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Impressed by the portion sizes and relatively moderate prices of these tasty tacos. The corn tortillas tasted fresh but were a little undercooked which led to a soggy bottom from all the filling. The chicken and pork tacos were both tender and flavorful with generous portions of guacamole. A lot of the seating is indoor/outdoor style which is a great place to enjoy fresh air but also stay shaded. The menu is clearly labeled with allergens including gluten free and vegetarian. Definitely will return!
While I'd been to a few other restaurants and coffee shops on this street and in this area, I'm only discovering Pure Taco now -- perhaps because we usually don't seek counter-service eateries; desiring a small, quick bite, we decided to stop in. We learned, however, seated at the bar top, it's full service... and while I didn't plan on a cocktail, my thoughts are it's wrong not to order a cocktail seated at the bar top! I don't like cocktail mixes; appreciatively, no mixes were used in my Skinny Margarita ($12), which was quite (almost too) tangy but thankfully, not sweet. Hubby enjoyed his Pure Marg ($12) -- both cocktails surprisingly (and deliciously) strong. We started with their Corn in a Cup ($6.95) -- with an option to be served with chips (which were enjoyably thick & crispy, and learned that the tortillas are made daily). In addition, they use fresh fish (never frozen). The Baja Fish Tacos (2/$5) and their Grilled Fish Taco ($5.75) consisted of generous planks of fish, served within thick corn tortillas. We had the pleasure of being served by Osheana, whose positive energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of their menu items made our first visit a fun and enjoyable one! I like the open-&-airy, indoor/outdoor, casual vibe and reasonable prices. We're now fans of Pure Taco.
I saw Pure Taco when I was across the street at a coffee shop. So we decided to visit on a taco Tuesday. The specials were amazing--buy three get one free for tacos, discounted beers, AND free chips and salsa w every order. It was lit... Now you know I'm a self proclaimed taco expert, so I have high standards. I ordered two Baja fish tacos and the green curry shrimp taco (sounded interesting!). The service was great, and the guy that helped us was really nice and friendly! Now for the tacos...I give the fish taco a 6 out of 10. The main issue is that they were not hot. Actually, none of the tacos were hot. They were all lukewarm...which is unfortunate. The second issue was the amount of liquid running off the tacos. I guess the slaw was in liquid and it wasn't drained prior to putting it in the tacos. So this made what was supposed to be a crispy fish taco into a soggy, lukewarm situation of a taco. And lastly, the tortilla was a miss for me. It was house made corn tortilla but it was either too thick or not all the way cooked. It had a chewy texture to it. All that aside, the seasoning and flavor of the fish taco was great. For the shrimp curry taco, I'd give that a 4 out of ten. There's actually nothing wrong with the taco--I just did not enjoy the sweetness of it. The presentation was also not great. It looked like a blob of white sauce on a tortilla (see photos). Adding the lime helped somewhat and elevated the taco to a 6, but if it was hot, it could have been a 7. The chips, salsa and guacamole were excellent!
Went to the Carlsbad street fair, and stopped off here to eat as they had open seats at the bar. If you sit at the bar it's full service, or if you are sitting at a table you must go up and order at the counter. It's not a huge place and most of the tables were for small parties. Thankfully it was just me so I had no problem finding a spot at the bar. It did take them a minute to take my order, but they were a bit busy. The server did offer to get my drink for me from the self-service station, which I really appreciated and took her up on. They have tacos, burritos, bowls, Etc. I ordered the battered fish tacos, and the steak taco, the cilantro lime rice, and the black beans. Both of the tacos were really good, but the rice was pretty bland. It didn't really taste like much, and seems more like a filler. The beans were black beans, they didn't have refried beans, but we're pretty good. They did kind of taste like they needed salt, but since you have to go get all of the condiments from a separate area I didn't want to leave my food unattended so I ate them as was. Honestly though they were fine even without the salt, I'm just a girl that likes a little salt and most of her food LOL. I would like to try one of their bowls, maybe the next time I'm in the area or at the street fair. I did notice they had a taco Tuesday, and a decent happy hour, which would be great if you live or work in the area. If you do I definitely say check them out.
It's a solid taco shop featuring a modern fusion of flavors! Pure's menu is a melting pot of various global cuisines, but delivered in classic Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, nachos and salads. The staff is great and the open air order-at-the-counter setup screams SoCal. I've a lot of menu items, but some of my favorites include the Baja Fish Taco, Korean Pork Bo Sam Taco, Salmon Bowl and Pure Greens Salad. If you're thirsty, they have a full bar, beer, wine and Dole Whip for those with a sweet tooth. Try their Pure Marg! It's made with an orange simple syrup that packs unique flavor. Don't miss out. Try it for yourself!
