Order The Taco Stand Takeout or Delivery
The Taco Stand Photos
Business Info
THE TACO STAND ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like The Taco Stand
Recommended Reviews - The Taco Stand
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Yes the line is always out the door. Yes it's worth it. Tijuana-style tacos on handmade tortillas, salsa bar that actually has heat, and everything comes out fast. Al pastor with pineapple is my go-to, baja fish is crispy and fresh, and the California burrito is stupid good. No table service, just order, grab your salsas, eat. Quick, cheap, consistent.
Loved the tacos here! It wasn't real busy when we walked in, but by the time we left it was packed and the line out the door and a line for the salsa bar. Tacos; Carne Asada, Al Pastor X2, Pescado and Sonoran.... Guac and chips. Al Pastor was pretty authentic I think. Even a slice or two of pineapple. Delicious. Salsa bar is good, I had the habanero and green salsa. Habanero had a nice kick. The napkin dispenser was hilarious with a Chihuahua wrestler Mexicano painted on it. Service was awesome, friendly and she was great explaining what would be on each taco. Place is clean. A rating.
Was it worth the wait? Not for an hour. Delicious tacos come dime a dozen around here. As visitors in the area, we stuck it out to see what the hype's about. As soon as we arrived, we noticed a loooong line of people waiting to order. The place is not that big, with limited seating inside and outside. I guess there's always a long line here and it doesn't move quickly. Being with a party of 7, I started searching for back up plans but we also had our dog so we figured we might as well wait since we were able to snag a table out front. The tortillas are hand made and everything is made to order, but so do many other taco spots in San Diego. The line moves a lot slower than other places and the food seems to take an extremely long time. We even saw people order slices of pizza from next door while waiting as appetizers knowing it would take at least an hour for the tacos. We got a variety: carne asada, al pastor, pollo asada, mushroom and shrimp. Everything was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Most of the tacos had a nice portion of filling except the al pastor taco I got was skimpy. If you look at the photo, I took the one on the right, knowing it had less and gave the bigger portion to my brother. I was very disappointed though after waiting over an hour for it. The carne asada was good, but I've had similar elsewhere. We also got a few elote (street corn on the cob). The ratio of mayo, cotija cheese, lime and tajin was perfect and the corn had a nice crunch to it. I'm just so used to it being scraped off the cup and served in a cup, I was a little let down with that too. I would've liked my relatives from Japan try it that way so more of them could taste it. Limited spots in the parking lot and street parking can be difficult. Others will probably do the same as I did and try Taco Stand at least once, but no need to return.
I had the best tacos EVER! house made tortillas, extremely fresh ingredients,so juicy and delicious. Must visit! Afternoon is longer line. The best service
I came here with a friend who saw this place on TV. I was excited to try their tacos. It's a small taco restaurant with a little bit of seating inside as well as outside. When we got there the line was out the door, but not too long. We probably waited 10 minutes in line. When I first saw the menu I was worried that 1 taco was $3-5 dollars because I assumed the tacos were more like street tacos. They were bigger than a street taco and filled with meet and guacamole. So I ordered 3 pollo asado tacos with a side of churros. These tacos were BY FAR the best tacos I've ever had. The tortillas you can tell were made fresh from scratch. The chicken was so tender and had a lot of flavor. They put a lot of guacamole, but it wasn't too much or too little. It was also very fresh. As I was eating all I was saying was wow, wow, wow. I was at a loss for words. The churros also wow! They had to make a fresh batch by the time I ordered one so it did take awhile, but honestly so worth the wait. They were hot, fresh, moist and very tasty. I'm usually not a fan of churro because they are typically greasy and crunchy. These were soft like a donut. By far again the best churros I've ever had. If I could rate this place higher than 5 I would. I HIGHLY HIGHLYYYYY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE.
This place is small but mighty!! Walk up to order your tacos, find a spot inside or outside. Choose your spice level at the salsa bar and enjoy when your fresh tacos are ready. Pretty sure they press fresh tortillas for every order. Some of the best tacos we've had.
