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    Craft and Taco Lounge

    4.6 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateTacos, Vegan, Seafood
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Craft and Taco Lounge Photos

    CRAFT AND TACO LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Craft and Taco Lounge

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    Surf and turf taco Portobellini taco Chappis roll dip (rolled tacos cheese and potato) Barbacoa de borrego broth
    Belen J.

    From the start, the service was amazing honestly a 10/10. We were provided great recommendations and weren't rushed to make a decision took the time to help us decide on what to order since they have a great variety of options! Walking in, I'll admit I underestimated the tacos, but I was completely wrong. The food was incredible. You can tell the quality right away the tortillas were freshly handmade, had the perfect warm soft texture.The Oaxacan cheese added that perfect melty , and the cotija had that authentic, slightly salty bite that reminded me of traditional Mexican ingredients. The flavors were sooooo good didn't need any lemon or salt each ingredient stood out and mixed so well combined . High quality gourmet tacos better than most famous high end restaurants Definitely exceeded my expectations and made the whole experience even better, can't wait to be back!

    Alex C.

    Great tacos. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A small hole in the wall place in Escondido. Has some indoor and outdoor door seating. Super laid back vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have an extensive taco menu, and a bunch of booze. We've tried several tacos and liked all of them. The carne asada was tasty and the salsa made it hot. The eggplant taco special was hearty yet delicate, the fish tacos are classic. If you're feeling tacos in Escondido give this place a shot.

    Menu
    Just M.

    We're in Southern California so we've got options. If you're craving authentic Mexican street tacos, you've got more choices here in San Diego or North County then anywhere north of the border. But if you're looking for something a little different, then you owe it to yourself to give craft and taco lounge a try. I don't know who thought of these combinations, but every one we tried was amazing. Personal favorite - Escondido Coco Loco with coconut shrimp and bay scallops and also the Langosta with lobster and mashed potatoes. And the world tacos were so tasty. They've got every combination you could think of. And tons of vegan options. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's really just a little hole in the wall that's so worth it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And everyone was so friendly.

    Kim C.

    This Taco joint in Escondido is a gem! Recommended to me by a friend, Craft Taco is surprisingly delicious. The strawberry toppings were first for me and they were very refreshing. Glad to have found this cool taco spot in Esco!

    Fish, carne asada, Al pastor, mahi mahi tacos
    Stephanie B.

    Stopped here for dinner when looking for a restaurant in escondido. They have so many chain restaurants around the 15, I was happy to stumble upon this place less than 5 minutes from the highway. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It looks like a hole in the wall small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a small parking lot, and street parking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. We ordered the crunchy roll dip to start, which I was a bit disappointed in. I was expecting something along the lines of taquitos, but it was essentially a mozarella stick with a fried tortilla instead of breading or potato in fried tortilla. I was just hoping for a little more and more flavors. Otherwise, they mostly have just craft tacos. The tacos were pretty good, I just thought the corn tortillas were a little thick. We tried the mahi mahi, tempura fish, al pastor, and carne asada tacos with a kids side of beans. The portion sizes were hefty on the filling, which was nice. I enjoyed the al pastor and the fish taco with an interesting savory / sweet combination. They have beer on tap, canned sodas, white claw, etc.

    Joriene M.

    El Pescado ($5.35) - This fish taco blew me away! I've never had strawberries or raspberry salsa in a taco and it was surprised by how well it worked here. Each bite was like an explosion of flavors. The fish was also fried perfectly. Highly recommend! Rib-Taco ($5.45) - The short rib was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. It went so well with their salsa roja, which had complex flavors and such a nice zing.

    Top 2 mahi, mahi, surf and turf, coco loco, cauliflower,bottom portobellini mushroom, Heirloom
    Nancy C.

    One of my favorite restaurants to eat great tacos , so many tacos to choose from, healthy tacos too

    Shrimp loco something. Tasted fishy . Good flavor tho
    Ari R.

    Lowering on star because the shrimp w coconut which was called the shrimp loco or something was fishy. Great flavor but fishy. Blackened mahi mahi was good. Their salsas were only ok, not spicy enough and too salty.

    Drinks June 2026
    Ange F.

    Fabulous vegetarian tacos, can be made vegan. Service was great. Ambiance is casual amd comfortable. Will definitely be coming back.

