It has been years since the last time we have been here. Still really nice people taking your order and the food was great! The tamales and cheese enchiladas are the best!

A couple things to note, it looks like they only use cheddar cheese here, no Monterey Jack. The Chile Relleno is made with cheddar. They also may only have red sauces here. My chicken enchilada was with a red sauce. The other places I’ve been use green for chicken and Monterey Jack. They do have a hot green salsa. Otherwise the food is ok. The chicken enchilada was tasty. The taquitos were strangely a bit tough, I probably won’t try that again. Same with the chips. More than just crispy, a bit tough. Almost like they sat for too long before being served. The place looks like it gets busy. People like it. There’s a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating.

This gem is a must when visiting San Diego! They have something for every taste, and it's all good! I love the flauta plate, you get 3 flautas covered with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, soooo good!! They make their tortillas fresh and their house-made chips has this seasoning that keeps you coming back! You can dine inside or like we opted, outside in their little old school patio area across the street. ❤️

Love this place! Real good food every time I go there. Yes there is usually a line an a small wait. It's worth tree wait

Visiting San Diego and decided to come here after watching it on Triple D. It has good taquitos. You can really taste the quality of their home made tortillas. It comes through in their entrees big time. Best cheeses enchiladas I have ever had. Rice and beans were good. I liked the rice the best. They have a salsa bar with roasted chilis. It is a casual fast food style Mexican restaurant. You order at the front and find a seat. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. I would recommend a visit.

Always good food served by friendly people. The chips are out of this world! Every time I come here I pick up 3 or 4 bags to take home. Their salsa bar is good but be sure to try the jalapeño and onions at the salsa bar. You won't regret it. Also, the rice is cooked to perfection. It's fluffy and flavorful.

Can always count on great Mexican food when you are in the downtown area. Crunchy beef tacos are tasty and consistent. Can leave without Bunuelos or flan for dessert. They have been cooking for the public and making homemade tortillas since 1940!

Really enjoy EL Indio. Always fresh. Food with many choices on a large menu. Great service from the staff and they take care of you. Haven't really had a bad meal in 25 years going there. All the Mexican classics and new updated Mexican dishes. Sometimes a line but it moves quickly. Seats about 45 people. Outdoor seating in front and across the street. Nice salsa and veggie bar free of charge. Self serve drinks, sodas, water, etc. Mexican beverages dispensed as well. You walk in order from a clearly visible menu. Pay for your meal. Big smiles always. Usually takes about 6-8 minutes if crowded maybe 12. It's well worth a trip and it's a San Diego institution in my opinion. Back in the day they supplied most of town with fresh made corn and flour tortillas. Highly recommend for nice afternoon or evening.

I stumbled upon El Indio yesterday during my morning walk. I noticed the crowds and the extensive menu and decided to give it a try. What a treat! What a wonderful experience! Darryl at the counter made me feel like I was the only person in the room, despite being in the middle of the lunch rush and the fast pace of any successful business. Not only were the carnitas excellent, but Darryl stopped by twice to ask how I was doing. This in a counter serve restaurant! I also want to mention how Darryl and associates went out of their way to customize my lower carb lunch and keep it "on diet." Many of you know this can be a challenge in a Mexican restaurant, but they kept it simple, friendly, and delicious! Thank you for a great memory of San Diego. And no, I didn't eat the chips! ;)

