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La Puerta
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Nightlife Bars Mexican, Bars [Edit]
560 4th Ave(between Island Ave & Market St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhoods: Gaslamp, East Village
(619) 696-3466
50% off Alcohol & Appetizers- HH
Daily Happy Hour Specials on Alcohol & Appetizers
Monday Extended Happy Hour: 3pm to Close
Tuesday thru Sunday Happy Hour: 3pm to 7pm
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
908 reviews for La Puerta
Review Highlights
"This is the best place ever for carne asada fries."
(in 179 reviews)
"It's my favorite spot for Happy Hour."
(in 352 reviews)
"The surf and turf burrito was my favorite."
(in 30 reviews)
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908 reviews in English
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Review from Maria G.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
I love this place!! La Puerta, my heart belongs to you.
First of all, the chips and salsa are addicting. Second of all, this place has the best carne asada fries in San Diego. Ya ya ya.. I know what you're thinking. You have a different place in mind for the best carne asada fries, but I've tried a fair share of carne asada fries, and I'm still convinced that this place has the best one. Oh, and not only is it delicious, but it's also a huge plate that you can share with others, and, most importantly, it is only $5 during happy hour. This leads me to the third point I have to make: this place has one of the best happy hour deals in downtown San Diego.
The service and restaurant ambiance are great! It's located downtown, so parking is not easy to find, but that's not La Puerta's fault. Oh, and this place does get packed, due to the combination of it not being very spacious and everyone in addition to me loves this place.
Oh and don't forget that on Sundays, this place has $1 mimosas! Did I already say that I love this place?! -
Review from Laura P.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
This place is a winner! The only negative of my whole experience was having to wait so long for a table (we were told 30min and it took over an hour to get seated). The place is small with a pretty limited amount of tables, but luckily it was happy hour so at least we got cheap drinks while waiting.
The food was outstanding and relatively cheap. The guac and chips is a must-have. Service was pretty good for as busy as it was. -
Review from Yasmin E.
2/2/2012
Amaaazing Enchillada Mole! They use the best Mexican chocolate I've ever had. My only "eh" about this place is that the music was crazy loud. I guess the place turns into a pseudo-club later on at night...it's pretty annoying at 8pm tho :) While the lighting is intimate, the seating isn't. There's a long bar and then a bunch of booths. Great for a group of friends.
Bon Apetite! -
Review from Cecilia S.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
There's definitely no shortage of Mexican bars in San Diego, but this place is awesome for what it is. NOTE: It's not really an authentic Mexican joint. It's just a nice little spot to grab good Americanized Mexican food with a casual vibe. The music isn't too loud, so you can actually sit there and have a decent conversation with the person next to you. It's not a dancy place, but of course you'll always have the occasional drunk girls dancing around. It's a fun spectacle to watch.. well until it's you.. :)
They also have a great happy hour - half off all drinks and appetizers. It doesn't get any better than that!Listed in: Stay classy San Diego
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Review from LisaSD S.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
Wow, almost 900 reviews? I have only good things to say about this place. Great service (friendly), good guacamole and carne asada fries and great margaritas (finally! a place that knows how I like them!).
You've got 897 other people who told you pretty much that this place is worth giving a shot. Whatcha waitin' for? -
Review from Daria B.
Syracuse, NY
1/31/2012
Definitely the place to be between 3 and 7PM. Happy hour with half priced drinks and appetizers. Was in San Diego for a conference for 4 days and came here twice.
The food and drinks are fantastic. The service, however was a little spotty. Always friendly, but the first night the server was not as attentive in refilling drinks and getting more food. -
Review from Fia R.
In brevity: Go for their Carne Asada Fries & beer during Happy Hour.
In typical 5FF anecdote:
On Friday night around 9, my HS girlfriends & I strolled to The Door, aka La Puerta, where a bouncer was already settled on his territory for ID-checking. 5 min after writing my name down on their list, we cozily got seated on our semi-circular cushion with our 1/2 rounded table, facing the bar section, all under extremely dim-lit setting. The overall atmosphere initially was mellow enough for us to chat w/ one another at ease, until....
