We were walking and trying to find a place to eat after a day at the beach. Not so easy with a teenager that can eat his body weight in food but is also picky on what he eats. We saw the the seating area outside and decide to check it out. My wife and I had the Baja fish tacos. They were only 2.99 and fried to perfection. Taste was also really good but if you want a bigger kick they have a salsa bar. My son had the Carne Asada burrito. The burrito had a very generous amount of steak that was cooked really tender. The place also has some modest selection of beer and sodas. We liked the place so much went back there the next day. read more

I was craving tacos, and this place hit the spot!! The tacos were sooo delicious and humongous too! The pricing is a little bit all over the place though, but I guess it makes sense because you are paying for the quality of the protein. The surf and turf was $9.99, the quesabirria was $5.99, but the baja fish was only $2.99. Tbh tho, I really liked the baja fish, it was so crispy! And with the chipotle sauce it was chefs kiss. The surf and turf was definitely the most filling. I loveee birria tacos, so the quesabirria was also delicious. I want to come back to try the burritos! read more

Taco Time Cantina - SURF & TURF TACO, QUESABIRRIA TACO, BAJA FISH TACO - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Maybe I got the wrong taco, but my experience honestly wasn't that appetizing. I ordered the crunchy ground beef taco, and the ground beef somehow tasted more like potatoes than beef. Then when I needed to use the bathroom, I was told to head downstairs because someone had just gone in there. I waited... and waited... only to realize nobody was even inside. On top of that, the women's bathroom wouldn't open even with the key they gave me, yet the same key somehow worked for the men's bathroom. It was frustrating, especially since the place wasn't even busy. San Diego has way too many great taco spots for service and food quality to feel this disappointing. Definitely think there's a lot of room for improvement. read more

The food itself is fresh and overall tastes good, but I feel like for the price it should be more flavorful and shouldn't need sauce to supplement for it. On that note, the burritos themselves have a good balance of texture, and the portions were fine. But $20 for a burrito? I'm not sure if the food lives up to the price read more

Taco Time Cantina - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

give this place a 4.5 stars. Passing by La Jolla I decided to stop for some tacos. I was not disappointed. They are not stingy with their meat and they are packed with flavor. I had the ribeye, Al Pastor and asada. They do all come with guacamole, and sometimes that overpowers the taste of the meat. I don't mind guacamole, but sometimes I just want to taste the meat. They do have a little salsa bar where you can get mild too hot salsa, depending on your mood. I went with the pico de gallo and the green sauce. Service was great very friendly. I had one employee even provide me their mix of salsa the green with a little red. If I'm in the area and I'm craving tacos, I would stop by here again. read more

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Stopped by for lunch and ordered a birria taco, a baja fish taco, and shared a birria quesadilla (not pictured) with a coworker. Let's start where it matters: the birria is elite. The meat is rich, the consomé is absurdly good, and I could've easily eaten multiple birria tacos without shame. Both the birria taco and the birria quesadilla have that crispy, cheese-fried situation going on, where the cheese caramelizes itself into the tortilla. Next level. This detail alone improves your day. The baja fish taco... less exciting. It came out piping hot, but the flavor didn't keep up with the birria at all. Not bad, just completely overshadowed. The space is clean, calm, and not too loud. There's a small indoor seating area plus two outdoor seating areas. They also bring your food out to you, which I appreciated. Parking heads-up: there is no designated parking lot. It's all street parking on a very busy street. There are street spots, but it's competitive, so build that into your expectations. Some people risk parking across the street at Pavilions, but that's at your own discretion. Drinks are not self-serve, including water. They'll bring you water if you ask, but there's no ice. Not a complaint, just information so you don't stand there wondering what the system is. They offer bottled sodas like Jarritos, and the aguas frescas are pre-poured in cups in a cooler you can purchase. On Tuesdays, they also sell mini Modelos, Coronas, and Cokes. The salsa bar deserves respect. Very clean, very organized, five sauces, clearly labeled with spice levels. I went with the orange sauce, second-highest heat, and it delivers. Definitely spicy, but with real flavor, not just pain for sport. Price check: tacos start at $2.99, which honestly feels very fair. They're a little cheaper on Tuesdays, but even at regular price, the value holds up. Bottom line: come for the birria, stay for the consomé, appreciate the crispy cheese situation, plan ahead for parking, and don't expect the fish taco to steal the show. I'd absolutely come back. read more

