Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Los Panchos – San Diego
Los Panchos - San Diego
Photo from Los Panchos
Los Panchos at a glance
San Diego Old Town
- 🌮 Mexican Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 86 of the guests
#436 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#47 Mexican Restaurant out of 113 in San Diego
Good
7.1 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
448
Reviews
71.4%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Great food
- Clean ambiance
- Salsa variety
Frequently criticized
- Poor service
- Loud environment
- High cost
The restaurant Los Panchos Taco Shop is a vibrant Mexican Restaurant located in the heart of San Diego’s Old Town neighborhood. You’ll discover a casual and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
This spot offers authentic flavors and convenient service options, making it a local favorite. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you’re in for a delicious experience.
Overview: Introducting Los Panchos
Los Panchos offers a compelling experience, particularly for those seeking satisfying Mexican fare. Many patrons consistently highlight the `excellent food` and appreciate the `cleanliness` of the establishment.
The `friendly workers` contribute to a generally pleasant atmosphere, making it a comfortable spot for a meal. The impressive `salsa bar` is also a frequent point of praise.
However, the experience isn’t without its drawbacks. Some visitors have encountered `inconsistent service`, with reports of `incorrect orders` and `unfriendly staff` at times.
The `loud music` can detract from the dining experience, and concerns about `overpriced burrito` items suggest that value can be a mixed bag for certain dishes.
Good
7.1
out of 10
448
Reviews
71.4%
Satisfaction
116
negative
12
neutral
320
positive
Los Panchos earns a respectable 7.1 overall score, reflecting a generally good dining experience. Customer satisfaction stands at 71.4%, indicating that most visitors leave content.
This assessment is drawn from a substantial 448 customer remarks, with 320 positive observations outweighing 116 negative ones, providing a solid foundation for these insights. Delving into specifics, the Food (7.5) and Ambience (7.8) are clear strengths, consistently receiving high marks for their quality and inviting setting.
Conversely, both Service (5.7) and Value (5.7) fall into the average range. While the culinary offerings and atmosphere are well-regarded, there’s room for improvement in service consistency and perceived pricing for some menu items.
What people like
- Excellent food quality
- Clean, lively atmosphere
- Impressive salsa bar
What people don't like
- Inconsistent service issues
- Loud music, difficult parking
- Perceived high prices
If you prioritize flavorful Mexican cuisine and a clean, lively setting, Los Panchos is certainly worth considering. The strong performance in food and ambience suggests a satisfying meal is likely, especially if you appreciate a good salsa bar and a vibrant atmosphere.
It’s a place where the culinary offerings often shine. With a recommendation score of 7.2, Los Panchos leans towards a positive endorsement.
Be mindful that service can be a bit inconsistent, and some items might feel a touch expensive. However, for a casual meal where good food is the main draw, it’s a solid choice, provided you’re prepared for a potentially bustling environment.
Similar Restaurants in San Diego
- Mexican Restaurant
9.1
out of 10
out of 10
522
93.3%
- $$
- Barrio Logan
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Mexican Restaurant
9
out of 10
out of 10
65
90.8%
- $$
- North Park
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Mexican Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
466
89.9%
- $$
- Golden Hill
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Mexican Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
498
91.8%
- $$
- Skyline
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Mexican Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
545
90.6%
- $$
- Banker's Hill
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Mexican Restaurant
8.6
out of 10
out of 10
555
89.4%
- $$
- Little Italy
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
Verdict: Our expert take on Los Panchos
Food (7.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 94% of the guests
When it comes to the food here, youre looking at a pretty solid experience! With a score of 7.5, its definitely in the good category, and customer satisfaction sits at a respectable 78.2%. Many rave about the delicious Mexican food, especially the California burrito, the fantastic salsa bar, and the fish tacos.
Out of 294 total comments, 230 were positive, highlighting the great flavors and generous portions. However, not everyone had a perfect meal, with 56 negative comments pointing to some issues. Some found the meat to be dry or of poor quality, and there were unfortunate instances of moldy tortillas.
Other concerns included cold fries and some feeling that certain items, like a small burrito, were overpriced.
Food
294
Reviews
78%
Satisfaction
56
negative
8
neutral
230
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious Mexican food
- Great salsa bar
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Dry or bad meat
- Moldy tortillas
- Poor food quality
Often praised
- foodA very clean restaurant with very pleasant and kind girls. Excellent food 👌.
