somewhere else. If you want good Mexican (including great Vegan) food with good portions at amazing value then this place rocks. We were visiting San Diego as part of California road trip and were almost put off by the 'dreadful service' reviews. So glad we went. Yeah the servers were a little curt but we also had a laugh with a couple of them and for probably the only time in the US I left a tip because they deserved it not because I had to! Go to Pokez.

We ate a great lunch meal here in 2014 upon the highest recommendation of my brother, a vegetarian and long time downtown San Diego resident. Back in town this week solo for a business convention and I walked a short mile past the many dozens of much pricier options for the friendly service, delicious options, sensibly generous portions, funky decor, and reviving a happy meal memory with another plate of Joey's Special. Pokez tells its own local history much once you walk inside.

I was searching for a convenient vegetarian option close to my hotel and Pokez fit the bill. They have a fairly standard Mexican menu, but with vegetarian options added, so you can pretty much order any dish without meat. I had the enchiladas suiza but substituted tofu for the chicken. The waiter was very considerate and double-checked to make sure that I was OK with the cheese and sour cream on my dish. Unfortunately, they mixed up my order with someone else's and I wound up with two tofu and mushroom enchiladas, and i had eaten them before they realized the mix up. The dish was still very good, and you can't beat the prices. This is a nice, neighborhood spot to enjoy some good vegetarian (or not) Mexican food.

Don't go here if you "don't know people" or if you like good service.

This restaurant was recommended to us by the owner of the B&B we stayed in. It's probably not a place we would have found on our own, but we we really liked it, the food was very good, authentic Mexican, prices were reasonable, and we got more than enough food.

This is a no frills spot, with really good food (lots of veggie and vegan options). It's very reasonably priced and the portions are huge!

Found this restaurant online while walking around San Diego. Was a little concerned when I saw the outside, but we were here, and we were hungry. I ordered chicken fajitas. The food was plentiful and very tasty. The prices are very reasonable and the service was very good.

We had dinner here on a Saturday night. You order your food and pay at the counter. When it is ready, it is delivered to the table. Therefore, service is pretty minimal. You pay for pretty much everything here except water. Chips and salsa cost three dollars. There are three items on the children’s menu. Quesadilla at three dollars is a good buy for a children’s meal. We shared a chicken burrito and that was quite tasty. No parking lot but there is paid street parking in the vicinity. The seasoned french fries are also tasty.

Took a short walk from the Omni in Gaslamp District over to Pokez in downtown SD. Had some lunch and oh my goodness this place exceeded every expectation. The food was perfect! Authentic tacos, made fresh and served with all the traditional sides. Super delicious!

A family favorite. Satisfies hard core carnivores, hard core Vegetarians and picky small kids and all love this place. I don't know anyone who comes close that I have visited here. Service was prompt. Food hot and came quickly. Veggie Quesadilla, Burrito and Beef Burrito, Shrimp Diablo Burrito (spicy - I manage heat well. (I held tartare sauce on mine). Say if you want Ranchero Sauce. All XXL size. Entrees $7, $8, $9 in main. Good sized glass of a pretty good Sangria. Not fine dining but nice atmosphere and......authentic! Clean. Rest rooms have amazing wall decoration. Don't stare too close or you will get Vertigo. Great local eats that tourists can enjoy. San Diego Mexican food is really exceptional. Short walk from Gaslamp district and many hotels. Parking is easy at meters on street outside or side street. Some interesting small shops nearby.

Many reviews seem to be written by those who either love or hate a place, making it difficult to gauge the truth. Pokez was only a quarter mile from my hotel and with a fair number of good reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp and Urbanspoon, I thought it would satisfy my cravings for Mexican food. I was dining alone, so no opportunity to share food. So as much as I wanted fajitas, I ordered the Steak Ranchero. Like others before me who noted the bland dishes at Pokez, I second their opinions. The chips were bland - not warm, not flavorful, but along the line of bulk packages of discount chips. It didn't bode well for the entree. The Steak Ranchero tasted like a flavorless beef stew. The dish was piping hot, but that couldn't rescue it. Their was no flavor to the rice or beans that accompanied the steak. I ate half my meal because I was hungry, but I didn't enjoy it.