I saw a long line at this restaurant 2 years ago and figured it was worth a try. I visited The Taco Stand recently and was honestly a little underwhelmed. The restaurant was small but very lively. There is limited seating inside and out. You can see the whole staff hustling and bustling. They have a soda dispenser and self serve condiment bar in the back. It gets congested quick back there. The decor is fun and colorful. Overall, the inside is small but inviting. I ordered a bean and cheese burrito, 2 tacos de carne asada, one Al pastor taco, and a taco de nopales. The tortillas are hand made. That's always a plus. The nopales taco was cold. I was hoping that it would have been grilled because grilled nopales are fire. The nopales happened to be my least favorite item that I tried. The Al pastor lacked flavor. I also thought it needed to be cooked a little longer. It wasn't under cooked but needed more time. It came with sliced pineapples but it was barely drained and the juices made the taco very wet and sweet. The al pastor taco and nopales taco was served with their cilantro lime dressing which was flavorful. The bean and cheese burrito was good and hearty. It paired well with their chipotle sauce. The carne asada tacos were the best. The carne asada was rich in flavor and the meat was cut into good sized pieces. Served with a good helping of guac and cilantro and onions. A little messy but it was a hit. The churros are good. Good size and seasoning and not overly oily. Overall, I would revisit The Taco Stand. The tacos I would order them basic as possible. Just meat and cilantro onion toppings while adding the sauce myself. If the tacos weren't messy I'd give it a higher rating. One thing that caught my eye were the asada fries. Those looked good.
Since I've had their tacos before I wanted to try their shrimp burrito . It was good -I appreciated the fresh avocado in the burrito. And I felt every bite had a good amount of shrimp in it. Now that I've tried both l think I prefer their tacos more. And shrimp tacos here are still my fav. Also this place was packed with a line out the door. After I ordered I had to wait 20 min for my burrito. The price you pay for good food.
The Taco Stand serves incredible tacos just up the street from the beach, and that perfectly captures what makes SoCal such an amazing place to live. We tried almost every taco and the standouts were the Baja and Sonora. The fish in the Baja was perfectly fried. It tasted so fresh and airy. The steak in the Sonora was fatty deliciousness and the melted cheese brought things to another level. We waited in line for 30 min and close to another 10 min for our food to come out. The long wait made our expectations even higher than they already were, but the food still managed to impress us. I highly recommend The Taco Stand! Can't wait to come back!
As my first visit to SD in a long, long time, I felt it was necessary to visit one of the most iconic stops in the city! We have The Taco Stand in Las Vegas, but there is truly something special about getting delicious tacos by the water. The wait could get very tedious. The line wraps around the building into the parking lot with cars pulling in & out. You also wait a bit for your food. Compared to the location here in Vegas where I could be in and out in 5 minutes, spending nearly an hour standing around is less than ideal on a trip :/ But....... the food is unfortunately very very delicious. AND THE CHURROS! so yummy and sweet. My favorite is the Baja Taco. An absolute gem.
3.5 The small restaurant had a long line that moved quickly. Even the wait for the food after ordering was not long. I had the mushroom/vegan taco. The tortilla was great. The mushrooms were sautéed with garlic and were flavorful. What was missing was the spices and freshness of a sea side taco stand. There was a bit of cilantro and a dollop of avocado - but no salsa nor chili powder. I didn't mind the messiness of the presentation. Overall a solid taco choice.
This location is still one of my favorite Taco Stands! So close to the beach, you can get a great meal to go (seating inside is very limited) and have a great day in La Jolla! The Mar Y Tierra fries are my favorite thing to get there - super generous portions of shrimp and steak on top of some deliciously crispy fries and topped with a heap of cheese and sauce! For the price it's honestly a great deal. The food does take a while to come out especially when busy since they have to make everything to order it seems but workers are all pretty nice and seem to try their best to get you your food as quickly as they can. Honestly the burritos are a bit on the smaller side but they are priced lower than a lot of the other burritos in SD, so I guess it's proportionate. Highly recommend trying all the sauces from their large sauce bar as well!
Decided to try the taco stand on a Saturday morning after a walk in downtown La Jolla. The spot can be a little walk from the downtown. The spot was busy in the morning so recommended getting there early. The service was speedy. My burrito was good though it could use a little more flavor. The salsa bar had plenty of salsa options depending on the spice palate. The prices are good for the portions. Overall a good experience!
