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Del Mar Zone Reccos

afoaf

afoaf

Duke status
Jun 25, 2008
49,762
23,384
113
I have a good friend visiting San Diego...he is staying along the 56 corridor east of Del Mar

I'm looking for the goto taco joint recommendation, any other really noteworthy stuff that someone from Boston should hit while they are in California, and extra credit points for some roots vietnamese pointers in Mira Mesa.

I am on an airplane and don't want to be the skeevy guy looking at bikini babes so I'll post the "for your troubles" in a follow up reply when I can do proper research.

Thank you, gentlemens.
 
92122

92122

Michael Peterson status
Jul 29, 2015
2,627
1,064
113
Robertos on Carmel Valley Road (which the 56 fwy ends at) and right across the street from the Penasquitos Lagoon and Torrey Pines State Beach North has been there since the early 80's and is still pretty good, though certainly not the best Taco shop in San Diego by a long shot.

The Robertos on the Coast Highway 101 in Solana Beach may have been the original establishment and is still there. You can walk from that location to Tabletops Reef and Seaside Reef in North Solana Beach > Cardiff.

My go to now is Lolitas, which has several locations: https://lolitasmexicanfood.com/


I'm not going to recommend much in Mira Mesa, but for Vietnamese in Del Mar, check this place out. Has won awards since the early 90's and is still run by the family. Been going here since I was a kid.

Le Bambou Restaurant

As a family owned restaurant, we at Le Bambou have been serving Vietnamese cuisine to the San Diego/Del Mar area since 1986.
lebambourestaurant.com lebambourestaurant.com


My pride and nostalgia for Del Mar, the 92014, runs deep, with my family having lived there since 1982, and the memories of so many friends being baby sat by the beach as kids. Still looking for that "17th Street" sign. I live in nearby 92122 now hence the screen name.
 
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crustBrother

crustBrother

Kelly Slater status
Apr 23, 2001
9,349
5,557
113
92122 said:
The Robertos on the Coast Highway 101 in Solana Beach may have been the original establishment and is still there. You can walk from that location to Tabletops Reef and Seaside Reef in North Solana Beach > Cardiff.
Click to expand...
just ate there a couple of times and was sorely disappointed in the carne asada burrito both times but... it was a fun hang
 
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Belchfire1

Belchfire1

Nep status
Jun 27, 2013
866
376
63
Encinitas
Solana Beach has some cool stuff close to Del Mar
Belly Up- Good music venue
Roberto's Tacos- see post above
Fidel's Little Mexico- Good mex grub
Simalin Thai- Thai food, duh

SurfRide, Mitches and and Rusty shop all nearby with good board porn
 
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T

tsenn

Billy Hamilton status
Feb 11, 2004
1,358
177
63
san diego
Though classic places, the Roberto's are average at best these days, but may be worth it for the nostalgia...I like Belchfire's recommendations of Solana Beach...they could also hit the Brig with a view of the track for fish tacos then head up the coast...And, we are currently full of Bostonian's so not excepting any more moving here...
 
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sdsrfr

sdsrfr

Phil Edwards status
Jul 13, 2020
5,998
11,513
113
San Diego
I used to hate Roberto’s in Del Mar by TP st beach with a passion.

long lines, over priced for the serving size, inconsistent quality, at least was the case 10yrs ago when I lived up the street and it was walking distance for me.

we coined the phrase “sour cream bomb” bc they used to put a huge scoop of sour cream at one end of the burrito and ruin the knuckle.

Do your self a favor and visit the neighboring Solana beach and Cardiff areas. Lourdes Mexican and Fish 101 in Cardiff are next to each-other and both worth a visit.

lasfly, regardless where you go, be sure to experience a California burrito at least once in your lifetime.
 
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I

i_ride_spinnaz

OTF status
Aug 19, 2020
349
724
93
Every Mexican place around here has that one thing that they specialize in. As such, the only thing I ever order at Robertos is the California Burrito. They make a good one. I'm partial to the Solana location.

Fish 101 overrated. Was pretty disappointed last time I ate there and no desire to go back. If you've had good sea food its pretty whatevers.

