Parking 3/5 -parking lot in front of the restaurant has about 20 spots that are shared with other shops in the plaza so you most likely have to park across the street in the residential area during busy hours Service 4/5 -server is friendly and accommodating however feels understaffed during busy times, the owner is always present and very helpful and enthusiastic/passionate with customers, honestly great service! Just be more patient and mindful that they're doing the best they can Food 5/5 -mixed(surtido) and cheek(cachete) tacos, meat is TENDER. I honestly can't taste the difference between the two, I just knew I wanted to keep eating them(even after eating 3). Sturdy tortillas so the tacos weren't falling apart as I was eating, I also really liked that each table had two squeeze bottles of salsa, so convenient -orden/order, if you come here, you have to order this soup with the head meat. It's the essence that sums up the restaurant, it's a little peppery with the sweetness from the diced onions and meaty goodness. It comes with about 4 tortillas and there's a lot of meat in the soup to be made into more tacos Ambiance 5/5 -restaurant was full of people eating food happily(obviously the food was delicious) and there was a guy that sang for donations and vendors that came through selling trinkets, just a mixing pot of life and happy place to eat read more

See all

Stopped in for dinner and it did not disappoint. Service was very quick and our server was very attentive and friendly. Tacos all had wonderful taste. Not pictured was a taco de tripas which my dad was not very impressed with but everything else he got, he loved. IMO, carne asada tasted a bit burnt. I'd recommend trying the flan, it was really good. Prices were decent and overall I'd be back and would recommend you stop in if in the area. read more

See all

Pretty good asada. pastor decent. cabeza is not my preference but it was okay here. not too stinky. flavor in chilaquiles was cool. not best. read more

See all

04/29/2026 My son invited me to join him to try a variety of exotic tacos, and I said yes without any hesitation. Our experience was pleasant, and the staff were both helpful and friendly. We ordered: -Mollejas Plato ($12.75): Came with oily tortillas. -Taco Cachete ($3.55): Fatty in the best way possible. -Taco Lengua ($4.45): Tender and juicy; we both really enjoyed it. -Taco Ojos ($4.55): We both liked this one. -Taco Sesos ($3.95): A bit dry. -Taco Maciza ($3.85): I'm glad I tried it. -Consome Meat ($8.49): The soup was flavorful but had very little shredded meat. read more

See all

aammmaaazzzzinnnggg!!! Never had anything like it. The cabeza en sus jugos is such a unique dish and literally melts in your mouth. If you're into super tender cabeza, this is your spot. I came for breakfast and had it with a delicious cup of café de olla, which was perfect. Go check them out, 10/10!!! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Cafe de olla - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Food was absolutely delicious the cabeza shareable plate is the way to go, also the chicharrón tacos were amazing. Service was also amazing very friendly and attentive. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town. If I were to suggest something, tacos are a tad bit overpriced. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Michelada, Chicharrón taco, and cabeza plate. Yum yum in my tum - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Saw this on Instagram and waited for the next chilly night for us to go. Place was clean and inviting. When we walked through the door, we got big Welcome! Which was definitely helpful because when we go to a new place, sometimes we get intimidated and overwhelmed. And to be greeted that way, made us feel really welcomed. Menu is simple and easy to read, our server was great. She did not rush us and she explained everything clearly.. We ordered 2 tacos, the Seso and lengua. Both were delicious and flavorful. We also ordered the Orden which is the boneless cabeza soup. It was served with tortillas and grilled onions. The broth was clean and full of flavor, soo good. The cabeza in the soup was very tender. Surprisingly the soup was not heavy at all. Our server was great. She always made sure that we were good. We were definitely satisfied and will be back. read more

