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    Taco Centro

    4.0 (52 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Taco Centro Takeout or Delivery

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    TACO CENTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Taco Centro

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    Salsa
    Joe C.

    I freaking love this place. Great tacos, the best salsa bar around, and they do lettuce wrapped tacos which means I can crush chips! I tried the carnitas, Baja fish, and spicy shrimp. They were all fantastic. My go to is the Al pastor which is always fantastic.

    Meri A.

    Wonderful Mexican Restaurant in the area of Little Italy! When we came it wasn't busy which was a plus so we got efficient and quick service. Cute and modern decor all around! I tried their Breakfast- Bacon, Sausage, and Hashbrown Burrito with a variety of yummy salsas. The insides were piping hot and fresh. Scrumptious and filling, enjoyed my meal here. It's great for indoor with outdoor vibes or patio dining for people watching.

    Taco centro
    Abel T.

    :( WOW-don't usually leave one-star reviews, but this experience called for honesty. I walked in excited to try the tacos, especially since this spot is so close to me and looks really cool and spacious. Unfortunately, when I tried to pay with a $100 bill, I was refused service with no solution offered. The location itself is beautiful and in a great area, but the customer service was extremely poor and unprofessional. I even tried to clarify before leaving, and the response only escalated. On top of that, from what I saw, the meat didn't appear fully cooked in the traditional way, which would have affected the quality anyway. Overall, a very disappointing experience, especially considering how excited I was to try this place. I won't be returning. #tacos #mexicanfood #tacotime #foodreview #sandiegoeats #streettacos

    Tyra S.

    My Hubs and I checked out this Taco Spot in Little Italy. It's fairly new, but I think it's worth a try! It has an awesome salsa bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Vibrant decor that makes the restaurant stand out. The staff were super nice! ...and most importantly the tacos are delicious. We tried the Carne Asada and Birria Tacos. They were so tasty and the salsa kicks. For me, the salsa is what makes or breaks a Taco Shop so I really like their salsa.

    Axel C.

    Stopped here for lunch since I was being adventurous. I would say overall, their tacos or I guess they're meats, need some more of that Mexican flavor flavors. I had a Tierra y Mar taco, which is basically carne asada and grilled shrimp, and a Al Pastor taco. The Carne Asada was too thick and kind of chunky so I didn't really like it in granted I'm biased. I really don't like Carne Asada, but you know I had to try it. The Al Pastor lacked flavor. I didn't feel like any of the tacos had flavor to them. I did expect more from this place, but you know sometimes you have to try and see. They have other tacos like chicken, and Birria, mushroom, they also have breakfast burritos, fries, or nachos, they have quite a few options for everyone's taste. And the prices are not that bad for you this place being in Little Italy. For example, the Carne taco is $4.90 and the most expensive taco is $6.90 which is a Sonora taco which I really don't know what that is. They do have a salsa bar and an actual bar for those who like to drink beer. They also have 2 fairly large TVs. They have a lot of seating and I actually like the open seating facing the street. It's not a bad spot. I just expected more.

    Carla O.

    As a total taco lover, I decided to try Taco Centro, a delightful new spot on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy, San Diego. It's only been open about a month, and while I believe it's part of a chain, this location is just perfect. The menu is expansive, offering a huge variety of fresh Mexican dishes. I ordered the pollo asado taco, and it was fantastic, super fresh, full of flavor, and just delicious. They have a full salsa bar, which was a real treat, and the interior was clean and super inviting. The lady behind the counter was really friendly too. Parking was a breeze; I just paid at the meter right in front of the place. I went in the morning, so I would suggest going during a weekday morning if you can, when it's a bit quieter. But trust me, it's worth it, whether you are in the mood for tacos, burritos, or any of their amazing options. And don't forget Taco Tuesday! I can't wait to come back! 5 Stars plus!

    TACO CARNE ASADA, TACO AL PASTOR (May 2026)
    Jessica S.

    Why does Little Italy suddenly have so many taquerias? This particular taqueria has quite the expansive space, indoor seating spilling onto an outdoor patio past open glass roll-up windows. Environs look clean and sleek with the pop of bright blue against white tile. Unfortunately, the meats in the Carne Asada and Al Pastor tacos were slightly cold.... Too much pina in the al pastor so be sure to ask for none if you don't like the tropical fruit. Meats -- along with the mish mash of ingredients -- were served on a single tortilla, a thick one albeit a little dry and cold too. Salsa bar was pretty lit with all the choices, signage available indicating spice level. I am a whimp so the Chipotle Mayo and Avocado Salsa were just my jam though I was able to handle the Green Salsa no problem. The bathrooms were sparkly clean (code required) and was POPPIN with the loud music. Got my bathroom dance on real, real good. I might add, it was pretty dead at 6pm on a Saturday. It did make our visit quick and easy, but it could be concerning...

