Karina’s Cantina - Book now on OpenTable
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Karina’s Cantina, San Diego, CA

Karina’s Cantina

4.4
4.4
37 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
Simply entering a Karina’s establishment can be a sensory overload. Images, color, music, exquisite aromas and warm hospitality are surrounded by traditional Mexican figures, art and culture. Specially commissioned portraits of Frida Khalo and many of the superstars of classic Mexican cinema grace the walls of Karina’s. The sounds of Mexico with our engaging Mariachi, especially when singing of lost love, are a portrait of Mexico that our Mexican and American clientele alike delight in. Karina’s was founded on the idea of offering traditional Mexican style family cuisine made with the passion of the founding family to make everyone feel like familia.

For three generations, each member of the Contreras Curiel Family has passionately and diligently worked year round for over three decades to offer a personalized services that make each guest feel at home.

Wherever a Karina’s establishment is found, there will always be a piece of Mexico

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Seafood, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 756-7333
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Contactless Payment, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    We offer several options for private and semi-private events ranging from 15 guests to 100+.
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    F Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 37 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on all time ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

37 Reviews
  1. briyesmi

    Las Vegas

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was our first time eating brunch at Karina’s Downtown. The restaurant is well decorated with TVs at the bar. It has a welcoming ambiance. I had the Special chilaquiles and the sampler French toast. The food was delicious and the flights( mimosa & margarita) were good!! I highly recommend this restaurant for the service and food. Thank you to our servers for a great experience!

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  2. NickD

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate early so there was not a big crowd and our server still was not friendly or attentive. Great food.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 22, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    We had a group dinner here during a conference. The food/drinks were good, nice setting, but much like a lot of other restaurants in the gas lamp, it got very loud at 7pm with live music. Not quite a club, no dancing happening, but louddd. The older folks in our group left as quick as possible once that started. Definitely a better place for a group of friends than older work colleagues.

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  4. XochitlP

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was incredible. Service was really good. Fun atmosphere. Love, love,love!!!

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  5. STEAK

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was the worst and we were there at happy hour and it wasn’t busy. Multiple times had to ask waitress about our drinks, 20-25min to get a beer seems excessive. Waitress then billed us for non happy hour prices, couldn’t sort out our bill properly as were 6 people, 3 groups of 2. Service was beyond poor, I wouldn’t recommend as there are many places in San Diego with better food and better service.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Way too loud; even seated outside, we had to shout at one another. Food was fine, but not nice enough that we’d suffer the noise level to eat there again.

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  7. TomO

    Houston

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 6, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant but food was lacking in flavor. Pricey but it was in the gas lamp district.

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  8. shalyias

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Sidney was fantastic! Very attentive and accommodating. Made my birthday dinner amazing.

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  9. NoemiN

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 8, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    The service was awful! Monique our waiter came every 20 minutes. Took 2 people 20 minutes to get my tostadas. Lemons were asked 3 times and still didn’t get them! Not once did she ask if we needed anything. Would drop off the food and storm off! We had to go and get another waiter to help us with our needs! Made an ugly face when we asked her for ketchup! Will never go back!

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Chas

    Houston

    54 reviews

    5.0

    54 reviews

    Dined on April 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    On this trip out to San Diego, we planned ahead to try Karina’s because of a feature in Cook’s Country magazine. We went for lunch and it was not busy at all. But, we could tell this place would be jammed and hopping by late afternoon—it was that good. Beautiful live wall over the bar under a very lofty ceiling. Nice decor elsewhere. Food was indeed excellent. Per Cook’s Country, we tried the fish tacos, and they were great. The quest was excellent. So were the carnitas tacos. Had we more time, we would have gone back to try more menu items. Highly recommended.

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FAQs

Karina’s Cantina offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 756-7333.

Karina’s Cantina is rated 4.4 stars by 37 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Karina’s Cantina

755 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-6917

Additional information

  • Cross street
    F Street
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Seafood, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Contactless Payment, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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