Tamarindo

Incredible food that adds gourmet twist too their dishes. Guacamole had pomegranate, queso fresco cubes, Serrano peppers and onions on side to mix in. It was delicious. The mole chicken was amazing. The staff is wonderful. Definitely coming back to explore the menu more.

Okay… I didn’t actually dine at this place, but today, I took a mean spill when my rubber shoe sole caught on the very rough sidewalk right out in front of El Tamarindo’s dining patio. About 3 or 4 passersby’s and a person who had been having lunch on the patio rushed to my aid, helped me get up, etc. That person was an amazingly kind woman named Laurie. Along with Laurie, a couple of servers (I wish I had gotten their names!) there carefully sat me down at a table on the patio. I had scraped up my knee and the side of my face pretty bad and was quite dazed and in shock from the fall. One of the servers fetched some first aid supplies and Laurie cleaned my wounds, put on antibiotic ointment, bandaged my knee, etc. The kind and concerned manager on duty—Nathan—kept checking on me and the servers brought me a cup of ice water, ice for my facial wound, and a free iced tea. I felt so well taken care of by everyone. It was all so heartwarming. I am so grateful to El Tamarindo’s restaurant staff and who I am assuming is one of their regulars—Laurie—for taking such good care of me. I will always remember this restaurant fondly and hopefully I can return someday and actually eat something there. LOL! Based on the warm ambiance and friendly staff, I’m fairly certain the food is great as well. Thank you to all of the employees at El Tamarindo who helped me out today. I’ll always remember your kindness. ♥️

Stopped there for Thursday night.... Got a table in the patio right away, it’s was a beautiful day. A lovely place to enjoy indoor or patio dining! The atmosphere was full wonderful. The location was convenient. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, the drinks were fanático! the interior and exterior were clean and superbly inviting. Downside, first hour parking is free and restaurant doesn’t provide validation.

+6

Just a little bit away but you can still feel the ocean breeze ! This place is really magical, very colorful and esthetic on the inside The team was friendly and smiling , the food is extremely delicious and very generous quantity . You should not miss out on their molcajetes , absolute yum !

Visited Tamrindo Del Mar and loved the vibrant flavors! The dishes were a perfect blend of freshness and spice, transporting my taste buds straight to coastal Mexico. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, making it an ideal spot for a memorable meal. The view was spectacular. Highly recommend trying the specialties for an authentic experience! The guacamole, tacos, burritos everything was delicious🌮✨ #TamrindoDelMar #MexicanCuisine #FoodieAdventures #TasteOfMexico #FoodReview #Yum

+6

Beautiful view with great food. Service is always great when we come here and I haven’t had one bad meal here. Highly recommend this place for their awesome lunch specials, happy hour, and romantic dinners. Parking lot structure is conveniently a short walk around the corner.

+6

I absolutely loved visiting Tamarindo Del Mar. We were immediately seated in the outside patio area, with a nice cozy little table top fireplace to counter the chill in the afternoon breezes. Sadly, we arrived JUST AFTER the end of happy hour, which btw is 3-5 PM but we're nonetheless intent on getting the best experience possible. Our "server" Stevie was absolutely Amazing; as i realized she was also The Bartender, and apparently solo with no barback or support, heading into Dinner...she took great care of us, and even made my birthday more special with complimentary churros!!! After much consideration of the drink menu we sampled the Smokeshow and a Mexcal Margarita, I believe...I do not usually ever drink, and was thoroughly impressed by how wonderfully smooth the reposado was and mixed so well with the fruit puree....mmmmmm 😋🤤🤤🤤 We started with the ceviché, which was delicious, and I had the Braised Shortribs and she had....some kind of Veggie enchiladas, which looked and smelled Amazing from my side. All I can say is that the short ribs were incredible: perfectly tender and juicy, and the saltiness of the light fat content worked so well with the tamarind glaze, paired with the lime and cilantro rice... I think we will be back again, whenever we make it back to Del Mar!!!

+6

Love this restaurant and their delicious food. The atmosphere is nice, and customer service is excellent. The place has a happy, festive, and warm welcoming vibe.

