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El Comal
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
3946 Illinois St(between Lincoln Ave & University Ave)
San Diego, CA 92104
Neighbourhood: North Park
(619) 294-8292
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 10 am - 3 pm
Mon-Wed 5 pm - 9 pm
Thu-Fri 10 am - 10 pm
Sat 9 am - 10 pm
Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
253 reviews for El Comal
Review Highlights
-
"I had the taco de barbacoa de chivo - braised goat taco and..." In 6 reviews -
"There was also great live music when we went." In 19 reviews -
"The mole was fantastic and the chicken was moist." In 53 reviews
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253 reviews in English
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Review from Kiki H.
4/29/2012
A good Mexican spot. Service was really friendly and fast. Food left a little to be desired, but I'd still definitely come back. I liked the baskets of chips and two types of salsa (traditional red and a hotter green) on the table that were continuously getting refilled. The queso fundido appetizer was so flavorful, cheesy, and delicious....but eat it fast because the cheese congeals after a while. My cheese enchiladas with red sauce were also really good. While two enchiladas would have been enough....there were three here. Yeah buddy!
My only complaint was that the food was not warm. Usually when enchiladas come out from the kitchen and you make your first cut in, the cheese oozes out and you can see the steam and deliciousness inside. Unfortunately, my plate wasn't too warm and the cheese in my enchiladas was congealed upon first bite. Still, a great spot that I'd try again, especially considering my other lunch companions really enjoyed their meal. -
Review from David F.
Pasadena, CA
5/21/2012
I've always found it quite difficult NOT to go to Rancho's, followed by some beers at Tornado when I'm in the neighborhood. But...tonight I succumbed to everyone else's wishes for the 'authentic' El Comal.
This spot is unpretentious and simple. Comfortable without too many frills. The menu was decent looking, but there weren't any dishes that sounded unique.
Chips were decent and the salsa verde was solid, but the thin tomato juice with some onions and cilantro was weak.
Waiter service was spotty. And considering that it wasn't busy at all, seemed half assed.
Now to the food. The grilled marlin tacos were really good. Thick homemade tortillas with charred spots all over. The tacos were topped with wonderful grilled veggies and cilantro. This was the highlight of the meal.
Unfortunately, not everyone else had such luck. Hurraches with barely any meat on them and smallish portion sizes. Maybe it's me, but if something is an appetizer sized dish, put it in the appetizers! Don't put it in some other category because it fits. Vegetarians are smart enough to look in more than one section. If something comes with rice and beans, it should say that. If its a la cart, say it.
I wouldn't go back, but the food was solid. This place just needs a little better management. -
Review from Robert H.
San Diego, CA
5/19/2012
Read all the great reviews and expected much more than we received.
Walked in and were only the third table in the place. Waiter was quick to ask for our order twice before we had a chance to go through the menu.
We ordered beef enchiladas and mulitas ( 1 adobada - 1 carne asada )
Enchiladas were served warm, bordering on cold. Beef was lacking in flavor. Red sauce was pretty tasty though.
Mulitas were warmer. The carne asada was dry and flavorless. The adobada was much better. Guacamole was very good though.
Service was rather slow and poor after being badgered for our order. Waiter walked by our table numerous times without asking about our meal or asking about refills even with empty glasses on the end of the table.
We were going to order a couple of beers after the meal but the lack of attention nixed that idea.
After our plates were finally taken away we were approached by a waitress who asked if we wanted more chips while we were waiting for our food. Really? We just wanted the check so we could leave by then.
I can only imagine what it is like on a busy night.
Will we go back? My wife won't be going back but I might be tempted if I get a craving for adobada mulitas. -
Review from Hayley H.
4/28/2012 1 photo
Authentic Mexican? Yes! Excellent service? Yes! Mole Con Pollo? YESSSSSS.
It was my first time at the restaurant and it exceeded my expectations...from our waitress simply whipping up some extra hot salsa for us, to giving us samples of goat because we had never tried it, they truly go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience.
We started with the queso fundido with mushrooms and chorizo. It was pretty standard but would have been a lot better had it been served on a hot plate or something else that would have kept it warm. No one likes cold clumpy cheese!
