10 San Diego Tacos You Need to Try
From traditional taquerias to modern tacos
An 18-month absence from Baja California during the first wave of COVID forced me to feed my massive taco jones on this side of the border in San Diego. There’s a dizzying array of taco styles, levels, and price points here in America’s finest city. They range from traditional tacos at family-owned taquerias to modern tacos at Michelin-recognized casual eateries to delectable tacos of grilled local fish in La Jolla. Here are 10 San Diego Tacos you need to try.
This list–not necessarily the city’s Top 10 but ones that I’ve been digging on for the past couple of years–reflects that variety. What it doesn’t reflect are corporate chain tacos. All my recommendations are locally owned, independently operated establishments with owners, chefs, and taqueros who put a lot of love into the food they serve. Leave a comment at the end of this post on YOUR favorite San Diego Tacos!
Taco Manolarga @ El Viejon Seafood
El Viejon Seafood is a Mexican mariscos mecca amid the dozens of Convoy Street Asian spots. Their Taco Manolarga is generously loaded with flavorful birria de res (spiced and stewed beef) and a large tentacle of grilled octopus. It’s served dorado style with a corn tortilla crisped on the griddle. It’s topped with pickled onion, watermelon radish, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Served with a cup of consomé for the requisite dipping. Watch the 1-Minute Taco Review here.
Price: $9.50
4619 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
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Cabeza Taco @ Tacos El Paisa
Tacos el Paisa, a quaint National City taqueria, offers several authentic tacos in regular and street size—from carne asada to more esoteric delicacies such as buches (pig stomach). Their cabeza taco is heaped with melt-in-your mouth soft shredded meat (mainly beef cheek) accompanied by a small platter with everything you need to complete your taco, including two spicy house-made salsas, limes, cilantro, onion, and radish.
Price: $4.99
3096 National Av, San Diego, CA 92133
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Squash Blossom Taco @ LOLA 55
The squash blossom taco at modern taco stalwart LOLA 55 in the East Village is so flavorful, so savory, that even the most diehard vegans aren’t convinced that the beet-infused soyrizo and almond “cream cheese” stuffed squash blossom don’t contain the real thing. This winning taco—LOLA 55 was named in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand recommendations–is finished with a potato skin “chicharron” and bathed in luxuriant poblano salsa.
Price: $3.95
1290 F St, San Diego, CA 92101
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Taco Campechano @ Antojitos Tenampa
Antojitos Tenampa–a family-owned Mexico City style taqueria–is tucked into a corner of an older Lemon Grove shopping plaza. They specialize in antojitos—ostensibly a Mexican “snack”. Their house-made corn tortillas are some of the best I’ve enjoyed north of the border. The campechano taco of suadero (fried beef brisket) and chorizo is topped with white onion and cilantro and your choice of one of four house-made salsas. Watch the 1-Minute Taco Review here.
Price: $4.49
7977 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
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Surf and Turf Taco @ The Craft Taco Truck
The Craft Taco Truck is parked in a nondescript Sorrento Valley business park by New English Brewing. They specialize in artistically plated modern tacos. The colossal surf and turf taco combines perfectly seasoned grilled angus steak and plump, meaty shrimp wrapped in a melted round of Oaxacan quesillo. And all this deliciousness is served atop a scrumptious house-made blue corn tortilla. It’s finished with crema, cotija cheese, pickled onions, and cilantro. Watch the 1-Minute Taco Review here.
Price: $9.00
11545 Sorrento Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92121
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Tripas Taco @ Tacos el Gallo
I will never curate a San Diego taco list that DOESN’T include El Cajon’s Tacos el Gallo. It’s run by two brothers who own and operate a popular taqueria by the same name in Tijuana. There are far too many excellent TJ style tacos here to pick just one. A favorite is the taco of tripas (small intestines), fried until crispy, Sonoran style. Order it “con todo” and it’s dressed with cilantro, onions, and a piquant salsa verde. Watch the 1-Minute Taco Review here.
Price: $4.10
569 N. 2nd St, El Cajon, CA 92021
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Grilled Fish Taco @ Nine-Ten La Jolla
While battered Baja style fish tacos rule south of the border, grilled fish tacos are more common in health-conscious San Diego. Nine-Ten La Jolla’s swordfish taco is expertly cooked, with just enough char to give it a taste of the grill. It’s topped with pickled onion, cilantro, and one of my favorite salsa verdes in town. The type of fish used for the taco may change on occasion, based on availability of fresh, local product.
Price: $18 (for two tacos)
910 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
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Birria Taco w/Bone Marrow @ Tuétano Taqueria
There’s a reason Tuétano Taqueria made Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list of recommended casual eateries. Though they’ve relocated from San Ysidro to a more convenient Old Town location, the quality of the birria de res here remains top notch. Their perfectly spiced, stewed, and shredded beef is bursting with flavor, best topped with the house-made salsa matcha, and of course, the namesake bone marrow. Watch the 1-Minute Taco Review here.
Price: $11 ($5.50 for taco w/o bone marrow)
2540 Congress St, San Diego, CA 92110
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Cochinita Pibil Taco @ Rancho Sabor
This cochinita pibil taco–a traditional Yucatecan specialty–at Rancho Sabor features shredded pork stewed in achiote and citrus served on a pillowy yellow corn tortilla. You won’t find it at your local taqueria. Traditional cook Sandra Tellez only prepares it–and other regional Mexican dishes–during the Rainbow-based ranch’s culinary workshops. Follow their Facebook page for upcoming events. Private group events can also be booked.
Price: Included as part of workshop fee (typically $175-$225/person)
https://www.facebook.com/culturaconsabor
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Gobernador Taco @ Mariscos el Prieto
The taco gobernador is an export from the shores of Sinaloa. It was first presented to the state’s governor in the seventies where it earned its name and quickly became a local favorite. Food truck Marisco El Prieto‘s version is a beast of a taco, heaped with an ample amount of grilled shrimp and topped with grilled onion, red and green pepper, and melted jack cheese. It’s a meal in and of itself.
Price: $8.50
3031 Main Street, Unit 3029, Chula Vista, CA 91911
(Visit www.mariscoselprieto.com for other San Diego locations)
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