See all

this is about to take the top spot for the best tacos i've had! we tried various kinds but my favorites were moronga (blood sausage w herbs that gave it such depth of flavor), cochinita pibil (pulled pork w a great citrusy marinade), & chicharrón prensado (pork belly that was just so rich & flavorful). their salsas were also rly good--a roasted one & a refreshing green one that still had a good heat. we also tried cachete, lengua, borrego, & chorizo verde which were all solid service was nice & fast & the restaurant was clean & comfortable. the tacos were on the smaller side (i ate 4-5 rather than my normal 3), but reasonable considering the specialty meats / preparations & the fact that it's a full-service sit-down restaurant. can't wait to be back again! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - from left to right: Chorizo Verde, Chicharrón Prensado, Cachete, Moronga, Lengua, Cochinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Looking for homemade Mexican dish this is the spot!!! super authentic you feel like you're at grandma's house plus delicious homemade Horchata . The owner is gentleman the best music playing plus you get to see him interact with customers (like family) I got to enjoy a homemade breakfast with my two teenage girls, WE absolutely enjoy everything and felt at home.. the food the atmosphere and the quality of service10/10 recommend especially since we came from Ventura,Ca read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Console con Carne/ broth with meat $8.49 for the bowl absolutely delicious - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

See all

Food was delicious. Staff is so friendly and welcoming. Service was great. I even tasted the tacos (cherk & brain) and I was shocked I actually liked them. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Fantastic, enchilada & sopes. - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

De Cabeza El Único is a solid spot for authentic Mexican eats, especially if you're craving tacos de cabeza. The place is on the smaller side, so it fills up fast--especially during peak times--but we lucked out and got seated right away for our party of five. They have a ton of taco options, and our server was super helpful and genuinely kind, which made the visit feel welcoming. For the group, we went with 2 pounds of cabeza (it came out fantastic--super soft, juicy, and flavorful, though a bit on the fatty side). After a few bites, the richness and oil can feel a little overwhelming, but honestly, it was still top-notch. They hook you up with consomé (broth) on the side and a pile of tortillas. The refried beans, guacamole, chili with onions are extra charge like around $5 but still a tasteful addition. Dipping the tacos in the consomé was a game-changer--it added great depth, even if I wasn't blown away by sipping the broth straight. The food overall was fantastic and hit the spot for a hearty group meal. The one downside was the tortillas. We ran out way too quickly and had to ask (politely!) three different times for more fresh ones. Each time it felt like we were kind of ignored or brushed off, which was frustrating and slowed things down. That said, it didn't ruin the experience--just something they'd probably want to keep an eye on during busy rushes. Would definitely come back for the amazing cabeza and variety of tacos. Great authentic vibes in Chula Vista--worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Tacos were delicious! 10/10 they had lots of flavor and the salsas were good too. I love how they have so many options and the service was great everything was nice and clean. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Tacos de lengua, cabeza, borrego and cachete - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I have heard time and time again that San Diego had the best Mexican food and I agree. While I've lived here for 4 years, I have always just had my go to spots. Today I decided to try a new place and I'm so glad I did! De Cabeza had such great reviews on here so I decided to try them out. I walked in and they seated me right away. They were very sweet and kind and the restaurant itself was very inviting. There were lots of decorations on the walls of Mexican ranch style decor as well. I ordered a couple tacos de Maciza (head meat), Langua (tongue), El Dorado Pastor (matinated meat asada), and chicharron prensado (pork belly). I also got a quesadilla soy carne asada. The meciza was so tender, great flavor and the tortilla was freshly made ao it was nicely holding a the flavors. The Langua was very tender and also an enjoyable bit. The el Dorado Pastor taco hit me with so much flavor it was delicious! But then the heat snuck up on me. It was pretty spicy! Really enjoyable and packed either flavor! The tacos de Maciza (head meat), Langua (tongue), El Dorado Pastor (matinated meat asada), and chicharron prensado (pork belly). was well marinated and super tender finely chopped pork belly with a tiny touch of heat as well! I think it was my favorite honestly I wasn't expect it to be so good. And the quesadilla with carne asada was pretty decent, the cheese melted nicely too. I appreciated how quickly the food came out, the access to salsa and lots of limes on the table and the water which the server ensured my cup stayed full. Over all I'm so glad I tried somewhere new, it was exactly what I was looking for! Ill definitely be back soon! read more

