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    The Taco Stand

    4.4 (1.4k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Food Stands
    Closed • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Taco Stand Takeout or Delivery

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    THE TACO STAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Al Pastor Tacos (rotisserie marinated pork, cilantro, onion, salsa cilantro and pineapple)
    Joe C.

    My first experience of this place was in Encinitas and it's always a stop for me while in San Diego. The meats in the tacos are seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. I always order the following: -Al Pastor Tacos (rotisserie marinated pork, cilantro, onion, salsa cilantro and pineapple) -Carne Asada Tacos (flame grilled angus steak, cilantro, onions, guacamole and mild salsa) Their salsa bar is great too! It's full of delicious salsas and pickled veggies. You can go mild or all the way to the their hottest (La Salsa Macha). Seating is limited, but there's tables inside and out. Bathroom is also located outside. Food arrives quickly - literally minutes. They're super efficient! There's nothing negative to say about this place and if you haven't tried them, give it a shot! I hope you enjoy the food as much as my family and I do.

    Camaron (spicy shrimp) tacos
    Jasmine D.

    The Taco Stand was our first stop in San Diego on our weekend trip and tacos ended up being one of the highlights of our trip! There's both indoor and outdoor seating - overall the space is on the smaller side, but with tacos the turnover is pretty fast. You order at the register and pick up your tacos when they call your name. There are lots of options to pick from, but I tried the carne asada, al pastor, and camaron (spicy shrimp) tacos and they were all so flavorful and yummy! The tortillas tasted so fresh too. Salsas, toppings, and water are all self-serve. Street parking only - which can be a bit tough during peak weekend hours, but definitely worth a stop!

    Mar y Tierra (Steak & Shrimp) Burrito
    Jordan B.

    My first meal fresh off the plane during my recent trip to San Diego, and it did not disappoint! I'd been wanting to try The Taco Stand for a while, so when the good friend I was meeting up with told me there was a location right in the neighborhood where I was staying, I knew I had to go. The place smelled AMAZING as soon as we walked in. After looking over the menu and getting some recommendations from my friend, who's a local, I landed on the Mar y Tierra burrito with steak and shrimp. It was SO good, flavorful, filling, and even better paired with the different sauces from the salsa bar. After being away from California for over three years, this was the perfect first meal back. Great food, great flavor, and definitely somewhere I'd visit again. Chipotle and Moe's could neva!!!

    Interior
    Jacob M.

    I was really looking forward to trying this place. I'd heard very polarizing reviews, with some people saying it's one of the best taco chains in San Diego and others calling it overrated gringo tacos. Either way, I had to form my own opinion. I loved the vibe of the place. The aesthetic is retro and inviting, almost like a classic burger window. The menu is simple and easy to follow, and I liked the variety. The prices also seemed reasonably fair. I ordered a carne asada, al pastor, and pescado taco to go, and everything was ready in under 10 minutes. The salsa bar was a nice touch, with a great variety of salsas. Some were better than others, but they can't all be great! As for the tacos, I'd rank the carne asada as the best, the al pastor as just okay, and the pescado as my least favorite. I think I'm just not a huge fish taco fan, although it was recommended by the worker. All the tacos were hefty, and the fresh tortillas were really nice. Each taco also had its own unique blend of toppings and salsa. The carne asada stood out because it had a great mix of fatty and meaty pieces. I'd personally rank this place pretty highly. It's not my favorite taco spot, but I'd definitely come back. I also tried some of the mushroom from the mushroom burrito, and the flavor was incredible. I understand why this place is divisive, but I think there's a time and place for a spot like this.

    Left: POLLO ASADO TACO; Right: CARNE ASADA TACO
    Jessica W.

    Food: pescado taco, pollo taco and churros. I messed up and ordered pescado instead of the fried Baja but it was still very tasty. The corn tortillas are so fresh and chewy. Both tacos were really flavorful but I liked the pescado more. One order of churros is three pieces. They were very good. Service: the place was packed and it took about 15 minutes for our order but then I noticed a sign for patience as they make the food when you order it. So worth it! Ambiance: inside there were only four tables but there were more outside. We were lucky to score a table inside. Found out about this place from someone's YouTube posting. We will definitely be back and next time I'll get the Baja taco!

    Ella G.

    Fish and shrimp tacos!!! Best fish taco I've ever had! Limited seating. No a/c so come early or come even it's cool. The salsa and avocado salsa were really good. All the sides they have for you to get I highly recommend testing to see what you like. The service was fast. It is a hole in the wall place but worth going to if you want some great tacos.

    Anny L.

    Great taco spot in North Park! I tried the Shrimp Taco, Carne Asada, Al Pastor, and Mexican street corn. The Shrimp Taco was my favorite--fresh, flavorful, and well-balanced. The Carne Asada and Al Pastor were also tasty, and the Mexican street corn was a must-try. Definitely worth a visit!

    Hair in my food
    Alicia W.

