El Indio Mexican Restaurant is the birthplace of the infamous “Taquito”. El Indio prides themselves on making fresh and delicious food. Yes, they make their tortillas fresh every single day!
El Indio was founded at the corner of India and Grape as a tortilla factory in August of 1940 by Ralph Pesqueira Sr. Fresh corn tortillas were made by hand. During WWII, customers from Consolidated, Convair and other nearby factories soon began asking for ready to eat lunch items. Ralph Sr. responded by making the “taquito,” a word he coined meaning “little taco.”
It's very convenient for tacos. During our vacation time, we went there twice. We were so pleased to find this spot...... He's a star here. Tacos and the black model of ummmmm beer.... Amazing.read more
I went for the first time today. My family has been in San Diego for 60+ years and I never knew about this place. Lol.... The food was amazing. I tried the Indio burrito. Super tasty and filling!!! I'll definitely be coming back. 😝read more
They were so nice, my boyfriend and I spent the day trying different places for california burritos, this place was... different than the others but not in a bad way. The tortilla you could tell was fresh, the meat was so tender and good and the french fries were a nice crispy. Can't wait to go back and try more things.read more
mexican food at this place - great. Entered near eleven, it wasn't packed. I'll return with my friends. This place has... a great design. Reminds me of a cafe in Chicago I loved to visit.read more
We chose this restaurant for our dinner on the strength of it’s positive reviews and we were not disappointed. The... staff were extremely friendly and attentive and the food was simply excellent. I can highly recommend the pate plate, and the Scottish salmon was absolutely delectable. We were treated to a creme brûlée as treat which finished off our wonderful meal just right! Many thanks to the Smoking Goat for a great experience. We will be back!read more
I have never been disappointed in any dinning experiences at El Indio. Great food , always prepared with pride and in a... timely fashion. Multiple outside locations of tables and chairs/ benches. Call ahead or order at the restaurant. Enjoy !read more
It's hard to find a decent potato taco in this city, however this San Diego landmark has been doing it for 80 years. Of... course they have the classic beef and chicken, but do yourself a favor and try a potato one, you won't be disappointed. Don't forget to grab a bag of their chips, that seasoning on them is amazingread more
We love El Indio! Every time we visit SD, this is the first place we go for food. The food is great, the people are... friendly, and the in-house chips and tortillas... so good. I dont speak for all locals, and considering I moved away years ago, but IMO, this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in all of SoCal.read more
My family and I were visiting San Diego this weekend for some R&R and heard about this restaurant through the Food... Network. I didn't get anything they particularly made on the show, but I was real excited for my Bean and Cheese Chimichanga (green enchilada style). And it appeared somewhat appetizing until I ate halfway through and it was literally all cheese with a sliver of beans. I was in disbelief and thought maybe there's a shortage, until I realized my fiancé ordered a side of beans for my daughter. It was a big burrito, but there was more on the side order than my Chimichanga. My fiancé also said his Carne asada Chimi was at least half cheese. In our opinion it was nothing special and lacked taste minus the salsa.read more
Haven't been here in years. I had the Adobada Burrito which was the special. It was delicious. I should've ordered the... chips and salsa though. It will happen next time.read more
mexican food... my favorite treat. I had a brother come into town and asked me to take him back here. The place has an... awesome atmosphere. Wish it was closer to my house, I would come every week.read more
Mexican food at this place - very tasty. Honestly my favorite evening place. Certainly worth going back to. Prices that... are reasonable. I see why this place has a lot of great reviews.read more
Thoroughly dissatisfied with the nachos and taco I ordered. Im from LA where we have great Mexican food but though... that being closer to the border, this place would somehow make Mexican food better than LA...wrong!!! The service was great with friendly staff but the food is over priced and over hyped. Nachos are chips, melted cheese and jalapeños which is fine if you're at the movies but if this place calls itself a Mexican restaurant, you need to try a little harder.. So If you want to pay 5 dollars for a taco that is just okay and nachos that are equal to those from the movies but more expensive, then this is the place for you. I wont be coming back thats for sure.read more
mexican food, yeah, super delicious. Arrived at six, it was not packed. I will be bringing family next time. Prices are... reasonable. I see why this place has a lot of good reviews.read more
One of the oldest family run businesses in San Diego. Delicious quality food with great customer service. Home made... tortillas fresh everydayread more
