Sombrero Mexican Food Review: A Chile Verde Plate at a San Diego Favorite

Every San Diego trip needs at least one meal at a counter-service Mexican spot. On Friday, June 26, 2026, around 5pm, ours was Sombrero. A round Welcome and Bienvenidos sign on the glass door announced San Diego-Style Sombrero Mexican Food, with a red sombrero logo, and a few minutes later we had a tray in front of us.

Sombrero is a local chain, with 15 locations listed on its website. Most are around San Diego, from Mission Valley and South Park to El Cajon, La Mesa, Lakeside, Spring Valley and Imperial Beach, plus outposts in Corona and El Centro. The brand calls itself the home of San Diego Style Mexican Food. We did not note which San Diego location we visited, so the facts below are for the chain, and hours and prices vary a little from store to store.

Place

Sombrero Mexican Food (San Diego-area chain)

Locations

15 listed on sombreromex.com, mostly in San Diego County

Hours

Vary by location. Some open early for breakfast and some stay open late. Check your branch.

Chile verde dinner

$20.99 on the main online menu, a little more at some locations (Nov 2026)

Burritos

California burrito $14.09, carne asada burrito $14.09 on the main online menu

Ordering

Counter service, with online ordering at many locations

Our visit

Friday early evening, Jun 26, 2026

What was on our tray

We went with the chile verde dinner, which Sombrero describes as slow cooked pork in a spicy tomatillo sauce with rice, beans and a choice of tortillas. It came on a divided compostable plate on a red plastic tray, with a paper liner advertising the Sombrero rewards program.

• A generous pile of tender, shredded pork in a pale green tomatillo sauce, taking up the whole top half of the plate.
• Bright orange Mexican rice in its own section.
• Refried beans under a handful of shredded cheddar.
• Plastic forks and a stack of napkins on the side.

The menu, in short

The menu is big, in the classic San Diego taco shop way. There are combos and dinner plates, burritos, tacos, tortas, nachos, quesadillas, breakfast plates and a short Healthy Choice section. A few prices from the main online menu in November 2026:

• Combos: a one item combo for $14.29, or two items for $16.59.
• Burritos: California, carne asada and shrimp burritos at $14.09, a chile verde burrito at $13.49 and the Xtreme Burrito at $25.99.
• Tacos: shrimp or pollo asado tacos at $6.69, and four potato rolled tacos for $8.49.
• Breakfast: huevos rancheros, chilaquiles with eggs and other breakfast plates at $15.25.
• Smaller bites: a cheese quesadilla at $7.75 and regular nachos at $8.50.
• Kids menu: kids meals such as rolled tacos, a quesadilla or a bean and cheese burrito at $8.99.

Prices differ slightly by location, so treat these as a guide.

Why it works for families

• Counter service means food comes fast, which helps with hungry kids at the end of a beach day.
• There is something for everyone, from cheese quesadillas and rolled tacos to full dinner plates.
• A flyer on the door advertised catering: party platters, Mexican-style buffets and burritos in bulk, handy for a family reunion or a team party.
• The red Open sign on our location's door listed hours running until 11pm, Sunday through Saturday, so a late dinner was an option there.

Our verdict

Sombrero is an easy, no-fuss San Diego Mexican food stop. Pick the location closest to you, order the chile verde dinner or a California burrito and grab plenty of napkins.