Ponchos Taco Shop

I’ve been stopping here for many years, however today is my last time.
I’m not sure if they’ve had a change in staff or management, but the last few times I’ve been in, I’ve received poor service and an attitude that my business is not welcome.
I truly feel that this business is targeting the Hispanic market only, and non-​Spanish speakers like myself are undesirable.

I grew up here in San Diego and I think we all have more than one favorite taco shop. Right now, ponchos takes the cake! Every time I order the food is amazing. Francisco at the front always greets us with a smile, and has perfect customer service. I went in on Mother’s Day (they had cupcakes in the counter), I asked to pay for one for my son and although they were not for sale, he still gave me one. Right then and there, I decided this was my favorite place. I always get carnitas tacos and they are on point. You can’t go wrong at this place. Definitely take all my friends and family, and you should too!!! It may not be drive through, but it’s more than worth it!

My fiancé and I ate hear today for the first time and we both thought it was great. It was clean and the service was fine. Decent prices even for the beer. She had a beef taco and I had the chili relleno burrito plus sour cream and mexican guac. The have 2 kinds of guac (creamy=guac with sour cream mixed in)(mex=guac with pico de gallo mixed in).

This is my favoritest taco shop! Their customer service kinda sucks at times but for the most part it’s O… K…Everything I’ve tried is delicious. I’ve tried too many to list but their Surf & Turf burrito is to die for IF you like chipotle sauce! I will keep going back, THAT’S FOR SURE!

No clue to why I picked this place to try out, but it seemed to be one of the less popular taco shops in El Cajon. I do remember visiting this place quite frequently when working across the street at Dixieline. Even though those days are quite long behind me at about 13 years or so, I do have good memories of the food here. Before clocking out for lunch, I recall calling up Ponchos to have my order ready so I could come and grab it quickly. My lunch breaks were super short here and every minute counted.
The place overall has changed its look and seems a lot less dumpy to me than I remember it. When visiting Ponchos on a late Sunday, there were lots of families inside eating in their large dining room. Although they serve slop shop food, it had more of a sit down restaurant type of vibe to it. Their green menu overhead was quite large and they served quite the variety of Mexican food here. With all your typical items, they also had a decent list of soups and seafood which they served every day. Their salsa bar (
) was to the right of the register with two red sauces and one green. The chunky red sauce was quite spicy and the darker red had a smoky oily taste to it. Chips are free here for dining in but cost extra for takeout orders. One thing I did notice about the menu here, is their food is slightly on the more expensive side, with a typical carne asada burrito costing about $ 7 with tax.
Their California burritos here come standard with meat, cheese, fries, and guacamole. However if you don’t want «American» guacamole, you better let them know beforehand because by default they use that stuff instead of the good guac. The burrito (
) came in a foiled up tray and was massively huge. The tortilla was heated up a bunch before wrapping which was nice. Overall they have pretty solid tortillas here, great texture and taste. The carne asada meat its self was bit on the fatter side and they cut them into big flat chunks. Even though they properly seasoned them, the meat was on a bit of the salty side. I would have preferred smaller chunks of meat inside of a burrito personally. The French fries were crispy and not greasy at all. The burrito wasn’t overly greasy at all, even though the meat had quite a bit of fat on it. They added plenty of Mexican guacamole to the inside throughout as well. Even though the burrito may cost a bit much, it was good.
Rolled tacos here come in sizes of three or five. They add American guac by default again, make sure to ask for the real stuff. I also had them add sour cream because they only come with guac, cheese, lettuce and tomato here standard. The cheese on top of the tacos (
) wasn’t melted at all. I personally enjoy fresh cheese like this instead of it being melted all over in grease like some places. I really hate greasy rolled tacos, these weren’t greasy in the slightest. The tacos themselves were pretty decently sized. They look hand rolled at least, and had tons of shredded beef inside. At about $ 1 per taco, they’re not too bad of a deal really. Their mini tacos come in orders of three and I was able to try some of their pollo asado ones. As you can tell (
) their pollo asado doesn’t appear to be too decently seasoned. The chicken was rather bland and luckily the hot sauce gave it some flavor. Even though the chicken was bland, they cooked it pretty good because they were able to get some crisp on the outside of them. For three of these tacos, they’ll run you the steep price of $ 5.50.
Ponchos overall seems to be a decent taco shop. The staff there wasn’t overly friendly but did a good job at getting the orders out efficiently. They were quite knowledgeable about what was in their food though, and were able to answer all my questions. They charged me one of those credit card fees that everyone hates, so be warned. The restaurant seemed a bit dirty to me with a mess around the salsa bar on the table and ground. The chairs and tables weren’t too cleaned off as well. For some reason I remember food here being a bit better when I use to work across the street and definitely a lot cheaper. Ponchos makes decent food, but not exceptional in my opinion. The prices are steep yet the portions are of good size, so it seems to be a three star to me. Don’t let this place be confused with the chain «Los Ponchos» either, they are quite different places.

