Checked out the new Los Amores de Julia in downtown San Diego, which opened about a month ago, and it’s a stunning addition to the neighborhood. The decor is gorgeous! They clearly put a lot of thought into the interior design and atmosphere.

More importantly, the food tasted genuinely authentic. A standout touch right off the bat was the fresh guacamole, which came served with both crispy tortilla chips and crunchy chicharrones—such a great combination that made for the perfect starter. For the main, the birria had solid, deep flavor, though I would have preferred the meat to be a bit more tender—though maybe that’s just their style.
The only real hiccup of the evening was the pacing of the service. Things were running quite slow, especially coming out of the bar. Drink orders took long enough that we actually had to push back our reservation at their speakeasy by 30 minutes just so we could finish dinner without rushing.

That said, growing pains are completely normal for a spot that’s only four weeks in. The kitchen has the flavors down, the space looks incredible, and the overall experience was very positive. I’d love to come back once the front-of-house workflow gets a little more dialed in and established.

Food was amazing, service was excellent, Julio our waiter was very attentive. The place is so beautiful and they have a cool little store in the back with a speakeasy that you’ve never seen before. Def would come back