Family-owned birrieria · Santee, CA
Authentic Birria worth crossing San Diego for
Beef slow-cooked for hours in rich adobo, hand-crisped quesatacos, and consommé made from the actual stew. This is birria the way it's supposed to taste.
- Hours
- Open daily from 9 AM
- Phone
- (619) 328-0058
What to order
The dishes people drive for
Every cut is slow-cooked in-house, every tortilla hits the plancha to order. Start with these.
Our story
Born in Santee. Built to travel.
Mr. Birria opened its doors on Carlton Hills Blvd in 2020 with one obsession: birria made the slow way, from a chef with 30+ years in Mexican kitchens. San Diego noticed — and asked us to bring it to their events. So we put the kitchen on wheels: our catering taco truck now rolls out across the county while the restaurant keeps the plancha hot at home.
We cater!
Two ways to feed a crowd
From a backyard birthday to a 300-guest wedding — pick the setup that fits, and we handle the rest.
Watch it made
Fresh off the plancha
See the birria pulled, the quesatacos crisped, and the consommé ladled — straight from our kitchen.
Bone Marrow Tacos
Carne Asada Torta
Pollo Asado Chips
Michelada
Birria Catering Trays
The menu
Mexican food in Santee, from breakfast to birria
Everything is cooked in-house and to order: slow-cooked beef birria, carne asada, adobada, Mexican breakfast from 9 AM, and the house specials people drive for.
Mr. Birria Specials
House creations you won't find anywhere else — built on our slow-cooked beef birria.
Birria Sope, Birria Ramen, Birria Ramen & Queso Tacos Combo, Birria Nachos, Birria Grilled Cheese and 6 more · from $5
Breakfast
Served from 9 AM. Chilaquiles, enchiladas, and breakfast burritos done the Mexican way.
4 Enchiladas (Green or Red), Chilaquiles Verdes, Chilaquiles Rojos, Adobada Breakfast Burrito, Asada Breakfast Burrito and 2 more · from $12
Beef Birria
Our signature: beef slow-cooked in a rich adobo until it falls apart. Every order pairs with our consommé.
Birria Taco, Taco Dorado (Crispy Taco), Queso Taco (Crispy Taco), Mulita, Keto Taco and 8 more · from $3.50
Carne Asada
Char-grilled steak, San Diego style.
Carne Asada Taco, Asada Quesa Taco, Carne Asada Mulita, Carne Asada Burrito, California Burrito and 5 more · from $4.50
Adobada
Chile-marinated pork, seared to order.
Adobada Taco, Adobada Quesa Taco, Adobada Mulita, Adobada Quesadilla, Adobada Burrito and 3 more · from $4
Cabeza
Tender, traditional slow-steamed beef cabeza.
Cabeza Dorado, Cabeza Taco, Cabeza Burrito · from $4
Seafood
Baja-style shrimp and beer-battered fish.
Taco Gobernador, Surf & Turf Taco, Beer Battered Fish Taco, Beer Battered Fish Taco Plate, Fish Burrito and 6 more · from $4
Add-Ons
Consommé, Consommé con Carne, Bone Marrow, Bone Marrow with Meat, Guacamole (for burrito, torta, quesadilla) · from $1.50
Sides
Chips, Chips & Guacamole, Pico de Gallo (6 oz), Guacamole (6 oz), Pinto Beans (6 oz) and 2 more · from $3
Kids
Cheese Quesadilla, Beans & Cheese Burrito · from $6
Delights
Churros, Churros & Ice Cream, Tiramisu, Chocoflan, Cheesecake · from $5
Drinks
Michelada, Beer, Aguas Frescas, Bottled Soft Drinks, Can Soda and 1 more · from $1.50
Worth the drive
Looking for the best birria in San Diego?
We let our regulars and our reviews answer that. What we can promise is the method: beef slow-cooked for hours in a rich adobo of dried chiles, consommé made from the actual stew, quesatacos crisped to order on the plancha, and a family in the kitchen since 2020. We are in Santee, about 20 minutes east of downtown San Diego, and people come from all over the county for it.
The proof is public
San Diego keeps coming back
Hundreds of reviews and customer photos on Google and Yelp. Read them, then come taste why.
- Yelp reviews
- 695+
- customer photos
- 850+
- serving Santee since
- 2020
- years of cooking behind the recipes
- 30+
On Instagram
Follow @mr_birria
Daily birria, behind-the-scenes, and food truck stops. Tag us in your photos — we repost our favorites.
Find us
Birria in Santee, East County San Diego
A short drive from El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa and the rest of East County, and about 20 minutes east of downtown San Diego.
8926 Carlton Hills BlvdSantee, CA 92071
- Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Free parking · dine-in · takeout · kid-friendly
Good to know
Questions, answered
What is birria?
Birria is a traditional Mexican stew of beef slow-cooked for hours in a rich adobo of dried chiles and spices until it falls apart. At Mr. Birria in Santee, we serve it in tacos, quesatacos, ramen, burritos, and by the orden — always with our signature consommé for dipping.
Where is Mr. Birria located?
Mr. Birria is located at 8926 Carlton Hills Blvd, Santee, CA 92071 — about 20 minutes east of downtown San Diego, with free parking. Call us at (619) 328-0058.
What are Mr. Birria's hours?
We're open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Breakfast is served daily from 9:00 AM.
Does Mr. Birria offer delivery or online ordering?
Yes — order Mr. Birria for delivery or pickup through DoorDash, or call (619) 328-0058 to place a pickup order directly with the restaurant.
Does Mr. Birria serve breakfast?
Yes. Mexican breakfast is served daily from 9:00 AM: chilaquiles rojos and verdes, breakfast burritos with adobada, asada or birria, enchiladas, omelets, and fresh brewed coffee.
Does Mr. Birria have vegetarian or keto options?
We offer a keto taco (birria and Oaxaca cheese in a crispy cheese shell instead of a tortilla), cheese quesadillas, beans and cheese burritos, and sides like guacamole, rice, and beans. Ask our team and we'll help you build something that fits your diet.
Where can I get birria near me in East County San Diego?
Mr. Birria is at 8926 Carlton Hills Blvd in Santee, CA 92071, a short drive from El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa and the rest of East County, and about 20 minutes east of downtown San Diego. Dine in, take out, or order on DoorDash. Open daily from 9:00 AM.
Is Mr. Birria the best birria in San Diego?
We let our regulars and our Google reviews answer that. What we can promise: beef slow-cooked for hours in a rich adobo of dried chiles, consommé made from the actual stew, quesatacos crisped to order on the plancha, and a family running the kitchen since 2020. People drive to Santee from across San Diego County for it.