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Taco stand is a large Mexican food chain that originally started in San Diego, so it is always busy, for good reason! This location is also very close to the beach, so if there isn't indoor seating available, you can definitely grab your food to-go and enjoy it by the ocean. My favorite dish to order is the Mar y Tierra fries. The fries are loaded with plentiful shrimp, steak, guacamole, cheese, and sauce, and even though they are loaded, the fries still have a nice crunch and texture to them - truly one of the best loaded fries in the game. I am also a huge fan of Taco Stand's creamy cilantro salsa and usually get a couple cups of those to go with the fries as well. I have also previously tried their California burrito, which is a solid option if you're craving burritos instead!
Absolutely delicious! This place is located on a main street lined with a bunch of different retailers, restaurants, and shops, so there's lots to look around. We ordered the California Burrito, Baja Taco, and Al Pastor Taco- all were 10/10 combined with their sauce bar and various toppings. I loved the crunch of the fries combined with the savory, tender meat in the burrito. The baja and al pastor were super flavorful. Everything perfectly melted in my mouth! Food took a while to come out (maybe they are understaffed?) but it was well worth the wait. Since it can get crowded, you'll have to snipe a table quickly if you want to dine in. There is free street parking- yay!
Great tacos that are huge and loaded up with toppings. I especially loved the shrimp taco - the shrimp are cooked so well. Chips and guac are great, not quite enough guac to finish the chips so make sure you get some of their house salsas at the salsa bar! Long lines and good takes a while to come out, but tacos are worth it!
After our dinner we decided to check out this place as recommended by our concierge lady in our hotel. Parking: free street parking. The area is very nice to walk around, so many shops, restaurant, ice cream parlor. Btw, when we got there around 8:45pm, there's still a line. Oh wow. Seating: plenty indoor and heated outdoor patio. Menu selection: many types of tacos, burritos, chips and salsa. Be aware, as they put in their wall, everything is made to order and fresh, so yes, it's gonna be a wait ok. We ordered: Al pastor taco Carne asada taco Churros Mexican sparkling water There's a self serve condiments and water stations. You order, you pay, then they give you a sign so they can deliver your order. Overall everything is good. Ppl are nice.
BEST MEXICAN FOOD alert! I ordered the CA burrito here and some churros, and both were easily the best I have ever had. The meat was so tender, juicy, and the whole burrito was packed with flavor and tasted super fresh. The churros were so soft and loaded with cinnamon and cooked to perfection, and paired with some condensed milk dipping sauce. They also have an extensive salsa bar ( I recommend the mild-it had a unique flavor) with some pickled onions and other things. I am salivating as I am writing a recap on how good this all was!! YUM. The line to order is long usually, but the wait is well worth it. You must order at the register and they bring your food out. Service was very friendly. Ambiance is upbeat. They have an inside and patio area. This place is bustling! Located close to other bars and restaurants, this is the perfect spot to grab a bit and walk around for a bit, etc. A MUST in the area.
Stopped by with a group of friends on Saturday night the line was really long, but we decided to stay, which I'm glad we did since we only waited about 15 minutes in line before we ordered, we tried the fish taco which was nicely fried but not overly greasy, we also ordered some carne asada fries ($10) it was loaded up with big chunks of steak, cheese, sour cream and guacamole the portion was big enough for me and my husband to share, we also ordered some guacamole and chips the chips were perfectly fried nice and crunchy with the perfect amount of salt and the guacamole was so good no fillers only avocados lime and salt, we ended the night with some churros which I highly recommend they were authentic Mexican churros not like the stuff you get at Costco. Over all a great experience
We wanted to check out this restaurant. When we would drive past there were lines of people out the door. I ordered three tacos, one carne asado, one pollo asado, and one Al Pastor. The Al Pastor is my favorite with the marinated pork, cilantro and pineapple pieces. Very flavorful! My second favorite is the pollo asado with the grilled chicken, cilantro and guacamole. The beef in the carne asada was a little chewy. We were greeted with a big smile by the young lady taking orders. They have inside and patio seating. We took our food to go so we could eat at the beach. The vibe for this restaurant is fun and high energy.
3 California burritos please! Genuinely one of the best burritos I've had, and I love it when the burrito is the size of your head :) The fries inside were crispy and helped make the perfect bite. Their salsa station was clean, the limes were juicy, and the green salsa was the perfect added spice for me. It did take around 20 minutes after ordering to get our food, which was a little longer than expected. Nice dog friendly patio and a cute place by the beach!