I am so disappointed. I have been coming here for a year and although I passed 5 other taco shops on the way home I decided to go to Ponchos because it had been proven delicious. However, today was awful. Instead of getting quality meat, I got what felt and tasted like the tiny bits of chicken that get left in the pan and been left there to overcook and become soaked in grease. If it’s hard on your teeth to chew, that’s not good chicken. How dare a cook serve that to a customer. Please see picture to better understand.

Anyone hating on this place doesn’t know anything about good Mexican food. People who lower their rating over limes, prices, and what is on the tv or radio should stay off Unilocal.You hurt good business and prevent certain people from experiencing good food.
That being said, this place is awesome. Huge burritos, tender flavorful carne, great salsas. They make both red and white menudo everyday, and have authentic Birria. If you don’t know what that is, then I rest my case.
Solid service. Beer on tap. Clean dining area.
One of my favorites in SD.

EVERY freakn time I eat here, they mess up my order. My husband even knows them (he eats there so much) last time they repeated my order to me correctly, then left off the rice & beans??? Done (I paid $ 6.95 for 3 fish tacos! Really)

This is one of my favorite place to eat at the best taco shop ever I l love personally how they make my food it’s the best ever I can’t thank them enough especially just how there seafood is there not shy to put that shrimp unlike other taco shops people friendly environment all I have to say Is that if u customers out there are reading this it’s flavor is a melting it’s the best place ever that’s all I have to say. love everything about there food.

I have tried many taco shops in El Cajon, but I always go back to Ponchos. It’s the best taco shop in El Cajon!

Did I seriously just pay $ 5.30 for a BEAN&CHEESE BURRITO?!
Where do I even begin with my experience at ponchos. If I could give it 0 stars, I would. I’ve been coming here for 8+ years and have slowly stopped coming back because of its decline.
FIRSTLY, the customer service in here is terrible. All the time. So, I walk in and the girl at the counter is busy doing something, TURNS AROUND and looks at me, then goes back to whatever she was doing without ever acknowledging me. Then when she’s ready to take my order, she doesn’t say anything… Just gives me this look like I’m stupid or something. Even when my food was ready, she didn’t mention my order, or my food was ready, she just left it on the counter for me to figure out. I wanted to ask for a manager, but it seems like the owner keeps them on skeleton crew with one cashier and one cook. I really would love to express to the owner even now how mistreated I’ve been the last handful of times I’ve been there, but seems like management is always absent, hence the lack of customer service.
Now prices: let me tell you that prices have always been higher than their competitors. Which has been OK the past few years because the food used to be awesome and I’m sure they could get away with it. Now they’re prices have skyrocketed and the portions are smaller than ever before. I literally paid $ 5.30 FOR A BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITO. There is no excuse for this. I have never paid at any of their competitors more than $ 3.75. They obviously aren’t investing in their labor, lack there of, and definitely not an A/​C either. It’s always a sweat pit in there, filled with people wiping their sweaty foreheads waiting anxiously for their food.
Seriously, skip this place. The floors are ALWAYS dirty, constantly dirty plates laying around with tons of flies hanging around them, the employees never acknowledge you AND never any upper management to talk to about how bad their poorly ran business is running.
Word to management: BE PRESENT because your clientele aren’t happy and your shop is a sloppy pigs den where people always beg for money outside and trash the outside of your business. Take some pride in your establishment! And $ 8.50 for a shrimp burrito is robbery! Take these things into account and stop trying to nickel and dime your customers because at the end of the day, you’re still in the hood off E Main st across from the Wienerschnitzel and the trailer park. Don’t forget where you came from!

