Kalahari Cupboard Food and Drink

Daniela Alvarado

Kalaveras is so good! I thought I had already reviewed them before but I guess not. They deserve this 5 star review though! The inside wall art is so beautiful and full of culture. Its bright vibrant neon colors make for an exciting enviornment! I love all the happy hour deals they have during the week! My favorite is definitely taco Tueaday with $1.49 tacos and a self serve salsa table with cilantro, onions, radish, limes and so much more! We came here for my wife's birthday and we had to wait about but for the server but it was okay. It was a week day and there weren't a lot of employees so we were understanding. We ordered the quesadilla with Carne asada, the chicharron tacos and carne asada tacos. The quesadilla was perfectly cheesy, melted with a beautiful delicious cheese pull when I bit into it and the chicharron tacos were so good, perfectly cooked, great flavor and so balanced in every bite. The Carne asada is also really good here. It is hard to find a place that can cook Carne asada properly, chard on the outside but still juicy on the inside. The complementary chips and salsa were so good too and we asked for more of that salsa because it was just amazing. We ended the night with a complementary birthday flan from the server and it did not disappoint, it had blue berries in it and was surprisingly a good combination. Not too sweet but just right! Overall, Kalaveras is worth coming to and I can't wait to go back ans try more items off the menu!

Angeles Jones

Absolutely adored our drinks, food and ABOVE ALL, Eligio’s attention, warmth, conversation, and the atmosphere he creates, changed the music for us without asking, put music according to our type im guessing, which I loved. Nice decor, not too bright, making it cozy, comfortable a good mix of eclectic bohemian down to earth elegance. The Taquitos were so good! Real Mexican taste which I have only gotten twice in SoCal. Coming back definitely. Drinks: you could taste the Vodka, in other places you need to order double shot, not here and the Orange Juice, freshly squeezed. Excellent place. A must in Escondido on a drive up or down the 15. Downtown. Easy access. Big parking lot. We could see our loaded truck! Huge thanks for a very good time midday. To the Haters who left 1 star reviews: please never come back, you were probably awful. As usual. We came back, had the Aguachile AMAZING, just as served in Mexico, Enchiloso! Loved the attention. Carlos the bartender went above and beyond to please us with our drinks.

Jelan Mustafa

I just have to share my amazing experience at Kalaveras Cantina in Escondido. First of all, the food was excellent. I had the birria queso tacos which were on happy hour (Monday - Friday 3pm-7pm) and their house margarita (also on happy hour). The guacamole was also delicious. The staff was very attentive (Kenneth was my server and he was very kind) and the food and drinks came out quickly. I also liked the early 2000’s music playing. I would definitely come back.

Natasha Kay-Hazou

Love this place! Excellent food! Great atmosphere! 100% recommend! Only place I eat Mexican food now 6/25

Mark Tretter

The food was incredible. Authentic and very flavorful. The margarita was the best I have had. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Can't wait to go back.

Finally ended up going to for dinner at this relatively new restaurant. As a new place they have some nice interior design. It is not the same old type of Mexican restaurant decor. They added some pizazz to the place. Margaritas were excellent, thus that was the first plus. The chips and salsa were great. This too says a lot about a place. We ordered the molcajete and it was delicious. To top it off the flan ended the dinner perfectly. Our server Elias, was also great. So in summary, great food, drinks, ambiance and top notch service. Can't ask for much more than that. We will return for sure.

Our first time at Kalaveras Escondido. My family/friends and I went for my birthday celebration. I originally made the reservation through OpenTable, we got there and were happily received by all staff. Not to begin with the phenomenal work our server Angel provided us. He made us all feel welcomed, heard and was on top of such a big party. I’m beyond impressed, thank you so much! To end the night he saw us struggling to take a family photo and came out to offer taking it for us. Very very attentive, thank you so much Angel! Keep it up!