The food here was so good I almost forgot about the extremely long wait and overstimulating experience. The fish taco was delicious and I liked the crispy batter, as well as the sauce on top. The California burrito was tasty especially paired with the sauces they offer but I wish the beef wasn't so chewy. Would come back again maybe earlier to avoid the long lines
Met up with family for some food and beers. I had the fish shop shrimp and elote taco. Food is always delicious. These are my favorite shrimp! So delicious. Super fun spot with good ambience. It's always busy. Clean and plenty of seating. Service is always good. Parking can sometimes be tough! Street parking in a super busy town!
The Sonora, Al Pastor & Carne asada tacos are a must! The handmade tortillas and salsas are awesome too! The carne asada fries were a bit much but glad we tried them just once. The churros were good also! I would say our least favorite was the Baja Taco, only because it was so heavily fried.. couldn't taste the fish. We will definitely make it back! They have a wait everyday for a reason. Worth trying for sure!!
Came here for a quick bite over the weekend and was met with many choices on the menu between burritos and tacos. We ordered a shrimp taco (camaron), baja fish taco, sonora taco and a carne asada burritoy at the front. For drinks like soda or beer, there's a fridge by the front where you can grab your drink and pay. There was a small line when we arrived but it went by quickly. Seating was already staring to get crowded around 5 pm on a Saturday but luckily there were seats inside and out on the patio. While you wait, there's a sauce bar where you can grab onions, limes, and all the fixings. Food came out quickly and we demolished just as fast. Great to come here for a bite if you're around the area!
Big fan of The Taco Stand! My first time I went to a location in San Diego and remembered liking the salsa bar, so I had to check this one out. My friend got a burrito and I got a bunch of tacos. I will say, stick to the tacos... it's in the name, after all! The restaurant gets pretty busy, so make sure to come at an off peak time. There's plenty of space, but I'd definitely prefer the outdoor seating. Good spot!
23 days ago
1 year ago
Wow chefs kiss... I'll be back (Arnold Schwarzenegger voice). Love how you can see them making the tortillas in front of you! read more
I love the taco stand, especially in SD!! Amazing prices, especially for those burritos. Mar y Tierra is my favorite with great shrimp and steak!! I also got 2 Baja tacos and a Sonora taco. Baja was pretty good, especially if you like fish, a little dry sometimes. Sonora was definitely my preferred taco with melted cheese, guacamole, and flour tortilla. The workers were all very nice and gave great recommendations. Location is super cute as well read more
3 months ago
It was a very good dinner to the point where I went back for a second corn! Really great service as well from Oscar who made sure we had all of our accoutrements! He deserves a raise and a promotion! The ambiance was lively and a good vibe especially for Memorial Day 2026! I would definitely come back here as it has now moved up the rankings in my Taco shops for North County San Diego! read more
The Taco Stand is a popular spot for good reason! They are consistent, serving fresh food in generous portions with a great atmosphere. It takes a bit to move through the line here, but once you get to order, it takes only ten or so minutes to get your food. I love their Mar Y Tierra burrito, which consists of shrimp, steak, avocado, cabbage, and chipotle sauce. The tortilla is also delicious by itself. Their churros are also amazing and so soft! read more
We drive by this place all the time and there is always a line down the block. We had time so gave it a shot. We ordered 6 tacos. 2- El Pastor, 2- Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, and Baja. The person taking our order said it would be 30 minutes so we also got chips and guac for while we waited. They make everything fresh to order. As I was waiting in line to get to the salsa bar I watched as they were hand pressing and cooking the tortillas. The place is lively and has seating inside and out but you have to be quick or patient to score a table. The chips and guac were excellent! The guac is made from fresh avocados and has plenty of avocado chunks in it. My favorite taco was the El Pastor with carne asada a close second and the pollo asado coming in 3rd. The Baja taco was not my favorite. Lacking flavor and was kind of mushy. I was happy I saved some of the el pastor as my last bite. The freshness warrants the long lines but flavor wise I have a couple other places I enjoy more. read more
I come to this location quite a bit. The service is good and the food is even better. There is usually a line out the door, but they work quickly and keep the line moving. Al Pastor is usually my go to whether it's a burrito, fries, or a quesadilla. They have other good protein options so you can't really go wrong. The churros are also amazing. The inside gets a little crowded so I prefer to sit on the patio. There are a fair number of options for salsa, but nothing is very spicy. They're spiciest option would be a mild salsa at most other Mexican restaurants. They also have pickled onion in the salsa bar which acts as a nice palate cleanser. The major downside to this place is cleanliness. Countertops and tables are usually messy due to the high volume of customers that come through the restaurant. The restroom isn't the cleanest either and there is only one single stall restroom so there's usually a line. Other than that it's a great place to eat! read more
