Tacos were great ! Hidden gem. Spacious seating . Customer service was great. Fast service. I went on a Saturday night around 8 pm and the service was quick. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Tacos : Asada (3.99) & Quesabirrias (5.99) . They are street style tacos. - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Not TJ style at all. Don't recommend. All I have to say is that the only good thing they have would be their aguas frescas. read more

Went here on a Tuesday for their Taco Tuesday deal on Al Pastor tacos. No line during early afternoon around 3pm so the service was quick. Have to ask for salsas behind the counter though. The seating area is clean and very big. Large parking lot in front. Wish they would add more options for Taco Tuesday. The Al Pastor tacos were good. The meat was well cooked but I would have like some pineapple on it. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Taco Tuesday deal for Al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I've picked up food serval times and everything has always been delicious! Service has always a been great and great taco Tuesday deal!

This place has plenty of seating so no issue there. The first thing we encountered was a line as it seemed they only had one cash register which is also where they take your order so that was a bit off putting considering the line had a good amount of people waiting. 2 parties decided to hop out of line and walked out and can't help but think it was because of the wait. Prices are fair. We tried a variety of meats and some just tasted like your regular meat while others like the carnitas and adoba had good flavor. Salsa bar had good options. Food came out fairly quickly as well. read more

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I ordered a California Burrito--which wasn't listed on the menu--but I must say it was really good! It did have beans which I didn't expect because most California Burrito's I order don't typically have it but It was nice!However personally, for $17.39, I don't think I'd order it again. Overall a decently priced selection of food, the vibes of the place were chill, and the lady taking my order was nice and helpful! :) A place I'd recommend to try for sure! read more

El Patron Taqueria - California Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

Atmosphere: Clean and large space. The best way I can describe it was I felt like I was transported to Baja - not necessarily a bad thing. Service: The lady at the register was super nice but also unsure when I asked a few questions. 5:30pm on a Friday, took about 15mins to order and I noticed a little more help came out in the kitchen in the next hour. A little odd to me they didnt have any napkin dispensers to be found. I hope they find their "rhythm", possibly add an additional cash register if they get busier. I assume there is a bit of a learning curve going from food truck to full brick and mortar. Food: I ordered pollo and chorizo tacos on corn tortillas ($2.99). Also the carne asada and al pastor on flour tortillas ($3.99). The corn tortillas aren't house-made but still really good, no clue about the flour ones. Not sure if its tradition to not add guac to the some of meat selections or if it had to do with the corn versus flour. I did wonder if that was the reason for the $1 up-charge. Everything seemed fresh, meats were on point, and pretty classic TJ style tacos. Carnitas wasn't available to try so I opted to grab a carne asada burrito to check out (rice, beans, guac, cilantro/onions, meat - $13.99). What really stood out was the asada has a nice fire-roasted char flavor to it and also tender. Could be one of the best carne asada meats Ive had in the area. Tortilla also had a nice texture - nicely thin and chewy that held up well. What you will find here that is going to stand out from other "typical" taco shops in the area is the freshness of ingredients and the quality of the meat. The chorizo, al pastor, and carne asada are fantastic! Salsas: Very similar to Frida's if you've been there. The roja and verde are what I can only describe as a very what you'd expect if they were defined by a dictionary and there is also the mild chunkier red. Maybe this shouldnt come as a surprise, but overall Id describe this place as a TJ style taco food truck but in an actual restaurant with more attention to quality of ingredients than your typical taco shop. read more

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Food, Service, well acomudive... recommended for future orders... for sure ...‍...... read more

The meat tastes good, a bit salty for me but great taste. My only suggestions is to keep up with cleaning and maintenance. The tables are dirty, the trash is piling up and so are the cans. It's not busy so down time would be a good time to clean around. The women's bathroom needs work to be redone as the big stall has a big space in between the walkway and bathroom so if the door opens or someone is in line, more likely you can see what's happening. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Eating area - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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First visit here before the grand opening and as I understand it this is their first brick and mortar transition from a food truck. Large amount of space, plenty of spots to sit down. The process is ordering at one window by the huge menu sign and then getting your receipt maybe visit the salsa station and then they call your number next window, and they take your reciept same process as the food truck. We Ordered a torta, 4 tacos, & a horchata. The Torta was nice, wasn't soggy wish they had refried beans. Tacos had a nice amount of meat and toppings. The horchata was way too sweet, we tried to switch it for something else but they stated they dont do that and we had to wait until later in the day when the ice would melt more, which was disappointing and unusual I feel for a sit down spot. Overall nice spot and you can see they have more adjustments to make as a sit down restaurant. read more

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Honestly, these tacos taste exactly like Tijuana. I don't even think I have to go over the water anymore for my tacos. They are super delicious. I definitely recommend . If I can rate over five I would Customer service is amazing, location and parking great, facility is clean and huge read more

