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Name: Costa Azul
Address: 1031 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118
Telephone: (619) 435-3525
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.07

Costa Azul

1031 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118

(619) 435-3525
Store is closed

Costa Azul Menu

Appetizers

Seafood Sampler

Guacamole Dip

Baja Shrimp Cocktail

Traditional Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp Ceviche

Coconut Crunchy Shrimp

Costa Bean & Cheese Dip

Nachos Azul

Calamari Strips

Taquitos

Flautas

Jalapeno Poppers

Baja Wings
Soups & Salads

Pozole de Pollo

White Bean Chili

Garden Esmeralda Salad

Costa Spinach Salad

Avocado Salad Two-ways

Albacore Tuna Salad

Caesar Salad Azul

Taco Salad
Sandwiches

Angus Beef Hamburger

Carne Asada Torta

Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwich

Tuna Melt Sandwich

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Veggie Burger
Local Favorites

Flat Iron Steak

Pacific Swordfish

Grilled Salmon

Garlic Shrimp

Coconut Crunchy Shrimp

Fish & Shrimp

Fish & Chips

Baby Back Ribs

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo
Mexican Combination Plates

Tacos

Quesadillas

Enchiladas

Tostadas
South Of The Border Specials

Grilled Carne Asada*

Carnitas Ole*

Swordfish Tacos*

Seafood Taco Combo*

Poblano Relleno*

Chili Rellenos*

Fajitas*

Tostada Grande

Coronado Burrito*

Carne-Relleno Burrito*

Chili Verde Burrito*

Chicken Chimichanga*

Shrimp Burrito*

Lobster Burrito*

Veggie Burrito*

Cheese Crisp
Nino Nibbles

Beef or Chicken Taco

Cheese Quesadilla

Chicken Strip

Pasta & Parmesan Cheese

Mac & Cheese

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Bean & Cheese Burrito

Corn Dog
Dessert

Housemade Flan

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Cheesecake or Ice Cream Sundae

Healthy Meal suggestions for Costa Azul

Appetizers

Seafood Sampler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baja Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Traditional Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Ceviche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Crunchy Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Costa Bean & Cheese Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nachos Azul [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Strips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taquitos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flautas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jalapeno Poppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baja Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups & Salads

Pozole de Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Bean Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garden Esmeralda Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Costa Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Salad Two-ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Albacore Tuna Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad Azul [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Angus Beef Hamburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asada Torta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Melt Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Local Favorites

Flat Iron Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pacific Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Crunchy Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish & Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish & Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baby Back Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mexican Combination Plates

Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchiladas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostadas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
South Of The Border Specials

Grilled Carne Asada* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carnitas Ole* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Swordfish Tacos* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Taco Combo* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poblano Relleno* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili Rellenos* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fajitas* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostada Grande [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coronado Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne-Relleno Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili Verde Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Chimichanga* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lobster Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Burrito* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Crisp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nino Nibbles

Beef or Chicken Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta & Parmesan Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean & Cheese Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Dog [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Housemade Flan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Mousse Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheesecake or Ice Cream Sundae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Coronado for healthy meals suggestion.

Coronado Cupcakery ( 1201 1st St )

Coronado Brewing Co ( 170 Orange Ave )

Burger King ( 1201 1st St,Ste 201 )

Visit below restaurant in Coronado for healthy meals suggestion.

Burger King ( 1201 1st St,Ste 201 )

Write An Anonymous Review

Michael J.

Swordfish tacos and a margarita makes me a happy customer!!
(4)
Layla F.

Disappointing. Didn't actually order and eat. Stopped in to get lunch. Seated by friendly hostess. My friend went to use the restroom to wash his hands. An employee possibly a member of the kitchen staff wearing a long white shirt baseball cap used the urinal to pee and didn't wash his hands. After my friend verified he saw him in the kitchen he said we need to leave.
(1)
Joseph V.

Here for a sis-in-law birthday dinner. Very nice setting with friendly staff. Calamari is really good! Food is good and prices are not bad at all for it's location! I'll come back next time for some drinks!
(4)
Tom H.

Not a bad place, but not great either. Stopped here over the weekend for a patio seat and to enjoy some drinks. Didn't try the food but did munch on their chips and salsa, and their chips weren't anything special. I think they're might of been poppy seeds in them which are kind of weird, definitely not authentic. The salsa was kind of bland and nothing original. The drinks weren't bad, tried their Rosarita which is a cranberry version of a Margarita and it was good. Not sure if I would come back here if I was back in the area.
(3)
Lisa Monique C.

Service takes forever and their tortilla chips are burnt. We didn't even try the food because of the bad start so we left and went somewhere else. MAYBE another time.
(1)
Marga K.

We has the most amazing dinner at Costa Azul. We scheduled a small dinner party. Every detail was taken care of. Brant is attentive when scheduling. The staff, bartender Jimmy, waitress Maryanna and every bus person made our party special. The food was served hot and in a timely fashion. Every aspect of our function could not have been better... Then the exceptional music started. A wonderful finish to a perfect night.
(5)
Laura A.

It was good, friendly service ; nice location, but when I requested extra sauce for my burrito, they charged me a dollar for it and since they brought two sauces it was two dollars for an already overpriced burrito!
(3)
Mairead G.

Stopped by here today for lunch but the hostess advised us that there were no seats available outside. We asked her how long for outside and she said "ummm 20 minutes". We walked away and had a couple sitting outside run after us and offer to share their table. We sat with them and shared a drink, within 10 minutes four tables were cleared with no wait list. We didn't end up eating here because the service was really slow... It took 10 minutes to get a glass of water. Just saying this place needs to come up with a better method to make customers feel less turned away and turned off... *i also received a message from someone named Zoe...telling me to "go home", I'm guessing it was because I left a tip that said the hostess was rude....which she was, but I forgot I was on yelp......... K
(2)
william o.

We had reservations for 7:00 last night. We got to the front of the restaurant at 6:45. We waited for at least 10 minutes for a hostess to come to the podium. We had at least 4 waitstaff tell us they'd be right with us. We finally got seated and our waiter Pepe came and greeted us. He was cool. We ordered pitchers of margaritas. They were good. Now for the subpar stuff....... Chips and salsa wasn't good at all. The chips were from a bag. The salsa was gross. We ordered our food and the only thing that was liked was the pozole. The carnitas ole tasted like it came out of a can. The fajitas looked like slop. The shrimp and lobster burritos were gross. The seafood in them was not fresh at all. We were there for a birthday. I informed Pepe that I wanted a flan for the birthday girl. We waited and waited. No flan. We paid and left. We will not be returning to this restaurant.
(2)
Wayne S.

Always FRIENDLY and make you feel really welcome. They have great food and excellent bands to entertain you. Food is FRESH and very tasty. A great place to have a birthday party or group gathering because it is one of the largest and friendliest restaurants in Coronado. Brant Sarber is the owner and he is almost always there to welcome you and make sure you have everything you need.
(5)
Frankie F.

This place was rather terrible. The service was slow, my server wasn't busy at all with other tables. He was not welcoming or social. He seemed like he hated his job. The food was less than average. Drinks are also not very tasty, especially for the price. Not worth it! Will not be going back there.
(1)
Courtney B.

This place was...okay. The food is in MASSIVE portions, which is good and bad. Great for sharing, not so great if you get your own. Our waitress was incredibly nice but she was working so many tables at once, by herself, that it took FOREVER for us to get even water. Again, this wasn't really her fault, but still not awesome. We came on a Sunday afternoon so I can only imagine how slow it might be during a Friday/Saturday night. It seemed like there were a lot of people running around but not a lot of service happening. The atmosphere is okay, but really, there are better places to eat in Coronado. Not sure if we will be back.
(4)
Frank F.

Visited from Arizona and was foolishly drawn in by their happy hour menu. Poor Service: As the manager later told me, the server was having a "bad day". She could hardly remember our requests and my order was wrong. Also, the servers were arguing right behind my table and saying horrible things to each other! Bad Food: Everything reminded me of a filibertos chain drive through. The food would have been fine if it was 2am and I was drunk, but I wasn't. I was on vacation in Coronado and wanted excellent Mexican food. I didn't finish my taquitos, my friend didn't finish his burrito and I couldn't drink more than half of my margarita. Giving two stars for the manager who apologized for everything and gave me a good discount on my bill!
(2)
Christi C.

Definitely not the best Mexican food in town. I didn't know it was possible to mess up on fajitas but they accomplished that. It didn't come sizzling on a plate but in a weird sauce with only beans and rice.
(2)
Tanya C.

We must have come here on an off day. We ordered the swordfish tacos and the amount of fish in them was so small that we thought it was a French fry! For what we paid, around $13, that was a rip off. The ambiance is nice and the beer was cold. The cold shrimp salad and tuna salad served in avocado halves was fresh. But the swordfish tacos.... Disappointing. We told the waitress and she nodded like she had heard it before. With all the great Mexican seafood available in Chula Vista at Karinas and elsewhere, we won't be back here.
(3)
Carmen V.

Very slow service. And it was this rainy Friday and the huge restaurant practically empty if it wasn't for the people at the bar cheering up the excellent musician singing and playing folk-rock oldies. The music was excellent, the lamps very delusion of grandeur style, but the food was completely forgettable except that chipotle smoky salsa accompanying the home made fresh chips. Both the host and the server were very nice and smiling, but honestly we were to the point of leaving after waiting for half an hour to get our beers. I repeat the restaurant was almost empty, just a big table wih seating that look like benches gotten from the garage sale of an old church (a point for that detail) filled with what it seemed to me all the local youth of Coronado. The restaurant itself looks nice, super spacious, big terrace outside and nice bar inside plus many tables, looks more a place to have big group celebrations. Be because of the observed slowness, we opted to share the angus burger which ended up to be the smallest and less tasty of all the ones I have had lately. Well, this is supposed to be a Mexican restaurant but if they offer burgers they should be good. Only good thing about the burger was the salsa as well, with some chipotle in it as well.
(2)
Rob W.

Nice place for outside patio dining or drinks. The patio lets you enjoy the sunshine and outdoors. On Sunday it is happy hour all day long, with specials on food and drinks. We enjoyed the seafood tacos quite a bit. Service was very nice as well.
(3)
Randy P.

On anther random advantage with my wifey and friends. It was pretty empty so we were seated quickly, and right in front of the TVs (football lol) Server was ok, she wasn't mean by any means, but when asked about her opinions on certain foods, it seemed she wasn't that knowledgable. Just more of "Oh thats good" type of thing. Chips and salsa were bombness. Sala was good an the chips were nice and heated. The appetizers were good too!!! We had some wings and these rolled up mini tacos. The sauces were good too. The chicken grilled sandwich I had was lacking something. It was plain, I didnt really like. The actually chicken seemed to be cook good, maybe it was the bread, idk. overall 3 stars. Not bad, not Great.
(3)
Brooke D.

Ummmm yeah, not so much. Wasn't sure where to go and the yelp reviews for here were way up and way down. We sat, we ordered a drink and ummm yeah we left.
(1)
Todd A.

Food was good but server Tiger was awesome. He was very attentive and overcompensated for the average food. Carne Asada burrito was good but not 5 star. We also had the shrimp ceviche which was good. The bucket of beers happy hour was good 6 for 18. I'd come back
(3)
Cheryl B.

The Carne Asada Ensalada by far is the best salad I have had in a long time! A must try! The restaurant itself is very spacious and the front patio seating is relaxing to sit in and people watch. Restroom is cleaned as well which is always important in my book! I have been there multiple times and the customer service has always been good. I have tried a handful of other things on the menu as well and it is never a disappointment. On some nights there is live music in the bar area and that's always fun to listen to while you're eating. Whether you are in town or live in the area, it's definitely a place to go to!
(4)
Carlo P.

Dined here with my family while on vacation. Service was very friendly and the live band made the dining acceptable. I ordered the Torta steak which had very little steak on a massive bread. Disappointed with my meal. I ended up just eating the steak and didn't touch anything else on my plate. My wife had the lobster burrito which we only saw/noticed shrimps (no lobster). Kids barely touched their food as well which is not normal, considering we were out all day and hungry. Not coming back for the food. The only things good about this place are the staff & live music that played 80's rock that night.
(2)
Taelor P.

If you come here you MUST order the shrimp and tuna salad two-way!! It's SO good!! Little bit of a spice to the shrimp, very lean with fresh spinach and yummy tomatoes, I'd definitely come back!!
(4)
Dan F.

Great food and great value. I had the California burrito and a couple of beers. Service was fantastic food was hot and beers were cold.
(5)
Kira B.

Taste and presentation of hospital cafeteria food. Watered down drinks. Hard to swallow down.
(1)
Mo B.

The only reason for 2 stars was its decent and portions are huge. Other then that the hostess had no personality no smile not a hi how are you nothing. The food was horrible lobster burrito watery, the beans tasted someone throw up in them , and rice was last weeks leftovers. Just don't do it!!! I wish I would have look on here first.
(2)
Lena C.

I was not to impressed they have a gluten free menu but for a Mexican place there was little to nothing that was really Mexican food but soup to order. Disappointing!
(3)
Jade T.

Based on the reviews we would have skipped this place, but chose it strictly for the cute outdoor seating, and turns out the food is delicious ! My husband and I went here for the first time tonight and both of our meals were excellent- carne asada and the garlic shrimp. The carne asada isn't your typical low end marinated meat. It's very clean and fresh with unique seasoning, almost like mint and lime. The garlic shrimp was awesome. I was expecting just garlic, lemon and butter as it said on menu but it's actually got a fantastic smoky tomato base to it. It's almost like a Mexican pink sauce. It was so delicious I was spooning up the sauce like soup. Also you can get mashed potatoes and sautÃ©ed veggies (whipped creamy potatoes and al dente mixed veggies), instead of rice and beans. And did I mention how tender the shrimp were? So often shrimp is overcooked, but not this; it was succulent! Service- The staff were all super friendly. I felt like they really cared. They checked in on us just the right amount. Atmosphere - lovely. In fact we picked it based on the cute patio seating. It's tucked in nicely from the wind, has lots of greenery, and has a festive feel.
(5)
Rose G.

Dined here while on vacation and dug the outdoor area. The calamari was delectable as was the red dipping sauce it came with. Can't say I was much of a fan of the white one however. Rather buttery in the taste department and much like ranch in terms of consistency. Tried the Mexican style swordsfish and was not disappointed. Props on the black bean dipping salsa too! It was a nice change from guacamole.
(4)
Gill G.

Gabage!! ( In my Boston accent.) Had a great weekend in San Dog except Saturday's lunch was gabage!! Drinks were weak and service was horrible. Should of ate fried food at Mc P's where everything is good and drinks are strong....HooYAH
(1)
Brittany G.

Yummy! The shrimp fajitas are amazing. Not the greatest margaritas but they're strong so I can't complain.
(4)
Rob A.

I am giving two stars only because the server "Tiger" and the bussers were very attentive and friendly. I should have know better when I saw chicken alfredo on predominantly Mexican menu, that the food would be sub par. My wife ordered the chicken and beef fajitas and I had the fish, shrimp and chips. The corn tortillas had the texture between cardboard a paper towel. I think Taco bell has better tortillas. The chicken and steak tasted like a cheap tv dinner. It was not hot off the grill. It had a soup feel to it. One of the female workers was picking her teeth and braces in a mirror in close proximity to our table. EWW! They have a sign saying "The best Mexican food in Coronado", if that's the case I am afraid to go to any other Mexican food restaurants in Coronado.
(2)
Joann C.

Service was awesome here. Our waiter was polite and the food service was quick! Food wasn't the best, very generic and not much to it, but the drinks were good and overall was a nice spot to grab lunch for the day!
(4)
Darren R.

So the drinks were great. And I personally liked the smoked salsa they make here (I like roasted. I like fresh. I like smoked. It's smoked here, and good). Prices are amazing especially considering the island its on We went onto tacos since the drinks and chips drawn us in. Looked decent until you really look at it. My guest had the steak taco, looked fake, and she rated it her 2nd worst taco ever. I didn't want to try anything myself after that
(3)
John H.