- salsa barI enjoyed the solid fish tacos, which were served with chips and beans. This was a great addition because it allowed me to fully enjoy their flavorful and abundant salsa bar. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout my meal.
- salsasMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! There was a great variety of menu choices and salsas. My favorites were the tacos and rolled tacos.
- tacosEverything I've had here has been delicious. Taco Tuesdays are excellent, with good sized tacos. I tried the veggie tacos for the first time and they were great!
- Mexican food3 stars. As a Hispanic person who knows San Diego's Mexican food scene well, I can confirm this is a really good place. I'd never actually eaten here until today.
- carne asada friesMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed some delicious burritos, quesadillas, and carne asada fries. The service was great, and they even offer a free chips, beans, and salsa bar, which topped off a yummy and filling meal.
- fish tacosSpectacular are the fish tacos
- bean soupthe lady even offered me bean soup while I was waiting and it was delicious
- beansa little cup of beans and a delicious salsa bar
- burritosMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed some delicious burritos, quesadillas, and carne asada fries. The service was great, and they even offer a free chips, beans, and salsa bar, which topped off a yummy and filling meal.
Frequently criticized
- foodnasty food the last two times
- birriaI took a couple of bites and tossed the rest in the trash. My son had birria, and he said the texture was weird and the flavor was nasty, thinking it might have come from a can and wasn't fresh. I couldn't give it away.
- meatThe first time, they got my order completely wrong. The second time, I ordered a Carne Asada Burrito and discovered little pieces of paper mixed with the meat while eating. It was so disgusting 🤢.
- beansThe beans are just like canned refried beans
- birria tacosone had only skin. It was like I got one meat taco and one skin taco
- burritoburrito was folded so badly, that I couldn't even eat it
- burritosMe enfadé muchÃsimo cuando mordà el burrito. No era picante.
- carne asadabarely any carne asada in it
- riceThe asada was just okay. The beans were like canned refried beans, and the rice was absolutely disgusting. The prices were way too high for the food quality.
- shrimpshrimp they used was barely edible. It was cold inside
If you're craving delicious Mexican food with a great salsa bar and generous portions, this spot is definitely worth a try. Just be mindful that while most experiences are positive, there have been occasional reports of quality issues with certain dishes or ingredients.
Service (5.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 61% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot offers a mixed bag, with a score of 5.7 and customer satisfaction at 53.5%. Many guests rave about the incredibly friendly and welcoming staff, often highlighting individuals like Teresa for their radiant energy and kindness. With 53 positive remarks, patrons frequently praise the great customer service and quick service, making for a pleasant experience.
However, not all experiences are stellar. Based on 45 negative comments, some visitors encountered issues with rude staff, particularly cashiers, and frustratingly long wait times. Others reported receiving wrong orders or experiencing slow service, which unfortunately left a sour taste for some.
Service
99
Reviews
53%
Satisfaction
45
negative
1
neutral
53
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, welcoming staff
- Great customer service
- Quick service
What people don't like
- Rude staff members
- Long wait times
- Incorrect orders
Often praised
- staffI will be back soon. A very clean restaurant with very pleasant and kind girls. Excellent food 👌.
- serviceMy experience at this spot truly shines on Taco Tuesday. I was impressed with the great prices and fast service. The salsa bar was a standout, offering incredibly fresh, tasty, and spicy options, especially with the roasted peppers and other veggies.
- customer serviceI enjoyed the great food, which was complemented by good prices. The excellent customer service made it a memorable visit. It's definitely one of my favorites, especially since they are open late for tasty munchies.
- ServiceService:4
- StaffStaff is amazing also!
- Teresakindly greeted by the cashier worker named Teresa who had a warm smile and radiant energy
- cashiercashier who served me was very friendly and courteous
- experienceMy first time visiting was a great experience.
- friendlyService was fast and friendly
- friendly workersFriendly workers!
Frequently criticized
- serviceThe service of this restaurant is PÉSSIMO
- orderTo make matters worse, there was no receipt, which would have made it difficult to complain to management. This isn't the first time my order has been incorrect, and I can guarantee this will be my last visit to the Friars Rd store.
