Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Primos – San Diego
Primos - San Diego
Photo from Primos
Primos at a glance
San Diego Rancho Bernardo
- 🌮 Mexican Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 36 of the guests
#620 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#91 Mexican Restaurant out of 113 in San Diego
Average
5.8 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
247
Reviews
55.1%
Satisfaction
Often praised
Frequently criticized
The restaurant Primos is a popular Mexican Restaurant located in San Diego’s vibrant Rancho Bernardo neighborhood. You’ll find it’s a fantastic spot for a quick bite, offering delicious food efficiently.
This casual eatery provides a welcoming atmosphere where you can enjoy authentic flavors and a relaxed dining experience. Whether you’re grabbing a meal on the go or settling in, you’ll appreciate the friendly vibe.
Overview: Introducting Primos
Average
5.8
out of 10
247
Reviews
55.1%
Satisfaction
102
negative
9
neutral
136
positive
What people like
What people don't like
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Verdict: Our expert take on Primos
Food (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 98% of the guests
It seems the food here is a bit of a mixed bag, with an average score of 5.9 and 58.6% customer satisfaction. Based on 92 positive remarks versus 64 negative ones out of 157 total, there's definitely some good to be found! Many rave about the Aztecs taco, fresh salsa, Monster fries, and breakfast burritos, often praising the authentic taste and generous portions.
However, not everyone leaves happy. Some experiences mention bland flavorless dishes, cold tortillas, dry meat, or even miniature burritos that feel like a rip-off. There are also concerns about inconsistent quality and missing ingredients, suggesting some dishes might disappoint.
Food
157
Reviews
58%
Satisfaction
64
negative
1
neutral
92
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great breakfast burritos
- Fresh salsa
- Authentic Mexican food
What people don't like
- Bland, flavorless food
- Inconsistent quality
- Small, dry portions
Often praised
- foodThe food, service, and atmosphere all received a perfect score of 5.
- Mexican foodMy experience at this restaurant was excellent. It's a great option for the Rancho Bernardo area, where finding good Mexican food can usually be pretty scarce. The food, service, and atmosphere all received a perfect score of 5.
- breakfast burritosMy experience at the restaurant was centered around their fast and hearty breakfast burritos. I definitely recommend them if you're in a time crunch or very hungry.
- chips and salsathis location offers chips and salsa
- portionsI was impressed by how fresh the food was. It was very tasty, with excellent portions and great pricing.
- breakfast burritoyou can't go wrong with there breakfast burrito
- red salsaTry the red salsa its hot but deliciously fresh!
- 619 burritoI had the 619 burrito, and had to take the rest of the day off.
- Aztecs tacoThe Aztecs taco is soooo good
- Chile VerdeThe Chile Verde...OMG! So good!
Frequently criticized
- burritoI ordered a surf and turf burrito, but it was essentially all beans with no shrimp or steak. This was by far the worst burrito I've ever had from a Mexican restaurant. At around $16, it felt like a complete rip-off.
- foodHonestly, this wasn't the best Mexican food Rancho Bernardo has to offer. I'm giving it a 2 because the food was edible and the Jamaica drink was good, but otherwise, I would steer clear. There's a Roberto's less than a minute's walk north from here, which is definitely more authentic Mexican than Primos.
- meatSMH. It was edible with the little meat they gave me on a sub roll, and it lacked cotija cheese. It felt more like an American take on a Torta, and not that great at all.
- pico de galloupsold me pico de gayo for an additional $1 per taco. There is maybe 5 pieces of diced tomatoes
- qualityI've been coming to this Rancho Bernardo spot for a while, and it was a convenient place for a breakfast burrito or something else. However, since last year, I've noticed both prices have gone up and quality has gone down. A Jr.
- Jr. burritoA Jr. burrito used to be $8.50 back in 2021, now it's $12
- Mexican food experienceI had my worst Mexican food experience
- Taco Tuesdayasking questions about their Taco Tuesday
- TortaAmerican take on a Torta. Not that great at all.
- bean fillingsurprised by the bean filling. It seems they added beans as a filler
If you're looking for a quick bite, this spot might be worth a try, especially for their highly-praised breakfast burritos and fresh salsa. Just be aware that the food quality can be a bit inconsistent, so you might want to stick to the fan favorites to avoid disappointment.