Costa is one of my favorite places to eat. The staff is great! Genero is one of best bartenders ever! The drinks and food are excellent. I have never had anything that wasn't frat. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Anna C.

The hostess seated us immediately. It was a late weekday afternoon and wasn't very busy. We sat outside and got the grilled chicken sandwich and swordfish tacos. I usually avoid swordfish because I find it fishy smelling. But this was cooked well without the "smelly fish taste." Rice and beans were also good. I really liked the spicy salsa dip that came with the chips too. The service was great.
(4)
Claudia S.

Drinks are delicious! Best presentation of ceviche that I've seen in a while! I'm used to Mexican food from Texas and this is nothing like Tex-Mex so stay away if that's what you are into.
(3)
Don M.

Not good. Came here for Taco Tuesday. It was overpriced for what was served. Two small tacos for 5$ + bad service... Cross this one off the list for sure!
(2)
Rebecca F.

Had a god swordfish tacos and fun listening to the live music but our waitress never filled my glass. A different worker filled it once when I asked.
(3)
mark C.

Thid was one of the most consistent local place on the island for many years... .no more. Two out of the last three visits is has been the keystone cops. No wonder Miguel's is the new go to place on the island. Sad ........
(1)
Donald H.

Don't ever eat here if you ever expect to have a conversation with your guests. We sat inside which was a mistake because they had two guitarists playing while maxed out on the amplifier. Tried to contact the manager, but no one could find him. Asked one guitarist to turn down the volume but doubt that he understood English since he just grinned and kept playing. Won't return!
(2)
Lisa C.

My family just ate at this restaurant and it was not good. My son had BBQ ribs, which is not a Mexican type of food (obviously), and that was the best meal at the table. My other son had the Carne Asada which was chewy and terrible. The service was below average as well. I would not recommend this restaurant to visitors to the island.
(1)
Frank D.

If you're looking for a place to eat just keep walking. We were looking for a nice place to eat and have drinks outside and this place looked promising. The outside seating area was nice but the drinks tasted like they had no alcohol and the food was very small portions and overpriced.
(2)
John Z.

Should have yelped this place before we went. Was expecting some amazing Mexican food considering how close to Mexico this place was...didn't come close to my expectations. To start, the chips and salsa weren't good.Shredded beef in my taco tasted a lil funky and the quesadilla was tiny. The guacamole was ok but really watery towards the bottom of the bowl. Wifeys shrimp salad was the highlight but still nothing we'd come back for. Service was friendly and they checked on us often. In the end, the food just wasn't tasty.
(2)
Barbara B.

We were staying at Hotel del Coronado in the middle of January when we came across this place. From the beginning the staff was very friendly, seated us outside, started the heater so we would be comfy in the upper 60's :-) We ordered the Baja Shrimp Cocktail and the Combo Fajitas all of which were fantastic. Their portions are very generous so you will not leave hungry. Upon returning home from our vacation it was discovered that one of our cameras was missing. After a long investigation we established that we had left it behind at Costa Azul. So we contacted the manager of the place who assured us that he had the camera and will be sending it to us as soon as possible. He went out of his way to help, taking the camera to the post office immediately, paying out of his own pocked to get it to us the very next day. We were very happy and impressed...A glorious happy ending.
(4)
James C.

They boast to be the best Mexican food on Coronado Island. Personally I have had better at Taco Bell. The chips served with the salsa were stale and hard. The hurt to even bite. I ordered the Carne Asada and it was bland. Hardly any spices or flavor. You can tell that they really Americanized the way it's prepared for the tourists. They service though was excellent. That was the only good part of the meal.
(2)
Ned S.

Went to Costa Azul this afternoon for a late lunch while out and about in Coronado with the wife. We were seated promptly by the hostess and our waiter Tiger quickly took our drink order. The chips and salsa came out quickly and were quite delicious. The salsa was just spicy enough not detract from the chips and make it a painful experience. My wife also ordered a margarita which she found to be outstanding with a good concentration of alcohol which made it mucho bueno. I had the shrimp burrito which was huge, and came with a side of rice. I found the burrito to be very good and the shrimp were well cooked and seasoned. My wife had the carnitas (pork) which I sampled continuosly much to her chagrin. She and I both found them to be mucho fantastico. Tiger continued to be vigilant of our table while not comitting the sin of being intrusive. He did a great job. Overall we both found Costa Azul to be a great choice and will most certainly return again.
(5)
Jessica R.

Came here with friends for dinner, had an amazing experience. Our server was very attentive and the food was fantastic! The atmosphere is a little noisy but well decorated and has cute outdoor seating.
(4)
Presley Z.

Had a Coronado burrito and it was a big plate for $13 dollars. The burrito was good but not amazing. Chips and salsa were not to my liking, but the service was good. I would recommend this place.
(3)
Jeffrey J.

Don't understand the 3 stars only? We all had the fish tacos so can't compare but delicious. Fresh juice margaritas so good we all had two. Their homemade salsa is almost black, not sure how it's made but it's damn good! Service was great for a busy place.
(4)
Karishma M.

Grt food. Yes the swordfish tacos rocks. Amazing ambience of the place too. We didn't have to wait too long for the food. I think in that area this is the best place to eat.
(5)
Valorrie P.

The swordfish tacos were to die for. I'm on vacation, and I've tried fish tacos every day since I got here. These were the best. Hands down. The sauce was good, and the fish was so fresh. The only negative, which isn't a negative really, is they don't have sweet tea. No one seems to have it here. No biggie. I'll add my own sugar, and devour those delicious tacos anytime.
(5)
Teresa C.

Here for Happy Hour at least twice a month. SWORDFISH tacos BLACKENED are to die for!! Always have cold beer and great service. They know who you and what you like to drink!
(5)
Emily T.

We were craving fish tacos and stopped here after reading the reviews on the swordfish tacos. The food wasn't amazing but we had a great experience. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and grilled swordfish tacos, as well as guac and chips. We were an hour prior to happy hour but our server gave us happy hour prices. We ended up having way too much food but didn't pay too much. The margaritas were great too.
(4)
Lydia P.

Okay, we have been here many times in the past, and as we were out seeing the island with family we though why not end our evening here. We've always enjoyed the patio seating and good food..... Well, here is how our experience went: Seating, not bad although the hostess would not let us sit at the table we wanted we were promptly seated on the patio. Our waiter did not stop by but the waitress that gave us water and chips did start our drink order. Our server did stop by finally and let us know our drinks were coming, and took our order for Guacamole. Another server dropped off our drinks and then guacamole. The guacamole was tasteless and was just mashed up avocadoes. So we asked for some jalapenos to add in....he brought us fresh jalapeno RINGS...did I need to ask for a knife and cutting board too?? Half-way through the guacamole (after we added salt) we noticed they had put some yummy salsa on the bottom....Why didn't they tell us to mix it or mix it for us since we were paying $9 for the small bowl.... Next we order dinner, my husbands comes promptly and he sits and waits out of politeness for the next 10 minutes until our dinner is served. Now his is cold....and the server didn't come by the entire time we were waiting. As the dinner is served I ask for a fork as I had used mine to stir the guacamole, I waited and it never came....so I just used the other fork. As we paid the bill in cash we left a meager tip as the bill was $92 and we certainly did not feel the service deserved even a 15% (and alcohol is always 10%) so we under-tipped him about $2. HE FOLLOWED US OUT TO THE 'STREET AND SAID ONE WORD "TIP??!!" We looked at him blankly and asked if we had not paid the right amount. He said " You can count it!", oh so we recounted it and it was all there..."that is the amount we are leaving..." Then he tells us "Well then DON'T COME BACK!" I felt like the couple in frozen being kicked out by the snow monster.... REALLY?? Well, that is a no-brainer folks. I don't recommend this place, they charge too much for awful service and sub-par Mexican food.
(1)
Amy B.

Visited Coronado and stopped here for dinner. First let me say that Coronado is beautiful! And this place provides a great meal to end your day. The atmosphere is great. I got the lobster burrito and my husband got the Coronado burrito, amazing! The kids have also now fallen in love with guacamole, I can finally keep the "green stuff" on the nachos!
(4)
Scott S.

Defiantly had the night of my life... Best food, Great atmosphere and Awesome location and parking. Thank you for making us smile and wanting to come back. Everyone there thank u as well
(5)
David D.

Right off orange Ave in Coronado and nice patio, esp if you can get the booth in the very corner, super comfy! Mexican theme but a lot of beach influence in the food. Started with a bowl of chicken posole and it was FANTASTIC! Then I had the skinny swordfish tacos (no tortilla) and they were cooked perfect and lots of flavor. Wife had the fish and chips and she loved it.
(4)
Jenny E.

so let me give you all a little update on my review and give you the full story. Including what happened last night. It's a doozy. So I run in to my buddy at a neighboring bar and he wants to go to Costa. I told him I didn't want to go. He was persistent and I made a mistake and gave in.BIG MISTAKE. I walk in and as soon as this bartender (not the original one) see's me he get's all flustered and starts going through his phone. So we're standing there waiting. He walks over and sticks his phone over the bar to ask "is this your review". I look at it and say "yep". He points to the door being melodramatic and yells "get out of my bar why don't you go to little club". Insinuating that I'm cheap, which is somewhat amusing since he drinks for free. With all honesty on a scale of 1 to 10 this bothered me at about a level one. I didn't want to go there to begin with. My buddy tried to defuse the situation. Which really it didn't need to be defused, it gave me a way out. While this is happening (i'm going to keep this vague, because this is actually a nice person) another employee who's sitting at the bar starts questioning me and states that i'm messing with peoples livelihood's. With all due respect to this place. When the owner ups my bill by 30 percent overnight (no price changes notifying you of that) you're messing with my livelihood. I ordered food and two drinks that night and it was awful to boot. When I received my bill I thought it was a mistake. If I had been approached differently I may have actually deleted my old review. Instead I'm now updating my review online. Quite frankly after reading others reviews it seems that I'm not alone.
(1)
Lisa D.

Had lunch here today for the first time. I recommed any of the mexican choices with Chicken. I had the pick two. One shredded beef tostada and one chicken quesadilla. The chicken dish was wonderful and full of flavor. The chairs arent to comfortable though but beats sitting on wooden bench that is also part of sitting areas in the restaurant. The service was a little slow but nothing negative really to say. Our waiter brought us everything we asked for and even came to check on us a few times. I would come back here again eventually. That is after I try all the other spots Coronado has to offer.
(4)
VM B.

Only had a few drinks here with some guacamole dip. Drinks, tasty, guacamole good, salsa dip, delicious. Glad I stopped by.
(4)
Michael E.

Our first time here, I enjoyed my meal. I had the Poblano Relleno with pork, quite delicious between the pork, sliced white olives, and the roasted poblano chile. My wife had the Esmerelda Salad with salmon. It says "mixed greens" on the menu, what they brought her was on romaine. She hates romaine and only ordered the salad because of the mixed greens. When asked the waiter told us they don't have mixed greens. He was happy to bring her some spinach on the side that she mixed in, but really, they need to fix their menu. She'll probably try their famous (so we're told) grilled swordfish tacos next time.
(4)
Danielle S.

Amazing food and service! I would highly recommend it! Pepe was our server and went above and beyond for us! Can't wait to come back again
(5)
Lindsey F.

Coronado, at least according to yelp, is not abound with great affordable places to eat. We chose here over the 3.5 stars Miguel because it has a nicer location. We got a table outside, which was really pleasant and perfect for some people watching. Chips and salsa were pretty good. After a 7 hour drive down here with only a pancake breakfast, crackers, and almonds for food, I opted for a salad. Surprisingly, it was a pretty good salad, I think it was called Esmeralda's. Can't bump up my rating since the salad of mainly veggies and some dried cranberries was $9, and would have been $4.50 more to add protein. I tried the enchiladas and rice/beans of other plates on my table. Overall, everything was just fine. We left full and satisfied. Probably won't be back, lots of other A-OK places to eat around here, but I would recommend for a quite casual dinner.
(3)
Taron V.

This was an absolute gem! I had taken my girlfriend and some friends visiting from Paraguay to San Diego, being it was their first time to California. We saw the sights and did a little, actually a lot of walking and worked up an appetite. It was happy hour and we all wanted tacos ! The swordfish and shrimp tacos were amazing!! The Tijuana tacos were to die for and our server Pepe was the kindest and most hospitable waiter we could've received! That was the definition of service and the food was excellent!!! Highly recommended !!!
(4)
Adria C.

Everything we ordered was delicious. I just wish I had realized we had a coupon with yelp for 20% off an appetizer. Other than that very good. We will definitely eat there again.
(4)
David W.

A native Coronado friend suggested we watch the baseball playoffs here -- and his recommendation for Tuesday Happy Hour was right-on ! Tuesdays they set up a Tijuana style street taco grill and for $3.95 you get a two-taco ticket. Meats are: chicken, carne asada, pork & the novel "chorizo." The table with fresh condiments and salsas gives a really custom top-off to your tacos too. Happy hour drink & draft beer prices are decent too. The BEST feature of Tuesdays is the guitar group that normally appear. A real eclectic fusion of doing rock & folk songs to flamenco-style guitar. Singer very acceptable too ! Staff real friendly (owner often makes table rounds to see how you're doing) too. You can tell this the only place many locals come too with the good friendship vibes about. Try it out.....I'll be avoiding the summer tourist crush, though.
(4)
J B.

Second time here, not so great. Food is decent. Shrimp wasn't deveined. Gross. They exchanged my drink when I didn't like it so that was good. Didn't feel like complaining again about the food, just let it go. Took forever to get just an appetizer of guacamole. Guess they forgot about it from what the waiter said, one of the very few times we saw him. We saw people who had ordered an entire table of food get it before we got our quac. Really?!
(2)
J C.

Costa Azul is a staple in Coronado. Everyone comes here, but I don't know many that admit it. I'm not a fan. I've been here several times. The staff isn't very welcoming or accommodating and the service is slow. I have to say the swordfish tacos and the shrimp tacos were great. The guacamole was good, everyone (else) enjoyed the bean dip. I have no idea what's in it but it can't be vegetarian! If you don't care for chipotle salsa, be forewarned, this is the standard here given with the chips. The jalapeno queso dip didn't taste like jalapenos or cheese. I asked for a coke twice and waited 20 minutes for it to arrive. Some say sit at the bar, maybe you'll get better service.
(2)
Chelsea S.

Even though a lot of the reviews are negative, I've been here various times over the years and have never had a bad experience. I personally love their salsa and have always been happy with the food! Plenty of seating, both inside and outside.
(4)
Brian S.

sit at the bar with the locals
(4)
Kristen M.

A very disappointing experience. I ordered veggie fajitas. What came out was nothing like fajitas. There were no tortillas. Just a soupy red veggie saute served with beans and rice. It looked more like a chunky pasta sauce. The menu said peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Instead, it was mostly zucchini, a few red peppers, and zero mushrooms. Our waitress had disappeared so I waved over someone else and let them know I received the wrong dish. They assured me that was in fact the fajitas dish. So I asked for the tortillas, which they brought out quickly. But there were only two six inch tortillas. I've never had only 2, especially when they're taco sized. But really, they were useless, since you can't wrap soupy sauce in a tortilla. I was nice about it. I dug in, and it tasted good, even though it was nothing like the menu description or any fajitas I've ever had. But then, some snarky lady came over to tell me that I did have the fajitas. I hadn't asked for any further help. She asked what was wrong, and I said i just thought I had the wrong dish because it was different than described and came out with no tortillas. She had a serious attitude when she told me it was exactly as described, and walked away. Ok, thanks? I don't get what she was trying to accomplish. All she did was make me even more dissatisfied. But the best was the fact that our waitress never came back until it was time for our check. I think she was avoiding us. Talk about a mountain out of a bean hill! Everyone else's food was mediocre. Definitely not worth the money, even with the extra side of attitude we were so lucky to get!
(1)
Julie K.

