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    Cenote Grill

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    283 reviews
    #1 of 311 Restaurants in Escondido
    $$ - $$$, Mexican, Southwestern, Vegetarian Friendly
    1896 W El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92026-3343
    +1 760-740-9911
    Website
    Menu
    Closed Now:See all hours
    All photos (21)
    All photos (21)
    Certificate of Excellence

    Ratings and reviews

    4.5 283 reviews
    #1 of 311 Restaurants in Escondido
    Certificate of Excellence2015 - 2019 Winner
    RATINGS
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere

    Details

    CUISINES
    Mexican, Southwestern
    Special Diets
    Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
    View all details
    meals, features

    Location and contact

    1896 W El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92026-3343
    Website
    Email
    +1 760-740-9911

    Menu

    APPETIZERS​
    Fresh Guacamole
    Cup or bowl
    Cheese Quesadilla
    Choice of a corn or flour tortilla & served w/ guacamole, sour cream & fresh salsa
    Cenote Nachos
    Crispy corn tortilla chips topped w/ choice of black or pinto beans, assorted cheeses, red or green enchilada sauce, fresh salsa, guacamole & sour cream
    Corn Pupusas
    Fresh corn masa stuffed w/ choice of steak, chicken, pork or cheese. Served w/ guacamole, sour cream & fresh salsa
    Cenote Spring Rolls
    3 Rolled flour tortillas w/ choice of chipotle bbq, poblano black bean or Thai chicken. served grilled or crispy w/ guacamole, sour cream & fresh salsa
    SOUPS AND SALADS​
    Cream of Poblano Soup
    Cup or bowl
    Roasted Tomato Soup
    Cup or bowl
    Chicken & Tortilla Dumpling Soup
    Cup or bowl
    Original Chopped Salad
    Chopped carrots, celery, tomato, corn, black beans, olives, red onion, broccoli, red cabbage & cilantro tossed in a chipotle vinaigrette
    BBQ Chicken or Steak Chopped Salad
    Romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, red cabbage, cilantro, salsa fresca, assorted cheeses & crispy tortilla strips tossed in a ranch dressing & topped w/ a spicy barbeque sauce
    Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad
    Romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, red & green cabbage, salsa fresca, cotija cheese, olives, avocado & crispy tortilla strips tossed in a cilantro lime dressing
    Cenote Asian Chicken Salad
    Romaine lettuce, red cabbage, green onion, carrots, almonds, cilantro & poblano chilis tossed in a tangy soy vinaigrette
    Grilled Romaine & Prosciutto Salad
    Half a grilled romaine head wrapped w/ prosciutto & topped w/ a fresh salsa vinaigrette
    Grilled Spinach Salad
    A grilled bundle of fresh spinach wrapped w/ green onion & topped w/ bacon, egg, red cabbage, crispy tortilla strips & a sweet creamy dressing
    Cenote Chicken Caesar Salad
    Romaine lettuce, pumpkin seeds, crispy tortilla strips & assorted cheeses tossed in a cilantro chipotle dressing
    COMBINATIONS​
    Choice of Charbroiled Carne Asada, Pollo Asado or Braised Pork Carnitas. Served w/ Your Choice of White or Spicy Brown Rice & Whole Black or Pinto Beans
    Choose From the Following
    Enchilada red or green sauce, roasted chile relleno, taquitos or 2 tacos street style,
    Any Three Sopes
    Served w/ romaine lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, assorted cheeses, olives, corn & fresh salsa
    FROM THE GRILL​
    Served w/ your choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream & fresh salsa
    Carne Asada Plate
    Braised Pork Carnitas Plate
    Pollo Asado Plate
    BOWLS​
    Choice of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asado or braised pork carnitas. Served w/ your choice of white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans
    Charbroiled carne asada
    Braised pork carnitas
    White
    Spicy brown rice
    Whole black
    Pinto beans
    Traditional
    Topped w/ guacamole, sour cream, assorted cheeses, & fresh salsa
    Charbroiled carne asada
    Braised pork carnitas
    White
    Spicy brown rice
    Whole black
    Pinto beans
    Enchilada Style
    Layered w/ corn tortillas, assorted cheeses, onions, olives, red or green enchilada sauce, & topped w/ guacamole, sour cream & fresh salsa
    Burrito Fresca
    Served in a flour tortilla w/ a choice of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asada or braised pork carnitas, fresh cabbage, salsa fresco, guacamole, sour cream & assorted cheeses
    Cenote Burrito
