Is there parking near Ray's in North Park?

Street parking is available on El Cajon Blvd and the surrounding North Park blocks—typical for the neighborhood. It's usually not a hassle, but go early during weekend brunch if you want to avoid circling.

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

Walk-ins are welcome and the spot handles groups well. It's casual enough that you won't wait long most days, but weekend mornings during brunch can get busy—arrive before 10 a.m. if you want zero wait.

What should I order on my first visit?

Start with the breakfast burrito (the beef version is a tank of a thing) or the potato rolled tacos. If you're vegetarian, the potato and cauliflower & broccoli burrito is legitimately excellent. Get some of the hot sauce bottles on the side—they're legit.

Are there good vegetarian options?

Yeah, this spot takes vegetarian seriously. Potato tacos, bean burritos, and the potato-cauliflower-broccoli burrito are all standouts, not afterthoughts. Fresh ingredients make the difference.

Is it cool to bring kids here?

Absolutely. It's a neighborhood staple and totally family-friendly with a casual, welcoming vibe. The portions are huge, so one burrito can easily split between a parent and kid.

Do they deliver or have takeout?

Yeah, both available. They offer free local North Park delivery on orders over $25, which is a solid neighborhood move if you're in the area.

When's the best time to go to avoid a wait?

Weekday lunch or late afternoon hits different—quick service, no crowds. If you're going for breakfast, get there before 10 a.m. on weekends or any weekday morning.

Ray's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurants in North Park, San D…

“Ray's Mexican Restaurant is the El Cajon Boulevard taco shop where a family-run counter has been cranking out vegetarian burritos and seafood plates since before North Park had a vinyl corner.”

While Olympic leans into old-world lamb and Kin Len chases street-food funk, Ray's holds down the neighborhood's Mexican anchor—no fusion pivots, no creative reinterpretations, just a spare counter operation where Robert, Mehri, and their son Adonis have perfected the kind of consistency that builds fifteen-year habits. The vegetarian game here isn't an afterthought menu section; it's what locals order twice a week—potato rolled tacos that come with proper crunch, a potato-cauliflower-broccoli burrito that weighs as much as a small textbook, and a breakfast burrito with enough heft to anchor a morning walk to the observatory.

The setup is pure function: order at the counter, grab a table in the narrow space, wait for your name. No tap list, no mural-wall Instagram moment, just a family that remembers your order and delivers free in the neighborhood if you clear twenty-five dollars. The seafood menu runs deeper than most taco shops—shrimp plates, fish tacos that don't taste frozen—but the real tell is how many regulars skip the carne asada entirely and load up on the veggie options. The big bottles of hot sauce sit on every table, the kind of detail that signals a spot built for people who actually eat here, not tourists chasing authenticity.

Comes in handy when you need something that won't blow the budget but still feels like someone's paying attention—the kind of place that survives El Cajon Boulevard rent not because it's trendy, but because it feeds the neighborhood without making a scene about it.