No trip to San Diego is complete without beaches, Balboa Park, and, of course, tacos. Invented in Mexico centuries ago, taco culture has migrated all over the planet, and some experts believe San Diego is an ideal place to embark on a taco tour. They have a good point: There’s ample local seafood—which helped give rise to the ubiquitous fish taco—a wide variety of fresh produce is available year-round, and the city is home to numerous innovative chefs looking to make their mark. The end result? San Diego tacos are convenient, budget-friendly, and utterly irresistible.
You don’t have to stick to seafood, certainly. The best San Diego tacos come in a variety of forms, from steak to barbacoa to vegan, from highbrow to hole-in-the-wall. Try any or all of these 15 amazing taco shops on your next Southern California vacation.
Tacos El Gordo
Location: Chula Vista (multiple locations), Otay Mesa
Try This: Adobada taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Serving up street tacos in Tijuana since 1972, Tacos El Gordo opened its first San Diego County taco shop over 20 years ago. The original location on H Street in Chula Vista still offers drive-thru, but the larger spot on Broadway is known for different lines depending on your choice of filling: carne asada, adobada, cabeza, suadero, or tripa. Their adobada is a signature—chile-marinated pork shaved off a spit as it roasts.
Tuetano Taqueria
Location: Old Town
Try This: Birria with bone marrow taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
After being recognized by Michelin as one of the best San Diego tacos, Tuetano has attracted fans from both sides of the border who swear by the authentic slow-cooked, Tijuana-style beef birria. The cuts are simmered in a broth seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and guajillo chiles, and chef Priscilla Curiel’s signature is a unique topping of roasted bone marrow.
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood
Location: Pacific Beach and Hillcrest
Try This: Taco Especial
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Named one of San Diego's best Mexican restaurants by Michelin, this beachy taco stand is quintessential San Diego. The fresh menu is seafood-inspired—though the steak taco is also one of the tastiest in the city. You’ll want to try the classics, like battered fish, and its more interesting combos, like shrimp and bacon. For the full experience, go with the Taco Especial (smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, and all the toppings).
Puesto
Locations: La Jolla, Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley
Try This: Filet mignon taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
One of the best high-end San Diego taco shops, Puesto has to kick off our taco list with its filet mignon, jidori chicken, and lobster tacos. Their signature is a layer of melted crispy cheese that covers the whole tortilla. Topping that is the filet, avocado, and a pistachio-serrano salsa. The newest Mission Valley location also serves up beers on tap.
Las Cuatro Milpas
Location: Barrio Logan
Try This: Shredded pork tacos
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Since 1933, Las Cuatro Milpas has been a local San Diego taco favorite thanks to its famous homemade tortillas and deep-fried rolled tacos. Yes, there can be a line and, yes, it’s cash only, but it’ll be worth it. The menu is simple and inexpensive; Order up your favorite meats in simple street tacos—try the pork—and add cilantro and onions. If you’re still hungry, get five rolled tacos for just $5.
Lola 55
Location: Downtown San Diego (East Village)
Try This: Baja-style fish taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
On the other end of the spectrum is the uber-chic Lola 55, a cocktails-and-tacos spot on the east side of downtown. Earning a Bib Gourmand distinction from Michelin, Lola 55 is known for frying up whatever the freshest catch of the day is in its Baja-style fish taco—beer battered and topped with chorizo-tomato vinaigrette and pickled serrano. Vegetarians should try the mushroom or squash relleno taco.
Roberto’s Mexican Food
Location: Del Mar, Leucadia, Encinitas
Try This: Rolled tacos
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Rumor has it there are over 200 San Diego taco shops with ‘berto’ in them (Alberto’s, Gualberto’s, Rigoberto’s)—all descended from cousins and relatives of Roberto, who came up from Mexico and opened four stands 50 years ago. Today, Roberto’s Mexican Food is a no-frills community staple. Order the deservedly famous rolled tacos with guacamole or any of the low-cost, heavily stuffed burritos.