Hmm, I was uncertain if La Puerta's trying to get the crowd put on their dancing shoes already, but I was quite irritated for somebody putting their club music on Full-blast that not only I could barely hear my friend talking right next to me at 80-decibel level, even observable bromies couldn't verbally instruct to another bromie on how to approach his female target. Heck, throughout our dinner anyway (which I'll obviously go through it next paragraph) the only dance movement I saw was the squiggly shuffling towards the bathroom.
Fine, club music: I'll pardon the loudness for this Friday night. Now onto the food...like my Yelp buddies, my gals & I ordered our food family-style, which consisted of Chips+Salsa (free), Flautitas ($6), Surf & Turf Burrito ($10), & 2 orders of Carne Asada Fries ($10). For drinks one of my friends ordered her Stone Porter beer ($5.50), while another wanted a margarita mingle, i.e. You Shook Me All Night Long ($7.50). Again, it's no joke on how darkly lit was the atmosphere, b/c the only way we could "see" our food was through our taste buds. (Thank goodness I had my handy digicam ready.)
In a way, though, our taste buds did have an advantage with "dusk." When my friend casually requested me to guzzle the rest of her house margarita, I knew why: salty, salty, salty liquor from top to bottom. For our chips we immediately preferred the zingy Salsa Verde over the sweet @ss, marinara-flavored Salsa Roja -_-. The Flautitas, fried w/ potato cheese inside the rolled tacos w/ diced veggies, sour cream, guac, & cotija on top, were sadly & atrociously dull in flavor, even w/ the typical crisp texture. One of my friends boldly replied, "It tastes like cardboard." Afterwards, the Surf & Turf Burrito--filled w/ succulent steak & Ranchero shrimp, chipotle sour cream, jack cheese, guac; & nicely toasted on both sides--was average that I much prefer eating Lucha Libre's version. Finally, & gladly, the Carne Asada Fries tasted soundly--w/ the exact same, fresh veggies as the Flautitas, just w/ thick & slightly softened fries & dotingly seasoned beef chunks, all close to the real deal in HITW Mexican joints--thus validly standing out of the food crowd. Still, dining at HH moment would have been a way more enthusiastic than that night.
Would I go back? -____-, only if my friends have worse impatience with, say, a profoundly crowded Mexi-grub right next door (no pun intended) to La Puerta: Las Hadas. Even with the awesome HH prices--including those Carne Asada Fries at $5--I, myself, am unsure if I want to enter this door again after a 2.5-star experience... -
Review from Leonard L.
San Diego, CA
1/13/2012 2 photos
La Puerta
SD: Downtown 4th Ave
Friday January 13, 2012
Three and Half Stars
We parked at Horton Plaza for free. We made it just in time for 50 minutes of 1/2 off drinks and apps Happy Hour (4-7pm) at La Puerta on 4th Avenue. We enjoyed a $3.75 Margarita and $4.50 Afternoon Delight. The drinks were basically nonalcoholic but what do you expect from such a good happy hour. The Potato Flautas ($3) were solid and pretty good size portion. The "Cochinita" Quesadilla ($4.50) (Achiote Pork and Sour Cream) was tasty and not dry at all. The Guacamole was okay, but the thick corn chips were great, and the green salsa packed a great punch of flavor. Service was good for how ridiculously crowded it was.
So the Owner sent me a yelp message stating that they "use the industry standard 1.25 ounce pour for all our mixed drinks regardless of whether we are on happy hour." I do not disagree with that statement. The reason I felt that the drink was on the weak side because the "afternoon delight was served in a 12 ounce glass (check out the cocktail picture), which means I drinking around 5 ounces of mix to every 1 ounce of liquor regardless if its happy hour or regular. However, I do appreciate that the "owner" reads and responds to these reviews. I will definitely try this place again. -
Review from Corina P.
