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    Papa's Tacos

    4.1 (330 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Papa's Tacos Photos

    PAPA'S TACOS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Papa's Tacos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Machaca Chicken Torta w. lettuce, mayo, and guacamole. (mine was with no tomatoes or cheese)
    Grace S.

    I've been coming here for at least a few decades and it is always been a great stop on my way to the beach, or work. The old owners sold it about 3 or 4 years ago. The new owners have kept the menu are doing a fantastic job! This little walk up is located on Pacific Coast Highway in South Laguna Beach. I stopped yesterday and got a machaca chicken torta. The Machaca chicken is delicious whether it's in a taquito, street taco, burrito, enchilada or a torta the meat is tender, juicy and tasty! We stop by to get their guacamole and chips for the kiddos because the guac is pure avocado with no fillers, it's absolutely delicious! And the chicken tortilla soup is the best around. The kids also love their taquitos, which are plump and filled with lots of meat. If you're in the south Laguna area, do yourself a favor and stop in -- you won't be disappointed, it's a local favorite! (I'll try to post better photos next time)

    Papa's California Burrito
    Indi E.

    My kids and I come here every time before we head down to the beach. They love it, which is a win in my book cause they never all eat at 1 place. The seagulls and pigeons will also tell you they love it since they've repeatedly stolen leftovers from the INSIDE of my backpack. Our usuals are the asada quesadilla, potato burrito, and papa's California burrito. The green (mild) salsa is tangy and not spicy which we prefer and compliments our food well.

    Food was really good
    Chencha B.

    Great food..red salsa was FRIRE!!! Definitely recommend Great service Asada nachos and asada tacos Fish tacos was great too And carnita taco

    The vintage sign really adds to the neighborhood.
    Grandma Pika C.

    Visiting from Portland and found this spot while driving around. They gave generous portions and the meats were flavorful. I got Papa's California Burrito and it was excellent. The salsa was good and chunky. Wasn't a fan of the "mild sauce", didn't have much flavor at all. The staff that helped us were polite, prompt, and friendly. Only two outdoor tables that have seen better days, so take this to go! Perfect for a beach picnic or cruising to a park.

    bean cheese rice burrito

    A bit pricey, vegetarian options were more expensive than meat which doesn't add up. Burrito had no flavor, cheese wasn't melted. Salsa verde was flavorless too. Disappointing

    Machado Chicken Street Taco, Black Beans ,Rice
    Jennifer R.

    Great spot by the beach. Food was excellent and served HOT! Service was great, parking is a bit tricky but there is parking in front of the place.

    Mahi Mahi Fish tacos... the bomb

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    2 months ago

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    26 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Great service but honestly the salsa straight up did not taste good and perhaps the worst huevos rancheros I've ever had

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    1 month ago

    Great food and very reasonable prices. I love their chicken enchiladas. My husband liked their fish burrito.

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    5 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    A bowl of homemade chicken tortilla soup is a delicious and perfect meal for rainy days. Yummy!!

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    IT WAS AMAZING!! They're very quick and the food was delicious. Highly recommend!!!! Their chips are so good.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I got a Papa's tacos for their street tacos. They give you plenty of meat and the tortillas are fresh. For only $3.50 each it's quite a buy!

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 9

    Papa's Tacos Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Papa's Tacos

    Are any of the vegetarian options vegan?

    Yes. The Veggie Bowl (minus rice - our rice has chicken broth in it) and ask to grill the veggies with soy oil instead of margarine. Veggie Burrito and Taco (minus rice, cheese & sour cream). Potato Burrito (minus rice and cheese). Potato taco… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Carmelita's - Birria Tacos

    Carmelita's

    4.2(2.7k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Came here for dinner around 7 pm on a Tuesday and we were able to be seated right away on the patio…read morewith our dog. They start you off with complimentary chips, salsa and beans. I really enjoyed the beans and liked that it was offered as something different. I also ordered a spicy michelada with Modelo which was really good. For food we shared the pollo à la chipotle and seafood enchiladas. Both entrees were really good! You could taste the crab in the enchiladas and the sauce on the chicken was really good. The chicken was also moist and not dry. I enjoyed the chile relleno but felt like it wasn't needed. My boyfriend really liked the rice. They offered us more chips once we ran out and brought out a fresh batch. Oh my, the chips were amazing when they were still warm! If I wasn't full I could've eaten the whole basket myself. Our server was also friendly and brought water for our dog without us having to ask. Great location near the beach for a nice dinner with a breeze. We would definitely return!

