Been here a few times now and this place is really excellent! The burritos are fat and delicious, and the service is friendly. Only knock is the price, but that's going out anywhere these days so I get it. Caliente burrito is an absolute must try! read more

Truly a hidden gem. Best taco Tuesday deal and daily specials if ya ask me. I'd love to gatekeep but I feel like we're all struggling with the price of everything going up these days. The carne asada taco quality is always consistent and they also have a great selection of hard Kombucha. Lastly I'd recommend calling ahead to order to avoid a long wait on Tuesdays since they're starting to gain more traction. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Updated menu - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Caliente Burrito was $16.99 and served with melted cheese, carne asada, lettuce, sour cream, chipotle sauce, jalapeños. Overall, it's doesn't justify the price compared to other spots. It's just bits of steak. The happy hour & taco Tuesday deals must be what brings people in but the four 2 inch tortilla tacos for $7.99 wasn't really worth it either. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Caliente Burrito $16.99 - Crispy cheese, carne asada, lettuce, sour cream, chipotle sauce, jalapeños - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Possibly one of the worst places I've been to in a long time. We were the only people in the restaurant when we walked in. Looking at the menu the female cashier looked at me and was very short with her responses when I asked questions about the menu. I should have just walked out when I asked if they had mariscos and she said "what is that a drink?" I ended up ordering and when I went to put in my phone number after paying to get points she exited me out of the screen. When I mentioned it to her she said there's nothing she can do about it. I just let it go. She handed me little ramekins for salsa from their salsa bar. I asked if they had chips and she said no. So I asked again "you guys really don't have chips for the salsa?" She said "well you can pay for them" and just stared and was like "so do you want them?" I said not thanks and sat down. As we sat and waited for the food I saw her standing near the kitchen eating out of a bowl and licking her fingers out of a bowl that was meant for customers food. I then watched her push the bowl back in the kitchen area and the cook looked in the bowl and just left it there to be used for later. I made sure she didn't use any of that for our food. When the food came out everything was dry, tasteless, and tough. I ate what I could because I was hungry and just ended throwing a lot of it away. Long story short this place is a NO GO! read more

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We stopped in here after spending the day at the San Diego Zoo!! A very nice place located in a small shopping center. After spending the day at the zoo, we decided to get ours to go!! Very friendly service, and quick also. I got the fish bowl, it was very good!! The prices here were great also!! read more

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Highly recommend this place! Service was fast and food was delicious! The sauces that they provide is mind blowing and makes the tacos even better read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Pretty darn good Mexican food for a strip mall. There is no salsa inside the burritos, but 4 options from the salsa bar. I think I liked the dark green salsa the most. California Burrito w/ Carne Asada - Queso Style: I love California style burritos. French fries are a much more exciting carb than rice. Plus you get all the good stuff like guacamole, sour cream and cheese. Apparently the the "Queso Style" just means a ton of shredded cheese, not like the runny queso dip one would order at happy hour. I ordered carne asada for the protein, since that's a classic pairing. And theirs was really good, like thin steak slices instead of chunks. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - California Burrito w/ Carne Asada - Queso Style - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Got to meet Matt the owner, a very friendly guy and u can tell he cares alot about the quality of the food, cleanliness, and his customers! They marinade their carne asada for 2 days and i love the big juicy chunks. I also love they r topped with onions and guacamole! Flavored perfectly on a fresh corn tortilla and big! My bf got their birria taco, fish, and shrimp carne asada. Wow i loved the birria consume, tasty, spicy, and not too salty. They cook it in a way where the juice of the cooked beef is in it! The fish taco was tasty as well! Love the salsa bar with radishes and carrots and my fav salsas r the orange and creamy lime. The orange is not too spicy and savory and lime creamy and refreshing. Overall loved our tacos here!! Thank u Matt! :) read more

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Cute little taco shop with great food and friendly vibes! Matthew has a passion for what he does and it shows! He gives love, joy and quality, nothing less. The kitchen can be seen from the dining room so you're able to watch your food be made, a salsa bar with everything you could ask for, and they also have homemade aqua frescas... get the horchata! I tried five of the rolled tacos this time around and I cannot wait to get back to try more. Definitely willing to drive to San Diego just to get to this hidden gem. 10/10 recommend, check it out for yourself! read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Rolled tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

They lie about their hours they say they're open till midnight, it's 11:30 pm on Thursday and they're closed while on both Google and Yelp it says they're open till midnight. I drove all the way here for no reason read more