    Ribeye, taco and mahi-mahi taco
    Paul I.

    This is a pretty awesome taco place that is straight up tacos of all sorts. And they are all very creative tacos meant to lavish your taste buds. The service was awesome because the tacos came out quick and the staff explained what to expect in each taco that we decided to order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a little hole in the wall that feels like a bar and taco stand at the same time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Borrego broth. Bomb!!! 5/5. Get it. To sip. To slurp. To dip.
    Nikhil U.

    Great tacos! Private parking lot. Lots of tables - inside and out. The Borrego taco and eggplant were the show stoppers for me here. 5/5 get them! The borrego broth was just an excellent add on. By itself and to dip anything into. The al pastor and choripapa tacos would be great tacos in any other place but they dont shine as much as the other stuff on the menu. The kid loves the elote and chicken quesadilla. The chappis rolled tacos was a great share for the table. Also go great dipped into the consume. The watermelon drink was also refreshing!

    Xochiana S.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a very cute place unfortunately a little hidden due to the one way street and busy road.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's quiet and cozy inside with well maintained spaces and enough lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My mom and I went there for a little lunch to spend time and it wasn't too busy. The service was lovely. You order at the front and then sit at a table where they will bring your food. they have parking on the street and then a little bit in the back where they have a little parking area. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely place if you wanna click little bite to go or just sit there and have a bite to eat with a nice beer and a lovely person.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Marie S.

    Holy cow, I almost dont want to leave them such a great review because I am worried that this tiny well kept secret will get out and then I wont be able to get in there any more (LOL). This place was mentioned to me by a foodie friend that I trust 100% when he makes suggestions. I am sooooooo happy that he told me about it. So I too can't gate keep. This place is AMAZING. I am not a vegetarian, I hate tomatoes (in raw form) and I would hands down get the Heirloom taco every single time (its that dam good) You will not be disappointed with anything that you order.

    Pure yumminess!

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    Review Insights

    2 months ago

    This place is SO good. Incredible tacos, [[HIGHLIGHT]]great atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], super friendly staff! And don't miss the elote!

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    28 days ago

    Best carnitas! The best Chips, rice, beans and salsa's. So many taco options to choose from. Friendly staff. Good service!

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    Page 1 of 27

    Ask the Community - Craft and Taco Lounge

    Do they have a happy hour? If so, what are the specifics?

    Hi! We do not have happy hour. On Tuesdays we have our “Taco Tuesday” special where we discount select tacos on our menu for $1 off.

    Gluten free options?

    Yes. They have corn tortillas, and even jicama tortillas. Enjoy!

    Would you make a plain quesadilla for my toddler?

    I wouldn't hesitate to ask. They are extremely accommodating and family friendly

    Are there crafts, like making cards or painting? Why is it called Craft and Taco lounge?

    Craft referring to craft beverages...such as craft beer which is a classification/type of micro breweries. In this case...they make their own beer here so they are litteraly a craft brewery also selling tacos.

    View All 7 Questions

    TJ Tacos

    TJ Tacos

    4.2
    (2.6k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    my search for the best taco spot in sd is finally over. im a big tacos el g hater and tj tacos blew…read morethem out of the park. tacos el g used to be good, don't get me wrong. but the quality went down, salsa tastes like water, meat is tough, dry, and chewy, and expensive. tj tacos did everything right. tacos were huge and full of meat. 10/10 no notes. we ordered adobada, carne asada, lengua, tripas, and cabeza tacos. everything was insane. adobada was juicy, flavorful, and addicting. my brother looooved their carne asada and he's picky with his tacos too! the smokiness and char from the grill gave it the absolute best flavor. it was also super tender and juicy. my lengua and cabeza were just perfect. cabeza wasn't too fatty like some places. i enjoyed how carne asada was paired with a fresh flour tortilla while the others came with corn. they had the best tortillas! i'm just a girl who loves salsa and i need them spicy. that's where a lot of tacos spots here fall short. their salsas, especially verde, were spicy and soooo good. i was so impressed! lots of seating inside and outside. you order first and pay after. don't forget to ask for grilled onions, jalapeños, and extra salsa. can't wait to come back for drive thru!

