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    Lucy's Taco Shop

    3.5 (155 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Lucy's Taco Shop Photos

    Business Info

    LUCY'S TACO SHOP ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Lucy's Taco Shop

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    Rolled tacos

    Came here to get a quick bite and ordered 5 rolled tacos and left an $1.70 tip. The total was almost $10 and I got some really low quality rolled tacos. Absolutely no meat inside and no guacamole and the cheese isn't even melted. The most basic rolled tacos at every other San Diego taco shop has at least guac and melted cheese. I have not tried any other food but i am absolutely certain I will not come again.

    Breakfast Burrito and spicy salsa.
    Mike P.

    Breakfast Burrito was amazing, both teen kids and I agree. Staff was really friendly. The spicy salsa was but the ice was cold.

    California burrito with Carne, cheese, fries
    Bradly P.

    Lucys Taco Shop is located on C Street in Downtown San Diego, serving the community tacos, burritos, and classic Mexican dishes. I came through on a weekday right before the lunch rush and was able to order right away. They have your typical Mexican dishes such as burritos and enchiladas, and they also serve breakfast as well. Inside is brightly painted orange and yellow and has beautiful Hispanic decor to set the ambiance. I went ahead and ordered the California burrito and decided to dine in. Right after I ordered the lunch rush, I came in from all the businesses around but mainly from the San Diego Court that is directly in front of it. My California burrito was ready in no time and was presented nicely cut in half and ready to be eaten with red salsa to complement it. The burrito came with Carne asada, French fries, and cheese. The meat was seasoned well, but there was no snap back when chewing it. While eating it, the meat seemed extremely soft and mushy. The French fries balanced everything out and paired perfectly with meat. The cheese was extremely melted, which had a nice cheese pull when eating it. The tortilla was hot and toasty and grilled to the right degree, but I felt it was a little dry, and it needed a more lard to flour ratio. Overall, it was a solid good spot for a quick lunch that tasted good and easy on the wallet. The customer service was great, and the lady working the register and taking orders did an awesome job providing service to the citizens of San Diego.

    Receipt.

    Food - Fine. Service - Fine. Ambiance - Fine (typical taco shop). Price - OMG! We have been Lucy's customers for years. Lucy's has been steadily raising prices since COVID. I consider rolled tacos a light single-item snack. Days past, rolled tacos came with cheese and guacamole with no "upcharge." They are usually on menus in numbers of 3, 5, or 6 as a single item. We wanted a light lunch with just water to drink. On this occasion, we had two orders of 5 rolled tacos with guacamole. Keep in mind, the average markup for restaurants is 280% to 320% or roughly three times the cost of the food. That sounds high, but restaurants have a higher overhead that grocery stores. But Lucy's charges double this! Rolled Tacos - Each order was $7.99 ($1.60 per taco). Guacamole was an additional $2.00 for each order...a total of $19.98. You can add another $3.00 for a 15% tip. Guacamole - Walmart sells avocados for 96¢ each; Lucy's likely pays much less by ordering in larger quantities. Lucy's guacamole is clearly a mix of other ingredients, and is a bit watery, leaving me with the impression it is being "cut" to save on using avocados. I estimate Lucy's used 1/4 of an avocado on each order. Assuming they used 1/2 an avocado, that is about 48¢ at Walmart prices, or a 733% markup. Lucy's received an additional 60¢ tips from me on this "upcharge." Bottled Water: Lucy's gets their bottled water from Costco. Assuming they pay what I do, they paid 29¢ for each bottle, which includes the CRV. They mark this up 590% to $2.00 each, not including the additional 15% tip (30¢). Total Cost, including a 15% tip: $29.72! See a copy of the (redacted) receipt, attached. Had we gone to In-N-Out, the cost of a FULL MEAL would have been under $20. I would have had unlimited access to soda or water and I would not have felt obliged to leave a tip (In-N-Out does not have tip jars or include tip options on credit or debit card payment screens), yet their service and food are both great and consistent (e.g. no "...Carne Asada burrito was dry and full of unchewable gristly pieces." see review of February 6th). To the Restaurant: I seriously doubt your overhead justifies such prices or markups. Though inflation has hit us all, any increase in price to the business for food cost are covered by the normal 280% to 320% markup - ANY markup of 590% to 733% or more is taking advantage of your customer base. Unfortunately, you have lost me; but other customers have gained my voice against you when discussing places to eat. I suggest a rapid review and change. You will likely find a decrease in prices is well covered by the increase volume (see the lines around the block at any In-N-Out as an example). COVID is over, lower your prices!!!!!