Good service, nice waiter, fresh seafood, yummy dishes! :) Loved the lobster burrito and ceviche!
(4)
Diana Y.

Came here for Father's day hoping to get some good seafood and was extremely disappointed. The margaritas were blah, the $18 seafood appetizer consisted of 3 soggy pieces or shrimp, 4 slices of what was supposed to be smoked salmon but actually was a weird pickled fish and a small bowl of ceviche. Lobster burritos were unanimously gross and everything else fell below standards. Don't go here.
(1)
Aly P.

Being a San Diego native and in town and loving Mexican food, I decided to check the place out. My friend and I sat outside since it was the usual gorgeous San Diego weather out! I ordered the carne asada tacos. Growing up eating the amazing & famous carne asada my uncle would always make, I judge by his. The carne asada here was NOT carne asada. It was over cooked and flavorless, and very dry. It was rubber. The steak looked like a dog treat. If you want carne asada, don't get it here. I judge a Mexican place by how it's chips and salsa is (as most San Diego natives do) and the chips were good but the salsa was a fail. It was like a bad chipotle paste. It had a very odd taste to it and I wasn't impressed. Way too salty as well. Our server was ehh. He was not friendly nor quick to our table. We waited a while for him to come take our order and forgot to fill up our waters a lot. He came by three times. First to take our order, fill up our waters once and then give us our checks. He wasn't proactive or asked how our food was. The atmosphere was nice, I mean it's San Diego, can't go wrong there! But the food and service needs work. Especially the carne asada...I even had leftovers and my family tried it and kept saying how that was not carne asada and how bad it was. Order something else on the menu if you eat here! All in all, I won't return. It's not worth it.
(2)
Stu W.

Went here a while ago. Ordered a Bloody Mary which was terrible, had way too much horse radish turning the whole drink bitter. Also ordered a shrimp cocktail. Shrimp was grey and limp, still had intestinal vein in it, had an off odor. We sent it back. Staff was friendly. Food was overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Stefania M.

So disappointed, me and my boyfriend love eating out and like to try a variety of foods so we're not too picky, but the food here just tasted old, bland and was almost indelible! I got the worst food poisoning sickness from the old smelly shrimp. Don't go here! Save your money and your stomach! Staff was friendly but that's all the positive I can say from there.
(1)
Jen R.

This used to be one of our favorite places for happy hour, but, sadly, no more. The drink prices went up and the staff was rude and unaccommodating. A patio is a patio, especially one as wide as theirs... however, we were told they couldn't let our tiny 14 POUND dog sit at the inside row of patio tables, only the ones against the railing?!?! It's a huge patio! We would've waited, except that happy hour - our sole reason for going there because the food is generally overpriced - ended in 15 minutes. It took them 10 to wait for a manager to decide we couldn't have the open table against the wall. Really?! Thanks a lot, Costa Azul. I hope that bad judgement call was worth the lost patronage.. and this yelp review. Looks like you could've used a few extra stars.
(1)
Shannon R.

Pros: Salsa was good. Cons: Service, rest of the food. We should have checked Yelp before eating here, honestly. I was in the mood for some Mexican food while visiting Imperial Beach, and this place looked decent. First, I asked the waitress if sour cream and tomatoes were included on the side of the dish I had ordered. She said no, but could bring some on the side. She brought out the sour cream and tomatoes. Then the dish came, which had sour cream and tomatoes on it. My friend ordered a steak dish, rare. It came out VERY well done. She had to send it back. My tortillas would have been good, but were cold and soggy. So not only were all these things bad, but the waitress CHARGED me for extra sour cream and tomatoes, after wrongly informing me that they weren't included on my dish. Sigh.
(2)
Chelle N.

I love Costa. Happy Hour is amazing! Ask for the spicy Margarita it gives the classic just a small kick. Food is way better than Miguel's, plus you're not going get over stuffed because of the cheese sauce and chips from Miguel's. (I always leave there feeling sick!) Costa is opposite, you go in, eat, drink and be merry, because, after all, you're always surrounded by friends.
(5)
Kennie M.

This place was great! As soon as my girlfriend and I sat down we were nicely greeted by the waiter and brought us ice cold water and chips.. I ordered the Baja shrimp cocktail and it was awesome! The server frequently checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed and would refill the water when low. The restaurant it self was very clean and had a nice open view to allow the nice breeze come in!
(5)
Grant B.

My wife and I came to visit Coronado and happened up on the Mexican restaurant Costa Azul which appeared from the menu to have decent priced mexican food. However, unfortunately, after being seated in the outdoor patio and having our appetizer and entrÃ©e orders taken by a very nice waiter we had to wait over an hour to get our nacho appetizer which wasn't very good. After we finished the appetizer we waited an additional 15 minutes for our swordfish taco entrÃ©es before deciding to leave aftet being told it would be at least another 5 minutes. Due to the wait the waiter was kind enough to comp our nachos and seemed to understand our frustration about the wait for our food. We also noticed while we were waiting that several groups which were seated after us received their food, ate, and left before we received our appetizer. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)
Ashley G.

They claim to be "the best Mexican food in Coronado." They should really change it to "the only Mexican food in Coronado." I was already a bit apprehensive coming here because there was almost no one sitting on the patio on a sunny Saturday at lunch time but the other people in my party insisted. We got sat quickly which was nice. But the second I opened my napkin, I was grossed out by the curly hair inside. I ordered the shrimp ceviche tostada. I was not impressed by any means. It was bland and boring and the tostada was very soggy as if the shrimp had been sitting on there for a long time. Service was okay. But the food was not good. Nor was it fresh. Long story short, I will not be coming back to this restaurant. Really bad Mexican food.
(1)
Rose D.

Having only been here once I'll stick to 3 stars. You get your standard chips and salsa. The salsa was the fire-roasted variety, medium heat with a good smoky quality so a bit different than your standard salsa fare. Hubby had the lobster burrito which was huge and delicious. The Spanish rice which came with the burrito was cooked perfectly and also quite tasty. The tortilla, which they make on site (we were sitting right by the lady making them out on the patio) was one of the best tortillas ever. I had the spinach salad, also large and very good. It was chock full of tender spinach, hearts of palm, craisins, pepitas, and other good stuff I can't even remember. It came with a great poppy-seed dressing as well. We both had Mojitos as they were on special and they were good and strong. The service was good, but could have been a bit more attentive as we were one of the first lunch customers of the day. I liked the decor inside and the patio out front was pleasant.
(3)
David J.

Three stars cuz the food is good but service sucks. If you want better mexican food go to Miguel's. That place is pretty good. Best in Coronado.
(3)
Nolan R.

Great place with right sized portions, a decent drink selection and enthusiastic staff. Great for happy hour.. Enjoyed the shrimp and seafood tacos, but the bean dip and guac appetizers were fantastic!
(4)
Steve R.

This was the worst service we have ever had. I came here with a few friends and sat around for at least 5 minutes before we were acknowledged. The service just got worse as we moved to a table that had more shade. Well this made it worse as our waitress totally lost track of our orders and then blamed the fact that we moved as the reason for not getting our food in time. My friend ordered a margarita when we first sat down and didn't get it until we got our food...about 30 minutes after ordering. Then when the drink came it was watered down as if it had been sitting around for 30 minutes! I would probably come back to this place but if I was seated in the area for the same waitress I would ask to be moved! Sucks to be us!!
(1)
V V.

If it was possible to put zero stars it would be great! The bar tenders here are worthless. Was ignored three times, mind you I am sober as shit and all I wanted was a drink for myself and a buddy and some water. I was looked in the eye and completely ignored by this old fart. Okay. Other than that, the bar was a mess. These old farts cannot bartend for the life of them. This is supposed to be an elegant area with some descency and this place blows ass. Don't male a mistake coming here. Save yourself the trouble.
(1)
Dalton N.

So so place. A friend really wanted to eat here, so I thought I'd try. It's on the Main Street in Coronado, where all the rest of the restaurants are at. The place wasn't huge, but he service was not good. They had a decent amount of people, but it felt long for any server to help us when we needed. The lady that was our server didn't even take the menus off the table. She just left them at the other side of the table. She seemed disinterested in her job. Bad customer service. For food, I ordered the daily special, which consisted of: an appetizer(I ordered calamari), entree(seafood tacos), and beer( dos Equis). The calamari was ok. They were hot, but not crunchy. It came with 2 sauces, a white sauce, and a spicy cocktail sauce with horseradish in it. For the seafood tacos, it was one shrimp and one swordfish. The shrimp was decent, but the swordfish was super dry. I stopped 1/4 of the way because it was that bad. The entree did also come with beans and rice. The beers were beers. One good thing was unlimited chips and salsa. The salsa had a nice kick to it. They also have 3 TVs to watch games on.
(2)
Maritess C.

Place was good. I enjoyed my coconut shrimp with my iced tea. For dessert we had their flan. Service was excellent & the waitress was good about our refills even though the place got super busy for dinner on a Thursday night.They even took our coupon from the Entertainment book.
(4)
Crystal J.

I love this place. And I'm one to dislike Mexican restaurant because I like my mother in laws home cooking instead. But the server was great, he was very friendly and we got out food quickly. I ordered the shrimp cocktail that was absolutely yummy and the price was about $9. There was also live music but not too loud where I couldn't hear my boyfriend sitting right next to me. I loved the food, service and vibe.
(5)
Kristin N.

My fiance and I came here tonight because we wanted to go somewhere new. We got seated right away but it took the waiter fiver minutes to come over - he didn't even realize that we were at his table! We ordered the nachos first. My fiance got the chicken chimichangas and I had a "combo" plate with one chicken taco and a cheese quesadilla. The food was awful. The chicken was overcooked and there was no flavor. I asked for black beans instead of refried and they don't have black beans!!! We love mexican food and this was the worst we ever had!!! We will never come back here again. We left not having enjoyed our food. What a waste of money.
(1)
Travis H.

Food leaves a lot to be desired. Only redeeming quality is Chris' mojito. I'd rather go to del taco. Food lacks flavor. Salsa is average.
(2)
Cliff M.

Amazing live music and service! Mike and Jason behind the bar really took care of us on our vacation. Drinks were on point! The escalade with Don Julio was delicious. I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. Truly the best bar on the island!
(5)
Courtney K.

Really...claiming you are rated the best in Coronado for Mexican food isn't much to be proud of. It wasn't bad. We drank more than we ate...and the more we drank the better the food got. We ordered the Escalade Margaritas. There was so much alcohol in them we didn't know when we were drinking them like water because they were so cheap and good.
(3)
Christine Y.

Very impersonal staff. Boring menu. It felt like it was a burden on the staff to refill our drinks. There are so many great places to go on Coronado - stay away from this place.
(2)
M J.

service is a little forgetful, skinny margarita was soo bad I couldn't drink even a little bit. chips were meh! However the avocado salad duo was great. Nice and fresh.
(2)
steve f.

As a resident of Coronado we know first hand that the food, atmosphere & drinks are the best on the island. A true perfect experience for locals and visitors alike!
(5)
Joye C.

Stale chips, bland salsa and slow service
(1)
Lawrence D.

I thought the food was so-so at best. Me: Cheese crisp with shredded beef. Good guacamole, but could not really tell there was shredded beef in it. Wife: Swordfish tacos. Good, but not great. Coronado Brewing Company's were better. Kids: chicken fingers, and a shredded beef taco. Good atmosphere, but not worth coming back to. Sorry!
(2)
Jennifer V.

DANG... harsh reviews here, I thought! Guac freshly made was really good, I like the light, crisp chips & salsa. Happy hour house marg was REALLY good - screaming deal, and I'm a Marg Princess & I didn't need to go Cadillac. Mine was made my either an owner or GM - he knew what he was doing! Memorial Weekend. We had a table outside, good people watching. Could not believe people WHINING b/c it was a long wait, particularly those with large parties... REALLY??! It's Sat night dinnertime of one of the biggest travel holiday weekends, & you're in not only San Diego, but little Coronado. What the HELL did you possibly expect for your party of 18??? Bet there was no wait in Bakersfield... Anyway, I digress. I thought the staff did a great job with the crush and the rude people. It wasn't the most amazing Mexican, but service was fine, chips were refilled, marg was great, happy hour deals abound. And frankly, there's not much to choose from in Coronado.
(4)
Nathan J.

Stopped in for lunch today. We were seated and waited about 10 minutes to get our drink order. Our chips had a hair in them. Went to the restroom to wash hands and found the facility in absolutely terrible conditions. The toilets were filled to the brim with urine. There were two guys singing loudly in the bar area who sounded terrible. It created a terrible atmosphere that was super annoyingly loud. The food was just okay. Nothing special at all. This place needs a lot of work. Need complete retraining of the staff and overhaul of the whole facility and thorough cleaning. I would never return.
(1)
Quasona C.

We ate dinner here on our last night in Coronado. It was an easy restaurant to walk into and get seats without waiting. I ordered the ribs and they were pretty filling and delicious!
(3)
Rainier T.

Going here is like watching an M. Night Shyamalan movie: there's going to be an unexpected twist, and it's going to be stupid. I mean, how can you mess up fajitas, right? I was expecting the standard fare, you know, chicken with grilled vegetables, all the normal stuff, but instead, what I got was some kind of soupy mess swimming in what looking like enchilada sauce. WTF. If I wanted enchiladas I would have ordered that, not this crap. That might explain why this place was pretty empty on a Friday night. Oh, and their chips and salsa? Not too good. If you want Mexican food in Coronado, you really should go to Miguel's.
(2)
Jacki C.

Great location, nice atmosphere, good service, bad food. It was my first trip and first (and only) dinner in Coronado. I love what Orange Avenue had to offer as far as the views and close-knit businesses, but I quickly realized that this place really wasn't a "tourist" area. Aside from the historic Hotel Del Coronado, there seemed to be only resident attractions with mostly local people and shops about (i.e., small town barber shops, pet care places, shoe repair services, etc.). There were several places to eat, but I figured that the restaurant with the most patrons inside would be the best, figuring they would be repeat customers who were in/from the area. If that was the case, then I seriously question their palettes and personal standards for food. First, I ordered the special apple cider that was proudly advertised, prominently displayed, and tented on every table. Disappointment. The waitress informed me that they were out-of-stock and brought me the only cider they did have. I was polite and tried it (knowing that I've enjoyed many ciders before), but it tasted like nasty, cheap champagne with a disturbing aftertaste. I informed our server who was happy to replace it with a standard light beer for me. Next, the salsa that came with the complimentary chips was actually very tasty. There was good seasoning with just a little spice, and it seemed to be a promising dinner if the rest of dishes were as pleasing. Then arrived my Cheese Enchilada & Carne Asada combo platter. It's kind of hard to mess up an enchilada, so that portion of the meal passes. The carne asade, however, was dry, bland, discolored, and ultimately inedible. My fiance's carnitas plate was also overcooked and tasteless-- and he'll eat anything. I can't rate any desserts because I didn't order any; I wasn't ready for another disappointment. Even if it was the best dessert I ever tasted, it wouldn't have been enough to salvage the rest of the meal. Maybe I just like the Mexican food from the grittier neighborhoods in the greater San Diego areas that are 1/3 of the price... or, maybe I'm just weird because I happen to like food that is authentic and flavorful. On the very small plus side, the inside itself was fine; imagine a dimmer El Torito setting. There were several tables and booths, a decent-looking bar set-up, and televisions broadcasting sports. Prices and portions were reasonable. The service was also fine; we were greeted and served by friendly staffers. An older gentleman dressed casually, possibly a manager or owner, also came by our table at one point to see how were were. The "pros" weren't enough to balance out the "cons," however. Adios, Costa Azul. No me gusta. I won't be back.
(1)
Brandy C.

This is a great spot to get great swordfish tacos. We always sit outside to watch the people pass by. Great local place.
(4)
J B.