+2

Lively, contemporary, Latin restaurant with a great patio and full bar. The staff was friendly, attentive and efficient. The menu has familiar Mexican food favorites, but also some elevated dishes with a creative twist. We enjoyed the spicy Elote Spears and the Octopus+Mahi Tacos. Great depth of flavor, texture and spice.

We rode up as a group of four motorcyclists from Orange County and had an awesome lunch here. The staff was super friendly, service was fast, and the patio atmosphere was perfect. The chips and salsa were fresh, the guacamole was excellent, and all our dishes (fish tacos, enchiladas, carne asada) were delicious. Ice-cold beers made everything even better. Great spot in Del Mar-we’ll definitely be back.

I had two great dinners here with friendly service and great tacos! The margaritas were made with fresh strawberries, and the tacos were delicious. It is located on Camino del Mar, in the front of a complex with some other stores and restaurants. Plenty of outdoor seating and close to the beach. Can't wait to come back!!

Score!! Mexican with a twist! Loved the food! So flavorful and unique! Had Lavender-cocorita, wow, delicious!! A lime margarita. Shrimp diablo was amazing! Enough fire to be yummy but not too much. Had it with salad instead of rice. Chicken enchilada was very good. I loved the personal sized gas fire for your table! Semi outdoor patio, festive music, and excellent service!! This is a winner!

The wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday and had a really good authentic experience. The food and drinks were delicious and our waiter was very kind and helpful with discussing the area and things to do, as we were just visiting. The Carne Asada Tacos were delicious and the rice & beans are a must to go along with. I wish we had the ability to come back at night because all of the outdoor patio tables have mini fireplaces built into them and I bet the experience is very relaxing. It’s at a great location as well. Highly recommend!

Love going to Tamarindo. Excellent service everytime I’ve been there! And the food is always fresh and delicious. The chips and salsa, their interesting guacamole, the chicken enchiladas and the pescado Vera Cruz were all so tasty. And the pineapple jalapeño margarita totally hit the spot. The table with the fire pit was a perfect location to sit and chat as well as people watch.

I had the carne asada with this green sauce that was very delicious. The steak was cooked to my specifications. We also had the short ribs, I was told they were good, but my son ate them all, and I didn’t get to sample them. The fish tacos were also devoured. And as you can tell a good Mexican restaurant by their salsa and chips, so I knew the food was going to be more than satisfactory.

Nice and easy spot on Delmar to hangout with friends or date with good food and drinks. -1 on service coz the server asked specifically for beans and rice and forgot to get them. One of our friends requested for a hot alcoholic beverage thats toddy and very basic to make by any bar as she had throat infection, they refused straight.

Fantastic experience at Tamarindo, I liked the care and attention given to seating requests that was organized even before we got there. Also didn't insist on our complete party of eight to arrive before giving us our table. Must try the Elote and their Margarita of the day, today was a skinny pineapple jalapeño which was great! The grilled shrimp, the mahi mahi and the grilled zuccine tacos were delicious! Overall a great place to enjoy Mexican food with friends or family! 💜

Really flavorful food. Appetizers were a highlight though everything was good. I just wish it was a little cheaper.

Sitting in beautiful Del Mar, CA. Tamarindo Del Mar has everything you want from an Mexican Restaurant near the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Had the Carne Asada, Baja Fish, and Grilked Mahi Tacos. All three were superb, fresh, and hearty. Delicious salsa, and inviting atmosphere.

Tamarindo Del Mar is an absolute gem! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was incredibly inviting and vibrant. The service was just as amazing, with attentive and friendly staff making sure everything was perfect. And the food? I tried the Mahi-Mahi taco, and it was nothing short of amazing. The flavors were incredible, and it was perfectly prepared. I highly recommend Tamarindo Del Mar for a fantastic dining experience!

A fun Mexican restaurant, very busy, with lots of outdoor covered seating. The chips, salsa and guacamole were delicious. Their food was authentic and served in large portions. Their standard margaritas were potent and made the proper way, with blanco tequila, and not too sour or sweet. We had a large table, and the service was top-notch. Everybody enjoyed their food and drinks. Recommended!

Eric

Sitting in beautiful Del Mar, CA. Tamarindo Del Mar has everything you want from an Mexican Restaurant near the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Had the Carne Asada, Baja Fish, and Grilked Mahi Tacos. All three were superb, fresh, and hearty. Delicious salsa, and inviting atmosphere.

