Great local spot, that I want the world and yet no one to know about, all at once. I had a craving for fish tacos. Sir we ventured here. I have the El Pascado, TallGirl had the Adaboado and the Coco Loco. For good measure we also got chips and guacamole. They have stubborn cola, which is always a hit for me. The chips were fresh and crisp and perfect amount of salt. The guacamole had a lovely lime hit. It was very good (from a non guacamole lover) and I especially like it with the chipotle salsa. My tacos were so yummy! I love how each taco had some fresh fruit on it. Each bite made my mouth happy!! The service was friendly, quick and personal. I felt like we were in a place where everyone knows your name. There is outdoor seating in the front and rear patio. And about 11 tables inside. This is on the list to come back to again and again!! read more

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The first time I came here (few months ago) I ordered the Vegan Avocado taco and the Vegan Al Pastor taco. Both were amazing! I enjoyed the avocado the best. When ordering my food customer service was great. I sat own and received chips and salsa. These were great as well, the chips were amazing! Today I ordered the Vegan Avocado, Vegan Al Pastor and the Vegan Zucchini tacos. I was really looking forward to the chips and salsa but I didn't receive anything :/. Since I was the only one that just ordered in the restaurant I just figured maybe they don't offer them anymore. My food came out quickly but it was nice last time to have the chips to scope up my fallen fillings. Another customer came in and ordered and within minutes they received chips and salsa. Not sure why I didn't receive anything. I was disappointed I didn't receive any because I really enjoyed them my last time here. Atmosphere is great and a nice quiet place to enjoy your food. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - From left to right: Avocado, Al Pastor, Zucchini - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Surf and turf taco Portobellini taco Chappis roll dip (rolled tacos cheese and potato) Barbacoa de borrego broth - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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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! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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. It's really just a little hole in the wall that's so worth it. And everyone was so friendly. read more

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Great tacos. A small hole in the wall place in Escondido. Has some indoor and outdoor door seating. Super laid back vibes. 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. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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

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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. It looks like a hole in the wall small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a small parking lot, and street parking. 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. read more

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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. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Shrimp loco something. Tasted fishy . Good flavor tho - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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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. It's a little hole in the wall that feels like a bar and taco stand at the same time. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Ribeye, taco and mahi-mahi taco - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

The food is pretty specualy. Every taco is unique and complex. Little masterpieces. A bit pricey, so don't expect to fill up on $20. But if you're looking to experiment with some exciting new flavor and texture combinations this is your spot. read more

I've been wanting to take my husband here for a while and finally we made it happen today. We ordered chips/salsa/ guacamole. The chips/salsa in particular were fantastic and the guacamole was very good too. Then we had 4 tacos, carne asada, el pastor, mahi mahi and veggie mushroom. They were all amazing. We couldn't finish all of it bc they stuff their tacos with all the yummy ingredients. Tonight we'll have the leftovers and we can't wait. Lastly very friendly service as well read more

It is a very cute place unfortunately a little hidden due to the one way street and busy road. It's quiet and cozy inside with well maintained spaces and enough lighting. 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. 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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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This is one of my favorite places to frequent. There are so many wonderful choices on their menu, including vegetarian and vegan! The Avotaco wowed me! It had tempura avocado, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, cabbage mix, carrots, chipotle aioli and tomatillo avocado salsa on a homemade corn tortilla. They are so delicious, I savor every bite! The owners and the staff are wonderful as well. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Pure yumminess! - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

As a professional chef for decades and have traveld all over Latin America, this place is the real deal. Giovanni and his team are killing it! Great food, service, and vibe. It checks all the boxes. I Will Be back read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

I had a great time here, I stopped by on my way home from Baja. The tacos were amazingly delicious. Great ingredients and flavor you could enjoy. The service was great and the restaurant was neat and clean with a chill vibe. The restrooms were clean and the price was on point. I will be returning soon. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

I started going here because of the amazing vegetarian and vegan options. After 7 years of being vegetarian it was so refreshing to find a place not just offering a mushroom taco. I have tried every vegetarian taco and my partner had tried are the other ones and all of them have been outstanding. The service is great too, the staff is so kind and welcoming. Such a great spot! read more

