The translation for “en fuego” is “on fire” and that’s exactly what this place is. On fire! A multi-level Mexican restaurant with plenty of patio space (shaded and unshaded), En Fuego Cantina & Grill in Del Mar is the definition of a “destination location.” Since 1995, John Wingate or “El Grande Queso” as his business card states, has been serving delicious traditional Mexican fare to the masses, and over the years has established En Fuego as a pre-party and after-party hot spot during the horse racing season. After chatting with John prior to lunch, we weren’t surprised to find that the staff’s attitude is a direct reflection of his own. Very welcoming. They simply make you feel like you’ve been a regular for years.

When you first walk in from the street, the place appears to be small. However, once you’re inside, the large sunken patio below is impossible not to notice. During the summer months, the patio roof is removed allowing you to enjoy our beautiful California weather with a margarita and one of En Fuego’s House Specialties.

The food? Outstanding! After watching a sizzling order of their world famous fajitas pass by, my choice was made. Served with fresh tortillas, they’re one of the reasons En Fuego has become a destination location in the very competitive Del Mar area. Cooked to perfection, the fajitas are mouth-watering, with the onions and peppers maintaining the perfect crispiness from the first bite to the last. The Queen opted for Combinacione 3, which included a black bean burrito, cheese tamale and chicken taco. The presentation was amazing as well as the flavor! The chicken taco was pleasantly spicy and the cheese tamale was of the melt-in-your-mouth variety.

Another pleasant surprise was finding craft brews on the beer list at a Mexican restaurant. Some restaurant owners have chosen to ignore the growing allegiance in San Diego for locally brewed beer, but not John. Understanding that craft brew is not a fad, he brought in some local heavyweights, including Ballast Point and Lost Abbey, to take over some of the taps. In fact, the entire upstairs bar is dedicated to craft brews!

Happy Hour? En Fuego knows Happy Hour! Enjoy the following everyday from 4:30 to 6:30:

DRINKS: $2 Bud Light / $3 House Margaritas, Well Drinks, Pacifico, Negro Modelo, Modelo Especial, Dos XX Amber, Dos XX Lager / $4 Bang-O-Rita / $5 Cuervo Shaker

FOOD: $3 Tacos: Chicken & Mahi Mahi / $4 Cheese Quesadilla, Tacos: Carne Asada & Calamari / $5 Cheese Nachos / $6 Chicken Quesadilla / $7 Chicken Nachos

Think you’ve heard enough? Are you ready to jump in the car and head up there? Did we fail to mention La Tienda, the wine bar next door that shares the upstairs area? Well, we’ll get into that in another review. This spotlight is for En Fuego Cantina & Grill!

En Fuego Cantina & Grill 1342 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, California (858) 792-6551

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