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    City Tacos

    4.2 (2.3k reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order City Tacos Takeout or Delivery

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    CITY TACOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - City Tacos

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    Slow braised birria pocket burrito
    Victoria P.

    I love City Tacos and my love starts with the food. They offer a large selection of various tacos but the slow braised birria pocket burrito will have you ordering it again and again. It's packed with tasty shredded beef, cheese, pinto beans, french fries, onion, cilantro, serrano salsa, cilantro aioli all rolled into a grilled flour tortilla. It's not a full size burrito but just the right size. I love the location. Just steps from Crystal Pier makes it an easy walk from the busy pier. I love the casual and welcoming dining experience as well as the hard working, friendly employees that get your food out to you quickly. Until next time City Tacos.

    Audrey B.

    City Tacos is one of those no frills spots that just gets the job done and then some. It's a small taco shack so don't go in expecting anything fancy, but honestly that's part of the charm. There are a few tables and chairs outside which is perfect for grabbing a bite and doing a little people watching while you're at it. We stopped by after walking around North Park and figured why not give it a shot, and we were really glad we did. Don't let the size fool you because the food seriously speaks for itself. We got the guac and chips and some fish tacos and everything was a hit across the board. The classic salsa bar is nice since you can customize the heat level on your taco exactly how you like it. Service was quick and easy which made it the perfect pit stop for a casual lunch. If you're ever in the North Park area and need a solid and satisfying bite without any fuss, City Tacos is definitely worth a stop!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    quesibirria, carnitas, pescado
    Bernadette T.

    It's a must-visit when I get the drunchies after hanging out at some North Park speakeasies :) thankfully, I never had to wait long! It's a pretty small shop with some booths, and even more outdoor tables. Their salsa bar is stacked, there are so many yummy options, I wanted to get one of everything! My favorite is always macha chili for an extra smokey spicy kick. They have a TON of taco options, so it's fun to get a variety every time. Each one is $3-5, so multiple add up, but I always tend to get 3. Some tacos are better than others but most are solid. tacos tried: - carnitas: tender pork with avocado and a chicharron piece for some fun crunch! - crunch time shrimp taco: one of my faves, cant go wrong with crispy shrimp AND bacon AND cheese. perfect drizzle of jalapeno salsa and crema fresca. - pescado: a solid fish taco, with typical cabbage & tomatoes. I liked the pickled red onion and chipotle aioli! - quesibirria: not the best quesibirria taco I've ever had, kinda soggy

    Scallop dreams $5.95 Surf & turf $5.95 Sonoran fish $3.25 Salmon caribe $4.95
    Lisa N.

    It was slightly busy when I arrived for dinner on a Monday night. Luckily, there was a booth open so I quickly snagged the table. You order at counter and staff delivers the food to your table. There was a wait time. I only saw 1 cashier & like 2 people working in the back. Dimly lit and moody vibes. Great spot to hit up after some drinks or in case before I head to Part Time Lover for some drinks. I was kinda overwhelmed with the menu selection. They have house favorites, traditional tacos, homestyle tacos, etc. I ended up getting 4 tacos. Scallop dreams $5.95 -- very saucy. Tasted like an alley but where are the scallops?? So tiny. I would pass. Surf & turf $5.95 -- worth it. So loaded. I liked it. Similar to Oscar's seafood. You even get a slice of avocado. Sonoran fish $3.25 -- another fave. Crispy fish and good seasoning. Salmon caribe $4.95 -- if you like salmon, you should get this as well. I didn't care for the arugula tho. You have choice of corn tortilla or flour tortilla. I liked the flour tortilla more. They have a self serve sauce bar which is okay. If I were to come back, I would order the Sonoran fish + surf & turf tacos, but down to order some other offerings too cause their menu is extensive!

    Inside
    Julia S.

    I got a scallop dreams and a pescado taco! The wait was really long for two tacos (30 minutes) even if there was almost no one in the restaurant. I also saw people order their food after me and get their orders before me. Nice options at the salsa bar with mango/salsa verde/salsa. The ambiance inside is cute with cozy booths. The tacos were actually pretty good! I do wish the scallop was a bit bigger - it felt drowned in the sauce with how small the scallops were. If the wait wasn't so long, I'd go again!

    Julie E.

    The flavor is fine but the meat seems to be cooked or warmed in a crock pot as ordered. The tortillas are soggy snd everything falls out as you attempt to eat the taco. Go elsewhere. Not sure why they have good reviews. This place is mediocre at best.

    Carne asada taco, Pescaso taco, pollo taco & guacamole with chip.  was basis AF purée..
    Ulises C.

    Bland AF / flavor is not there and the tortillas were basic Disappointed that this was not what I was expecting

    Tacos
    Claire S.

    Love this taco spot! I was looking for a place to grab a small bite and bring my dog along, and this hit the spot perfectly. They've got outdoor seating with a cozy little patio plus extra chairs out on the sidewalk, so it's super pet-friendly. The menu is great, lots of choices without being overwhelming. I especially love that they have a salsa bar, so you can mix and match however you like and load up on as much heat (or not) as you want. Perfect for a quick casual meal, but also a spot I could see myself hanging out at longer. Definitely coming back!

    Left - Fish Taco with strawberries Right - Camaron Enchilado Taco
    Elizabeth S.