I go to this spot for lunch most days I'm in Coronado. The food is tasty, the service is always great, and the customers are literally living history. Went in there the other day and met one of the original SEALs. Let me tell you, the guy had stories! I prefer to sit at the bar and usually Genaro's the barkeep. That guy know's his stuff. Attentive but not pushy. While you're there ask him to tell you a joke. It might even be funny. Order the carne asada or swordfish tacos, grab a beer, and you can't go wrong.
(4)
Joshua L.

Each time friends visit from out of town, I bring them here when we venture to Coronado. The service has always been great and the margaritas and chips and salsa are delicious. Love this place.
(5)
Christina K.

Went here for New Years Eve with my daughter as I was trying to find someplace on the island that wasn't crowded and would be ok for kids if we went early. Well, I was right about both of those, but that is where my positivity ends. Aside from the salsa, which was actually smoky and good, the rest of our food was at best, average. I had the Coronado Burrito. Huge, but had no spice and a thin layer of maybe enchilada sauce over it that had developed a skin. The guac was ok, but the carne asada inside the burrito was not very good. My daughter had fish and shrimp and chips. The fish was greasy, overly battered and we could only taste the oil. Our service was equally bad, even though we were there EARLY on the 31st and the restaurant was virtually empty. My water was never refilled. At all. Overall, it was just ok. Not disgusting, but not worth going back to. Should've gone to Miguels. Or Delux. Or really anywhere else on Orange!
(2)
Nicole S.

Great food, service and ambiance were good...margaritas weren't impressive. Super strong and salty. Too much.
(4)
Javier G.

Great sword fish tacos!! The service was awesome! The margaritas were generously poured and tasted amazing. I must say I had one too many and driving in Coronado on a margarita bender is not highly recommended yet I managed to make it past the busy Coronado Police surveying the streets for J-walkers. I sat at the bar and was served by the Danny DeVito looking character, he was very nice and also cracked a bunch of funny jokes. Good times great oldies. The only down fall was the random locals who sat at the bar. Trust fund babies who spend the lunch hour drowning in drink and finding people to trap in one way conversation. Very interesting for about 5 minutes then its all about getting them to leave you alone. Luckily the Danny DeVito character came to my rescue by deflecting the conversation on to himself then like a Jedi master putting a stop to it. He then leaned over the bar and gave me wordly advice "Don't make eye contact with them and they wont speak to you". Great service, great food and wisdom is what I got for my money. Awesome!!
(5)
Kelly M.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a friend and was seated immediately, and served exceptionally fast. The staff was very attentive and friendly but I'd say the food was sub-par. The chips, salsa, beans and rice were forgettable...the carne-Asada/chile relleno burrito I had was bland on the inside and doused in overly-salty wet-sauce outside. Fortunately my friend ordered the swordfish and shrimp tacos and she loved them---though fish tacos are basically good anywhere on the coast north of the border. Restrooms could use a lil' TLC too!
(3)
Brenda C.

The worst chips and salsa-chips are over cooked/stale and the salsa tasted like burnt peppers not roasted peppers. They left a bad taste in my mouth . I didn't order anything with salsa in it , so I had to order a salad- it was good. Would not return to this place
(2)
Michael S.

The Danny Davito looking guy was a bad host and bar tender. He was rude and apparently did not want my money. I'm military and can tip well. But the only tip he will get is not to piss of the people your serving at "his bar" that "he owns".
(1)
pamela l.

Was here on Coronado Island with my husband for some well deserved R&R. Just cruising and looking for a good dinner spot with sidewalk seating. Just happened along here with the board claiming the best Mexican food on Coronado and Zagat rated. Hmm, well why not? We were sat outside as we wanted, I ordered a house margarita and chips and salsa were pro offered. The chips were semi fresh with a distinctive corn taste, but the dark, almost black, salsa, while very smoky flavored was almost I unrecognizable as a salsa. The waiter came by and asked my husband if he would prefer a guacamole. He said yes. It took a sec for me to tell him this was an $8 appetizer. Still, we let it go. My margarita was very different, having been made with orange juice and lime, but was still flavorful and had a good bite of tequila. The guacamole turned out to be worth the charge! Fresh mashed avacado with lots of garlic and lime juice and with fresh pico de gallo at the bottom ( you really need to mix in the fresh tomatoes, onion and cilantro). Our entrees were a little disappointing. For him, the seafood taco combo ( one of their famous swordfish and one shrimp). The swordfish was well grill marked, but tiny dry pieces, with a cream or aioli I that was unidentifiable. The shrimp taco had a great spicy marinade, however, that made up for it a little. Mine was the poblano relleno with pork. The pork was tender and juicy with tomatoes, chilies and onions well cooked together, but they were placed in a poblano chile that was not cooked at all and was indelible. Here in AZ a relleno is meant to be a stuffed chile you eat along with the filling, not a vehicle to showcase the inside. This poblano was barely cooked and too raw to cut into with a knife. The refried beans on both sides were thick and pasty, but did have cotija cheese on top, as done in Mexico. The rice did have some mild flavor of sofrito, tomato, chile and onion, but was still mostly bland and lacked texture. Our waiter was very nice and friendly, but overall it was not worth the Zagat rating or the $60 price for 2 meals with 1 margarita. I'm sure better can be found in this beautiful setting.
(2)
Lilah J.

It was terrible!!! Absolutely terrible service and Food! We had to wait at least for 30 min til got the waitress.. And the food was cold as ice when she brought them to our table... Also found out the couple Next to us didn't get waited for one hour. They also said their foods were over cooked, and were not good at all... I would not return this place...
(1)
Cheryl L.

Baja shrimp cocktail, so far so good!
(5)
Rob C.

The food was subpar. I had the Coranado Burrito which was filled with small cubes of beef. The service was good but the loud musician made me want to leave ASAP.
(3)
Christopher F.

Solid, we ordered two skinny swordfish tacos and one combination sword fish and shrimp tacos for 25 dollars total. Both dishes were good the shrimp and swordfish was flavorful but did not blow me away. The beans and rice were good but again did not blow me away. The chips came piping hot, however, I prefer thin tortillas theirs were a little thick their chipolte salsa that comes with the chips was really good. The service was good the atmosphere is great located in beautiful Coronado. Again for a someone from the mid-west this place could be a 5 but in the San Diego area you have to step up your game for a 5!!
(3)
Sarah H.

The food was not very good for the price and just average even if the prices were better. The swordfish and shrimp tacos had a lot of cheese on them which I dislike. The calamari appetizer left a lot to be desired as well. It was kind of heavy and over cooked and the cocktail sauce tasted like ketchup. Also, the coupon provided through yelp does not save you any money unless you want at least 2 sodas. Sodas are 2.75 each and the coupon is 20% off of any appetizer which would save you 3.50 at most (that's for their large app platter which costs 17.95 at regular price). On the positive side, the server was attentive and friendly and he even let me order a drink from the happy hour menu a few minutes before HH actually started. He also turned on the gas heaters on the patio so we could sit outside comfortably. It wasn't the worst place I could've had lunch but I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)
Vanessa V.

Stefanie was a great waitress! We are tourists from Colorado, great seafood, great service and a great patio. The bus boy was a little cranky but overall the customer service was awesome. The seafood sampler was delicious and worth the money. Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Samie S.

Took a long walk through Coronado and stopped here for lunch. I had the Swordfish Tacos and my husband had the Tostada Grande. Both were excellent and we would definitely order these again. Didn't care for the salsa or chips though. The service was excellent and I'm a very picky person, Shawn was there whenever we needed anything. I also love being able to sit outside and watch all the tourists. If not for the chips and salsa I would have no complaints.
(4)
Julianne B.

I just went for after dinner drinks and the entertainment. Very fun, good people working here and I'll be back. Guess I should try the food next time. :)
(3)
Michelle M.

Came here after the beach. Wanted to get some chips n salsa and a quick drink. My husband and I came here on Sunday afternoon wanting a quiet drink before we went back to our hotel. It was the only DEAD restaurant- PERFECT! It seems that lots of locals came after an hour in to our dinner. Got loud with a few gals who were super dirty drunk and drove out a few customers. I think I would give it 5 stars if I was a local but since i was from out of town it made me feel awkward! Bartender Jimmy was great!
(3)
Howard B.

We enjoyed it - great, attentive service, kids meals are great, I had a beef salad which was quite different. A classic casual Mexican style eatery.
(4)
Glenn O.

Bad service! Ok food, certainly not the best. Do not take a group as the owner loves to make up charges and argue with patrons about the bill. A lot of attitude from staff and the owner. Had outrageous add on items that we're never ordered. If you want any value for your dollar, stay away! If could have negative stars would give a -5.
(1)
Kristina K.

Best Mexican food in Coronado? Is it the only Mexican food place here?? The portions are huge, which is nice if you want that. The carnitas plate was so salty! Could not taste any other flavor because of it. I have definitely had much much better Mexican food elsewhere. Wouldn't come back here again.
(2)
A A D.

No no no no no. The service and atmosphere were okay, but the "red sauce" on my enchilada tasted like BBQ sauce. I am not kidding. It could have been straight out of a bottle of KC Masterpiece or maybe Kraft Thick'n Spicy Original. I'm a Texas native who was weaned on Mexican food at the age of 1 and who praises God Almighty every time I chow down on a proper cheese enchilada with rice and beans, and I am telling you to do yourself a favor: go to Taco Bell instead, or buy an El Charrito frozen TV dinner, or maybe a box of that "hot tamale" candy they sell at movie theaters. ANYTHING with the word "Mexican" on it would be better than the food at this place.
(1)
Shauna G.

Randomly stopped in while walking by. Very nice waiter. Good guac. Great for sitting outside and people watching.
(4)
Dan D.

This place isn't to bad for a "touristy" spot. We had friends in town and wanted to spend time in Coronado. After a nice walk along the beach, we stopped at the Hotel Del for drinks. Instead of heading back to town for dinner, we walked out the front of the Del and onto Orange Avenue. This restaurant is right down the street and serves OK Mexican food and margaritas. Sit outside and people watch from the patio. Prices are reasonable and the service is good. Not ritzy at all. Another option if you're in the area and want some comida Mexicana.
(3)
Juan R.

I loved this place. The food was average around 3/12 to 4 stars.. but the customer service I recieved made the rating go to a 5! I ordered the Carne Asada plate with rice and beans and the flavor of the meat and cut was amazing for the price. I also ordered some extra chiles and they brought me some habaneros, serrano, and some other kind of chilis... wow were they hot! This is a must if you're in the area.
(5)
Steven J.

I liked the swordfish tacos, shrimp tacos mediocre. Salsa good. If you have kids DON'T order the Mac and cheese. It was dry and basically Kraft Mac and cheese.
(3)
Israel L.

This is a great Mexican restaurant in Coronado. We have been here several times whenever we go to Coronado and we really like the atmosphere and the food is great. Its not my favorite Mexican food place in San Diego, however it's still really good. It's hard to be the best when there's a lot of competition with Mexican food places here in San Diego. The prices are good and the food is good. I highly recommend checking this place out whenever you are in Coronado!
(4)
Adel O.

I live in the southern part of California so when I go to a Mexican restaurant it better be up to par cause we have a grip of them. I just want to say this is some overpriced Mexican food. It's a good thing I wasn't that hungry cause I didn't want to spend more money, Ordered *Carnitas Ole': "Ole" an old spanish expression used to cheer and applaud as part of flamenco music and in sporting events, especially bullfighting. My expression for this dish "Boo!" Meat was ok, they give you all the stuff to make your own taco, guacamole, flour tortia, salsa, and spanish rice on the side. Not worth the fucking money. Forgot how much but I know Tacos El Gordo can shut these mother fuckers down if going head to head. *Seafood Combo Platter: comes with Shrimp taco (2/5, don't bother) swordfish taco (3/5, ok but still for the price not worth it), rice, and beans *Coconut Shrimp: Only thing that was like "whoa" crunchiness of shrimp was good and sauce provided was perfect. But for $7 dollars and only 4 shrimp.... I hate you. *Mohito: suggested by the waiter. Again, I hate you. Not worth it. Just too strong. Service was good, has a nice open street view. But for the price, you might as well travel a couple more miles down to Imperial beach for some better Mexican food.
(2)
D J.

Wife likes this place, me... not so much. Wasn't a WOW experience for me. Will probably be back for the wife, but won't be my choice.
(3)
Jay B.

Went to Coasta Azul on the recommendation of a friend. The Guac appetizer was good. Very friendly staff. Our waitress didnt write anything down & didnt get anything wrong. Very impressed. I recommend the Special...not bad for the price (appetizer, entree, & drink for dont remember the price). The manager came by to check on us...Very nice place to eat.
(3)
Katie Y.

My family and I were in Coronado on vacation and stumbled onto this jem by accident. I'm 37 years old and I can tell you in all honestly this is the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. The atmosphere is lively and fun. The live music and bright spacious dinning area get the good vibes flowing. The service is attentive, friendly and knowledgable. And the food! Simply incredible! The guacomolie is fresh and flaverful, the jalapieno poppers are spicy and deliscious, the lobster barrito is so unique and truly mouth watering, the flan is delious, the mexican chicken soup is just warm flaverful goodness, everything is just wonderful. It was so good that we actaully went back just two nights later! Oh they also have a great kids menu. My exteamly picky eater loved the corn dog. I just wish we lived closer to it! But hey just one more reason to go back to San Diego. Katie
(5)
Lizzie W.

We came here after first trying to go to Miguel's, (which is a personal favorite of mine). Unfortunately it was closed for construction so Costa Azul was our second choice. The food here is your standard Mexican fare. Huge portions and pretty reasonable prices. I liked the food, but not enough for me to rate it anything above average. Props to them for starting off with a chip basket. You can never go wrong with that. And the service was spot on. I loved the restaurant itself. It was clean, big and had a nice outdoor eating area. I liked it enough, but it is definitely a second choice option.
(3)
Bill P.

Not a bad place but not a great place for Mexican food, kinda like a El Torito's or chipotle. Not real Mexican food but out of towners on vacation Mexican food. We rode here on Motorcycles from the north county rolling 20 deep one Sunday. I must say the service was Great , beyond what I would expect for such a big group. We were all pleased with the level of service but everyone was equally unimpressed with the food. So if you want to come hang out with a great atmosphere and excellent service this place will do just fine : )
(3)
Janis E.

The hubby and I chose Costa Azul as we walked along Orange street on Coronado Island today. He chose the CARNITAS OLE and I ordered the Swordfish Tacos. Both dishes were fantastic. The Carnitas pork was very flavorful and melted in his mouth. The swordfish in the tacos was fresh and not breaded/fried which I liked. The sauce was good, but I added the house made salsa served earlier with chips and that put it over the top! Oh, and they sure do make a tasty Mojito.
(4)
Derek H.

Great atmosphere! Not too expensive for Coronado. My girlfriend and I had 2 margaritas, 2 dinners ( I had $23 steak and shrimp) and an appetizer plus a $1 chip dip add on for $60 flat. We came in on a Friday at 6:30 and we were sat right away at a booth. The staff is super friendly! My shrimp didn't come out with my steak so I mentioned it to the waitress and she had it out very quickly plus gave me a beer on the house. Also I am reading a lot of reviews bitching about this not being very good Mexican food. I had a steak so I wouldn't know but my girlfriend had the chicken taco and the shrimp quesadilla. She loved the beans and rice. If you are bitching about Mexican food, you shouldn't be going to a place like this anyways. Go throw a rock at any corner of any street in San Diego and get real Mexican food. This is Coronado people! Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Shay W.

The food is really good. We enjoyed our lunch, but the drink was just okay. The prices were right since we went during happy hour. The staff was friendly. I would definitely go back when I visit San Diego.
(4)
Ceci Z.

AMAZING lobster burritos!!! and only for $13 dollars. The entire dish was very delicious! The burrito is packed with lots of lobster meats inside. The rice and bean were also perfect. It's definitely a great deal There were complementary chip and salsa however the chips were slightly stale and the salsa tasted "different". Regardless, the restaurant has a great atmosphere and is definitely one of my top favorite in SD!
(5)
david b.

salsa was unique - roasted and spicy, liked it. service was very good and friendly. i'd come back again but didnt blow me away.
(3)
Sergio A.

