Mexicocina Restaurant & Cantina

The worst! Service level could care less about «serving» us, much less meeting any of the basic services levels one would expect at a full service restaurant. Wanted to order on large entrée to share with my son and was told there would be $ 2 extra dollars for that … not $ 2 for it to be split, with separate rice and beans …$ 2 just to get an extra empty plate! We ordered a Carne Asada Quesada (how can you screw that up?), the quality of meat used and the cheese was NOT worth the $ 9 paid and created a run to bathroom (I know TMI, sorry). Taco Bell is gourmet compared to this supposed «authentic» full service Mexican restaurant. The one star is for the Bud Light they popped open and served without a challenge. There are plenty of other choices for great Mexican food, keep driving!

I got talked in to going here once again by my coworkers. Same story– still awful. Employees rude providing poor service and the food was terrible. This used to be one of Poway’s favorite for many years. They have the right location and one of the few eateries in Poway with outdoor seating and they still manage to fail.
My suggestion is for the current owners to sell to someone with restaurant experience to turn this place around. Go to Alberto’s better food and much cheaper.

The waitress from hell told me to sit where ever I wanted. She comes over and hands me a menu. I ordered a cup of albondigas soup for $ 3.95 and a Shirley Temple. She placed a basket of 10 chips on my table. After I told her that my order was completed, she stares at my bowl of 10 chips. She tells me that chips do not come with my soup because my order is less than $ 5.00. I asked her if she prefer that I leave and take my money elsewhere. She becomes loud and tells me that these are the rules of the restaurant and she is explaining the rules to me. The next time she will have to take my chips away if I order under $ 5.00. Yes, she actually said that to me. Well, with my drink order, my bill came to $ 8.05, but the nazi waitress didn’t apologize. I will not be back until she is fired or sells the joint because I suspect that she is the owner or the owner’s relative. Otherwise, why would they keep that paragon of customer service on staff?

This will sum up my experience: food 5 stars, service negative 2. Therefore I have to give this spot 3 stars for average.
Let me start off by saying as soon as we walked in we were told to sit anywhere because the whole place was empty. Then we were given our menus and not even a minute later the waitress was bugging us to order. I’m literally still putting my baby in her high chair! She kept pressuring us to order as if she needed our table. There was no one there!!! When we did finally order my friend asked for more salsa to accompany her meal. She gave my friend a weird look and pointed to the half eaten salsa we already devoured with our chips. Um, yes fresh salsa please? Expressionless she came back and put salsa on the table.
Food: I ordered the chicken flautas which come with a side of rice and beans. Amazing! The flautas were lightly crisped, full of delicious flavor and melt in your mouth cheese. The two flautas her huge so you have to eat them with a fork. The beans and rice were good, and hot so that was nice. Chips and salsa– delicious!
Ambiance and atmosphere– well come on a Saturday for lunch because you’ll have the restaurant to yourself!

I come here probably once a week for lunch and occasionally at night for the bar. Good food for good prices. Great drinks for great prices. Bartender is a heavy pour and she’s super nice. Their lunch specials are a legit deal! Local crowd at night. Not cliquey like the Poway Pub though *relief* easy to get to and there’s always somewhere to park in the shopping center. My favorite food item is the beef taco or chorizo & eggs. Bloody Mary’s here are on point! I hear they have a Sunday brunch too but I have yet to come to that yet. Will update when I do. Check them out!

My husband and I visit this restaurant a few times a month. I love the #2 combo, beef enchiladas. The meat is deliciously seasoned making the enchilada that much better. Service is fast and very efficient and the atmosphere is comfortable and homey. I love that they have an outside patio area and are very dog friendly, offering your pet water and possible a special treat. They also have a bar area with television and full restaurant menu. Give this place a try.