Las Vegas, NV
1/10/2012
Fun place to have drinks and hang out. It's on the smaller side but has a really fun vibe. Sorta a cross between día de los muertos and CBGB.
They have a great happy hour! It gets packed very quickly so I recommend going early or reserving a booth or table. Otherwise, you may have to stand for awhile until some tables/booths or barstools clear out.
As for drinks, I'm all about the Low Rider, aka their Cadillac Margarita. It's strong but not overwhelming. I also like the carne asada fries. Although not the best carne asada fries ever (I think they need a little more salt), they're solid and compliment my Low Rider.
I've been here when they have a DJ in the evenings, but I'm not sure how frequent that is. Overall, La Puerta is a low-key, chill place -- a favorite in downtown San Deezy! -
Review from Jack H.
San Jose, CA
2/8/2012
Yummy Carne Asada fries! Went on a Sunday night after 10PM. Felt out of place because we went to eat dinner while the majority of the patrons were drinking. Food was good nevertheless. Ambiance was trendy. Atmosphere was loud.
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Review from Michael B.
Glendale, CA
1/12/2012
2 words: Surf & Turf (burrito).
Went here on a Saturday night and it was a great experience ,,, music was a little loud but they played good songs.
The frozen Mojitos were also really tasty & refreshing although I couldn't really taste much alcohol, it was like a really good 7-11 slurpee.
The surf and turf was definitely the star of the night, essentially just steak, shrimp, and cheese it was killer though,,, highly recommended
The waitress was really friendly also, and she got my order for a complicated drink down...niceeeeee -
Review from Andrew C.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I grew up in San Diego but left about two years before the food scene began to take off. So whenever I come home I try to find at least one new place I'd never got a chance to visit as a resident. On this trip that place has been La Puerta. So far.
It's no secret that San Diego is a Mexican food town. I feel it should be obvious but I'll go ahead and point it out that you should never expect 'taco shop' Mexican food in a restaurant setting. It's just never going to happen. Prove me wrong on this and I'll give you $100.
That in mind, I came into La Puerta knowing full well it was going to be nothing like what I had eaten for breakfast (yeah, that's Mexican food twice in a day for those keeping score at home). I assumed mediocrity would be the case but the Yelp reviews seem to indicate otherwise. We arrived on a Monday afternoon around 3pm meaning we would be able to take advantage of their happy hour pricing (half off happy hour menu and drinks). The place was packed (I blame people tired of hanging out with their families after Christmas) so we took to the stools outside to order drinks while waiting for a table. The initial drinks were great - poured well and delicious.
We were eventually sat at a booth inside and kept the party going. Since the happy hour pricing means everything is half off, the four of us decided to order one of everything off the happy hour menu assuming it would be enough food to go around. This included a chips/guac plate, quesadilla, carne asada fries, tostaditas, a salad and flautas. I'm not sure if these are the same portions you'd receive if ordering the entrees at full price, but they were definitely ample in happy hour form. Four of us had a hard time finishing all the food that turned out to be surprisingly good. I admit, when I see a place decorated like this with all servers wearing band t-shirts, kind of overly polished like a 7's jean's store, I come in with extreme skepticism. By the end of the meal I was impressed enough to return on another day if the option is presented.
By the time we were ready to close out, we had all the food items listed above and 12 drinks including six beers and six specialty cocktails. The total was $67. Divided by 4, roughly $16 and our server didn't flinch whatsoever about breaking up our tab. We left fuller than full and quite satisfied with the quality of the dishes. All said, I'm not sure if I'd want to pay full price for these entrees but for a happy hour spot this place is pretty incredible. Eating here alone, you could easily kill a happy hour entree and a beer and get out of here for under $10. That's a happy hour I can get behind - you know, when happy hour actually saves you money because you don't have to order a million smallerized dishes to feel like you're going to be sated for for awhile. La Puerta is doing it right.Listed in: Sandy Eggo, Let's Get A Taco
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Review from Nam N.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Y-U-M!!!!!