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The moment my Wife heard that TACO TIME CANTINA is open she ask me to drive there right away. Taco Time used to be on HILLCREST and now they are here in LA JOLLA. We are very familiar with their food coz we are regulars in their old location. So I placed an order for the following RIBE EYE TACO , PRESIDENTE SHRIMP, SURF & TURF TACO , BAD 2 THE BONES All the food is still good, but the Portion or size got smaller , or maybe the Plate they used for the TACOS is so big that when they serve the Tacos on it , it looks like it got smaller . But Taste wise they are still good Tacos. Their New location is bright inside and has plenty of seating indoors and outdoors read more

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Taco time was overall a great time. The service was good, prompt and kind. We went on Taco Tuesday ordered Baja tacos for 2 bucks! And got a surf and turf burrito. I would say the food was definitely good. Nothing exceptional but very well crafted and an extremely solid get. I would recommend this place for any one with that taco craving! Especially for two dollar Baja tacos. read more

Taco Time Cantina - Surf and turf burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Taco Time Cantina in La Jolla opened over a month ago. Located across the street from Pavilions market, where I would park, grocery shop, then cross the street to get the Baja fish tacos. The owner of former Steak and Bones Tacos in Hillcrest closed and now opened here. This location has indoor and outdoor seating, clean and a descent casual ambiance. Service is efficient and helpful. Have dined here a few times and have concluded their crispy beef tacos lacked beef and is mostly filled with beans and lettuce. The carne asada tacos has more beef content and is my pup's favorite, sans onions and all the fixings, she just likes the beef!! The Baja fish tacos are crispy, lightly fish flavored and so tasty. Definitely among the best in San Diego. Be sure get some salsas from the salsa bar, which has been kept clean and tidy every time I've seen it. Various drink selections offered, my favs: Jarritos mexican fruit flavored sodas and Topo Chico H20 both in chilled glass bottles. The most popular place for tacos in La Jolla is The Taco Stand on Pearl Street and there's always a line. Now, there's Taco Time and there's never a long line...Yet! .. worth a try. Recommend read more

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I came in on a Tuesday for Taco Tuesday and they actually do have some solid deals. You order at the counter and they give you a number to listen for when your food is ready, which was simple and easy. If you sign up for their email list, they send a buy-one-get-one taco offer within two weeks. Definitely worth it. I ordered the: *Ribeye Taco: this one was packed with protein and had a scoop of guacamole on top. The meat quality was good and tasted fresh *Surf & Turf Taco: came with a couple shrimp, but was heavy on the ribeye, plus a scoop of guacamole sauce. The shrimp seasoning was really good. There were only a few people dining in, and it took about 10 minutes to get my food. Both tacos were loaded with meat and tasted fresh, but neither had that wow factor. The regular pricing feels high. I wouldn't have paid over $20 plus tax for just those two tacos. They do have a salsa bar. I didn't see an option to order just chips, but you can get chips and guacamole for around $8. Again, prices run on the higher side. The staff were very friendly, and there was plenty of street parking when I arrived around 8:15 pm. The place is clean, and it was rather quiet inside. Overall, I'd come back for Taco Tuesday deals, but probably not for the full priced tacos. read more

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10/10 tacos and burrito. We ordered the birria tacos, crunchy beef taco, and the ribeye burrito. The ribeye burrito was sooo good. The meat was cooked to PERFECTION. They do not skimp on the meat here. The birria tacos were very tasty as well. I probably wouldn't order the crunchy beef taco again - it's simple and serves its purpose but there's better menu items to try. Also the mango habanero salsa was delicious! Definitely coming back! read more

Taco Time Cantina - BIRRIA TACO and CRUNCHY BEEF TACO - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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There was a long line, which tells me that the locals like the food. The food was a 8/10.