I stumbled into this place looking for a margarita in Coronado. The host was very attentive and showed us the menu and explained happy hour (almost nobody mentions when they have happy hour) them showed the daily deals. The food was very good. The margarita was what I expected; nothing out of the ordinary. Service was the key to 5 stars. I don't go a lot into Coronado but I sure have a reason to go now.
(5)
Cheryl V.

The Pros: - Located on Coronado Island, within walking distance of many other great shops and restaurants - Clean facility - Has an amazing flan for those celebrating birthdays - Beautiful indoor and outdoor seating - Easy to make a reservation - Many large tables available for groups - Free street parking or close in the neighborhood The Cons: - Food is filling and satisfying, but as far as Mexican, you can find better - Sides (rice and beans) tasted sub-par to cheaper Chevy's - Service was a bit lousy (they were offering specials and different meat options that they didn't realize that had run out of or no longer offered on the menu) - Margaritas were mediocre for the price ($24 for a carafe) - Salsa was way spicier than the norm, and they didn't offer any free non-spicy alternatives Would I go back? Probably not. But it was a good meal to celebrate a great lady's birthday. Everyone was satisfied leaving the restaurant, but we had expected better.
(3)
Nick B.

No no no this place has it all wrong with the coastal Mexican theme. If your looking to drink at the bar at happy hour with some side dishes after the beach on a sunny afternoon then ok but for dinner no no no. Lobster burrito: C- Carne asada plate: C I would not recommend dinner here.
(2)
Jason D.

Went here for a retirment party and had the Carnitas and I was really impressed. Not only were the portions plentiful the Carnitas packed plenty of flavor. I can't speak about there other items but I certainly can and will recommend their carnitas. When I go back i will definately get them again.
(5)
Yesenia G.

Stopped here last night because Leroy's had a long wait time. We ordered an appetizer, one drink and our entrees. Overall food was alright, nothing great. The live entertainment was nice, the guy singing wasn't bad. However, I ordered a sangria which was a tad bit too sweet and it didn't taste like it had any alcohol in it. Our waitress was nice, but the bathrooms were awful. Not too sure if I'd come back.
(3)
Ginger G.

The food was enjoyed, the 2 stars was for the disappointment when the bill came, my daughters and I have gone to Coastal once a year around this time (for several years), to celebrate my youngest bday, we go to the lamb's players and go to coastal because of location, food plus, they give a discount on your dinner if you are attending lambs players, usually you show them you tickets and get your discount, I mentioned to the server that we were seeing the play, I guess things changed in order to get the discount, which I did not know, the server did but didn't mention anything about it, if they had I would have gone across the street to talk with will call about the voucher/coupon, so I get my final bill signed my cc receipt, then realized no discount, asked the server about the discount that is when I find out about needing a coupon/voucher in order to receive, just couldn't believe the lack of customer service, now know and next year we will find another place to dine and will have a voucher/coupon in hand
(2)
Josh W.

We stopped in for a nice lunch while visiting Coronado for the day. The place seemed inviting and looked nice. Chips and salsa were good but the fajitas were horrible. Service was extremely slow. Would not recommend.
(2)
Scott M.

Damn good fish tacos, try the Swordfish version, so good. Bartender is a jerk.
(4)
Shawn D.

The margarita was pretty good, although perhaps a bit too sweet. The chips were not particularly tasty, and the "salsa" was like a Mexican BBQ sauce -- kind of gross. On the upside, service was great. Cesar was there when he should have been, but did not hover like he had nothing better to do. I had the garlic shrimp entree, served with mashed potatoes (that weren't very good) and mixed vegetables that seemed fairly fresh, were properly cooked, but weren't seasoned very well. The winner for me was the garlic shrimp. It was seasoned well, and the dip complimented it nicely. Of course, fresh seafood is where it all starts, and is something our server assured us that Costa Azul prides itself on.
(3)
Kate M.

Review update This experience was much better Our server was attentive and kind Atmosphere ***** Food **** Service ***** The carne aside plate was good but my favorite thing was the Caesar salad with carne. Typically I find Caesar salads to be heavy and honestly well gross. But this one was very citrusy and light. The carne asada marinade was also really citrusy. I wouldnt describe Costa Azul as truly Mexican as much as Mexican flavors with Cali flair. We will be returning
(5)
Fatima N.

Okay mexican food, pretty much the best place to grab something to eat that isn't overpriced . Good service and 5 min walk away from the beach. Not a diverse crowd. If you enjoy country music this is the place to be.
(3)
Justin G.

Great atmosphere and good food led to an overall good experience. I tried the Coronado burrito and it did not disappoint. Portion size was huge and chips and salsa was a great start to the meal. There are many other unique options that I would be interested in returning to try.
(3)
Seth G.

Wandered in here with my wife and 8 month old son while walking down the main drag on Coronado. We were just looking for a mid afternoon beer and something to share. The fellow yelpers said it was decent with a few notables so we thought we'd try it out. The salsa and chips they brought out were pretty good and I liked the spice on the salsa. They were out of Stella so I went for a Dos Equis Amber and we ordered a couple swordfish tacos to share. They were good, but not anything to write home about. The additional sauce had a nice flavor to it. Our waiter was very attentive and on top of it. Much appreciated with a young one!
(3)
Chris B.

Costa Azul: 1.) Setting: great 2.) Decor: good 3.) Food: worst Mexican food in San Diego (i.e. guacamole was very tangy and cold, as in it wasn't freshly made; chicken posole was very watery/bland; red wine served was stale; and refried beans tasted exactly like it was from a can). 4.) Service: good; waitress was prompt and friendly ***Ordered alcoholic beverages, and didn't get ID'd. I look very young for my age. I get ID'd before I am served anything alcoholic elsewhere; actually all elsewhere. Costa Azul is the first establishment to ever serve me alcoholic beverage without checking my ID. 5.) Price: reasonably priced/ if not cheap, considering it's in Coronado... BUT -- I'd rather go somewhere else than come back and eat at this restaurant.
(1)
K C.

Really nice restaurant, service and food is superb. As we stepped into the restaurant a live artist was performing which added the cherry on top of my night. Classy, recommend checking it out!!
(3)
Jessica G.

Awesome! It's one of my favorite places in the SD area to get a Chimchanga! Ah! So perfect! And my boyfriend loves the BUD's burrito!:)
(5)
DeAnna H.

Walking around Coronado is fun but you have to eventually stop and relax and my man and I have stopped by here twice now when we have vacationed in San Diego. We have not eaten here but I can say the drinks were refreshing and the chips and salsa were good too. The bartender was nice and waitstaff was always checking on us. If you need a place to grab a drink in a relaxing atmosphere... this is the spot!
(4)
J L.

I really think this is the worst mexican food restaruant in san deigo. Its just cookie cutter mexican food and lacks tons of flavor. There are other places very close so go to one of those. Also i always get bad service here! Skip it!!!
(2)
Jason F.

Solid 4 for their happy hour. Three for regular dinner menu. Incredible street tacos on Tuesday. Very authentic. They even have a guy in a sombrero and poncho who holds a sign that says Street Tacos inside. Half the time he holds it upside down because he can't read english but it's pretty funny. Great place for a week day meal.
(4)
Jessica S.

This place is alright if you're looking for generic Mexican food. The chips were hot, and the salsa was fairly tasty. It had small pieces of cilantro, which added some flavor. I ordered an enchilada and it was okay. Nothing to rant and rave about- just a regular enchilada with cheddar cheese and sauce. Service is always very prompt, even when they are busy, and prices are inexpensive for Coronado.
(3)
R M.

We eat here almost nightly, when we are in Coronado. (Annually) Happy hour specials are great for the price. Beer is cold. Chips and salsa are great. It's not expensive so do not expect wine tasting and hot towels. Hahahah Just expect to have some cold ones and a good time with your company.
(3)
Karma S.

3.5 stars I had a good experience here and would recommend this place. Biggest draw is location right in the heart of Coronado's boutique district. So all you have to do is not screw up the food and service too badly & you have it made. So Costa Azul does just fine. On my visit, I had the Grilled Salmon which came with sauteed veggies on a bed of rice. The fish was fresh and flavorful. Service was on the friendly side. I chose to sit in the outside patio & it made for a pleasant experience. Good all around experience for me.
(3)
Brianna S.

I only come here every now and then for happy hour. It is not the most authentic place to get your tacos on, but it is pretty tasty, non-the-less. And with a pretty sweet happy hour menu, I'm not complaining.
(3)
Leslie A.

Meh. First of all, the "daily" Happy Hour does not apply on Saturdays. That was disappointing. There was plenty of seating available at 6pm on a Saturday night, which was a plus. We were originally seated on the patio, but it was too loud to converse over the guy they had covering Tom Petty songs, so we asked to be moved indoors. Much better choice. As for the food, overall it was just ok. There were some things that stood out: the fire-roasted salsa that you're given with chips when you're seated was hot, but had fabulous flavor! The chips were underwhelming - thick yellow corn, obviously straight out of a bag. Those could use some improvement. My husband & I shared the coconut shrimp appetizer, and it was delicious! It came with the standard cocktail sauce as well as an innovative honey-cilantro dipping sauce. It was too hot for my taste, but my husband enjoyed it. I had the "Skinny Swordfish Tacos" for an entree. The corn-black bean salsa on the tacos was yummy & interesting, but had way too much cilantro & onion in it, and the swordfish was dry. The lettuce leaf that the taco was wrapped in was tasty, though. I requested black beans as a side, but they don't offer them, so I got pinto beans instead. They had good flavor, almost making up for the lackluster Spanish rice. My husband had 2 tacos - swordfish (too dry, like mine) and shrimp, which he reported was fabulous. His favorite part was the chipotle crema served on the tacos, and the fresh tortillas. The service was fair. The waitress didn't hover, though she disappeared for a while, but the busboys (?) made sure that our water & iced tea stayed full. We didn't wait overly long for our food, and were satisfied with the service. Overall, I'm giving this 3 stars because it was just ok. We probably won't be back, though the location right across the street from the Lamb's Players Theater is just right.
(3)
Marianna P.

I remember eating there years ago, and it was not too bad. We went back a couple of weeks ago, and we were utterly disappointed! Awful restaurant with terrible food! Service was below zero, and the food...I don't know what type of Mexican food they were serving. They brought out beef fajitas that were drenched in a soup filled with tomatoes, peppers in a plate not a skillet. Stay away!
(1)
Sarah I.

I came in here today with two of my girlfriends after walking around on Coronado all day. We ordered guacamole and then each got something off the a la carte menu. I had a carne asada taco. First of all, let me say that the Guacamole was AMAZING! BEST I HAVE EVER HAD! The wait staff is very attentive and constantly refilled my water glass. My meat in my taco was a bit on the fatty side. A la carte prices are a good deal. I think most of the stuff on the menu (combo platters, etc) is a little overpriced but then again you are on Coronado Island.
(4)
Mandy B.

Bland mexican food, salsa is smokey. Went there in the tour, not so good.
(2)
Carol H.

Just returned home from CA and it was so awesome there. All I can think about is the chips and especially the salsa that we had with our yummy margaritas. I would pay good money for that recipe for sure. So if you go there make sure to stop in this place. It was amazing. Our waiter was awesome too.
(5)
Nate G.

My girlfriend, myself, her co-worker and her co-worker's fiancee all came here for a birthday dinner to celebrate my girlfriend's 20-something-eth birthday. We sat outside as it was late afternoon and the weather was good. Their chips and salsa were really good, if you ask me. My girlfriend didn't love the salsa, though. It was definitely on the earthy side, maybe a roasted tomato thing? Not sure, but I liked it. We each got different things and everybody loved their entrees. I got the swordfish, which I was wary of because seafood in SoCal leaves a lot to be desired for this Bay State native. I was pleasantly surprised when it came out- good flavor, not overcooked and definitely fresh. The sides were great too, maybe I was just really hungry but I killed the plate pretty quickly. Since it was a birthday dinner, the staff brought out a sundae on the house for my girlfriend! We all split it- It was great! This is the kind of place I would recommend to a friend if they were trying to find a classy place to grab a bit in Coronado. OH! I almost forgot the best part! Our friends picked up the check! Thanks Matt+Ana! *music* That's what friends are for *music*
(4)
Liza N.

One word review: Fine.
(3)
Courtney K.

This is my favorite cheaper restaurant in all of Coronado. The Mexican food seems very authentic and you get big portions for a small price. Definitely nothing fancy but it is a fun casual environment and great food for the money. I thought the tostadas were especially tasty, and even the smaller one was rather big for me and piled high with toppings. I had been here years ago and finally talked my husband into trying it again. :)
(4)
Annie R.

Dinner here was the worst mexican food experience EVER. We ordered things that people recommended on yelp and everything was just almost barely OK or just really bad. The grilled carne asada was really bad. I don't think this was even real meat. It was like rubber and tasted as if it was cooked two weeks ago and just barely grilled again before plating. Everything else on the plate tasted the same way. Everybody else's dish in our group was just as bad. The only good thing about the place is the hot chips and service (salsa not good). Very nice staff. Food needs lots of work. Did not taste fresh at all.
(1)
Dawn O.

The service was average, but everything else was amazing. We sat on the patio, drank margaritas (incl a wonderful mango one), had the spicy salsa & had great swordfish tacos and faitas.
(4)
Giselle P.

It was my first time eating at Costa Azul, and I'll definitely go back there. Our server Jose Luis was the best! We loved him! After a great day walking around Coronado and the Hotel Del, we attacked the warm tortilla chips and salsa. I ordered the Skinny Tacos, which I loved. Grilled fish tacos in a big lettuce leaf rather than a tortilla or taco shell. Ok, so not exactly traditional Mexican food, but it was delish...and healthy, so bonus points for that, and the stellar service!
(5)
Carlo M.

1030 am margaritas are the best!!! We were on our way back to our hotel in the GasLamp and we just passed by Costa Azul. (only place open with am margaritas!) Sat outside and relaxed with wifey... Great place to chill for morning drinks..
(3)
Carrie O.

This place is fine for people that don't know what good mexican food is. Fortunately I do, so I wouldn't recomend this place. My gf and I spent the day in Coronado and realized we were starving. Mexican sounded great to both of us so we came here and sat at the bar for Happy Hour. The prices are decent, but you get what you pay for. My wine tasted like ass go figure, but whatever. There wasn't much on the menu that excited me but I was STARVING....the bartender took our drink orders promptly then continued to ignore us for like 15 minutes while we tried to catch his attention, then he was somewhat of a douche when he came over, not that friendly, just blah. I thought for some reason that to be a good bartender you had to have somewhat of a personality, or at least be friggin friendly! I used to bust my ass for customers when I was a waitress, so come on and get it together. This is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves ever. I had the chicken torta and the chicken was overseasoned and tough, kinda gross. My gf had the chicken quesadilla, which looked generic, like something you would get at an airport or something, you know what I mean.....we were both sad we didn't keep walking to Burger Lounge. Yuck
(1)
Kate H.

THEY STOLE MY PHONE now let me begin, i do admit to leavign my phone there at lunch today. and that was my fault. so i freaked out about an hour after lunch and called my phone and it rang and went to voice mail. so then i called Costa Azul and was told that they had my phone and would hold it at the bar for me, i was so happy that i didnt have to go out and buy another 300 dollar Iphone. (im a college student). so when i drove back to Costa Azul no one had any idea of what i was talking about, not only that but they denied ever talking to me on the phone. when i started to get testy they told me this story that ANOTHER guy had lost his cell phone and that it wasnt my phone that they had found but this other man. so i called my phone and now it had been turned off. they then gave me this long story about how they would call this man and then call me back on my home phone and they'd do everything they could. they even called our waitress, who said that she had given the phone to the manager who refused to believe that i had left my phone there. now, i know this is a long rant that has nothing to do with the food. but I'd like to advise all yelp-ers to make sure that you have all you're posessions and dont drink anything, if you want to eat here. PLEASE BOYCOTT. thank you very much.
(1)
Dean C.