El Indio would be considered a very casual eaterie where you can find dine-in, carry out, or have food delivered. Nestled between Old Town, Mission Hills and Hillcrest. A mile from the airport and a hop, skip and jump to Little Italy. I would consider it a maybe place to eat, although tourists can't resist. Yet, for those trying Mexican food the first time or for entry level palettes, El Indio serves the purpose. I arrived on a Tuesday evening an hour before closing and it was busy. I only waited 7 minutes for the food which was hot not lukewarm upon receipt. The food was actually decent tonight. I've been eating here for more than a decade. I stopped eating here 4 years ago because the food or cooks were subpar. I had a ravenous appetite and wanted a tamale. One benefit of eating here is that the tamales are available all year round and not just Christmas. On the downside, the tamales would be addicting with waaaay less masa. My goodness. Tamales are supposed to have delicate amount of masa with plentiful filling. Well,here it is the reverse. Nonetheless, I always get my tamale prepared wet with cheese. Essentially the masa becomes moistened and drowned with sauce. I ordered the combination plate with chicken enchilada and chili and chicken tamale. The combo is served with rice and beans and a few of the El Indio renowned chips. In my opinion I would rather eat at a restaurant rather than El Indio mainly because some of El Indio dish prices are more than restaurant prices minus the gratuity. I remember back in the day when El Indio was very reasonable and the quality of food matched the value of the price. Customers always take the brunt when restaurant rents increase. If you want a quick bite to eat and it's Mexican food and you are in the area I would say, yes, try it out but if you're actually looking for a Mexican restaurant to explore and sit down and have conversation and comfortability then I would say there's many other choices in San Diego. Amenities Self serve fresh salsa Indoor and outdoor no heat patio seating. Gender neutral restrooms Wheelchair accessible Bathroom code on receipt Freshly made chips with (paprika/chili powder seasoning) my guess and very good Ample food choices which are accommodating to non-meat and meat eaters Self serve drinks-Jamaica is deliciousness, but not authentic Several forms of payment Beer and limited premixed machine margaritas may be an option Customer service continues to be a highlight even when it is busy-which it usually is.

This place is great. Loved every bit of it. The staff was helpful and patient, I had a lot of questions. In our one visit we tried a wide variety of the menu (we were visiting from out of town and knew we may not be back for a while). Everything was great. Absolutely recommend this place, and I will try to go back.

Best Mexican food in SD! My personal favorite is their Crispy Quesadilla Deluxe with shredded beef. I haven’t found any menu item even similar to this at any other Mexican restaurant, in SD or otherwise. It’s so unique and delicious. It’s been my family’s go-to item at El Indio for about 3 decades. I’ve tried a few other menu items from El Indio but always have FOMO when I see someone else eating the Crispy Deluxe and I’ve ordered something else. I will note my other favorite item here is an Autumnal seasonal item - the sweet pumpkin burrito. If you’re a pumpkin lover, make sure to check out El Indio in the Fall and treat yourself to the pumpkin burrito for dessert.

Fantastic food and stuffed with much to take home. You're not in business this long unless the product and service are superb! 🙂

Was really looking forward to this dining experience, as it came highly regarded in a recommendation. The horchata was quite good, and I thought the food was better than your average Mexican restaurant. I did come away wishing for a little bit more, however, given the hype with which it came. The most impressive aspect of the dining experience was the speed of the service line and food delivery. Super quick!

We were trying to go to get seafood next door, but the line out the door wasn’t moving, so we went here instead. I’m sure we spent a lot less money because of it. It’s a pretty good location. They have their own parking lot across the street. That’s great since parking is a nightmare! I got a bag of their homemade tortilla chips by the door. They’re seasoned with a bit of spice. I ordered the #14- a taco and enchilada combo. I got the fish taco and cheese enchilada. I liked everything except the rice. The rice was not good. My husband had the same, but a carne asada taco. His was very spicy. Apparently they add a guacamole to it with fresh jalapeños. Our friend also had the taco and it was too spicy for her to eat (and she’s a Latina). My husband also had a beer. Altogether the bill was $37 for my husband and I. Our friend got 3 different kinds of tacos and a bottled orange soda. Hers was just under $20.

Fantastic! Delicious and authentic Mexican food. Reasonable prices. Quick turn around time. Great location. Parking can be a little hectic and expect a line during busy hour. But overall, I highly recommend.