I had the chicken with red mole sauce and it was great! It's hard to explain what it tastes like because its so many unique ingredients, but I have never been one to turn down chocolate in anything. It was also nice that the chicken was boneless, saves you the hassle of picking it off the bone! The chips and salsa were great as well, especially the red salsa which had a good kick.
The prices are reasonable but I would go back just for the great service we received. -
Review from Mike H.
San Diego, CA
4/22/2012
If eating local is your objective I highly recommend EC. On our recent visit, I'm fairly certain, Lisa and I were the only people for whom English was our first, really only language. The restaurant was full of families, with a lot more Mexican cuisine experience than us, enjoying their food.
I liked that EC brings personal flair to the cuisine even when I prefer a more traditional style. For example I prefer the traditional olive based pescado ala veracruzana to the vegetable heavy sauce EC prepares.
Liquor is the biggest failing of El Comal. They make a crappy American style Margarita and their Bloody Mary is worse, even the michelada is sub par. You are best off with a cerveza.
El Comal will never be one of our goto Mexican places. To me good margaritas are as important as the food. In the end El Comal comes off more as a family restaurant than bar with good food. If that is what you are after it is easily worth searching out.
Mike -
Review from Michael J.
Seattle, WA
5/1/2012 9 Check-ins Here
Completely awesome. There are a couple of things that are amazing standouts: The Green Mole is fantastic and the Huachinango a la Veracruzana is excellent. There is always something interesting going on here: usually a birthday party at the big table, and on weekend nights sometimes music and dancing. But it all rolls into a great restaurant and doesn't seem to get in the way of anyone wanting to eat good authentic mexican. Sayeed is great behind the bar, and will always recommend something interesting to try, like a new Mezcal. Other recommendations are the Queso Fundido with chilies, Nopal Salad (big, you'll want to be sharing this), and omg the tortillas. Great Mexican food means great tortillas. Or is the other way around? I don't care which it is. The tortillas are reason enough to go. They also serve two gorgeous salsas with their homemade chips, both are full of flavor and heat.
-
Review from Pks L.
San Diego, CA
4/2/2012
Had the carne asada torta was very good and GET the fries absolutely yummy. This may sound weird but I think there is a difference between ketchup and catsup and they use catsup its like a sweeter taste - LOL....
Quaint restaurant and will go back again. -
Review from Jon S.
San Diego, CA
4/26/2012
One of the best sit-down Mexican places in San Diego. Shrimp diabla and the chicken enchiladas with green mole are my favorites.
-
Review from Ed C.
San Diego, CA
5/5/2012
El Comal is numero uno in my book!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, I've tried them all and loved it. What I especially like is the exotic selections and friendly bar. -
Review from Christian G.
San Diego, CA
3/23/2012
Real authentic mexican food.
I know a friend that works at this place and I go once and awhile to see my friend and show support. I do love the staff, they are very amazing and funny and out going.
I don't mind the wait, when in the end I am getting something worth the wait.
I would also like to add, that parking might be trouble some... but I know they do have parking in the rear of the building. Pricey also but... hey! I can't complain afterwards lol
nom nom! food :D -
Review from Benjamin J.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2012
This place definitely is worth trying. Great style of Mexican food. I love the soups and chicken mole. With a full bar and knowledgable bartender, I will keep me coming back for my monthly dose.
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Review from Lexie W.
Temecula, CA
4/20/2012
Oh man...this place is goooood!!! The tortillas are amazing. I ordered pozole rojo and it was so freakin good. It came with all kinds of fixing's to put in the soup. Mmmm I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. You must try it. I will definitely be coming back.
-
Review from JC F.
San Diego, CA
2/19/2012
El Comal is a hidden gem in North Park. Small and cozy atmosphere, service was friendly.
Based on yelp reviews we ordered the cochinita pibil but it was okay at best...nothing to write home about.
The grilled fish taco was big and tasty. They had their own version of white sauce that had a nice kick to it, served on the side so you can portion control.
The chicken mole was to die for...sweet and savory with a nice bite to it. The chicken was moist and tender but the sauce was the kind... You could tell it was made with love.
