On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina

Service was slow at the beginning but then she «woke up» and got better.
Food was good and price was OK.

I liked this place. We sat out on the patio with our doggie. They had some music playing that was WAY too loud for a Saturday afternoon at 12:00…it sounded more like a bar at midnight out there. I requested that the music be turned down but nope, nothing was done.
The food was good with large portions. They have a «healthy menu» which both me and the hubs ordered from. I had a HUGE salad and he had… well…I can’t remember what he had. Tacos? Enchiladas? I can’t remember anything except that he ordered off the «low cal, low fat healthy menu». Anyhoo… he said the food was good.
Service was pretty good. I had to flag down the waitress for drink refills a couple of times and the restaurant was not really that busy.
Some guy in street clothes (the manager maybe) even came around and asked how everything was and if we needed refills. We said «yes» but never got anything. Still, we had an enjoyable time here and ate some good food. I would return.

I’ve been a huge fan of the OTB chain from back when I lived in Texas. Thus far it’s the only place I’ve come to find in SoCal with REAL queso!
We came here recently for a family celebration. We ordered some queso and of course their yummy margaritas! The salsa here is super yummy too — and if you’re anything like me — good salsa is usually a huge factor to how your food will taste. The menu is pretty extensive and offers a variety of entrees. Some of my favorites are the fajitas, brisket tacos and of course the chimichanga! This place is also very veg friendly and will accommodate their menu as best they can.
We sat outside on the patio and I was disappointed to see the TVs weren’t on. The service was friendly, but there were times where we couldn’t find our waitress and it got frustrating. We waited about 45 minutes for our food because there was a mishap going on in the kitchen, from what the manager explained to us. While I appreciate them initiating to let us know. I just wish our food actually came out hot after the long wait for it. one of our drink orders took a while to come out as well. The manager explained to us the bartender got behind.
I do appreciate the management making the effort to make good on the kitchen issues going on. Overall, I think it would have been nicer to know sooner than 45 minutes after placing your order and certainly ensure the food comes out hot. I’m hoping this was just an off day for the restaurant, because the service and how behind they got, really put a damper on the experience.

This review is strictly for Taco Tuesday!
PRICES
Honestly with prices like these, you gotta love ‘em.
— $ 2 for 2 empanadas (unheard of, right?)
— $ 1.50 tacos (beef, chicken and the tacos can come crispy or regular)
— $ 4 for draft beers, house margaritas
TASTE TEST
I wasn’t expecting too much from the empanada because it’s on the happy hour menu. It’s definitely not something to look past, however. I’m almost positive if I got the chimichanga (HH, $ 3), they probably shared the same beef, which I’m okay with :).
The tacos were very refreshing. Not greasy like most late-​night runs to the nearest Mexican joint. The crispy one was better, in my opinion. Something satisfying about that CRUNCH.
The house margarita was nothing too spectacular. Gave a nice little buzz, so at least I know there was something in there, haha!
SERVICE
Very attentive. They run a little low on Taco Tuesday menus, though! They also offer complimentary chips and salsa when you first arrive.
Yum! Would dine here again if I’m ever in the area on a Tuesday :).

Came here for Taco Tuesday which also happens to be happy hour. Which is a pro and a con. Pro — Lots of food and drink items to chose from. Con — It brings in a lot of people.
Came at about 7:30 and the inside and outside bar area is full and you have to sit in the bar area for Taco Tuesday. So we had to wait around for about 20 mins or so scouting/​stalking for tables about to open up.
Once we were seating, service was great. Their salsa has a smokey heat to it that you wouldnt expect. Its very tasty. One negative though is that their tortilla chips are HUGE. Its literally half a corn tortilla. I guess it saves them time from cutting them into strips or something, but I have to put my hands all over the chips to break them into edible sizes. Really only a concern if youre here with a group of germaphobes.
The tacos are 1.50 for chicken, shredded beef, ground beef, or pork. 2.50 for Southwest chicken which comes with a chipotle sauce and fried onions, or for a couple bucks more, they have brisket and something else. I stuck with chicken and shredded beef. I thought both had good flavor. They come with lettuce, cheese, and a couple chunks of tomato. You have the option of crispy or soft shell, just like every other place. For $ 1 each, you can also add a side of rice or beans.
We also got a guac appetizer for 2 bucks. Their guacamole has alot of lime juice in it. So that could be good or bad depending on how much you like lime.
I would recommend ordering a couple appetizers because it took a bit of time for our tacos to arrive. Other than that, I enjoyed my experience here.

I went here a couple of weeks back with my best friend. I got street tacos (steak) with rice /​beans. Which I would highly recommend. They melt the cheese on your tortillas and it’s soooo good. My best friend got three carnitas tacos al a carte. She said hers were exceptional as well! Then we got Sopapillas and the Kahlúa Ice Cream Pie for dessert which was AMAZING and so yummy!
Plus the service was wonderful. Our waitress’s name was Rochelle L. She was very attentive and nice ! Great job !