Stopped into La Puerta with my co-workers after a mtg at the Convention Center. We squeezed into a booth and were warmly greeted by the staff. Service throughout our entire lunch was helpful, attentive, and warm.
I ordered the Flautitas ($6) and a side of Rice ($2). Surprisingly, the Flautitas were a good portion size and delish! Super crunchy, flavorful, and piled high with Pico de Gallo and Cojita. DELISH!
My coworkers ordered an array of food (Tortilla soup, burritos, street tacos) and everyone really enjoyed their meals.
I was really pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food and look forward to coming back on a Monday night when drinks and apps are 1/2 off all night! -
Review from Pilar A.
Rohnert Park, CA
1/16/2012 1 photo
My husband and I went here because of the Yelp reviews. We were visiting San Diego for a quick getaway and this was one of our FaVORITE places!!!! We hit it up during Happy Hour. :)
Decorated perfectly!!! Modern country chic with a whiff of Mexican flair! The food was SO great! We shared 3 tacos-shrimp, steak and chicken. Chips and salsa were MUY delicioso! I had a Mojo Rising (frozen mojito)---wishing I had one right now! And to top it all off, service was awesome! Autumn was our server and she was friendly, genuine, and efficient!!! We will be going back here FO SHO!!!!!! -
Review from Lauren S.
Mountain View, CA
12/30/2011
Wow does this place get busy - which is a good sign.
We tried every drink on the menu - which I think helped with the worse hangover I've ever had the following day but it was worth it.
Our favorite drinks were the frozen mojito and the Afternoon Delight. The ones with hot peppers in them were cool and I'm glad we tried them but we didn't really enjoy them necessarily.
We both had street tacos and shared the carne asada fries. Everything was good.
The bouncer the night we were there was such a nice guy. They are usually such dicks - but he joked with us, offered to get us a waitress to come outside to us (while we waited for our table) so we could order more drinks, and spent time talking to a lot of people coming in. He was very polite to people coming up to the hostess stand if she was away seating someone and he answered the hostess phone politely. I at least was impressed by this and noticed his good character. -
Review from Kevin M.
Scotts Valley, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
La Puerta offers great Happy Hour deals; half price on drinks and select appetizers. The guacamole and carne asada fries were delicious but I highly recommend getting their "Surf n' Turf" burrito. You can taste the juicy steak and succulent shrimp in every bite.
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Review from Leona Y.
Redmond, WA
1/2/2012
The guacamole is so yummy here! And the portions are HUGE so order one and share it with 3+ people!
After flying into San Diego and settling into our hotel, my parents and I walked over to La Puerta for a quick lunch. The waitress was really great and checked up on us frequently to make sure that we were satisfied with our dishes.
Tortilla Soup: This was the first time I've ever had tortilla soup and I'm glad I tried it here! It was a tomato base with some avocado slices and cream. The portion was pretty big as well so it can be shared with two people.
Guacamole: As mentioned above, this is HUGE and made really fresh. It was probably the best guac I've ever had! You get a ton of tortilla chips and a mountain of guac so it's a great dish to nibble on while getting drinks with friends. This is definitely a must have!
I will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in San Diego. I think this place would be really fun to go to at night with some friends to grab drinks and much on some food! -
Review from Lalaine C.
San Diego, CA
Mexican restaurants to me are synonymous with sunny days, sitting on the patio under umbrellas, sipping margaritas on the rocks. However, we recently went to La Puerta during the freezing cold of winter...shouldn't I be in some cozy gastropub right now, eating some kind of comfort food like pot pie? With this Debbie Downer mindset, I had made up my mind to knock the "veggie" burrito I ordered (there were NO veggies in my burrito, unless you consider beans and rice veggie!) But luckily, that was the ONLY negative of the night.
