Tacos and Tequila Touch Down in Oceanside

Adding to the mix in the increasingly dynamic dining neighborhood of Oceanside is the newly-opened Jalisco Cantina. Located on Coast Highway, in a 1,250-square-foot space that used to be a clothing store, the restaurant is adjacent to craft beer bar Barrel Republic Oceanside and shares the same owner, Dave Pike, who also operates Barrel Republic locations in Pacific Beach and Carlsbad.

Named for the central-coastal Mexican state of Jalisco, the eatery is now serving a menu that ranges from torta sliders made with lime chicken, chipotle, pepper jack cheese and habanero-pickled onions to avocado flautas and ceviche, plus five taco options including orange-cumin carnitas and lime-garlic shrimp. Main dishes include fresh yellowtail with avocado, roasted tomatoes, cilantro oil, green chilis, red jalapeño and citrus in a seafood broth.

Crave Imagery

Jalisco is known as the epicenter of tequila production and the bar here focuses on agave spirits, offering both tequila and mezcal flights and an array of margaritas including the Mango Serrano Margarita, a concoction of 100% Blue Agave tequila, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, mango puree, fresh lime and Curacao. The specialty cocktails also feature tequila, including the Black Betty made with Don Pilar Silver tequila swimming with Crème de Cassis, Black Orgeat, activated charcoal, fresh lime and egg white. Jalisco Cantina is now open from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.