East Village · Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego
Lola 55 Review
Last updatedRanked #6 of 7 in Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego
Chef-driven tacos that don't feel like a gimmick.
Score breakdown
- Taste89/100
- Consistency86/100
- Value80/100
- Atmosphere82/100
- Uniqueness86/100
The verdict on Lola 55
Ranked #6 of 7 — 86/100 in our Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego coverage
Lola 55 sits between taqueria and restaurant: house masa, smoked meats, and a serious agave list. Portions run small for the price, but the cooking is precise and the East Village patio works for a long lunch.
What to order at Lola 55
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Brisket taco, birria consommé.
The brisket taco is the one to order; everything else is supporting cast.
Is Lola 55 worth the price?
Lola 55 sits at $16–26 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Lola 55 FAQ
Is Lola 55 expensive?
Lola 55 is priced at $16–26, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Lola 55 worth it?
It scores 86/100, 1 points below the 87 average for its list. It still ranks, but there are stronger options nearby in score.
What should I order at Lola 55?
We recommend the Brisket taco, birria consommé.
What else is nearby Lola 55?
Cowboy Star (90/100 in our best steakhouses in san diego list) and Callie (90/100 in our best tasting menus in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong taste — scored 89/100 in our ranking
Know before you go
- Value is the weak point — 80/100, below the rest of its scores
- The brisket taco is the one to order; everything else is supporting cast.
The full review
Lola 55 sits between taqueria and restaurant: house masa, smoked meats, and a serious agave list. Portions run small for the price, but the cooking is precise and the East Village patio works for a long lunch.
On our weighted scale it earns 86/100 — good for #6 of 7 places we evaluated for best mexican restaurants in san diego. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes.
What to order at Lola 55
Brisket taco, birria consommé
Price: $16–26
How we scored Lola 55
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: taste, consistency, value, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.