As soon as we sat at a huge comfy booth that practically swallowed up our party of three, we were treated to authentic chips and two kinds of salsa. I told myself I was going to have just three chips (since I was trying to be good), but after my first bite, it was OVER. My girlfriend ordered the very filling TJ Dogs (two smaller sized bacon wrapped hot dogs with Mexican garnish), and Julius had the carne asada street tacos (with tortillas that runneth over - he loved it!) Our mucho friendly server talked Julius into ordering really high-end tequila shots (you've got to have some skillz to get Julius falling for a sales pitch!) Well, the server didn't have to twist his arm, it was Fortaleza tequila after all, arguably the smoothest, best tasting sipping tequila Julius ever had the pleasure of shooting in .368 seconds flat lol!
So I'm now a convert. The words "Mexican restaurant" and "winter" can logically appear in the same sentence. La Puerta was warmly lit by strands of amber glowing lights - truly a midsummer night's dream. But it wasn't until we stepped out from La Puerta did I wake up and remember how f*&!@$ cold it was that night! Shoulda downed another shot of Fortaleza! -
Review from Warren A.
Santa Clara, CA
12/31/2011
If I lived in SD, this would probably be my local taco shack and bar.
The tacos were good (although I think they would have been better with quac on the side, some of the flavors were masked by the guac), the hot pepper thing they put between the rice and beans was the most amazing thing I ever tasted. I don't know what it was, but it was fantastic.
I really enjoyed the entire staff, the front hostess was friendly, the bouncer was a nice funny guy (don't really find most places have serious bouncers who also are friendly, he was the perfect balance, I could drink with him), the bar tenders were very fast and friendly and our waitress was very accommodating. -
Review from Emily S.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would like to thank Yelp for leading me to La Puerta on my recent trip to San Diego. My friend and I were in town for a concert and arrived with plenty of time to spare. We did a quick search on my yelp app and La Puerta showed up!
Bonus: It was nearby the concert venue. We head over to La Puerta and found easy FREE metered parking on the streets. There was no wait to get seated and we made it in time for Happy Hour! I didn't order from the Happy Hour Menu... but for happy hour, all their drinks are half off. And the menu items in the box are half off. Thanks to our server BOBBY for helping us with our menu choices... as well as drink choices. The margaritas he recommended were delicious!
I ordered three street tacos from here... all of which were pork but different kinds of pork.
Carnitas (Pork-Avocado Cream-Cilantro-Onion)
Cochinita (Achiote Pork-Pickled Onion)
Pastor (Marinated Pork-Pineapple-Avocado Cream-Cilantro-Onion)
I still don't know which of the three was my favorite... but they were all pretty good. My friend ordered the carne asada fries, and I forget what else. The carne asada fries though were pretty big so if you were to order that, be prepared to share it with at least one or two other people. Or, you'll be taking the rest home!
BTW, La Puerta is not one of those authentic Mexican restaurants, and I still have not found a good one in San Diego. It is more of a Yardhouse Bar / Mexican Restaurant hybrid and is a few classes up from Sharkeez or Fred's in Pacific Beach with great service! I would recommend this place. -
Review from Courtney A.
San Diego, CA
12/30/2011
I was there on a Thursday night - overall it was a pleasant experience. The bartenders, wait staff, bus boys, etc. were all very friendly. The drinks were good, the crowd was casual. The food was not good though! With so many other tasty spots in and around the downtown area, they definitely need to step up their menu.
I would go back, but for drinks only. -
Review from Ernesto M.
Bonita, CA
12/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
In all my time and in all my bar hopping I had NEVER been here. I dunno why. I guess it was always too busy, or my friends weren't the type to go there. I am glad I got to go. On a Monday with all night HH.
The happy hour is damn good, half off apps and cocktails, and the apps are more like meals and the cocktails are just cocktails.
The service is a little slow, but you can basically gather that from all the other reviews. This place is just cool to chill and eat. Best part is monday the resident DJ just happens to be Scooter!!