    TJ Tacos was a disappointing experience. We ordered 12 tacos, and the total came out to almost $59,…read morewhich felt very expensive for what we received. The tacos had very little meat, and the portions were not satisfying. To make matters worse, our order only came with four hot sauces. When we politely asked for more hot sauce and extra napkins, the staff refused. We were also told that only one napkin was allowed per plate, which was surprising. Even other taco places, like Frida's, are much more accommodating. Overall, the food did not justify the price, and the customer service left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, this was an unpleasant visit, and I won't be returning. I'll definitely be taking my business somewhere else in the future.

    Photos
    Asada Burrito
    Asada Burrito
    Asada fries
    Asada fries
    California Adobada Burrito

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    California Adobada Burrito
    Mi Rancho Market

    Mi Rancho Market

    4.4
    (267 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    The food is great and at a great price as well. Love the rice that comes in the burritos.read more

    I'm giving this place 3 stars for now because my first experience was genuinely great, but my…read moresecond visit was disappointing enough that I almost rated it 2 stars. The first time I visited a few weeks ago, I had a really positive experience. The location was a little hard for me to find, but once I got there, it seemed worth it. I walked in craving a breakfast burrito and was helped by a very nice, slender gentleman at the counter. I asked for a ham, bacon, and sausage breakfast burrito and also requested that it be cut in half. He was friendly, said no problem, and within minutes I had exactly what I ordered. That burrito was delicious. The salsa station was stocked and convenient with self-serve cups readily available, and the atmosphere was nice. The people around me were friendly, and one gentleman even mentioned this was the place that used to be near Peterson's Donuts. Overall, it was a great first impression and I left happy, already planning to come back. Fast forward to today, Saturday, April 25, 2026 around 10:30 AM, and unfortunately, my second experience was the complete opposite. This time there was a young woman working the register, and from the moment I approached, she didn't seem very welcoming. I told her I wanted to order a breakfast burrito but wasn't sure what kind I wanted today. She told me the only options were bacon, egg, cheese and tater tots, or egg and cheese. I politely asked if I could add ham and sausage and pay extra, since that's what I had ordered before. She immediately responded that they "didn't have that type of breakfast burrito." That response confused me because I had literally ordered one there before. I wasn't going to argue, especially because her tone and attitude made me feel like I was bothering her just by asking questions. I then asked if the burrito could be cut in half and never really got a clear response. I also noticed the salsa station no longer had the little self-serve cups available, so I had to ask for those too. The same cashier asked how many I needed, and I said two. A few minutes later, another woman called my name and handed me the burrito. I sat down and realized it wasn't cut in half like I requested. At that point, I had to go back up and ask for a plastic knife and fork just to cut it myself. Which was not a problem or issue for me. I ate half of the burrito, but honestly, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. The taste was underwhelming, and by the time I left I was just so disappointed. I ended up throwing the other half away after I left. Consistency matters, especially when the first experience set the bar high. The food was great the first time, but the service and quality were lacking the second time around. My honest opinion: if someone is having a bad day, they probably shouldn't be the first face customers interact with at the register. I may update this review depending on how management responds, because I know this place can do better based on my first visit.

    Photos
    Mi Rancho Market
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Ordering counter

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    Ordering counter
    That Mexican Place

    That Mexican Place

    4.2
    (511 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    That Mexican Place has become my family's go-to spot for Mexican food in Escondido. The portions…read moreare huge, the service is always friendly and attentive, and the food comes out surprisingly fast. Two standout items you have to try are the surf and turf burrito and the carne asada fries--they're both packed with flavor and come in generous portions. We've been here many times and consistently have a great experience whether dining in or ordering to go. If you're looking for solid Mexican food with big portions and fast service in the Escondido area, this place is definitely worth a visit.