Food was great lots of choices great flavors for a south of the border fair. Great locale very lively happening place. Enjoyed it a lot.
(4)
Kate N.

Ambiance was nice for sitting down with family from LA after surreying around Coronado. Yes, we are a nerd family. Our server was so friendly and attentive, threw in a little Spanish now and then to make it seem authentic. "Claro que si!" "Gracias." They include a weird hot sauce dip with the complimentary chips, but he kindly threw in salsa fresca for $1. Okay, I agree the food was so-so. I optimistically ordered fish tacos and I have to say I'd never had bad fish tacos (am I spoiled?) until now. Meh. But the margarita was great, strong enough, and my guests enjoyed the meal. Overall it was a positive experience.
(4)
P L.

Excellent service, lots of choices on the menu. Fish and chips had very chewy rubbery fish The fish tacos had no flavor at all.... Would not go back
(2)
Eva A.

Stumbled upon Costa Azul when looking for a bite to eat in Coronado. Getting a table was easy enough however service was on the slow side. Ordered 1 shrimp taco and 1 lobster taco which came with rice and beans and my boyfriend ordered the Fajitas plate which came with rice, beans, and tortillas. The shrimp taco tasted awesome however the lobster taco wasn't anything special to write about especially with the fishy taste. Tried a bite of my boyfriend's Fajitas plate and the meat was flavored extremely well. They give you chips and salsa complementary which the salsa definitely has a good kick to it. Good way to start off a meal. Overall decent mexican food, their servers however need to pick up the speed.
(3)
Joachim G.

I'm giving 2 stars for excellent happy hour. That being said we were constantly out of water, I joined a group of 3 and was never noticed for 20 minutes. Had to ask twice for everything. At the same time what looked to be locals were getting great service. Bad news for them I'm a local an won't be back.
(2)
Doug C.

Went here just last week with my date. We were walking along Orange street enjoying the evening and this place caught our eye. There's a large outdoor seating area with plenty of room. We approached the hostess and she was very pleasant. It was busy but not obnoxiously full of people. The wait staff was really nice. My date and I sat there and sipped wine for over an hour before we ordered an appetizer. In the mean time there was a change in wait staff for our table. They didn't give us any hassle for ordering just wine and a snack which I thought was really great. The atmosphere was really relaxing and enjoyable. There's a bar, dinning room, and outdoor patio so there's plenty of seating. The food (even though all we had was an appetizer) was really good. I'd definitely go back there!
(4)
Lynn M.

We were looking for a place to sit down and enjoy some tasty Mexican eats and this place hit the spot. I had the carnitas ole, and it was really good. Service was great too. It made for a good casual evening.
(4)
Bobby R.

This place is not the best mexican food but it is a great location. It is also great for just drinks. I have been going here for years and always enjoy eating outdoors. I would rate the food three stars and the location 5 stars. Certainly worth the try if you make it onto the island.
(3)
Missy J.

Awesome food!!! I love the BUDS burrito, quatro tacos or pulled pork sandwich. BEST margaritas on the island and in san Diego, also the Best Mojito .... And so much cheaper than the del.... Please skip their "delgarita" at 15 bucks a drink and come here!!!! LOve the bar tending staff.... Professional and make the BEST drinks... Mike and Chris are the best on the island.
(5)
Eileen B.

Very good Baja shrimp cocktail and fajitas. Nice waitress and good singer singing great songs. Very enjoyable. Nice drinks too.
(3)
Jake K.

I knew that I struck gold when I saw the Yelp sticker in the door - however, I had no clue that I would be embarking on a culinary adventure that involved pork-crack. What the hell is pork-crack, you may ask? It's the carnitas ole platter that they serve there. Juicy, lightly seasoned, and a whole lotta love, this platter did not mucho sucko. My wife also had the chicken chile relleno - not a bad choice either. I must concur with other reviews that the rice and beans were so-so - but I must say the guacamole wasn't bad at all. Would I go back again? Sure. Would I say it's the greatest Mexican food ever? Well, I'll let you know after I go 15 miles south to the border and eat in TJ. But that's for next trip.
(4)
Alyssa D.

To sum it up: Really slow (but friendly) service, blah (expensive) food, and cool atmosphere. My boyfriend and I went here last night- were not impressed. It took us a while to get seated, and then about 10 minutes for a waiter to literally put chips and salsa on the table and run off without saying a word. Finally, someone took our order. We got coconut shrimp as an appetizer. WOW overpriced. It was pretty good, but was literally $11 for 4 shrimps. The burritos took way too long to show up, and were pretty bland. I think my burrito only had about 5 tiny shrimps in the whole thing. No flavor at all, just peppers, some cheese, and the nonexistent shrimp. The chips tasted like they were fried in dirty oil. The waiter was super friendly and offered us free dessert due to the long wait for food. We both got flan. I LOVE flan, but this flan was sketchy as *%@&. It had literally no flavor or sweetness at all and had a weird crystalized texture- not at all smooth and caramelly like normal flan. The meal was $45, which was for two gross burritos and 4 shrimp (we only got water to drink). I feel terrible that poor tourists come here thinking this is San Diego Mexican food when you could get a better burrito at a sketchy taco shop! The atmosphere was cool though, they had some live music and maybe the food would have tasted better with a couple margaritas.
(1)
Tom V.

A so-so place for food. I've been to many Mexican food places and this one is on the quality of El Torito's. If you are looking for some good Mexican try Miguels down the street.
(3)
Donna M.

Great drinks, food okay. But we did have to get up and order our own drinks from the bar because our waiter forgot us more than one time. I would go back for "Happy Hour" at the bar.
(4)
Sean L.

Costa Azul was great! went here on a lazy sunday for some drinks as we were walking around Orange st. but the food looked so good we just had to stick around for lunch! the service was a bit slow (perhaps understaffed) at first, but then it seemed to improve after we had been there a little while. started with the ceviche app which was great, and i ordered the coronado burrito which was MASSIVE. definitely wasn't able to take that thing down in one sitting, but had a great time trying to do as much damage to it as possible.
(4)
Dominick N.

Service was great (They were dead). We were seated somewhat promptly. The Waitress said that their "House" Margarita was as close to a regular Margarita that I would get. We asked for Petron and it was definitely NOT Petron. The Chips they gave us were awesome....The "Salsa" as they called it which left something to be desired was not. Get the Guac and the Pico. Our Server said that the fish and shrimp entree had Grouper and that was definitely COD, breaded with Panko and Tasteless. The Coconut shrimp was like the stuff they sell at Costco. Frozen, rubbery and tasteless. The fries were mush. I ordered the Combination Quesadilla and Taco. The Hardshell taco was greasy and mush...the Beef was tasteless and dry and mushy if that is possible. The Quesadilla was tasteless and DRY! Overall....Would never head back there again. We are staying at the Del Coronado Tomorrow Night and will definitely pass this place up. Terrible food, Crap drinks and so-so service...
(2)
David G.

Im Mexican and this is not Mexican Food. If you want good Mexican food while in California - get it anywhere except for in Coronado. This is all about Gringos trying to make guacamole. Just isnt happening.
(1)
Val M.

This place may actually deserve 2 stars, but i'm pretty unhappy with them at the moment. I have been craving fish tacos. We've been in Hawaii for the last two weeks, and you can get lots of good fish there, but not tacos. So when we hit San Diego for the last week of our vacation, i was primed. After a morning at the Coronado Beach, we hit Costa Azul for a late lunch. The hostesss was distracted, but got us seated fairly quickly. The waiter took a while to arrive - that should have been our first indication of trouble. He took our drink order, which was delivered by someone else. Water came first, then when the other drinks arrived, in the chaos (we had 6 folks at the table, and the person delivering wasn't sure where each drink went) one of the water glasses was overturned. The server didn't do anything, so i mopped up as much of the water as i could with my napkin, and hubby waved over a busser, who took care of the rest. We asked for a fresh glass of water and napkin, and the server said she'd bring it out. It never arrived. When our original waiter finally came back to take our food order, we asked again, and placed our orders. We also asked for some salsa fresca, as the table sauce was not to our liking at all. Salsa fresca didn't come. Our waiter didn't come. The fresh napkin and refill of water didn't come. Soda glasses were emptied. Hubby finally waved down a passing employee, who resolved all the problems save the soda. Our food was finally delivered, by yet another new person. The food was really good, though my MIL said there was not a hint of coconut to be found on her large, succulent shrimp (which were supposed to be coconut shrimp). Soda glasses continued to sit empty. Water glasses were now all empty. Waiter finally came back, to ask if we were finished. I looked at him. Hubby nodded in the affirmative. Daughter asked for a doggie-bag for half her dinner. Waiter promptly supplied box, then disappeared. And we waited. Hubby finally waved down someone, and got the check. And we waited. When the original young man that has assisted us walked by, hubby called him over to give him our payment, so we could leave. Turns out this young man must have been in charge, as he called out "Who has table 2? " and our waiter promptely materialized. No, he didn't get a tip. And i left a strongly worded statement about his service.
(1)
Jessica H.

Racial profiling great restaurant as long as your not Hispanic customer. Tonight my husband (Caucasian), my 2 year old daughter and I (Latino) and 7months pregnant went to dinner was quoted a half hour to 45 minute wait which is to be expected for this restaurant on a Saturday night. The problem was that the unfriendly blonde girl and white grey haired older male coworker at the hostess counter came to our name had us wait additional 15 min when there were tables inside and set. I heard him tell the blonde girl to call another name and said " seat the family with the 2cute kids first". I acknowledged this and asked them why they weren't calling us next? They responded that they were clearing the outside table ( the one literally in an awkward place literally in front of the entrance) I told them that it was unacceptable to pass our name for an inside table and place us to the most least desirable place. I then walked out disgusted by the racial profiling they act on. If your Hispanic don't waste your time on a busy night. Btw we went to Miguel's cocina down the street which was worth the wait and have staff that's beautiful inside and out which costa azul lacked in both.
(1)
John C.

great location and great food. the chips and salsa were excellent and the margarita had a nice kick. i ordered the flautas and they were great, overall we had a good time here.
(4)
Sean G.

Upon walking into Costa Azul, we were warmly greeted by the staff and our waitress Lauren was very inviting. Managers, if you're reading this, she deserves a raise!! She made us feel at home and refilled our waters and drinks when she notices they were low without asking or hesitating. Perfect! I had the Carne Asada Relleno Burrito. It was not as warm as I expected but tasted very nice. The rice was good too. The one thing I liked the most was the salsa that came out with the chips before the meal. It was a dark chili that had a smokey, charred taste to it like it was roasted on the grill. It took me right back home! Love love love the salsa. But it may not work for most. Overall I think it's a nice restaurant with great staff.
(4)
Lynn E.

The bar scene here is definitely a local's hangout. The prices are fair and the portions/sizes are generous. The food is good and filling, not spectacular but there are a few standouts. Love the house salsa, skinny fish tacos, lobster burrito and the cobb salad. Esmeralda salad is also a favorite.
(4)
Nick T.

This is the Tacos El Gordo for all the blue hairs of Coronado. They probably come here when they want some spice in their life and they're feeling adventurous. I used to work down the street from this place and whenever I walked by, nothing but old white folks sipping on frozen margaritas and eating nachos. The only times that I have come here was when I had one of those 2 for 1 coupons. Its not cheap here and the food is only so-so. Ive never seen this place packed, even on wknds.
(2)
Lina K.

The Burrito de Coronado is my personal favorite. It's the only thing I order when I go here. The chips and salsa are pretty good as well.
(4)
Alex W.

The food was so-so. I ordered the shrimp burrito, and it wasn't really that special. My friend ordered guacamole, and it came out a bit brownish. Not a good start. In addition to the mediocre food, the subpar service rounded out the whole experience. The restaurant just seems to be poorly managed overall. While our overworked waiter was running everywhere, there were other servers/bussers/food expediters that just seemed to be standing around. I don't really fault the waiter, but rather, the management. The restaurant only had maybe 5-6 tables of people, but all the customers seemed to be waiting on something or looking for the waiter. The food took a long time to reach us. When we did get it, the sauce on top of the burrito had pretty much congealed, and the rice had dried out completely. When I asked for fresh rice, the replacement wasn't much better. I tried to like this place. It's a nice space, and I love seafood and Mexican, but this was just a poor dining experience overall. The burritos at Clayton's (local take out place) are way cheaper, made with fresher ingredients, and the service is much faster.
(1)
Medicine B.

Swordfish tacos and a full bar.
(3)
Neal P.

What a pleasant suprise. I have walked past this place hundreds of times and never eaten here. I wish I had done it sooner. I had lunch her on a sunny afternoon and sat outside to people watch, it was delicious and entertaining. I am a huge Chili Relleno fan. They are delicious when cooked correctly but terrible when cooked wrong. This one was delicious. It was made out of an absolutely fresh roasted chili and stuffed with creamy queso and topped with flavorful chicken. I'm not a big fan of rice so I ordered double beans....they were also great. The complimentary chips were light and crispy and the salsa had a nice smoky flavor with a touch of heat. The service was friendly and fast and the prices were reasonable. What more can you ask for?
(4)
Hannah C.

Well now I know why it took me three years to try this place since moving to the island. I came in for happy hour with my family on Sunday and it was very quiet. They brought out chips quickly and they were good, until we found a long black hair buried in the chips (clearly none of ours). We asked for white sauce to dip the chips in and found a second hair (again, clearly none of ours). We were pretty unhappy at this point. When our waitress took our order she asked what meat on the nachos we would like (carnitas! yum). We also ordered a fried fish taco, a chicken taco with no salsa, and the chili soup. The carnitas was excellent on the nachos, however the fish was not fried in the one taco, and the salsa was inside the chicken taco. On top of this, our waitress was horribly rude and nowhere to be found most the time even though there were hardly any other customers. My sister had to get up and order her drink from the bar because we got tired of waiting for out waitress. When the bill came it showed a $2 charge for the carnitas on the nachos which was never disclosed to us by the menu or waitress (not very professional!). Overall, a bad experience and I will not be returning.
(1)
Angie G.

Disgusting food. This is not Mexican food. The Coconut Shrimp smelled extremely fishy and tasted that way, too. The only thing "Coconut" about them was their shape. The taquitos were rock hard and tasted like burned meat. My margarita was so chunky I had to sip from the side of the glass and even then it was mediocre at best. My server forgot about us and didn't remember who had what. She didn't understand our order. The only thing I ended up filling up on was the chips and salsa, which was like eating cardboard and BBQ sauce. Ew. Skip this place and head over to Miguel's at the end of Orange. You will save yourself from a nightmare like mine!
(1)
Trevor C.

I ate here for the first time today. First let me say that the chips are awesome, and the salsa is okay. Then I had a lobster burrito that truly rocked! I wouldn't say the place is true mexican food though, but if I wanted a real burrito I would go to a taco shop. The service was good. Although, we were the only people there for the first 20 minutes, so that probably helped. My three friends enjoyed their meals just as much as I did also.
(4)
Mariah C.

Costa Azul is definitely geared toward tourists visiting San Diego. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but if you want true San Diego Mexican food, please go elsewhere. The chips and salsa are very tasty. The shrimp ceviche is good, but not authentic. For my entree I enjoyed the swordfish tacos. Again, very tasty. My mojito was pretty much a margarita with a sugared rim and a few mint leaves thrown in - not the best I've had. If authentic Mexican is what you are looking for, Costa Azul comes up short - if you're looking for a tasty meal, yeah, Costa Azul will definitely do the trick.
(3)
Sharon B.

The food was great. Swordfish Tacos are my favorite. But....the live music was so loud we could not hear our dinner partners talk. It was a Tuesday night and we were as far away as we could get from the live entertainment but it was too loud. Next time we we bundle up and select the outdoor seating if they have live music eat somewhere else.
(3)
Sasha R.