Home made corn tortillas were awesome....thick and chewy.
We'll definitely be back to try out some of the other stuff on the menu. Not your traditional run of the mill Mexi fare. If your looking for some down home authentic home cooking then El Comal is the ticket. -
Review from Brian P.
San Diego, CA
4/11/2012
Talk about authentic mexican cuisine! I remember when this joint was a hole in the wall on Imperial Ave. That was about 13 years ago! I think I loved it more then because you could see the ladies behind the glass partition making your food. I went crazy for the sopes, gorditas, and chile rellenos! They make it all to order, so fresh and tender appetizers made with fresh corn masa. I like this place a lot. I recommend it to anyone! Prices are decent too.
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Review from Matt P.
1/3/2012
Woooohooooo! This place is awesome! Go Here, you wont regret it! This is a real authentic mexican restaurant!
We had great mexican food and great hospitality! The servers were attentive and helped us if we had any questions. They may have been the owners, but they were great.
We began with margaritas, delicious! The chips and salsa were wonderful and homemade. The tortillas are wonderful! It only got better from there. Their menu is real authentic, many things you may have never seen before.
The Cochinitas Pibil was the best ive ever had. Tender pork wonderfully seasoned, served with red pickled onions. The tacos were delicious, the enchiladas superb! even th beans and rice were great. If you are looking for that restaurant that can actually show you what good mexican food is, then come here, this is no taco shop or Old Town Mexican Cafe. They seemed to pour love into their food. I will be back! -
Review from Ryan M.
12/2/2011
Got one of those one of those 50% off deals thru The Daily Save.. the good thing about getting those types of deals is that it allows you to step out of your comfort zone and try different things that you normally wouldn't (since you're only paying half price)
At least thats how i roll.
So upon arriving, i asked the server what he recommends, he says the top 3 items are, Mole con Pollo, Cochinita Pibil, and Barbacoa de Chivo.
Although i have never been a fan of Mole, I've read so many good reviews about the mole here.. so i decided to give it a shot. and also going with the servers recommendations also got the Cochinita Pibil.
Cochinita Pibil is a slow braised pork in Yucatan spices. don't know what the spices are but it was delicious and the pork was tender and soft.
Chicken Mole - I was offered a choice of breast or on the bone, although he recommended the breast, i'm always afraid that chicken breast will be dry, and as a rule, anything cooked on the bone is better. So i got a leg and thigh. Holy Mole BABY! Finally a mole that i like.. Even the other people at the table agreed that they don't usually like Mole but liked this one and would order it again! Chicken was soft, moist and tender; sauce was silky smooth and both savory and sweet at the same time.
The thicker homemade totillas were hot and really good, i found myself using it to sop up all the sauces of both dishes, which is just a civilized way of licking your plate. The portion of rice and beans seemed small but i did leave full and satisfied because of the tortillas and all the goodness of the sauces. This a casual, come as you are, not fancy place where its quality over quantity. (my kinda place)
an easy 3 stars, but any place that can get me to not only eat something that i didn't like but where i actually enjoy eating it... thats an automatic 4 stars for the mole! -
Review from Vera F.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2012
Food was delicious and authentic. Decor is simple. The service was very friendly. I asked our waiter for his favorite dish and it was a pork dish that was so delicious. It came with fresh home made tortillias which were delicious, nothing like the store bought kind. The margaritas were tasty, albeit weak on the tequila. I'm going back there!
-
Review from Harrison M.
San Diego, CA
11/17/2011
I love this place!. The only reason I gave it four starts instead of five is because one waiter is a jerk. I always request not to be served by him.
Here is how I judge them:
Mole Poblano 5 stars: I make my own from scratch and I travel to Casa De Mole in Tj at least twice a month. My recipe is based on my family in Mexico City's recipe. The mole is almost as good (I like a little darker taste, but understand they have to sell to more than just me)
Sopa Tlalpeno: mmmmmm 5 Stars
Salsa, green: 5 Stars
Chips and red salsa: 2 stars, the red salsa is disappointing and the chips are often wet which makes me think that the oil is not hot enough
Finally..... THE TORTILLAS!. 5 Big Beautiful Estrellas. These are the best tortillas I have had and justify the restaurant's name!
