Tonys Jacal

I love this place. My friend takes me here when I visit. The margaritas are strong and the food is good.
My friend had the na chose and I had a combination of a burrito and and make. Their tamales are so good.
The patio is a great spot to sit. The waiters are attentive and the hosts are kind.
Definitely check this place out.

TONY JACAL RESTAURANT, Solana Beach
I went to the restaurant today for lunch, first of all I’m handicap, in a wheel chair, and was coming from a appt (heart stress test) I was hungry and tired, my care giver and I walked in and wanted to sit outside, we asked the waiter where we could sit, he then said «Anywhere you would like», we sat at one of the long tables because I would be in the way using one of the other tables, a man came up to us and asked us if we were part of the memorial group, we said «no», then said we had to move because that table was reserved, we told him what was said to us and then really got rude, saying it was only obvious that the table was set for a party, excuse me all the tables were set, and ur waiter told us to sit anywhere, we then went inside, we were waited on, our lunch was brought to us and then no one, no one, not one waiter came over to see if we needed anything. One of our water glasses was empty and the other almost, so we paid and left, by the way the rude man, we later found out was ONE OF THE FAMILY OWNERS, nice job, going back I’m not sure, cause we noticed how he handle other customers, I’m not prejudice but let’s just say he made sure they were very happy.

Went last night for dinner. The food is good, but so overpriced. It’s actually ridiculous. I ordered a double house margarita. They charged me $ 22.50. Side of guacamole is $ 9. Entrée was $ 16
The bill for me and me alone was $ 60.70
I’m willing to pay for good food and service, but this is outrageous. I won’t eat here ever again. Plus, it’s not ok to ask us to pay without an itemized bill. I’m shocked patrons put up with that.

Not what I expected from a place that has been in business as long as Tony Jacal’s has.
I went Memorial Day and the place was packed. I had never been before. For as busy as it was the service was great and better than expected. They are obviously use to it being busy and know how to get the food out in good time.
My only disappointment was (see the photo) my Chili Relleno had no cheese or sauce on it and was completely dry and the cheese was yellow? It was not that delicious Mexican cheese (excuse my ignorance for not knowing what it is) but it’s what I like and always seem to get no matter where I go when I order this.
I’ll try something else next time and come back with an extra star for good measure.

food was a bit salty and expensive.
we went for dinner there and got the chile colorado, a taco/​enchilada plate, and a spicy margarita.
the bill came to $ 65 with tip i believe which i thought was very high.
i felt like i could get better food at a chile verde or rubios personally.

Such a fan of this long time establishment and neighborhood gem. The staff is so very friendly and the owner is such a sweetheart. The bar in the back is large and cozy with a huge bar. Cinco de Mayo was packed and even though it was busy and service was slow, our food came out quickly. The salsa is good and the turkey tacos and plates are wonderful. The house margs were off so I suggest you order top shelf. Excellent food and great place to hang out.

This place has a lovely garden patio with heating lamps. We brought my puppy, so we weren’t able to sit inside but outside was perfect in my opinion it was even better than being inside.
I really enjoyed the ambiance and the food. The menu has tons of options. I really liked the Mexican style corn and their verde chicken enchilada. My boyfriend ordered the steak burrito and said it was nicely cooked. The portions are generous, there is no way we would have eaten everything. I think next time we will order one entrée and share. The frozen strawberry margarita is strong but delicious! Will be my go-​to drink when I come here again.
TIP: They have a Mariachi band plays on certain days, I would find out when they come so you can make sure to come on the same day! It adds to the experience :)

Friendly and comfortable atmosphere. The patio is great for warm nights — add a few delicious and reasonably priced pitchers of Original Margaritas and you’ve got the start to a great evening.

We have dined here so many times that it feels like a second home. It is time that I reviewed it. Despite the large menu, I have never found a disappointing dish. Among our favorites are jalapeño poppers, probably the best nachos anywhere, the pork green chili, chicken Mole, The chili Colorado, the ground beef taco, the cheese enchilada which is outstanding, and The chicken chimichanga. Many of the dishes come with a terrific Mexican cabbage. The bar is newly enlarged with some great beers on tap including goose IPA which is excellent. The margaritas, especially the Silver surfer are potent and they make a mean Mai tai. The staff always go out of their way to accommodate especially given the fact I am disabled. They are our go to Mexican restaurant in north county San Diego.