This cantina has opened in a suite across from the VONS shopping plaza in downtown La Jolla. It most recently housed a pasta shop owned by a local pizzeria. The new owners used to operate a taqueria in Hillcrest, and they have brought many of the same items to the menu at Taco Time. The inside was remodeled with the service counter and kitchen near the main entrance and a dining area on an upper shelf to the right. Tacos (regular and signature), burritos, quesadillas, nachos, fries, and veggie items made up the food offerings. The four signature choices were what set this place apart from most taco shops, highlighted by a ribeye taco and a bone-in beef rib taco. Note that the ribeye version costs $18.99, however the meat was an Angus reserve cut, plus no seed oils were used. I picked a Surf & Turf and a Bad 2 The Bone from the signature section. Right away one could tell that the handmade organic corn tortillas were very high quality. I would not hesitate to call them the best in town as they were that soft and good. Fire grilled steak, sauteed shrimp, cheese, garlic, aioli, chipotle sauce, and guacamole were the ingredients in the first taco. I loved how juicy the steak and shrimp were in this item. The second taco had a dry rubbed bone-in beef rib with pickled red onions and cilantro. It was a much simpler combination but visually it packed a punch with the giant rib laying across the tortilla. The meat fell off the bone as described. At $11.99, it's far from cheap, but this was the signature product from the now closed Hillcrest location. Overall, I gave a 4.5 star rating for my visit to Taco Time. read more

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Service here is not very friendly. Food takes forever to arrive after you order. Ordered one taco and it took over 20 minutes. Asked a simple question and the girl standing by the counter was rude. Would not eat here again, much better places right around the corner. read more

Having visited Taco Time a few times now, my experiences have been a bit of a mixed bag. On the bright side, their Adobada soft tacos--featuring flavorful pork, fresh guacamole, onions, cilantro, and sweet roasted pineapple--are delicious, even if the portions run a bit small. Unfortunately, my experience with the Carne Asada burrito was disappointing; the fire-grilled steak was quite tough to chew, and the staff didn't offer a rain-check coupon or make it right, making the service feel lacking. Additionally, if you happen to visit during Taco Tuesday, definitely avoid it if you are in any sort of hurry, as the lines and wait times skyrocket. read more

Taco Time is in the house! I stopped in over the weekend for lunch and ordered a variety of tacos. This is very cool, they have these ground beef tacos called the "Crunchy Beef" which are a play and a superior version of local fast food tacos for $2.99 a piece. I also had the a carne asada taco $5 and a veggie poblano taco $5. The crunchy beef taco's heirloom corn tortillas are fried in avocado oil. The comes with 100% beef and all the fixings, including shredded lettuce, zesty pico de gallo, shredded yellow cheese, and sour cream. They are a little messy to eat, but delicious. I grew up eating the other version of these tacos, but these are simply more healthy and quite delicious. The carne asada was delicious. The meat was very tender, well seasoned, and offered a nice subtle charring flavor from the grill, as it should be. The veggie poblano tacos was very good, too. The poblano peppers in the taco were tender and very flavorful. I did feel the taco needed something else, mainly so grated salty hard cheese on top for added flavor. They offer a great salsa bar, which of course I took the opportunity to try each one. They were all great with different levels of hear, but my favorites were the medium green salsa and the red hot Chile de arbol hot sauce. They both had great flavor profiles and heat. The service was very friendly and informative. They offer a nice amount of inside seating and share a large patio outside with other businesses in the area. Taco Time Cantina is a great addition to La Jolla's food scene . read more

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We got the chicken burrito. It was loaded and was sooo delish!! Dare I say it's better than The Taco Stand? read more

Taco Time Cantina - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Birria taco - ordered with the consumme, dip and enjoy. Deep flavors, tender birria. Baja fish taco - crispy crunchy fish, generous portions, spritz with a bit of lime of tomatillo sauce, probably the favorite of the visit. Ribeye tacos - can they really make any profit on this from how much you get? Big portion size, generous cubed steaks, beefy, tender. Our friends got the surf and turf, fries, etc. Also had rave reviews from them. read more