- cashierThe food was just okay, but the service was terrible. I was warned to make sure the cashier takes your order right, as you might end up with something different from what you ordered. I wouldn’t recommend it.
- customer serviceMy crew and I visit San Diego twice a year for projects and have tried this place multiple times, but my food has always been wrong. Despite supporting the establishment, the bad taste of poor customer service makes me hesitant to continue my support.
- staffNot a friendly and inviting staff.
- PESSIMO ATENDIMENTOI returned to the table, and I'm very angry. PESSIMO ATENDIMENTO, and it's not the first time this same employee has treated customers this way. She should work with animals.
- botheredSeem bothered by us
- cashier askuncomfortable it is to have the cashier ask
- cashiersBoth cashiers were on a Facetime call
- cooksVery disappointed in the cooks
If you're looking for a place with potentially friendly faces and quick service, it might be worth a try. However, be prepared for the possibility of longer waits or less-than-stellar interactions, as service can be a bit inconsistent.
Ambience (7.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 26% of the guests
Alright, lets talk vibes! The ambience here generally hits the mark, scoring a solid 7.8, with customer satisfaction sitting pretty at 78.4%. Based on 29 positive remarks, guests frequently rave about the overall atmosphere, praising the restaurants cleanliness, ample seating, and festive decor.
It sounds like a great spot to relax or gather with a group! However, it's not all sunshine and roses. Out of 7 negative comments, a few folks found the music a bit too loud, making conversation difficult.
Parking also popped up as a minor challenge for some, especially for larger vehicles. So, while the atmosphere is largely positive, be prepared for a potentially lively soundscape and plan your parking strategy.
Ambience
37
Reviews
78%
Satisfaction
7
negative
1
neutral
29
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Spotless clean environment
- Lively, great atmosphere
- Ample seating options
What people don't like
- Music can be loud
- Parking can be difficult
Often praised
- atmosphereThe staff were friendly and quick, and the food was delicious. I also loved the cute atmosphere.
- cleanlinessThe food was delicious, and the staff was incredibly friendly. I was also impressed by how clean the place was; it's probably the cleanest taco shop I've ever been in. I would definitely go again.
- seatingThe birria is awesome, and their salsa bar is top-tier. To top it off, there's a relaxing yet lively ambiance, with plenty of seating, making it great for large groups.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- ambiancerelaxing yet lively ambiance
- cleanextremely clean
- clean insideAll of their salsas were absolutely fantastic. The restaurant was super clean inside, and they offered great seating options. Overall, it was a great experience, earning a 2 thumbs up!
- dining areaclean and open dining area.
- dry cleanDry clean
- easy accesseasy access from the road.
Frequently criticized
- musicthe music is obnoxiously loud
- parkingparking is difficult
- conversationThe food was really good, but the music was obnoxiously loud. I was barely able to hear to order my food and wasn’t able to hold a conversation at our table. It's a shame because the food quality is high, but the atmosphere created by the extremely loud music made it difficult to enjoy the dining experience.
- parking lotMy experience at this classic San Diego taco shop was positive. The parking lot is small, so it's not ideal for larger vehicles like a Cadillac Escalade. However, they offer a delicious caldo with every sit-down meal, which was a nice touch.
If you're looking for a clean, lively spot with good vibes and plenty of space, this place is definitely worth checking out. Just be aware that the music can get pretty energetic, and parking might require a little patience.
Value (5.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 17% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot presents a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.7 indicating an average performance and customer satisfaction sitting at a mixed 44.4%. Based on 18 overall comments, with 8 positive and 8 negative remarks, guests often praise the Taco Tuesday deals, finding many dishes affordable and offering great prices for their quality. Many found the food delicious and reasonably priced, especially on special days.
However, the value proposition isn't always clear-cut. Some customers felt certain items were overpriced and not worth the cost, with high prices being a common complaint. The restaurant also received criticism for hidden fees, such as being cash only or charging a debit card fee, which can quickly add up and detract from the overall experience.
Value
18
Reviews
44%
Satisfaction
8
negative
2
neutral
8
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Taco Tuesday deals
- Affordable options
What people don't like
- Overpriced items
- Hidden fees
Often praised
- pricesMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed the great food, which was complemented by good prices. The excellent customer service made it a memorable visit.
- Taco TuesdayTaco Tuesday $2.00 Fish Tacos
- affordableit was very affordable
- great priceAll at a great price!
