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Jimmy Carter's Mexican Café
3172 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
Uber
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Dinner Menu
Hours of Operation: 7 days a week 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Closed on select holidays
Appetizers
We serve one order of complimentary chips and salsa fresca per table with orders greater than 7 dollars
Chips and Dip
Chips and Salsa Fresca
$2.00Flight of Sauces
Sample 4 of our most popular sauces… Guajillo, Verde, Norteña, and Tlaquepaque
- Small $3.00
- Medium $5.50
- Large $9.00
Guacamole
- Small $1.00
- Medium $3.00
- Large $5.00
Carrot Caddy
$2.50
2 types of marinated carrots, one spicy and one mild, served along with our salsa fresca and salsa verde. Comes with a bottomless basket of chips
Nacho Supreme
Substitute shredded beef, carne asada, pollo asado, or shrimp $3
Nachos Supreme
A mound of chips on top of a layer of beans and smothered in nacho cheese. Your choice of chicken, ground beef, carnitas, veggies or soy ground beef
- Small $9.00
- Large $11.00
Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño Poppers
An order of 4 jalapeño poppers stuffed in-house, these are not like any other popper you've had! Served with a side of ranch
- Cheese $5.50
- Pork & Cheese $6.50
Calamari Strips
Calamari Strips
Serrved with Tlaquepaque sauce and a wedge of lime
- Individual $1.75
- 3 Strips $4.50
- 5 Strips $7.50
Taquitos
Taquitos
$7.50
An order of 3 hand-rolled chicken or beef taquitos garnished with lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, sour cream and guacamole
Quesadillas
Original
A grilled 12 inch flour tortilla with melted jack cheese. Garnished with lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, sour cream and guacamole
- $8.00
- With Chicken, Carnitas, Ground Beef, Veggie, or Soy Ground Beef $8.50
- With Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Shredded Beef, or Shrimp $9.50
Corn Quesadilla
1 quesadilla with melted jack cheese in between 2 corn tortillas
- $6.50
- With Chicken, Carnitas, Ground Beef, Veggie, or Soy Ground Beef $7.50
- With Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Shredded Beef or Shrimp $8.50
Soup
Chicken Tortilla
- Cup (8oz) $5.00
- Bowl (16oz) $8.00
- Grande (24oz) $10.00
Green Pozole
- Cup (8oz) $5.00
- Bowl (16oz) $8.00
- Grande (24oz) $10.00
Albondigas
- Cup (8oz) $5.00
- Bowl (16oz) $8.00
- Grande (24oz) $10.00
Cream of Black Bean
- Cup (8oz) $5.00
- Bowl (16oz) $8.00
- Grande (24oz) $10.00
Ask for Our Soups of the Day
- Cup (8oz) $5.00
- Bowl (16oz) $8.00
- Grande (24oz) $10.00
Build Your Own Plate
Served á la carte. Add $2 for rice and beans – OR – Mexican salad. Split orders, substitutions or meat combinations $3 extra
Homemade Tamal
$8.50
Masa stuffed with pork, beef, chicken, or corn and rolled in corn husk. Steamed and served with your choice of any of our house sauces. Garnished with lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, sour cream and guacamole
Burrito
A large flour tortilla stuffed with lettuce, pico de gallo, jack cheese, and your choice of filling. Topped with guacamole and sour cream
- Bean (Pinto or Black) $7.00
- Ground Beef, Soy Ground Beef, Chicken, Veggie or Guacamole $8.50
- Carnitas, Pollo Asado, or Shredded Beef $9.00
- Carne Asada, Fish, Calamari or Shrimp $9.50
- Smothered Option Add
- $1.00
Homemade Chile Relleno
A poblano strip stuffed with queso fresco, breaded and pan-fried. Smothered with your choice of Ranchera or Norteña sauce
- Queso Fresco $8.50
- Queso Fresco and Pork $9.00
Tostada
A crispy corn tortilla topped with a layer of beans, your choice of filling and garnished with lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream
- Pinto or Black Bean $6.00
- Ground Beef, Soy Ground Beef, Chicken, Veggie, or Guacamole $6.50
- Carnitas, Pollo Asado, or Shredded Beef $7.00
- Carne Asada, Fish, Calamari or Shrimp $9.50
Enchilada
A soft corn tortilla rolled with your choice of filling and smothered with any of our signature sauces. Garnished with lettuce, cheese and sour cream
- Pinto or Black Bean $6.50
- Ground Beef, Soy Ground Beef, Chicken, Cheese, Veggie, or Guacamole $7.00
- Carnitas, Pollo Asado, or Shredded Beef $7.50
- Carne Asada, Fish, Calamari or Shrimp $8.00
Tacos
Soft - corn tortilla with your choice of filling and garnish on top. Crispy - shelled tacos garnished with lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese, and sour cream. Add beans and rice or Mexican salad $3
Garnished with Onions
cilantro and a small Mexican salad on the side
- Black or Pinto Beans $5.50
- Soy Ground Beef, Guacamole or Veggies $6.00
Garnished with Onions
cilantro, spicy red sauce, and avocado salsa
- Chicken or Ground Beef $6.00
- Pollo Asado or Shredded Beef $6.50
Garnished with Onions
cabbage, spicy red sauce, avocado salsa and cilantro
- Carnitas $6.50
- Carne Asada $7.00
Garnished with Onions
cilantro and Tlaquepaque sauce on the side
- Calamari $7.00
Garnished with Tomatoes
onions, cabbage, spicy red sauce, avocado salsa, sour cream and cilantro
- Fish $6.00
- Shrimp $7.00
JCMC Sauce Guide
Because they are made in-house with fresh ingredients on a regular basis, our sauces vary in heat
Guajillo (Red)
Guajillos are one of the most popular dried chiles in Mexico. Our guajillo sauce is mild to moderate in heat with a pleasant flavor
Green
More subtle than the Chile Verde, this sauce is thick and spicy!