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If these are not the best tacos in San Diego, then they are certainly in the conversation. This store is an evolution of Steak and Bones, which was originally open in Hillcrest before the move to La Jolla. The food is made with high quality ingredients, and you can taste the freshness. The regular tortillas are made from organic half blue and half yellow corn. They are soft and easy to eat, which I prefer over rigid and starchy tortillas. The meats are all nicely grilled and come out with a slight char, which adds some smokey flavor to the food. My personal favorites are the surf and turf burrito, "bad 2 the bone" taco, and mushroom cheese taco. The outside of the burritos are cooked with the same char that you find on the meats, and they are tightly wrapped and bursting with flavor. The "bad 2 the bone" is a signature taco that is a literally a giant beef rib on a taco. The meat is so tender that it falls right off the bone. The mushroom cheese taco may sound boring to some (believe me, I'm a carnivore), but the texture of the mushrooms with some of the crunch from melted cheese and the umami of garlic aioli is to die for. If you're looking for value, both the crunchy beef taco and the baja fish taco are amazing. The crunchy beef taco is an elevated Taco Bell beef taco, and the fish taco contains a very large piece of grilled fish. I don't understand how they can be profitable for how low these two tacos are priced. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The salsa bar is equipped with five salsas with differing levels of spiciness. Each has a distinct flavor profile and are clearly labeled and described. It is kept surprisingly clean for a high traffic area by the staff. All the staff are extremely helpful and attentive. There is fresh iced lemon and cucumber water, as well as a large selection of drinks a la carte. I always get their horchata. I was told these are made with syrup as opposed to granulated sugar, which imparts a sweetness that is pleasant but not overbearing like you find in other places. They are so addictive that I can't just drink one. The shop itself is cutely decorated with a colorful modern laid-back vibe. The outdoor seating areas are what steal the show though, particular in the evening. The combination of cafe lights surrounding the giant sycamore tree in the middle creates a perfect ambiance for casual dining in a very walkable and active part of town. There is plentiful street parking. If the street is full, there is usually many open slots on the adjacent street. In a pinch, the Pavilions parking lot is open across the street, though you would need to do so at your own risk. This place deserves more than 5 stars. read more

Taco Time Cantina - Surf and turf burrito on a quiet evening on the patio. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Exquisite birria tacos, filet mignon tacos, and California burritos. Truly top quality meat and seasoning ... above par; the seasoning is so good you will want to skip the hot sauces. It's a nice space with a mellow and well decorated dining area away from the counter. The prices are commensurate with the location and with the quality of the meats - this isn't priced like an ordinary taco stand in East LA - but there's a definite difference in flavor and quality. The service was fast. read more

The owners used to have a taco shop in hillcrest and we loved it - we were so sad they closed until we learned they had this new La Jolla project in the works - woohoo! The tacos are so good - I am talking super fresh tortillas that are built with integrity (no breakage or sloppy messes here!) and their blue chips / tortillas are house made. My favorite part are the options - they go beyond with different styles of the same protein, but of course it makes it difficult to choose between them all! Our favorites so far are the fish taco and massive steak taco - it's like an entire steak dinner with a tortilla! The guacamole was fantastic - simple ingredients, not overly salty and not bland. Great consistency and thickness too! The team behind Taco Time Cantina is really warm and welcoming. You can tell they are so proud of what they've built and are authentically excited to be part of the community. read more

The grilled carne asada is safe for those like me with shellfish allergies. I ordered the carne asada burrito and it was charred just right. My husband ordered the beef tacos and was disappointed. He expected shredded beef, but instead it was mushy like Jack in the Box tacos. Stick with the grilled meat. Service was good and the location is clean and quaint. Bonus you can find parking in the mall across the street. read more

Taco Time Cantina - Beef tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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So good. My boyfriend and I went here tonight and really enjoyed it (we even craved it a few hours afterward and debated going back). We had the Baja tacos and carne asada. After reading other reviews, we will return for the birria. The place itself is small but clean and organized. Good drink selection in the self-grab fridge includes soda, beer, wine, and some homemade juices (maybe horchata? But I didn't ask). The customer service was also super friendly. I think we interacted with the owner and when our food order got lost, he rolled up his sleeves and helped make our food ASAP. Very very very good and reasonable price for La Jolla. Will be back. read more

I had 4 different items, every one of them was tasteless. Nowhere near what I was expecting for Mexican food. Won't be coming back.

Love taco time! We have made it a recurring stop in our local favorites. The service is always welcoming and we feel right at home :) The food is also amazing, the Baja fish tacos is one of the best we've had and you can never go wrong with their carne asada burrito!! It's definitely top authentic Mexican flavor. They are also dog friendly which is a huge plus for us :) read more

Taco Time Cantina - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The best tacos in San Diego. Period. Not only are the tacos absolutely delicious they are also made with 100% avocado oil. Not only that - they also use organic corn for their tortillas. My favorite tacos are the crunchy beef tacos!! Sooooo good! Better than the Taco Bell crunchy taco. Much better than taco stand. They also have amazing homemade salsas made daily. Yummy! read more