Andrew

Lively, contemporary, Latin restaurant with a great patio and full bar. The staff was friendly, attentive and efficient. The menu has familiar Mexican food favorites, but also some elevated dishes with a creative twist. We enjoyed the spicy Elote Spears and the Octopus+Mahi Tacos. Great depth of flavor, texture and spice.

Ali Hajiahmad

We rode up as a group of four motorcyclists from Orange County and had an awesome lunch here. The staff was super friendly, service was fast, and the patio atmosphere was perfect. The chips and salsa were fresh, the guacamole was excellent, and all our dishes (fish tacos, enchiladas, carne asada) were delicious. Ice-cold beers made everything even better. Great spot in Del Mar-we’ll definitely be back.

Christina D

I had two great dinners here with friendly service and great tacos! The margaritas were made with fresh strawberries, and the tacos were delicious. It is located on Camino del Mar, in the front of a complex with some other stores and restaurants. Plenty of outdoor seating and close to the beach. Can't wait to come back!!

Kimberly Ransom

Score!! Mexican with a twist! Loved the food! So flavorful and unique! Had Lavender-cocorita, wow, delicious!! A lime margarita. Shrimp diablo was amazing! Enough fire to be yummy but not too much. Had it with salad instead of rice. Chicken enchilada was very good. I loved the personal sized gas fire for your table! Semi outdoor patio, festive music, and excellent service!! This is a winner!

J.D. Balazs

The wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday and had a really good authentic experience. The food and drinks were delicious and our waiter was very kind and helpful with discussing the area and things to do, as we were just visiting. The Carne Asada Tacos were delicious and the rice & beans are a must to go along with. I wish we had the ability to come back at night because all of the outdoor patio tables have mini fireplaces built into them and I bet the experience is very relaxing. It’s at a great location as well. Highly recommend!

t diamond

I had the carne asada with this green sauce that was very delicious. The steak was cooked to my specifications. We also had the short ribs, I was told they were good, but my son ate them all, and I didn’t get to sample them. The fish tacos were also devoured. And as you can tell a good Mexican restaurant by their salsa and chips, so I knew the food was going to be more than satisfactory.

Savvy Rush

Love going to Tamarindo. Excellent service everytime I’ve been there! And the food is always fresh and delicious. The chips and salsa, their interesting guacamole, the chicken enchiladas and the pescado Vera Cruz were all so tasty. And the pineapple jalapeño margarita totally hit the spot. The table with the fire pit was a perfect location to sit and chat as well as people watch.

G T-S

Tamarindo Del Mar is an absolute gem! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was incredibly inviting and vibrant. The service was just as amazing, with attentive and friendly staff making sure everything was perfect. And the food? I tried the Mahi-Mahi taco, and it was nothing short of amazing. The flavors were incredible, and it was perfectly prepared. I highly recommend Tamarindo Del Mar for a fantastic dining experience!

Melissa Eid

Just a little bit away but you can still feel the ocean breeze ! This place is really magical, very colorful and esthetic on the inside The team was friendly and smiling , the food is extremely delicious and very generous quantity . You should not miss out on their molcajetes , absolute yum !

Ankita Aparajita

Nice and easy spot on Delmar to hangout with friends or date with good food and drinks. -1 on service coz the server asked specifically for beans and rice and forgot to get them. One of our friends requested for a hot alcoholic beverage thats toddy and very basic to make by any bar as she had throat infection, they refused straight.

Anna Belani-Ellis

Fantastic experience at Tamarindo, I liked the care and attention given to seating requests that was organized even before we got there. Also didn't insist on our complete party of eight to arrive before giving us our table. Must try the Elote and their Margarita of the day, today was a skinny pineapple jalapeño which was great! The grilled shrimp, the mahi mahi and the grilled zuccine tacos were delicious! Overall a great place to enjoy Mexican food with friends or family! 💜

This place was excellent. Great quality food and service. Eerything we had tasted was delicious. Their Oaxacan Mole was the best, tasted authentic with quality ingredients. Their drinks are great. We will be visiting again! They have portions big enough to share. We can'tt wait to go back and try the other things on the menu. Saw that they have a good happy hour too 😊.