A must-visit spot if you're in La Jolla! We didn't have to wait in line very long so that was nice. It was super busy and loud inside, so we got our food to go and went to the children's pool so our toddler could run around. I got the Baja taco, a crispy beer battered white fish topped with cabbage and a yummy chipotle salsa. My husband enjoyed the Al pastor taco. I got a cheese quesadillas for our daughter as well. We had to end the meal on a sweet note with the freshly made churros, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! Great meal and friendly service! read more
1 month ago
Really good tacos! Everything was fresh and full of flavor. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more
The food was good, overall score 3.5 We came here based on the reviews. This is a well known place and it was very busy. The food is a mix between authentic taco trucks & Chipotle. The meat was fresh. The tacos are served in paper and foil. I didn't get pictures of the inside because it was busy and my husband ordered. The tacos are pricey, on average $4 each. The service was good. You wait in line, order and try to find a place to wait until they call your name. The ambiance is busy. Lots of college kids and locals eating inside and outside. There is limited seating but you can always tailgate. We ordered: Chicken taco (4/5) Asada taco (3/5) Pastor taco (4/5) Sonora style taco (3/5) Chips & salsa (4/5) 1lb of fresh made chips that day for $3.99. There is a salsa bar inside. The green guac style salsa had great flavor. There is also a red salsa that was a little hotter and had a kick to it. Overall, good food for the location of business. Seems like a good spot for young people. read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
Everything is prepared fresh and the service is fanatic. We love the carne asada fries (SC on the side). Get the churros! read more
This may be one of the best meals we have ever had. This is worth the wait in line! The staff here are the hardest workers, watching them was incredible, they are a well oiled machine! Freshly made tacos and churros (don't skip the churros, they were perfect!!) The quesadillas and burritos are huge and so flavorful. Tacos absolutely delicious. So many fun salsas to try, the chipotle was our favorite but they were all excellent! Food was so good my husband got again at the airport for one last hoorah before going home. read more
I absolutely love Mexican food so when my friend recommended The Taco Stand, I knew I had to check it out on my trip. My bf and I stopped by on the last day of our SD trip for a very early morning breakfast. Normally, I stick to the usual "breakfast" foods but I'm so glad I tried something new! We got there around 10 am and ordered an al pastor taco, California burrito, and churros. The California burrito was SO good and everything was seasoned to perfection. I didn't try the taco since I don't eat pork but my bf enjoyed it. The churros were good and not too sweet. I would definitely come back here again! The service was good, restaurant is clean with plenty of seating, and the food is delicious! read more
Hit up The Taco Stand in La Jolla and just like their other spots, there was a line, but it moved pretty quickly. Seating is super limited, so be ready to grab a spot when you can. That said, it's totally worth it. The al pastor is flavorful and delicious. And the grilled pineapple in it always pushes it over the top. The fries were ok and skippable. Better at other locations. Or just get carne asada fries anywhere else really. read more
8 days ago
4 months ago
Sooo crowded. The food was good, I'm glad I was able to try it. I probably wouldn't wait in that line again though (the line almost reached the end of the street. Not super worth all that) Mar Y Terri's taco: 10/10 Mushroom taco: 6/10 All of the salsas I got were really good. I'd come again if the line weren't as long as it was. read more
Absolutely love their food! From tacos to burritos to quesadillas and more, they have an amazing selection of Mexican food that is served fresh and made to order! We love their fish tacos, carne asada tacos, mar y Tierra fries, as well as their churros! The prices are so reasonable and the food portions are awesome and very filling! Their salsa bar is epic with red and green salsas, mild, medium, hot and they even have the spiciest macha sauce! Their pickled onions are great as well as their pico de gallo! Service is friendly and prompt and efficient and it's a chill ambiance inside with both indoor and outdoor seating. You can find street or metered parking and it is a great spot to stop for lunch or dinner before or after the beach! read more
We waited 1.5 hour at this location in the early afternoon to get to order the food and another 30 mins to pick up the order. While the food is delicious, this location, due to its proximity to La Jolla, might demand a wait longer than expected. We ordered multiple tacos and carne asada is arguably the best with aromatic grill flavor. In terms of management, due to the high consumer demand, it is obvious that quality consistency and management is falling behind as ingredient distribution between tacos became disproportional and salsa stand became chaotic. The canned margaritas is overly sweet and highly priced and therefore do not recommend. read more
This was a must stop for us as east coasters who don't have great tacos by us. We ordered a little bit of everything and our favorite by far was the bean and cheese burrito. Actually still dreaming of this as we speak. The tacos were good but not great. The burrito as well. But seriously do not sleep on the bean and cheese burrito! We loved the salsa bar and bought a bag of freshly fried chips, which were delicious. And the churros were amazing!! Great spot, not great parking or a ton of seating. Quick, friendly service. read more
Business owner information
Priscilla M.
