Frequently Asked Questions
Explore some of the most frequently asked questions we get from customers here at Sombrero Mexican Food. From how to join our rewards program to what it’s like to work at Sombrero, you can find it all right here on our FAQ page.
Do you offer Vegetarian, Vegan, Keto, or other dietary options?
Absolutely! The best part about Sombrero is that everything is fully customizable. While we prepare all meals in a common kitchen and can’t guarantee that your food is 100% vegetarian, vegan, or keto-friendly, you have complete flexibility to add or remove ingredients to meet your dietary preferences.
If you have specific dietary concerns or questions, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to provide guidance and help create a meal that works for you.
How do you get the best deal at Sombrero?
If you are a Sombrero Rewards Member, every purchase (in-store or online) earns points through our Sombrero Rewards Program, helping you save on future orders. You can order online quickly and easily right here from our website!
We accept all major payment methods, including cash, debit, and credit cards. We also support contactless options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Some locations also accept EBT. You can see which locations by visiting our locations page.
How does the Sombrero Rewards Program work?
Sombrero Rewards is your ticket to the best deals and even free food. Simply download the app, join the rewards program, and you will earn 1 point for $1 spent.
You can order ahead directly from the app and you even have the option to order flat-fee delivery with the same prices you’ll see in store.
Download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store today and start saving!
Does Sombrero offer catering?
We love to cater! Whether you are looking for a round of breakfast burritos to treat your employees or you’re hosting a party and don’t feel like cooking, Sombrero Catering has you covered.
We offer a wide range of catering options from party platters to full-menu catering. You can get started by visiting the catering page right here on our website! You know the jingle:
We cater too!
Where is Sombrero located?
Sombrero Mexican Food has plenty of locations in San Diego and Southern California to serve you! We have 13 locations all around San Diego County as well as locations in El Centro and Corona, CA.
Our Carmel Mountain location was made world-famous by the hit Blink-182 song “Josie”. We have a number of locations that are also open 23 hours a day. All of our locations are available for online ordering and delivery!
What's it like to work at Sombrero Mexican Food?
Being a family-run business means working at Sombrero is being a part of our family. We offer a wide range of opportunities for those looking to get their start in the restaurant business.
With flexible hours, competitive pay and support for things like medical and child care, we try our hardest to support our staff both at work and in their personal lives as well. If you’re interested, head over to our Careers page!
Does Sombrero have gift cards?
Yes! Sombrero offers gift cards that you can purchase in-store at any of our locations or online through our website or mobile app. Once purchased, you can easily load your gift card into your account for quick access and use.
Gift cards can be redeemed at any Sombrero location or online when placing an order. Even better—when you pay with your gift card, you still earn points through Sombrero Rewards, helping you save on future meals. If you have any questions about gift cards, our team is always happy to help.
Are tamales available year-round?
Sombrero serves tamales seasonally! While they aren’t available all year, we bring them back every fall and winter. Our seasonal lineup includes shredded beef tamales, cheese with green chile, and our sweet piña tamale—a favorite dessert option for many regulars.
You can enjoy tamales individually, by the dozen, or as part of any one-item or two-item combo. If you’d like help choosing or have more questions, just reach out—our team is always here to assist.
Does Sombrero offer delivery?
Yes, Sombrero offers delivery through Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. For the best experience, we recommend ordering directly through the Sombrero app or our website. You’ll get flat-rate delivery, access to the best pricing, and you’ll continue to earn Sombrero Rewards points on your order.
Ordering directly is the easiest way to get your Sombrero favorites delivered quickly and affordably.
More questions
Everything else people ask us, from what’s on the menu to how far ahead to book catering.
Breakfast
Si buscas un buen desayuno estilo San Diego, Sombrero Mexican Food es una excelente opción. Nuestros burritos de desayuno se preparan con ingredientes frescos y están disponibles todo el día, para que puedas disfrutar un desayuno a cualquier hora. También ofrecemos platillos tradicionales mexicanos como chorizo con huevo, machaca, huevos rancheros y chilaquiles, preparados con recetas auténticas y sabores caseros. Además, servimos menudo todos los días, una de las especialidades favoritas de nuestros clientes. Ya sea que busques un desayuno rápido para llevar o una comida completa con auténtico sabor mexicano, Sombrero combina ingredientes de alta calidad, recetas tradicionales y la conveniencia de un servicio rápido que representa el auténtico estilo de San Diego.