See all

My husband found this restaurant on Yelp because he was looking for cabeza tacos. The Fried Cheese with guacamole, Avocado with Grasshoppers reminded us of Mexico City and Oaxaca. We also ordered meat, consommé, flautas, chicharron tacos and my grandson had the cheese quesadilla just the correct size for him! The owner was amazing, friendly and welcoming! They had live music for a short while we were there. We can't recommend it more than enough! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Heard about this place from Eater. Went to give it a try. Amazing staff. The Orden and Green chorizo taco was simply amazing. Hole in the wall gem read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Tacos, delicious, I would highly recommend the el pastor, just be aware that you will be paying a bit of a higher price for your fill. Jesus, the chef, SO friendly, so warm, so welcoming! That man sold my husband and I three additional tacos AND dessert when we were stuffed. We love tacos, so we couldn't say no. Carne asada tacos - solid 4, left happy El pastor tacos - solid 4.9, I don't care for el pastor but wow this place....SO GOOD. Hubby likes the cabeza and pork belly Coffee flan, YUM. Coffee wasn't overwhelming which was nice because I want to taste more than coffee It's a small place, but cozy, clean, and inviting. I would drive 30 minutes again for this spot. read more

See all

My brother and I stopped in tonight and wanted to give it a try! WOW this place is delicious! We met chef Jesus and he was so kind! Caldo de cabeza soup and it was so flavorful! The meat was incredibly tender. I also had the cachette taco (I'm a Midwest Caucasian so sorry if I'm spelling this wrong) and it was also melt in your mouth. PUT THIS PLACE ON YOUR LIST! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Cachette taco - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

See all

Mexican food Street tacos Chula Vista Restroom inside Amex accepted Indoor seating Fast service Beer available Imported ingredients Enjoy the entire head of the cow read more

See all

Solid taco spot that's a bit on the pricier side. I liked the decorations in the restaurant and service was good. I would recommend the cabeza, cachete, or lengua tacos. I didn't love the pastor and thought it was almost unexpectedly sweet. I did enjoy the consome though read more

De Cabeza el Unico - cabeza tacos, pastor taco, and consome - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Made our way down to De Cabeza el unico and the music was bumping and the vibes were high on Easter. It's a decently-sized place and were able to be seated for lunch immediately. The one thing that this place seems to be known-for is the additional cuts of meat that you don't typically see at other Mexican places. Everything looked good and it was hard to narrow things down. I got 4 tacos (Maciza, Lengua, Cachete, and Chicharron). I loved every single one and definitely for the first 3, you get that nice texture of both the tender meat but also the softness/gelatinous parts of the head, tongue, cheek. It might not be for everyone, but you I loved each one and honestly could have/should have gotten more. Simple tacos but still extremely flavorful. The consome broth was nice as well and it's flavor was deep and meaty. Almost like Beef Pho broth but with slightly different flavors. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Consome - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

See all

There aren't many places in San Diego that specialize in "Cabeza" tacos but it is a underrated taco meat that me and my boyfriend enjoy. We actually found out about this place through Gareth Leonard's video on the best tacos in san diego so we knew we had to check it out for ourselves. We ordered a cabeza taco, cheek taco, and pastor taco. The cabeza and cheek were definitely the star of the show. The meat was very tender and melts in your mouth. I'm glad to say this place is my new go-to for cabeza tacos. I believe that tortilla is so important when it comes to a good taco and their tortilla was perfect. I love that they only give you one instead of two tortillas. Sometimes when places double up on the tortilla it overpowers the flavors inside the taco. Again, I'm glad they don't do that here. The pastor was good but I still like tacos el gordo better in that area because of the green sauce they use but honestly I would order it again here. This place is a sit down restaurant rather than ordering at the front kiosk. You can tell this place is loved by many locals and service was fast and friendly. This place has so much to offer, not only tacos but you can get grasshoppers, fried cheese, soups, and so much more traditional Mexican comfort dishes. You will not be disappointed if you come here. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

See all

The absolute best place in San Diego for cabeza! I can't say enough good things about the quality of the food and service. All around will not disappoint. The location is clean and the parking is not hard to find. The weekends can get tricky sometimes for parking but definitely worth it! 100 out of 100! read more