Thanks for making us a must-stop! So glad you loved the bean & cheese…
1 month ago
11 months ago
The taco stand has Amazing tacos and more! There was a line out the door when we arrived and I understand why! This is a casual taco place with very reasonable prices and high quality! We tried the following items: -Al pastor tacos (5/5; delicious! The grilled pineapple is such a smart and tasty addition! Meat flavorful and delicious) -spicy shrimp tacos (5/5! The best shrimp tacos I had my entire SD trip! Just the right amount of spice and perfectly cooked. This was quite delicious) -Baja fish tacos (4.25/5; this was my least favorite taco and it was still quite good! Maybe the fish could have used a bit more seasoning but it was well cooked and the toppings complimented it well) -churros (5/5; omg yes. Fresh, crispy, delicious and that sauce ) -chips and guac (4.25/5; guac is one of my favorite dishes period so my rating reflects that this side was quite solid! Very generous portion for the price that was flavorful and came w good chips) -salsa bar (5/5; try everything! I specially loved their chipotle salsa) Taco stand delivers on everything you want out of a taco place: delicious food at a reasonable price! (Skip $12-17 tacos at Puesto and just come here!!) read more
5 months ago
Line wrapped down the street but went quickly.... And so worth the wait!! Delicious!!! Hot, delicious and authentic!!! Wish I could pack them in my suitcase and take the back with me to Alabama! read more
3 months ago
Part 2 of San Diego's famous taco spots! A popular restaurant near the tourist area with a great atmosphere. There was a bit of a wait, but the food was absolutely delicious. The churros were amazing too! We got our order to go, so I can't really comment on the service. read more
10 months ago
3 months ago
Be prepared for the long wait that will be quite annoying, but other than that this is the best taco I've had at sd, anyone who is not allergic to seafood have to get their shrimp taco!! Recommend coming before 11am to avoid long line read more
The line at this place was out the door and, after eating here, it's easy to see why. We got an assortment of things to try -- Al pastor tacos, carne asada tacos, carne asada fries, and a California burrito. We liked the tacos better than the burrito. The al pastor was my favorite -- not super greasy the way al pastor can be, but with melt-in-you-mouth tender meat that was bursting with flavor. I liked this better than the carne asada! The California burrito was good but not the best I've had; stick with the tacos. I liked dousing everything with their house-made pico de gallo as well. The carne asada fries were devoured by my kids, and the fries looked extra crunchy, like they were double fried or dipped in extra batter. This helped them hold up without getting soggy under the bounty of toppings -- sour cream, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and carne asada. We'll be back! Love that there are multiple locations throughout San Diego. read more
10 months ago
This place has been on my list and it didn't disappoint. They are known for cooking their steak perfectly and as an Al pastor fan, I was skeptical but it did live up to the hype. I got a steak burrito and it was bomb. I also got an al pastor taco and it was so so. We had ordered a California burrito but it came regular, so that's my only complaint. Al pastor quesadilla was better than the taco. Service was speedy for a Friday night and ambiance is grab and go. The salsa bar was bomb -- favorites were chipotle sauce and salsa verde. read more
I ordered a pescado taco and a Baja taco, both of which were really good. I personally think the Baja one was better! I think I also paid around $10 in total so it was pretty worth it for me. The place itself has maybe 5-6 tables, and there's also seating outside. The person taking my order was also really nice :) read more
1 year ago
12 days ago
5 months ago
Order Ahead! ( https://www.letstaco.com/order-online ). The line at this location in La Jolla is always long. The two ladies at the register had 100% control of the chaos around them. In-person and online orders were non-stop. They were cranking out fresh churros, taking orders, putting sauce and wrapping up all the tacos, burritos, etc... and bagging everything up perfectly. I ordered ahead but showed up a little early so ended up watching them work for about 10min. Not once did they mess up and everyone was smiling and happy. The place is tiny inside and a little warm. They had a few booths and bar stools inside, there was some shared seating outside. Getting a table or stool is pure luck. The salsa bar was pretty good, had a few different salsas, pickled onions, etc... I only had the Al-pastor burrito... it was one of the best burritos I've ever had... cilantro, onion, fresh pineapple and they topped it with a secret sauce... sooo good!!! I will 100% be back to try a little of EVERYTHING !!! Zero complaints! Order Ahead! read more
Definitely a popular spot! Took around an hour from time standing in line to getting our food. My favorite was the grilled pescado taco! It's cool seeing the tortillas being made fresh, and there's definitely a high quality of flavor. The other tacos were a little bland, but they offer various salsas to customize. There is a small indoor and outdoor dining area. read more
1 year ago
This is an iconic SD joint and the moment you arrive, you feel it due to the mill of people in the counter room only space, many in surf ponchos. First of all, these tacos are ginormous! I could barely finish the 3 I ordered. Second, it seems the closer you get to Mexico, the more readily available avocadoes are: smashed avos on the carne asada, avo slices on the camaron. Do not come here expecting Mexican style tacos (maybe I've been spoiled by my parking lot tacos in LA), but baja tacos? Piled high with slaws and sauces and diced tomatoes? Yup. So skip the meat tacos and go for the camaron or fish. If street style tacos are basic spicy tuna rolls, then these tacos are loaded dragon rainbow rolls. read more