I’ve been coming here since high school, which was over a decade ago… I love the food!!! Their carne asada burritos with american guac! To die for! My two issues here are…1, they have been shady with their meat! I pay 6.79 for a burrito, I want it full of meat! Not guac and pico! 2, the girl working last night was a major _​_​_​_​_​, fill in the blank… she didn’t acknowledge or ask if I needed anything else or even said thank you! She charges me, I pay, and she pretty much throws my money in my hand and rolls her eyes and turns around… like, really? The chef smiled at me, maybe she was jealous? Haha I don’t know, either way, give better service, acknowledge your customers, and maybe more people wouldn’t complain, also stop being shady with your meat! I wish I would’ve taken pics but I forgot and if it happens again I will post one! Cuz this isn’t the first time btw!

I can’t say enough good things about Ponchos!
My colleagues and I frequent this location. I eat here once a week at least. Everything on the menu is outstanding. This place uses high quality fresh ingredients and all of the food tastes amazing.
Usually, I order a Carne asada burrito or a California burrito. Today, I had a serious craving for some fish tacos with rice and beans. The pieces of fish they used were BIG crispy breaded cod. The cabbage and Pico complement the meat and tortillas perfectly. I recommend to try them with the red or the green salsa. Both are flavorful and fresh!
My colleague ordered a California burrito. He was very pleased with his lunch. Another one of my colleagues ordered a Carne asada plate. It was amazing and he dusted off the whole thing effortlessly. Take a look at the photos from today’s lunch!
They do give you a lot of food. The portion sizes are generous. The staff is friendly. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner! Give it a try sometime! Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

The fact you charge extra for guac on TJ tacos is bull! What Mexican doesn’t want TJ tacos and charging extra for every single item like beans in a breakfast burrito when no meat was added come on hear of the term sub? Sorry this taco shop hikes up prices and gives so so decent tasting food
Carne was rough and dry as if they heated in the microwave
I get I am white washed but my mom was full Mexican, I know the recipes so I get lazy and don’t wanna cook to be given jokester food like that was bull!
Pollo? Wow did you prep it near the windex not worth going back down there you have totally lost my trust
Charge for limes? YA son went in and the receipt has a charge for limes with his fries half order that cost 10 bucks
Rip offs
Don’t go here stop supporting these rip offs there is better places a block up Victoria’s and Robertos and Santana’s worth the extra drive

After trying multitudes of mexican places in El Cajon, Ponchos is the runaway winner. Never have been disappointed. Only criticism I have is the salsa bar is a bit barren.

We love this little hole in the wall Mexican food joint! How can you tell it’s good? It’s full of Mexicans! Best refried beans anywhere, bar none! Fish taco’s are huge and 100% better than Rubio’s. Carne Asada is awesome, tender, and flavorful. The Flying saucer with shredded beef is huge and so good. Pollo asada is great too. Mexican guacamole is the only way to go. Their salsa is perfect for us gringos… tasty with a hint of heat. Everything we’ve tried has been absolutely wonderful. Best little treasure in El Cajon!

This place is amazing. I am picky with Mexican food, and not much taco shops can compare to this spot. Service is excellent and food is good. I been living here in El Cajon for three years and this is the only place I go for Mexican food. You won’t regret it.

Food was good but nothing to brag about for 20.00 for a .ca burrito and combo plate. I could have the same meal for 14.00 bucks down the street. The beans were really good (home made).

This is my favorite taco shop. I’m a fan of their fish tacos. Everything I’ve tried has always been delicious and the portions are very generous. Plus, they serve beer here.

I had a pretty nice breakfast here. I ordered the Huevos Mexicanos which consisted of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, green peppers, and a side of rice and re-​fried beans. (
) It also came with four corn tortillas. Yes, I said four, not your usual three. This was an added bonus for me.
The scrambled eggs were perfectly cooked, not runny or burnt. I used the corn tortillas to make some breakfast tacos with their hot sauce. (
) Yum! I was able to make and eat four tacos with the amount of food I had.
The rice was also cooked very well. The rice had great flavor and was and fluffy. The re-​fried beans were very good as well. They were not greasy and had great flavor. The place was clean and service was good. The Huevos Mexicano combo was only $ 5.85! Great deal.
Note: On Tuesday’s they have $ 1.00 street tacos specials.