City Tacos
Location: Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Sorrento Valley
Try This: Mexicali taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Meat, fish, veggie, creative salsas: whatever you can imagine in your tacos, City Tacos probably serves it. City Tacos stands out among the San Diego taco shops for its unique combos: mahi-mahi with strawberries, and the Mexicali, which tops skirt steak with mashed potato, poblano peppers, and a sprinkle of crema and cotija cheese.
Haggo’s Organic Tacos
Location: Leucadia
Try This: Grass-fed beef taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
When Guy Fieri featured this beach-adjacent gourmet taco stand on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, the secret got out. For meat-eaters, it’s all about the locally sourced grass-fed beef taco or the azul taco (beef with blue cheese, arugula, and mushrooms). For vegans, there are seasonal veggie tacos or the Immortal 2.0 (mushrooms, quinoa, and avocado). Opt to make any taco vegan or dairy-free with cashew crema and vegan cheddar for an extra $1.50.
¡Salud!
Location: Barrio Logan
Try This: Califas taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
French fries in a taco, a thumping beat, and tattoo-inspired murals? Part of ¡Salud!’s appeal is its pure Chicano flare. Featured in The New York Times and on the Travel Channel, this San Diego taco hot spot is known for its delicious Southern Californian–Mexican fusion offerings. The Califas is a nod to the California burrito (with french fries and guacamole) and the Barrio taco is loaded with braised beef, peppers, nopal, frijol, and crema. Veggie options and mixed drinks available.
Carnitas Las Michoacanas
Location: City Heights and Chula Vista
Try This: Carnitas
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
It’s right there in the name—and you definitely want the carnitas. Inspired by the Mexican state of Michoacan, which is known for its carnitas, this small, South San Diego taco shop delivers some of the most authentic and tasty carnitas around. Order your meat by the pound or half-pound, and get a family pack of tortillas, beans, rice, salsa, cilantro, and onions for about $20. Cash only.
The Taco Stand
Location: La Jolla, Encinitas, North Park, Downtown San Diego
Try This: Al pastor taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
The Taco Stand opened its eighth location in early 2022, so you can now devour its Tijuana-style tacos all over the county. Along with handmade corn tortillas and chips, fresh guacamole, and salsas from scratch, you’ll find both classic San Diego tacos and modern twists. The delicious al pastor combines spiced pork and sweet pineapple. Top it off with a Mexican flavored popsicle or a made-to-order churro.
Mitch’s Seafood
Location: Point Loma
Try This: Grilled fish taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
What could be more San Diego than sitting on a deck overlooking the bay with a tasty, locally caught fish taco and a cold beer? More a beachfront restaurant than a taco shop, Mitch’s serves whatever is the fresh catch of the day in its grilled fish taco. Or try the beer-battered fish taco made with wild cod.
Aqui es Texcoco
Location: Chula Vista
Try This: Lamb barbacoa taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Aqui es Texcoco replicates the traditional lamb barbacoa specialty of Texcoco, a town east of Mexico City. The slow-cooked meat is covered with chiles and simmered in underground pit ovens for more than seven hours. Hefty portions of lamb—topped with light cilantro and onions—is the go-to selection here. It has attracted a dedicated following.
Tacos El Vaquero
Location: Chula Vista
Try This: Adobada taco
Why It Makes This ‘Best Tacos in San Diego’ List
Any San Diego tacos list has to include at least one taco truck. This truck, though, is (mostly) stationed on 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends for the late-night crowd,
Tacos El Vaquero serves up real-deal Tijuana-style tacos. Owner Alex Morales’s father ran a food truck in Tijuana and his cousins run birria trucks around the city. Order the popular adobada taco or be adventurous and try the tripe taco.
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Hungry yet? If you want even more tasting opportunities, expand your journey along this Southern California Taco Tour, which features top spots in Los Angeles, Orange County, and more of San Diego County.