    City Tacos is unique in their taco toppings and sauces that pair really well with the fish/meats. The favorite I got was the shrimp camarones. It was so so good. I also love the fish taco with strawberries because I think it's truly unique. Great tacos, great location. Right by Balboa Park so you can also stop here and go to the park after! (Pro tip: order online if you buy over $20, free churros/chips and guac)

    Salsa bar
    Kanya D.

    My favorite tacos to get at City Tacos is Ahuevo Breakfast Taco. It has sunny-side egg over refried chorizo beans, finished with pico de gallo, avocado & house salsa. It has so much protein in a taco serving and that's what I needed. It's affordable 3.75 per taco. Two fills me up. The salsa bar is pretty awesome, I love their hot sauce and toppings. All the workers here are very helpful and friendly. They keep the place nice and clean. I highly recommend this place if you are in the area.

    Hannah W.

    Honestly, might be one of the best fish tacos I've ever had. The birria taco was also very good. Appreciate the condiment bar!

    Frijoles Charros
    Heath S.

    Stoped by to grab some tacos to enjoy at the house. The cashier was super helpful in navigating the menu to get the best versions of steak and chicken possible. Ordered and chilled out on the natural wood tables and chairs for a 10 minutes to get our order. There's seating for groups of 10 and below as well as a couple tables outside. They offer water free of charge as well as a nice salsa bar. I highly recommend you get cilantro, onions mango salsa and green salsas! Here's our reviews of the food. MEXICALI - 9 - Overcooked steak but the flavors were still amazing. I think we just have bad cook tonight because this is usually a perfect 10 taco. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! PESCADO - 8.5 - It's perfect when it's crispy and you don't taste the fry oil...gotta get lucky. Pro tip: add the mango salsa! CAMARON ENCHILADO - 6 - Fishy tasting but flavorful spices and juicy with the sauce. We added lime juice and that made it better. SHANK YOU TACO - 7 - Flavorful meat but the rest is blandish. We're spoiled by Fernandez Birrieria. Better with lime, green salsa, cilantro and onions. CARNITAS PUERCO - 8 - Looks like they forgot to char it like the picture, but incredibly flavorful carnitas. Better with green salsa cilantro and onions. SURF & TURF - 5 - Dry and overcooked steak with a bad flavor. Can't taste the shrimp as the steak is so distracting. FRIJOLES CHARROS - 10 Meaty and flavorful. Must have when you order any tacos. After coming here three times I think you have to navigate the menu carefully to get tasty tacos. With a good grill cook I think most issues could be eliminated. Still a good spot to come but I'll bring them back to 4 stars. I'd also recommend eating there to preserve as much texture (crispiness) as possible.

    Left to right - Carnitas/ Carne Asada/ fish
    Annalise A.

    This place had good service and good presentation of the tacos but flavor fell short on some of them- hit or miss. I ordered a carne Asada taco and a Cochinita Pibil since it looked the closest to the Adobada tacos I love! Neither hit the spot for me. I Surprisingly enjoyed the Portabella mushroom taco the best, the flavors were unique and paired well together. Boyfriend got Carnitas, Carne Asada and a fish taco and seemed to like them well enough, but wouldn't say he was over the moon sbout any of them. Def better than The Taco stand for flavors overall. Still not as good as a place we went downtown last year. The pictures look enticing and they have a lot of options but I didn't like 2 out of 3 I remember liking the tortillas and the canned margarita was good. Just don't get the Moscow mule- it was gross. Don't think we would be back with all the awesome food places in SD, but if I had to I'd prob try the Chile Rellano taco or one of the really unique ones you don't see anywhere else.

    mexicali (top left); crunch time shrimp (top right); sonoran (bottom left); pescado (bottom right)

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    City Tacos Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - City Tacos

    Did they quit making the battered shrimp tacos?

    Do they serve sangria?

    No sangria - at least not fresh. They only have bottled drinks and beers on tap.

    Do they not have the scallop taco any more?

    No they don't

    Do they have taco Tuesday specials?

    They do! $3 house favorites all day!

    Do they cater?

    I don't know. You can call + ask.

    View All 6 Questions

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    The Waves Taco Club

    The Waves Taco Club

    4.7
    (380 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    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 stopped by on a Wednesday after a fútbol game and found it to be a great late-night option…read more Ordering is simple. You walk in, place your order at the counter, and find a seat. There were a couple of groups dining in and someone picking up a to-go order, but there was still plenty of seating available. The employee working the counter was friendly. They also serve alcohol, and during my visit drinks were 20% off. Options included Pacifico, Modelo, Blue Moon, hard seltzers, and a selection of canned craft beers. I ordered: * Mahi Mahi Taco: the fish tasted fresh, and I liked the crispy onions on top. There was quite a bit of sauce, which made it pretty messy to eat. While the fish was good, it felt like a very heavy taco overall. * Surf & Turf Taco: this was loaded with steak and topped with two flavorful shrimp. The shrimp had an amazing flavor, and this taco was much more enjoyable and balanced. Overall, the service was great, the prices were very reasonable, and the protein quality was excellent. My only critique is that the tacos felt a little overdone with toppings and sauces when the quality of the protein could easily stand on its own. Still, it's a solid spot for an affordable late-night bite. One thing to note: there are no restrooms available inside the restaurant.

    Photos
    The Waves Taco Club
    Shrimp Burrito
    Shrimp Burrito
    Surf Turf Burrito

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    Surf Turf Burrito

    City Tacos - tacos - Updated July 2026

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