Having said all this, I have not tried their chilaqueles yet. But I have high hopes -
Review from Dave G.
Manhattan, NY
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
El Comal in a solid mexican restaurant, and definitely the best I've had in North Park.
The truth about their tacos is that it is really all about the tortilla. You could wrap up a fistful of gravel in their clearly house made tortillas and I'd eat it. Soft, warm, thick, clearly pressed by hand instead of extruded or cut by machine then griddled and stuffed with authentic stewed meats.
The grilled fish taco is great, and up until recently it was in spite of the use of tilapia and a ranch dressing style sauce instead of more traditional white sauce. Today I ordered take out and received a chipotle crema instead, which was awesome.
Other dishes that have been amazing: The smoked marlin tacos (they are a regular special, so no guarantees), and the chicken tacos. The cochinita is also really solid.
As far as the staples are concerned: chips are crunchy, denoting proper thickness and cooking technique. Salsas are good but not particularly memorable, and I feel the same way about the rice and beans.
The only dish that I have had that I wasn't a fan of was the ensalada de nopal.
Prices are excellent, service was friendly, operators are standing by. -
Review from Koreen O.
San Diego, CA
2/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Upon reading yelp buddies Adam T. & Leslie G. Hubby and I had to go! Oh yes' I agree with yelp buddies this is a MUST!
Upon entering I saw a clean and comfy cozy environment. We were acknowledged right away and seated. Chips and red and green salsa arrived promptly' both really good! I wanted authentic so ordered the Lengua in green sauce spicy. Waiter loved my choice and said this was a delicious dish! Hubby ordered Menudo without hominy(your choice with or without). Waiter came back truly sorry they were out of Lengua. Boo Hoo! ( Must be great to run out in the afternoon). I ordered chicken in green mole at his recommendation. Fresh not fatty and oh so good! But I must say Hubby's Menudo was "THE BEST". Oh Man!
I also noticed a lot of customers were ordering the Pozole, and all seemed quite happy! Soon my friend right after the Lengua! Soon, oh yes very soon!
Pricy? No, not for the quality!
Did I mention the Mojitos were fabulous and the guy on the Harp was awesome too! -
Review from Lance B.
San Diego, CA
9/22/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
An excellent Oaxacan style mexican food in the heart of North Park but just a few steps off from the beaten path. El Comal has an extensive menu that is slightly different from the typical San Diego taco shops you will find everywhere else. For example there are several dishes with nopal (cactus) which is for some reason uncommon at many other places I've found even though it grows wild in San Diego. Try their enselada de nopal to get a good taste of it. They also serve goat in several items which is prepared to be tender and delicious. Try a goat taco if you want to give it a taste.
I was here last night though and it had been a while, so there was no way i could resist to get their Mole con Pollo Verde. They had red, black, and green. I went for green because I've found it to be very rare and especially tasty. Even places that serve mole regularly do not usually have this verde style. Its made with cilantro and pumpkin seeds and probably dozens of other ingredients and is a specialty of the Oaxaca region. It packs a good kick and I ate probably 4-5 huge tacos of it using their hand-made tortillas which are probably the best tortillas I have had anywhere. I threw some nopal on top from my salad a few times which made me feel clever and creative.
I also appreciate that it doesnt seem like they dilute the spiciness of anything to pussyfy it for white people. El Comal keeps it real with traditional recipes. This is evident in the salsa they give you with the chips as an appetizer. The green and red salsas have about the same amount of heat, which I find perfect for my taste.
My dining partner also appreciated the vegetarian section with a good amount of options. Her soyrizo plate was impressive, and left her with plenty leftovers. Id be interested to try some of these options someday....
With the best mole and best tortillas witnessed by this Yelper in San Diego, it is worth giving El Comal a try. -
Review from H. S.
San Diego, CA
1/8/2012
Cochinita Pibil=Perfect Yucatecan dish.
