Tacos El Gordo continues to be one of my favorite taco places of all time. I found out that…read moreMexico City was the place that originated al pastor tacos as they were inspired by Lebanese immigrants who brought Shawarma to Mexico; however, I appreciate that it worked its way to Tijuana and SD through Gordo. Gordo's adobada can compare favorably to al pastor anywhere; however, my experience at this "Gordo" location in Gaslamp has been inconsistent compared to Chula Vista and Vegas locations, due to their higher volume. The smaller space also has less seating, which is a bummer if you are coming here on a busy comic con day. The adobada here, though, is the taco to get. Consider yourself lucky if you get a nice portion of crispy and burnt bits as they offer nice textural bites. Their sauces/salsas are also equally good, and it sets it above and beyond another taquero from Tijuana, Tacos El Franc. Don't shy away from their asada tacos either, as the meat has a nice kiss of charcoal and it's topped with a generous portion of guac. I don't love that prices have gone up to almost $5/taco; however, I'll gladly pay it if they can give me my favorite taco.

Went here after Lola 55 and this place was far and beyond better than Lola 55…read more Small place but food is delicious and they don't skimp on anything

Tacos and fries are great but Do not order tacos thru the drive thru, or at least check your order…read morebefore leaving. They will not get them right. Got 4 carne asada tacos and the lady even asked "with everything" I clearly said "yes please" got home to plain carne asada tacos just meat and tortilla. For how expensive they are now I would think they'll make your order right.

This is the OG location and the ONLY TEG's location I would recommend going to if you are going to…read morego to TEGs. Lines for the al pastor / adobada are always long, but worth it in my opinion. Lines for other food items are usually not as long, but can be at peak hours (closer to midnight). Its one of those places where you go to get your food first and then you go to the cashier in the corner to pay for it. Seating is something you have to fight for // get yourself, so during peak times it can be rough because a LOT of people will steal seats before even having their food, and then they will sit there for 30-40 minutes before even getting their food // eating (so that kind of sucks -- but thats not something the restaurant has ever handled, people just kind of suck in the big 2026, back when I went in 2016-2017 people were more respectful, but times have changed I guess)

Amazing tacos! I always come here when I'm in the area. The ceviche and tacos are outstanding…read more Despite the line, the order came out fast. The seafood is fresh and i really enjoyed the battered fish taco. Seating is very limited.

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Busy place but it's thankfully quick! Also had to wait in line but not for too long. The guac is so fresh and delish - just need an extra squeeze of lemon. Sauces and condiments are up for grabs and a lot of it is self-service so it can feel more chaotic. The fish tacos, shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and ceviche were all good! Not a 5, but a solid 4.5 :)

Phenomenallllluhhhh. I absolutely adore this place. Their fries paired with an exuberant amount of…read moretheir light green sauce? Exquisite. It's embarrassing how frequently I find myself returning to this fine establishment. I yearn daily for their birria fries. Pleaseeeeer open a location in North OC!

Okay, I get the hype! I ordered tacos to-go, which sometimes is the best test because if a place…read morecan be good as take-out - imagine it in person! The birria is fall apart tender and the tortillas, even after sitting for about 20 minutes in the closed container, had a wonderful crunch that I appreciated. The orange salsa is an absolute must! I loved the spice it had, but the flavor combined was so delicious. I definitely recommend getting the Mike's combo (especially on a Tuesday because they do an added taco for Taco Tuesday). The combo comes with chips and salsa which is a must! The ordering method on the website is easy to use and the pricing is very affordable. I cannot wait to come back and try the birria ramen!

Delicious, who knew I like Birria? I called in my order & picked it up for my granddaughter her…read moreboyfriend & myself. He got the Ramen, which I thought was a little strange and he loved it. I liked the vegetables & thought the pickled onions were a really good touch. No salsa needed, just delicious!!

Mike's Red Tacos is basically all about birria--and everything we ordered was delicious! You really…read morecan't go wrong with whatever you choose. We ordered the ramen, Crunch Stack, mini churros, and birria tacos, and everything was so good. They also have a self-serve sauce bar with a variety of sauces ranging from mild to spicy, which was a nice touch. They have self-serve soda as well. The place was pretty packed when we went, but we were still able to find a table and order right away. They call out your receipt number when your order is ready, so it was an easy and straightforward process. I love the pun they had on their walls and overall everything inviting. Definitely a spot we'd come back to try more of the menu!

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.

Great food and service, even when they were busy the staff was very helpful to every dinerread more

Carlos recommended the tacos al pastor and birria. The birria was like steak. Also big chunks of…read moreradish at the free condiment bar. Best food in San Diego and reasonably priced! This is real Mexican food.

Woah!! Amazing burrito, got the Tierra y Mar, and such great salsas. Will be trying the California…read morenext

Best location in San Diego everything is so flavorful and cooked to perfection! Customer service is…read moreawesome too, Ivan was so helpful!

Sometimes, there are nights when only tacos can fix me. It's no secret that San Diego has tacos in…read morespades and being so close to the border, you'd think that a quest to find the perfect taco would be as simple as rolling down to the nearest taqueria. Except, it's not quite that simple. Many beloved staples have gone downhill, while some newer spots that might boast things like a Michelin mention or multiple locations ranging from TJ to Vegas contain more hype and gristle than tender meat and substance. Enter Chula Tacos. Chula is, and always was, the type of place that makes you forget that you're not actually in Tijuana. While part of me misses their OG Market Street location, seeing them with brick-and-mortars feels hard-earned and well-deserved. This location on Palm in IB is relatively easy to access from the freeway, but parking can be tricky. You can safely assume that it will be busy and you will either have to be very lucky or be willing to find a spot on the street. Out of all the times I've been here, it's always been crowded enough that I've never been able to find a table inside, but I enjoy sitting out on the patio next to the ahumederos. The first thing that hits you walking through the door is how amazing everything smells. The queue to the cashier takes you near a window showing the kitchen where you can see the Chula Tacos team making fresh tortillas, slicing meat from the trompos, grilling up jalapenos, nopales, onions, labio, and tripa. For me, it's not so much a challenge to decide what I want, it's more a challenge to keep myself from ordering everything. My usual is four tacos: two asada, two al pastor (but I've heard that I should also try their world famous keka). The tacos though? Perfection. Every time, the asada is the juiciest and most tender I've ever eaten, the al pastor is succulent and flavorful, and no taco in front of me is long for the world. At $3.50 each, every one of them is absolutely loaded. Three would honestly fill me up, but I always want four. After getting burned by spots that ask around 75% more and deliver anywhere between 25-50% less, Chula Tacos feels like an absolute godsend of a Tijuana-style taqueria and I can't see any other contenders being my go-to. So, when I say "Tacos will fix me," what I mean nowadays is "Chula Tacos will fix me."

Chula Tacos in Nestor is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for authentic, flavorful tacos…read morewith generous portions. Every item we ordered was packed with delicious flavors and made fresh. One thing that stood out was their attention to detail with to-go orders--they provided plenty of condiments, including a variety of salsas, cucumbers, radishes, and peppers, which really elevated the meal. The highlight of the menu is the Keka Taco. It is incredibly delicious, loaded with flavor, and so filling that it can easily satisfy even the biggest appetite. The only downside to this establishment is the limited parking, which can make picking up your order a bit challenging during busy times. However, the amazing food and generous portions more than make up for the parking inconvenience. If you're in the area, the Keka Taco is a must-try!

Five stars all the way!!! Amazing food, fresh chips and salsa oh and service that cares the taco…read moreplate was full of flavor and the portions were spot on! Everything tasted good

I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD…read moreto get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.)