Fiesta de Reyes — Local services in San Diego

If you can believe it, I walk through Old Town at least 4 times per week on a fabulous loop that begins in Mission Hills and meanders through Sunset Blvd adjacent neighborhood, into Old Town and then across to Presidio and around that neighborhood, onward going back east on Ft Stockton to my starting point! But I had never stopped to browse or visit any of the Old Town sights! This particular walk, I heard cheering and tap dancing coming from the northeast corner of the town square and wandered over to the entry point to Fiesta de Reyes! First of all, there was a cart at that entry point selling tamales (pork or chicken) for 5$ and elotes with all of the yummy trappings for 7$! I was all in for a pork tamal at that price point! Imagine just eating a tamal in all of its simplicity without having to spend 30$ for a plate that is enough for three people and having to also leave a good tip! Well, I got the pork tamal and it was savory enough (not enough red chili seasoning in the masa for my taste buds, but that’s ok!) because it was a nice, thick masa surrounding the pork. And I left the Cart Girl a 5$ tip because she was adorable and the tamal was satisfying just from its wafting smell! Then on, into the Plaza! And OMG, there were Dancers and peppy, toe tapping music, and Families and lots of tourists in large groups, and people cheering and clapping, and it was such a happy feeling to be there with all of this humanity…I felt very thankful that I wandered over! Then I overheard someone saying they had great churros, and I thought, “I’m doing a 4.5 mile loop, I should treat myself to a churro!” I saw the Churros place, which is actually El Mercardito, and there was quite the line, so I figured it had to be good! Well, I went one better, I got the Churros And Ice Cream Split, with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles and a cherry on top! ! Haha! Ok, so honestly, I thought the churros were simply ok. Not great or anything, BUT the ice cream, which on that day was from Wholesome Farms Creamery was FANTASTIC! The strawberry ice cream was the Best I have ever had (even better than Hammond’s)! It was Super creamy and fresh and natural tasting! Loved it! So, I wandered around the boutiques and watched the tortilleras making the tortillas from scratch, and saw plates whizzing by for the restaurant crowd, and I very much appreciated the feel of it all, and what looked to be good quality food, and very nice boutique clothes and gift items! I definitely highly recommend Fiesta de Reyes for the FREE musical and show entertainment and the Great Family feel to it all! **the pictures in my review were the next day because on the day I went which the folkloric dance show, it was too crowded...

Things to know/be prepared for:

Parking is difficult. We paid to park at the public parking across the street. It was packed (Saturday night), so be prepared for the crowd.

Neither of those factored into this review.

Pros: Live music and high energy vibe are a lot of fun. Cute shops to browse while you wait. Outdoor heaters kept it comfortable - although they're super close to the tables (FYI for those with small, curious children.) Server was friendly and attentive.

Cons: it's outdoor so I didn't expect perfectly sterile, but the table was obviously not cleaned well from the previous seating - smudgy and sticky. The high chair they brought was crusted in old food. Menus were sticky and dirty.

the food choices were extremely limited, and the food was just plain bad - no flavor, no seasoning, and even though our plates were hot, the food wasn't. I grew up in a Hispanic community, so I know what good Mexican food can and should be. I've had so much better at a lot of other places. Carne asada was tough and unseasoned.Ditto for the tamale and enchilada. Guac was so-so-. No pico, no lime. Rice and beans were bland, dry, and overcooked.

We honestly wanted to enjoy the evening and we made the best of the festive atmosphere, but don't go for the food. It's the kind of bad, bland Mexican food you can get practically anywhere without battling the crowds and...

LET'S FIESTA! The action-packed shopping center/cultural hub of Old Town is home to a variety of shops, the Casa De Reyes restaurant, and specialty food spots. Fiesta De Reyes is a in-spot for both tourists and residents. You can find live music on-stage at the center of the plaza. I've seen Selena tributes, Mariachi music and more! Entertainment is constantly rotated and fresh. What's perfect is that all performances are free and there's a dance floor to join in on the festivities!

There's plenty of local businesses to support here such as a tile shop, souvenir stores, and hand-crafted items. My personal favorite shop is Nibble Chocolate, home to some EXCELLENT vegan hot chocolate and champurrado! Throughout the plaza, you'll also find street taco and tamal booths. The food is a bit pricey, so if you'd like to try a little bit of everything for a more affordable price I'd recommend eating at Casa De Reyes since they own the taco/tamal booths. Just order a combo plate where you can pick and choose what you want to try.

I always have a great time visiting this iconic San Diego plaza! Some of the patrons are a bit entitled and there's some grumpy old people, but all the staff are very professional with them! Please be kind when...