Food is vibrant, fresh and authentic! I had shrimp dishes both times I went and it was cooked to perfection. Their sauces are unique and delicious!! Hubs got their carnitas plate which was super yummy and my daughter got the albondigas which was REALLY good! The ambiance is colorful and fun, restaurant is very clean and tidy, layout is comfortable and their outdoor seating is dog-friendly (big plus for us!) Beyond all that, the service was incredible. Our waiter was fun and friendly, offered great menu suggestions and was very attentive. He even remembered us and our orders the next time we came in. This is a venue that will be a regular for us!

The food is amazing. The service is outstanding. Great Cadillac Margarita that had a generous shot of Grand Marnier. A bit pricy for the portions, but that won't keep us from coming back. Thrift atmosphere is glow paintings on the walls with black lights illuminating them.

Lauren Tarut

Food is vibrant, fresh and authentic! I had shrimp dishes both times I went and it was cooked to perfection. Their sauces are unique and delicious!! Hubs got their carnitas plate which was super yummy and my daughter got the albondigas which was REALLY good! The ambiance is colorful and fun, restaurant is very clean and tidy, layout is comfortable and their outdoor seating is dog-friendly (big plus for us!) Beyond all that, the service was incredible. Our waiter was fun and friendly, offered great menu suggestions and was very attentive. He even remembered us and our orders the next time we came in. This is a venue that will be a regular for us!

Gwen Field

The food is amazing. The service is outstanding. Great Cadillac Margarita that had a generous shot of Grand Marnier. A bit pricy for the portions, but that won't keep us from coming back. Thrift atmosphere is glow paintings on the walls with black lights illuminating them.

Morena Avalos

We took my mom here for her 85th birthday she was delighted it with the service and the atmosphere. Our waiter was Eligio it was very nice, courteous and patient with my parents. At the a end of our meal Eligio brought a little surprise for my mom and they sang for her. We will definitely come again.

Jennifer Pina-Medellin

Our first time at Kalaveras Escondido. My family/friends and I went for my birthday celebration. I originally made the reservation through OpenTable, we got there and were happily received by all staff. Not to begin with the phenomenal work our server Angel provided us. He made us all feel welcomed, heard and was on top of such a big party. I’m beyond impressed, thank you so much! To end the night he saw us struggling to take a family photo and came out to offer taking it for us. Very very attentive, thank you so much Angel! Keep it up!

My first time visiting this location. It’s spacious and enough seating for big groups. They have a stage for live music. Their happy hour menu is pretty good. I loved their margaritas. They have various food items on the happy hour menu. The service was good. It’s very helpful that we’re able to pay our own check individually. There’s plenty of parking on site and on the street.

Taco tour #8 &9. Visited this place twice, once on a Wednesday and came back on taco Tuesday. The normal tacos are really good and clearly worth coming back for. They are a bit expensive. First time I got the fish and chicharron and carnitas tacos. The fish had a nice breading. Everything was a little spicy though, but not overwhelming. The chicharron were surprisingly good. I enjoy them and goofdcame back and got them the second time on Taco Tuesday. The carnitas were juicy and had a good flavor. I was hoping that the tacos would be similar on the Taco Tuesday special. They came back very small and you went inside to the taco bar to put your own toppings on there. It was a little disappointing and I would prefer to have the normal tacos at a better deal. They have on other days, but they're difficult to determine based on the menu. There's little information that can be used to help when you're ordering. The restaurant could use better signage to advertise and consistency between the normal and special meals. While the food is good, it is difficult to picture myself going back a third time. Have to specifically ask for chips and salsa.

Bonnie Ye

My first time visiting this location. It’s spacious and enough seating for big groups. They have a stage for live music. Their happy hour menu is pretty good. I loved their margaritas. They have various food items on the happy hour menu. The service was good. It’s very helpful that we’re able to pay our own check individually. There’s plenty of parking on site and on the street.