- priceMy experience at the restaurant was largely positive, especially concerning the food. The dishes were delicious and reasonably priced. I particularly enjoyed the avocado salsa with the complimentary chips, and the free sopa de frijoles was also great.
- taco Tuesday dealMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially on Taco Tuesday! I was impressed by the great taco Tuesday deal. All of their salsas were absolutely fantastic.
- value for moneyCan’t beat that for $5
Frequently criticized
- priceburrito was $13.00. Total ripoff!!
- $16.49Waste of $16.49
- $40.00Almost $40.00 have gone to waste here
- cash onlyshe EXTREMELY rudely said that only accepts 'cash'
- debit card feethere is a 50 cent fee to use your debit card
- overpriced burritopaying for an overpriced burrito
- pricesPrices were way too high for food quality
So, is it worth your hard-earned cash? If youre savvy and aim for specific deals like Taco Tuesday, youll likely find some real gems and good value. However, be mindful of potential extra charges and higher prices on other items, as they can quickly turn a good deal into a disappointment.
How are the prices at Los Panchos?
You’re looking at roughly $19 per person – reported by 86 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.
Most guests find themselves in this sweet spot, though there are a few options for both cheaper bites and more premium experiences.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 86 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Mexican Restaurant. It offers good value for a mid-range experience, without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Los Panchos
Service Intent
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Terrible Service, Long Wait
My experience at the restaurant was terrible. We waited for over an hour, and despite our intention to dine in, the staff had prepared everything for takeout. It really left much to be desired; everything was fatal.
- service1
- wait time1
- staff1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
- Loud
8
Delicious Carne Asada Fries with a Salsa Bar!
My experience at the restaurant included complimentary chips, a small cup of beans, and a delicious salsa bar. I ordered the small carne asada fries and a fountain drink, which cost $20. There was a 50-cent fee for using my debit card.
The food was so delicious! The music was a little loud, but I think 🤔 it was worth it.
- chips8
- beans8
- salsa bar9
- debit card fee4
- music5
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Friendly, Quick, and Delicious Snack Stop
I swung by for a snack during a bike ride and had a great experience. The staff were friendly and quick, and the food was delicious. I also loved the cute atmosphere.
- staff9
- food9
- atmosphere9
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
6
Birria Tacos - Good Flavor, Bad Skin
I lost 3 birria tacos. They were good in flavor, but one had only skin. It was like I got one meat taco and one skin taco.
Food: 1, Service: 4, Atmosphere: 4.
- flavor8
- birria tacos2
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Disappointing Burrito, Misleading Spice Level
The cashier told me the Diabla sauce was spicy, rating it a ten. Given the name 'Diabla' (Devil), I expected it to be genuinely hot. I had to repeatedly explain that I'm Mexican and could handle the spice, but she kept suggesting milder burritos.
Perhaps there was a misunderstanding due to language differences. I was extremely disappointed when I took a bite of the burrito; it wasn't spicy at all and was quite greasy.
- Diabla sauce2
- cashier3
- burritos2
What Los Panchos 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
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What parking and accessibility options are available at Los Panchos Taco Shop?
You’ll find convenient free street parking and a free parking lot, usually with plenty of space. Los Panchos Taco Shop is also fully wheelchair accessible, offering an accessible entrance, parking lot, seating, and restroom for your comfort.
Does Los Panchos Taco Shop cater to families and offer various dining times?
Absolutely! Los Panchos Taco Shop is good for kids, providing a dedicated kids’ menu and high chairs. You can enjoy dining here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with comfortable seating available for your meal.
How does Los Panchos rate overall?
Los Panchos holds a **7.1** score, indicating a generally good experience. Its **Food** (7.5) and **Ambience** (7.8) are well-regarded, though **Service** (5.7) and **Value** (5.7) are more average.
What do customers particularly enjoy about Los Panchos?
Many customers praise the `excellent food`, especially the `tacos` and `salsa bar`. The `cleanliness` and `lively ambiance` also receive positive remarks, often highlighting the `friendly workers`.
Are there any common complaints about Los Panchos?
Some patrons have noted `inconsistent service`, with issues like `incorrect orders` or `unfriendly staff`. `Loud music` and `difficult parking` are also mentioned, alongside concerns about `price` for certain items.