Re Visited 5/20/2025 Well 6 years after my first visit was to long in between It was like stepping back in time. Nothing has changed. Happy Smiling Friendly Staff. Excellent Menu to Order From. Everything was Amazing in Flavor as well as Presentation. My Favorite Three Tacos 1 2 3. The Coco Loco Seafood Taco. My Favorite Of The Day. The Borrego Lamb Taco. The El Pescado Rockfish Taco. I won't wait another 6 years to come back. read more

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Located in downtown Esco. A variety of taco options for everyone! Steak, seafood, pork, chicken, vegetarian, vegan, they have it all! They have tacos on either corn or flour (which are both homemade) but they can accommodate requests. Tacos are served a la carte. Escondido Loco Coco: Sweet & savory taco. Shrimp & lots of scallops. Surf n' Turf: A must order! So flavorful & I loved the crispy, melted cheese. Churros: Crispy & sweet. Served with a side of chocolate sauce & a side of caramel sauce. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Escondido Coco Loco, Surf N' Turf - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

Delicious delicious delicious! My boyfriend just moved to Escondido so we're starting to explore all the restaurants within walking distance, this one will be revisited for sure! Lots of taco options, seafood, meat, and veggie/vegan options. We shared 4 tacos and chips and guac, which was more than enough for the two of us. The AL Pastor was tops with the Portobello being a close second. Both were so juicy and flavorful! Borrego was great too. Service was very friendly. We were going to get the food to go and eat at home, but it was very cute inside and out, so we ate there and enjoyed a beer and cider. Looking forward to our next taco night! Support Local! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Dining room - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

Been driving by this place for years and finally got to come in and try it. The menu looks so appealing and everything reads like it would be so good. But in all honestly, I didn't think very highly of their food.. We walked in and the restaurant had a very out dated and halfway trendy vibe to it. We odered at the counter right when you walk in. The women who took our order was very friendly and kind. We ordered the following tacos.. Blackened Mahi Mahi, the Fisherron, El Pescado, a Carne Asada, carnitas, and Chilie Relleno as well as an horchata. The Blackened Mahi Mahi was seasoned with a lot of spicy, it was too spicy and not in a pleasant way.. The Fisherron had a nice crunch and good seasoning to it. El Pescado was also fried nicely but the strawberry inside the taco was very foreign for me if I'm being honest. But it made for a more fresh flavor so I understand why people would enjoy it. The Carne Asada taco loaded with toppings.. everything fell out in the first bite and the meat was dry. Carnitas tacos were sweat with a spicy salsa that was honestly not an exciting combination.. The Chile Relleno I was most excited for. But there was no chile.. :/ I bit into it and it was just fried cheese.. no pepper inside.. When I took a bite out of each taco, it was pretty good but the more I ate the more unsatisfying the tacos were.. We had just come from the gym so I ate what I could to be satisfied. The food all came out warm, not hot or fresh and the tortillas also grew displeasurable the more I ate each taco. I dont know, it's hard to explain but the meal went from okay to bad.. and the missing chille was just unacceptable.. not even a cheese pull :( I did very much enjoy the horchata though. It was well made. Overall I think their spin on tacos is cute but also comical.. not for me though. read more

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We wanted a vegan option to experience where we could grab a bite to eat while traveling that wasn't too far from the highway. This place is amazing! The tacos were delicious! Casual seating. Easy street parking. Friendly service. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Menu - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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

Let me start by saying everything I order was I ordered a Blackened Mahi Mahi Taco which is perfect from the flower tortilla, fresh crispy cabbage and chipotle sauce. The fish was beautiful cooked and did not taste fishy at all. IYKYK Next up is the Borrego Taco and let me tell youuuuuu! The meat was nice and tender that literally fell apart after every bite. The crisp scallions paired with delightful salsa were amazing! Lastly the Portobellini was a tad bit disappointing simply because it didn't have much flavor compared to my other two choices. Those were very flavorful and spicy so switching to the vegetarian taco was not a great idea in my opinion. I definitely had to add salsa which was a perfect opportunity for me to try their red and green salsa. Both salsas had great flavor so it made my taco delicious . I was tempted to order a pineapple Stubborn soda because I love cane sugar soda but I had to hold off. Somebody was eating the corn and it looked delicious!!! The service and ambiance were great. They brought my food out so fast and gave me plenty of napkins. I sat in the sun outside and it felt sooo good to bask in it all. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Receipt - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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I came for street tacos but changed my mind last minute for Potato and Cheese Rolled Tacos. Nice, crispy corn tortillas presented in a bowl of some kind of green sauce I didn't care for. Would have been perfect with guacamole it was a lot of sauce so I ordered their chips which were excellent but ended up dipping in their salsa. Most of the tacos were delicious according to my friends' except the one with mashed potatoes. I would come back and try some of their other menu items. I like the churros and the service was nice and friendly with plenty of tables. read more