This place shouldn't disappoint, its fun and good, prices are DT status so don't complain -
Review from Alyssa M.
San Diego, CA
2/4/2012
Yes they have the best carne asada fries!!! I think this is the best happy hour spot in all of SD! You will need to try as well their mint mojito! WARNING! so awesome... one is not enough! I had to factor into my budget the cab ride home!
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Review from Chris K.
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This came recommended from a local and it did not disappoint! Prices are reasonable and the portions were large. The chips are to die for! We were a group of 10 and did have to wait a long time for a table on Sat. night since they do not offer reservations, but we were glad that we waited!
I had the street tacos platter, which included 3 tacos from the list (you can get 3 different kinds). I tried the shrimp, pastor and carnitas. My favorite by far was the pastor which had pineapple salsa...yum! -
Review from CB E.
San Diego, CA
1/21/2012
Love this place! Great food, Great beer and tequila selection!! Always a good time with really good service!! Cannot wait to go back!
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Review from Ryan D.
Irvine, CA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Have you been to La Puerta? No? Ok...if it's around lunch or dinner time...go now. Stop reading the review and go now.
We found this place towards the end of our time living in San Diego and fully plan to drive down from OC and eat here anytime we are in downtown SD.
The carne asada fries are really delicious, also you can't go wrong with any of the tacos. We also really enjoyed their guac, it's BIG...so fyi.
The best part though, AMAZING happy hour. Everything is 1/2 off...really great options...because nearly everything on the bar menu and most of the food menu is open game. -
Review from Austin S.
San Diego, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great crowd, great environment, great simple menu.
The food at this place is surprisingly good. I usually get the street taco plate. They are so simple, yet so fresh and delicious. The cream sauce served with the shrimp tacos is incredible. The rice and beans are also very good.
One stand-out thing to mention is the PRICE. Given the Gaslamp setting and exquisite food, the prices are outstanding. I believe the comfortably filling three-street taco combo plate runs $10. -
Review from Erin C.
Atlanta, GA
11/21/2011
This place was A-MAZING. The staff were all really chill and the hostess recommended the California Burrito.
Best. Burrito. Of. My. Life. Period.
We started with guac and chips and it was fantastic. Different presentation than most places and the chips are really yummy.
Seriously. Get the California Burrito. -
Review from Scott M.
Temecula, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is so cool! Saw it on the first season of Drinking Made Easy..been back a few times since. Great atmosphere and fantastic food to boot!! Our server acted like he didn't really want to be there... but I don't hold that against the establishment.
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Review from Marylu P.
Los Angeles, CA
11/30/2011
*based on service only*
Ok so we got here before the night rush got in and the security/bouncer guy was super friendly nice, but the girl hosting didnt even acknowledge we were there standing.
Then all of a sudden shes like "oh yea no room. You can wait at the bar"
The bar didn't have any seats available so even when he saw us just standing there not knowing where to wait.....she just passed right along with a stink eye.....
*eye roll aaaaand we're out this bitch* -
Review from Julie R.
11/6/2011
Fun, crowded, packed, local, loud..yeah I could keep going..
This place was a blast. Heck a cheap one too, $4 for a kettle one martini and $3 for a sangria..Winning..for sure..
It had that loud bar vibe and I was unsure about the food. When we looked around it looked like locals indulging, I knew we'd be safe. We both decided on taco plates. Our server recommended the carnitas one in our variety. It was our favorite for sure. We also liked the shrimp and beef ones. On the side the rice and beans were ok. The free chips were addicting.
Best part..dinner with drinks turned into $30!Listed in: Fish Tacos
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Review from Jennifer N.
Drexel Hill, PA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another great happy hour spot! You have to order the carne asada fries. It is an absolute must! It comes out impressively large, but after a few bites, I knew I wanted to finish the whole thing! For my happy hour cocktail, I chose the afternoon delight. Anything with cucumber and mint, and I'm in love!