I'm different than every one else, because I walked right past the wonderful patio in which they speak of and go straight to the....you guessed it....BAR! I love to belly up to the bar, have an ice cold beverage and grilled swordfish taco!! The shrimp tacos are good, too. I really, really like the smokey house salsa they give you with the chips. Also, ask for the salsa fresco which is good, they just don't bring it out unless you ask.
(4)
Mike J.

Decent Mexican food in a decent setting. But, for being so close to the border, you'd think that the mexican food would be excellent...but it was just on par with most places.
(3)
Brandon R.

Not so bad as reviews would have me believe. Bartender was fast, courteous and funny. Decent drinks and apps and an easy to get to location.
(4)
Scott K.

Two of us walked in on a Sat. night in Nov. at 7:30pm and were seated right away. The service was very good, and we liked the atmosphere. The sangria and guacamole were great. The chips and salsa were just ok. The chips really lacked. The Mexican chicken soup was good. We both had the Lobster Burritos. My date really liked hers. It was too saucy for my taste, but I can appreciate that a lot of people like their burritos that way.
(4)
Diran D.

All I can say is this place had amazing mexican food. If you lie spicy, another great reason to come. I had the chicken and garlic shrimp fajitas....grrrreeat!!!
(5)
Rubio S.

Strolled in here after a day of hanging out in Coronado. Had a chicken enchilada with red sauce, it tasted pretty darn good! The place was empty...staff was attentive and quick.
(4)
Maggie A.

Costa Azul is one of our favorite restaurants in Coronado. The staff is terrific and goes out their way to accommodate us. Special requests are always fulfilled. The menu covers a wide array of foods--not just Mexican food. I love their fish and chips, spinach salad and BBQ ribs. We like it so much that we held our son's wedding reception there. It was a huge hit! To top it all off pricing is more than reasonable.
(5)
Brandie B.

After the hostess got around to seating us, our server walked by to say he'd be right with us. So we waited...we waited while he schmoozed with another table. We waited while he cleared another. We set our menus aside hoping he'd come by. The restaurant wasn't even busy! Of course, he finally took our order. The food came quick, it was mediocre at best. The margarita tasted like something served up at a bar in PB when you're too drunk to complain that it doesn't taste very good. I had the taco salad, and there was more of everything else on the plate than the lettuce. It was taco slop in a fried shell garnished with some iceberg. That is all.
(2)
Tylr D.

Pure garbage! Fish and chips consisted of frozen fish sticks. They should have been embarassed to even bring that to the table!!! My margarita tasted like water, salsa was different....in a bad way, very dark and tasted burnt. Its obvious everything that comes from this kitchen is boxed, premade-frozen crap, or out of a can. Service is terrible! They were so slow ( a sign to stay away) yet the server disappered after we got our food. I know food, I know what frozen sysco crap is, and thats what this place serves. STAY AWAY! I cant believe they are still open. Any local already knows this place sucks, the tourists are the only thing that keep this crap hole alive.
(1)
Ada B.

We went two times this week. We are staying at a Resort in the area. The servers are friendly. The food is okay. Typical Mexican Resturant food. My grandmother was from Mexico so I know what real good Mexican food tastes like. This is okay for a American Mexican food place. The Restroom was Very dirty so this is why I gave it a 2 star. If you do not mind the dirty Restroom then add another star.
(2)
Lisa R.

After several disappointing Mexican food experiences during my recent trip to San Diego, this was my last attempt to get a good chicken burrito. The atmosphere of Costa Azul was inviting, and the chips and salsa were a good start. The house salsa, mind you, is an interesting blend -- unlike any other salsa that I have ever seen before -- but I assure you the smoky flavor is really tasty. Now, on to the main meal, the chicken burrito was deliciously stuffed, and the salsa fresca was excellent. The rice and beans that accompanied this fork-and-knife burrito were equally tasty. I did not leave a bite on my plate. Alas, I got the good Mexican food that I was dying to have while in Southern California!
(4)
Hope J.

Ive been here a few times and never really disappointed. They menu has pretty good options, and little different fro your 'typical' mexican cuisine. I however get something that isnt on their general menu, i think it was on a special at one time, but the skinny swordfish tacos or wonderful!! The seafood is always fresh and the margarita martini is WONDERFUL! But watch out bc more than two of them might have you crawling out of there,....
(4)
Michelle W.

Went here because I bought a coupon off the Reader...Went during the day..it was nice...ordered food and was not impressed....The salsa is not the best and could be better a little bland to me and I ordered a virgin margarita and got a strawberry smoothie, tried again and it was gross..I wont be going back!! Sorry....
(2)
Lou Ann F.

Nice patio, food so-so but the bartender thought a heavy handed pour was the way to go. Ruined a fruity drink. Lighten up, we're not all lushes.
(2)
John G.

Can't beat the happy hour prices at the bar. Love the Baja Shrimp Cocktail - kind of a cross between a typical cocktail and ceviche. Spicy. Not uber-authentic for Mexican, but consistently good, and probably one of the cheaper, good meals in Coronado.
(4)
Chris C.

In my opinion, Costa Azul's is the best kept secret on the Island. They have the BEST wings around (bar none), amazing overstuffed burritos, tons of room, awesome happy hour prices on both food and drink, and a great staff.
(4)
Mike R.

Always the best Mojitos. They make their own mint-infused simple syrup that really makes them amazing.
(5)
JC D.

Coronado for Mexican food? hahaha You can't really go in here with high expectations. We had combination plates. A taco and a quesadilla with rice and beans. Flour tortilla taco and a greasy quesadilla is expected, and that's exactly what I got. I'm not going to bitch about it, because you can't come here expecting any better. The rice and beans were surprisingly decent. There was no cheese on the beans, whoa! I had a "La Paloma" (grapefruit, sweet and sour and tequila). Stiff drinks here. I was buzzed off of one. Total amount: $21.50 for lunch. Yes, it is expensive. My friend said that when the two greengo dudes opened up this place they brought a chef from Oaxaca, but it's very apparent that the dude probably got deported along with his recipes. The one lonely star is for the very cute Mexican waitress and the outside seating.
(1)
Molly R.

Maybe it was because everywhere else in San Diego was so damn hot today, but dinner here was just what the doctor ordered. For some reason Coronado managed to stay about 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the county (and especially my oven of an apartment), so stepping out of the car and into Costa Azul was perfection. One tasty Mojito, friendly waitress, and yummy 1/2 rotisserie chicken later, and I was satisfied, cooled off, and dreading going back home. My friend agreed... we sat around as long as possible after our meal to soak up the breezes and ice cubes before driving back up north. Do me a favor and don't pretend like all the restaurants in Coronado are authentic and/or amazing, ok? Lick up a few grains of salt, and enjoy the food here for what it is.
(5)
Anh M.

The location and ambiance of this place is great. It is right in the middle of Coronado and you can sit outside on their patio to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather. They give you chips and a chipotle salsa that were really delicious. Lunch, on the other hand, was just okay. It wasn't anything spectacular that would make me want to go back if we ever visit San Diego again. I did see that the tortillas were homemade, but I didn't notice they tasted fantastic or anything. I would say, eat here only if you are craving Mexican food and are in Coronado already. It's not bad, but not a "must try."
(3)
Matt M.

Very nice bartender who knew the best dishes on the menu. Swordfish tacos were fantastic and i highly recommend them. On a nice evening all the doors open up and there's a cool breeze. The tequila list is quite extensive and reasonably priced.
(4)
Nicole M.

great swordfish tacos- the mojitos are amazing!
(4)
Jen M.

I love it when I am pleasantly surprised! I went into this place expecting the gross "mexican" that is stuffed with black beans, cilantro, and cabbage. Instead I got really good food. It might not be as good as the dirty little shack on the corner mexican food, but for what it is I loved it. I got the enchilada plate, one chicken one cheese, and I really liked them. It was a lot of food and it was perfectly seasoned. The red sauce on top was especially good, not to overpowering like they can sometimes get. What I really loved though was the Mojitos! They were so delicious, especially on that hot of a day. They actually tasted like mint instead of just rum (this is a very surprising concept for many a dumb bartender). I would agree with the others that for lunch this place may be a bit over priced but for dinner it was great.
(5)
susie l.

As soon as we arrived to this establishment, we realized it would be a good a experience....the waitress was very nice and cordial. The food excellent, we tried their chicken pozole and let me tell you , this is the 1st Mexican Restaurant I've been to that serves chicken pozole, other restaurants usually serve pork....the margaritas are excellent as well..
(4)
Elizabeth H.

Ok... So here's the catch.. Not horrible, but not worth the price. Service was fine, good atmosphere, and it was great sitting outdoors on a sunny afternoon... However, I go to restaurants to eat, and unfortunately, Costa Azul left me wishing I had ordered something else. I had the Fish and Shrimp platter which came with fries.. but the fish and shrimp were also fried, which meant my stomach did not feel so great after the matter... My roomate had the Tilapia Miguel and although the fish was great, rice and beans were bland. Wouldn't recommend the sangria either. It was more like grape juice really.
(2)
Ally O.

I am really suprised by some of the negative reviews. My husband and I have been regulars at Costa Azul for years and we love it! It's great because they have nice patio seating that makes for good ambiance and people watching in the Summer. They have a woman who hand makes all of their tortillas out front and sometimes even live music as well. The service has always been pleasant. We love their guacamole! One of the best. It's fresh and tasty! The reason for the four stars is because I haven't tried too many things on their menu so I can only say that their Fajitas and Guacamole and margaritas are fabulous. I've taken family here from out of town and they've always enjoyed their food. YAY! I'm a fan!
(4)
Sarah K.

This is on my top 5 list of places to hit when I visit San Diego. Its the perfect post-beach chill-out spot to sit outside for great mexican food and people-watch over cocktails. The employees are super-friendly and the service is great ... one of those places where your water glass is constantly filled up - love that! Update 4/6/08: minus one star! I was here last weekend ... what the hell happened to your chips?! they appeared wet! no, not oily ... I know (and secretly embrace) chips fresh from the fryer ... these were actually room-temp and wet looking! um, gross ... and shame on our waiter for telling us that they are always are like that. I know this place better than my childhood home and you, Mr. Waiter, are clearly new to the party. get it together, Azul!
(4)
t d.

This place is great for a large group, especially with kids. The staff is very kind and accommodating. The food is very good. Love the chicken pozole soup. Well season, just right combination. The bar is great, margaritas are very good. The patio is a great place to people watch. Love the lobster burrito. Kids chicken fingers are made fresh.
(4)
Dave A.

Nice location on Coronado. The food is very good and service is decent. Today, we had Budd's Burrito which was rather large and filled with an assortment of Mexican spiced meats. It was quite good. A small but good selection of local microbrew beers on draft.
(4)
Laura L.

Although I must say that having a veggie burger on the menu might throw you off as being one of San Diego's Finest Mexican Restaurants, this restaurant is a great place to go on a weekday or weekend afternoon after baking in the sun on Coronado's beaches. The perfect combination at Costa Azul consists of their chips & salsa, a Coronado light (ooops, I meant Corona light) and some tasty carne asada or burrito! I highly recommend sitting outside, relaxing and enjoying the nice weather that San Diego has to offer. Dont expect to rush the waiters or staff...just chill and relax! Alright...I have to edit this review. I went here last weekend with a friend of mine and the chips were soaked in oil! Not a fan. When we asked the waiter, he said they always come like that...hate to disagree buddy, but I have been coming to this restaurant longer than you have been a waiter there and they are not usually like this! If the owner can here me now...I suggest going back to the old way of serving chips sans a pound of grease!
(3)
hilary c.

We always go here at least once per visit, usually at happy hour and I always feel the same way about it. Meh. Nothing is really great and the shrimp cocktail always gives me a belly ache. The service is good though and quite friendly and its a fun place to have drinks. I also like their chips and salsa, but other than that- meh!
(3)
Christopher M.

Kinda what you'd expect walking in. The food is a lot like what you would make at home. But the people are nice and te service is fast.
(3)
Elena V.

Ok, first off their food is seriously mediocre at best. But I give them credit for their great service and atmosphere. I really can't say much about this place...just bleh. Our waiter was awesome though and I do like the actual restaurant location and outside dining area.
(3)
Michael K.

The environment and service were good. The food was good as well, however for southern California there are many better places to eat Mexican foods. I would eat at this establishment regularly if it were in western new York where I reside. However, here in Cali I think I would seek out much better Mexican cuisine.
(2)
Jill H.

Absolutely fabulous Mexican food for great prices and with big portions, and you let me have my dog with me on the patio, which made my life so much easier! I highly recommend this venue!
(5)
Ava M.

I spent last night barfing and on the toilet after eating at this overpriced awful restaurant!!! Why do they call this garbage food? The chips were greasy and disgusting. The salsa was sitting outside in the waiters corner, not refrigerated, and it was close to 100 degrees out yesterday. I ordered their ceviche (2 tiny tostadas for $9) and beef taquitos with sour cream that didin't taste too good. Didn't finish any of it!! Just several minutes after not eating the smelly food my stomach cramped !! Imagine driving over the bridge to Point Loma and feeling nausea dying to vomit!! Horrible experience!! The food was over priced and mediocre. I am a San Diego Native who always drove by but never stopped in, I WILL NEVER EVER eat there again!! Save yourself the food poisining and skip this place all together.
(1)
Danielle S.

The menu was all over the place, mexican/steaks/seafood, i always find thats easier to pick something when I'm in an indecisive mood. I actually had fish and chips at this establishment that were pretty good. Ryan enjoyed his fish tacos enough. It was kinda quiet, we went on a Sunday afternoon. The wait staff was very nice. The chips and salsa they served before the food was good, I always have to be careful not to fill up on chips! So how were the fish and chips at the mexican/seafood restaurant? Pretty good! I was having a weird craving, I don't usually eat fish and chips but it hit the spot. It was a decent time on a nice day and am not opposed to going back.
(3)
Marwan A.

Our waiter sucked! I really wish he didn't; and I am the first to defend servers since I've done my years in restaurant work...I'm telling you, I tried to make excuses for him, but I would just be lying to myself. Let me vent about the waiter, then I'll review the restaurant as a whole. Took WAY too long to bring my Dos Equis. Mixed up the food order a bit. My N.Y. steak and shrimp was supposed to come with blue cheese butter (or something like that)...it didn't come out (no worries), I reminded him and also asked for limes...he forgot...finally came by again and I reminded him again (he walked slowly), he brought the butter, and forgot the limes! To end our experience with the guy, he brings us the wrong bill (about $30 bucks cheaper), I tell him jokingly, he brings our bill and says "this is one heavier," but it funny the way he said it...just awkward guy. So the bill is $92 and change...we leave $80 in cash and one card...he charges the card the full total. Now I know that mistake can happen, and usually you can tell it was a mistake...but I swear I had a feeling he was trying to slide it by...I mean, did he really think we left him an $80 tip...C'MON man! The rest of the story... We come up and are acknowledged right away (by two different people which was nice). Are seated right away. Chips and salsa and water served immediately. Server showed up late, but whatever, he obviously had his issues. Nice vibe in the place...live band playing (sat. night). A lot to choose from on the menu. A couple of us had seafood items, and a couple of steaks. The shrimp was really good...the steak was a bit over cooked (always frustrating). Margarita was tasty, but the Bloody Mary sucked. 3 drinks and 4 entrees came out to $92 and change. If you're in Coronado, I would think if you had a better server its not a bad place to hit up. Grab some drinks. I like the outdoor set-up as well. I wish I could give them a better rating, but the 2 star "meh, i've experienced better" description on Yelp is right on. Marwan doesn't lie.
(2)
Julie S.

Good place to go for magaritas! They make everything fresh here. The bartenders here are awesome, friendly fast, and good service. The food is all right. But I'd rather go for Happy hour or just for the drinks.
(3)
Sarah F.