Drew and Aglae Candelaria

This place was excellent. Great quality food and service. Eerything we had tasted was delicious. Their Oaxacan Mole was the best, tasted authentic with quality ingredients. Their drinks are great. We will be visiting again! They have portions big enough to share. We can'tt wait to go back and try the other things on the menu. Saw that they have a good happy hour too 😊.

Billy & Jim

Incredible food that adds gourmet twist too their dishes. Guacamole had pomegranate, queso fresco cubes, Serrano peppers and onions on side to mix in. It was delicious. The mole chicken was amazing. The staff is wonderful. Definitely coming back to explore the menu more.

Rachel Rowland

We love Tamarindo! The food is delicious- our favorite dish is the Sea Bass and it’s so cozy and welcoming inside. Michelle and Chrissy are amazing and took such good care of myself and my hubby while we were on vaca last week. We will definitely be going back when we visit again!

Domenica Quintana

Okay… I didn’t actually dine at this place, but today, I took a mean spill when my rubber shoe sole caught on the very rough sidewalk right out in front of El Tamarindo’s dining patio. About 3 or 4 passersby’s and a person who had been having lunch on the patio rushed to my aid, helped me get up, etc. That person was an amazingly kind woman named Laurie. Along with Laurie, a couple of servers (I wish I had gotten their names!) there carefully sat me down at a table on the patio. I had scraped up my knee and the side of my face pretty bad and was quite dazed and in shock from the fall. One of the servers fetched some first aid supplies and Laurie cleaned my wounds, put on antibiotic ointment, bandaged my knee, etc. The kind and concerned manager on duty—Nathan—kept checking on me and the servers brought me a cup of ice water, ice for my facial wound, and a free iced tea. I felt so well taken care of by everyone. It was all so heartwarming. I am so grateful to El Tamarindo’s restaurant staff and who I am assuming is one of their regulars—Laurie—for taking such good care of me. I will always remember this restaurant fondly and hopefully I can return someday and actually eat something there. LOL! Based on the warm ambiance and friendly staff, I’m fairly certain the food is great as well. Thank you to all of the employees at El Tamarindo who helped me out today. I’ll always remember your kindness. ♥️

Food was very good! Liked the ceviche tostada a lot! The drinks we're also fresh and had great options! I got the shrimp and fish tacos as well and they were good! The guac was also awesome. Great toppings!

I really wanted to give them a 5 star because most the food was amazing. The staff did a great job to seat and serve us quickly. The drinks were well mixed and I enjoyed 95% of my meal. The reason I went with a 4 is because you can't do half stars. It was the Mexican Elote Spears.. They were cold and the spice level didn't mix well with any of the other food. I enjoy spicy but it made it so you couldnt enjoy the rest of the meal and being cold.. why would you do cold street corn? Also the kitchen closed at 930 so be aware of that if you come in for a late meal. Otherwise it was a great experience and I will be going back.

+1

Amazing food! A little slow on service cos they are very busy! Friendly staff. Definitely recommend and can’t wait to go back and try other dishes. Chicken enchiladas was among the best I’ve ever had!

+4

While the atmosphere and service were excellent, the food was just okay flavor-wise, especially considering how amazing Mexican food is in general in San Diego. I've been here twice now, I've only had their fish tacos and burritos, so take my review with a grain of salt. If it was in another city, it would probably be a 5 star Mexican restaurant, but the standards are high in San Diego. Vibes are great, so if you're there to hang out and are okay with not being blown away by the food, it's still worth checking out.

Amazing location and great vibes. The place had a great vibrant atmosphere. Service was generally okay, though our starter came with main course, but no big deal. The food part was something where the place can do with some improvements. Most of the items we ordered were in the average range of taste and without much of the authentic Mexican flavour, or for that matter any flavour. The Mahi Mahi tacos could be totally avoided, since the fish, despite being on the coast was quite flavourless and tasted like made from frozen fillet. Since the restaurant is located on a busy street, parking can be a challenge- only street parking is available. Will still not write off the place, location and vibes are still good enough to take me back again, and a hope for tastier food !!

+1

Loved the potato tacos! Everyone was friendly. The only complaint I have is that the waitress took too long to get our check. Black beans were dry, but the cheese enchiladas were delish! I would try it again!

