Ponces Mexican Restaurant, San Diego

Fun staff, good service, and nice people overall. They make some great, potent, Margaritas. This would really be a great place if the food was better. It is below average in my opinion, and I have yet to have anything good to eat there except the guacamole. They do know how to make guacamole -- so try it with their chips and a Margarita. UPDATE (12/29/09) - They did recently add some tacos to their menu, which are only served during Happy Hour. A different variety each day of the week. They are excellent tacos; a significant step above the quality of their regular tacos, and they should be added to their regular menu. UPDATE (08/24/10) - The tacos I like are now available all the time from the bar menu---and they have a version served on their regular menu.

Love this place, great food, great atmosphere, Locals, you can sit outside. Easy is the word. It feels comfortable in there, Loud, sure why not, it's called life, and this place has some.

I have known Ponce since 1969 when he opened his small restarurant, I can remember when no one would go into this very small place. People from the Ken Club would stagger across the street to get a bite. Ponce would always be there to serve them. The food was the best. I have since moved out of state and when I return to San Diego it one of the first places I try to go to. Great food.

The food is a little above average but uninspired. It's so noisy that it's all but impossible to enjoy the OK food and way overpriced margaritas. Better value can be had just about anywhere else.

i have been here it was fantasticand the food was great and the waitress was nice and the good service i was visiting my sister in san diego this restruant is way better in texas becuase where i go is called la esperanza is too smelly, dirty, the sevice is not good and the waitres are nice buut not all of them and tthe fod is little too greasy and bad he boss is too bitchy and picky nosey, little know it all and she like to mind people business because she doasent like when her costumers talk about diets when one of her emplyees is on a diet and she so high strung and when you here in texas i recomen hildago is the best mexican rest. than ls esperanza the boos is name riena trejo shes takks about bad things mexicans restruant in san diego, and florida so watch for her ok she might go over there soon ans tthe treats he costumers bas sometimes well here in texas and her emplyess because some got fired becasue the she is and shes got 3 ugly sons and one of them is dating a emplyee used to be pretty but now shes not

We discovered Ponce's in December 2007 (thanks to Rod Luck at KUSI) and have eaten there every week since! We LOVE the potato taquitos, cheese enchiladas, and margaritas on the rocks! We now bring friends, family, and neighbors to Ponce's instead of going to Old Town for authentic and delicious Mexican food. You can't beat the service, the price, nor the quality. We love it. The only downside? The parking is tight but worth it.

Wow, I guess I will live up to my name and dissent from the majority of reviewers on this restaurant. I think the food is HORRIBLE. San Diego is so close to the border, but if you only went to Ponce's, you'd never know it. I've been to better Mexican places back in Wisconsin. It's got a great layout and it's a fun hangout, but the food is nothing to praise--greasy, uninspired, and somewhat bland.

Not only is their food delicous, but the owner's and staff make you want to come back. The food has such a unique and delicious feel, not like any other place around. I am fortunate to live down the street from it and can go eat there when I like. Their food rocks

I am not impressed with the hard shelled tacos that Ponce's serves. Not much different than spending a lot less at Taco Bell. Unfortunately, except for El Torito, it's one of the few Mexican restaurants with a large, more formal dining room and that may be why it's frequently busy. It's not the food.

The best I have had. The wife and I visit often. Thanks guys!