Service (6.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 56% of the guests
Alright, lets talk service! Based on 51 customer opinions, the service here gets an average score of 6.1, with customer satisfaction sitting at a rather mixed 56.9%. On the bright side, many folks rave about the friendly service, especially the bilingual staff who handle special requests with ease.
Customers often highlight quick service and great customer support, making for a pleasant experience. However, its not always smooth sailing. With 19 negative opinions, some customers have faced frustratingly long waits and incorrect orders.
There are also mentions of attitude from staff and issues with the cook, suggesting that while some experiences are stellar, others leave a bit to be desired.
Service
51
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
19
negative
3
neutral
29
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Handle special requests
- Quick service
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Incorrect orders
- Poor cooking
Often praised
- serviceThe Aztecs taco is soooo good, and the chicken enchiladas with green sauce are fire! The prices are decent, and the service is good 8 times out of 10.
- staffstaff was incredibly friendly and helpful
- EmployeesEmployees are usually pretty nice
- KellyThis is our go-to Mexican food place! Kelly is super sweet to my son. We have never had an issue with my orders.
- RosaritaRosarita who helped me with my catering order and she was an absolute sweetheart!
- ServiceService:4
- bilingual staffThe staff were bilingual and provided wonderful customer service.
- cashierthe cashier was apologetic
- cashier serviceCashier was 5 star service.
- catering orderThe service was excellent as well. I believe it was Rosarita who helped me with my catering order, and she was an absolute sweetheart! She was so helpful in 'catering' to my wishes with regards to altering and or substituting items from the catering menu.
Frequently criticized
- cookI bought some asada tacos and the corn tortillas were breaking because they were cold. The cook is lazy and worthless. The meat was dry and flavorless.
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was marked by terrible service and an excessively long wait. It took over 25 minutes to receive just two burritos.
- attitudewas given attitude
- chefsincompetent chefs couldnt cook a single breakfast
- cooking timeTook 15-20 min to cook them and I was the only person in there
- lunch breakI'm on my lunch break and I don't have time to go back
- managerI called the manager in the parking lot and it really didn't seem like she cared
- orderthe order was wrong
- order errorsAlways seem to get order wrong. Happened again today.
- order was wrongmy order was wrong
If you value friendly staff and quick service for simple orders, this place can be a solid choice. But be prepared for potential longer waits or order mix-ups, especially during busy times, which might test your patience.
Ambience (6.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 24% of the guests
Youll be happy to hear that the ambience here gets a lot of love! Many folks rave about the renovated look, praising the clean dining area and even the decor. Some even enjoyed the Big Screen TV!
With 10 positive remarks out of 16 total, its clear that many appreciate the effort put into the space. However, its not all perfect. A few guests mentioned the somewhat tucked away location as a minor drawback.
There were also comments about the music sometimes being a bit too loud, and a specific note about the salsa bar no longer being available post-pandemic. Overall, the ambience scores an average 6.6 with a mixed 62.5% customer satisfaction, suggesting theres room for improvement in some areas.
Ambience
16
Reviews
62%
Satisfaction
3
negative
3
neutral
10
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Renovated place
- Clean dining areas
- Big screen TV
What people don't like
- Tucked location
- Loud music
- Missing salsa bar
Often praised
- Big Screen TVthey got a Big Screen TV while you eat!
- atmosphereThe food, service, and atmosphere all received a perfect score of 5.
- decorThe decor, the food, the staff are all awesome!
- dining areaClean dining area
- dining roomclean dining room
- placeGreat great place
- place was cleanPlace was clean
- renovatedNicely renovated
- restroomrestroom. Clean dining area and restroom.
- storesThe stores are usually clean
Frequently criticized
- locationTucked away location
- musicThe front of the house is awesome. And my personal opinion is that sometimes the music is a little too loud. The decor, the food, the staff are all awesome!
- salsa barThey no longer have a salsa bar post pandemic
So, should you go? If a clean, recently renovated spot with a TV is what youre after, youll likely enjoy the vibe. Just be aware of the potentially loud music and the slightly hidden location, and don't expect a salsa bar.
Value (3.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 36% of the guests
When it comes to value, it seems theres a bit of a mixed bag, though leaning towards disappointment. While a few customers found the
However, the majority of feedback, with 16 negative opinions, points to significant concerns about the
Value
23
Reviews
21%
Satisfaction
16
negative
2
neutral
5
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonably priced
- Decent pricing
- Best deal
What people don't like
- Quite expensive
- Felt ripped off
- High prices
Often praised
- $11When I asked for more, I was met with attitude. The portion size for the fries was comparable to what you can get down the street at Cotijas for only $11. Consequently, I won't be returning.
