50 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego

“The beans rice and chorizo is always bomb and the flour tortilla amazing!!!!!!! Love it“

“Amazing food. Delicious & unique drinks. All very reasonable. Will definitely return & highly recommended!!“

“The best tacos I have had in San Diego . Great service and really good food“

“Overall , amazing Perfect way to grab some gourmet tacos at regular price and excellent ceviche“

“Every time I come in here, I wonder why I don't come more often. (Possibly the atmosphere, it's clean but not the coziest. No music or TV, not much to look at.) But the food, wow! I always get three different tacos, they're all loaded with such amazing flavors and textures. The fresh salsas are also spectacular. I need to start making this a weekly visit.“

“Got a torta al pastor, absolutely delicious. Thanks yall!“

“Grood place and people ...extensive menu options. Maybe not thee best I have ever tasted, but 10 rolled tacos for less than $10 makes this place a great value.

Edit - prices have risen since original review, but still good value relative to other taco shops.“

“Es una comida muy sabrosa y la recomendación sus trabajadores muy buenos Blanca Érica Berenice Marta Karo el local está (111)“

“Really nice place Great food 🥘 excellent decor!!!!!“

“This place is the best! We’re from Colorado and we found this place three years ago when we were visiting. We’ve dreamt about their fish and shrimp tacos ever since, so we make it a point to stop by whenever we’re in San Diego. This last trip was no different. We even went twice this year because they recommended their garlic and butter fish and shrimp tacos and they’re to die for (along with everything else we’ve had). While they do have outdoor seating available, we ate in our car because we had our pup with us. When we went back, they even said they remembered us. Everyone is super friendly and welcoming, the place is clean and the food is tasteful. We just wish they would bring their truck to Denver so we could have them more often!“

“The food, drinks & service were amazing!! I’m coming back for sure 👌🏻“

“Para toda la gente de México ,Centro y sur América nuestra comida Potosína una de las mejores de México y para muestra Birrieria & Taqueria la Huasteca recomendada 100%“

“Cali Burrito On Point !!! 🔥“

“Came from Michigan and was not disappointed! Definitely eating here every time I come. It’s a must eat!“

“Have tried two other Taco Stand locations and now came to give this one a try.

I think this location was a little bit of hit or miss depending on the day and the menu item.

We got some tacos delivered home and sister-in-law, friend as well as husband loved everything they got! Sister-In-Law and friend were visiting from out of town and they really liked the food here so much that they wanted to get it again before leaving from their visit.
They really seemed to like Pollo(chicken) and Shrimp tacos.
One thing to note is that when you order delivery on doordash they end up charging for adding the sauces which is not the case. When you put a pickup order from the store directly because you can just take as many sauces as you would like.

Husband and I also brought another friend here who was visiting from Canada and she was totally surprised by the quality of the tacos here! The pork taco must have been her favorite and I think it was the combination of the pork and pineapple in there!

I really loved the Shrimp Taco! This was my first time trying the shrimp taco and I think the combination of everything went really well. I was not expecting that cheese to be put on the tortilla so next time I think I would ask them to skip that to make it a little healthier. There was quite an amount of oil in the shrimp though, so I think that's another thing that I would like to change but otherwise overall flavor profile was lovely.

I usually love the fish taco from the other locations, but this one was subpar. It was actually quite a big thick fillet of fish so a lot of the bites felt like eating a big chunk of fish and not enough sauce or flavoring and tortilla to go with. Definitely appreciate the large portion size of the fish in there, but I think it ended up being too much fish for that one particular taco. Husband also have the same experience so it must have just been this particular day that the pieces of fish were very big. Definitely need to give it another try!“

“Made a work trip & birthday alone - amazing🤍Thank you! And food/drinks bomb!“

“Had a great time for Mother’s Day. The food was great & all of the wait staff were great.“

“The best tacos hands down! Visited in Chula Vista, CA! 🤤“

“Stopped in for my first time this past weekend and was honestly really impressed. My family lives very close by in Rancho Santa Fe so we have been going to the Highlands and now one Paseo for many years and have tried all the different restaurants that have come in and out. I would say that Nick’s is one of the better ones. Inside is really well done, it’s very modern with a very large bar and many different types of seating. I also like how open the restaurant is with giant garage door sized entryways so there is really a nice breeze as you’re eating. It’s attached to a shopping center with free multi storage garage parking. Our server was also very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They do have a very large bar in the center of the restaurant so you can also stop in for drinks instead of dining if you prefer.

For this first visit I decided to start with the Shrimp Ceviche and honestly loved it. It was the perfect amount of food and really had that powerful lime flavor to it which I love. Next for dinner I chose the Enchiladas Divorciadas and really enjoyed both of them. They had great flavors and were just really enjoyable, the mole sauce was especially rich and was my favorite part. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in or near Del Mar, or to anyone in San Diego searching for a great upscale Mexican dining option.“

“first time there, I had chilaquiles with chicken, two eggs over- medium, good & spicy,my buddy had 2 tacos all pastor, delish and filling. plan on coming back to try the rest if the menu. :)“

“amazing food.. I have been going for years“

“Beautiful location and set up. Food was well above expectations. A beautiful fusion of traditional Mexican flavours with a modern twist. Very good service to top it off! Highly recommended“

“I was here for a private event so it was probably a bit different experience, but the food and drinks were still great. Absolutely amazing guava margaritas, couldn't get enough of them. It was a large group so they did pans of salmon, they somehow still managed to avoid drying it out and making it tough. It was very good. Don't miss out on the churros; Big, light, mouth watering. Soooo good!“

“Try the horchata! It is delicious. Get your own and don’t share with your husband or there won’t be any for you. Go for the large. Also, their mulas are delicious, better than the tacos. They are on handmade tortillas. Staff is super friendly.“