You know how excited you get when you decide to have an "eat whatever you want" day?? You just think, I am going to gorge myself on mexican and later, possibly, pizza. it is VERY disappointing to know you've spent your day's massive calorie allowance on such absolute disgusting crap. I ate here once before, and I would have described it as 3 stars. That is why, when I saw the BOGO coupon in the uptown magazine, I decided to go again. No, I thought, it is not wonderful, but it was decent. Who wants to pass up a half-price meal, right? WRONG. Wrong, wrong, wrong I think I got a cheeseburger last time I was here, so it's pretty hard to mess that up. Maybe that's why I thought the food was mediocre. However, this time I took the plunge and tried one of their Mexican dishes. Oh, heeelllllll no. It was one of the most foul, awful things I have ever tasted. Got the chicken enchilada plate with rice and beans. The enchiladas had no excuse being on a plate. They were properly suited only for a trash can. The enchilada was soggy, filled with DRUMSTICK chicken meat - yes, they used the f'ing drumsticks! It was stuffed with bones, joints, and greasy brown meat. The mole sauce was dried and crusted onto the top, and it was covered in Ralph's shredded cheddar cheese. The rice was overcooked and over-seasoned. The beans were OK. The beer (draft) was warm. I still feel nauseous, and it's been 7 hours since eating. Never, ever will I go here again, not even for anything "safe" like a burger. Avoid this place at all costs!!!!!
(1)
Jeff S.

Was disappointed when my party went to this restaurant for margaritas and fajitas. We expected excellent tasty mexican food and were disppointed. The margaritas were watery and the fajitas were on one plaint that resembled a t.v. dinner. The mexican food was better at a mexican fast food joint.
(1)
Jon F.

Came across this place by recommendation from a nearby hotel receptionist. It was a bit chilly this March afternoon, so the sunny patio next to Orange Ave. was welcome. I went for the fish tacos of course. Very tasty with grilled swordfish. Also we tried a steak taco with guacamole, but that was a mistake. The complementary chips are hot, fresh, and very tasty. The salsa is a break from the ordinary. Costa Azul has a good kids menu, comfortable decor, and friendly staff. It's a central location near Hotel Del Coronado and all the action. So I recommend this spot for Coronado visitors.
(4)
Brian B.

Good Mexican food. Friendly staff. Prime Orange Avenue location means it's fun to walk there and back which is good since parking can get iffy. Especially in the summer months when the Attack of the Arizona Escalades descends on the Crown City.
(4)
Janet D.

Americanized Mexican food with inconsistent food quality (got sick one time) that draws mainly tourists. Being locals, we know of so many other local favorites that we haven't been back in awhile. A better choice for Mexican is Mexican Village on the bay side of town.
(2)
Melinda S.

My family of five went here after not being able to get a table at Cocina Miguel's. There was no wait at Costa Azul. I grew up in San Diego so was expecting a good Mexican meal. This was not the case. The chips were stale, the salsa was a really spicy chipotle style with no alternative. It took a long time for the food to arrive. (Despite the many empty tables). My son's side dishes were cold. He ordered a beef taco and has had diarrhea all morning. I ordered a lobster burrito which was lukewarm, stuffed with baked beans and flavorless. I wished I could throw salsa all over it, but there was no good salsa. I took two bites, and the waitress asked if I needed a box. Since I had just gotten my meal, she should have asked what was wrong with it. My family of five left plenty on their plates and did not want boxes to take home. We all agreed this was the most disgusting meal we have ever eaten. The margaritas and guacamole are acceptable. This place should be out of business.
(1)
Jenn K.

Mexican food is never my first choice, but I do love their salsa fresca and margaritas. I also love that you can sit out on the patio and watch everyone walking by (people watching on Orange Avenue is great).
(4)
Linnea B.

Mojitos on the patio on a warm afternoon! Ahhh! Just stopped here for an apertif on a summery May afternoon...and based on the experience will come back again for a full meal. The Mojitos were deliciously refreshing and just perfect! The usual Mexican restaurant staple Chips and Salsa were good too - the salsa very flavorful without being too hot.
(4)
Penny R.

The staff and owners handle things in a ridiculous manner. The waiter gave me the wrong check, said nothing and charged my card for another price and again said nothing. Then he charged my card for two prices that were not on either bill totaling $96, the bill was actually $45. When I called, the manager couldn't help, I had to wait for the owner to call me. He couldn't help me either, and said he'd go "personally" to pick up his wife who handles the books. Gee, thanks! Two hours later his wife calls me with the biggest attitude I've ever heard, and totally dismisses the fact that her staff was in the wrong and proceeds to hang up on me. After all this the husband owner calls me back (leaves a message because at this point I'm done with them) trying to apologize and offer me free lunch - it's too late!! My co-workers and I were going to go to their other restaurant in Coronado, but after that, never! I work on the Naval Base in Coronado, and I coordinate birthday and retirement parties and both of their restaurants are officially off my list. Super unprofessional and a horrible experience. One star because the food is good.
(1)
Tiffany E.

I attended a large private party at this restaurant, and from the start of the evening everything was as good as I or anyone could have hoped for. The staff was wonderfully attentive and polite. We never had to ask or wait for refills and all of our requests were met with a quick response. The food ranged from shrimp civiche, guacamole, carne asada, quesadillas, stuffed peppers, and all the fixings. I did not hear one of the 100 guests complain about a single thing, including myself. Everything was delicious and it was a fantastic evening. If I'm ever back in the area, I will be sure to return.
(5)
J D.

I really like this place. I have been on several occasions and it is a good place to eat, hang out and people watch in coronado. it's located in a pretty prime spot on the main drag(Orange av) so one can soak in the cali sun and sip on margaritas whilst watching the tourists find their way around. they have chips and salsa, like most mexi restaurants, but their salsa is just the right amount of hot. unfortunately i only order one thing there and it's theire version of fried coconut shrimp. it's super tasty and the dipping sauces are AMAZING! like stick your finger and scoop up the rest kinda good! i always have to order an extra thing of sauce. my parents came here too and had the steak and it seemed alright. standard rice and beans, nothing too spectacular. The margaritas are good and sometimes stiff, but i suppose thats a good thing. great bar area to kick and watch the big screen. if youre looking for a slightly "nicer" mexican restaurant, choose this place. it's also next to a really good bookstore that carries great international fashion magazines.
(4)
Steph F.

this review is for their happy hour. the only thing happy about the happy hour were the mojitos. untasty happy hour food. we were starving and barely ate a third of it. we did, however, finish the entire basket of chips.
(2)
GO-GO-YU-BALI m.

pretty good mexican restaurant. service was good, the food was good. also they have huge outside seating which is along side of the street where people probably take a look at what you are eating while they are walking..didn't really bother me though.
(4)
Tony T.

I drove some friends over to Coronado as they've never been. They were hungry so we looked around to see if there was anything to eat. We settled on it for them. I ate lunch about 2 hours before them as they didn't eat on the train ride into SD. So I ordered the guacamole dip to share and they had the taquitos, a salad and a chicken sandwich. I had a mojito as I ate with them. It rained the night before, sprinkled a little in the morning and the sun was now out and the streets were dry. It was nice and we wanted to eat on the patio but they told us that they didn't have room for our party of four. Funny as there was a table that we saw that was available but whatever. The inside of the restaurant was practically empty. There was a foursome of Moms with 5-6 8-year-old girls having a birthday party I suppose as one had a tiara on. There were 2-3 other tables occupied with people and that was it really. Service was horrendously slow. At one point there was a waiter and waitress but then the waiter disappeared and the waitress was stuck working inside and the patio. I wonder how they survive during dinner rush? If there is one that is. The salad looked good, the guacamole was OK, a little uneven with salt. Nothing really spectacular and nothing horrible except for slow service. I wasn't too impressed and don't plan on returning.
(3)
Jeff H.

It was not bad! surprisingly. i thought it was going to be a beer and chips joint, much like what you'd get in TJ, but i was pleasantly surprised. Not the best mexican i've had. but in a gringo 'hood like Coronado, it was plenty good enough. Chips were good, salsa was hot, guacamole tasty. Pozole soup was warm and cozy. Ceviche was so-so--don't get that. Very friendly service.
(3)
Alan Z.

We must be really fortunate to hit this eatery at the right time because every visit has been WONDERFUL! Our last visit - on the busiest night of the week (a Saturday) was our best meal there ever. The service was FAST; the food PERFECT. The noise level was a little high but what do you expect; there wasn't an empty table inside or on the patio. The bar scene was great - everyone was in a festive mood. Brant - the owner - was scurrying about to make sure everything was perfect and he was successful at that. HOORAY!
(4)
Jackson B.

I've eaten in every Mexican restaurant in Coronado and IB, and most in San Diego (OK, not most, but a heck of a lot of them, including dives that I wouldn't enter without a bowie knife) and this is easily the best. If you are looking for a simple American-style combination plate, try Taco Bell or Mixican Fiesta. This is a Coronado restaurant, with all the problems inherent in that, namely parking, price, and tourists. It may take awhile, but you can find on street parking on most nights, although Friday is tough. Compared to Miguel's, you don't have to wait an hour to get in here, as there are a lot more tables and a HUGE patio. (I've grown weary of being too drunk to eat by the time they call your table at Miguel's) The patio is great--right on the main drag with plenty to see, and in the summer you can get some good sunshine. Inside is fine, especially in the bar section so you get your drinks sooner. Main dining area can get loud given the tile floors and plaster walls. The bar has a decent collection of drafts, and some surprises in liquor. Pretty limited tequila selection, but for margaritas I don't like to waste the good stuff. The bar staff are very efficient, so you don't have to wait too long. Now, for the food. I have had the flat-iron steak about a dozen times and have never been dissapopinted. Get it with the spicy shrimp and you will have a meal to remember. Next choice is whatever fresh fish they have--swordfish, tuna and mahi-mahi usually--and try it vera cruz style, or simple grilled. I have had it overcooked, but rarely. Other good choices are the lobster when they have it (Puerto Neuvo style and reasonably priced for San Diego), lobster burrito, carne asada, and fish taco (a bit pricey). Sandwiches are pretty darn good, hamburger and pulled pork are best. And the Pozole is excellent. Now I'm Jonesing to hit the patio and fire down some shots and Bohemia. See ya.
(5)
Heinz S.

Great Mexican food, friendly bar with good margeritas, large patio to see and be seen. The place is big enough that you can often get a table when Miguel's Cocina has a long wait. (Prices are a little higher here!) The service and food are very good and the local owner oversees the operation very well. Yea, the parking ...dinner on a week day would pose no problem
(4)
Kenneth C.

This is no taco shop. When on the island this is best place for rice/beans and a burritos. Thats is what I always get. The appetizers are very good also. The staff is very nice with always a couple cute girls working. Never a bad day in Paradise but then again a few of their great Margarita's don't hurt much either.
(5)
Matt R.

My wife and I had a latish Sunday dinner here, and were quite pleased. We were seated promptly and our waiter was attentive without being intrusive (seems like they may have solved the wait staff problems some earlier reviews alluded to). The salsa they served with their chips was quite good - flavorful, but not too spicy (thumbs up from my wife, I would have been happy with a little more heat!). We each had a burrito from their Specials menu (both with carne asada - fabulous!) - very generous portions and very tasty! We chose a beer from their small selection on tap and their house margarita (the Costa Rita) - the margarita was tangy and tasty with their home made sweet and sour. I thought it was fine, my wife would have liked a tad more lime in it. The guacamole was fresh and flavorful as well. Dinner, tax and tip came to just under $40. Recommended for good, reasonably inexpensive food!
(4)
Jeffrey K.

I wouldn't recommend going there paying full price, but they take the entertainment card, and with that its a pretty good deal. (The card I used was from the PGH book, not SD, apparently the cards are the same in every city.) The good thing about this place is we had a large group, and there was something on the menu for everyone. The food generally was OK, but the drinks, especially the margarita were nothing special.
(2)
Emma P.

As a Native San Diegan, I come to our Time Share every year here in Coronado and I have eaten at this restaurant before so when my friend wanted some place to eat I suggested Costa Azul for lunch. I was surprised at the service because I felt racial discrimination for the first time. When we asked to sit at a table in the corner at first they didn't want us there for some strange reason...the waiter nodded "No" to the hostess but quickly changed his mind when he saw my friend looking at him. Next, another couple came in after us and were seen first by the waiter. Our waiter only gave us chips and water and never came back. So let me tell you why we feel that we were racially discriminated...my friend is Bald and Hispanic and had sun glasses on since we were out outside and chose to sit outside...Appearances are not always what they seem to be and you should not "Judge a Book by its Cover". Both my friend and I are Business Owners...he has helped build and renovate many of the San Diego Downtown Night Clubs and Restaurants (which I am sure the Waiter has been a Patron) while my husband who also happens to be Hispanic has helped build and renovate many of the Local schools and public buildings in San Diego County. We are both Minority Owned Businesses in San Diego County. I will never eat here again nor will I ever recommend this restaurant to any of my colleagues or friends. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE OF DISCRIMINATION AT ITS WORSE AT THIS PRESENT TIME!!!
(1)
Tara T.

I guess there is both good and bad to my experience at this place. The GOOD: There was no wait on a nice Sunny Saturday late afternoon ( might of been a sign). The Service was just OK, I got the "Traditional Shrimp Cocktail" and it was VERY GOOD, They were large and pretty fresh and they give you a lot. The sauce was spicey though and it made my nose run. I was very happy with my shrimp cocktail unitl... The BAD: I ordered the "Grilled Chicken Sandwhich" which states on the menu, "Grilled Chicken Breast, lettuce, tomato, and onions on a bun". With a choice side of fries, or a salad. I said no onions and got the side salad. When I got my meal... They put my cesar salad on the same plate with my chicken sandwhich so I tried a bite and the lettuce was warm and wilted, YUCK! Who wants to eat hot salad?! I then inspected my chicken sandwhich that had a "grilled" AKA BURNT Grill Marks on the smallest peice of chicken I've ever seen, cut in half and folded open to cover the whole bun! It looked more like a baby chicken's breast or a dove's breast. I'm not kidding. It ALSO Had Quacamole/Salsa on the bun, that is NOT listed on the menu in the description! WHICH had ONIONS in it! Obviously if I said no BIG Onions, I dont want a surprise of small onions either! The lettuce on it was shredded, way too much and white not green. The Tomatoes looked like the only good part.. ANYWAYS, After picking out all the onions I decided to try a bite.. I wish I wouldn't have! It just taste like BLACK BURNT TASTE. It's all I could Taste, that nasty burnt taste. YUCK! I don't normally write reviews, this is my first.. I'm sure there are a lot of other good things there, maybe other bad, But I just wanted to Warn everyone, Do not get the Grilled Chicken Sandwhich!
(2)
j s.

One of our favorites. Try the Queso Fundido or the flavorful rotisserie chicken. Yep, parking in summer is dismal!
(4)

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Address : 1031 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA, 92118
Phone (619) 435-3525
Website https://costaazulcoronado.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

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Costa Azul

1031 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118

Costa Azul Menu

Appetizers

Soups & Salads

Sandwiches

Local Favorites

Mexican Combination Plates

South Of The Border Specials

Nino Nibbles

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Costa Azul

Appetizers

Soups & Salads

Sandwiches

Local Favorites

Mexican Combination Plates

South Of The Border Specials

Nino Nibbles

Dessert

Michael J.

Layla F.

Joseph V.

Tom H.

Lisa Monique C.

Marga K.

Laura A.

Mairead G.

william o.

Wayne S.

Frankie F.

Courtney B.

Frank F.

Christi C.

Tanya C.

Carmen V.

Rob W.

Randy P.

Brooke D.

Todd A.

Cheryl B.

Carlo P.

Taelor P.

Dan F.

Kira B.

Mo B.

Lena C.

Jade T.

Rose G.

Gill G.

Brittany G.

Rob A.

Joann C.

Darren R.

John H.

Anna C.

Claudia S.

Don M.

Rebecca F.

mark C.

Donald H.

Lisa C.

Frank D.

John Z.

Barbara B.

James C.

Ned S.

Jessica R.

Presley Z.

Jeffrey J.

Karishma M.

Valorrie P.

Teresa C.

Emily T.

Lydia P.

Amy B.

Scott S.

David D.

Jenny E.