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🥰“

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

“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! 🔥🇲🇽“

“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.“

“Wow! I was skeptical of the reviews, but this place is extraordinary. Phenomenal flavors in not only the Birria but the cabeza and carne steak taco were some of the best I’ve ever had. Is very greasy, but it’s birria. Service was very friendly.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“Absolutely delicious. All the talk about their California Burrito is true.

Wife and I get a Pastor and a California Burrito and eat half of each. Try their hot sauces, red and green both.

Place is small but runs quickly and smoothly.

Parking is a bit tough but it's not their fault, the lot is barely 12 spaces. Don't let that stop you, just go a little further to the larger lot and walk about 30 seconds for your burrito. It's worth it.“

“the food and service here are great! i love the location and design of the restaurant, and was super excited to try out some new vegan food. they have a very solid menu selection, and i like how many protein options they have. i tried the nachos and the taco platter, which were both delicious! the vegan proteins are very well made, and i thought that the sauces and flavor combinations were very well thought out. personally, my favorite taco that i tried was the plantain taco as it was unique in terms of flavor profile. the guac is also made fresh here and was quite tasty. the food also came out really fast given that there were quite a few people ordering and eating in the restaurant. it was a little bit loud inside the restaurant, but it wasn't crazy or anything. overall, i would definitely recommend tacotarian for some quick service and delicious tacos!“

“Street tacos with the vibe of California.“

“Elizabeth greeted me with a smile and was very kind when taking my order, after ordering i was immediately given my horchata and went to sit down at a table. the atmosphere was very welcoming and pleasant, after a few minutes she brought out my tacos witch were very fresh and a great portion for the price! each taco was completely full of meat, cilantro and onions, and was perfectly filling. the hot sauce and salsas were also very good, they had mild, medium, and hot with great flavor and spice level. elizabeth checked in to make sure everything was good and it definitely was, after i ate me and her had a kind conversation about the food and my experience witch was really nice. i left in a better mood then i arrived in, over all a super solid taco shop with great people, a friendly environment and really good food, i will be coming back again! 10/10“

“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.“

“I've been coming here since 2008, this time i came to visit since long time and the prices are still convinient and the food is great. The only thing i consider is taking the food to go because of homeless and transients outside and inside. This place was my childhood taco shop, also they had security inside back then, now no more. I missed this place❤️“

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

“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“

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

“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“

“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“

“Have driven by this truck a thousand times but never stopped by until tonight, and we were so happy we did! We’ve been sleeping on this place for way too long. The cabeza, adobada, and birria tacos were all cooked perfectly and the salsas were on point too. Lastly, the carne asada in their California burrito couldn’t have been better. The service was also as friendly as can be, making sure we got everything you need. I think we found our new regular spot. Oh and they might have the best Jamaica.“

“Looking for something to eat on Christmas Day and decided to try. Very glad we stopped in, food was excellent, great portions for the money. I tried the battered white fish and the garlic shrimp tacos with the chips and it was all very good. William was awesome, very friendly, attentive and excellent service. Highly recommended“

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

“Great food, great service. Great deals. 10/21/25, taco tuesday, 3 Baja style fish tacos for $9. Salsa was good, acidic, and good spice, for the green. The red, savory and spicy. Good garlic flavor. The 3rd was just Valentina, i put too much.“

“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.“

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

“My new favorite taqueria, a true hidden gem! Great variety and quality, with 6+ housemade salsas and a menu that ranges from classic burritos and plates to menudo and buffalo fries. Fridays are the move for their daily special: a carne asada burrito with rice, beans, and a drink at a price you rarely see these days.“

“The food is very tasty and they are big portions! Bonus they are very reasonably priced! The chili relleno is $4 and taste amazing, the carnasada taco was $3.50 and was a pretty decent size, and the flying saucer was $10 and was pretty big. Overall the food was really good! I would definitely recommend!“