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My 2nd time here . Met the owner Cesar when he was first setting up his restaurant SUPER nice guy. Both times he stopped what he was doing to personally greet me by name. Food is great and the customer service is amazing! Highly recommend this new gem in San Marcos! SO GOOD read more

El Patron Taqueria - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

Place is big I get some lengua tacos and only they put on 5 pieces of lengua for $5 for each one and very small tacos read more

El Patron Taqueria - 11/09/25 I get some lengua tacos omg $4.50 for each one and only 5 pieces of lengua - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

The tacos are delicious, but the prices are a bit steep. A kids' menu would be a great addition, especially since a $16 bean and cheese burrito is quite high. The cheese quesadilla for $16 is also an overpriced option. The habanero sauce was Good. Lastly, the pastor had a bone size of two teeth (pictured included), which unfortunately hurt my wife's mouth. I'm trying to avoid giving a low score, but I wanted to share this feedback. Overall, Cashier was nice, and the gentleman keeping the place clean were great people to chat with. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Huge bone in Pastor - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Great good great service and most importantly great food! Little hidden gem! Good taco Tuesday deal too! read more

El Patron Taqueria - Al Pastor tacos!! - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

They used to have a salsa bar, which was a big part of why the tacos were good. Now tonight it's gone, and they don't mention it before taking your order. I ended up paying over $50 for about 8 tacos and 2 drinks, and the only salsa they give you is a basic smashed tomato salsa. If the salsa bar is gone, they should tell customers before ordering because it completely changes the experience. Pretty disappointing. Also to me personally that's just rude read more

Came in with a group and tried a solid spread of items, and everything we had ranged from good to excellent. We ordered a half carne asada / half al pastor burrito, plus the carne asada nachos. My friend summed it up perfectly: great flavoring, a really good tortilla, and solid guac. Nothing felt skimpy or bland. I personally had the carne asada burrito, along with a birria taco and a chicken taco. The chicken taco was just okay, but the birria taco was fantastic--rich, flavorful, and easily the standout bite. The carne asada burrito was absolutely delicious. They melted the cheese directly onto the tortilla, which gave it extra flavor, and the tortilla itself had a strong, satisfying taste that really elevated the whole burrito. Overall, great flavors, thoughtful preparation, and some genuinely standout items. Would definitely come back, especially for the birria and carne asada. All kind employees! read more

This is my go-to taco shop! Hands down, better than Frida's, in portions and quality. It's pricey but every taco shop in sd are .-. this one is at least worth it. Every item I've had is the best version of what it can be. I recommend the quesadilla de mano, torta, and side of fried green onion! read more

Super impressed with this new spot. I got a Burrito Pastor and pepino limon agua fresca. Both were fantastic, and total was about $21 (drink was massive, and totally worth the $6). I live nearby, and this will definitely be my new go-to spot. The dining area is huge and clean, and the food came out very fast. I'm excited to see this place start to blow up - they deserve it. read more

El Patron Taqueria - The dining area is MASSIVE - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

I was hoping it would be a little better Has a great name and location in San Marcos . I ordered a carne asada torta And now I call it a wish I had more Carne torta . read more

I'm so happy I found this place by doing a search on Yelp I drive down Rancho Santa fe often and never knew it was there The tacos are delicious. Flavors on point Quality and fresh ingredients. We ordered a variety of the mini tacos Friendly service. Clean salsa station. Huge dining room with a contemporary decor. This is going to me a regular place for us !! read more

Just like Tacos El Gordo & TJ Tacos but without the line. Lots of space to chill and eat in peace without the crowd and lots of parking.

This place is great. Super authentic. Had the carnitas taco, al pastor taco, and carne asada taco. All were delicious. My girlfriend got cabeza tacos and inhaled them. The chips were hot, crispy, and salty. Can't ask for more. She got the tres leches cake for desert and while I'm not usually a fan myself she had me try it and it was fantastic. We will 100% be back. 5 stars, highly recommended. read more

La comida está pasable cuando no quieres ir tan lejos por unos tacos o batallar pero el sabor del al carbón está muy penetrado en la carne asada y de mi parte no es muy favorable. read more

Rounded up from 3.5 stars. Located in the same shopping plaza as Taco Bell, just north of the 78 fwy. Ordered: vampiro, carne asada taco and birria quesadilla The meats were excellent. The birria was juicy and flavorful. Same with the carne asada. The bad: quesadilla was already soggy by the time I sat down. Probably my fault for ordering birria with it but I've had it before and it was fine. The quesadilla wasn't what I expected. Minimal cheese and way too much in it. The toppings should be served on the side. It was basically a small burrito that was flattened instead of wrapped and soggy. Vampiro - same issue. Bottom was soggy and the top was bone dry. It was basically the exact same thing as the quesadilla but with round corn tortillas Carne asada taco was excellent. The meat was juicy and flavorful. Salsas were mediocre. I'll be back but get tacos or burritos next time. The meats were yum! read more

