$, Mexican, Pacific Beach
Fodor's Review:
About a stone's throw from the ocean in the heart of lively Pacific Beach, this sizeable restaurant often seems to be having a party. A good variety of margaritas help fuel the atmosphere, but so does a menu cleverly divided between "Cali-Mex" favorites like quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, and fajitas, and authentic regional specialties from the Mexican heartland. The latter includes dishes like chiles en nogada (meat-stuffed chilies in a walnut-cream sauce) and oven-roasted pork chops in Oaxacan-style mole sauce. The dressed up queso fundido, or melted Oaxacan cheese with crumbled chorizo sausage, makes a great shared starter. Make reservations, because this joint jumps.
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