    Served in a flour tortilla w/ a choice of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asada or braised pork carnitas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans, fresh salsa & assorted cheeses
    Chile Relleno Burrito
    Served in a flour tortilla w/ a whole roasted poblano chile, hominy, choice of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asada or braised pork carnitas, whole black or pinto beans, fresh salsa, sour cream & assorted cheeses
    Chipotle Chicken
    Club served in a flour tortilla w/ assorted cheeses, crumbled bacon, grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, salsa fresco, guacamole & a chipotle ranch dressing
    Thai chicken
    Served​ in a flour tortilla w/ grilled chicken, red & green cabbage, romaine lettuce, slivered carrots, salsa fresco, toasted almonds, cilantro & a spicy asian sauce
    Can Be Made Enchilada Style
    With red or green sauce
    SPECIALS​
    Fish Tacos
    Center cut Alaskan cod filets topped w/ fresh cabbage, chipotle ranch sauce, salsa fresca, guacamole, & assorted cheeses. served w/ a choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans
    2 Tacos Al Carbon
    Carne​ asada sauteed w/ bacon, red onion, cilantro & assorted cheeses. Served w/ guacamole & choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans
    Sonora Style Enchilada
    Three layered corn tortillas topped w/ assorted cheeses, olives, red onion, red & green sauce, 2 over easy eggs, salsa fresca, sour cream & guacamole. Served w/ a choice of white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans
    Any Three Sopes
    Fresh corn masa bowls topped w/ choice of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asado or braised pork carnitas, white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans, romaine lettuce, red cabbage, corn, olives, assorted cheeses, salsa fresca, guacamole & sour cream.
    Tostada
    Choice​ of charbroiled carne asada, pollo asado or braised pork carnitas, white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans. Served w/ tortilla strips, cabbage, assorted cheeses, romaine lettuce, olives, corn, guacamole, sour cream, & salsa fresca
    Fajitas
    Choice of carne asada, pollo asado or shrimp add 1.00 sauteed w/ seasoned poblano chilies, red onions, carrots & tomatoes. Served w/ your choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream & salsa fresca
    Pork Chile Con Queso
    Pork carnitas sauteed w/ poblano chilies, red onion, salsa fresca, green sauce & assorted cheeses. Served w/ your choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream & salsa fresca
    Agave Lime Shrimp
    Sauteed w/ poblano chilies, red onions & salsa fresca in an agave lime sauce. Served w/ your choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream & salsa fresca
    Camarones Modelo
    Shrimp sauteed w/ butter, garlic, salsa fresca, chipotle salsa & modelo especial served over rice w/ assorted cheeses & guacamole. Served w/ a choice of corn or flour tortillas, white or spicy brown rice, whole black or pinto beans.
    A LA CARTE​
    2 Street Style Tacos
    Steak, chicken or pork
    Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito
    Roasted Chile Relleno
    Steak, chicken or pork
    Enchilada
    Steak, chicken or pork
    Sope
    Steak, chicken or pork
    2 Taquitos w/ Guacamole
    Steak, chicken or pork
    KID'S MENU​
    Served w/ a small soda or milk, & your choice of white or spicy brown rice & whole black or pinto beans.
    Kids Cheese Quesadilla
    Chicken or steak extra
    Kid's Taco
    Chicken, steak or pork
    Kid's Cheese Enchilada
    Chicken or steak extra
    Steak +1.00
    Chicken +1.00
    Kid's Beans
    Rice & cheese burrito chicken or steak
    Kid's Taquitos 2
    Chicken, steak or pork
    DESSERT​
    Flan
    Caramel custard
    Cenote Tiramisu
    Espresso laced pound cake layered w/ an ibarra chocolate & mascarpone cheese mousse
    Sopapillas
    Crispy puffed dough topped w/ cinnamon sugar & served w/ warm honey
    BEVERAGES​
    Bottled Water
    20 Oz. Or 1 lit.
    Show full menu
    Reviews (283)
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    Traveler rating
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    Show reviews that mention
    All reviews sopes burrito fish tacos cilantro lime chicken street tacos rice salad con queso guacamole black beans flan pork asado mexican food worth the wait be prepared for a wait this small restaurant
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    1 - 10 of 281 reviews
    Reviewed 1 week ago
    Great food, really slow service