Yes. Sombrero Mexican Food serves breakfast all day at every location. There is no separate morning cutoff: if the store is open, the breakfast menu is available. That means you can order a breakfast burrito for lunch, breakfast tacos in the afternoon, or a plate later in the evening at a location that is still serving. This is especially convenient for people with early shifts, late schedules, weekend cravings, or anyone who simply prefers eggs and potatoes over a traditional lunch or dinner. The all-day selection includes breakfast burritos, tacos, bowls, tortas, and plates. Choices range from straightforward egg-and-potato combinations to chorizo, machaca, steak and egg, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and omelettes. Store hours can vary, so “all day” means throughout the operating hours of the specific restaurant you choose. Check the official Locations page or online ordering for the current hours and menu availability at your nearest Sombrero, without having to watch the clock for a breakfast cutoff.
Sombrero’s breakfast menu includes tacos, burritos, bowls, tortas, and full plates, and the entire selection is served all day. Breakfast tacos are available at every location, with choices such as bacon, ham, sausage, beans, and vegetables. Depending on the item, they may include eggs, potatoes, cheese, pico de gallo, or other familiar breakfast ingredients. Burrito options include classics such as egg and potato, egg and bean, chorizo, machaca, steak and egg, and deluxe breakfast burritos. Guests looking for something outside a tortilla can choose a breakfast bowl or a plated meal such as chilaquiles with eggs, huevos rancheros, a chorizo breakfast plate, Spanish eggs, or an omelette. There is also a breakfast torta for a sandwich-style option. Because pricing and availability may vary by location, select your preferred store in online ordering before deciding. The biggest advantage is flexibility: breakfast is not limited to the morning, so the same choices are available whenever that location is open.
Rewards & Offers
Sombrero Mexican Food offers rotating specials, discounts, and rewards-based promotions, but guests should not assume that every location has a traditional daily happy hour. The most dependable way to find a current deal is to check the official Specials page, join Sombrero Rewards, and review the app or online ordering for your selected location. Rewards members receive access to additional promotions and earn points on qualifying purchases, which can be redeemed for free menu items. Because limited-time offers may have specific dates, hours, participating locations, redemption methods, or exclusions, always read the current terms before ordering. An old social post, search result, or coupon may no longer be valid. For regular customers, the rewards program is often more useful than waiting for a one-time discount because purchases continue building toward future food rewards. Members who meet the annual eligibility requirements can also receive a free burrito on their birthday, adding a predictable benefit alongside the rotating promotions.
Sombrero Rewards lets registered members earn one point for every dollar spent on qualifying orders placed in-store, through the Sombrero app, or through the official online ordering system. Points can be redeemed for free menu items, with reward levels available for items such as churros, drinks, tacos, burritos or bowls, combination plates, and carne asada fries. Members also receive access to exclusive promotions and discounts. The birthday benefit is a free burrito each year, but eligibility has a few requirements. The member must be registered, have a birthday on file, be opted into the Sombrero email program, and make at least one qualifying purchase of $15 or more during the previous 12 months. That qualifying purchase must be completed again each year. The birthday reward is added on the member’s birthday, and the account can be checked to confirm it is available. Current reward values, expiration dates, daily limits, and order eligibility should always be reviewed on the official Rewards page.
Catering & Party Platters
If you're looking for affordable party trays in San Diego, Sombrero Mexican Food offers catering options for gatherings of every size—from small family celebrations to corporate events serving thousands. Choose from crowd-pleasing party platters like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and rolled tacos, or keep it simple with our popular bulk burrito orders, perfect for meetings, schools, sporting events, and office lunches. We also offer buffet-style catering with a variety of authentic Mexican favorites to fit your group and budget. Whether you're feeding 10 people or 10,000, our fresh ingredients, generous portions, and reliable service make catering easy. It's a flavorful alternative to the typical party tray and a great way to bring authentic San Diego-style Mexican food to any event.
Sombrero offers several party-platter formats so groups can choose between handheld items, shareable appetizers, and full meal components. Current options include a Taco Platter with tacos plus rice and beans, a Burrito Platter with wrapped burrito halves and sides, an Enchilada Tray, and a Combo Platter featuring quesadillas and rolled tacos with chips, salsa, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Additional catering choices include burritos in bulk, taco-bar style service, breakfast selections, meat by the serving, tortillas, chips, rice, beans, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. The right mix depends on the event. Tacos and burrito halves are easy for casual gatherings, enchiladas work well for a buffet, and sides help round out the meal or accommodate different appetites. Review the official catering menu for current quantities, pricing, and customization. For larger orders, use the quote builder at least 24 hours before the event so the catering team can confirm the details and preparation requirements.