This was my staple local Mexican spot for a year and it was always yummy. Definitely recommend for a quick bite. I've never been disappointed read more

Thank you to Yelp for helping us find Tacaliente Mexican Grill! When we walked in we were just looking for something to placate our hunger after a long plane trip but were pleasantly surprised with the exceptional customer service, delicious food, and amazing value found at this little strip mall spot. One thing to note, platters are HUMONGOUS here. My family and I split a plate of quesadillas and a California burrito and still needed leftovers. Everything we tried was Mexi-Cali perfection and we loved the fresh salsa bar to try. The lady at the counter had the most amazing, welcoming spirit and made us feel that we uncovered a local neighborhood gem. I would one hundred percent go back here again. read more

Great bean and cheese burritos to be had here if that's your thing and it is for me so I recommend you check them out! The restaurant is very clean and I got my order within 5 minutes of ordering it! I actually saw the cook making it as I ordered it! read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Front entrance - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Not a good start. Fountain drink dispenser broken, out of diet soda in the cooler. As their posted menu was hard to read, I asked for a takeaway menu, and was charged a dollar more than the price listed. The burrito was expectedly filled with lettuce and RAW slices of jalapeño. The carne asada was tasty, but included a fair amount of gristle read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you're looking for good mexican food in Hillcrest, I would go elsewhere. I hate to be this person but I was so disappointed with the food and the confusing prices that we were charged. This place felt like they ripped us off. We ordered an al pasted burrito that was double cheese wrapped, it was good! It was also $24, but if you are willing to pay that for a burrito that is literally the only thing I can recommend. I got two fish tacos during happy hour, on the menu it said they were $2.50 because of the time and day that we went. The cashier charged me $7 for these. Not a huge deal but then we got a dorado taco for $8 which stated $6 and this thing was tinyyyyy. I was actually shocked that it costed $8 and wasn't even good! All tacos lacked flavor, I don't even eat one of the fish tacos. I would be sure that the cost of the food you order is reflected accurately when you check out, and if it isn't, speak up and ask for it to be corrected because I was too embarrassed. There was also a hidden 3% credit card fee that they do not earn you about. I was just so disappointed, the overall cost did not reflect the quality and quantity of the food we received. This was my lesson learned and I will not be back. read more

Churros seem to be important to me these days so I decided to try this place. it's just overall disappointing. I got churros a burrito and a side of fries. It was over $33 and so I asked for a napkin because of the self-serve salsa and the lady like hands me one of those you know really cheap little square things and I'm like OK , whatever. Any place that's that incredibly cheap you know that they're going to be cutting corners everywhere they can. It was so incredibly cheap like everything you have to ask for and they ration things out like it's more important than the food. As from that the prices are just insane for the amount and the quality of food. It's just not even worth it. . but here's where it gets even more disheartening as we were eating I said do you feel like this film or something on your teeth and my partner was like yeah I thought it was just me. I don't know what they're doing. What kind of oil or grease or whatever but it just put this film on your teeth that just isn't worth this place if you come here all the time knock yourself out if you're considering this place versus all of the other places in the area hard pass. the one thing I thought was nice was their orange-hot-sauce, its decent its a front heat with nothing in the middle or end. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Friday at 6:30-ish - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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$6.75 for a taco that is not that good? Crazy, I called for taco Tuesday $2 tacos, ended up not ordering those!? (maybe tell people there's different taco prices) Foods mids, in a city with famous tacos all around for much cheaper I don't get the draw? read more

Aye this spot is actually really bomb! Been driving by here for years. Finally came to check it out and it didn't disappoint! Check out their happy hour menu too. Come get some key items for a discounted price. Everything tastes great, not heavy and oily. The salsa's were all delicious. The inside was clean and spacious. Good spot! read more