I love you taco stand !! Every location I've been to has been consistent and the food hits everytime. My fave is the Al pastor, but this time I tried the Baja fish tacos and shrimp tacos as well. The seafood was super fresh and just the right seasoning. I also love the various dips at the sauce bar, especially their famous green sauce! The service was fast, nothing standout. This location had a good amount of space and seats for a Friday afternoon, and love the outside patio. Parking might be a little rough in busy times. I'll be back! read more
Amazing tacos!Well worth the long wait for food (it took about half hour).Also very long wait to order and finding a table to sit is difficult. The pastor,chicken tacos were just as good as ones I had in Cabo. Husband said fish tacos was just OK read more
This place looked busy so I decided to go in and try some tacos. I was excited to see a lively interior, lots of seating, and a clean space. There's a sauce bar located at the back with lots of salsas, limes, and pickled veggies. When I ordered, I asked a couple questions about the burritos and the employee who helped was unable to confidently explain what comes inside. Maybe it was due to the business of the line but I felt more unsure of my decision. I opted for the shrimp and Baja tacos. I was quite excited since I waited about 20 minutes. From initial appearances the tacos looked great. I first tried the tacos with additional sauces. I regret to say these camaron and the fish lacked flavor. Even with the chipotle sauce and lime added, I didn't feel as if the wait was worth it. The fried fish was a bit mushy and not what I anticipated. Maybe it was due to the business that night, but I just don't see myself trying the fish again. read more
What a treat we had this past Friday @ The Taco Stand. Loved everything about it - the feel, the food, etc. Met a gf here for an early lunch (it gets crowded at peak meal times) & was able to swoop up a corner patio spot for our party of 3. Order first & pay, then grab a table & your choice of condiments & salsas / free water. *First off their Hot Churros are the bomb(dot)com since they came out warm and I don't think you need the condensed milk dip, but to each their own! *Al Pastor and Camaron (Spicy Shrimp) Tacos were also so very good! Loved them & will be back just for these! *Baja and Grilled Pescado Tacos were meh. Hubby & I would probably pass on their fish tacos in the future. *Carne Asada Fries were good & seasoned well! One unisex bathroom that was fairly clean. Service did take a bit longer as the crowd & line got long. Parking is either street parking (on Coast Hwy most of it is 2 hour limit), but if you go onto other streets you may find untimed + unmetered parking if you don't mind the walk. Will be back & will also try to find other Taco Stands soon since they have multiple locations =') read more
Business owner information
Priscilla M.
Thanks so much for the thoughtful review! Really glad you had a good…
3 months ago
Absolutely amazing experience . Humberto was a rockstar, I had a complicated order and he fed me like a king. Thank you Humberto. read more
10 months ago
Love this spot - mar y tierra fires are definitely my go to! Don't forget to grab some of their creamy cilantro sauce as well. read more
The Taco Stand (specifically the one in Encinitas) is a San Diego staple and for GOOD reason. This place is so, so, so good. The food is bomb, prices are fair, and the location can't be beat. It can get BUSY so be aware of that, but the line moves fast and tables turn over fairly quickly. Worst case scenario, you're a few minutes walk to the beach and you can enjoy your meal there. For some reason the other locations don't quite hit the same as Encinitas but maybe it's the beachside location that boosts the experience. I personally love the Sonora taco but really you can't go wrong with any of their tacos or burritos. Also love the several salsa options at the self serve salsa bar. read more
Business owner information
Priscilla M.
Thanks so much for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed the tacos…
9 months ago
My wife and I dropped by here for an afternoon snack. She had a mushroom taco (sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, grilled garlic, cilantro mix, avocado with sauce); and I had a item from the secret menu, Al Pastor Volcan (tostada with melted cheese, Al Pastor, guacamole, white onions, cilantro, pineapple, salsa cilantro). I also added some salsa from the sauce bar. Both the taco and tostada were amazing, super flavorful! The combination of flavors, spices and unapologetic heat were great! Service was efficient, which is what you would expect from a busy taco restaurant. The ambiance was friendly with a bright, colorful street food restaurant type vibe. The prices are super reasonable, especially given the quality of the food. I'll be back to try more tacos. read more
1 month ago
I heard this was a must spot to grab tacos in San Diego so on we went! We got 6 different tacos to try and our favorites were the spicy shrimp tacos and the grilled fish tacos. The corn tortillas were so fresh and thin! Don't skimp on ordering the chunky guac & chips to pair with all the salsas they have to offer! We also ordered the corn on the cob and it's probably the best corn on the cob I've ever had! Everything is made fresh so the wait to get your food did take a bit! read more
Business owner information
Priscilla M.
