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Karina’s Cantina, San Diego, CA

Karina’s Cantina

4.4
4.4
40 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for happy hour
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

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 12:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 12:00–23:00 Sun 09:00–22:00
  • 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+.
  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • Cross Street
    F STREET
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    We have validation for guests up to 3hrs. for only $12
  • 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, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 40 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
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

40 Reviews
  1. Laura

    Philadelphia

    15 reviews

    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 1 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and service were terrific. Music was way too loud for 6:30pm. The place was 1/2 empty and the music was cranked up for a full house.

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  2. Andrew

    Indiana

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 20 August 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The service was fantastic. The food was great. Make sure you try the civiche

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  3. JamieM

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 31 May 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Reserved a table for my bday party of 9. Karina's staff was really accommodating and had our table beautifully set up for our reservation. Instead of their usual music playing they had a live band and singer and they played a great variety of genres. The singer was very entertaining and a great addition to my bday celebration. All of my friends loved the ambiance, food and drinks. Staff was all very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend.

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  4. briyesmi

    Las Vegas

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 21 April 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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  5. NickD

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 April 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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  6. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 22 March 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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  7. XochitlP

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 December 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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  8. STEAK

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 September 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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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 21 July 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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  10. TomO

    Houston

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 6 July 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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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 40 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Karina’s Cantina

755 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-6917

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    F STREET
  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu 12:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 12:00–23:00 Sun 09:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Seafood, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    We have validation for guests up to 3hrs. for only $12
  • 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, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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