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    BAJA RICK'S Cantina

    3.7 (121 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    BAJA RICK'S Cantina Photos

    BAJA RICK'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

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    Comic con special
    Deb N.

    This is the only spot that's respectable by the convention center during comic con Stop in for a taco and a smile

    Rice and beans
    Josh P.

    In SD for a conference and the Cantina is right across the street from the convention center and 2 blocks from Petco. Walked right up about 11:30 to order on a Tuesday and there was no line. I ordered the street taco sampler (because it's Tuesday). Sat out on the patio which is nice and mostly covered. Took food about 5 minutes to come which was awesome. The ribeye and birria beef tacos were awesome! I wasn't impressed with the chicken at all though. The chicken was bland and pretty dry. The big plus for me though was the street tacos were not loaded down with onions and cilantro. The rice wasnt quite cooked long enough for me and the beans were much thinner than I have had at other places. All in all a good lunch. I might try to sub out the chicken taco though.

    Birra Tacos
    Connor Y.

    Baja Ricks is a really awesome Mexican food spot that sits in the heart of San Diego's entertainment center. So it was packed because we went on survivors weekend, so everybody was eating here, but the service was great. We got our food relatively fast and it was pretty affordable. Great pricing for good food. So I got the Beria tacos. The beer was nice juicy flavorful. I wish it would've came with a consume on the side to dip my tacos in, but it didn't, but it was pretty good. I also got the shrimp taco and I love that it was full-size shrimp inside of the taco like that's so important to like mention nice juicy shrimp flavorful seasoned well. Enjoy the taco. The beans and rice were both a little dry didn't finish them. If I'm being honest, they definitely needed something more. My cousin got the steak quesadilla and he let me try it. Nice juicy steak flavorful lots of cheese great pull on it. and you get a lot of quesadilla.. He also got the chicken taquitos with the chicken taquitos were OK. It felt like the taquitos themselves lack effort like they had decent flavor, but nothing special. Overall, I would definitely go back to Rick Cantina the next time I'm down to San Diego for an event. It's just it's in prime location so convenient good pricing good food would definitely recommend.

    Linda W.

    I came here for a conference and the food is very solid but definitely not the best tacos. Lots of seating and service is fast and friendly. I got a margarita which was good and what they're known for.

    3 fish taco sampler with salmon bowl behind.
    Jody M.

    Amazing fish tacos. The trio was my favorite. I loved getting a mix of grilled and fried fish. Huge menu with lots of choices for everyone.

    Drinks
    Kristi P.

    My hubby loves Mexican food so we stopped here a couple of times while visiting San Diego. Sat at the bar once and on the outside patio the other time. Patio gets a lot of sun, at least during lunch hours but they do have umbrellas to help. Hubby liked his tacos. I got a dessert sampler which was really good. Server / bartender was good. No issues.

    Outside sign
    Paul K.

    We came here before a Padres game awhile back when this place was the Tin Fish and loved the location. It's great for people watching especially when the Trolley comes in on game day. As my first time at Baja Rick's I love that they kept the outside seating the same and now offer some wonderful Baja fare. We had the Birria Gnarly Nachos and a large fish and chips. The nachos were super big and very filling. I couldn't eat it all and took it to go and tried to give it to a homeless person but that didn't work out. The beers are abundant with two outside bars and probably one inside but I never went inside as all the action was happening outside. The staff I interacted with were very nice and attentive. A great place pre or post game right in Gaslamp and with the Hard Rock Hotel literally across the street, you can party all you want here and have a place to stay if so inclined. Great job BAJA Rick's! I'll be back!

    Michael L.

    I cannot speak to the food because we only ordered drinks on the outside patio, but I highly recommend this casual restaurant in a great location. The outdoor patio is very nice and comfortable and is conveniently located on the other side of the train tracks from the Convention Center and on the edge of the Gas Lamp District. Bartender Nick is awesome. Not sure how much this restaurant is paying him, but it is definitely not enough. Not only is he a great bartender and very friendly, but his customer service skills are amazing. He quickly and efficiently greeted and helped numerous Convention Center related customers as they walked up to the restaurant. Well done Nick!

    Three tacos
    Jim E.

    Comic Con Thursday night, service was good, food is good, prices average for the are $130 for 4 people with drinks, tax and tip. Not too crowded good choice after the convention. Three taco plate, poke bowl, burrito and taquitos.

    An amazing hotdog! Good waffle fries too!
    Rick D.

    An outdoor venue situated in perfect locale for Padres pregame and postgame beers and dogs. Went for pregame beer and hotdog. Average ambiance, service, beer, etc. ... BUT the memorable thing was the hotdog. Easily one of my best. You want a great hotdog go here.

    Mahi fish bowl
    Tom U.

    I really don't recommend this place because they don't know their ingredients. I'm lactose intolerant and I asked if it had any dairy. They removed coleslaw, but not everything dairy was gone. Yes. This is missing coleslaw, in the photo. It's a great view and music playing inside the restaurant. Staff is really straightforward about food selection and ordering was quick. Outside bar is awesome to have and you can order from there too. It was disappointing that my allergies were happening after eating there. It really messed up my mood. I would recommend this place, but wouldn't if you have a dairy allergy.