2.5 stars... The hubs and I wanted Mexican food for lunch so we decided to try Pure Taco since we were in the area. The space is cute, mostly outside with inside bar seating. They have a full bar and a wide choice of tacos but its more like a fast food restaurant... Chips and salsa are not complementary, so we chose the nachos and added beef. We also ordered the avocado fries. To drink, we tried the Paloma and the Pure Marg. The service...our server/bartender seemed disinterested and preoccupied with finding the right channel on the TV. She only checked in with us after we were done eating. The food...everything looked/tasted like it came out of a can/bag/jar. Nothing was good. The drinks...also tasted like pre-made mixes and bottled juices...not good. Will not be returning and do not recommend.
I love that it's an affordable casual quick order place you go up to the register order. Find a cute seat. Seating is mostly outdoors and they bring the food to your table. They have a stellar deal of two fish tacos for five dollars every day and they are good sized! I would say this is a really affordable place for the area. You can tell the tortillas were freshly made. It seems like it's a California Mexican type place. I would definitely go there again for a quick bite! It looks like they also had a full bar.
This is a solid spot for global tacos in the heart of Carlsbad. You order at the counter, self serve drinks, and they bring the tacos out to you. I liked in the indoor outdoor vibes - classic San Diego surfer Carlsbad. I wanted to try as many flavors as possible so I ordered the traditional 1/2 flight. I got four tacos: grilled steak, pulled chicken, pastor, citrus braised pork. I really enjoyed the grilled steak and citrus braised pork. Tortillas were a touch thick for me. Also ordered chips with guacamole and salsa and enjoyed them as an appetizer. My tacos came out pretty quickly. Next time, I'm looking forward to trying the global 1/2 flight.
We were spending the day in Carlsbad and wanted to grab a bite to eat. Walking down State Street Pure Taco caught our eye. At Pure Taco you place your order and pay at the register and then you seat yourself at a table and your order is delivered to your table. We opted to sit at the bar which is full service. We ordered the braised pork burrito and the Baja fish burrito. My fish burrito was more rice than fish but was still good but we did come pretty hungry. Adding some Tapatio to the burrito gave it more flavor as it was a bit bland for my liking. Based on our burritos the food was a 3-31/2 but the bartender's service and friendliness and ambiance bumped my rating to a 4. I would definitely try this place again but next time I would try their tacos since it seems to be their specialty given the place is called "pure taco".
Great place to get a beer and some tacos and not break the bank. Just walked by and decided to get an IPA. Got a brisket taco and 2 fried fish and all were bomb. Nice atmosphere as well, mostly out door seating and good service from what I could tell. Will go again when I'm back in Carlsbad. read more
2 years ago
We stayed in Carlsbad for the weekend and this was by far the best food we had. The tacos were fresh and burritos were great. Cool little spot with some seating outside and a nice vibe! Would highly recommend and will be back for sure! read more
Business owner information
Robert U.
Thanks Jarod glad you enjoyed. Come back and see us next time you are…
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
decided to try this place out on the way back to OC, BEST DECISION EVER. food and service was swift and fantastic! the ambiance was just as good, if not better than the nice restaurant next door. chill restaurant with a bar and amazing people serving you! robert was kind enough to bring us out our food & drinks, as well as provide some BOMB recommendations! i'll definitely come back when im in the area! read more
Business owner information
Robert U.
Hi Christine. Thanks got your awesome review. Definitely stop by next…
1 year ago
4 years ago
We stopped in for an afternoon snack to hold us over until dinner. The grilled shishito peppers were nicely spicy and perfectly cooked with a sprinkling of salt. It was the ideal accompaniment to my "orange you different" beer on tap. We also tried the corn in a cup which was a little bit sweet and a nice compliment to the shishito peppers. read more
Business owner information
Meryl W.
Thanks Dorothy for the fantastic review! So glad to hear you enjoyed…
3 years ago
First time here Baja fish taco was amazing the house marg they have is also a Cadillac which was amazing Thanks to osheana, sangria was delicious and they're pet friendly too awesome place to be ! read more
Business owner information
Robert U.
Thanks for your kind words Chris. Hope to see you again soon
2 years ago
New Mexican food go-to spot in Carlsbad! Since Pure Taco opened last year, my husband and I have been regulars! The drinks are tasty and the food is even better! I love their fresh ingredients and reasonable portions sizes. Usually when I eat Mexican food I feel sluggish and overly full after, but I never feel that way here. They also have really unique worldly twists on tacos like their Green Curry Shrimp and Pho Beef. We usually come here for lunch after doing a yoga class downtown. It does get busy but even if there's a line, the food comes out quickly. Great service and staff. I love this place!! read more
Business owner information
Meryl W.
Elisa thank you for the awesome review! We are so happy to hear you…
Came here hopeful to try the taco flight and have another cool addition to north state street in the village. However I can't recommend this place. I have read about the hit or miss service and my visit was definitely a miss. Have been hesitant to post this review as I thought privately messaging the business via email would be helpful, but the reply was basically we will look into it and get back to you. I reached out to their message a week or two later and never heard back. I don't like to post a Yelp review of a place without experiencing a full experience, but I am in no hurry to return or recommend to others. Sorry. read more
Business owner information
Meryl W.