Want a burrito? They don't have any on the menu. Want an Oaxacan delicacy? El Comal has it in spades. This is soul food and it's delicious. One star is deducted for weird hours of operation.
Take a date and try something awesome and totally different.
(On a personal note: If anyone knows of an exclusively Yucatecan restaurant closer than San Francisco, tell me immediately please and thank you.) -
Review from scott w.
San Diego, CA
10/5/2011
So, we've heard a lot about el comal, in good ways. We decided to try it out. We were a group of 5. I understood that this place was more authentic and homestyle mexican food - different from most restaurants in San Diego. I ordered the pork taco and the gordita exotica which had carne asada, nopales, mushroom, onion, cheese and sauce inside. My friends ordered enchiladas, tacos, chicken breast. We took 3 bites and all said at the same time, it's like cafeteria food. It had NO flavor. None. The pork taco I had which had chunks of pork had a red sauce on it. No flavor. Not to mention my first bite into it was a chunk of fat. Gross. I spit that out. FLAVORLESS. So I let that go, and tried the gordita. Deep fried pocket of bread stuffed with carne asada, cheese and veggies, sounds tasty right?
NO FLAVOR. nothing.
Service was really slow. I think a lot of people had a groupon style coupon, as did we. We bought it because we had heard so many good things about this place.
GROSS. I will never go back there again.
Flavorless cafeteria / hospital food. -
Review from kevin f.
San Diego, CA
2/22/2012
Standard Mexican.
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Review from Matt H.
El Cajon, CA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
We found this restaurant as a result of a daily save coupon that we took advantage of.
There was plenty of parking right in front of the place and we noted how it appeared to be a cool little 'house conversion' restaurant. Walked into the patio seating area, where you actually enter the restaurant and noticed that a dog groomer is on the same lot....you actually walk through the patio seating area to get to the dog groomer. I decided not to think too much about that.
We ordered queso fundido with chorizo for our appetizer. This is typically one of our favorite appetizers. This one, however, was tasteless.
My wife ordered the cheese enchilada and a cheese quesadilla (she really likes cheese!) The quesadilla is much different that most, it has cheese sealed into a sort of corn tortilla and deep fried. Seemed like cool thing. But the problem with the meal was the cheese, again no flavor at all.
I had the chuletas adobadas (seasoned pork chops). One word...SALTY!!! To the point where I would take a bit and cough due to the amount of salt.
While the staff was VERY pleasant, the service was definitely lacking. I was unable to get the attention of the waiter/bartender and had to go up and ask that our drinks be refilled. Service was just slow and unattentive.
Maybe we caught them on a bad day?? The place was far from packed so that can't be used as an excuse. -
Review from Carlo T.
San Diego, CA
1/25/2012 5 Check-ins Here
This is the real thing. I was extremely surprised to find authentic Mexican food in San Diego. I'm Mexican myself and I've traveled all over Mexico, so I can easily tell. I ordered the Chiles Rellenos dish, it was excellent, perfect flavor. In my opinion that's a difficult dish to get right, and they nailed it, I enjoyed every bite. My wife ordered Mole and it was excellent too. The tortillas are hand made, and the Agua de Horchata (a soft drink) was excellent too. Not to mention the excellent service and the extensive menu, there's something for everyone. I definitely recommend it and I will definitely return myself.
-
Review from Thomas T.
San Diego, CA
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was great. We had the smoked marlin tacos, veggie burrito and queso fundido. The tortillas for the tacos were especially good. They gave the same tortillas with the queso dip too. The free salsa has a nice kick which I always love. Everything tasted very authentic.
Our server was really nice and genuinely happy to serve us which makes the experience that much better.
I wasn't a fan of the clear plastic table cloths on the inside tables but that's a minor quibble in the whole scheme. -
Review from Tracy M.
Phoenix, AZ
10/16/2011
First, a big thanks to all the SD Yelpers as I would have never found El Comal without you!!
It was our last night in town and we were looking for something non-chain near where we were staying. I had tampiquena, a dish you really don't see that often back home (not sure why) but it gives you a chance to try a few different things on one plate. My buddy had a chicken taco and pork tamal. The entrees were quite good, very flavorful. The only disappointment was that the rice and beans just didn't hold their own next to the entrees. I would certainly return to El Comal when I'm in town again!! -
Review from Chris C.
