Located in San Diego’s Pacific Beach enclave just two blocks from the ocean, the Pueblo restaurant brings a touch of Baja California’s flavors to America’s Finest City with the intention of reuniting the two Californias with a single territorial palate. Taking up residence in what was once the China Inn, the venue features an upscale, airy, contemporary design with soothing Southwestern accents. Experienced restaurateur and owner, Mark Oliver designed this restaurant in the image of traditional Baja resorts with a menu geared towards classic Baja dishes inspired by the coastal communities who originated them.
Pueblo Ambiance
Pueblo’s name is the very inspiration behind its design, a rustic yet modern, “Indian village” style restaurant that embodies and celebrates Mexico’s culinary heritage. Its interior features light walls, flooring, and furnishings with bold pops of color interspersed through their linens, wall art, and décor. They offer a wealth of seating options including high and low top tables, high-back bar stools, and striped half-booths. There is also plenty of outdoor seating with their open courtyard and rooftop deck equipped with its own bar area featuring incredible views of Pacific Beach and the ocean. Its casual sophistication makes Pueblo the ideal location for date nights, midday hangouts, and pre-party dinners.
Pueblo Food
Similar to what you would find on the peninsula to San Diego’s south, Pueblo’s menu offers dishes inspired by the coastal communities of Baja. They feature an array of chef-driven plates with an emphasis on seafood and lighter preparations, influenced by classic dishes and spices that celebrate Mexico’s rich culinary heritage. All plates are created using only the freshest, regional ingredients and expertly paired with an extensive beer and wine list from both sides of the border, as well as collections of agave-based spirits and tequila.
Pueblo’s menu is not old world Mexican, but rather “Baja Med,” a culinary style which incorporates Italian, French, and Spanish cooking styles, techniques, and recipes to modern Mexican food. They offer lunch and dinner daily with menus that consist of small plates, salads, soups, taco plates, and specialty entrees.
Pueblo also offers the Chef’s Daily Market Special on the dinner menu, a fresh 1.5 pound Maine Lobster cooked Puerto Nuevo style with long grain or Baja rice, black beans, guacamole, jalapeño butter, pico de gallo, and flour tortillas. On Sundays they feature a pig roast for all-you-can-eat street tacos topped with pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa roja, and cotija cheese on corn tortillas.
A lunch favorite is Pueblo’s Smoked Tuna Taco Plate – yellowfin tuna, green olives, capers, green cabbage, avocado crema, pico de gallo, and Monterey jack cheese.
For dinner, you’ll want to try the Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo – Baja shrimp bathed in tequila-lime garlic sauce served with Mexican rice, Shitake mushrooms, baby carrots, and Chile de Arbol oil. And guests rave about their refreshing Oh, Dios Mio Mango! Made with ghost pepper infused tequila, fresh sweet mango, and fresh squeezed lime for a quick snack.
Pueblo Details
Unlike most eateries in San Diego, Pueblo has a large parking lot as well as street and bike parking. While it tends to draw in the young adult crowd with its casually trendy ambiance, it’s an ideal location for large groups and families with children. They welcome dogs, offer gender neutral bathrooms, are equipped with a full-bar, provide free Wi-Fi, and have several televisions throughout the restaurant for you to enjoy sporting events.
Pueblo hosts Happy Hour daily, as well as specialty nights every evening except Friday. These include Local’s Night/Martini Monday where all visitors with a license with the zip code 92109 get 20% off their bill, Taco Tuesday, Aperitivo Wednesdays with 50% off appetizers at the bar, and Wine Down Thursdays with 50% off select bottles of wine.
Saturdays and Sundays at Pueblo, expect Weekender Drink Specials and $12 bottomless mimosas. They also offer a wide range of event options from private spaces for small, intimate dinners or business presentations to full floor or whole restaurant buyouts.
Pueblo Neighborhood
Pacific Beach is one of San Diego’s most popular neighborhoods due to its world-class beaches, incredible surf, laid-back locals, and vibrant nightlife. A community bounded by family-friendly Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south and the upscale village of La Jolla to the north, it’s the area of the city where young adults find themselves spending a majority of their time. But it’s so much more than a young adult playground. It’s also a place of culture, craft breweries, top-notch seafood, and excellent bargain shopping. One of its most prominent and iconic fixtures is the Crystal Pier located at the end of the main drag on Garnet Avenue, separating Pacific Beach and North Pacific Beach. A long boardwalk snakes along the beach from Pacific Beach all the way to Mission Beach and features an eclectic mix of people, activities, and attractions.