    We arrived on a Wednesday night and were told there would be a 40 minute wait. They had such good reviews that we decided to wait it out. It ended up being an hour wait. They aren't really set up to have parties bigger than...More

    Date of visit: August 2019
    Thank vegaswithkids
    Reviewed 2 weeks ago
    Amazing Food

    I love the variety offered on the menu - all sorts of Mexican fare cooked slightly different than you'll find other places. I've never had a meal experience I didn't love. You can eat in or purchase to go. It does get busy and the...More

    Date of visit: May 2019
    Thank Cheryll Y
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago
    Absolutely Amazing

    The wife and I have driven by this small restaurant many times but today decided to drop in and see if they had an interesting menu. It's a "Mexican Cafe" but more like a fusion Mexican menu. There were so many dishes to choose from...More

    Date of visit: July 2019
    Thank John H
    Reviewed July 2, 2019
    Don't eat all the chips....

    The food and service were excellent. If you are looking for authentic and flavorful Mexican food, you'll be very happy. However, if you like very mild heat in your meal, let them know. Also, be careful on the chips and salsa as it is too...More

    Date of visit: April 2019
    Thank Ray E
    Reviewed June 28, 2019
    Not that great

    We came here with a family of four... got seated at 5:30 and didn't get our food until 6:30.... the menu is too big...perhaps that is part of the proble. I ordered the chili Rellano; which tasted like they squeezed a lime all over it......More

    Date of visit: June 2019
    Thank Cindy N
    Reviewed June 5, 2019 via mobile
    Delicious Gourmet Mexican food

    One of my all time favorite eateries in the North San Diego County area. Cenote Grill has a wonderful menu a fusion of healthy Mexican and Asian options. The atmosphere is quaint and welcoming, service always with a smile and food is delicious and different....More

    Date of visit: May 2019
    Thank 330jeanned
    Reviewed June 4, 2019
    best mexican food in north county

    If you like mexican food, this is the place for you. We have NEVER hand a meal at CENOTE's that was anything except excellent. The SIDES are great: Choice of white or spanish rice, pinto, or black beans, flour or corn tortillas. The entree's are...More

    Date of visit: May 2019
    Thank 59stanm
    Reviewed April 14, 2019 via mobile
    Excellent food and friendly staff

    We eat there 1-2 times per week. The chips and salsa are excellent as are their entrees which always provide good portions with fresh ingredients. The only drawback is that sometimes there are so many customers that it can take a while to get your...More

    Date of visit: April 2019
    Thank robertdc358
    Reviewed April 13, 2019 via mobile
    Excellent!

    Absolutely love the place! Everything is delicious:). The only bummer is the take out. Long waits for very basic food... like a burrito took 30 mins! So, just be mindful that food is great but it may take you a while to actually get your...More

    Date of visit: April 2019
    Thank EmmiHall
    Reviewed March 25, 2019
    Best Option In the Area

    Cenote is extremely popular, in my opinion because there is little else in its price range anywhere around. Solid offerings, not life-changing though. It is different from typical mexican fare, and despite being very busy most days at dinner has a nice staff.

    Date of visit: May 2018
    Thank Blackjack74
    View more reviews
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    Questions & Answers
    Ask a question
    judr0n
    June 4, 2018|
    AnswerShow all 7 answers
    Response from 330jeanned | Reviewed this property |
    Yes they sure do. Excellent food and service
    0
    Votes
    hamjds
    April 20, 2018|
    AnswerShow all 3 answers
    Response from Jody T | Reviewed this property |
    Yes! Cheers!
    0
    Votes
    Denice S
    March 11, 2015|
    AnswerShow all 2 answers
    Response from SteveTignor | Reviewed this property |
    I think they would do that .
    0
    Votes
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