San Diego Reader

• Restaurant | Mexican | East Village

Valentine’s Mexican Food

• 842 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92101 | Directions
• 619-234-8256

Located walking distance from the Gaslamp Quarter, Valentine’s clean and spacious dining room is ideal for late night (open till midnight weekdays, 2:30 a.m. on weekends), post-club munchies. Their juicy carne asada fries, California burrito, and substantial al pastor taco lend themselves well as nightcaps to the booze-filled belly. The seafood, especially shrimp, is exceptional, but steer away from veggie options, which lean toward the bland, with canned mushrooms, too-crisp produce, and heavy-handed lettuce portions. The spicy carrots are on the softer side, and, while not bad, the salsas are generic. However, most burritos go for around $5, foosball is 25 cents, and everything is made big.

— Chad Deal