Instead of bailiffs and judges, Jose’s Courtroom brims with surfers and sunbathers from nearby beaches, their hair still damp with saltwater and their flip-flops dusted in a thin layer of sand. The decades-old La Jolla institution draws beach bums, businesspeople, and tourists alike with its colorful cocktails and menu of Mexican favorites. Chef Jose Rodriguez puts almost 20 years of experience to work as he folds meats and seafood into tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. He stuffs burritos with tender chicken, juicy steak, and plump shrimp along with generous scoops of fresh salsa and guacamole.

At ceramic-tile tabletops out in the boisterous dining room, diners nibble on chips and salsa and clink glasses of margaritas and bottles of Mexican beer. On the covered front patio, meanwhile, others enjoy the warm summer air, watching the sun set over the Cove. On the weekends, this festive eatery hosts dance parties, when DJs play popular music videos on the flat-screen televisions. The same flat-screen televisions also broadcast live sports, from action-packed football games to football games where they just kind of stand there and watch the clock wind down.