Stopped in for an early dinner last night. Took a table outdoors as there was a waiting list of about 35 minutes.
Came in basically to get guacamole and a couple of drinks. As vegans, we thought this would be fairly easy to do, except that their guacamole had a liberal dusting of parmesan cheese. The waiter was understanding of our dietary preference, but wasn’t sure if the kitchen was capable of making the guacamole without the parmesan
Who the heck puts parmesan on guacamole? NEVER HEARD OF IT.
Anyway, they did make the guacamole with out it. We ended up sharing a vegetable fajitas. The waiter said they do use lard in some recipes but had alternative cooking for vegetarians and vegans.
We thought the waiter was better than average.
If you are vegan you can eat here but they are limited.

Tonys is an institution. It’s been in Del Mar since the 40s.
The atmosphere is awesome, and the food is great. There is always a line waiting to get in for dinner. You know that’s when a place is good.
I have yet to find a Mexican restaurant that even comes close.
Its not just a restaurant, its an experience
I like to visit when i drive over from Vegas.

Sorry but I have to leave this review.
1. Terrible service. chips salsa drinks took 30 min. plenty of employees but none can help only the head waiter… thought I was bother to the staff just for being seated. I won’t give up I’ll try and go again since it is an old establishment and been in San Diego a long time. When food arrived it was very good but service can kill a dining experience.

As long as I can remember during my 30 years on earth, I’ve been a loyal fan of Fidel’s — right next door to Tony’s — so it wasn’t until recently that I had the opportunity to try Tony’s. In a nutshell, I thought Tony’s was really good and definitely comparable to Fidel’s, but I believe Fidel’s is a tad better, hence the 5 stars to Fidel’s and 3.5 stars to Tony’s — although I may be a bit biased. Both have great Mexican food and margaritas, an extensive menu, and good service. Tony’s prices seem to be slightly higher, the restaurant did not seem as full or popular as Fidel’s, the restaurant seems to be smaller in size, and our waiter would not let me make minor substitutions. I think I would go back to Tony’s, but only if I was too impatient and hungry to wait for a table at my beloved Fidel’s! Also, the Tostada Suprema (my go to) at Fidel’s has more ingredients than Tony’s for a smaller price tag!
+1 Good Mexican food and margaritas
+1 Friendly service, although not as friendly about menu substitutions
+1 Designated parking lot across the street
–1 More expensive than Fidel’s right next door
–1 Not as good as Fidel’s right next door

Tony’s Jacal is a freaking delicious Mexican food joint located right in the heart of Solana Beach. This place pretty much has everything you’d want in a Mexican dining establishment; great food, nice ambiance, great service, cold beer and lots of music. The food is just straight up delicious. Pretty much every menu item is very good but my go to is the chili verde burrito plate with a turkey taco rice and beans, maybe start out with some Mexican corn if I’m feeling frisky… Overall, the tastes, the smells and the ambiance makes this place a fantastic dining option.
Pros–
Menu
Location
Ambiance
Overall good taste
Ice cold Modelo
Bar while you wait
Service
Indoor/​outdoor seating
Delicious rice and beans
Cons–
Always crowded

Great spot! I’d definitely say it trumps the Mexican restaurant located next door. Place is lively, service is fast, food is hot and flavorful. They’ve always had a mariachi band playing anytime I’ve gone for dinner. There’s usually a wait and not always availability for reservations, so have a drink in the bar or enjoy the fireplace in the front entrance while you wait.
Don’t get the shrimp grilled tacos they’re flavorless and uneventful. Stick to the fajitas! Shrimp and chicken are delicious. The chicken tortilla soup is outta this world! You know it’s great Mexican food when the simplest thing like a bean and cheese burrito has you craving to go back. They don’t bring you a check, you pay at the front when you leave.

I know this place is a staple in Solana Beach and has been around forever. But I left there wondering what the hell is wrong with the folks in Solana Beach that this place could stay in business so long.
The atmosphere is old school Mexican, which wasn’t the bad thing. The bad thing was the food itself.
I ordered a plate of green chili pork with flour tortillas. (it came with beans and rice) I was craving something super authentic and with tons of flavor. What I got was a plate with rock hard/​dry flavorless chunks of pork swimming (yes swimming) in what appeared to be water (not even broth/​sauce.) It looked horrible and it tasted worse.
The service was actually quite good, they were very attentive (which is why I’m giving the second star.) But for the sky high prices and the awful food, I won’t be visiting again.

Ready for an old time favorite, while I wasn’t impressed, my husband was. Something for everyone. It does have a great atmosphere and has been in business for ever! The salsa was a little hot for me, good chips. We also found the customer service to be great.
I guess I’m not a big fan of authentic Mexican.