Lourdes has good soup.

Jorges has good soup too

Fidels overrated too. Used to be a regular there when I used to drink and do tons of blow. Last couple times I went back and the meal was pretty sub-par without my tequila and cocaine blinders on.

Let me know if you want a list of all the other overrated food spots in our beautiful area.
 
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Geopac

Geopac

Billy Hamilton status
Jul 28, 2003
1,369
599
113
Ballast Point
My new favorite North County spot is Pure Taco in Carlsbad Village. Not authentic Mexican but more fresh-Mex. Everything on the menu is mouth watering fresh, and bursting with flavor. And the Poke nachos...... NEXT FRIGGIN LEVEL!
I highly recommend.
www.mypuretaco.com

PURETACO

Pure Taco is a global taco bar with an internationally flavored menu, hand pressed tortillas, specialty cocktails and local beers on tap. Carlsbad, San Diego, California, Taco, Burrito, Ahi-Poke, Carnitas, Tequila, Don Julio, Street Tacos, Mexican Food, Machaca, Paloma, Quesadilla, Carne Asada, Past
www.mypuretaco.com www.mypuretaco.com
 
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sdsrfr

sdsrfr

Phil Edwards status
Jul 13, 2020
5,998
11,513
113
San Diego
i_ride_spinnaz said:
Every Mexican place around here has that one thing that they specialize in. As such, the only thing I ever order at Robertos is the California Burrito. They make a good one. I'm partial to the Solana location.

Fish 101 overrated. Was pretty disappointed last time I ate there and no desire to go back. If you've had good sea food its pretty whatevers.

Lourdes has good soup.

Jorges has good soup too

Fidels overrated too. Used to be a regular there when I used to drink and do tons of blow. Last couple times I went back and the meal was pretty sub-par without my tequila and cocaine blinders on.

Let me know if you want a list of all the other overrated food spots in our beautiful area.
Click to expand...
Review En Fuego next!

also, I heard las olas is not what it used to be since Covid.
 
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SurfMission

SurfMission

Gerry Lopez status
Apr 13, 2009
1,218
1,080
113
I second Fish 101 sucking. Don't waste your time. I felt ripped off the last time I was there.

Impossible to recommend places for someone you don't know. Are they foodies? Lots of off the beaten path stuff to find. Tijuana, for instance. Fat midwesterners? I see a line down the street at Taco Stand every day. Send them there and they can have the "Encinitas Experience". Drinkers? PB would be perfect. Lots of variables to consider. The algorithm needs more data.
 
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92122

92122

Michael Peterson status
Jul 29, 2015
2,627
1,064
113
sdsrfr said:
Review En Fuego next!
Click to expand...
Just went there a few weeks ago for the first time in a long time on a Thursday evening and the service was pretty terrible. It appeared that there was no GM on duty and it was being run by a bunch of kids and random staff. No hostess present at the front when I went looking for service either.
 
S

Senor Sopa

Billy Hamilton status
Mar 11, 2015
1,379
2,186
113
Ponto
Peeps are pushing Roberto's? I'd rather go to taco bell.
How far are we expecting the visitor to travel to get a bleepin taco?
Plenty of good stores in the 56 region.

sdsrfr said:
Review En Fuego next!
also, I heard las olas is not what it used to be since Covid.
Click to expand...
Las Olas, was never good. It was ok, and fun, but never good.
En fuego? You go there to get laid...


tenover said:
"gas station tacos".....that's all I'm going to say. North of Del Mar, South of Leucadia, off Highway 5.
Click to expand...
Si, Cancun in the cheapest gas station around.


plasticbertrand said:
La Especial Norte in Leukadia is a must.
Best Tlalpeño soup ever.

Bonus: you may see your favorite shaper there and ask if your board is ready. I used to bump into Pavel there a few times, maybe you even get your deposit back. :dancing:

maps.app.goo.gl

La Especial Norte · 4.4★(1079) · Mexican restaurant

664 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
Click to expand...
Best advice so far on this topic Doubt about Pavel, you may see MacNabb or Hollingsworth though, Burch prolly goes there too.
 
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