Lourdes

This is my go-​to taqueria in Encinitas. Always consistent quality, fresh ingredients, fast service, amazing carne asada, and super hot and flavorful habanero salsa from the diverse salsa bar. Their chicken mole is amazing as well!
Tips:
$ 2 taco Tuesdays for any taco, including fish and shrimp!
eating-​in gets you get a side of chips
call in to order ahead during their busy dinner hour

Five stars may be a bit generous and premature but that’s how I’m feeling today. I’m a big fan of their carnitas and their chicken soup is the best. I do want to try a few other items on their menu but it’ll be hard because I keep ordering the same thing when I go back… soup or carnitas. That’s it.

I am not a fan of mexican food but popped in here because my bf wanted to. They have a great salsa bar. Reds and greens, from mild to hot with hot carrots and onions which are soft and spicy. He ordered a fish taco and chicken enchilada. I had a fish taco. There was virtually NO fish in the tacos. Maybe 2 ounces if that. He enjoyed his enchilada, refried beans and rice. I wouldn’t come here again but if I liked mexican food, I may and just not order fish. The soup looked good.

Not impressed. Got the black bean burrito, ok but nothing to write home about. Also got the chicken burrito. Chicken was very dried out. Like it had been sitting around for a while. With so many Mexican food places in this area I won’t be coming here again.

Yay! I finally found a place with good mexican soup!
They have the best. White chicken, onion, cilantro, broth, rice and avocado! Its delicious. Comes with flour or corn tortilla too!
I saw someone eating the chicken taquitos. I gotta give those a go next time, they looked SO good. guac and cheese on top. mmm
only 4 stars because of chips n salsa. Pico de Gallo wasnt the best. They do have salsa bar though, I’ll have to try that next time :)

We stopped for tacos and I fell in love with their chicken soup instead. It was so good. You can order in three different sizes and comes with a huge tortilla. The soup tasted clean and fresh. Inside soup I found fresh avocado, shredded chicken, rice, and some onions and other herbs.
Price is reasonable. Service staff was quick and friendly. Definitely going back!

Lourdes is a hole-​in-​the-​wall taqueria just off the beach in Cardiff.
My go-​to is the Mexican Chicken soup — perfect for those days when you’re under the weather — with shredded chicken, rice, onions and avocado it will set you right.

5 stars are strictly for the quality of the chicken soup — nothing’s better on a chilly beach evening. The staff can be indifferent.

Everything they say about the soup is true. It’s all I want when I’m sick! I think it has healing powers.

Really awesome fish tacos! And super close to the Beach. Go there you won’t regret it!

I can’t live without their #5 breakfast burrito + mole plate. And i wish i could just hang out with the salsas all day.

Nothing like a little taco shop for a good cheap dinner option.
I had the shrimp tacos and husby had the carne asada plate. Shrimp tacos were good, but they came with chips that tasted really old. Carne asada tacos were good too, but the rice and beans again just tasted… old? Not very much flavor, and a little odd.
It’s small, but a nice little place to sit on a warm socal night as they open up the sliding door/​wall. Staff were very nice and helpful.

I love Lourdes!!! If I’m ever feeling sick my husband goes there to get me their chicken soup. Even when I’m not sick I’m always game for a trip to Lourdes. I’ve never strayed away from their soup because it’s literally perfection in a bowl but last time we went my husband got a California burrito. He said it was the best burrito he’s ever had. The atmosphere is pretty awesome too. If you want to stay there it’s a cool layout and if you want to take it home you’re set too. I drive 20 – 30 minutes just for their soup… it’s THAT good.

I tried the carnitas fries here but it was super salty so that was quite a bit of a turnoff. I had to drench it with salsa to hopefully «dilute» the saltiness of the carnitas but it was barely salvageable. I also tried my friend’s carne asada fries and it was more towards the salty side but it was marginally better than mine. Hope they pay a bit more attention on the taste before serving because it was way too salty.

Yes, the chicken soup is amazing. Anything with their chicken in it is fabulous. Great, classic chili rellenos and cheese enchiladas. The service is excellent and is cleaner than any other Mexican food joint I’ve been to in San Diego county. Be sure to grab some salsa though, and if you are a salt person you’re gonna have to add some. I hate salt so this place is my jam. I’ve never been disappointed here. I grew up eating at Lourdes in Escondido, this location is easily as good if not better than the original.

Bummed.
I will open with the fact that I’ve eaten here many times. It was my go to last minute dinner option.
The soup is usually good, but not so much this time. First off, they did not provide tortillas for the tortilla soup, major fail on a to go order. Second, my wife doesn’t like spicy and the soup is not usually spicy (they let you spice it the way you want), not anymore! When things are too spicy, it’s an indication of weak flavor or a lack of quality ingredients. The soup aside, I also got taquitos, which were old and soggy… WTF??? Don’t even get me started on the pinner burritos and crappy carne asada.
This place is a last resort at best. Go to Nico’s in Encinitas, or Seaside Market you’ll be better off.

I’ve had a lot of their menu items. Tops are the chicken mole plate, the soup, barbacoa taco, the Huevos rancheros & chillaquilles. All are bomb.
The only thing they don’t seem to do well are the burritos. I’ve had a few and they’ve never been that great. Don’t ever get a «burrito bowl» either. Not good.
Overall though I love this place and would recommend it highly.

Awesome location.
The chicken soup was fresh and really flavorful and unexpectedly good. It comes with fresh avocado and fresh tortillas.
The chicken taco was decent but on the small side. The rice was too wet for my liking and the beach were good but the little carton it came in was tiny, Wish there were more beans. The daily specials are a good value.
The chips are good and fresh here. The salsa bar is great Watch out for the habanero. Man is it spicy!
Great local spot.

Let me start off by saying, look at my attached photos. The wife ordered a carne asada burrito and I ordered a California burrito. I honestly don’t think we’ve ever had a burrito so small, unless we’re talking frozen burritos… and yes, that is a hair underneath the foil-​wrapped burrito. Taste-​wise, the carne asada was pretty salty and the rice & beans were lacking in flavor.
Lourdes, you have the locals fooled but not one that has grown up in south San Diego.

Heading North on our way home from Comic-​Con we decided to make a stop here for dinner & I’m glad we did! The cashier was friendly & accommodating with all the little alterations I made to their menu. I had their tasty Carnitas served with delicious guacamole & beans (I opted out of the rice but it comes with it.) The dining area is small, but luckily, we made it just before the dinner rush so we had a very peaceful dining experience (which we needed after the hustle & bustle of Comic Con). You can see the ocean across the street which gives it a truly beachy feel – not to mention it is located in the same complex as a surf shop. Oh, & it’s right next door to a dog grooming place so you can see all the cute dogs getting a bath. Try this place.
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