Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    La Playa Taco Shop

    4.4 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    La Playa Taco Shop Photos

    Business Info

    LA PLAYA TACO SHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - La Playa Taco Shop

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    carne asada burrito + wet burrito

    This has to be one of the best mexican places i've ever been to! Sooo good!!! Please try

    Bacon breakfast burrito
    Trevor T.

    Tried going to Juice Wave, but they sold out of Açaí so had to improvise. I opened the Yelp app and looked for a high reviewed place and La Playa Taco Shop popped up. Walked over and ordered the bacon breakfast burrito with a peach Snapple(I love the Snapple facts). Definitely have order regret because the diners next to us looked like they had the best dishes with a humongous order of carne asada fries and yummy tacos. The burrito had beans & rice which is unique for a breakfast burrito. The bacon was just little bits that they probably bought from Costco. Bummer. They made an omelet which was supported by the tortilla and all hugging the beans/rice. Would probably give 5 starts if they used slices of bacon. Everyone was super nice. They provided salsa n napkins. Sitting outside there were flies but that isn't their fault. Snapple Fact: Emus can't walk backwards.

    Jann B.

    Walked over from Pacific Beach on a fine Saturday. Staff were kind. I got the Surf and Turf Burrito - price was fair, all the ingredients blended well together. The indoor portion of the restaurant was a bit warm but they had a nice patio which was a great alternative.

    Fish tacos
    Stephanie S.

    Was walking on the beach bike trail and got hungry so I made my way over to this taco shop. The fish tacos were pretty good, but I was surprised to see they were served with rice inside the taco. It wasn't bad, but it was different from what I'm used to. They also have red and green salsas out on the tables that had good flavor. Sadly, no chips were provided. The prices were reasonable, and the service was fast and friendly. A good quick stop to satisfy my fish taco craving!

    Shrimp Taco & Carnitas Taco
    Vicky Z.

    I was very excited to try this taco spot after reading all the great reviews. Sadly, the food was disappointing. I ordered the shrimp taco and the carnitas taco. The carnitas taco was alright. The meat had some flavor. It came with avocado and salsa. I added plenty of salsa verde to it to add some more flavor. The shrimp tacos were probably the worse I've ever had. Zero flavor. I don't think they had even seasoned the shrimp. Plus, the shrimp was old and it had absorbed the smells from the freezer. It came with rice, which was odd, and a ton of lettuce. I do not recommend the shrimp tacos at all. Just don't order it. There are plenty of other taco spots in the area that are far better than La Playa.

    California Burrito with sour cream added
    Denise M.

    I've been eating California burritos for over 15 years and this one is the best one I ever had in my life. My family is from Mexico and I look for authenticity when eating at a Mexican place. This place has it! The service is also 10/10. The lady's who took care of me made me feel like I was family visiting which is out culture. The Ambiance was so cute a colorful and very clean! I'm not from this area and I'm so glad I stumbled across La Playa :) I will be back next time I'm in town!

    Carne asada and fish tacos. Chips and guac.
    Olivia C.

    This is probably one of the best tacos I've ever had. The service was fast and amazing! I would come back here all the time.

    Chicken burrito
    Rusty P.

    Kind and quick service, and a perfect burrito. The meat and beans were delicious, and the tortillas tasted homemade.

    California Burrito
    Jason T.

    The best CA burrito I've ever had! We spent four nights at the Catamaran hotel and ate this for dinner 3 out of 4 nights! The carne asada is so tender, the balance of the fries and guacamole and cheese is insane! I will be dreaming about this until next time.. go here and enjoy! The play is red and green salsa in each bite!

    Cross section of super California burrito with carne asada
    Jenny F.

    Bomb dot com. The end. Okay, but for real though - legit so good. You ever reminisce about a place, hype it up in anticipation, and then you finally get to experience it only to be let down? Well, this ain't that. Places like La Playa are the reason why I think so fondly of my college-hood memories, and this place did not disappoint. The tacos are pricey compared to most places, but you get some legit bang for your buck. These things are massive 6-inch diameter behemoths. The fish taco has an incredible crunch and a delightful juicy bite. The carnitas taco was so flavorful, made me wish I got more than one each. Also had a super California burrito and the carne asada inside was delicious - usually at other places I'm used to meat just being a chewy protein diluted among all the other fillings and not adding too much to the actual burrito, but you could really taste the meat in this one. My husband got loaded chicken nachos and he went to town. Like most family-run taco places, this spot will let you customize your order any which way off of the menu, so let your imagination and your heart go wild. Only downside is that this spot has very limited parking. A tiny lot that was packed when we visited at 3pm on a Wednesday, and a few street parking that was also occupied. We clandestinely parked at the hotel nearby, and my husband ran in to order and get the food while I sat in the car with the kiddos, prepared to move the vehicle at any given moment. After husband came back, we got to drive across the street right over to Mission/Pacific Beach and enjoy a late lunch with a stunning ocean view. Fantastic gem of a place, worth every penny and stellar Yelp review. Thanks for filling my heart (and my stomach) again after all these decades.