    It'd been a couple years since the sad limp rolled taco encounter. So given how often these places…read moreturn over ownership or management, I figured it time to give That Mexican Place anonymously go. I ordered a #1 combo (shredded beef taco, cheese, enchilada, beans/rice) for myself, and two shredded beef tacos à la carte for Mom, to eat at home a half mile away. Upon opening, the combo looked good, although the tiny smattering of pico on the taco and particularly the super skimpy portions of both beans and rice immediately stood out - a real bummer as I REALLY love Mexican beans and rice. So presentation was quite disappointing. Then, the second I picked up the taco, it was apparent it didn't survive the trip, having completely disintegrated on the bottom. This appeared to be from using a thinner than usual tortilla to make the taco, which was then set directly in a puddle of unusually watery enchilada sauce. So that was strike 2. As for the cheese enchilada, there was so little cheese had I not known what I was eating I wouldn't have been able to tell you. In addition, it was swimming in the same watery enchilada sauce that caused the demise of the taco. As for the à la carte beef tacos, mom reported they were good. So at least she was happy (Whew! Thank goodness!). The good news is, the food all tasted good, with the issues all relating to quantity and plating, not quality or taste. So despite the low rating, I'll be back at least once more to give them another go, if only because it's so conveniently close to home. Fingers crossed...

    Photos
    Drinks, salsa, utensils, etc are not self serve
    Drinks, salsa, utensils, etc are not self serve
    Adobada Burrito is now tiny, notice the right side is all tortilla too...
    Adobada Burrito is now tiny, notice the right side is all tortilla too...
    Carne Asada Chips

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    Carne Asada Chips
    Craft Coast Beer & Tacos

    Craft Coast Beer & Tacos

    4.5
    (204 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$
    Free WiFi
    Outdoor seating

    This place in San Marcos is CRAFTed and curated to perfection. We used to come here when it was…read moreRip Current. Even though that closed this place was a nice surprise in its venue takeover. You order at the Bar counter for your Brew & for the tacos. The food is made at their permanent fixture food truck outside. The tacos are amazing and generously portioned. The Birria was my favorite! Carne asada was good too. The staffers are nice and ready to serve. There is high communal and individual table top seating inside and sports playing on the TV. Picnic Bench tables out on the front patio are & close to the food truck. It's pretty busy but worth the little wait for your tacos to be done. So sip sip while you wait for the buzzer to go off! Looking forward to our next visits here.

    The tacos were delicious as can be, the birria tacos had me go for seconds as they were that good…read morealone! The workers there were super friendly and chill and when asking about their in house beers they were not hesitant to see what you like and give you a beverage to the best of your liking! The lighting inside is just right for day or night as it allows natural lighting in during the day with the garage door style windows and when it's night time the interior lights are not over powering to brighten up the place! If you all have not tried the "local motion" i HIGHLY recommend it if you like a great IPA! If you are looking for a great place with good vibes and a perfect place to kick back to eat tacos and have a beer or two i definitely recommend craft coast in San Marcos!

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Polo asada taco and birria mulita
    Polo asada taco and birria mulita
    Ranch Water and Seastar

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    Ranch Water and Seastar
    Mi Reyna tortillería y taquería

    Mi Reyna tortillería y taquería

    4.6
    (166 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    Tried this place for the first time and can honestly say the food was very homey and tasted very…read moregood! I had the red chilaquiles with chicken and a pork tamale and they were both in point! The masa is really freshly made and have meat from end to end! The wife had Pozole and a quesabirria and the once again they did not disappoint! This is a discreet location with very good food! Next time we will get the tortillas which are highly recommended as well

    We came here based on Yelp reviews, so we walked in optimistic, even though it looked a little…read morequestionable at first. We ordered and paid for our food, then went to the restroom to wash our hands. To get there, you have to walk through the kitchen all the way to the back, and that's when everything changed for us. Back there, we saw large bins of food, what looked like beans sitting out, open containers of chips, and food exposed with doors open. It didn't look clean or properly handled at all. The bathroom itself also wasn't in great condition. On top of that, there were shared sauces on the tables in open containers with spoons sitting inside, which didn't feel sanitary. After seeing all of that, when we got our food, we honestly didn't even want to eat it. We ordered birria tacos, carne asada, and carnitas. My husband didn't finish his food, and I didn't let my daughter eat any of it. Unfortunately, after eating there, I ended up getting very sick and was dealing with what felt like food poisoning for about a week, which affected the rest of our trip. The only thing that tasted okay was the lime water. I don't understand how this place has such high ratings. Based on what we saw and experienced, I would not recommend it, and I think it should be looked into for basic health and safety standards. We would not return.

    Photos
    Mi Reyna tortillería y taquería
    Mi Reyna tortillería y taquería
    Mi Reyna tortillería y taquería

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    Craft and Taco Lounge - tacos - Updated August 2026

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