    Steven H.

    Lucy's Taco Shop is located downtown on C Street a couple of blocks away from the San Diego Superior Court so it's a perfect spot if you have jury duty. It's a colorfully decorated business with a typical Mexican food menu. A lot of people take their food to go. The counter service was friendly and quick. I ordered a Carne Asada Quesadilla which, while not the best I've had in San Diego, was pretty good. It's a solid choice if you are in the area for any reason. There isn't any parking available so it seems like most of the customers are working downtown or walking over from the trolley.

    a man at the counter
    Steve Y.

    Greeted with a big smile and "Can I help you?" I ordered the breakfast burrito, which includes, eggs, bacon, cheese, potatoes and refried beans. It was good.

    Menu

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Rolled tacos. Just awful. Stale, flavorless, no guac, no pico, no lettuce. Nada. This is as bad as it gets.

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    9 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    I went to Lucy's again, and this time the carne asada was much better. It was delicious this time. Good guac. Fast.

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    4 months ago

    Don't get the chorizo breakfast burrito. Mine as well been an all egg taquito. Disappointe.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Highly recommend the rancho breakfast burrito! We also had the regular breakfast burrito and it was good.

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    6 months ago

    Place keep adding beans to my burrito when I tell them not to smh ‍. Sick of this shit

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    I like the carnitas taco; one is quite filling and you feel satisfied. I stop by periodically when I'm downtown.

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I had the rancho Burrito and it was very good. Quick service at a good price. Will definitely be back when downtown.

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    11 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I ordered the ham breakfast burrito. WOW it was really good. So flavorful. Perfect size and great price. I will be back for sure!

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    3 years ago

    Perfect place for a Machaca breakfast burr. Note: they close early, so plan for breakfast or lunch but not dinner

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Tacos El Gordo

    Tacos El Gordo

    4.1
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    A friend took me here while I was visiting and they swore these tacos are the best. After a 25…read moremins wait to get inside to order at the counter I got a variety of tacos which included carne, chorizo, tripe, and a adobada. I will say not only was I impressed, I would dare to say this may have been the best tasting food I ever had. The seasoning and taste was literally heaven! So many flavors in your mouth that I wish I ordered more. There's no other way to describe it besides you haven't lived till you tried these tacos. This is my first restaurant that'd I've ever given a 10/10 in the food iteself. A must try no matter the wait. Food(50%): 10.0 Staff/service(25%): 8.0 Value(25%): 8.0 Overall: 9.0/10

    I braved the traffic and navigated the drunken crowds during 4th of July for tacos and I can fairly…read moresay it was pretty worth. Tacos El Gordo is a staple destination for any visitors to SD, with insanely long lines that reflect the hype accurately. That said, the lines go super fast and the setup inside is efficient so you won't wait too long. I ordered two buche, two cabeza, and one Azteca taco. Every taco came loaded up and seasoned beautifully, didn't even need extra sauces or anything. I don't think I'm a cactus kind of guy (it's giving bell pepper a little), but the Azteca was still good. Customer service is solid, workers were really nice and efficient. Good luck finding seating, though honestly you're in downtown just find somewhere to lean and scarf down your well-deserved midnight munchies.

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

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    The Waves Taco Club

    The Waves Taco Club

    4.7
    (380 reviews)
    0.2 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.

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    The Waves Taco Club
    Shrimp Burrito
    Shrimp Burrito
    Surf Turf Burrito

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    Surf Turf Burrito

    Lucy's Taco Shop - tacos - Updated July 2026

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