San Diego is full of good Mexican eateries. Mondo’s Baja Mexican at the southeast corner of 10th and Island in East Village section of Downtown San Diego (just 2 blocks north of Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres play their home games) is one of the locally owned mini-franchised (there are 3 other Mondo’s Baja Mexicans in San Diego area). It combines the convenience of the fastfood restaurant with the friendly local touch.
This joint in East Village is small but very comfortably arranged and decorated (walking in is like being instantaneously transported to a Hawaiian surf shop). It’s a self-serve kind of place where you order at one end of the counter, watch your food being made right before your eyes, and pay for the finished product at the other end. There is enough seating for about 25 people.
The food is baja Mexican fast food… The menu consists of two sizes of burrito ($4.49 Mondo and $3.49 Mondito), torta, tacos (choices of two or three tacos), nachos, platters (including Enhiladas and quesadilla), and two kinds of salad. Depending on the type of meat you choose for these dishes, the cost varies from $3.49 (vegetarian or chicken) to $5.49 (fish or carne asada). They also offers ‘Kids Meals’ portion for children 12 and under for $3.29. On the beverage side, they serve sodas and a few beers.
I’ve been in here a few times and would usually go for fish tacos or the carnitas mondo burrito. These are usually quite fresh and tasty. I had the cheese quesadilla on my first try here, too, and probably exceeded my cheese-eating quota for the month in one meal. Though I wouldn’t say that this is the best Mexican food to be had in town, it is still quite good for the very low price and superb location. The staff are always very nice and helpful. I was getting annoyed with my indecisive self when I dropped in there for the first time and couldn’t decide what to order, but the smiling gal on the kitchen side of the counter was so patient with me she deserves a sainthood or something.
So, if you are in town for a game or a concert at Petco Park or just loitering around Gaslamp Quarters and East Village area and don’t feel like paying more than $7 for a good and quick lunch or dinner, check out Mondo’s Baja Mexican at the corner of 10th and Island. O… and the bathrooms are pretty clean most of the time, too
Mondo’s Baja Mexican
1000 Island Avenue (at 10th St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 795-9153