The first time we visited Mexicocina, my mom and I decided to just drive around town to find a new place to eat lunch on a weekday. We were intrigued by the building, and decided to try it. We ordered two combo plates (mine was an enchilada, can’t remember what my mom had). There were only a few other customers at that time (it was around 1−2pm), so Angie started talking to us. She brought us free flan, and I enjoyed my kahlua drink. We really enjoyed hearing her story, and the story of how she became the owner of the restaurant. That was about a year ago.
We were so enchanted by the restaurant that we have eaten here two more times. It’s become the restaurant we go to whenever I’m in San Diego. The second time was for dinner on Mother’s Day, and I got huevos con chorizo. It had been about 6 months since the last time, so we weren’t sure Angie would remember us, but as soon as she saw us she hugged us and brought us free Jell-​O shots. I liked my Malibu sprite.
The last time was last night, with my mom and her friend. I had the garlic lemon shrimp, which was so perfectly sweet and garlicky. My mom got the beef fajitas, and the beef was juicy and tender. Needless to say, it’s become a new memory place.

I just left this restaurant about 20 minutes ago after eating here for the first time and it was awful.
First, we walk in and the server told us to sit anywhere. We sat down and waited for a good 10 minutes before anyone came by to take our drink order/​bring us chips, and there was only one other table there. Right off the bat the server was extremely rude and mute. Like we ordered our drinks and she didn’t say a single word, she just stood there, didn’t even say hello when she approached us. Throughout the entire meal the server was extremely rude. The worst was after eating my salad I discovered a thick black hair in my food. The server came over and I told her and showed her the hair and she just picked up the plate and walked away. She didn’t apologize, she didn’t offer to get me another salad and she also charged me for a salad I didn’t eat. I did end up asking for another salad, but the exchange was rude and cold like I was inconveniencing her for asking for another.
Now for the food. The portions were small and barely edible. Everything was store bought and bland. Canned refried beans that they somehow managed to burn. The entire experience was bad and I honestly don’t know how they’re still in business. Avoid this place at all costs.

Disappointed! Wanted to keep my money on Poway however this place wasn’t very good. They wanted to charge me extra to allow my 8 yr old son to eat rice off my plate and the portion of guacamole, sour cream and pico for my fajitas was super sad… Save your time and money.

I really wish that we liked this place more. My mom and I were wanting Mexican food and I remembered seeing Mexicocina while driving by in the past, so we decided to give it a try despite the average rating.
Ambiance: I love the feel that this place has. They are already all decorated for fall and have a large, outdoor, dog friendly patio. One side of the building is the bar and the other is the restaurant.
Service: Our food was brought out quickly, but the chips and salsa took a little while to arrive when we sat. Also, my mom asked for an extra salsa bowl, but they forgot and she had to get up and ask the woman again. The problem is that there was only one server. Though it was not overly crowded, they could have used a second set of hands.
Food: Here in lies the real problem. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the mahi mahi tacos, which were fine, but I would not order them again. The fish was good, but the taco was stuffed with shredded cheese that looked and tasted store bought. I was simply eating bites of cheese for most of my tacos. The rice and beans were very generic and bland. My mom ordered the steak fajitas and they were not great. The meat was overcooked, very tough and had little to no flavor. She said she probably would not order them again. Their one saving grace is that the chips and salsa were very tasty.
Though we love the setting of Mexicocina, we will be frequenting Lienzo Charro down the road instead.

Worth the visit. Excellent salsa, guacamole, chilli relleno, and the dining atmosphere is very comfortable and welcoming!

Love this place. The environment is amazing and it is a very cute place. My boyfriend and I have been going there for 2 months now and are very happy with the service. Angie is very friendly and makes us feel welcome and comfortable while we are there. I am never disappointed with the food. There are many great options and the soup is amazing as well. Great little place to catch up with friends or do a little lunch date with your love. Highly recommend this place to anyone.

My first time here. It’s noon. Not crowded which is really nice… I ordered a beef taco with a side of guacamole, & a cheese enchilada combination plate. I can’t eat pinto beans so I’m really glad they had black beans. The guacamole was outstanding… I usually only like my own recipe. Cost $ 12.45… I had to pay $ 2.25 for the guacamole. I don’t know. seems pricey mayb not… But I don’t eat out that much… and I’m an excellent cook and I can make my own Mexican food. All was excellent, excellent service and a cute place.

