Ponces Mexican Restaurant, San Diego

I live 6 blocks from Ponce's....what a shame the service and food are absolutely horrible... I received the worst service I have ever had at a restaurant in San Diego. The waitress blatantly paid a lot more attention to the Hispanic customers. The food took forever to come out, and was cold and had poor quality ingredients. My drink was not even re-filled once! The restaurant was not clean. Overall, a very bad experience.

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.

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.

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.

Ponce's is by far one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. Good food, friendly service.

I have been going to Ponces for many years now. Their food and margaritas are always consistently excellent!!!! It is also a plus that it is family run and not a chain. they are all very friendly there. The only flaw I could think of is sometimes the service can be a little shaky. But the food makes up for it. kylekarl

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

Amazing remodel, fantastic margeritas, exceptional customer service, and the food is out of this world. If you go, as for Ponce himself and tell him DBAB sent you.

I absolutly love mexican food, but am rather particular. I lived two blocks from Ponces for two years and ate there at least twice a week. The hallmark, in my opinion is the chile relleno. you can obtain it al la carte or in one of two combination plates. One of the owners (Ponce and Rosario) is almost always present and the atmosphere is very cozy. If you are in San Diego you would do yourself a great injustice to miss this hidden gem. Take a pass on the mexican food in Old Towne and visit Adams Ave. where you will find the best San Diego has to offer. If you visit the area also enjoy Rosie O'Gradys (located just blocks to the west from Ponces)It is a small irish pub with a great staff and quite a good crowd on any evening.

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.