Food was good, prices reasonable, outside dining. Will certainly go back. Tip: great place to visit when arriving from... the airport. After a flight from somewhere that maybe didn't have a decent Mexican restaurant, you're hungry, tired and want a quick bite you drive up the hill from the airport, turn left on India and it's on the corner of Washington and India.read more
Outstanding place for tasty Mexican food. Everyone at our table was enjoying everything. Definitely worth a return... trip. The place has a nice atmosphere.read more
mexican food and service here is super good. The food was super appetizing. Really nothing but enjoyable experiences... here, I'll be back. Prices were average for the menu.read more
One of my favorite locations for delicious mexican food. Arrived at seven, it wasn't crowded. There was fast,... efficient, and courteous service. Kinda of like a cafe in Phoenix that I enjoyed.read more
Been coming here since I was a little kid. A famous San Diego spot known for its Delicious Mexican food. I can’t... believe how good the tortillas, tacos, tamales, and taquitos are here. Very nice people. Still open during covid and very sanitary. Highly recommend!read more
I had the 3 beef taquitos with guacamole, salsa and lettuce. Amazing just like the reviews say. Parking can be hard to... find so I suggest going at off hours.read more
The food was excellent. While always good it was even better than normal. I think this is because with the slow down... the kitchen is slower paced which results in better attention to detail. We ate on the patio that and parking were not as much of a challenge as it is here occasionally.read more
Long line and I went before and it was good this time not so great. Rice and beans and chips were bomb. But enchilada... was rubbery and tamales flavorless. Only thing decent was this potato taco.read more
Attended a Conference Brunch at this restaurant. I was wowed by the ambiance and friendliness of all the staff. Food... was great, no complaints on any dishes. Favorite was Plantains and Chile Queso (deep fried). I also enjoyed the chips, salsa and guacamole. We did try the cheese enchiladas with verde sauce and that was tasty. Chicken Chiquiles had good flavor but those are hard to serve in group setting as they get soft fast.read more
Haven't been here in forever but was wanting some great Mexican food and this was on my mind and they did not... disappoint...the chips were the bomb 💣 and the food was very very good...I'll be back next taco 🌮 Tuesdayread more
I enjoyed a beautiful evening meal. It was a nice experience for me for the first time. This restaurant was my all-time... favorite forever. They strive to provide us the best foods and service that exceeds our expectations. Try their services and you won’t regret it for sure. Thank you so much to all of you! Perfect!read more
One of my all time favorite spots in San Diego! Quick, efficient, and top notch safety standards for carry out! If you... need more than one option, get a mini burrito! Their carnitas is JUICY, messy and amazing!read more
El Indio is a good spot to get Mexican Fast Food in the Mission Hills area. If you're visiting San Diego it has a menu... that most will enjoy. Not the best Mexican Food in San Diego, but overall good food. Good seating outside and recommend calling in your order if you're trying to go. Super quick and great customer service.read more
Food was wonderful. There is dine-in but my family preferred to sit out for social distancing. But it was beautiful... weather to enjoy outdoor seating.read more
Holy wow! Never in my life did I expect 6 taquitos to not only fill me up, but totally satiate my hunger with such... simple and powerful flavors. I cannot wait to further explore the menu if everything holds the same standard I experienced.read more
This was my second time here and I am not impressed. Food is overpriced and the staff is just there to take your order... and hand over the food.read more
This place isn't too fancy, but the food is still awesome. A shout out to all waiters that have been working hard to... serve the food quickly. The place was spacious and clean as well, which is a great impact on me. I love how organized they were. From the entrance, they were very welcoming. It was a great place to dine in.read more
Finally a local budget friendly restaurant that’s good! We’ve driven by this place every time we are in San Diego... and go to BlueWater nearby, but have never stopped here until this visit. What a little gem - totally not what I expected since it’s basically a fast food style place yet home made like. Very reasonable prices and everything we had was delicious. It’s conveniently located near the airport, freeway and little Italy. This is definitely on our list to go back when we return.read more
Excellent food. The most important part for me was how friendly the cashier was when he greeted us upon ordering. He... made it an awesome environmentread more
I'm not sure when El Indio first opened but I have been eating there for over 30 years. Consistent good Mexican food. ... I love the beef Morditiitas with lots of jalapenos. Parking can be hard to find but is always available. The people who work there are always friendly and willing to help gringos who visit and have never eaten Mexican food. I always look for opportunities to eat there and have never been disappointed.read more