Hi Dan,…
4 years ago
The ambiance doesnt disappoint here. Very pleasant indoor /outdoor bar, clean , excellent service and amazing healthy options. Fresh entrées with homemade chips and fresh salsa that will knock your socks off. Hands down best Ive ever had in San Diego. A unique selection of Tequila and excellent price point on food , shots and on tap brews. Local spirits and brews make you feel like a Carlsbad local. Love the chill vibe here. We came on a Thursday night and loved the sea breeze of the open air bar/restaurant, especially when the temps were 100° inland . I would definitely recommend my friends here. Love it ! The male Sam is a friendly and knowledgeable bartender. He provide excellent service ! read more
Business owner information
Meryl W.
Brenda thanks for the excellent review! We take pride in the ambiance…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Thank you Sara! Have a great rest of your trip!
2 years ago
3 years ago
We visited here for the first time while on a trip. The parking near the train station nearby was easy and free. We ordered takeout and got a Cali Burrito and fish tacos to share and both were excellent! The price for the tacos can't be beat. Wish I lived in the area so I could have it again! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Thanks for the great review Debe. Who knew a taco joint would have…
3 years ago
Really good price for the amount and quality of food - a rarity in Carlsbad village area. Walking distance from the village square, lots of taco options, and reasonably price, with a nice staff and good drinks to boot. My bf and I were looking for somewhere tasty but causal to eat near the village - there isn't much. Everything is expensive or poor quality. I'm so glad we found this gem. They have all day hh on Tuesday, they have a good selection of seating indoor and out (though a pretty small space for dine in). Drink are a bit pricey and food is a little more expensive than what you get, but overall a good choice for something tasty, quick, and doesn't brake the bank! Recommend the mahi tacos and their premium margs read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Business owner information
Emily H.
Glad you had a good visit, Christina! We're thrilled to hear you got…
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Such a cute place and they have breakfast too. Need more veggie options. We got thd guac and salsa and chips..corn in thr cup and veggie taco. The flavours were amazing and filling. Plenty of seats even at the bar. read more
Business owner information
Emily H.
So happy you stopped by, Rakhi! It's so great hearing how much you…
I remember walking past Pure Taco when it was still under construction! I was stoked to be back and find out they are open for full service. All the ingredients are so fresh, you can taste it in every bite. I love their Baja fish tacos and the corn in the cup. The fish tacos are affordable, fresh, and tasty. The corn in a cup is so flavorful! The beef pho taco is really good, but it tastes like pho in a taco. It's just a weird sensation and has tons of flavor. The beef taco and chicken taco were pretty good. The Korean pork taco was alright. It tasted dry and not as flavorful. I want to come back here to try more of the sides and burritos! They also have happy hour which is always a plus :) read more
Business owner information
Emily H.
Happy to know you had an amazing visit, Ismael! We're so glad you got…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Pure Taco on a sunny day. Best place in CBad. Thanks for the kind…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Hi Skyler. Yes Hunter is a great young man. Thank you for your kind…
1 year ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Osheana is one of a kind. Thanks for the kind words Sydni. See you…
2 years ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
Hey Tyler there is no such thing as too much Pure Taco. But we…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Robert U.
I’m so glad we made it right Aurora. If we ever have a bad day again.…
1 year ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
You can't beat the location right in the Carlsbad Village. The space also has access to a parking lot in its rear and the seating areas offer ample space for a group or a more intimate party. All ingredients were fresh and presented beautifully. It is hard to put a finger on amazing tacos in Southern California. These were tasty although not the best tacos I ever had. They got the job done and you could tell they were fresh. The fish taco was extremely crunchy leaving me wanting a bigger piece of fish so it didn't feel as though it was a lot of batter. Their steak taco is cubed steak rather than flank, but it is flavorful. And their chips, salsa and guacamole is a ample portion. Be sure to leave your drama lama at home! read more
Business owner information
Meryl W.
Hi Kristina! Thank you for the wonderfully detailed review! We're…
4 years ago
Stopped by Pure Taco after reading the reviews, and I wasn't disappointed! Ordered the 1/2 flight traditional, which came with 4 tacos: grilled steak, grilled chicken, pastor, and braised pork. Personally, pastor was my favorite. The chips were a little lackluster, but the guacamole was decent, so it was balanced overall. I was driving so didn't get a chance to try anything on the drink menu, but that means I will be back for sure. read more
Took a stroll and found this unique spot on Christmas and came back yesterday to try it out. We got a to-go order on a few tacos (Baja fish, pork, and chicken) with black beans and chips and salsa. The upgrades in the eatery has a great outdoor San Diego hipster vibe. Service is quick and great. Great place to get tacos especially Baja fish tacos! I'll definitely be back. read more
Business owner information
Allie P.
So glad you found us, Jenny! Our new Baja Fish Taco is quickly…
More info about Pure Taco
2742 State St
Ste 102
Carlsbad, CA 92008
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(760) 841-7873
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https://www.mypuretaco.com
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Pure Taco - tacos - Updated July 2026
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