James Dorman

Taco tour #8 &9. Visited this place twice, once on a Wednesday and came back on taco Tuesday. The normal tacos are really good and clearly worth coming back for. They are a bit expensive. First time I got the fish and chicharron and carnitas tacos. The fish had a nice breading. Everything was a little spicy though, but not overwhelming. The chicharron were surprisingly good. I enjoy them and goofdcame back and got them the second time on Taco Tuesday. The carnitas were juicy and had a good flavor. I was hoping that the tacos would be similar on the Taco Tuesday special. They came back very small and you went inside to the taco bar to put your own toppings on there. It was a little disappointing and I would prefer to have the normal tacos at a better deal. They have on other days, but they're difficult to determine based on the menu. There's little information that can be used to help when you're ordering. The restaurant could use better signage to advertise and consistency between the normal and special meals. While the food is good, it is difficult to picture myself going back a third time. Have to specifically ask for chips and salsa.

Location is convenient right along Grand Ave in Escondido with plenty of free parking. We were seated right away for Saturday evening Valentine's weekend. Staff was very attentive and frequently checking in on us. Food came in right away and drinks we have to upgrade, it's pricey but good. The place has a dark club vibe with very loud music like you are on a dance floor. I wish there was a choice of a quieter area in the restaurant where you can enjoy the good food.

Ria L.

Location is convenient right along Grand Ave in Escondido with plenty of free parking. We were seated right away for Saturday evening Valentine's weekend. Staff was very attentive and frequently checking in on us. Food came in right away and drinks we have to upgrade, it's pricey but good. The place has a dark club vibe with very loud music like you are on a dance floor. I wish there was a choice of a quieter area in the restaurant where you can enjoy the good food.

Perez T

My first and last time. If you come to eat at this restaurant, I recommend that you don't get served by a girl named Melissa. She has a very bad attitude and is never attentive to you.

Found this place and decides to try it. Food was mediocre. The appetizer were better then the main course. I had the mole enchiladas, they stated the mole from a can, too sweet. My wife got the green enchiladas and they were okay. We also ordered two tacos, but the tortillas were so soggy that it fell aprt before you took a bite. The drinks were great! The food came out quick, but the service was slow, at one point we felt that the waitress forgot about us. Overall, it's over prized and the food it not that great. To top it off, they ran my credit card on someone elses bill. They had to refund and rebcharge my card.

C. Rico

Found this place and decides to try it. Food was mediocre. The appetizer were better then the main course. I had the mole enchiladas, they stated the mole from a can, too sweet. My wife got the green enchiladas and they were okay. We also ordered two tacos, but the tortillas were so soggy that it fell aprt before you took a bite. The drinks were great! The food came out quick, but the service was slow, at one point we felt that the waitress forgot about us. Overall, it's over prized and the food it not that great. To top it off, they ran my credit card on someone elses bill. They had to refund and rebcharge my card.

1. Food: Potatoes Came Cold had to go find server to fix 2. Service: Slower than slow, place was Practically dead and the service was the worst I have experienced. No Salt Pepper on Table , Sugar for Coffee was wet. 3. Atmosphere : Place was dead the only atmosphere was the one we created. 4. Cleanliness: Place was dirty, floors sticky 5. Restrooms: I have seen cleaner restrooms at a truck stop. Summary: Eat somewhere else. Plenty of better options in the area. DO NOT GO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF

I will never be returning here !! I have been here a numerous amount of times. Everytime we go the service gets worse and worse. The last two times our service has been horrible , we’ve had to ask the waiters for more water and they didn’t even bring us chips and salsa until we asked. The last time we came here we were charged $70 for a single shot ! My husband had asked the bartender for a recommendation of which alcohol to try. We were charged $70 for a single shot that the bartender never disclosed the price of before he charged us! There were no signs on the menu that a single shot was $70 and the bartender didn’t disclose the price. We received our bill and it wa sover $130 for two happy hour appetizers which are $7.99, one bottled jarritos and 1 frozen margarita and including the $70 shot. This place will take advantage of you! we are never coming here again!