There's a DJ, and the ambiance is lively - not too rowdy. Lights are pretty dim, and there are fun Christmas-like lights above.
FUN!!! -
Review from Amber J.
San Diego, CA
1/23/2012
Cool venue, horrible customer service.
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Review from Amy S.
10/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
On a Taco Tuesday mission I found myself at La Puerta; I picked it based on the atmosphere over Las Hadas next door. Inside was cool looking, reminded me of The Lincoln Room downtown but different. The bar itself looked really cool and had lots of spacious booths to sit at. Our host was very kind and put us on the list which was estimated to be about 15 minutes until someone moved out of a booth and in the mean time our mission was to get drinks started at the bar.
And this is where the fun of Taco Tuesday slowed to a halt.
We saw that they were busy, not "chicken with its head cut off" number but still busy. One of the bar tenders told us she'd be with us in a minute, and fair enough, we got it. Except that minute turned into muchas minutes and we waited.
And waited.
And waited.
We were standing right in front of her on the other side of the taps which we could clearly see her face and she definitely could see ours. Never once were we served and because of the group of people standing behind us we got pushed a little too close into the servers pathway from the bar to the table area. We tried to scoot everyone as closely in as we could only to encounter very annoyed servers that we were bothering them and ruining their waiter game.
Trying to be aware of their path and waiting for drinks and a table, we ended up skipping out go to next door to Las Hadas which was a bummer because La Puerta looked super cool. I don't want to give up on this place entirely but for a Taco Tuesday I think it is definitely a bit too crowded and would be better patronized on an off night.Listed in: Eat A Taco
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Review from Steven G.
Merrick, NY
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
The place is a pretty happening bar scene. We ate there on a Monday. Appetizers and drinks were half priced all night long. Not sure if that is a regular policy or not. Anyway the food was all good. We had margaritas straight up. They were truly amazing. And at 50% off could not be beat ANYWHERE. They were the best i think I ever had. I would certainly go back when I visit SD again
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Review from Miguel L.
San Diego, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went for brunch and food was really good. Staff was really friendly as well. Will be back soon
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Review from Heather B.
Lakeside, CA
11/18/2011
Taco Tuesday is amazing here.
It isn't super crowded and annoying. It is a bit loud, but I think that is to be expected of any dining/bar in the downtown area.
Food was delicious and service was awesome! I found the decor very attractive as well. :) -
Review from Mike H.
El Cajon, CA
10/17/2011
This place is chill. Great drink and food specials. You can sit outside and watch hot chicks that dress like prostitutes walk by on Fri and Sat night.
Gotta love it. -
Review from Nima F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
So we all know San Diego is known for its California burritos, you know where there are fries inside the burrito! This place has a decent California burrito for ten bucks, I've had better at one of those stands. They have a happy hour ending at 7pm, 50 percent off drinks and appetizers. I had the house margarita and thought it wasn't good at all, too sweet and not enough lime. I let the waitress pick the next Margo and although I don't remember the name but it was much better. The carne asada fries appetizer is a good pick for a starter, all in all a decent place to get food.
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Review from Matt A.
San Diego, CA
10/7/2011
Fantastic guacamole!!!! The service, well here is the kicker. Does it take about 4-6 years to get your food, whether they are busy or not? Yes! Does it help dull the pain that the waitresses are so attractive, I am 98.9% none of them would ever go out with me? Absolutely! Decent selection of beers, really tasty tacos and have I mentioned the guacamole.
As far as the burritos, here is where I think they falter. It's like when someone wraps a $20 around a bunch of ones to make it seem like they have more money than they do. Well, La Puerta's burritos are basically 90% tortilla and 10% whatever else. It's almost like eating a maze of tortilla, where you feel you are trapped and can't get to any of the burrito's filling. By the time you do, you realize your carne asada burrito has one piece of meat, and three diced unions and you just ate 6 lbs of tortilla.
