50 Best Taco Restaurants in San Diego

“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🥰“

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

“As San Diego native and a long time resident of Pacific Beach, I highly recommend La Playa Taco Shop. I always get their California Burrito (add sour cream). It's the best of the best when it comes to burritos. Their ingredients are top notch. You won't regret going here!“

“Comida riquísima!!! Authentically delicious! 🔥🇲🇽“

“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.“

“Superb Mexican food. Fast and easy. We loved it ! 🤙🏼“

“we flew down to San Diego from Washington State to visit some friends this place was on our list of places to visit, I'm so glad we did. if you're a wrestling fan and a food fan this place is fantastic would highly recommend the only thing I wish is I would have got two chicken black bean Chipotle burritos“

“The last time I tried to eat here, there was no line. I found out it was after close. The food is always pretty good. I used to always run into friends from early adulthood, whose parents' house was in East county, here, for some reason. My guess is that it a comfortable busy hub away from downtown and closer to more-local casual or fancier places.“

“The only downside is the hired help, Ryan Bradford telling people they deserve to be killed (lynched, was his exact words) when he's posting on social media.“

“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!“

“If you are looking for the local fish haul experience, it does not get any better than this. I'm from Minnesota and have never been on the coast. My BF and I both got fish plates. I got the swordfish to try for the first time and it was amazing! I highly recommend this place. (The seaweed salad is delicious too!)“

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

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

“I go here frequently for carne asada fries over the past 7 years and there had only been a handful of times they've gotten my order just slightly off. Great spot to grab a bib at 2am in the morning, although the drive thru can be a bit tricky to drive through due to small space.
Carne asada fries are often soggy, but I personally like them soggy so do what you want with that information.“

“Great service! Great price ! They were super professional and the food was delicious. I recommend them for any party or event you are hosting. We will keep them in mind for future events.“

“Spent several enjoyable hours at New English Brewery this afternoon. Actually, came here because of wanting to try out “The Craft Taco Truck.” They didn’t disappoint! The guys were friendly, the food was great! Visually appealing and delicious. Highly recommend you seek them out and enjoy an afternoon with them! We’ll definitely be back.“

“Very good place very good food and good customer service“

“First time here went a few hours ago and the staff is so nice! Abigail this is for you especially you’re amazing don’t know if you remember me but I was wearing a blue hoodie with long brown hair lol but yes keep up the great vibes the food was delicious! Will be returning soon💞“

“Best tacos very tasty. Great customer service“

“I was visiting San Diego from Vancouver for the day and stumbled upon Birrieria Enriquez — wow, this place deserves way more love! The Queso birria tacos were incredible: tender and juicy inside, with consommé that was pure flavor heaven. And their green salsa? I couldn’t get over it. It’s one of those hole-in-the-wall spots that completely outshines the big-name restaurants. The staff were kind, the food came out fast, and everything tasted homemade. If you’re in North Park, don’t skip this place. I’d come back to San Diego just to eat here again!“

“Excelente menú, servicio amable, súper sabores. La limonada de pepino, etc etc Lo recomiendo“

“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“

“Street tacos with the vibe of California.“

“wonderful food, we went yesterday evening, a friend of mine suggested to go, I did it and it was wonderful, thanks to the kindness of the people who work here, Amazing Tacos!! we bring you in our heart coming back in Italy!! Linda“

“California Burrito Ranking (4):

Continuing my quest to rank San Diego's California Burritos!
Stop number four: Humberto's Taco Shop.
Product: The burrito was the largest I've ever seen, served incredibly quickly. It was fiery hot, almost too much so.Personally, I found the meat a bit dry. It's the cheapest burrito I've had in the city. They offer very spicy sauces. 5 out of 10
Service: The interaction was decent. 4 out of 10
Ambiance: Vibrant colors. Customers carve messages directly into the tables. When I arrived, it was quiet, but soon a large crowd formed and the line extended right to my table. 4 out of 10“

“The best tacos around San Diego better then a tijuana …!!“

“Wonderful, just so wonderful. Had a large party of 8 and everyone was thrilled with their orders which ranged across the whole menu. The fish tacos were a personal highlight, as was the quesadillas and of course Cali burrito (both huge). No lard in the tortillas or in the beans (corn oil) is much appreciated. This place really could fit the bill for neighborhood taco shop but then goes above and beyond and elevates the quality. And the prices are super reasonable.

Vegetarian options: Tortillas and beans are vegetarian and no lard. Rice has chicken stock. Staff are very conscious.

Dietary restrictions: Tortillas and beans have no lard. Staff are very conscious.

Kid-friendliness: Super great for kids.“

“I had the BEST experience ever here. I’m such a picky eater, but this restaurant allows you to pick whatever ingredients you want and put it together in a bowl for you. They made it happen for food that doesn’t really go together without a problem. The customer service goes above and beyond anything I ever experienced. The portion size is huge and for a good price. I have zero complaints about this place. If I lived in town, I would visit more often. I highly recommend you go. You will be pleased and well fed whether you are picky or not.“

“These tacos never fail to put me in a good mood. I’ve had them since I moved to Downtown, San Diego in 2022. I only come here when I am craving tacos and I only recommend Azteca! You could never go wrong whether it’s a taco, torta, enchilada, try it all!!! It’s worth it!“

“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.“

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

“One of the best cevices (if not the best cevice) I have ever had! Friendly staff and very affordable prices.

