Casa Gabriela

Reviews

• MT

  Mullen Teodoro

  Mar 7, 2026
  5.0
  Several days ago we decided to dine at Casa Gabriela in La Mesa, California, and the experience was wonderful from the moment we arrived. We were seated right away, and the restaurant is beautifully decorated, spacious, and inviting, with the option to enjoy outdoor dining as well. The ambiance felt warm and comfortable. Menus, water, and warm chips with salsa were brought to the table immediately. The salsa had great flavor with a pleasant touch of heat. Our server was professional, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us time to look everything over and checked on us throughout the meal, which made the service feel attentive and welcoming. We started with the Queso Fundido, served in a traditional cast iron skillet. The blend of Oaxaca and Asadero cheeses, along with the poblano and pinto beans, created a rich and balanced flavor. Both corn and flour tortillas were provided. For my main dish, I ordered the Chicken Tinga Taco Plate. The chicken had a nice smokiness and a gentle amount of heat, and the tacos were a generous size. The rice and beans were seasoned well and paired nicely with the dish. My partner ordered the Chile Relleno made with Mexican crema, Oaxaca cheese, and Cotija cheese. I tried a bite, and it was well battered, well seasoned, and complemented by their Epazote Ranchero Salsa. Both plates came with rice and beans. We each ordered horchata, which had a pleasant and balanced flavor. Overall, we had a great experience. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and we look forward to returning to try more dishes. What we ordered Appetizer - Queso Fundido crispy chorizo, roasted poblanos, oaxaca & asadero cheese, pinto beans, flour tortillas Main Dishes - Chicken Tinga Taco Plate with Rice And Beans charred jalapeno corn tortilla, baby arugula, queso fresco, mexican crema - Chile Relleno Plate with Rice And Beans epazote ranchero salsa, mexican crema, oaxaca & cotija cheeses, crispy tortilla threads * As a side note, parking in downtown La Mesa can be challenging. The available parking in the area is paid rather than complimentary, but this is not the responsibility of Casa Gabriela or any of the surrounding businesses. It is simply part of the downtown district.
• JW

  Jesse W

  Mar 7, 2026
  5.0
  Excellent margaritas & delicious food - one of a very few places where the salsa is actually hot. The cauliflower was especially good. I have never had mashed potatoes served at a Mexican restaurant but the ones tucked under my salmon were amazing & I gobbled them up.
• VM

  Valeria Moreno

  Mar 3, 2026
  5.0
  the food was AMAZING, customer service was also great i can wait to come back! i had the enchiladas swizas with seafood 100% recommended!
• AS

  Anar Shah

  Feb 19, 2026
  4.0
  Great service! Warm chips and salsa served as you settle in… lots of yumm options to select from.. definitely recommend the tempura cauliflower appetizer! Unfortunately the chile relleno, corn enchiladas and kids cheese and bean burrito were all too cheesy for our liking. But if you enjoy cheesy food, you’d totally enjoy these.
• JL

  Jeremiah Lansing

  Feb 13, 2026
  2.0
  My spouse and I came in this past Wednesday evening for dinner. We had the queso and split a couple taco plates. The cheese dip was good, but it got cold quick, which caused it to be firm and not very dippable. The tacos (Baja fish and steak) were not great. We liked the fish taco over the beef, but only slightly. The fish taco was absolutely covered in greens and stuff that really overpowered the fried fish filet. The carne was bland and cut into such small pieces it really had zero mouth-feel. The overall lack of heat and flavor, along with the temperatures really leaves a lot to be desired. Mexican food in San Diego is either amazing, or mediocre. This is the latter.

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