Chipotle Cream
Chipotle chiles offer a unique balance of sweet and smoky in this creamy sauce. Medium in heat
Mole (Mild)
A rich, dark brown sauce made with roasted chiles, a hint of chocolate and the perfect balance of spices. Mild in heat
Ranchera
A chunky tomato based sauce made with onions and bell peppers and is mild to taste
Norteña
A spicy sauce with a special texture that accents each of the key ingredients: serrano, tomato and cilantro
Tlaquepaque (Tlah-Ke-Pah-Ke)
By far the most popular sauce on the menu! Tlaquepaque sauce is a perfect creamy combination of roasted jalapenos and cilantro. It's a spicy sauce that has captivated many customers!
Favorites
Taco Salad
Crispy tortilla bowl filled with beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Your choice of chicken, ground beef, soy ground beef, carnitas, or veggies
- Small $9.00
- Large $11.00
- Substitute Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Shredded Beef, or Shrimp
- $3.00
Jimmy's Burger
$8.00
Five-ounce lean beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. Served with your choice of fries or cottage cheese
- Add Bacon, Cheese, Jalapeño or Guacamole for (Each)
- $0.50
- Substitute a Cup of Soup
- $4.00
House Specialties
All meals served with rice, beans and tortillas and Mexican salad. Not served with tortillas or Mexican salad. Split orders, substitutions or meat combinations $3
Carne Asada or Pollo Asado
$14.00
Grilled beef or chicken in our chef's own special marinade
Carnitas
$14.00
Lean pork, seared to a crisp golden brown. Garnished with onions, cilantro, and lime
Camarones Rancheros o 'A la Diabla'
$15.50
Shrimp sautéed and smothered with your choice of Ranchera, Guajillo or Norteña sauce
Chile Verde
$13.50
Lean pork or chicken simmered in our spicy tomatillo chile sauce
Chili Colorado
$13.50
Lean pork or chicken smothered with a spicy red sauce made from a calculated mixture of guajillo chile, ancho chile, and chile de arbol
Comida del Mar Enchiladas
$14.00
Shrimp and krab smothered in either chipotle cream or Tlaquepaque sauce. Garnished with lettuce, cotija cheese, and sour cream
Mole
$13.50
Lean pork or chicken in a traditional deep, smoky sauce with a hint of chocolate
Fajitas
$14.00
Your choice of chicken or steak marinated in a Guajillo sauce and grilled with green and red bell peppers and onions
Calamari "Al Mojo de Ajo"
$14.00
Calamari strips sautéed in butter and garlic. Served with a side of Tlaquepaque sauce
Tlaquepaque
$13.50
Lean pork or pollo asado smothered in our famous Tlaquepaque sauce
Side Orders
Beans and / or Rice
- Small $2.00
- Large $3.50
Cheese
$0.75Sour Cream
$0.50Queso Fresco
$1.00Jalapeños
$0.50Mexican Salad
$4.00
Pico de gallo, lettuce, guacamole, cotija cheese and sour cream
Locally Made Tortillas (2)
- Flour or Corn $1.50
Sauce
- Small $0.75
- Medium $1.50
- Large $3.00
Pico De Gallo
$5.00French Fries
$4.00Drinks
We have a full bar!! Please ask to see an Adult Beverage menu for current offerings
Coffee
$2.50
Dark roast: regular or decaf
Café de la Olla
$2.50
Coffee brewed with cinnamon
Hot Chocolate
$2.50Soda
$2.50Hot
$2.50
Iced or Raspberry Tea
Juices
orange, apple, cranberry, tomato or milk (whole)
- Small $3.00
- Large $4.50
Homemade Agua Fresca
$3.50Desserts
Churro
$2.00Homemade Tortuga Pie
$6.00
Shortbread crust with a layer of pecans and caramel topped with a layer of chocolate. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Cajeta Churro
$2.50Nieve Frita
$6.00Homemade Flan
$6.00
traditional, coconut, cajeta
Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 Scoop $2.00
- 2 Scoop $3.50
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General Info
Hours
Monday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Friday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday:
7:00am - 9:00pm
About Us
Jimmy Carter’s is has established itself, not only as a restaurant, but as a place where locals and out-of-towners, friends and business associates, food lovers and fans of authentic Mexican comfort food can eat, drink, relax, and feel welcomed. Hence, customers become friends and keep coming back year after year – for the food, the service, and the people who make up Jimmy Carter’s. It’s especially difficult to talk about Jimmy Carter’s without talking about Jimmy Carter. This San Diego native and former-print-shop-owner-turned-restaurateur has a personality that is as welcoming, authentic and eclectic as his menu. Come by on any given day and you’re likely to see Jimmy in his Hawaiian shirt, greeting customers, sharing his latest wine find, discussing a crossword clue, or reinventing some aspect of the place like only Jimmy can.