    California burrito was massive

    This place proudly qualifies for hole-in-the-wall status. It's located right on Mission Blvd, making it perfect for a sit down meal after the beach or take out to the sand. The menu is large - the challenge is choosing, especially based on the other great reviews. My wife and I did burritos - she chicken and California for me. They were fairly huge and stuffed with flavorful meat. My only critique is that the guac could have been spread more uniformly on mine - it seemed to be all at one side of the rolled tortilla. Service was fast and friendly and prices were good for the quantity received.

    Fish taco and veggie taco
    Neha M.

    Huge fan of this place! Def recommend getting a side of their marinated carrots for a dollar! It's spicy and tangy - perfect compliment to the tacos. I got the veggie taco and it's so good - simple ingredients but great flavor. Everyone who works there is so nice and so happy. I love coming in

    Carne Asada tacos and chips and Salsa

    See all

    Photo of Simple S.
    82
    190
    17

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen C.
    16
    118
    1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Went twice on my trip to Mission/Pacific Beach! Great, friendly service and yummy food!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Consistent, amazing & delicious tacos. The carnitas are the play. Staff is so kind. Always a go to on MB

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of DT B.
    129
    175
    23

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Insanely good fish tacos, California burrito, and guac. Was the first stop on our trip and not sure we can beat it!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark J.
    0
    137
    0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kendra L.
    0
    34
    164

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dru Z.
    746
    1366
    5477

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ms N.
    0
    141
    27

    5 months ago

    So...1) pay for using debit card. 2) price on board is not what you pay on receipt. Check receipt

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 37

    La Playa Taco Shop Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - La Playa Taco Shop

    Is there any Taco Tuesday specials 10/2020?

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Tacos 64,270 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Tacos El Gordo

    Tacos El Gordo

    4.1
    (1.6k reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    Loved the food here!! The line go by super quick so don't get discouraged if it looks long. Inside…read moreyou basically go to the station of the food you want, and they have signs stating the food so you know where to go. The adobada was what I was most excited for. It's similar to Al pastor without the pineapple though. The meat was tender and the flavor was authentic. My partner liked this one the most! What shocked me was the carne asada. The taco was delicious!! It had a wonderfully smoky flavor to the meat and it was juicy and tender. I have been craving it ever since!! This was my favorite. There's no seating downstairs but if you go upstairs you'll find some tables! Be warned that it's hot upstairs. But since you chow down the food quickly you won't be there for too long anyway. If you're visiting San Diego, this is a must!!

    Made the mistake of coming here on a Saturday night after fireworks on July 4th. Parking was…read moredifficult to find and when I got there, the line was super long! Thankfully it does move by fast, but there is limited tables outside. If there is one thing you need to order, it's the al pastor taco! Super flavorful and it is well seasoned! I ordered the Carne Asada tacos as well, but unfortunately, there wasn't much flavor and seasoning apparent. If I ever visit SD again, I'll definitely get the al pastor and maybe try something else on their menu.

    Photos
    Great Service!
    Great Service!
    Carne asada fries
    Carne asada fries
    Adobada tacos

    See all

    Adobada tacos
    The Waves Taco Club

    The Waves Taco Club

    4.7
    (380 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    The Waves Taco Club
    Surf Turf Burrito
    Surf Turf Burrito
    Shrimp Burrito

    See all

    Shrimp Burrito
    Chula Tacos

    Chula Tacos

    3.9
    (282 reviews)
    16.9 mi
    $$

    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!

    Tacos are very hearty. Finding a seat on the other hand is crazy! We showed up with a family of 10…read moreso we wanted an outside bench but they're limited. We waited nearly 40 mins for a bench... people were done eating but they were just sitting around basically loitering at this point! There was A table with 2 people and another with3... like why would anyone just sit there killing time when others want to sit and have a meal (there was a family of 6 behind us waiting). I think the restaurant needs to find a way to keep the tables rotating. Any-hoot food is pretty good, very hearty and filling. I would say they're high but the portions are generous so it equals out

    Photos
    Chula Tacos
    Keka (carne)
    Keka (carne)
    Outdoor seating

    See all

    Outdoor seating

    La Playa Taco Shop - tacos - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...