This place is incredibly busy, with lines out the door and little to no place to sit. Once I ate the food, I understood why. The al pastor burrito was so filling and packed with flavor. There was a sauce bar and all of the sauces I got were incredible. Although the burrito was only filled with meat, I never got tired of the taste. The hot churros were also insane, the insides of the churros were still hot and fluffy when I bit into them even though I didn't start on them until I had finished my burrito. read more
11 months ago
Visited this location for dinner on a weekday and the line extended outside. We likely waited ~20 mins total to order and get our food. Seating was challenging but some space outside opened up after a bit. I got the battered fish, spicy shrimp and al pastor. My favorite was the spicy shrimp - the shrimp were decently sized and not overcooked, well seasoned but balanced with the cool salsa and avocado textures. I definitely recommend coming here for tacos and would return to try the burritos. read more
Pretty good, nothing outstanding. I ordered 3 al pastor tacos and all of the pineapple only made it onto one taco. Rounded up to 4 stars for handmade tortillas, but this is more of a 3-3.5. Very busy, so food is fresh. No bathroom. read more
1 month ago
10/10 no notes. ordered al pastor, carne asada, pescado and pollo asada and they were my favorite in that exact order. tortillas were falling apart which can be annoying but that's how you know they're handmade. tacos are larger than street style though so you can probably fill up on just 3. Also got churros and these were the best I've had outside of Mexico. line wasn't too bad at around 5pm on a Thursday but expect at least a 15-20 min wait. Not much seating but people tend to eat and leave quick so should be able to get a spot. the seating is certainly not a "vibe" but with tacos this good that'll be the last thing you worry about. read more
5 months ago
I have to say this place has the most amazing churros I've ever tasted! I'm just glad that they're kind of far away from my house, or I'd be here every day, Eating this stuff!! Amazing! read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
I would take a picture but I can't because it's all gone!! I couldn't wait to eat it all. It's one of my old time faces!! Don't forget the churros!! read more
More info about The Taco Stand
621 Pearl St
La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla
Directions
(858) 551-6666
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.letstaco.com/location/la-jolla
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
More Info
Health Score
The Taco Stand Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - The Taco Stand
Are the carne asada fries gluten free?
NO. Fries have wheat in the ingredients and are in a shared fryer. They are very accommodating for other items and happy to answer any questions. Great spot.
What is the parking situation like?
Uh, there isn't one. Parking is super tight. Go a block away, and just park on the street somewhere. If you see a spot within 2 blocks, grab it. The lot next door is for Mitch's Surf Shop (which is a great local surf shop - must visit), so they're…
Do they sell deep-fried tacos? -fried the corn taco shell
Just soft shell, but they do have deep fried house made churros and chips!
Where do you park?
There is a very small parking lot shared by other restaurants and shops. You're better off finding parking on the street. We parked around the corner in a neighborhood.
Is it cash only? and do they have an atm machine?
I'm pretty sure I paid by credit card.
Is there a long wait when pre-ordered online pickup?
No just tell the restaurant workers you're here for pick up and they should have it bagged and ready to go
Is your chipotle sauce and cilantro sauce dairy free?
Hello, Both sauces contain dairy. The chipotle sauce has mayonnaise and the cilantro sauce has…
Do they have vegan options?
Very limited. Cactus Taco or Bean Burrito. Not a great place for a vegan.
Do you guys offer takeout?
They do take out, but keep in mind that they don't do phone/online orders on weekends because of how crowded it gets.
Gluten free items?
Hi Karen, Our tacos are gluten free, with the exception of the Baja and Sonora. Our quesadillas…
Are there any recommend times to visit during the day that's the least busy?!?
I have been there once when visiting San Diego, the family and I got there around 6pm and sat down to eat around 7:15pm. A long wait, yes! But damn was it worth the wait. We cannot wait to stand in line for a long time to eat there again! 😉
Is it safe to eat here for someone with a peanut allergy?
Be sure to let them know beforehand, but I believe you should be ok. I’m almost positive nothing in the menu contains nuts.
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
312 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
8 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
9 years ago
1 year ago
2 months ago
10 years ago
1 year ago
2 months ago
3 months ago
The Taco Stand - foodstands - Updated September 2026
Best of La Jolla
People found The Taco Stand by searching for…
Browse Nearby
BEST of La Jolla, California Coffee near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Restaurants near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Breakfast near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Tacos near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Desserts near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Things to Do near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Parking near The Taco Stand
BEST of La Jolla, California Pizza near The Taco Stand