San Diego, CA
10/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I loved their rice, super different and tasty - the beans were a bit watery, need to let 'em thicken but great flavor. Fish tacos were stuffed full and the sauce and veggies were so super fresh - bite into a mexican fiesta! It's a party in my mouth!
The chips were good and fresh and the salsa was 'perky' and well done.
The server was the sweetest man every - he took such good care of us.
I'll going again soon! -
Review from Tanisha C.
San Diego, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, 4 star average? I had high hopes, and was excited to try some excellent food, but left disappointed. The server didn't know about the Google Offer I presented to her and asked me if I couldn't have printed it. What for? Isn't the whole point of having these on a mobile device is to save paper? No other business seems to have a problem with the deals they run for their own establishments, so...
We weren't offered chips and salsa like they offered everyone else around us. So... we sat there, patiently, until we finally got someone's attention and asked for it. The almost-thrown-down-in-front-of-us food (torta de adobada and chilaquiles) was kind of soggy and nothing special.
Perhaps we were missing something, but all we saw were shockingly poor attitudes and just-OK food here. There are plenty of other places with better food and service that actually want our business, right? Right. NEXT! -
Review from tricia w.
Brooklyn, NY
7/21/2011
Eveyrthing is yummy here! This is where I my friends go when we just want amazing mexican food that is not out of a stand or hole in the wall.
No matter, try their soups with their hand made tortillas - put some lime and salt on your tortilla and dip it into their beautiful chicken broth - it's all made with love.
ANd if you are really mexicana - you'll love their nopales ensalada con queso - it will bring you back memories of being in Oaxaca.
QUeso Fundido is melty in your mouth happiness !
They have lovely bands perform on the weekends. -
Review from Leslie K.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2012
We have elevated ourselves to "regulars" status mostly for weekend breakfast but also the now and then dinner. What we love is the feeling that you are actually in Mexico, the food, the ambience, the people and of course, the quirky inconsistency from time to time. Love the pork tamale in banana leaf, love the chilaquiles in green sauce, terrific machaca (I am a true expert on this dish), my husband and son in law love the goat, wonderful posole....our friends swear by the mole, Tom can't eat it due to his severe peanut allegy but we hear it is to die for! (in his case literally - bada bing). We love this place, the flavors are authentic, there are random and varied musical guests (combo, harpist), great margaritas and a very nice locals vibe....we like the wait staff too even when imperfect. That is all part of the charm....
-
Review from Blanche R.
San Diego, CA
1/10/2012
This is a great little hole in the wall place, they are nothing fancy just awesome home cooked food. The home made tortillas are amazing and the pozole. Staff are friendly and the place is cute. Don't recommend sitting outside when it's warm, the flies are a pain.
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Review from Leia A.
San Diego, CA
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I LOVE!!!! this place I always sit at the bar which makes me feel a little guilty for not using their super cute out door patio area. This is the place to come if you want a nice relaxed sit down mexican food.
Their Tacos are the P-jam btw. Goat taco? How about Abobada? Fucking sweet sweet yummies! And at like 2.50 a piece hello!
And hello Mexican Coffee how are you today? Good? Good. -
Review from Cheryl D.
San Diego, CA
2/10/2012
My bestie and I tried out this place last night using a Google offer. Walked into a cute little place excited based on yelp reviews. EH. Chips and salsa were decent. I ordered the cheese enchiladas, bestie got the mole. My enchiladas tasted metallic-y, not sure what was going on there. I tasted her mole sauce and that was pretty good. There just wasnt a lot of flavor developed in these dishes. I'd be willing to try it again, but I wouldnt go out of my way to go there.
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Review from Aron S.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
What's all the hoopla about? The best part of the evening was the loud but very tight Cuban trio. The green salsa was watery and close to fermenting and the red was forgettable. Chips werent hot and were thin and greasy. Beers are $5/bottle for domestic US/Mexican. Ouch! Guacamole was tasty and fresh. Cochinita Pibil very good, excellent seasoning and tender meat. Enchiladas were very good but different than run of mill. Plates served with fresh white rice and fried beans. Goat taco was a miss, gamey and unremarkable tortilla and garnish. Service friendly and attentive.
