Jorge's Mexicatessen — Restaurant in Encinitas

BEST AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD ! We first came here for lunch 14 years ago when my wife wanted me to try some great Mexican food barely a few days after we flew to California from Australia. I chose a Chimichanga because I liked the name.....I really didn't know it was a fried Burrito. But OMG was it huge and it tasted awesome. So we have had a long term relationship with this Jorge's Mexicatessen. We had a few errands to run in Encinitas today so I suggested to my wife we grab some lunch here....my wife was thinking the same thing ! After parking our wheels in the carpark we ambled into the eatery. On the way in we noticed they had installed a countertop outside for diners...no dine-in around San Diego at this time. My wife ordered a Beef Chimichanga ( $9.50 ) for me of course, 2 x Carnitas soft Tacos ( $2 each ) for herself and a large serve of their famous Spicy Chicken Soup ( about $9 ) to take home with us. After paying we sat at the countertop outside waiting for our ready number to be called out..we had to hog it as there was nowhere else to sit. Luis the cashier even came out and cleaned the countertop for us. BINGO...I went into pick up our lunch order. My wife opened up her take our box and started on her Carnitas Soft Tacos....and loved them as always. I opened up my take out box and EL YUMMO there it was...the biggest meanest yummiest Beef Chimichanga on planet Earth. I ate the lot.......darn it was good ! Terrific service, terrific food...

Chicken soup is a staple in many cultures. Uncommon in most Mexican taco shops Jorge's Mexicatessen is a glorified taco shop. The menu is no greater larger than most erto's. 90 reviews and 54 mention the chicken soup. It is good, usually the small will do if your getting taco's or splitting a burrito, but the large will satisfy most anyone's appetite. Chunks of soft shredded chicken in a fairly clear broth. Rice and seasonings topped with avo. What kinda turned me off was the salsa fresco, tomatoes, onions, cilantro. I could have done with half the tomatoes and onions or just use the onions to make the broth, not thrown in at the end.

The California burrito had potato's instead of fries, but was not a tightly wrapped burrito, but a floppy pocketed mess. Tasty, but they did offer me flour or corn. Can you imagine a burrito that sloppy in flour would have been twice as bad in corn.

As interesting as the name is Mexicatessen implies delicatessen, which it is not. The soup is 4.5 stars and a must try, but the burrito was 3 stars. The meat was mediocre, no fries, sloppy. They should call themselves Jorge's soup and taco shop, not Mexicatessen. Since the rating is overall I can't bring myself to go above a 4 stars without the majority of the rest of the menu being as superb as the soup. This is highly doubtful as of the hundreds of Mexican taco shops, erto's, restaurants maybe just a handful are 5 star worthy, from...

I ordered the combination plate #1 (3 tacos, rice & beans) on a Tuesday at dinner time (6:45 or so). I chose chicken for my tacos. Was really looking forward to it based on the 5 star reviews. Counter staff was personable, accurate, and efficient.

I waited about 12 minutes for my food, which wasn't bad. There was a steady stream of customers ordering to go, picking up orders, waiting on orders to eat in the restaurant, etc. It felt like a well-loved neighborhood joint, the kind of place people go back to time and again. There was a small unobtrusive TV in an upper corner set at a low volume, which I appreciated.

Tacos were a decent size, well filled. Tortillas were delicious and held together well. Onion-cilantro garnish was surprisingly delicious (I'm usually a cilantro-avoider). Too bad the chicken itself was tasteless and dry and a huge disappointment. Salsa was tasty but too spicy for me. I added some to the tacos to add flavor. Refried beans were bland. Rice was absolutely delicious, my favorite part of the meal. I hardly ever eat rice so it was a treat and I'm glad it had so much flavor.

I would give this place a try one more time but avoid chicken tacos. Maybe the...