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Incompetent cook! Been coming for years before new ownership always showing support because their food is good. They've made mistakes along the way with orders but never made it a big deal. Today I had another mistaken order AGAIN. Ordered asada tacos and they sent al pastor. They even wrote asada on it , but of course they didn't even check it. Not a big deal ! However today I decided to call and let them know hey you made a mistake. Well I am completely baffled at the cooks response. He says that he made them correctly and instead decided to argue with me. We come here 2 times a week minimum and spend at least a couple hundred a week. We are taking our business elsewhere this time. To the owner. Talk to your cook because I even ordered in his native Language and I spoke to him in his language even when I called in to notify. Instead he decided to be a complete ahole! See ya. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Drove in from Vegas before checking into our hotel and wanted a quick bite to eat! The food is decent and it definitely does the job. I think it would have been better if we ate it while warm but I'm rating based off of what we had and how we had, we'll give it another try fresh! But we got the crunch wrap and the caliente fries. I wish the caliente fries had other toppings on it except sour cream. The crunch wrap was good, it was definitely big and hefty and the crunch stayed even after we brought it back. The inside is very causal and pleasant. We do want to give it another try to hopefully bump the rating up. This is the first Mexican spot we tried in SD so I'm not sure how it compares. We are full though so we have happy tummies regardless :) read more

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TaCaliente is an amazing place to go after a night out drinking in Hillcrest. The food portions are huge, there's a self-service sauce bar with pickled hot carrots, jalapenos, onions, and plenty of seating. We ordered Al Pastor Caliente Fries, two Campechano Burritos (Carne Asada and Al Pastor), two crunch wraps (Carne Asada and also Al Pastor). The total for these 5 items came out to be around $100 but it was enough food to feed 6-7 people. Although it was pretty messy, I actually really loved the Crunch Wrap, it was like 4x the size of a Taco Bell crunch wrap and was super packed. I really love the fact that you're able to serve yourself the hot carrots. Some burrito places in my area charge for the hot carrots, so to see it being included as a free condiment is *chefs kiss* 10/10 would stumble back here again after a drunken night out at the bars read more

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My friend and I went there last night for the first time and we were both glad we did. The woman at the register/order counter, Tanya, was so patient and helpful. She made everything a welcoming experience. The food was delicious! I had the birria quesadilla and my friend had the fish taco special. It was their happy hour so that made it even better. The customer service by Tanya was outstanding. Do yourself a favor and visit this place. You will not be disappointed. :-) read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Fish tacos! Who doesn't like a good one? How about a GREAT one? You have to try this taco shop! I'll tell you why you won't be unhappy with the food! I keep coming back to this place time after time for the generous amount of accoutrements on these crispy fish tacos. The whitefish has always been fresh and they put a generous amount of it on a large taco shell. The chopped onions are super fresh, along with the cilantro. I always add avocado and that, along with chopped and marinated tomatoes, shredded lettuce and a wonderfully complimented sauce for the fish only adds to the delicious flavor of these large fish tacos. Other foods you can't go wrong with are the birria tacos, carne asada burritos, as well as the California burritos (the one with the French fries inside). Go on! Go here now! Tomorrow is not promised! It's all pretty excellent food! Nice people, too! read more

The food was amazing and fresh ! Tania our server was so friendly and gave us great recommendations on what to order and what drink would taste great with our michelada! The salsa bar was great also and overall great atmosphere. My mom got the birra taco with consommé and I got the tacos and beer and both were apart if the happy hour special! Great place ! read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best veggie breakfast burrito in Hillcrest. Wifey had chorizo breakfast burrito and she said it was amazingly good. Also the Elote cup was bomb.com. The salsa bar was so good too. Unlimited salsa, pickled carrots onions and Jalapeños, crisp cucumber and juicy limes. The reviews about the best burrito in town were spot on. Will be back soon! read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - #Facts - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

First off, I came into this establishment and the prices were wrong on the menu. I only noticed after I paid. The manager or owner (not sure) was training a new hire. I asked about the price difference and he just dismissed it as that "the menu hasn't been updated". Didn't even want to remedy the issue. The price for a California burrito was 13.99 on the menu and he said that prices went up by a dollar. He first tried to say that it was taxes but the total price after taxes came out to 17+ no way it was 3 dollars for taxes. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Prices - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing service. Found this place in search of an 805 for my brother's birthday. The staff was very welcoming. It felt like we were at a friend's house. They have daily specials. Taco Tuesday all day. Definitely my new favorite spot to come as a home away from home. read more