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Review from Mari A.
San Diego, CA
7/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Used my Groupon for dinner here with my brother. We made it in time for Happy Hour but unfortunately was not able to use it. :( Bummer..
BUT the food was exceptional! The guacamole, chips, and salsa we're really good. I had the Bistek Ranchero and forgot what my brother got but he liked it and mine was really good with the tortillas, guac, rice, etc!
Margarita was decent, nothing out of this world but didn't suck enough to kick me out. I would have ordered another one if it was time to party. ;)
Only other thing that was a bummer was that service was slow. There was only two of them there and a decent amount of people. Because I had the groupon, it seemed like it took him twice as long to get my card back to me.
But other than that, I'd come back! Especially to try their chiliquiles.. steak and eggs. That actually looked pretty bomb! -
Review from Jason L.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2011
No wonder I've walked past this place close to 50 times and have never stopped to so much as look at the menu....
While I had hope for the food being "authentic", I was let down in so many ways.
There is nothing better than biting into lukewarm chicken wrapped in lukewarm tortillas. After about 10 min of inattentiveness i was able to send it back. The same dish was promptly brought back to me...microwaved? Really? For a Thursday night I expected way better service and hot food. I will not be returning. The waiter didnt offer me a menu to get something else, simply took my plate and said "you should have said something sooner" I just looked at him with a "c'mon" look on my face.
Save your money, save the frustration. -
Review from Thomas H.
San Diego, CA
8/24/2011
Went here the other night after reading that this was a good place for "authentic" Mex in San Diego. I didn't think finding "authentic" in San Diego was that big of a deal, but whatevs.
First, the wait staff. Everyone we dealt with was super nice. The waiter who took our food order and talked to us about the menu was great. Cute guy, really sweet and friendly. 5 stars for him, and for the other guy who came with our drinks.
Second, the food. Meh. Definitely far from the worst I'd ever had, but nothing really excited me. The salsas our server put on the table were delicious, especially the salsa verde. I ate a ton of this salsa verde throughout the meal because frankly, everything else I had was kind of lacking in flavor or excitement.
The chips were appalling. Not only were they cold; they were greasy. A definite no-no from any Mexican restaurant that wishes to call itself "authentic." I actually should have complained --- our waiter was nice enough that he might have done something about it. Oh, well.
We ordered a hurache as an appie because I'd never had one before, and the waiter said they were his favorite. It was basically a thick tortilla with lettuce, cheese and some carne asade. That's it. It wasn't horrifying or anything but it just didn't taste interesting at all. The meat had litle to no seasoning (hence my thing with the salsa verde.)
We also had a tamale - with pork. This was the best thing we had all night. It was actually a very nice tamale, and if it hadn't been for this (and the service) I would have given El Comal 2 stars instead of 3. It came wrapped in a banana leaf which made it all that more moist and enjoyable. The pork inside was nicely seasoned too.
As an entree we split a chile relleno. Meh. Nothing horrible but nothing special. It required a healthy dose of salsa verde to give it a little zing and flavor.
I had wanted to try the Caldo 7 Mares but I was too full. So if I go back, it will be to get a tamale and try the soup. And hopefully to see the cute waiter again. But other than for those two reasons, I don't see myself returning here anytime soon. Too bad too, because it's close to home for me. But the food at OTMC is tastier than this, which is sad to say because people love to dump on the Old Town places, and probably for good reason. -
Review from Diana G.
San Diego, CA
2/4/2012
I love this place. The staff are extremely quick and efficient, personable, and know me and my girlfriend the moment we walk in the door. They really take the time to give you a great, homey experience. The chicken with red mole makes me want to cry when it is gone. It's that good. I haven't tried the mole verde yet, but I hear it's amazing. It's a pretty rare find, so definitely try it if you have never been here before. This is delicious Mexican soul food at reasonable prices.