Keep in mind it's a food truck with a tent tjat houses tables and bleachers, so there are no public restrooms available.“

“This place is legit! The tacos here as super delicious and you can definitely tell they use high quality ingredients in everything. Especially in the meats! I work right around the corner from this place and am pumped they are here. If you want top notch tacos then this is your place!“

“Amazing experience delivered by Orlando and his kitchen staff. Was so nice to hear Orlando talk about the talent and humble attitude of his wife , Flor, how much he loves his business and his team“

“Pricey but delicious (+5 more characters to post)“

“This spot has great cabeza and adobada tacos (as well as just about any other Mexican street food you could imagine) at reasonable prices! High-quality and well-prepared meats with flavorful tortillas, very fresh cilantro and onions, and several great salsas to choose from - everything you could ask for in a good taco.

The service was very friendly and quick as well!“

“This place is fire. The al pastor burrito I had was sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor — exactly how it should be. The guacamole hits perfectly, super fresh and creamy. You can tell they actually care about how they prep and marinate their meat; it tastes traditional, not like the usual fast-casual stuff.

The shop itself is spotless, the prices are fair, and the people working there are genuinely nice. It feels like one of those real, local Mexican spots that just get everything right — good food, good energy, no shortcuts.

Definitely my new go-to spot by Kaiser SDMC. Highly recommend the pastor burrito with guac.“

“I stop here every time I’m in this side of my neighborhood. Take the 15 freeway and Exit El Cajon Blvd, go East a few blocks but don’t pass Menlo Ave. Look for Fish and Birria signs waving. They have the whole parking lot just drive in! I usually have two or three Fish tacos (w/o crema) and a pop then they usually know when I’m done because my to-go order is hot and ready!! My grandson is very picky but he looks forward to their Carne Asada Quesa taco’s. I’ve tried a lot off their menu and have never been disappointed, ever. They also GIVE you a “Consommé” which is actually a small portion of their seafood soup not just the fluid, I’ve had whole shrimp in mine many times and small pieces of fish. They’re not stingy with their variety of hot salsas/chili pods and garnishes (limes, cilantro, onions and pickled onions. Lots of ice cold canned and bottled drinks to choose from. This is my only food truck I trust 100% and love their quality of cooking. You’ll agree too once you try them out!“

“Some of the best tacos I’ve had in a long time. Every single bite tasted high quality and fresh. We each had three tacos and walked away perfectly but not uncomfortably full. Would recommend for anyone in San Diego.“

“Wow! The food is delicious. Every time I stop by I try something different. Always pleased, ?%. I love the food. Beef sopes and the Carne Asada Torta, Yummy! I just had Ceviche today, loved it!!!! Prices are low, you can have a good meal, full stomach for less than 15 bucks. Gotta stop by and try for yourself!.“

“We were visiting my hometown of San Diego and this location was close to where we were staying. We came in with a 5 person order. When we got back , I found they missed my order for rolled tacos with guacamole. I went back and the cashier apologised and said he didn’t hear me say that as it wasn’t on the receipt. I ordered them and he hooked me up with an extra rolled taco and an order of hot carrots. That’s great customer service. Great food as always. We’ll be back !!“

“Great Hibiscus mezcal-Rita Must come back for more soon!!! ❤️“

“We ordered take out from there and it was really good“

“My children and I all ordered the same thing 'carne asada torta' with a side of French fries. I didn't like the salsa very much but that was just personal preferences. The Tamarindo drink tasted watered down and was lacking flavor.“

“Ordered the short rib burrito and thought it was really good. Yes, $20 is a lot for a burrito, but this was the first time I've actually been satisfied with my ballpark food. The quantity and quality was all there; definitely a hefty burrito.“

“Fui con amigos por unas bebidas y resultó que la comida es fantástica“

“We ordered the chicken meal. Absolutely delicious! Customer service is awesome too. We'll definitely order again!“

“Definitely the best tacos in Mission Valley. The Taco Tuesday special is a great value. Friendly people. Once you try them, you won't go anywhere else.“

“Review long overdue. Amazing customer Service the birria Ramen and street tacos is to die for. Best in all of California Santa Barbara, San Fransisco, LA me and my wife do OTR for FedEx and we’ve been all over California. Covered all the states, This Spot takes the #1 spot in our Hearts for the best street tacos and Birria Ramen. Highly recommended. Super affordable. Best $56 I spent at a food truck 2.50 for mini tacos and they are not mini. Regular tacos 4 dollars and there huge. I could only eat 2 mini tacos before I jumped into the birria Ramen and they don’t skip out on the meat either it’s full on both mini tacos and Birria ramen. Highly recommended. Don’t miss out or sleep on this food truck, A1 whoever is the cook keep cooking because your food is by far the best food truck spot we ever tried puts all other food truck in the states to shame. I had to stop eating just to type this out, because their food is by far the best we’ve ever had. Plenty of parking for my Semi truckers, Cargo Vans, RVs ect. Free parking. Come try their food don’t miss out. Find out for yourself saving this spot on my google maps as the #1 spot in San Diego for the best food truck in all of California we will be back next time we are in California. Thank you for your service! ❤️“

“Grupo ángeles y diablos agradece a : 1 toda la clientela del Vallarta que asistió a nuestro aniversario. 2 a nuestras y nuestros seguidores que nos siguen por años, mil gracias 3 A Lourdez gerente del Vallarta por su confianza, amistad y apoyo 4 A la señora Susana por su apoyo 5 A los grupos que nos apoyaron Yuma y efectivos de la Sierra A Sergio de toro pesado. Y Don Julián Briano y sus Hermanos. 6. Y al Dj José el Pachanguero Mil gracias a todos fue una noche de éxito GRACIAS!!!!!“