“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!“

“I want to go there again. The atmosphere was wonderful! It gave me the feel like I was in Baja Mexico. I loved the Mexican music! The food tasted like I was eating not American food but food made in Mexico. That makes me happy. It is a small place but it was worth it to me to sit on a stool and enjoy seeing them cook and eat my yummy beef tacos. The spices the limes the salsa was perfect. It was inside a little mall. I was so glad to have found “The Taco Stand.”“

“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!“

“We had the best experience today. The food is so delicious and the staff was top notch! Let us know if you ever sell your Horchata mix:) Thank you!“

“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.“

“What can I say I love Roberto's been coming here for years with my whole family 🔥😉💯 Amazing food! Delicious hot sauce! 😋 Can never go wrong with whatever you order!
Customer service is great! Everyone whose ever helped me is always quick, friendly and professional. If you love Mexican 🌯🌮 food! You'll everything they have to offer here ❤️“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“They didn’t have any vegetarian breakfast burritos on the menu, but were very accommodating and substituted peppers and onions in the hashbrown burrito for the meat. It was gigantic and tasty! The salsas were spicy and flavorful. There’s plenty of seating to eat in. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was playing on their TVs, sooo random but loved the vibe. :p“

“Definitely a street taco place. Famous in TJ, they did a good job bringing adobada and pastor into San Diego area that is authentic. Worth going to and isnt overpriced for street tacos that are well made.

I normally rate:
1 star dont go
2 star average and would only go if really need or por service or very overpriced.
3 star above average. good rating for me. id go again.
4 star is great. lots of perks and bonuses
5 star is absolutely recommend and must go“

“The first bite reminded me of the tacos. My mom makes it home so I will definitely be coming back to this place. Got the Pastor and asado and they asked if I wanted beans with it which was not something I typically get offered, but I did try it and it was a tasty addition. Also the selections of pickled onions and salsa was awesome. Really chill spot near barrio Logan and the people were friendly.“

“We are regular customers of South Beach. We had dinner last night (Jan 21st) around 6 pm. Service and table were fine. I chose the Voodoo shrimp/sausage dish off the special menu. It was sub standard and had little shrimp or sausage. Watery and really not remarkable. First time we ever had a bad meal. Usually anything you pick is magnificent. Spent 240.00 for a below average meal. Just thought you should know. Thank you.“

“A fantastic little food truck setup in Linda Vista, across the street from Skateworld. They’ve got tented, lighted seating, plenty of fresh salsa and agua frescas, and some hard-hitting, flavor-packed street tacos.

My friend and I ordered 8 tacos — 2 cabeza, 2 adobada, 2 birria, and 2 carne asada. Everything was really tasty and well-prepared. The cabeza and birria were the highlights, both offering f such succulent, well-stewed meats.

The salsas were super yummy as well, especially the salsa verde (the tomatillo one not the avocado one), which brought amazing flavor to each taco, with a magical effect on the birria.“

“They offer great deals on oyster days, and the oysters were really fresh and delicious. We also liked the clam chowder and ceviche. The fish taco, fish & chips, and ahi poke were not my favorites.

However, I didn’t like the ordering style. The staff felt cold, and they didn’t provide utensils unless you asked several times.“

“Delicious Mexican food. It’s off the beaten path as they say but don’t be intimidated. Carnitas and beans were some of the best around. If you happen to be visiting Coronado this place is 10 minutes from the Island and 10x better than the Island Mexican food.“

“Loved this place! First time here. We were visiting family in San Diego and were looking for a quick. We saw this 5-Star rated place and drove to it. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is amazing, plentiful and cheap. Easy to find along Imperial Ave. There isn't much parking but it's worth whatever you have to do to get there. It is located INSIDE a convenience store.“

“I live around the area, and I can assure you I won't be going to any other taco shop other than here. Cali burrito was amazing and the cashier stole my heart with her kindness. Not being dramatic either. Delicious food. Wonderful service. Ill be coming here regularly.“