    Jack M.

    Taco Centro makes some pretty good tacos indeed. They also added breakfast items at this location, which I have yet to partake in, but will soon. During this visit at this location in Little Italy, I had a couple of al pastor tacos, one quesa taco with beef birria, and a side of black beans. Not to mention endless trips to the salsa bar. The al pastor tacos came on very good quality corn tortillas, with tender well marinated pork, and a great avocado salsa. The cilantro and onions were fresh, and I loved that they put little pieces of pineapple in each taco. The beef quesa taco was terrific. The beef birria was very juicy and full of great flavors. The beef was not doubt the star here and if definitely shined. The taco came with plenty of griddle tasty white cheese and the tortilla had that great wet yet crispy texture from the birria broth. It was a great taco. The black beans were very well made. They were well tender and well seasoned. The salsas from the salsa bar were all great. I enjoyed the pickled red onions and grilled onions, too. The service was friendly and upbeat. The gents, when I arrived, were ready to roll. They offer a good amount of casual seating.

    Vivian T.

    Taco Centro has replaced what used to be Bun and Patti down here on Kettner Blvd. The remodeled vibrant blue storefront is hard to miss. Taco Centro offers on the menu tacos, taco bowls, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, birria, breakfast, and Mulitas. They do offer alcohol beverages such as beers, seltzers, micheladas, and Paloma. I ordered two tacos: Carne Asada Taco and the Mar y Tierra. My friend ordered their Camarón Enchilado Taco and a chicken burrito. To put it simply, we weren't buzzed by our choices. The pieces of shrimp in their tacos are quite small. Only receiving about 2 mini shrimps per taco, this just wasn't worth the price. Their carne asada taco, on the other hand, was so delicious, however, for a simple taco being one of their standouts, I was pretty surprised my other taco wasn't as tasty. The chicken burrito had way too much refried beans and tomatoes. It was bland and basically needed so much salsa to save it, and could maybe benefit from having flavorful rice included in the burrito. I will say though, their salsa bar is impressive! They have all the creamy sauces, multiple green and red salsas, fire roasted salsa, peppers, carrots, onions, and even more bottled Mexican hot sauces lined up on top of the bar. It had every garnish you wanted for your food as I took advantage of all the sauces for my meal. I would be willing to give other items on the menu a try, but compared to other taco spots in Downtown SD, Taco Centro is quite average on terms of flavor for the price. There is even another Taco Centro on the other side of town that I feel is more fitting for the night vibes in SD, but it is a convenient location if you don't want to venture out on that side of Downtown.

    Soda fountain options
    Nayoun K.

    I've been eagerly waiting for this spot to open as we live just a couple blocks away. The highlight is definitely the salsa bar for me. Tons of fresh options, even including grilled onions & chilies, pickled peppers, radishes, and an incredible orange sauce similar to cotixans/vallartas before they watered theirs down. We came for an early lunch and tried the bacon sausage hashbrown breakfast burrito and two tacos. The burrito was on the smaller side but overall delicious as the flour tortilla was fantastic. The al pastor had good flavor, texture is more on the crumbly small pieces side, but the pineapple was too soft like it might have come from a can. The carnitas is cubed chunks, the soft and juicy type rather than shredded and crispy, so I would skip that one. They have a beer & wine license, so I will definitely be back for happy hour ($5 beers between 3-6pm every day) to try more of their menu. Prices are pretty steep at $5 a taco and $16 for burritos, but the quality of ingredients is high. Liked the open layout so that I was able to bring my dog and be at one of the street tables.

    Anthony L.

    So freaking good! Stopped by here on my last visit to San Diego and really enjoyed the vibe and Micheladas! They have a fantastic salsa bar with all different kinds of salsa from mild to spicy. I ordered the nachos and burrito and the asada meat and pastor meat were really good. Definitely worth checking out.

    Birria single taco and carne asada taco.
    David F.

    The food menu was pretty large. From cheap to high price range. The service received was fast and efficient. I went around 6pm on a weekday (Wednesday) and there was virtually no wait or crowd. It is a new taco shop with a small indoor and medium sized outdoor vibe. I grabbed the birria taco. The meat was tender and fresh. Great spot for a quick grab and go or pre round get together before a grand escape.

    birria
    Danielle S.

    Came to Taco Centro because someone in our group said it was good. We thought the tacos were just okay. We ordered carne asada, al pastor and birria tacos. There was nothing wow about these tacos. The birria wasn't as flavorful and tasty as other places we've had birria. Not bold in flavor and it was weired to us that they put beans inside the tacos. They also forgot to give us the consume for the tacos so we had to go back to the counter to ask for it. Their salsa bar is good as it provides a variety of salsas and condiments. I think that was one of the best things at the restaurant. The restaurant is not very big, it has a small bar on one side with tables inside and bar stools outside.