El Indio is ok. Nothing more, just ok. I had a combo plate with a Chile Relleno and a fish taco, beans and rice and it was ok. Nothing I would rush back for.

An amazing family tradition, and san Diego favorite.

employees were very friendly and helpful. my meal was good. thank you

(Translated by Google) Very good food. And the service excellent. (Original) Muy buena comida. Y el servicio excelente.

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 !

All the food is good, I love the El Indio Mexican Restaurant and Catering which are shrimp and crab enchiladas finished with a green sauce, yummy!

Great service and yummy taquitos with perfect salsa.

Hadn't been here for a while. Used to love the mortaditos but this time the mordiditos did not have quite enough cheese sauce and only 4 jalapeno slices. Not quite what I remember.

Best carne asada burrito in San Diego! Super good quality, low prices and free parking!

Probably the best Mexican food I've had in years!! Even got introduced to the potato taco!! They have amazing food!! Even a cool little taco bar! Staff is friendly and a very clean restaurant. Will be my go-to when in San Diego..

Decided to give Indio a shot. Wasn’t bad, not a lot of flavor. Pork Tamale good. Free drink refills. Decent service. Not sure I’d back for price/value. You’re paying for the legacy hype and location.

San Diego at its best GO PADRES! There’s plenty of baseball left and we will keep the Friar Faith! As a dedicated San Diegan, I also follow tradition & invest in our roots. It’s also freaking unbelievably delicious. El Indio NEVER FAILS ME. The quality of the food met with the friendliness of the house, let’s go. Now. Right now. It’s a staple of our San Diegan culture & history. It’s a loving monument to who we are. Come to this place and live past, present and future. El Indio has been around since 1940. Not leaving anytime soon.

I don't live near here but when every I'm in town I make an effort to go here. I learned about it years ago from good network and since then have never had a bad meal there. My mom who has only eaten Mexican food when she lived in Mexico loved it and couldn't stop talking about it. I got the enchiladas with green sauce and it was fantastic. I can't recommend this place enough for how good it is and also how nice the staff is despite how busy they can be at times

Pros: What, orange bang! Fast Service, what takes longer is people not knowing what to order. Seating indoors, outdoors, garden patio seating. Close to the fwy, good location, and it’s clean & friendly. Lots of history, one of the original taco shops in SD. Cons: They lost me when I saw yellow cheddar cheese in my Chile Relleno. Ugh. Lots of cheese on the plate, greasy, food feels heavy afterwards. It’s a taco shop but I expected more.

El Indio has been a family tradition on every San Diego vacation for longer than I’ve been alive. The taquitos (potato are best) are fantastic and worth the trip. The roasted salsa is also wonderful. If you get a drink, try the pina colada in the soda machine. So good. The atmosphere has also improved since they’ve added an outdoor “garden” area.

Very good food. Indoor or outdoor seating. Free parking. Ample portions!

Oh, this was absolutely fantastic! After coming across a few positive online reviews, we decided to give it a try, and we're so happy we did. We ordered the #18, a tamale and taco combo. The cheese and chili tamale, smothered in Verde sauce, was truly outstanding. The taco was delicious, and the San Diego chicken burrito was a delight, though a bit on the creamy side for our personal taste. However, that's just our preference; you're likely to thoroughly enjoy it. The mordiditas caught our interest, and we couldn't resist trying them—bite-sized pieces of rolled tacos topped with nacho cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. Yes, please! Don't hesitate to try all these delights, and maybe even take home some fresh tortillas or masa to make your own tamales. You won't be disappointed.

We come to El Indio every time we visit San Diego! Green chicken enchiladas and the shredded beef burrito are great! The pork tamales with green salsa are spot on!

El Indio is one of the best taco shops in San Diego. I recommend getting the tequitos with cheese and quacamole and a carne asada burrito. If you like tamales, they have the best I have ever tasted. I used bring a couple dozen home for Christmas Eve. You can eat inside or outside. I moved to the Bay Area 18 years ago and missed this place so much. When I am in San Diego I always go back to get some of the mex on the planet.