From their charming décor to their flavorsome dishes, Tony doesn’t skimp when it comes to Mexican food delights. Went here on a Sat and it was packed! Although, with their tasty food and kind and courteous service, it’s worth every minute of the wait. Let me tell you why.
— They serve you chips and salsa in their lobby, while you wait for your name to be called. Mind you, their salsa is spicier than expected, but still tasty, so chill when it comes to that. Also, if you’re up for the pregame, go and kill some waiting time with the bartenders and tell him/​her/​them some epic stories. Be prepared to yell over the loud and rambunctious crowd who are also having a good time.
— Their staff (chefs and servers) work their butts off ensuring that everyone’s needs are attended to and that no one goes unnoticed. If you’re just sitting there, admiring their lovely décor and pictures, they will ask you if everything is OK. Don’t be alarmed; they just want to make sure you’re having a good time!
— The owner’s son (Tony’s son) walks around ensuring everyone is doing okay, introducing himself, playing with babies and making the mothers of these babies laugh. He’s got a good soul, most definitely.
— Quality food, prepared with the freshest ingredients. This may sound cliché, but I can tell, and I can tell that everyone can tell that the first bite screams ‘homeade food.’ The kind of food our moms would cook if we were all Mexican. It’s beautifully-​prepared, generously-​portioned and just the right temperature. I’ve been served food that’s been sitting there, waiting to be served, and it does not look appetizing. Here, they make sure to get your food out as fast and they can, ask you if need anything else, and will help their other fellow staff members or another table, until they get back to you to see if you need anything else.
— The environment is loud, festive and joyful. You can’t walk in here with a bad attitude. Surely, that doesnt come with the attire. However, their bartender will churn up a wonderful concoction for you if you do need to drink away your misery.
— If not everyone, most people are locals and regular. So they most definitely don’t’ slouch when it comes to a fan base. They, too, are great people; not snobs at all. A lady went up to my boyfriend and I (while we were munching down on chips in the lobby, waiting for our table) and she was so hungry she asked us kindly if she can have a chip. So we let her have at it. It’s just that kind of atmosphere.
Tips: Come early before the wait and their carne asada and shrimp burritos are a must-​get or must-​try. They aren’t stingy with the shrimp/​carnes asada.

Nachos. End of story.
I consider myself a nacho connoisseur so after reading restaurant reviews in the area I had to come here. Every chip was covered in deliciousness.
Amazing chips and salsa (don’t eat too many if you are ordering nachos)
Great staff, came during the lunch hour and was immediately seated and served. Sat in the bar area and after inquiring about the nachos she advised half of a small would probably be enough for one. I’m a foodie and I’m only visiting San Diego for the day so figured I’d order a small and take the rest home if necessary. Ate two chips and realized 1. My trainer is going to be soooo mad at me and 2. The waitress was right, half of a small would’ve been plenty.
Forced myself through about half of it and it was amazing but I can’t take anymore. I’m actually stuck in this seat which is why I’m writing the review. I dk about their other dishes but if the chips and salsa and apps taste this good I’m sure you can order anything.
Hats off to u Tony’s!

I finally checked out Tony’s with a friend on a Friday night. Even at 8oclock there was a 40 minute wait inside, but we were able to get a table on the patio right away. It wasn’t too cold, but they have heaters overhead to help warm things up if needed.
The menu is very extensive and it took some time trying to figure out what I wanted. I ended up getting the chicken Verde enchilada and carnitas taco combo. It also came with a side of rice, beans and cabbage slaw.
The portion was huge, especially the carnitas taco. The carnitas was nice and tender. The enchilada was ok, but I wish they had used a bit more cheese. The cabbage slaw was very good.
Slight downgrade for the margaritas, which were very watered down. The chips and salsa were good, but i wish the salsa was more chunky and less watery. Guac was pretty good, but a bit bland for my taste.
Tony’s is a bit on the pricy side, but you definitely won’t walk out hungry!

I used to work here. Management is nice, everyone is friendly. The bar is a bit understaffed but the bus boys bartenders & cocktail waitress/​waiters work their buns off!
The food here is amazing. I mean ive been a vegetarian for 4 years but i still ate the pot beans, cabbage salad, chips, salsa, and guac! Not to mention the cheese! Everything here is great. Ill admit i miss working here but it definitely was a great experience.
Things to order: if you’re new
–turkey tacos
–nachos appetizer with an extra side of chips
–chilireanos
–chipotle shrimp and lastly,
–the GOLD COIN margarita
Or the skinny margarita. ;)