    I should have taken photos! Every bite was delicious. The fresh tortilla chips were warm and the…read moreguacamole was so tasty and was served with chopped cucumbers and a wonderfully smoky chipotle sauce on the side. Why? Who knows. Who cares. They were delicious. We ordered several types of tacos, on both regular corn tortillas and crispy tortillas. WOW! Each bite was better than the one before. Is that possible ? Yes, it's possible. The food was so delicious, we ordered food to take with us for later. ( photos of take out attached. We were too busy eating out sit down meal). The service was exceptional. My water glass stayed full. The room is nice and cozy. We had no problem with parking, but I can imagine it may get tight during the dinner hour. We will return, because I look forward to trying several other menu items. I highly recommend Carmelita's.

    Photos
    Carmelita's - Inside

    Inside

    Carmelita's - Chef's Combo Platter

    Chef's Combo Platter

    Carmelita's - Seafood trio

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    Seafood trio

    South of Nick's - Tres leches

    South of Nick's

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Holy smokes! There is a reason this place has a nearly five-star reputation on Yelp! We came here…read moreon a friend's recommendation while we were in Laguna shopping for some art for our home. It was the most delicious Mexican food I have ever had! I got the flautas and my BF ordered the soft taco variety plate. We also got the chips, guac, and salsa as appetizers, and we absolutely devoured it all! Sorry we didnt waste time with photos, but the presentation was gorgeous, and whole vibe of the restaurant was bursting with happy people and good energy. The views of the ocean were spectacular from where I was sitting, and I'd say it's probably a beautiful spot to watch the sun sink into the ocean! We were lucky to get a same-day, late-afternoon reservation, which was easy enough. There is a charge for cancelations and large parties, but other than that, everything was amazing! Service was phenomenal, even though it was super hot and muggy, no one seemed like they were unhappy to be working there. The restroom was clean, nicely decorated, and whatever scented room freshener they're using made me want to find out how to buy some for myself...lol. The only drawback is the ladies restroom is small, with only two stalls and one sink, so there was a line and it was a little too crowded, especially on a hot day. Otherwise, a top-notch dining experience, and will be our go-to when we spend time in Laguna!

    This review is long overdue: Nick's restaurants always deliver, and South of Nick's is no…read moreexception. It's my go-to recommendation for anyone visiting Laguna Beach, because you can't visit Orange County without having Mexican food at least once, and for an elevated experience with consistently great food, South of Nick's is reliably that. The view is amazing in particular Laguna Beach, you get that great ocean view, and the inside is large and spacious with big windows, so you can see the water from just about every seat. They start you off with complimentary chips and a trio of dips (two salsas and a bean: the bean is amazing, by the way). The guac is great too if you want to add it on: nice large chunks of generous avocado, seasoned perfectly. The enchiladas are delicious and my usual order. I admit that once I like something, I hardly ever want to try anything new, but I've never heard a complaint about anything else on the menu. They do have a combo plate option if you want to try a few things, so that's a good call for a first-timer. Overall, love South of Nicks and really happy this is a staple of the city!

    Photos
    South of Nick's - Bar area with chips and dip

    Bar area with chips and dip

    South of Nick's - Mini Soft Taco Platter; carnitas, roasted chicken, al pastor, and steak

    Mini Soft Taco Platter; carnitas, roasted chicken, al pastor, and steak

    South of Nick's - Pork mole enchilada and chicken chipotle enchilada

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    Pork mole enchilada and chicken chipotle enchilada

    The Taco Stand

    The Taco Stand

    4.1(575 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Taco Stand never misses -- but just know this is not the exact same experience as the San Diego…read morelocations. The flavor profile here is definitely a bit smokier/charred compared to the Taco Stand spots down south, especially compared to La Jolla. There are slight variations in how some of the food is cooked and prepared, but it's not bad at all -- just different. If you come in expecting an exact replica, you may notice the differences. If you treat this location as its own thing, it's honestly really solid. Huge shoutout to Carlos at the register for the excellent customer service. We ordered food both for here and to-go, and everything was packed separately exactly how we asked. We also made a few modifications after placing the order, and Carlos went out of his way to track down our ticket and write the changes on it himself to make sure everything came out correctly. Food was still great, service was amazing, and we'd definitely come back again.

    I waited in line for about 10-15 min. Service was good it was very loud. Food was decent I don't…read morethink it's that worth the hype. I got the Cali burrito and the presado taco. The fries tasted ok not that thin and crispy. I expected a lot more flavor. The sauce stand was a mess... it didn't look sanitary whatsoever. I grabbed the newest one that I requested get put out since it was empty.

    Photos
    The Taco Stand - Great spot

    Great spot

    The Taco Stand - Pollo Asado taco

    Pollo Asado taco

    The Taco Stand - California burrito- good carne Asada in there

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    California burrito- good carne Asada in there

    Papa's Tacos - mexican - Updated September 2026

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