Our family has been eating here for many years — such great food, such great service! I do have to say that since Angie has become the owner, the food is even better (who knew it could get any better) and Angie has earned a special place in our hearts! We come for breakfast on the patio on Sunday mornings and have come in to find her washing dishes and waiting tables simultaneously, wearing that beautiful big smile and remembering that we love
diet cokes with our chips and salsa in the Sunday morning sunshine, without being reminded!
She makes everyone feel like family… she is amazing!!!
Our favorite Mexican food anywhere… always will be!!!
Mike and Chris Allen

Great chips and salsa! Cadillac margaritas are the best!!! And now they serve breakfast all day. Love this place!

My husband and I were looking for a dine in place in poway that serves margaritas and great food! Unfortunately, we did not find that here. The waitress said they are making a new list. So my only option was House or Premium margaritas.
My menu was sticky which grossed me out. I ordered Fish tacos and Chilli Rellano and I was very disappointed. Now I’m comparing this to the taco shops around poway area. The fish taco was bland and Chilli rellano tasted funny. The sauce on it was gelatinous which should be a creamy sauce instead. I couldn’t believe it! My husband got a BQQ burrito and he had a «pinch» of lettuce on the side. Anyways, I should’ve notice the empty seats before actually sitting down.

This place needs to close down if Angie is still running it, watch out for used guacamole and sour cream from previous customers that didn’t finish it. Sucks I had to give it a star for review!!! STAY AWAY!!! law suite in place!

10/​22/​2009
I have been eating here since I was 2. I am glad they have made it 31 years. The food is very good. I usually get the carne asada burrito with melted cheese and red sauce on top. The service is good. Warning Friday nights get really packed, so go early. Good prices. Go here and enjoy some great Mexican food.
5÷4÷2015
What happened to this place??? The new owners have destroyed this Poway treasure.
My family and I went here on Saturday. Biggest mistake of my life. Not only is this restaurant on my ban list, I never want to eat out again. The place was dead. I remember when you would have to wait to get in. The bar was a ghost town. The chips and salsa were pretty good. When we ordered we had to tell the order at least three times. The food came out wrong and was not that good. The beans were not edible. People please do not support this place. It is a great location and the outside tables are very nice. A better restaurant needs to move in. I have never been this frustrated making an order. Never again!!!

I’m a native of Poway and I’ve been going here since I was much younger and I always looked forward to going. They had large portions, great food, great service, and awesome salsa.
It’s been about a year since I’ve been here, and boy has things changed. First off, the place was empty, with only one old waitress which is never a good sign. The chips seemed like they were store bought and the salsa was watery and bland with no taste. The food was also bland and tasted microwaved and not fresh. The chili relleno’s cheese was microwaved as I eluded to earlier. The fajitas were extremely greasy and lacked seasoning and was very small portioned. The meal was served with the stingiest amount of refried beans, rice, sour cream, and guacamole. The sour cream and guacamole was the size of a dime. Absolutely pathetic and I was still hungry when I left.
After we sat down, two other parties were dinning, which overwhelmed the waitress. She never asked us how our meal was or if we needed anything, or filled our waters. She wasn’t very friendly and never anticipated our needs.
It’s sad that this place has completely changed even though the owner’s the same. I doubt I’ll be back and wouldn’t be surprised if this place goes out of business soon. I should have went down the street and got tacos or a burrito from down the street at Aibertos.

Never ever again will I come to this restaurant. First of all customer service = awful. My bf and I arrived and it seemed pretty busy. We sat down while all the servers and an older lady, who I assume was the manager walked by for about 15 mins. Nobody said I will be right with you or even smiled. The older lady crudely walked up with a basket of chips and screamed to the server across the restaurant «Is this for them»? She sighed and slammed them on the table without even making eye contact. I finally ordered my margarita and bf ordered a beer. She came back with the beer about 5 – 10 mins later and said «your drinks gonna be a while». So my bf walked up to the bar paid for his drink and told the older lady we were leaving. She said «ya we are bust because 3 people called off». Not even a sorry or anything. I have been a server for 8 years. I do not mind waiting but I don’t expect to be treated like a burden. A smile and some waters while you wait go a long way!
Go to Lienzo Charro down the street instead!