Hello,

What are the best Mexican restaurants in or around San Diego? A great gem with amazing food is what I'm looking for, whether it's a dive or not.

Thanks!

I think we just went through this a couple weeks ago. Here's a link to one discussion, there have been others you can find with the search function:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35096198

The Mexican Restaurant I went to the last time I was there was Miguels near Shelter Island. It was very good and not very expensive. Nothing beats going into Old Town though.

Perfect, thank you!!

Las Quatro Milpas...the best dive anywhere...under the Coronado Bridge

Hacienda de Vega in Escondido..
One of the best and voted top 50 in US..authentic and out of this world good!

haciendadevega.com

Miguel's Cocina in Coronado is very good. It is located in the heart of the El Cordova Hotel in Coronado. Save room for the Mexican Creme Brulee served with Warm Churros. ***kim***

JES,

Neopatrick's link has a lot of good info. To add to the list, Isabel's Cantina is in Pacific Beach. Now I haven't had a chance to eat there, but it is getting great reviews. Its a bit different, not so much of the fried, high fat food, but she just published a cookbook which my dd gave me for christmas and it looks great.

My neigborhood haunt which has been around at least 20 years is El Cuervo on Washington St. in the Mission Hills section, about 5 minutes from downtown. I love the cerviche tostadas. Do not visit El Indio (in my opinion). There are resting on their laurels of past years. I find the food bland, overprice and the service terrible. Many tourists go there.

If you go to Alfonso's in La Jolla, get the Nachos with Chorizo. Its the best thing, but so bad for you calorie wise. It along with their margaritas is like you have gone to food heaven.

Another vote for Miguel's. The patio on Coronado has a better atmosphere than the Shelter Island location, but both have good food. If they don't bring out their white cheese sauce with the salsa, be sure to ask for it.