    Outdoor seating at Baja Rick's Cantina at the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown, San Diego, CA.
    Olga M.

    Got off the trolley to bar hop & dine at Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown, San Diego, CA. Our first stop was Baja Rick's Cantina. We liked the indoor and outdoor seating. The bar is near the Convention Center. We ordered a tall Coors Light beer for $10 & red sangria. My sangria wasn't the sweetest and was struggling drinking it, but Ivan the bartender gave me pineapple juice to make it sweeter and better. He was very accommodating and made sure I left bar with a good experience. Baja Rick's Cantina is a fun hangout not far from the San Diego Padres Stadium. Ivan indicated that during the home baseball games, the bar/restaurant has great specials on food and drinks. We'll definitely come back to check out the specials on game day! Happy Yelping :)

    Tres Amigos Tacos
    Daryl E.

    The Tres Amigos Taco sampler is absolutely delicious. Lobster Bisque soup had a gritty texture to it, wasn't too impressed by it, but still fairly decent. Would definitely get the shrimp or lobster tacos any time I come back, very pleased with them

    Buffalo chicken strips

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    2 months ago

    Great food and great service great price on all food and drinks always a great spot for eating before the Padres game

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    Tacos El Gordo - Carne Asada

    Tacos El Gordo

    4.3(7.1k reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    Tacos El Gordo hits right every time! If you're a foodie you know that's this is the spot. This is…read moreby far the best location to get authentic TJ tacos. The Carne Asada Taco has a smoky beef flavor, and the quesadilla with corn tortilla has that seared cheese effect that you can only get with Oaxaca cheese, which is like a Mexican Mozzarella. I highly recommend pairing a quesadilla with your tacos. You can order it from any line. I've been going to Tacos El Gordo for almost 25 years now and it is still legit! This place is a San Diego staple that is true to home, and if you're not from San Diego, don't leave without trying it out!

    Went to SD this past weekend and went twice in a row because their cabeza and carne asada tacos and…read moreplain quesadillas were so good! The tacos were around $4 which is pretty average but I thought their tacos were a bit bigger than average and had a good amount of meat. I usually can do two bites at other taco places but I have to take three bites here lol. The cabeza tacos were so tender and the carne asada tacos had a nice smoking taste to them. I also like how they came with a good amount of guac and you can also get a side or extra guac if you want more which was very nice of them. The plain quesadillas are simple but something about it was taste soo good, might be the cheese that they use and their handmade tortilla. I'm not too fan of their ordering system as there are around 5-7 different lines depending on what item/meat you want. If you want carne asada, you have to line up and then you have to line up at another line if you want another type of meat. Some lines are longer than others so I feel like my food gets cold by the time I get my second order and then I have to line up to pay. Both times I came, I came around 10-11pm and they ran out of the green sauce. They have a parking lot in the back so I prefer this location than the one at gaslamp.

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    Tacos El Gordo - Saturday night (around 9:00 pm)

    Saturday night (around 9:00 pm)

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    Crispy!

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    Mike's Red Tacos - Clairemont Mesa

    Mike's Red Tacos - Clairemont Mesa

    4.6(1.7k reviews)
    8.0 miClairemont
    $$
    Halal
    Vegetarian friendly

    Got the Red Quesadilla and it was so good!!…read more Super large portion size, the birria was amazing and the quesadilla was packed with so much flavor. A solid 10/10, will order again. First time at this establisment and had a very pleasant experience. I really loved the vibe of the place. Casual, yet hip (the splashes of red color really pops!) Service was friendly and there is a salsa bar too with lots of options. Will definitely be back!

    I was really excited to try Mike's Red Tacos. The website bragged about all of the different…read moreflavors of homemade salsa. But I didn't realize that just about every dish was based on birria. But okay. I love a good, flavorful birria taco. I guess I just didn't order right. I grabbed the Mikes Meal Special, but I was really craving some nice crunchy, cheesy and Jalapeno-hot Nachos. So I thought I would try a half-order of Mike's Nachos. Man! They were horrible. The huge pile of shredded beef tasted okay, but the red gravy got all of the chips that it came into contact with really soggy and unpleasant to eat. Maybe it would have been better if I had eaten it in the restaurant, but it should not have degraded that quickly. And to claim to be Nachos? Why? What was Nacho about this messy, uninteresting dish? The only suggestion of cheese that I got was one stray pipe of yellow processed cheese that could have been mustard for all that I know. There were NO Jalapenos whatsoever. The guacamole was just one spoonful plopped down in the middle of the order. There was really nothing red hot about the food at all. So the sour cream just made it taste incredibly bland. My advice? Always go with as authentic to real Mexican food as you can find. If you really want "Gringo Sonora," I would heartily recommend Del Taco over this restaurant.