Where do I start, a month ago I went to this place and the food was great. The atmosphere was jumping, it was wonderful. I went again on a Tuesday and it was horrible. The atmosphere was gone and the people were gone. There was like, 6 couples in the whole restaurant and the food portions were smaller and it tasted like it came out of a box. Some sort of microwave meal or something. It was ridiculously awful, and the drinks were watered down. The service was not existent. We waited 25 minutes just to get the check. And then I decided to pay cash, because it probably would have taken another 20 minutes for them to pick it up. As we saw with the couple that was next to us, that had been waiting longer than us to just have them pick up their check so they could leave this place. This place sucks, do not waste your money, and do not go. Tell your friends, make sure that everybody in Escondido, knows, so they could shut this place down once and for all.

I am not from the area but I did go celebrate a friend’s birthday. We went around 6pm and there was only 1 customer at the bar and one table with customers. Went in our service was great I forgot her name but she had long black hair. We order 2 drink one beer and 1 blended margarita. We order another round and noticed our drinks siting at the bar. The bartender and one of the male I believe he might have been a Manager or lead but they were both catering to the man at the bar. I went up to them to go close out because I didn’t want the drink that has been sitting at the bar for a while anymore. They both looked at me with a surprise face and my server came out with a food order. I paid my bill and I left my server know it was not her fault as she was busy.

S S

1. Food: Potatoes Came Cold had to go find server to fix 2. Service: Slower than slow, place was Practically dead and the service was the worst I have experienced. No Salt Pepper on Table , Sugar for Coffee was wet. 3. Atmosphere : Place was dead the only atmosphere was the one we created. 4. Cleanliness: Place was dirty, floors sticky 5. Restrooms: I have seen cleaner restrooms at a truck stop. Summary: Eat somewhere else. Plenty of better options in the area. DO NOT GO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF

ashley garcia

I will never be returning here !! I have been here a numerous amount of times. Everytime we go the service gets worse and worse. The last two times our service has been horrible , we’ve had to ask the waiters for more water and they didn’t even bring us chips and salsa until we asked. The last time we came here we were charged $70 for a single shot ! My husband had asked the bartender for a recommendation of which alcohol to try. We were charged $70 for a single shot that the bartender never disclosed the price of before he charged us! There were no signs on the menu that a single shot was $70 and the bartender didn’t disclose the price. We received our bill and it wa sover $130 for two happy hour appetizers which are $7.99, one bottled jarritos and 1 frozen margarita and including the $70 shot. This place will take advantage of you! we are never coming here again!

Jeanette Magana

I am not from the area but I did go celebrate a friend’s birthday. We went around 6pm and there was only 1 customer at the bar and one table with customers. Went in our service was great I forgot her name but she had long black hair. We order 2 drink one beer and 1 blended margarita. We order another round and noticed our drinks siting at the bar. The bartender and one of the male I believe he might have been a Manager or lead but they were both catering to the man at the bar. I went up to them to go close out because I didn’t want the drink that has been sitting at the bar for a while anymore. They both looked at me with a surprise face and my server came out with a food order. I paid my bill and I left my server know it was not her fault as she was busy.

James Proby

Where do I start, a month ago I went to this place and the food was great. The atmosphere was jumping, it was wonderful. I went again on a Tuesday and it was horrible. The atmosphere was gone and the people were gone. There was like, 6 couples in the whole restaurant and the food portions were smaller and it tasted like it came out of a box. Some sort of microwave meal or something. It was ridiculously awful, and the drinks were watered down. The service was not existent. We waited 25 minutes just to get the check. And then I decided to pay cash, because it probably would have taken another 20 minutes for them to pick it up. As we saw with the couple that was next to us, that had been waiting longer than us to just have them pick up their check so they could leave this place. This place sucks, do not waste your money, and do not go. Tell your friends, make sure that everybody in Escondido, knows, so they could shut this place down once and for all.