Love my El Indio! Can't say enough about the food! Have been going there since it opened and now that I no longer live in San Diego, I make several trips a year and always eat there.

This is such a great taqueria in the city my super wet burrito was probably about one of the best I've tasted and that says a lot because I have tried quite a few! Definitely will be back when in craving Mexican food

Great tamales products.

Consistent high quality and great customer service. Isn't that what we all want from a restaurant. You get that always from El Indio, EVEN during a pandemic.

The food was 🔥

One of my favorite stops after flying in to town

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.

(Translated by Google) All very well (Original) todo muy bien

What a great place to eat! I really liked the food!! Had me cheese & chile tamale, bought chips & salsa to go, and Masa to make my own tamales.

The food here is always good!

I can't go to San Diego without stopping here. All there food is fantastic and I have to have the mordaditas...

Excellent Food! Everybody is so welcoming and they give you a one on service as if they've known you for years.

Food and service always excellent at El Indio. This is a neighborhood authentic eatery. So maybe not necessarily the best place for showy dinner date, but if you're looking for working lunch or dinner staples, this is the place.

Plastic bags, styrofoam for shame but Grilled fish taco... with red sauce inside? What the heck is that? The best thing about this taco was the coleslaw salad smothering everything. Potato taco is OK because their tortillas are made in house. The main reason for this review is too many plastic bags and too much Styrofoam: cups, plates, bowls. All this one time use Waste should be outlawed.

Inferior quality, quite EXPENSIVE, and sub par in every regard. Do NOT recommend. I will NOT BE RETURNING, which is sad as it was great 30-40 years ago.

Amazing service and organized! Waited in lines around the block at other shops and decided on El Indio lat minute and THANK goodness! In and out in 15 minutes with tamales etc!!!

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 amazing

Excellent organization for pick up order with line of customers down the block at 10 am!

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, that's for sure.

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!

I had the combo meat burrito. My combo consisted of chili verde pork and chorizo with refried beans. My wife had the three chicken taco plate. The food was fantastic! I Wolfed down the burrito it was so damn good! My wife's tacos were equally good, but because it was so late she ate only one taco...they're huge. I highly recommend this taqueria just be prepare to wait on line.

I order ed a small order And they didn't give me what I pay for They give me part of the order but not what I actually order and pay You can do better guys

I had the 3 beef taquitos with guacamole, salsa and lettuce. Amazing just like the reviews say. I also had the Shredded Beef Taco (shredded marinated beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese) Taco was stuffed and very big, Beef Burrito with shredded beef with mild peppers. Burrito was huge and very tasty, Tamales Shredded Beef and Pork were amazing both had a lot of flavor and the Masa was perfectly cooked with a very nice flavor. Parking can be hard to find so I suggest going at off hours. Business is Covid Compliant.

The carne asada burrito was great!

Great service

Visited El Indio to purchase dough for tamales. Both red and white are great but I recommend the red dough better 🙂

This is a family tradition to stop here with anyone from out of town, to try some real hornet Mexican food. It’s been the best in San Diego for 30 years, at least. Their carne asada is the best, most tender, flavorful steak you can imagine. All the ingredients are top notch. The service is excellent, don’t worry if you can’t order in Spanish the people here are all bilingual.

Best Mexican food in San Diego.

Stopped in to get masa for tamales, fresh, ready, no mixing adding required ♡♡♡

Love El Indio!. Used to eat it when I was at UF and now I stop by on my weekly travels. Great vegetarian and vegan offerings.

Old school mexican food never disappoints for 20years

(Translated by Google) I like the California burrito and the very rich sauce (Original) Me gusto el burrito California y la salsa muy rica

Real authentic Mexican flavors and great customer service!! Highly recommended it

Been going there since 1968 ,good food.