5 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego

For those in San Diego who love good Mexican fare, it's fortunately not necessary to take a ride to Tijuana to get it. Luckily for the masses that do, finding a Mexican restaurant in Diego is no problem, but for the uninitiated here is a short list of San Diego Mexican dining hot spots.

Jose's - La Jolla

Rubbing shoulders with some of La Jolla's gourmet restaurants and swish boutiques is Jose's Court Room. Colorful with a easy going ambiance, Jose's offers a menu brimming with tantalizing favorites such as Chile Verde, open flame skewers, Fajitas and of course, 8 oz marinated fillets, broiled to perfection sided by a guacamole and a cheese enchilada. Jose's always stays open late and with many large screen plasmas, easily does duty as a sports bar.

La Fiesta Restaurant - Downtown San Diego

La Fiesta's vibrant decor and party atmosphere amply captures the festive mood of Mexico. Raul Delgadillo, La Fiesta's executive chef has put together a sumptuous selection of authentic regional Mexican dishes, handed down by word of mouth for many generations. Daily servings of fresh sea food are also available at this fine San Diego restaurant.

Fidel's Little Mexico - Solana Beach

Located in an expansive, hacienda style building in a secluded neighborhood of Solana Beach is the Fidel's Little Mexico restaurant. One of San Diego's top Mexican restaurants, Fidel's has been in the Montanez family for more than 45 years and seats 350 patrons on three levels. The expansive menu offers house specialties and traditional standards guaranteed to satisfy the most critical aficionado of Mexican dining.

Las Olas - Cardiff by the Sea

Small, open aired and casual, Las Olas is anything but run of the mill. A festive party room, hand-tossed margaritas and a delicious array of traditional Mexican dishes have earned this San Diego gem a GQ magazine listing as being among the "Sexiest Mexican Restaurants" and a feature in Conde Nast Traveler. And as if one wasn't good enough, there is a second Las Olas venue further north in Carlsbad.

Candelas - Downtown San Diego

Featuring a polished Mexico City style menu, Candelas emphases inventive classic pairings and fresh, local ingredients. For a fine Mexican dining experience against the stunning backdrop of downtown, visit Candelas-On-The-Bay, Coronado.

San Diego's association with Latin cuisine has laid the foundation for some of Southern California's most outstanding restaurants. So whether your choice is the polished Candelas, the sexy Las Olas or the more traditional El Agave, San Diego's Mexican Restaurant experience will not leave you cold.