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    Mike's Red Tacos - Clairemont Mesa
    Mike's Red Tacos - Clairemont Mesa
    Mike's Red Tacos - Clairemont Mesa

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    The Waves Taco Club

    The Waves Taco Club

    4.7(393 reviews)
    0.5 miGaslamp
    $$

    Wanted to try some tacos while out here and this one had good reviews. It was also near our hotel…read morewe were staying at in Gaslamp. They have drawings all over their walls which was fun to look at. They have a few specials which are a good deal if you're going to get a drink anyway. I love c that c they had a self serve salsa bar. Must get the chipotle shrimp taco! 10/10 with flavor. Battered fish taco was ah ok.... Salmon taco was great too 10/10. Service was prompt. We had chips and salsa while we waited so it was cool. Overall, I recommend checking this out and trying the chipotle shrimp and salmon taco!

    I feel that I was misled by the 4.7 rating. We had a 20 minute walk to get here in the heat. Then…read morethere was no air conditioning at the place. I had a grilled fish burrito. It looked good, and I liked the chilled and covered salsa bar, but the burrito had no cabbage or pico de gallo. It tasted like a kind of salty egg burrito. The flavor was off. My son had a few tacos. He liked the Birria taco. I purchased a horchata for him, a small water bottle for myself. After our meal in the heat, we both wanted more water. The cashier said that the small water bottles were $3.90 each. (Something I missed the first time around) We left without the water bottles to walk blocks in the heat with a weird taste in my mouth from the fish burrito. The prices were the same as a nicer place with decor and air conditioning.

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    The Waves Taco Club
    The Waves Taco Club - Shrimp Burrito

    Shrimp Burrito

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    Chula Tacos - Asada vampiro

    Chula Tacos

    3.8(299 reviews)
    9.3 miNestor
    $$

    Sometimes, there are nights when only tacos can fix me. It's no secret that San Diego has tacos in…read morespades and being so close to the border, you'd think that a quest to find the perfect taco would be as simple as rolling down to the nearest taqueria. Except, it's not quite that simple. Many beloved staples have gone downhill, while some newer spots that might boast things like a Michelin mention or multiple locations ranging from TJ to Vegas contain more hype and gristle than tender meat and substance. Enter Chula Tacos. Chula is, and always was, the type of place that makes you forget that you're not actually in Tijuana. While part of me misses their OG Market Street location, seeing them with brick-and-mortars feels hard-earned and well-deserved. This location on Palm in IB is relatively easy to access from the freeway, but parking can be tricky. You can safely assume that it will be busy and you will either have to be very lucky or be willing to find a spot on the street. Out of all the times I've been here, it's always been crowded enough that I've never been able to find a table inside, but I enjoy sitting out on the patio next to the ahumederos. The first thing that hits you walking through the door is how amazing everything smells. The queue to the cashier takes you near a window showing the kitchen where you can see the Chula Tacos team making fresh tortillas, slicing meat from the trompos, grilling up jalapenos, nopales, onions, labio, and tripa. For me, it's not so much a challenge to decide what I want, it's more a challenge to keep myself from ordering everything. My usual is four tacos: two asada, two al pastor (but I've heard that I should also try their world famous keka). The tacos though? Perfection. Every time, the asada is the juiciest and most tender I've ever eaten, the al pastor is succulent and flavorful, and no taco in front of me is long for the world. At $3.50 each, every one of them is absolutely loaded. Three would honestly fill me up, but I always want four. After getting burned by spots that ask around 75% more and deliver anywhere between 25-50% less, Chula Tacos feels like an absolute godsend of a Tijuana-style taqueria and I can't see any other contenders being my go-to. So, when I say "Tacos will fix me," what I mean nowadays is "Chula Tacos will fix me."

    Chula Tacos in Nestor is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for authentic, flavorful tacos…read morewith generous portions. Every item we ordered was packed with delicious flavors and made fresh. One thing that stood out was their attention to detail with to-go orders--they provided plenty of condiments, including a variety of salsas, cucumbers, radishes, and peppers, which really elevated the meal. The highlight of the menu is the Keka Taco. It is incredibly delicious, loaded with flavor, and so filling that it can easily satisfy even the biggest appetite. The only downside to this establishment is the limited parking, which can make picking up your order a bit challenging during busy times. However, the amazing food and generous portions more than make up for the parking inconvenience. If you're in the area, the Keka Taco is a must-try!

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    Chula Tacos
    Chula Tacos - Keka (carne)

    Keka (carne)

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    Outdoor seating

    La Puerta - Combo Tacos

    La Puerta

    4.2(4.8k reviews)
    0.3 miGaslamp
    $$

    We had a great experience at La Puerta! The service was excellent, and the atmosphere had that…read moreperfect mix of chill and lively -- definitely a popular spot without feeling too hectic. They also had some really great vegetarian options. The tostadas, veggie tacos, and flautas were all awesome and full of flavor. The margaritas were reasonably strong, which was nice. And definitely save room for the churros -- they were so good! The only thing that wasn't quite our preference was the queso fundido. It was a little more solid than we like; we prefer ours to be extra melty and gooey. Otherwise, everything was fantastic. Great food, drinks, service, and vibes!

    I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD…read moreto get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.)

    Photos
    La Puerta - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    La Puerta - Chicken with fried cheese tacos

    Chicken with fried cheese tacos

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    BAJA RICK'S Cantina - tacos - Updated September 2026

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