Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market

San Diego, CA · Latin American restaurant

Rating
4.5/5
★★★★★ 4.5
Reviews
20
Rank in San Diego
#848
of 3838 restaurants
City Percentile
62%
rating percentile
Address
Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market, 6163 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone
(858) 874-7827
Website
tropicalstar.com
Status
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM

Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market is a restaurant located in San Diego, CA. It is one of 3,838 restaurants listed in San Diego. Its 4.5-star rating is above the San Diego city average of 4.3 stars. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

About Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market

Capture the taste of the Caribbean at Tropical Star. Our menu brings you authentic recipes from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America. We use only the finest ingredients and prepare each meal with love. Many of the special food and seasonings... More

Hours

Saturday11 AM–7 PM

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 Sue Duong · Oct 2025

10-11-2025 Happy Saturday! I drove by this place at least 3x weekly never knew it existed. My friend invited me to come dancing. I thought, “Why not? It’s only 6.3 mi from my house.” Glad I went, fun experience listening to Latin music and watching ppl dancing; I had to leave early so I didn’t get a chance to dance, next time lol My friend and her friends ordered Papa Rellena ($6) and Empanadilla ($5); they enjoyed it. I, however, didn’t ordered any food but had Lulo drink ($6.45). My very first time trying it, refreshing! Note: -Regular hours, order food at the market counter. -Dancing hours, start @ 9 pm. I believe the entrance fee is $5. In terms of food, it’s full service from Snack Menu. Have fun dancing y’all!

★★★★★ 5.0 Ben D · Jun 2025

I had a great dining experience at this South American restaurant today! The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by an exotic little grocery store selling authentic South American spices and grocery items, which sets a unique vibe. Turn left, and you discover a cozy restaurant with a bar and coffee station. The menu features dishes from countries like Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Every dish we ordered was bursting with flavor and made with incredibly fresh ingredients. The portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality. My personal favorite dish is the avocado salad—the dressing is light and refreshing, and the avocado portion is impressively generous, making it a healthy and delicious choice. Another standout was their signature corn tortilla, made fr

★★★★★ 5.0 Kennia Rogers · Mar 2026

Tropical Star is a true hidden gem whenever a Latin dish is calling my name, this place delivers every time. The menu has whatever craving you can imagine, from perfectly seasoned classics to delightful regional specialties, all made with fresh, authentic flavors. Service is unmatched: friendly, attentive, and genuinely proud of the food, which makes every visit feel warm and personal. Highly recommend for anyone seeking real Latin cuisine and exceptional hospitality. You can not go wrong with any dish here they are all mouth watering.

★☆☆☆☆ 1.0 Dee T · Dec 2025

I will not be returning to this establishment. I ordered three entrée plates at $19.99 each based on the appealing menu descriptions and photos. We ordered takeout, and upon arriving home and opening my order, I was very disappointed. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, which was advertised as containing beef, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, fries, and rice, however, my order was missing the cilantro and there was 1 hidden tomato. Additionally, the dish was excessively salty. My son’s meal was also overly salted. Overall, the experience was disappointing, as the food did not match the quality or description presented.

★★★★★ 5.0 L Seven · Apr 2025

I do enjoy coming here to get some good Latin eats. I ordered the chicken Pastelitos and a Cuban sandwich. Both were very flavorful and delicious. I over-ordered. Lol. I couldn't eat the entire sandwich, I had to take it home. But was still delicious later. My friend ordered the Arroz con Pollo with beans and a salad. He enjoyed it. But would have preferred not to have big chunks of chicken. When we came in on April 5th, there were 2 women at the register. They were having a conversation which seemed more important than greeting customers. Afterward, the young lady who was the order taker was not friendly at all. I felt like I needed to rush to give her my order. Not pleasant at all. Once we sat down, our order came out fresh and hot. Again, delicious. The server was nice. There was

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating ✓ Assistive Hearing Loop

Services

Latin American restaurantArgentinian restaurantBrazilian restaurantCaribbean restaurantColombian restaurantCuban restaurantDominican restaurantPeruvian restaurantPuerto Rican restaurant

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This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.