Lola 55 Tacos & Cocktails — Restaurant in San Diego

Nobody was meeting and greating or seating guests. First timers be warned you may feel anxiety from being neglected.

The seating feels crammed, especially seating towards the walls. The bar+lounge consume the largest area taking away from the experience sitting in any other table.

The front door decor seems out of place, the fake palm tree or whatever it is needs to go in a corner away from the entrance doors.

Bathrooms could be cleaned better, felt as if the water timer for the faucet was quiet short. This gives me an Imagine all the employees rushing back to the kitchen without property washing their hands because the sinks are set for very short water timers which automatically makes any human become less patient, as if restaurant workers were not already rushed enough.

Then the food... Shocking. Unbelievable. Terrible? Yes exactly I didn't understand if the michelin recognition was purchased or what.

I will say the beans and rice are good. The cheese used in the quesadilla was also good. The drinks were well made.

But that is not enough to even get on the radar for Michelin.

All the tortillas were cold and lacking flavor and air were a bit gummy. Perhaps a poor mixture or leftover batch of ingredients.

This would be the benefit of the doubt of course, to be transparent this was a first try. Soo maybe, the worst day in this restaurant could taste like a "50cent taco from an amateur in a parking lot working with minimal resources and self taught education and still very early in the crafting stage".

I am just being honest it was not even something I could chew. The disgusting cold texture of what tasted like a semi raw tortilla with cold pork and cold sauce against my lips and tongue made me impulsively spit it out. Unbearable, I hate to waste but this was inedible. The pork belly was sourced poorly as the whole slice was absolute lard, yes chewy cold fat without any meat in it. Call it luck, I starred eating in Michelin star restaurant's about 20 years ago and I promise it was Not bad luck.

When I explained my experience to the chef he said he didn't know what happened. Ordered a refund on the tacos or to remake them. Well actually he first said the whole order then in the end refunded just the tacos but that's fine if I was worried about money I probably wouldn't be going out to eat, much less to a place that is charging 7 dollar per taco.

He tried to remake another pork taco for us to try. This time the tortilla was scolding hot, even too hot to hold, it was painful. The pork was properly grilled first this time and hot and not cold and meaty instead of all fat. It was definitely noticeable that the effort was made on this one taco to the best of his abilities probably.... I just don't understand how you literally drop the ball on 10 taco order 10 minutes ago when you are recognized by michelin. You hold a responsibility to Michelin and to all other's who strive for the best and highest standards.

First experience is the most memorable no matter how many times people say "don't judge a book by it's cover".

I wish I could have the option to refund my most valuable asset in life, TIME.

The hype this time "was not real...

Great from the first bite. I've tried many places lately that have this much hype prior to opening, but few deliver.

The location is within a super trendy building and the architecture is super clean modern. Plenty of open space throughout the entire restaurant, including the kitchen areas. There's even an outside patio. Seating was comfortable, despite the minimalist approach. It's set in an area of downtown that is overlooked by the typical SD local, but certainly an up and coming one. Definitely a downtown vibe, but not too sketchy to be approachable for all.

I ordered the ribeye carne asada, pork belly al pastor, rainbow cauliflower, and spicy smoked fish. I also got the beans and elote.

I'll start with my favorite, the cauliflower. It was a super well thought-out mix of flavors that played wonderfully with each other. Perfectly cooked cauliflower and just the right sauces and toppings to bring it home. A+

Next up, the pork belly. I really liked this one, but really wanted to see a bigger portion or more to the topping mix, to bulk it up a bit. It was simple and elegant. Very delicious, however I would have liked some more authentic spice to it, like an achote marinade or some cotija.

Also the spicy smoked fish was amazing. The fish was perfectly cooked and tasted like it was fresh caught that day. The addition of bacon was a very welcome surprise and added to the taco, rather than distracting from the fish. The heat provided by the reaper was extreme. I'm a spice freak that orders a 12 at Thai places that offer 1-10, however this was definitely not an understated heat. It's gonna burn you. I absolutely loved the heat, however I would suggest that they train the staff to give a more direct warning to the customers that order this, so they know what they're getting into.

Least favorite taco was the ribeye. Honestly, this probably just came down to the fact that I got one with a gristle filled piece of meat. I had to remove two bites from my mouth, due to not being able to chew through. It definitely hurt my ability to enjoy and respect the other flavors going on here. I did manage to appreciate the wonderful avocado mousse.

Can't leave out the appreciation for those sides. Man I really wanted to try all of them, but reserved myself to just two. The beans. So simple and so perfect. There's just something about a perfect beans recipe. I really liked the consistency and character of these. I'd totally be down if they did a bean burrito in the future! Please!

The elote was on the exact other end of the spectrum. It was complicated and showed off so many ingredients dancing together. Terrific use of the cotija and cilantro. The cook of the corn surprised me. It was a bit dried out from possibly a roasting on the grill, but this actually elevated the dish. It created a concentrate of corn flavor that broke through. Only critique would be that it was crying out for a squeeze of lime.

Thanks to the Lola 55 crew. They are surely attentive and we will be back to...

In a city where tacos are serious business, Lola Taco arrives with big ambitions and a Bib Gourmand nod, but stumbles on the fundamentals of the dining experience. The modern taqueria, which has garnered attention for its creative takes on traditional Mexican fare, delivers on flavor but falls short on execution.

Let's start with the good stuff: The tacos themselves showcase thoughtful combinations and solid technique. The fish tacos arrive fresh and well-executed, while the pork belly option demonstrates the kitchen's ability to balance richness with complementary flavors. A surprising standout is the cauliflower taco, proving that vegetarian options needn't be an afterthought. The accompanying beans are satisfying, and the Lola Margarita holds its own among San Diego's competitive cocktail scene.

The pricing stays reasonable for the quality of ingredients used, positioning Lola as an accessible option for both casual dining and special occasions. However, this is where the positive notes begin to fade.

The restaurant's ordering system feels like it was designed in a vacuum, without considering the actual flow of dining. Guests are immediately confronted with a bar-ordering system that lacks clear signage or direction. Want another round of tacos? Hope you're up for another trip to the bar. The requirement to order and pay upfront, combined with the self-service drink pickup (a detail conveniently omitted during ordering), creates an awkward tipping scenario that serves neither the staff nor the guests.

The atmosphere seems caught between fast-casual and full-service dining, landing squarely in no-man's land. The sound system pumps out music at conversation-killing levels, while harsh lighting and poor acoustics transform what should be a lively dining experience into an exhausting one. Small touches that define Mexican dining experiences in San Diego – like complimentary chips – are notably absent.

Perhaps most frustrating is the asynchronous food service, which can leave dining companions eating in shifts rather than sharing the experience. For a restaurant that's earned Bib Gourmand recognition, these service missteps feel particularly glaring.

While Lola Taco shows promise with its food offerings, the overall experience suggests a concept still finding its footing. In a city brimming with exceptional taco options, from street-side stands to polished restaurants, Lola needs to iron out its operational wrinkles to become a true destination rather than just another option. Until then, it remains a spot with good tacos trapped in a frustrating dining experience.

Worth a Try: Fish tacos, cauliflower taco, Lola Margarita

Skip: The second visit – at least until they sort out their...