Nati’s Mexican Restaurant

My wife and I have enjoyed Nati’s for many years. Up to now the food, price, and service has been great.
Last Tuesday, for the first time, the service was bad and we were nickle and dimed. My wife ordered a chicken tostada with breast meat that we paid an extra $ 4.00. The tostada came without refried beans. When asked about the beans, the server said it doesn’t come with beans. Tostada’s without beans?! We asked for beans and were told it would be extra. The server was unhelpful and indifferent. My wife was very upset.
I heard that Nati’s was sold to a new owner. Is this what we can expect from the new owner? I hope not. We’re going to go again but if the service and price are bad again, we’ll go somewhere else.

Good tasty food for affordable prices. We sat outside where it was quiet and enjoyed the screaming parrots in the trees. This is a block away from the beach. Margaritas were good as well as my yummy tacos.

It’s my fourth time going here and it never disappoints. I couldn’t even take a picture bc I was really hungry and food always looks so amazing. Some people think the price is high but they give a ton of food. Like you wouldn’t believe. They have tons of combo stuff and al la carte. I got vegetable fajitas and it was so good. Anyways if you are in ob and looking for good food with big portions, go to nati’s!!!

Nothing special to write home about here. Other than the fact that they remade my burrito after the cooks lazily threw together a sopping, bread sack of meat that ended up on the floor, Natis wasn’t good.

Been here once and will never be back again. It was horrible. Weird the sign says voted #1 I don’t know how that would be possible. Try south beach for fish tacos. Or anywhere else.

3.5 stars. Didn’t love the appetizer chips. Really enjoyed the chicken enchilada and the ground beef tacos. Beef tamale was not doing it for me. Too much masa and not seasoned well. Fast service, friendly.

Supposedly this place was voted #1 Mexican food in Ocean Beach. Who the hell is voting? That’s what I want to know! Nati’s is mediocre at best. The food was ok. Not bad. Certainly not great. The carne asada burrito was wrapped loosely in a tortilla and super greasy, so it was impossible to pick up and eat like normal. There was very little cilantro and onion, however I must admit that the meat was tender and flavorful. My friends got a taco salad which they said was ok. The margaritas were pretty good. Service was not good. It wasn’t bad but there was just zero engagement and little responsiveness. I’m sure there are waaaaay better Mexican places to patronize in the area. My recommendation? Go someplace else.

Super disappointed with the lunch we had here. The service was slow (despite it being empty), and the food was familiar… just like the strip mall Mexican food back East. It’s honestly shocking to me that it is still in business when there are so many excellent Mexican restaurants in this town!

Me and my mom have been coming here since I was a child, always love to see you the long-​term employees but I’ve known since I was little. consistently good old fashioned Mexican food

We stumbled upon this place while walking around OB. We figured it had to be decent based on the multiple signs that say «Voted Best Restaurant in OB». We were very, very wrong. Food was horrible, salsa was basically water, service was atrocious… Not sure how or why this place was voted anything positive.

If you want tasty, down-​home, Ameri-​Mex eats, Nati’s is as good as it gets. (If you’re looking for authentic Mexican comidas like your abuelita used to make, this is not your place — go to Las Quatro Milpas in Barrio Logan at lunchtime.)
I’m a native-​born «OBcian.» Nati’s opened in 1963, when I was 5 years old, and my family has been coming here for as long as I can remember. My Ohio-​born mom couldn’t eat spicy food, but she was always down for one of Nati’s tasty ground beef tacos, a mild-​but-​toothsome cheese enchilada, some mild, cheese-​covered refried beans, and savory rice. The spice-​loving rest of the family just added some of Nati’s pickled jalapenos and carrots, and some spicy tomato-​based salsa to our meals, and everyone was happy. We still are.
Now that I’m all grown up (physically, if not behaviorally,) and live in East County, I still make the trek to the Old Neighborhood for a big, hot plate of Nati’s goodness whenever I get a hankering for my favorites: a Number 0 Plate (taco, enchilada, rice and beans,) or a Number 6 Plate (add a chili relleno.) And when my sister comes to visit from Oregon, Nati’s is where we stop on the way home from the airport.
Service is always friendly, and usually very fast, unless they’re packed, as they almost always are on weekend nights. Margaritas are good, iced tea is fresh, and refills on the tea are free. If you have a dog, so long as it’s well-​behaved, Nati’s is okay with you having it on the outside patio. After dinner, you can take a stroll on the OB Pier, which is just a block west of the restaurant (As long as you’re a customer, Nati’s doesn’t mind if you leave your car in the lot while you take your postprandial walk,) where you can get some fresh sea air and see what the local anglers are catching.
Oh YUM, I’ve gotta sign off — I’m Nati’s-bound tonight.