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My mom and I went here for the first time today. It was excellent. We had guacamole and chips, fish taco and quesadilla birria. There were lots of chips which were freshly made, a good size serving of guacamole, the fish taco was good sized and the birria quesadilla was huge! The staff were very nice and friendly. There is indoor and outdoor seating. It is very bright and clean. I have been telling everyone what a great meal we had and I highly recommend Taco Time Cantina. read more

Taco Time Cantina - Guacamole and chips and quesadilla birria. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm so glad that the owners are still in the restaurant business. I missed the location they had in hill crest (steak and bones) one of my all time favorite restaurants. The salsas and the tacos are good and definitely fill you up, We got the el presidente(classic) , surf n turf, fish tacos, shrimp taco and all are great. The best deal though is the fish taco, 2.99 for this quality is amazing!! Love the place and will be coming back! Service and the vibes are great, parking can be tricky however. Definitely give this place a try!!! read more

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Taco Time Cantina in La Jolla is a standout for anyone craving authentic, flavorful Mexican street food. The fish tacos were perfectly cooked--crispy on the outside, tender inside, and topped with fresh, vibrant ingredients that made each bite memorable. The California burrito is a must-try, packed with savory carne asada, golden fries, and just the right touch of salsa, making it both satisfying and delicious. The lively, casual atmosphere, friendly staff, and affordable prices make this a go-to spot for both quick lunches and relaxed dinners. Highly recommended for locals and visitors looking for quality Mexican food in the heart of La Jolla! read more

service- 5/5 food- 3/5 (my taco was good but the size of 3 bites for $6) ambiance- 4/5 overall- 4/5 read more

Taco Time Cantina - CARNE ASADA TACO, CRUNCHY BEEF TACO, BAJA FISH TACO - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tacos small- (more street taco size) flavor of the carne asada tasty had to spit out a few pieces of fat if they trim bettter & added more meat / larger tortillas I would give a higher score. There were 3 other tables besides ours however they served one friends burrito fast yet my 2 small tacos too 15 min longer my friend was done. Cooks need better timing & faster. I can't imagine how they handle a busy time of day?? read more

The fish taco was small, not a lot of fish inside. The nachos were the worst I had, the chips are burnt. Thought it was just a couple of chips but throughout the dish, found more burnt pieces. Its like cancer on a plate. The guy in front of us, ordered it too and he ate 1/3 and left the rest on the table before leaving. We did like the salsas, sad to see such poor execution. read more

Awesome food and service. We went there twice during spring break and the food was fantastic. We had the surf and turf tacos, the fish tacos, hard shell tacos, and the carne asada nachos. All were good, and satisfied the two teens' demanding palates. The nachos were especially good, with one of my teens saying it's his favorite dish ever. I had forgotten my jacket at the restaurant, and the restaurant went above and beyond to contact me and keep it safe. Of course it gave the the chance to order their Taco Tuesday specials - great deal! read more

The ribeye taco was the best taco I've had in my life. So yummy with melted cheese. I love that they use organic homemade tortillas and are a seed oil free restaurant. Will definitely return read more

The tacos here were really good! They came out in no time. My fav was the carne asada. Will be back read more

Taco Time Cantina - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing! The best tacos ever. Tons of filet mignon on the taco and the mushroom one was great. The tortillas freshly made and decent prices too. Excellent read more

Words cannot describe how good the food is! My mother is from Mexico, and this by far the most authentic and most delicious Mexican restaurant our family has been to. The service is terrific--everyone from the owners to the cooks is welcoming and very friendly. The seating area has amazing vibes: shady with a nice ocean breeze that's truly inviting. read more

My wife and I went there for the first time today. My carne asada burrito had meat with tons of nasty fat in it. The guy working there was not very nice. Won't be going back. read more

Super impressed by the tacos, salsa bar and the great prices. This is the perfect spot to get al la carte tacos and sit outside. The crunchy beef taco was the best I've ever had. The shell was so thin and crunchy and the meat was so juicy! Baja taco was delicious too. The side of rice was even 10/10. Try the mango habanero salsa! Wow yum!!!!!! read more

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Handmade tortillas. Fast service. Ribeye taco! Love the bright seating inside and there's also two patios! No wait. This was a more family friendly alternative to The Taco Stand. You can actually SIT!! read more

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