Casa Machado

The restaurant was located in an unexpected area, within the Montgomery Gibbs Executive airport. There was plenty of parking and it felt secluded which was nice. Despite having dinner on a Saturday evening, they weren’t insanely busy either. Immediately, we liked the decor and the relaxed atmosphere. Most of the staff, with the exception of our waitress, could have been friendlier. I ordered their Chile Rellenos plate with rice and beans as well as their margarita flight. I appreciated that they cleaned out the seeds in the chiles. The seeds are time consuming to remove, but it makes a huge difference in the overall quality and pleasantness of the dish. I also liked the flavor of the cheese used in the chiles. The rice and beans were perfectly cooked and flavorful. The margaritas were served on an airplane shaped board which was a cute concept given their location, but not ideal for the table. The board takes up too much space and the drinks weren’t very stable. The margaritas were unfortunately mediocre. The flavors I chose were mango, strawberry and tamarindo. The strawberry was noticeably made with just fruit juice, the mango was too sweet and the tamarindo was hardly discernible. The drinks had a nice kick though. We also ordered their chicken mole entree and it probably was the worst mole dish I’ve had. It lacked depth in flavor and it was entirely too sweet. It didn’t have any heat to contrast with the sweetness. My daughter ordered their bean and cheese burrito with a side of fries. She enjoyed her dish. The only complaint she had was that the beans overflowed out of the burrito which made it messy to eat. We paid approximately $350 (including tip) for 7 people. Their prices were reasonable and despite some misses, I would return to sample other dishes.

What a hidden gem!! If you’re looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant with a cozy vibe, this is the perfect place…& it’s located next to the Montgomery Airstrip!!

Was there for a birthday party. We were in a large side room. It had no atmosphere at all, though it had a great view of Montgomery field. The food and the service was excellent. I would highly recommend their catering buffet. We had cheese enchiladas, ingredients for making fresh flour tortilla burritos or tacos. All of those ingredients were outstanding. If I were going to use it for some kind of celebration, I would definitely bring some decorations. I didn't go into the main part of the restaurant, so I am not speaking to its atmosphere at all.

This is a wonderful Mexican restaurant to visit at the airport in San Diego. If you’re flying into Montgomery Field, or just looking for a dining experience, enjoying watching airplanes fly give Casa Machado a try. The food is delicious in the view is entertaining. They specialize in a cold relish tray with their chips and salsa. It’s worth making the flight just to experience the dining here.

My family and I have been dining at Casa Machado for many years and we’ve celebrated a few birthdays here as well, (it’s great for large parties). Uniquely located on the second floor above the terminal at Montgomery-Gibbs Airport, you’ll enjoy some great food with views of planes taking off/landing. Truly, if you’re looking for authentic, delicious Mexican food and (strong) margaritas in San Diego, this should be high up on your list. I definitely recommend the chicken enchiladas (with any of their sauces), any tostada, Chile Verde, and chicken/steak fajitas. Every single time, the food consistently comes out fast and piping hot.