Randomly came here tonight and tacos were amazing!!! Def found a new favorite taco spot. My fiancé and I both tried the cabeza tacos, asada, and cochinita pibil. All 3 were great. The service was excellent & the owner was very nice plus informative about his specialty. The ambiance was nice too. We will definitely be back for more. You will not be disappointed!! read more

A bit of a drive to get here but it was worth it. I let someone else do the ordering for us to share since he's been here before and highly recommended this place. I have to agree, everything was delicious! The moment we walked in we were greeted with a smile and seated quickly. The owner of the restaurant was sitting at the entrance and said "Welcome in!" Love a friendly staff. Our food came out quickly. Michelada paired well with our meal. As we finished each plate, the waitress came by to pick up our dirty dishes or to remove any trash from the table. She even topped off our Michelada mugs with the rest of our beer. Great service. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

They have a good service, real good environment and super good food The stuff is super friendly thank you read more

Great food, great homey atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Mexico. Highly recommended. Includes some specialty meats, like beef tongue, cheek, and ojos (eyes). read more

La comida es de lo mejor, la sopa de tortilla, el plato alambre y muchos platillos mas. Super recomendado. Y ni hablar de la atencion de Fatima que es la te te atiendo con una sonrisa y Jesus el dueño que siempre esta de buenas y te hace reir. No se pierdan la oportunidad de comer en El unico de Cabeza. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Logo - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

This restaurant has become our go-to spot for tacos. I've even introduced a lot of my friends and family here. But I'm knocking down another star because I feel like the waitresses are dishonest. If you order a michelada they automatically bring you the large 32 oz one. The 1st time I ever came here I asked if there was a smaller size and the waitress said no. The next time I came here, it was a different waitress and I asked about sizes and she said there was in fact TWO sizes. I was surprised and confused. I came back another time and it was the first waitress and when I asked for a small michelada, she told me there was only a large size. I told her the last time I came here, I was able to order the small size. She was quiet, walked away, and brought me the small size.. I feel like they are trying to upsell the larger size which I understand it's a business and you have to do what you have to do. But please don't lie to your customers or withhold information. Also another heads up, beware that when they ask if you'd like consome after you're done ordering, it is not free. Usually from my experience when I'm offered consome, it's complimentary, but not here. It's just so strange the way the waitresses offer it here as if it's free. Very misleading. I've never experienced this anywhere else. I went here over the weekend and we were checked on SO MANY times. It was uncomfortable. We felt like they were trying to kick us out since we were sitting in the corner and it looked like we were the last ones left. As we left we realized there were plenty of people still seated and eating. I've never come here and been checked on so many times. In fact, sometimes when I come here it's hard to even find someone to help us. My friends arrived before I did and was offered "free peppers" so they accepted it. When I arrived and they told me what happened I was confused because nothing is free here. Lo and behold, we were charged for it. It wasn't much but it was again, the dishonesty. I will continue to dine here for the amazing Al pastor tacos. The owner and manager are also very nice and always greet us with a smile, as they do remember us each time we dine in. But, the waitresses here I am very cautious about. read more

See all

Two taco breakfast: Cabeza & Cochinita Pibil. Cabeza was nice and chunky, not just the mush meat. Great texture and a subtle crunch to the corn tortilla made for a perfect taco! The Pibil had a subtle tang from the achiote and the pickled onions rounded the fatty cut's richness. I will be back to delve into the depths of this menu! Extremely personable staff was welcoming and appreciative of my business. This is a real deal taco joint that did not disappoint! read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Cabeza & Cochinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Delicious tacos that feature all parts of the cow. I especially enjoyed lengua and cabeza tacos and they offer other meats that you likely won't find at other taco shops. They have abodaba and carne asada for those who are less adventurous. Staff is friendly and the place was clean and modern. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Fantastic food and a great vibe! Jesus was a great host, made some solid recommendations for our party of 10. Corn tortillas were incredible. The grasshopper appetizer was very good! Served with avocado and salsa. Tacos were equally as delicious. Highly recommend the cochinita pibil, it reminded me of my late grandmother's recipe for a turkey pibil. She had her recipe published in "A Cook's Tour of Mexico" by Nancy Zaslavsky- so you know it's good! And these were absolutely delicious. read more