This was a tough call between four and five stars. Their flautas are great, the have a really solid salsa bar, and their Taco Tuesday four street tacos for $6 or $7 deal is fantastic. Food-wise, from what I have tried, it is a good cut above the typical San Diego taco shop. I'm a sucker for a good flauta, and I honestly can't think of a taco shop that does them better. The texture is just right, the guacamole serving is generous, and their green salsa from the salsa bar goes perfectly with my chosen chicken filling. Speaking of the salsa bar, they have a really solid one, with a good variety of spice levels and tastes among the four choices. They also have some really good marinated carrots, which is always a big plus. The after 2pm Taco Tuesday deal is fabulous, with a wide variety of tacos to choose from. Both the chicken and carnitas tacos are really solid, especially the chicken, believe it or not. Aside from the deals, the prices are a bit high, but perhaps that's just the new normal for taco shops these days. It's really just a few little annoyances that keep me from loving the place enough for five stars. The service has been inconsistent -- one woman behind the counter was darn-right rude, while others have been fine or even great. Also, they are very stingy with things like napkins and salsa cups, doling them out in small quantities from behind the counter, rather than letting us help ourselves. Likewise, there are no containers to put the marinated carrots in, so it's a bit difficult to have a few while waiting for your meal, which, let's face it, is when we really want to munch on a few carrots. Finally, the bathroom situation is a bit annoying, with only one stall for everyone, a somewhat difficult to use passcode-based locking system, and then an awkward layout. These things seem minor, but it adds up to something less than a fully comfortable experience, and it's really the only thing that keeps me from truly loving the place. That aside, though, it's definitely worth a stop if you're in Hillcrest and you're jonesing for some taco shop food. read more

The food is fine and the staff is very friendly but the posted prices are not what I was rung up for. The posted price of a taco salad bowl was 12.99 but I was charged 16.49. When I pointed this out staff said maybe the computer prices had changed. Then add a hidden credit card surcharge. This is just not acceptable by honest with your pricing. Don't put staff and customers in this position read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Overcharging - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Shrimp tacos & caliente fries were delicious ! & the customer service was great :) it was a true experience read more

Came here after seeing all the great reviews on Yelp but honestly left pretty disappointed. I showed up during a slow hour and ordered the Caliente Fries surf and turf style, an asada plate, chicken nachos, and vegetarian sopes. The Caliente Fries were decent, probably the best part of the meal. The asada plate was just okay, nothing that stood out flavor wise. The nachos were the biggest letdown, bland, underseasoned, and they looked nothing like the photos I saw here on yelp. Felt a bit misleading. To top it off, the soda machine wasn't working properly. No ice and the drinks were flat. I mentioned it to the staff, but If I were the owner I wouldn't even have fountain drinks available until it was fixed. Overall this felt like a Yelp bait and switch. I came in excited with high expectations and walked out underwhelmed. I wouldn't come back. read more

One of my favorite spots to grab a burrito in Hillcrest. They've got some really unique options on their menu including their version of a Crunchwrap. I love that they have special happy hour pricing at certain times/days of the week. They also have a salsa bar which is essential in my book of any taco shop. Parking is usually pretty easy to come by in their lot. Staff and kitchen usually get the food out pretty quickly. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Caliente Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bean and cheese burrito was great! Not too much cheese, medium size.... The flautas were the star of the show. We got chicken. They're pretty big as well. I don't like mine soggy so I got all of the toppings on the side. 8/10 read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Bean and Cheese Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good food enjoyed it immensely!!! Yummy!!!! Very clean & friendly people! Service great! read more

I enjoy my fish tacos, but the carne asada burrito was even better. Very tranquil ambience. Love the music. Service was... could have been better. P.S. Restroom could have been cleaner. read more

Work ordered these for us and very solid pollo asado California burrito. I would say a 8.8 out of 10 Affordable around $12-$13 (not sure exactly ) The green sauce was special, the sauce alone was 9 out of 10 Nice amount of guacamole, good chicken to fries ratio. I'm thinking about coming back on my own to have another pollo asado and try their other plates Food was made to go, I didn't see the place or service. read more

Ordered the surf and turf carne asada nachos. The meat and shrimp were good but the chips were extremely stale. Barely edible. read more

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I have come here a couple times recently and i had to change my review! I love their salsa bar, and their burritos have been consistently delicious! They also have some cool happy hour deals throughout the week. read more

Tacaliente Mexican Grill - Caliente Nachos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I ordered a breakfast burrito ($16) and I'm not sure if they ran out of spices but McDonalds is more flavorful. I'll try one more time. I'm not sure why they want you to tip when customer service is non existent. And not very professional to be talking on the phone while customers are waiting. read more

Love their portion sizes and the fact that they're open up late. It's right next to all the bars so it's definitely a go to spot to hit up after. Salsas aren't really spicy but have great flavor! read more