Tony's Jacal in Solana Beach

 Tony's Jacal has flavorful, simple Mexican food in a garden setting.  A jacal is a simple mud hut, but this is a very pretty place with a patio full of mandevillas and a small pond.  I had a mezcal paloma cocktail that was excellent.  I'm a mezcal lover!  The salsa and chips were good and then brought us a spicy salsa, upon request.  I had a very traditional guisada with beef.  It is a very filling stew of meat and potatoes served with rice and beans.  It was a big portion and I had the rest for lunch.  My friend had a sope, which a fried corn meal base loaded with toppings.  The food had a pleasant spice level.  

The menu is interesting and there are many things I want to try.  They offer many dishes with turkey, which is not common in San Diego Mexican restaurants.  There are also dishes with nopalitos - the flesh of a cactus pad.

I liked this place a lot.  It has been around since 1946 and it is easy to see the reason for its longevity.