Location is great, outdoor seating is plus. Our first time. Food was good and service by Steve was spectacular, she made great recommendations and made us feel very welcomed! Thanks Rib with mashed corn was very nicely done. Taco plate was ok too. We will definitely come back !

Food is OK - I believe you mostly come here for location and atmosphere. Shrimp overcooked. Fish taco batter too salty. Not that anything was inedible - there are simply too many mex restaurants in San Diego with way better fare. For example: If you're treating someone from out of town to experience our famous Mexican food, I wouldn't steer to this restaurant.

I have been to many different restaurants in this exact same place, none seem to last too long, so I was excited to see when Tamarindo was opening up. I will say that I stopped in for my first time this past weekend and had a nice dinner, although I got very sick from the Ceviche Costa Rica. It’s located on the ground floor of a small shopping center in downtown Del Mar. There are multiple levels of parking in the parking garage attached for a small fee, which is what I would suggest to do because street parking is hard to find in this part of town. Inside is extremely large with many different seating options, TVs showing different beaches around San Diego, and a very large and lively bar. Every single table was taken when we stopped in for our 7 PM dinner and there was a line when we were exiting. Our server was very very polite and everything that we ordered arrived pretty quickly. As mentioned the only part of the experience I did not like was the food poisoning from the Ceviche, but the Carne Asada Plate was very good and overall I would give it another chance even though I usually don’t after getting sick at a place. The menu is also very large so it has a lot of options on it which makes it easy to try something new during each visit.

Great service, fine margaritas, pedestrian food. Taste has gone downhill over the years with reduced flavour.

I have been to a myriad of Mexican restaurants over the years both in the States and abroad. First off, the atmosphere itself is great. It has a great vibe, great feel and great energy. It has a nice relaxing feel and it's bustling with good service. They quickly dropped off chips and salsa. The chips were really season nicely (not with traditional salt) and had a little kick to them. It's also is not the traditional salsa and truthfully it wasn't my favorite so I didn't eat a lot of that, but the chips were tasty. The server we had apologized for being a little overbearing with his tables but I find it refreshing that he is so interested in us having a great experience. Never apologize for good service. The Margarita we had was good and the guacamole had an interesting twist, but it was fresh and delicious. For the main course we got the mahi-mahi tacos. I've had a lot of mahi tacos and this one falls in the mid range. The fish was cooked and seasoned well, but the combination of flavors somehow didn't all quite come together as I'd hoped. All in all, I am glad we went and would come back for the atmosphere and service and to see what else they have to offer. TIP: Get there around 5 to avoid a crazy dinner rush. It gets busy!

Brandon Gibson

I have been to a myriad of Mexican restaurants over the years both in the States and abroad. First off, the atmosphere itself is great. It has a great vibe, great feel and great energy. It has a nice relaxing feel and it's bustling with good service. They quickly dropped off chips and salsa. The chips were really season nicely (not with traditional salt) and had a little kick to them. It's also is not the traditional salsa and truthfully it wasn't my favorite so I didn't eat a lot of that, but the chips were tasty. The server we had apologized for being a little overbearing with his tables but I find it refreshing that he is so interested in us having a great experience. Never apologize for good service. The Margarita we had was good and the guacamole had an interesting twist, but it was fresh and delicious. For the main course we got the mahi-mahi tacos. I've had a lot of mahi tacos and this one falls in the mid range. The fish was cooked and seasoned well, but the combination of flavors somehow didn't all quite come together as I'd hoped. All in all, I am glad we went and would come back for the atmosphere and service and to see what else they have to offer. TIP: Get there around 5 to avoid a crazy dinner rush. It gets busy!

Their complimentary corn chips were fresh and scriptures very well with salsa. Steak tacos were flavorful and our vegan option enchiladas were perfectly spiced. We sat on the covered patio enjoying the outdoor views- opt to sit out of space available We have rebooked a table to celebrate Valentine’s Day dinner.

William O'Bannon

Food is OK - I believe you mostly come here for location and atmosphere. Shrimp overcooked. Fish taco batter too salty. Not that anything was inedible - there are simply too many mex restaurants in San Diego with way better fare. For example: If you're treating someone from out of town to experience our famous Mexican food, I wouldn't steer to this restaurant.