I have only ever come here for Taco Tuesdays. We do not eat at any Mexican restaurants other than those owned by my MIL and SIL (and I have not reviewed those… though I do check-​in). But we have long come here for TT. My review is more like 3.5 *, but I’m rounding up today.
In the bar/​cantina area, which is about ½ the restaurant space since remodeling, all of the tables, but one, are high tops. It’s not the most comfortable set-​up, especially if one is short. Or old. I guess then you sit elsewhere, but then you miss the cantina feel (all the TV screens) and the hubbub.
The chicken and beef crispy tacos are the best (regular beef, not ground beef). You can get soft tacos, but they are not as flavorful.
I think the tacos are $ 1.25 each, and they are big, juicy and very flavorful. I don’t know what seasonings they use, but the flavor is consistently good. I usually have two, which is plenty, but I crave more. We also get the Happy Hour guacamole, which is small, quite small, but enough as an addition to the tacos, and it’s cheap.
My wife also gets an order or two of flour tortillas, which she says taste just like her mom’s, to eat rolled up just with salsa. Our daughter likes those, too.
The cheese quesadilla is good, though small. I never notice the price, but if it’s more than $ 3, I’ll be pissed next time.
The Happy Hour Dos X beer served in a huge, ice cold mug for $ 3 ties it all together. A screaming deal.
We go home full and content.

It’s been awhile since I have been here. The place is an older restaurant but I love the taste of the food. My daughter liked it too. They messed up her order at first but quickly corrected it. The chips and salsa are delicious. I got a mango chicken salad. It was pretty good. My mom got the spinach and mushrooms enchiladas. They both were good.

Heard some great things about the place and tried it out with friends while in the area. I wouldn’t come here again.
The service was okay. The menu was okay. The food taste was okay. The prices were okay. The ambiance is okay.
There is literally nothing special about this place. It doesn’t offer anything new or extraordinary so i would skip it and head somewhere else.

Kind of OK
The service was kind of slow and server was kind of nice. The inside was kind of warm. The food was kind of good. And I kind of want to go back — but sometimes I kind of don’t.
It kind of works if you’re craving mexican food. I kind of recommend it, but not fully.

I guess the day I went (for my previous review) was a fluke… as every time since then has not been good.
I usually go for lunch, by myself — since it is somewhat close to my work, and its never too busy for me to get a table.
The service is so incredibly slow. Every time.
The chip guy places the chips down, I say thank you… he walks away. No acknowledgement. I ask for lemon in my water, I dont get it.
The food is just ok in my opinion. The ground beef is different to me. Im not a fan.
Today I received an email, stating «Free Stacked Nachos». Cantina Members only. You did not need the email, it said. I took it anyway. No one knew what I was talking about, even with the email. The waitress said she would ask the manager, I had asked if it was an appetizer or lunch sized portion. She came back asking if I wanted ground beef or chicken, and I said ground beef, and asked the size again. She said no one knew.
What was brought out to me, I believe was a last minute creation, on a small appetizer platter. Chips, one bite of ground beef, 2 days supply of sour cream, some jalapenos and about a bite sized amount of refried beans. Mostly chips. Oh, and a few tomatoes and cheese shreds. It was not good.
I think I will find another Mexican restaurant to go to, as this one seems to disappoint far too often. Perhaps its why I can always easily find a seat during lunch hour.

I’ve become to trust Unilocalers more on the reviews. When many people are dissatisfied with something, I should keep that in mind.
I ordered The ultimate fajita and a full rack of ribs. We just wanted to balance out with the coupon deal — buy one entrée and get one free deal– so ordered two of the same priced menus.
Food is ok. Carneasada, shrimp and pulled pork are not salty and cooked right. Love the grilled veggies. Beans and rice are ok, not too salty, I have had the saltiest foods at other places. I don’t expect much blandness and no salt for restaurant foods anymore. I learned to compromise with sodium addicted people’s tastebuds.
Chips are salty, salsa is salty and spicy to me but those are complimentary, so I dont get too critical about them. I just don’t eat them.
Ribs are a bit dry, pretty salty and sweet. Meat still comes off the bone easily. Side fries, I don’t bother them, they are just plate fillers.
The coupon deal was just $ 10 off with their own restriction, that was a bummer.
A star off because my waitress didn’t mention about extra charge when I asked for a lil more guacamole. Instead, she surprised me with the additional charge for that on my bill.
Overall, food taste is worth 3 stars I think. Items I ordered were ok, at least not too greasy.

Menu, lots of great choices!
Overall a pretty decent restaurant with good food. I have been to the one in San Diego quite a few times– mainly to drink… so I never really had their food.
My mom and sister came out to visit me and my sister chose this place because she loves it! She always gets the shrimp fajitas– and she got that again! I got the chicken & steak fajitas. HUGE portions. The steak was better then the chicken in my opinon. My sisters shrimp looked great! We did order 2 kids meal for my twin nieces, and they were huge portions as well– one would of been plenty.
The service was good– our waitress was very attentive, wish I remembered her name. Overall 3.5 stars, good food, great drinks, great portions!