“Great food and really nice flavors! The only issue was the music — in the smaller room it was super loud, way louder than in the main restaurant. Our server had to get close so that we didn't have to shout. Would definitely come back but would request to sit in a different area.“

“This is a must visit when in San Diego! The best food! Everyone is kind that works here and even with waiting once an hour and a half in line I was not disappointed. Highly recommend Oscar's of Emerald in SD🥰“

“Came here because they supposedly have San Diego's BEST margarita. I agree. It was excellent, and the food was super delicious, too. Great service and specialty tequila if you desire. Definately recommend this place and will be back.“

“The food was absolutely delicious. Will come again. Thank you“

“As good as the vibe is , The food is better, as good as the food is The service is Even greater. I don’t leave reviews normally but After visiting this place I felt obligated. This Lady Named Nastassia was the icing on an already great cake. She recommended perfect meal and drink choices. Kept a smile on and navigated a busy day.

I’m assuming she has to be management with the way she showed her experience and if she’s not she should be. ? off to to the place !“

“BEST vegan burritos and everything else !“

“gran lugar, excelente comida y atención“

“So yummy! I will be back for more!“

“I mean!, you really have to come and eat their super yummy food! Si eres mexicano y vives acá (ya tú sabes) te va a saber a mexico 🇲🇽! Real authentic Mexican comida!“

“Cozy restaurant, food was fast, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Staff was friendly. Best thing is that if you have a craving for good Mexican food, Castaneda's is open 24 hours and staff service is always great no matter what time you go.“

“Great food, great taste“

“Feels like crossing the border. Everyone here is SO friendly and the food is awesome! Maybe it's because I'm usually the only gringo in the place (which is a GOOD sign for authentic Mexican food!), but I feel like I should dredge up my embarrassingly limited Spanish every time I walk in the place. 😁
They really do carnitas right. You can customize how much fat to meat you want, which is important if you're trying to please a larger crowd. Mexicans appreciate the flavor and added nutrition of the rich, fatty stuff, whereas most gringos like theirs a bit leaner (they don't know what they're missing!). The tortillas are always fresh and they greet you by handing you a free sampler portion of their awesome carnitas on a fresh tortilla right as you walk in the door! 🥰
I went there recently just to buy a pound of their fresh lard to make my own tortillas from some new heritage flour from Sunrise Mills my gluten sensitive wife found that she could eat, and it was outstanding! 😎 Nothing like that horrible, bland hydrogenated shelf-stable stuff you find in the red and white box at the grocery store. 😒
Highly recommended.“

“Staff is very friendly. Amazing food and amazing service! Rene is the best chef in town! Will be back again for sure! Highly recommend!“

“Became a regular here pretty quickly bringing various members of my family here to try new items. The Jamaica and Horchata are made in house and really good rich in flavor, my kid doesn’t like horchata normally but could not stop drinking this version. Tried the Menudo, Pazole, Super Burrito, Rolled Tacos, and none have disappointed yet. Today was the Campechana, delicious!“

“Good place to stop for a quick bite to eat. Food is tasty with a nice portion of finely blended shredded cheese on many of the menu items. There is a little drive-thru and a spot to eat. The huevos rancheros were filling and tasty. The breaded fish tacos were good. The shrimp tacos were good. If you don't like rice in your taco I would not suggest the shrimp tacos. 24-hour availability is always a plus.“

“gran lugar, excelente comida y atención“

“Dinner was Devine , beautiful atmosphere, everyone was very nice , thank you ♥️“

“Beautiful food! So delicious! Try the Mole, it’s a real treat!“

“The food was delicious. The coctel de camarón
was tender, not overcooked. The aguachiles were the right amount of spice. The brunette waitress passed by me about 4 times and didn't acknowledge me. The red head waitress helped me and was very attentive and courteous. The environment is chill to catch up with family and friends who love mariscos. You can buy your brew and bring it. Perfect for a warm sunny day.“

“Heading out to Convoy street, you know what I'm looking for.... solid Mexican cuisine, lol. But no joke, this is one of my new favorite spots in San Diego. Ensenada Fish Taco? it rivals the best spots in town. Quesa taco with fried cheese and shrimp? awesome. Their tortillas are great. Their guacamole is served in a molcajete and super fresh and citrusy. Frijoles, I'm ordering some to go for later. Been twice, will be again. Convoy is my Mexican Hot Spot (not Hot Pot=) They do a taco Tuesday but everything is worth the price all day.“

“Delicious is all I can say! Very good quality tamales and in a variety of flavors! Will definitely be back.“

“I'd like to say to anyone who plans to visit the Pacific Beach area of San Diego, you must stop in this location. Not only will you find great cocktails, but there are always two for one. The food is great along with the atmosphere 👌🏿. Then you not only can have great food until late night but can come right back in the morning for breakfast.“

“I highly recommend Tacos El Vaquero! We had a hard time finding a good caterer for our reception that could fit our budget and needs. Tacos El Vaquero worked closely with us to ensure they could cater our event and meet our needs. A great vendor, and my guests were so happy with how delicious the tacos were. As a host, that’s what you want to hear! 10/10“

“We tried Mike’s over the weekend & it was absolutely delicious! Definitely would recommend it if you like birria!“

“great place. the staff makes this place so fun! Brenda is a HOOT!!!! go here..eat drink and have a blast!!“

“This place was a pleasant surprise! My boyfriend and I ordered the combo meal with 3 tacos, fries and a drink. The tacos were so flavorful and delicious. He got 1 steak, 1 chicken, and 1 shrimp and was very satisfied. We even contemplated going again that night but we missed their closing time by 30 minutes. The only not so good thing were the fries but overall 10/10 highly recommend.“