La Sierra Cafe

Inside La Sierra Cafe

La Sierra Cafe is a straightforward, full-service Mexican restaurant in the heart of National City, best known for its breakfast offerings and traditional Mexican dishes like menudo, chilaquiles, and carne con huevos. The vibe here is casual and familiar, fitting for locals who appreciate hearty, no-frills meals that bring a touch of home cooking to the table.

The setting is simple and clean, with both indoor seating and an outdoor patio area where neighbors often linger over weekend brunch. It tends to attract a mix of regulars who come for the consistency and the kind of friendly, attentive service that makes repeated visits comfortable. The staff’s patient and warm approach adds to the experience, creating a space where generations of families might meet, much like you’ll spot on a typical Sunday morning.

If you’re stopping by for the menudo—a staple here—expect it served in generous portions, though some guests have noted it arrives warm rather than piping hot, so timing your visit earlier in the day might make a difference. Locals also appreciate that you can bring your own containers for takeout, a common practice especially for larger orders of menudo, which speaks to the casual, community-oriented nature of the spot.

The menu is rooted in classic Mexican comfort foods with offerings like pozole on weekends, enchiladas, tacos, and traditional stews such as caldo de pollo and carne ranchera. Portions are generous, pricing is modest, and the emphasis is on fresh, clean flavors without grease or heaviness. This makes La Sierra Cafe an appealing choice for those craving traditional Mexican breakfast or lunch dishes without the distraction of modern fusion twists.

Plan your visit for a weekend morning or early afternoon when the place hums quietly with families and longtime patrons. Expect a relaxed atmosphere where food preparation and friendliness take center stage, rather than trendy decor or novel culinary experiments. La Sierra Cafe fits firmly into National City’s local fabric as a reliable spot to gather around familiar flavors and friendly conversation.

Highlights & Local Essentials

Highlights

Has fast service

Serves great coffee

Popular for

Popular for breakfast

Popular for lunch

Good for solo dining

What they serve

Serves coffee

Serves comfort food

Serves food

Serves healthy options

Quick bite

Serves small plates

Best for

Serves breakfast

Serves brunch

Serves lunch

Serves dessert

Has seating

Accessibility

Has wheelchair-accessible car park

Has wheelchair-accessible entrance

Has wheelchair-accessible seating

Has wheelchair-accessible toilet

Parking

Free of charge street parking

Free parking lot

Somewhat difficult to find a space

Local Moments in Photos

Find It on the Map

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Tuesday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Thursday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Friday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Saturday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Sunday

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

What Locals & Travelers Say

783 Reviews

Tony Andrade

04 Jan 2026

Menudo was good (not the best and definitely not the worst). It was luke warm at best, so I'd recommend for it to be served steaming hot and let me cool it down as I slurp, enjoying it slowly..

Rachel Rose Mercantile

30 Dec 2025

My Dad and I visited Sunday morning. He used to bring me here when I was a little girl. I’m 60 now and he 83. The service was great. The food so tasty . Told my Dad, I can tell they cook with good oil. Nothing was greasy. Everything was fresh. Loved it. Everyone was so nice ! Place was clean.

Hugo Sanchez

09 Nov 2025

Cony is an institution in National City. The service at the place is friendly, kind and very patience, my wife and I loved getting to meet Grace she did an awesome job as it waitress, had evening ready and ordered very fast for us. Cony's food brought me back to my childhood when I lived with my grandparents. The smells of the food, the looks of the food, the taste . All of it was just amazing. The Chile rellenos with tomato sauce, the way that the Chile was bathed and put onto the egg batter just made the Chile relleno taste and look perfect. A piece of that chile relleno inside of your tortilla, the tomato sauce just falls out of the taco making it a perfect combination. The cheese melted inside the Chile relleno and when you cut on it just melts on your fork and mouth...... The moment I cut into the Chile relleno I was transported to my Abue's cocina when I was a kid. The enchilada roja with cheese was just perfect! You can taste the time they invest to create the magic on the red sauce. It is just right not too spicy not too salty, just the right balance between tortilla, queso and salsa. Just to made to perfection. The hard taco with shredded beef, potato, fresh lettuce and tomatoes was yummy. The tortilla was deep fried to make it just ready to carry the ingredients and give it a great bite. My wife and I are coming back and we are definitely bringing our family. Evening was amazing, Cony has an amazing story behind the creation of this beautiful place, She knows all her clients, she takes the time to welcome them and she is so sweet, kind and humble. She reminded me at my grandma's and my Tias. This was such a walk in memory lane. By the way she has an amazing caldo de res, y caldo de pollo, pozole, menudo and so much more. Check the schedule before you go. Enjoy y provecho!

Carolina Revollar

12 Oct 2025

Outdoor seating area, but if you want your menudo to go you can always bring your own soup pot and order big amounts.