El Patron Taqueria - Carne asada taco and birria vampiro - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

The tacos were quite enjoyable, though perhaps not the most exceptional you've ever experienced, they certainly sufficed. The salsas, however, could benefit from some refinement, particularly in achieving a better balance of salt and pepper. The venue itself is quite spacious and would be ideal for birthday celebrations; I am uncertain if they offer catering-style arrangements for such events. Stay well, Until we meet again gentleman. read more

I'm a cook that's eaten at hundreds of taquerias all over California and I'm always looking for the best tacos. And to my surprise I found the best Mexican I've had in San Diego county right next to my house! Awesome haha! Even better they are opening actual restaurant soon yessss! Currently hours are random running out of a food trailer but always open Thurs thru Sun I've noticed. The Carne Asada is grilled on charcoal just like in Sonora, it's great, it's fresh and everything I've ordered perfect/near perfect. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I had the worst experience in any taco place ever. First, the cooks who served your meal were racist... And assumed I didn't speak English in front of my family. There was no communication with the orders and blamed the customers as it were our mistake on grabbing our plates.. We were excited to support a business that we never tried, but we will not support this business and is a disgrace to the neighborhood... The food was too salty and we're not satisfied. Recommend to stay away from this place and go to the other Mexican restaurants along this street who dedicate hard work in making good food and service. read more

Not sure what tricks they have up their sleeve, but these carne asada tacos taste almost exactly like Tijuana tacos. (With the exception of the tortilla.) friendly staff, food came fast and hot. I've always complained that taco places in San Diego can never get the flavor of the carne asada to match Tijuana. Somehow, they got it right. New favorite place. read more

We tried this place out hoping it would be good and somewhat like TJ tacos. We all got tacos, which by the way are almost $5 each for mini tacos. The al pastor was so dry and overcooked it was literally so crispy and burnt. Overall the food was pretty bland. The service was good and it was cute and pretty clean inside but I just don't think we will be returning. read more

Went there for lunch had the vampiro de asada and 3 tacos de asada along w a horchata Fire .

Best tacos this side of the border. Ambience is great, very clean. Service is very friendly. Parking is great, and conveniently located off the freeway. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Carne asada and Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Tacos were average. Tortillas on the tacos could have been warmed longer because they get soggy quickly. I asked for cilantro and onion on the side, but they also omitted the beans and guacamole. I said onion and cilantro on the side not "no guac and beans". Bathrooms are disgusting - the mirror is splattered with water everywhere, the counter is not wiped down, the lights are too dim, the stall doors are filthy, and the floor is slippery. ALL tables were dirty in the dining area and it was not busy at all. read more

El Patron Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

My favorite taco restaurant in San Marcos. They have a straightforward menu and the tacos come out hot, fresh, and delicious. The staff are extremely polite and the interior is enormous with plentiful seating. I typically order the carnitas tacos. The only thing I wish they offered were smaller cup sizes for their agua fresca. read more

Nos encanta ir aqui!! Comida deliciosa y muy buen servicio!! De tacos a burros todo está buenísimo. La birria, carne asada y adobada estan muy buenas read more

I normally have tacos in the heart of SD and Chula Vista because I am very discerning and have found some of the best tacos there. I just stepped into this taco shop by recommendation, and I was blown away. It's a very large, clean and beautiful restaurant. Most importantly was the quality of the items we ordered. We had the Al Pastor, Asada, Chorizo and Birria Tacos and a California burrito. The ingredients were extremely fresh, very authentic, delicious, and one of the best I've had. Great quality meat, savory flavor, amazing tortillas and their prices were very reasonable. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant if your looking for delicious food, friendly service, nice atmosphere, and wonderful pricing! Thank you El Patron Taqueria. I will be back very soon! Recommendation: You need more marketing. Claim your business on Yelp, and maybe advertise on your window facing the main road. It's a bit hidden. The public is really missing out on your fabulous food! AMAZING! read more

This place is super bomb! Always on point. I love their carne asada and al pastor. The tacos are great and I love the guacamole added on top. We've gotten the fries before and the burrito as well which are large portions. Everyone who works there as well is very friendly and kind. read more

Everything was super delicious! The taco meat was perfectly seasoned and super tender. The lady who took our order was really nice too. 10/10 food and people. read more

Excellent TJ style tacos. Great prices. Tripa and Al pastor were the best! Great customer service and aguas frescas selection. Will be coming back asap read more

El Patron Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, California

Big amount of space but they use low quality prepped meat, and some of the tacos I ordered had charcoal lighter fluid taste on the meat. Also idk if its posted on display but they charge fees for using card. read more