Thanks so much for coming by and for the kind words! We really…
8 months ago
I've been to this location before and would give it 5 stars if I hadn't been to the La Jolla location (which I would give 5 stars). Not sure why, but several others have said the La Jolla location tastes better (I'm assuming the same owner owns both). Nevertheless, if we're in Encinitas, this our #1 spot to eat at. Gets super busy on the weekends, so if you can go on other days, it's not so hairy to get a seat and wait for them to cook up your food. read more
The food at Taco Stand is always extremely fresh and flavorful. This was my first trip to the Encinitas location. The camaron and baja tacos were delicious. The service was friendly and adequate. I will say the only complaint is the seating. It's really a free for all and quite a mess trying to find a spot to sit. read more
11 days ago
2 months ago
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3 months ago
The best fish tacos ever. Also this location is the best location. The line is long but it's worth it and the line moves quick. A must hit spot when I have friends visiting from out of town. read more
Business owner information
Priscilla M.
Thank you so much, Stella! We’re thrilled you love our fish tacos and…
2 months ago
Food was outstanding, I had asada and Al Pastor tacos, they have great customer service, the place was full, there was a line , music had great ambiance. read more
16 days ago
One of the best taco places I have ever tried. On a Sunday evening there is still a long line, had to wait around 30 minutes but it was well worth the wait. I have never seen a taco wrapped and presented this way, and it made it so easy to eat. Every taco was delicious and packed with flavor and meat. Very friendly staff and some self serve drinks and condiments. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
The California is the best thing I have ever eaten. And on top of that, it's only $11. The line is long but so so so so worth it. read more
2 months ago
Amazing customer service every time we come down from Temecula. All the workers, professional and experienced. Top notch!! Thank you for being consistent and making amazing food! To the guy in the black shirt and beard, keep the great work! read more
This place has great energy. Came in here late friday night before they closed and it was still pretty busy. The tortillas being hand made are great, they're just a little to thin so your taco tears. The al pastor was perfectly seasoned, crispy and flavorful. The salsa options are great. The asada was a bit bland but the guacamole and salsa helped. The employees are all really nice and quick with preparing your food. read more
2 years ago
Stoped by from a friend who lived in San Diego. Amazing first impression of the tacos down here. Line was long but loved relatively fast with seats opening up quickly from people coming and going We got the carne asada, al pastor, Baja and Camaron. My favorite was the carne asada and camaron. The shrimp was so flavorful and the meat was soft and tender. Their tortillas were amazing as well. I was tempted to buy one of the 1 pound bags. Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Ambience: 7/10 read more
26 days ago
11 months ago
YESSSS! Do it. Absolutely best tacos we've had all year- we travel coast to coast. This checked every box for us. Rich, authentic flavor, fresh ingredients, and uniquely impeccable sauces. Friendly service, efficient flow, not too long a wait. Lively atmosphere, really delivered the colorful, laid back SoCal San Diego energy we all love. I hope we can come back asap!!! read more
1 year ago
Needed a quick snack & wanted Mexican food so this was a no brainer! Fish taco solid, needed some more fish but fresh corn tortilla & amazing salsa. Steak taco on flour tortilla way better, could eat a ton. The salsa bar is clutch & solid service too read more
Iconic chain restaurant in San Diego so wait line is just insane. I decided to try anyways to satisfy my curiosity. Sadly to report this shop is very mediocre. The al pastor is below average, the baja is decent. The best thing here is a super spicy chili/salsa that they have. There are other much better taco shops in the area. read more
More info about The Taco Stand
642 S Coast Hwy 101
Encinitas, CA 92024
Directions
(760) 230-2061
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.letstaco.com
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Ask the Community - The Taco Stand
How long is the wait to order and get your food?
What's the go-to taco here- Al pastor or baja? Any recommendations?
Where do you park?
Anywhere you can. Busy area especially a Friday or Saturday... not designated parking lot
Do you have the salsas and sauces available behind the counter? It seems unsanitary to have it out to get filled from everyone. Also takes a very long time to get any sauce
They have a salsa bar for everyone to get with pickled carrots in jalapeno n limes
What is the corporate headquarters phone?
I don't believe there is, on there website they have numbers for the different locations, I believe this restaurant chain was a mom and pop place that was able to be franchised and expanded and owned by different people.
Do they have anything gluten free?
Corn tortilla tacos, tacos wrapped in lettuce too!
Is there a Taco Tuesday special?
It may depend on the location, but the Encinitas one does a special. However it’s minimal, like 50 cents off tacos haha
Do they use lard in their tortillas?
We do not use lard in any of our items. Thank you!
I love everything here, but I wished they served breakfast all day. Would you change your breakfast serving hours? Your breakfast burrito is BOMB!
Have not tried the B.B., but looking for a great one. Gonna try it.
What is the name of that creamy spicy sauce you have?
The light green one is cilantro, they also have a creamy chipotle sauce which is not as spicy.
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The Taco Stand - tacos - Updated August 2026
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