We were disappointed. No ambiance, can barely hear music. Chips too salty, salsa too watery. Shrimp overpriced for only being 6 shrimp with white rice. Not enough bussers so lots of tables sitting dirty. They brought out my partner’s food at least five minutes before mine. I would not go back.

Rolled potatoes and zucchini tacos were good but there is heavy influence of corn in all of their vegetarian options. Think it would be nice to have more vegan/veggie options that doesn't contain a lot of corn. Grilled corn was great, maybe ask for less salt if you prefer.

The highlight of our meal was the sweet corn puree in our Tamarindo Short Rib dish. The tamarind flavor was non-existent, however the sweet corn purée made up for this. We shared a beet salad that can easily be made at home, and shared a couple of drinks. The tamarind lemonade was very sweet. With melted ice and some water. It was much better. The short rib meat was tender and delicious. Dinner for two was under $100. Though our waiter Max was great, the overall atmosphere was rushed and cold with limited help from staff and a cold patio. The hosts smile reduced after we confirmed no reservation and were offered an awkward high bar seats that we kindly passed on. We opted to wait for a table. The actual bar looked fun, but we saw it after we began to dine. The table flame is more or an interruptor while dining in so I advise you get a reservation. The menu consists of Mexican ingredients used in American recipes. Parking garage is free for your first 30 minutes, then $3/ each 30 minutes. Unfortunately, drinks from another party were accidentally added to our tab which caused a slight delay when trying to leave. As we paid our parking, we paid $6 after spending 91 minutes in the parking garage. We still love Max, but as locals, we didn't find a desparate need to return, but will attempt to re-create the purée. 🌽 ✨

Adriana Terrazas

The highlight of our meal was the sweet corn puree in our Tamarindo Short Rib dish. The tamarind flavor was non-existent, however the sweet corn purée made up for this. We shared a beet salad that can easily be made at home, and shared a couple of drinks. The tamarind lemonade was very sweet. With melted ice and some water. It was much better. The short rib meat was tender and delicious. Dinner for two was under $100. Though our waiter Max was great, the overall atmosphere was rushed and cold with limited help from staff and a cold patio. The hosts smile reduced after we confirmed no reservation and were offered an awkward high bar seats that we kindly passed on. We opted to wait for a table. The actual bar looked fun, but we saw it after we began to dine. The table flame is more or an interruptor while dining in so I advise you get a reservation. The menu consists of Mexican ingredients used in American recipes. Parking garage is free for your first 30 minutes, then $3/ each 30 minutes. Unfortunately, drinks from another party were accidentally added to our tab which caused a slight delay when trying to leave. As we paid our parking, we paid $6 after spending 91 minutes in the parking garage. We still love Max, but as locals, we didn't find a desparate need to return, but will attempt to re-create the purée. 🌽 ✨

NR B

Rolled potatoes and zucchini tacos were good but there is heavy influence of corn in all of their vegetarian options. Think it would be nice to have more vegan/veggie options that doesn't contain a lot of corn. Grilled corn was great, maybe ask for less salt if you prefer.

Dinner outside with table still wet from previous cleaning, slow service, we ordered quesadillas and brought queso fundido, took 25 min to bring beer and cocktail. The food was normal, not great as looked like as chef has another restaurant in baja California and people talks great about it, the main course was fish and was good, the desert were not good at all, the churros were burned. At the end they brought the bill before the coffee ☕ and I understand as this was worse ☕ ever. So we paid 60 usd per person with no wine and only one beer... So will not come back

+6

Worst tacos we had in all of San Diego!! The location is great but the food is disgusting! The fish tacos tasted like someone dropped salt in the batter and it was NOT EDIBLE. The shrimp tacos tasted like old frozen shrimp that was mushy! Only decent thing was the elote spears but they try to scams you by flipping the spears on the bottom over to have no sauce and only sauce on the top two. Ridiculous food and overpriced, not worth it even for the location being great food is disappointing!!!

If you want fake tacos this is the place to go Saltiest and worst taco I’ve ever had, so salty it was not even edible. Presentation of the corn left 90% of it just literally plain without the mayo and cheese…I’m not paying for plain corn?? Also how do you have a restaurant called Tamarindo with servers who don’t even know what it means? Would not recommend or come back.