The owner, Jesus, was incredibly welcoming and immediately grabbed us to recommend items on the menu and his signatures cow head stew. The food was incredible and had a bunch of interesting combinations of flavors. I highly recommend anyone in chula come by here. read more

One of the hidden gems in Chula Vista. This place is serving up some delicious, authentic Mexican food with their fresh tortillas, incredible soups and tacos. I'm glad I live nearby and I usually get the soup which comes with meat bits, the fixings of onions, cilantro, radish, and different salsas. It's also served with some hot tortillas to dip or make some tacos out of. Owner and staff are very friendly and attentive, service is quick. Gotta end your meal with some delicious flan, can't go wrong with this place. read more

Huuuuge 1L model Michelada Had 4 tacos: Pastor - Marinated Pork Lengua - Tongue Ojos - Eye Cachete- Cheek All were fiiiiire Will 10000% be back. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Michelada - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

MY FAVORITE TACO is cochinito pibil it's absolutely delicious! Must try... I get it every time I come Service is always great the owner is such a great guy always says hi We have tried different types of tacos and we have liked every single one so far haven't had anything bad Consomé is delicious must try read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Taco de cochinita pibil Taco de cabeza - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

My husband and I have searched San Diego for carne de cabeza by the pound and we finally came to El Unico!!! His coworker suggested this restaurant. We tried the tacos and we were hooked!!! Sooo delicious! Best thing is we can buy the meat by the pound!!! This is the best!!! Try this restaurant!!! You will not be disappointed!!! Thank you El Unico! read more

We came from Washington state where the authentic Mexican options are limited. There were things on the menu I have not been able to find for over 20 years. Everything we had was excellent but our favorites were the ojos and sweat breads. Staff was awesome and the owner talked with us for about 5 minutes, you can really feel and taste the pride that they take in what they do. Worth the drive from SD and was the perfect way to start our trip. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

See all

Recent stop on my tour of San Diego tacos was De Cabeza el Unico and I think my search is complete. I found something amazing. The service was super friendly, the atmosphere was lively, and the food was so good. I ordered a cachete taco and it was so tender and flavorful. The tortilla was a chefs kiss. The quesadilla con pastor is now my favorite thing. The crispier tortilla on top with the crisped cheese around the edges. Amazing. The meat was juicy and the consommé as a dip was a delightful addition. The horchata was huge! Very tasty. I have been thinking about the quesadilla ever since and I definitely be back. read more

De Cabeza el Unico - Cachete Taco and Quesadilla con Carne w/ pastor - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Came all the way from Santee to visit De Cabeza El Único in Chula Vista after seeing all the great Yelp reviews, and they did not disappoint. Jesús, the owner, genuinely made the experience feel special. You can tell he cares about both the food and the people who walk through the door. We ordered carne tacos, pastor tacos, carne quesadillas, a Victoria michelada, horchata, and flan for dessert. Everything tasted incredible. The pastor had that perfect balance of flavor, the tacos were loaded and delicious, and the quesadilla was authentic style with two corn tortillas. The homemade salsa had the perfect amount of heat without overpowering anything. The michelada hit the spot, the horchata tasted fresh, and the flan was the kind you don't want to share. This is authentic Mexican food served in a place where everyone feels welcome. We came based on the reviews and are so glad we did. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to. read more

See all

So far the customer service was great! Very welcoming and friendly!! The ambiance is as very chill and music was nice!! We ordered Chiles toreados, consomé, tacos tripa,lengua,cabeza, chicharrón prensado!! Everything was tasty!! Savory and delicious!! It's just a burst of flavor in my mouth!! So much love into cooking the meats for your tacos!! Perfectly seasoned and made!! The tacos come overloaded with meat and ingredients so make sure you know you will probably get full quick!! And have leftover because they aren't stingy at all!! La tripita bien dorada yum and the lengua omg!! Yes I am doing Spanglish!! Great food does this to you!!! The cook! The chef definitely doing something great here!!! El sazon está increíble!! El servicio súper atento y amable!! Definitivamente nuestro lugar para venir a comer algo rico!!! Oh by the way! The portions are good size! read more

See all