This place may not be super authentic, but I love how they have ground beef tacos! I’m not a huge fan of shredded beef as most mexi restaurants have. So that’s the only real reason I like going back. The salsa is more like tomato sauce with red pepper flakes in it… still, not too bad and has a huge kick. I like to mix it in the refried beans. The servers are always nice and there’s one lady that’s always a hit or miss. (she always up-​sells to patron if you order a house rita. I’ve had both and I honestly don’t think there’s a difference)
I still am baffled as to how they keep winning «Best Mexican Food/​Restaurant» etc. every year… but I’m thinking it may have something to do with the OBMA being next door. Free food for votes ;) I mean, this place isn’t thaaaaat bad, but there are definitely more well– deserving restaurants in OB that should take the title.

You literally could get Mexican food better at any taco shop in SD.
This is more of a senior citizens — «we went out for Meeeexican food last night honey» — Mexican food restaurant.
Best part about this place is the candy you can buy at the end! That’s the one star, for the candy… Mmmmm candy

The sour cream enchilada is the «go-​to» dish, with refried beans and rice.
The enchilada is the only thing I’ve ever ordered and I can say without a doubt that’s it’s the best thing on the menu! Why order anything else when the enchilada is always awesome?

I can’t remember the last time I had such bad Mexican food. Mexican food is simple but requires love to make delicious. They obviously gave up.
Btw. I’ve never written a review but this had to be said.

Been going since Moses parted the seas.
Food is very tasty and moderate pricing.
Family owned.
Sour Cream Enchiladas are best ever.
Might be a bit dated but great place to eat

I was brought here by a regular that raved about their Mexican food and I must say that my meal was exceptional. Very fast service and authentic Mexican food. The food is reasonably priced and the portion size is just right. The guacamole is great and the hot sauce goes well all of their dishes. And their spicy carrots are just something that you need to try. They are pickled and have a nice kick to them.

Natis Est 1963, is a landmark in OB and has been a family tradition of ours for 40 years. I’ve been coming here and enjoying the food since I was 10 years old. The food is always the same, consistently delicious for what it is. It’s not gourmet Mexican food it’s the American version but it’s always great food. Sit on the patio and enjoy the day or inside if you like. Guacamole and ground beef tacos are my favorite including the crispy quesadilla to start things off.
After a meal at Natis we love to take a walk out on the OB pier. It’s a couple blocks down from the restaurant and great way to wrap up the experience.
They have their own parking lot which is a huge bonus so parking is never a problem.
Go enjoy Natis for what it is and maybe start your own family tradition.
We have passed along the tradition to our 13 yo son who has been enjoying the food since he first «dined» here in a car seat as an infant.
Please enjoy!

I guess back in 2011 I was okay with what Nati’s was doing. Boy have things changed.
The food is way subpar. With so much awesome mexican food locally this is unacceptable. It is fine to have simple food, but do it well. Good beans need to be seasoned and cooked well. A mush of bean paste is a no go. A single avocado’s worth of (once again) unseasoned guacamole should not cost $ 6. I seriously could have polished off the whole tiny dish of guacamole with 4 chips.
Cherry cokes apparently are some sort of specialty bartender-​made cocktail that are far too expensive to give refills of so beware. Oh and don’t think you can just top off with more coke and non of the ultra expensive grenadine. Oh no, you will be charged for two drinks. I guess they need to gouge the final customers that show up here to try to make up for their inadequacies.
The only thing that Nati’s has going for them is the nostalgia of eating mexican food from the high school cafeteria. Sorry Nati’s but you need a good kick in the ass.

I am done with Nati’s. I really want to give them one star, but I feel bad since they’re a local business and pretty much an OB institution.
Service was good, but I was charged $ 2.50 for a cherry coke (I asked for a diet coke with grenadine — my go-​to Mexican food drink), and then when I asked for a diet coke as my refill, I was charged another $ 2.50 for the diet coke. This wasn’t communicated to me, it was just added to the bill. I asked about it, and was told there are no refills on the cherry coke because it is considered a bar item. Okay, that’s dumb. So, then they couldn’t give me free refills of plain diet coke, they had to charge me another $ 2.50 for the plain diet coke I asked for. They ended up taking off one of the $ 2.50 charges, but this kind of stuff really stirs me up. Especially since the glass size is honestly about two sips worth of soda, the glasses are so small and they are filled to the top with ice.
We got the guacamole dip ($ 6) appetizer. It was a tiny dish of guac — probably about ½ cup. Not worth $ 6, for sure.
I had the bean tostada. It’s just a shell, beans, lettuce, cheese, and two pieces of tomato. Nothing special. It was okay, but not worth going out to dinner for.
The food is downright not good, and they try to nickel and dime you on the drinks. I’ve got no reason to ever try Nati’s again. Unfortunately, there are basically no good Mexican restaurants in OB — I guess Rancho Cocina is the only thing I’d kinda recommend, but they are super hit or miss.