Is Filiberto's a quick lunch spot if I'm working in City Heights?

Yeah, it's positioned as a fast-casual joint where service is usually quick depending on how busy they are. It's a solid go-to for takeout if you're working nearby and want something inexpensive—prices are competitive with other Mexican fast-food spots around the area.

What should I order to avoid disappointment?

Stick with their core offerings rather than the "Supreme" items—reviews consistently praise their fast food basics, but elaborate quesadillas and fish tacos have gotten mixed feedback on execution. Start simple, see what hits, then build from there.

Is this place good for bringing kids?

Yes, it's positioned as kid-friendly and casual, so it works for a weeknight family meal. Just manage expectations on food quality consistency—you might get a great order or a mediocre one depending on who's in the kitchen that day.

What's the parking situation on University Ave?

The venue is on University Ave in City Heights, which has street parking typical of the neighborhood. No dedicated lot mentioned, so be ready to circle or arrive at off-peak times if you're sensitive to parking hassles.

Do I need a reservation or can I just walk in?

This is a dine-in and takeout spot that operates on a walk-in basis—no reservations needed. Takeout might be your safest bet if you want to avoid wait times and have more control over food quality.

Has this place changed much in recent years?

According to some long-time customers, quality has been inconsistent lately—flavors sometimes bland, guacamole tastes cheap, and orders occasionally get messed up. If you've had it before and loved it, manage expectations on your next visit.

Filiberto's Mexican Food — San Diego

“Filiberto's is the 24-hour carne asada fries insurance policy you keep in your back pocket for nights when nothing else is open.”

While Thanh Tinh Chay down University builds everything from scratch and Lotus Garden runs wedding banquets upstairs, Filiberto's operates in a completely different universe—the late-night, post-shift, need-food-now economy where technique matters less than availability and volume. This is the spot that survives on being there when you need it, slinging burritos the size of small logs at prices that somehow haven't caught up with 2025 inflation.

The menu reads like every other shop in the Arizona-born chain: California burritos, rolled tacos, carne asada everything. What separates decent Filiberto's from sketchy ones comes down to staffing and when you show up. The older crew gets mentioned in reviews specifically—sometimes for burning things, sometimes for keeping standards. It's that kind of place, where your experience depends entirely on who's working the flat-top when you walk in.

The complaints are real and consistent: fish tacos that's more breading than fish, quesadillas that skip the "supreme" toppings you paid for, guacamole that tastes suspiciously store-bought. This isn't food you analyze or photograph. It's food that fills a specific gap in the City Heights late-night infrastructure—cheap, fast, open when other spots have long since locked their doors. The regulars who keep coming back aren't chasing excellence. They're chasing reliability at a price point that still makes sense, even when the execution doesn't always deliver.

Park on University. Order at the counter. Keep expectations calibrated to the price tag. And maybe stick to the straightforward stuff—carne asada burrito, rolled tacos—rather than trusting anything labeled "supreme."