- best dealgetting the best deal
- pricesThe Aztecs taco is soooo good, and the chicken enchiladas with green sauce are fire! The prices are decent, and the service is good 8 times out of 10.
- pricingGREAT PRICING
- reasonably pricedVery reasonably priced
Frequently criticized
- priceit was also quite expensive. The "carne asada burrito" and a 20 oz Pepsi cost $19 plus tax
- pricesI've been coming to this Rancho Bernardo spot for a while, and it was a convenient place for a breakfast burrito or something else. However, since last year, I've noticed both prices have gone up and quality has gone down. A Jr.
- $17 for “monster fries”paid $17 for “monster fries”
- 18 dollars and change quesadillaeating my 18 dollars and change quesadilla
- 2x fish taco for $52x fish taco for $5
- chargewanted to charge me
- charged for itgot charged for it
- tipAfter paying and leaving a 20% tip. Oh, that costs extra.
- valueit's usually not a good value
If youre on the hunt for great value, this spot might disappoint, as many find the prices high for what you get. Its probably best to manage your expectations or look elsewhere if budget is a top priority for you.
How are the prices at Primos?
You’re looking at roughly $16 per person – reported by 36 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Mexican Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what folks usually spend, most of the recent reviews cluster right around this $11–$20 sweet spot, showing a pretty consistent pricing experience rather than a mix of super cheap and super premium options.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 36 reviews.
Comparing value for money against similar restaurants in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Mexican spot in San Diego. It hits that sweet spot of good value without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Primos
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Visit Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
2
Disappointing Tacos and High Price
I ordered 5 hard shell tacos and was upsold pico de gallo for an additional $1 per taco. Each taco had only about 5 pieces of diced tomatoes. These tacos used to be huge, but now they are pathetic.
The total cost for 5 tacos, including a 10% tip, was $40. This was the WORST Primos Taco Shop experience ever! It took 15-20 minutes to cook them, and I was the only customer, with three people in the kitchen.
What a joke!
- hard shell tacos2
- pico de gallo2
- tacos1
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Group Size
- Solo
Visit Type
- Dine-in
9
Favorite Mexican Spot for Carne Asada Fries
I wish I had taken photos, but I was too hungry! I visited Primos after a coworker recommended it. My experience was great, and I'm trying to understand why it only has 3.
9 stars. Compared to other "order at the counter" Mexican restaurants I've tried during my twice-yearly visits to Rancho Bernardo, this is by far my favorite. I usually get carne asada fries, and Primos offered a much larger variety.
I tried the Philly Queso fries, and they were good. While waiting for my food, I enjoyed their free chips and salsa, which many places don't offer. My final thoughts: they aren't the cheapest, but the food is good, and the complimentary chips and salsa are a nice touch.
This will be my go-to spot for carne asada fries for the foreseeable future.
- Philly Queso fries8
- free chips and salsa9
- food is good8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Visit Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
6
Decent Food, Slow Service
My experience at this restaurant was mixed. The food was decent, but the service was quite slow. I had to wait an excessively long time to receive my order of three rolled tacos, rice, and beans.
- food7
- order6
- service3
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
2
Terrible Tacos, Cold Tortillas
I bought some asada tacos and the corn tortillas were breaking because they were cold. The cook is lazy and worthless. The meat was dry and flavorless.
I do not recommend it.
- corn tortillas2
- cook1
- meat2
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Visit Type
- Dine-in
8
Consistently Good Mexican Food
My experience at this restaurant was centered around their Mexican food, which I rate on several factors. I found the quality and taste to be consistently good. Most importantly, they have good hot sauce, which is a crucial element for me.
The service received a rating of 4, atmosphere a 3, and food a 4.
- quality8
- taste8
- hot sauce9
What Primos offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Offerings
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Catering
- Breakfast
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What dining options and services does Primos Mexican Food offer?
At Primos Mexican Food, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dessert options available. They also provide catering services. For your convenience, you can choose no-contact delivery, takeout, or dine-in with comfortable seating.
Is Primos Mexican Food accessible and pet-friendly?
Yes, Primos Mexican Food is fully wheelchair accessible, including the entrance, parking lot, seating, and restrooms. If you’re bringing your furry friend, dogs are allowed in the outside areas.