Valentine’s Mexican Food
842 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92101
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