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    4 months ago

    Finally real tacos and burritos in the Little Italy area! Great chili too. Can eat there or take it to go.

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    4 months ago

    The vegetarian burrito was so good! Recipe was clearly made with intention. Easily the best I've ever had.

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    8 months ago

    Great food. Good prices and served quickly. Great spot for families with kids. I'll go back when I'm in San Diego next.

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    6 months ago

    Great california burrito, probably the best within a 10 block radius. Very well done, clean place, salsas variety and quality!

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    Taco Centro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Taco Centro

    La Puerta - Combo Tacos

    La Puerta

    4.2(4.8k reviews)
    1.2 miGaslamp
    $$

    Five stars all the way!!! Amazing food, fresh chips and salsa oh and service that cares the taco…read moreplate was full of flavor and the portions were spot on! Everything tasted good

    I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD…read moreto get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.)

    Photos
    La Puerta - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    La Puerta - Chicken with fried cheese tacos

    Chicken with fried cheese tacos

    La Puerta - Harland Hazy IPA

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    Harland Hazy IPA

    Quixote - Chocolate cake

    Quixote

    4.0(704 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    Quixote is connected to the side of the Lafayette hotel in a deconstructed church with stained…read moreglass, heaven and hell rooms. Super dark and I mean dark, it'll take a minute for your eyes to adjust. Tapas style menu, we were a party of 4 and ordered: Squash blossom Relleno - it's the flower part of a squash plant and stuffed with mushroom duxelles which resembles a meat mixture with squash succotash. Outside is a corn tempura with a tomato base sauce. Pulpo-grilled octopus, one of the best texture and perfectly grilled skin with a chewy yet soft interior. The sauce has a slight kick and crunch from the corn nuts. Crab corn doughnut- this is their specialty and we were about to skip out but glad we didn't. The brioche bun had a donut batter with lumps of crab salad and corn mixture on top. El Festin- perfect for our party of 4 because it was a platter full of 4 Cheese quesadilla, 4 shrimp, 4 chicken slices, 1 jalapeño bacon wrap, ribeye. Flan-we should have each ordered one ourselves! Great flavors and texture, the top had ancient chocolate soil and had crispy corn nuts. Different but yummy. Overall, delicious food that came out so quick, great ambiance, we celebrated our birthdays and were each gifted candles with our names on the label. Truly amazing from beginning to end. Street parking only. The spots on the same block are metered but if you drive down to the second street towards residential, it's free.

    We popped in for a drink and the place was jammin. It's decor is quite nice and the atmos was…read moreenergetic. We we're not greeted at the dire so we wandered over to the bar and luckily found two seats. This is not your ordinary bar. We both wanted a gin and tonic and they have five gins.... None of which I have heard of which is amazing. I tried the prickly pear gin and wowee... superb. A little sweeter than normal but a delight. The bartender was nice and the drinks enjoyable.

    Photos
    Quixote - Dramatic dining space!

    Dramatic dining space!

    Quixote - Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!

    Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!

    Quixote - Sangre Santa. Taste like a sangria. It was delicious.

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    Sangre Santa. Taste like a sangria. It was delicious.

    Cocina de Barrio

    Cocina de Barrio

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    1.4 miHillcrest
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Full bar

    I have not been here in a while. Lo siento! I have missed it so much! Ordered the house…read moremargarita to start off the evening!They have changed the menu a little, but they still have my favorites. The big tortilla with beans and chorizo...sooooo good! I can never pronounce the name of it...LOL! But I also ordered the taquitos, another delicious starter! I then had the green mole with ground pistachios over chicken...oh sooooo good!!!!! I love coming here! The staff is always friendly! The server said it had been a while. The outside patio is always welcoming!!! They are also dog friendly! Cako Approves!

    Was in the area and needed a quick bite before an event. Stopped by at 4pm and was surprised to be…read moreone of 4 people at the restaurant. Two at the bar, one outside, then me. Given the minimal patrons, service was excellent. Was here during happy hour and the food was great! Server said birria or fish tacos are best, so I opted for birria. Tacos didn't come with consumé but they were juicy enough without it. Good flavor but tortillas did start to fall apart. Margaritas for $5 are a good deal and tasted fresh. Ambiance is upscale Mexican and I think it hits, at least for happy hour! Guac and salsa prices were too high for my liking ($13 and $10, respectively) especially as a happy hour item, but to each their own. Overall 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 with a $5 marg as the kicker to round up vs down (for guac and salsa prices).

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    Cocina de Barrio
    Cocina de Barrio
    Cocina de Barrio - Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

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    Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

    Taco Centro - mexican - Updated September 2026

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