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Friendly staff. Nice place... BUT THE FOOD!!! I had the Rockfish Taco. My wife looked befuddled when I told her my taco tasted like I was eating Ice Cream. Literally the best thing I have had in my mouth in months. I will come back later this week for the Escondido Loco taco.... which is supposed to be even better. Great work CTL read more

They say tacos are the way into a women's heart. They have never been more right. Good tacos good service good vibes

C&T Lounge is serving up some tasty tacos with the flair of a handlebar mustached hipster. Not your typical tacos... they reimagine the possibilities and take some liberties where tradition may hamper their creativity. I was pleased with the "Borrego" taco: a big hunk of lamb on corn tortilla. It is not the stringy "birria" style but a super tender nugget that falls apart the moment you bite it. The relleno was a cheese bomb. Melty and gooey with a mayo based crema on a flour tortilla. These tacos live up the the "craft" bonafides... they stray just far enough from the stalwart taco standards to keep the DNA of the originals with just enough flair to introduce a new dynamic. I'm going to recommend you come hungry and with an open mind. read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Chili Relleno taco - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

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The tacos are amazing. I had the Adobado and the Coco Loco, both were fantastic. They do a great job of marrying clean simple flavors into something very complex. You can't go wrong with the chips and guacamole either. Vegetarian, gluten free, and paleo options to meet your needs. Fast service at a very reasonable price. We had 4 tacos, chips and guacamole, and two sodas- the total was less than $40. It s always nice to see a small restaurant where people are proud of their food and genuinely want to share a taste experience with everyone who walks through the door. read more

The tacos are SO unique and some of the best flavors I've ever had on tacos. The Escondido Coco Loco was AMAZINGGGG!!! The service was great, they're so kind here. Their backyard ambiance is great. It's super lowkey but the flavors could be in a fancy restaurant. So many flavors to try, try them all!!! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

Great delicious food, very nice service and cute Ambience. Definitely will be coming back!! read more

This was my third time coming here - I live over an hour away so whenever I'm in the area, I stop by. My husband must've said this to the guy taking our order because he brought out complimentary churros for our group of 7. He was extremely nice and service was fast. Food was amazing - my favorite was the mushroom tacos. There are so many options so even the pickiest of eaters can find something they like! read more

Still sooooo good! Creative minds are definitely in the kitchen here. Extra flavorful touches on many of the tacos, like sliced strawberries scattered on fish taco, crunchy sweet corn on the mushroom taco, just to name a few. Always fresh and delicious. Good craft brew selection to go with! read more

Yum yum yum!! My Husband and I recently heard about Craft and Taco Lounge and made it our next "date night" spot. It was delicious! I'm not even a huge Taco lover and thought the authenticity of the tortillas, the size of each taco and all of the flavor and sauces were top notch! I especially loved the blackened mahi mahi and the surf and turf taco. We also got chips (the best homemade chips) and guac, the pollo asada taco, the chile relleno taco, the mushroom taco and churros with ice cream- we were stuffed. The menu was one of the largest I have seen with options for everyone, including vegetarian, vegan and paleo- which we were told were some of the most popular tacos! Giovani was awesome and made us feel so welcomed. It was great learning the story of how Craft and Taco Lounge came to be! We will definitely be going back soon to take friends and family. I highly recommend. read more

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Absolute best Mexican in north county. Rather be here than Vintana, Bellamy's, Vincent's etc

One of my favorite places to come eat healthy, savory, delicious, tacos !!!!!! Totally worth it read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Top 2 mahi, mahi, surf and turf, coco loco, cauliflower,bottom portobellini mushroom, Heirloom - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California

Craft and Taco Lounge is an excellent unique yet authentic taco option in Escondido! There are so many options and each taco we've tried so far has been a delight! This time, we had the chile relleno, Borrego, carne asada, lobster, and some elote. So good!! And make sure to ask for a side of the habanero salsa. ;) Great service, with a chill and doggo-friendly patio. Just go! read more

Craft and Taco Lounge - Tacos Near Me - Escondido, California