Had lunch here, and was not disappointed. Those looking for high end Mexican cuisine may be disappointed, but if you are looking for burritos, flautas, and the like, you should be happy with your choice. Small and fairly minimal dining room, but then again, you aren't here to eat the furniture. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

The place is a very cool Mexican restaurant with vegetarian options and BIG portions. The food is quite good. Not fantastic or artsy, but pretty tasty. Sometimes more than others, but that's OK with me at this place. The salsa they serve with the chips is flavorful and always hits the spot. Sodas are served in cans along with cups of ice which lends to the simplicity that is Pokez. As many times as we've been there, the eye still wanders the room and finds something previously missed on the eclectic selection of art, nicknacks, painting, graffiti and stickers on the walls. It's not a big place, so if it's full you'll wait. Whether or not it's full, the service can be slow at times. But the people working there work at a decent pace and put out some good food. I've never had a problem with anyone treating me other than super nice and being very helpful, despite the fact that I totally look out of my element among the legitimately cool characters who both work at and frequent the place. I can imagine a street photographer could start the day in San Diego here and breathe in plenty of motivational inspiration. The parking can be tough, especially since the lot across the street now says no public parking so you have to find street parking. With the one-way streets, that sometimes requires a couple of right turns to get back. Oops. While vegetarian is my most important aspect, my second most important is this - although the portions are big, the prices are super low. I don't live in San Diego. Google brought me to Pokez while in town many years ago after searching for a nearby vegetarian restaurant. I'm glad I did; it may not be the absolute best or most flavorful, but it's consistent and the portions, salsa, environment, and workers keep me coming back each (and every) time I'm in town.

We ordered a carne asada chimichanga and burrito, both were so delicious! And my son had grilled chicken and rice, very delicious! Overall great food! The place has a different unique theme style but food is good.

Good little Mexican spot downtown with reasonable prices. Excellent vegetarian options for the herbivores. Not a great date spot but good to meet a friend for a quick bite and a beer.

On vacation and tried this place based on other reviews. Happy we went. Nothing fancy about this place. Just great food and lots of it. Pretty cheap, so it is an excellent value for your dollar. Pretty close to the San Diego Zoo too. A note about the service... service was good until our waiter had to leave for a family matter. No other staff took over for him so our cups ran dry and no one brought our check. We had to ask for it.

We were looking for an unpretentious laid back place with great food. Here it is...Off the tourist radar - mostly locals - friendly service - perfect for us.

We loved that this restaurant was so vegetarian friendly. There were four of us in our family - and we tried the burrito, the quesadilla, the enchilada and their Mexican Pizza. Portions were more than usually generous. Definitely value for the money. The flavors were pleasing to the palate. The place had an eclectic grungy chic with the graffiti and poster art. The atmosphere was casual and friendly with helpful staff. The only thing I would add is that parking may not be easy since this is in downtown San Diego, but we got lucky. Would definitely recommend.

This place rocks, good food, fair price, scary dive bar in back, bohemian atmosphere, diggin it.

I read all the amazing reviews about this place and just had to try it. I came for dinner and the place was just beginning to get busy. The moment I got there you could tell from the atmosphere was really laid back. The wait staff and kitchen staff were very easy to talk and spoke to you as if they were your friend not your waiter. I ordered the veggie burrito. It came out quickly and amazing accurate for what I asked. I asked for some hot sauce and was given a choice between the house made habanero sauce and the standard off the shelf hot sauce.The habanero sauce was amazingly hot but sweet at the same time. I will be honest it was my favorite part of the dish. My experience was simply steller and I would totally frequent this place if I lived in the area.