Party trays and full catering orders have different planning guidelines at Sombrero Mexican Food. There is no minimum advance notice for a standard party tray, so a location may be able to prepare one on the same day. However, platters take time to assemble, and availability depends on the order size, staffing, and how busy the restaurant is. Giving the store as much notice as possible is the safest choice, especially for multiple trays, peak meal periods, weekends, or holidays. Larger catering orders should be submitted through the website’s quote builder at least 24 hours in advance. That lead time allows the team to review quantities, menu selections, pickup or service details, and any event-specific needs. A quote request is not the same as placing a small individual food order, so use the catering process for larger groups. For a last-minute party tray, contact the selected location directly and ask about realistic preparation time rather than assuming it will be ready immediately.
Yes. Sombrero Mexican Food can provide food for breakfast meetings, employee lunches, parties, family gatherings, and larger events. Breakfast catering can include burritos in bulk or a breakfast buffet with choices such as ham and egg, machaca, or chorizo, along with tortillas, potatoes or rice, and cheese. Lunch and dinner options include taco and burrito platters, enchilada trays, combination platters, taco-bar components, meats, tortillas, rice, beans, chips, salsa, guacamole, and other sides. This flexibility makes it possible to build anything from a simple office meal to a fuller buffet-style spread. For large or customized catering orders, submit a quote through the Sombrero website at least 24 hours in advance. Include the event date, estimated guest count, preferred food, and any important service details. Smaller party trays can be ordered without a minimum notice period, but they still require preparation time, so earlier ordering is recommended whenever possible for the smoothest experience.
Locations
Sombrero Mexican Food currently has 15 active locations: multiple restaurants across San Diego County, plus one location in Corona and one in El Centro. The fastest way to find the nearest store is to open the official Locations page and use the “Use My Location” feature or browse the listed neighborhoods. The San Diego-area restaurants include convenient options around communities such as Mission Valley, Imperial Beach, Scripps Poway, Rancho Carmel, Lakeside, La Mesa, Spring Valley, South Park, El Cajon, Mission Gorge, and Copley Park Place. Each listing provides the address and links for location-specific details and online ordering. Some listings also identify features such as a drive-thru, late hours, or EBT acceptance, but those amenities are not identical at every store. Using the official locator is especially important when a search result displays another business with a similar name. Select the exact Sombrero Mexican Food location before checking the menu, prices, pickup options, hours, or directions.
Sombrero Mexican Food hours vary by location, so there is not one schedule that applies to all 15 restaurants. The most accurate way to check is to visit the official Locations page, select the store you plan to use, and review its current hours or online-ordering availability. This is particularly helpful for drive-thru, late-night, holiday, or weekend visits, when schedules may differ. Online ordering can also show whether a location is accepting orders now or scheduling them for later. One rule is consistent across the brand: breakfast is available whenever the restaurant is open. There is no morning-only cutoff, so a breakfast taco, burrito, bowl, torta, or plate can be ordered during that location’s normal operating hours. Because schedules can change temporarily, avoid depending on an old menu photo, saved search snippet, or third-party listing without checking the official location information. Confirming the store first also ensures that you see the correct menu, current pricing, and available ordering options.
About Sombrero
Sombrero Mexican Food is unique because we bring together authentic Mexican cooking and the style of Mexican food that San Diego is known for. Our menu features traditional favorites like chile verde, chile rellenos, enchiladas, tamales, and freshly grilled carne asada, all made with recipes and techniques rooted in authentic Mexican cuisine.
We prepare our food fresh every day using high-quality ingredients, including locally made tortillas delivered fresh daily, hand-prepared guacamole, slow-cooked beans and rice, and scratch-made proteins and salsas. You get the quality and flavor of a sit-down Mexican restaurant with the convenience of a fast-casual experience.
At the same time, we embrace San Diego's own twist on Mexican food with local favorites like the California Burrito, creating a menu that feels both traditional and uniquely San Diego. It's that combination of authenticity, freshness, and local heritage that has made Sombrero a San Diego favorite for more than 40 years.
Sombrero Mexican Food has a fun connection to San Diego music history through its Rancho Carmel location. The official location page notes that this Sombrero was featured in Blink-182’s song “Josie,” giving longtime fans a recognizable link between the restaurant and the local band’s early Southern California story. No music knowledge is required to enjoy the restaurant, of course, but the connection has made the Rancho Carmel shop a memorable stop for some visitors and fans. The location still operates first and foremost as a neighborhood Sombrero Mexican Food restaurant, serving the same San Diego-style favorites people expect from the brand, including burritos, tacos, all-day breakfast, combination plates, and more. Guests interested in the music connection can confirm the current address and operating hours through the official Rancho Carmel location page before visiting. It is a small piece of local pop culture that fits naturally with Sombrero’s long history in the San Diego area without changing what the restaurant is really about: fast, flavorful Mexican food.
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