If you are in Old Town San Diego and want Mexican food, Casa Guadalajara is the name that keeps coming up. It sits at 4105 Taylor Street, right outside Old Town Park, and has earned a reputation as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city, serving what it calls innovative Californian Mexican cuisine. The place is owned by Diane Powers, who bought the property years ago after the previous owner wanted to cut down the pepper trees on site, which are now well over 200 years old.
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The first thing you notice is the atmosphere. Inside, it is built like a Mexican hacienda, with adobe walls, tile floors and wooden furniture, and there is a shaded outdoor patio with a fountain and birds that wander around. Live music plays every night from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, and again on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3:00 pm, so the place has a real energy to it. It is open every day from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and prices fall into the middle range, with most people spending somewhere between $20 and $30.
Food-wise, the homemade tortillas are what people rave about most. The appetizer list is long: Concha de Guacamole for $14.75, Camaroncitos Fritos starting at $22.75, Muchisimos Taquitos at $21.45, a Guadalajara Cheese Quesadilla from $16.75, Nachos Supremo at $20.45, Chipotle Chicken Taquitos from $13.75, Queso Fundido Con Chorizo for $18.25, and both the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail and the Shrimp Ceviche at $21.45. From there, the menu runs through enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos of grilled meat or carnitas, tamales, chile relleno, chicken enchiladas, flautas, a chicken quesadilla with mango and guacamole, Pollo Fundido, 'armadillo eggs' made from fried jalapeños filled with cream cheese, dishes with spicy mole and Mexican-style seafood. To drink, there are the birdbath margaritas. There is also a 'Favorites' menu with rotating items, a seasonal menu of about 15 specials on top of the daily ones, and a gluten-free menu that is not listed online but includes custom-made gluten-free chips and seafood tacos.
On the service side, the staff is described as friendly and attentive, with manager Eddie Zepeva getting particular praise. One family has been coming to this Old Town location for over 15 years, which says a lot about the consistency. A server named Vanessa is noted for taking dietary needs seriously, though it is worth being specific if you have a severe allergy.
A few practical notes before you go. If you are buying a gift card, a $50 card gets you 10 Guadalajara Bucks and a $100 card gets you 25, which act as cash on your next visit but cannot be used to buy more gift cards, pay tips or get change. There is a $1.50 surcharge on eco-friendly to-go containers, and the restaurant delivers through DoorDash. On weekends, you can park in front of the commercial office. Next door is Bazaar del Mundo, an international market with Mexican and Guatemalan crafts also owned by Diane Powers, so it is easy to turn a meal into a longer afternoon in Old Town.