    I am writing to express my total frustration regarding my recent visit to your establishment. After the struggle of finding parking, I expected at least a decent meal. What I received was not only inedible but a clear health hazard. The tacos were poorly prepared, hard, and covered in burnt cheese. Most concerning, however, was the extreme amount of grease--the food was clearly cooked improperly, as it was saturated with oil. To make matters worse, I found a hair in my food. It is insulting to charge premium prices for this level of low-quality, unsanitary food. Being busy is not a valid excuse for neglecting basic kitchen standards and safety. I ended up having to throw my entire dinner away, leaving me with nothing to eat after spending a significant amount of money at your restaurant. I am disgusted by the lack of care for both the quality of your product and basic food safety. You are charging too much to be serving hazardous, poorly cooked meals. I strongly recommend you address these kitchen failures immediately.

    Outside
    Erin G.

    My niece took us here for some good tacos. We walked up to the counter where we placed our order and could also see them making the fresh food. I ordered a Baja taco, carne asada taco, and grilled pescado taco. Everything was delicious and the Baja taco was my favorite. The restaurant is small inside but there was plenty of seating. I would absolutely eat here again and I am glad to see there are locations on the east coast.

    Tree
    Blain C.

    The most mouth watering tacos!!! I WILL be dreaming about these tacos! Lots of outdoor seating. Lots of taco options. I highly recommend al pastor and pollo asado. Big back foodie lifestyle because dos tacos was lowkey not enough for me. I managed so don't worry about it y'all lol. Service was fantastic, fast and furious. My hubby and I are about to frequent this taco stand real talk real life okurrr. Period. Enjoy and thank ya!

    Menu
    Caitlin V.

    I went to the Taco Stand after the San Diego Zoo in the early evening. Parking can be a problem since you have to find a spot on the street. The line wasn't too bad, but there was no available table to eat inside, so we ate them in our car. I tried three tacos: carne asada, cameron, and Baja. All were good, but Cameron was definitely a stand out taco. A must try!

    Loan N.

    Our usual spot is the Convoy location, but this North Park one is just as good! Just a heads-up: it gets a bit confusing near the register because of all the delivery drivers waiting around, making it hard to see where the line actually starts. We always get the al pastor tacos, which are excellent. I also tried the margarita in a can recently, and it was pretty good! We ended up sitting outside near the restroom, which provided some entertainment watching people try to open the locked door before realizing they needed a key. Overall, it gets packed in the evening, so parking can be tough, but it's well worth it.

    Baja Fish taco and Pollo Asado taco
    Carissa C.

    We really enjoyed lunch at the Taco Stand! We got their Baja, Pollo Asado, and Carne Asada tacos. My favorites were the Baja (so fresh!) and Carne Asada (very meaty!) tacos. The Pollo Asado was a bit on the greasy side for me. We also recommend getting their churros! They came out hot and fresh and had the perfect crunch. It was late lunch and we brought our baby in a stroller, and we found the perfect little table on their patio to enjoy our lunch. We found free street parking nearby. Would recommend!

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    16 days ago

    Azer , Tino. Eduardo , Alejandra and Dania was great. They helped me out even though I messed up the order.

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    24 days ago

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    1 month ago

    Carne asada fries, very filling for the price and amazing fries. Also love the chipotle salsa!

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    19 days ago

    So worth the wait! This place is always packed because it is delicious and consistent. We love their fish tacos. Service is always nice too!

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    The Taco Stand Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Taco Stand

    Is there taco Tuesday deals?

    I am not sure

    Is there indoor seating as of 06/03/2020?

    Indoor standing to eat at a high top table.

    Is the restaurant dog friendly?

    Yes! There's a patio in front.

    Is there a Taco Tuesday deal?

    Nothing is advertised in store or online as of 9/11/18.

    Do you make Micheladas?

    Yes they do .

    View All 6 Questions

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    4.4(608 reviews)
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    A few of my friends were visiting from NYC & we were looking for some late night eats/drinks and…read moredecided to come here. It was around 10:15pm on a Thursday night and the kitchen was about to close. We ordered a bunch of food and shared. Here's a run down of everything we had: STREET TACOS: we tried the following:: (they were out of the shrimp) El pastor tacos (5/5) Pollo asado tacos (4.5/5) Carne asada tacos (4/5) the steak was overcooked IMO It comes with rice and beans on the side and it was all delicious!! We also ordered fries which were delicious and the Al pastor quesadilla. I will definitely be coming back for these because they were fire!! The spicy margs are also delicious! The ambiance is 10/10, it's beautiful inside and our waiter was fast & efficient. I'll be back!

    Such a great spot for Sunday funday!! They have happy hour specials every day from 3-5pm and you…read moreget 1/2 off all drinks and appetizers. It's such a great deal and the food and drinks are actually good so it's definitely worth it. Our server was also super sweet and cool, she gave us lots of suggestions and was joking with us and just a good vibe. The restaurant and bar area were all super full but it never felt overly crowded and we only had to wait 5 minutes to get seated. This is such a great happy hour spot. We tried the flautas, queso fondido with chorizo, and the civiche. We loved it all!! We also tried the frozen margaritas which were the perfect consistency. Not too icy, not to sweet, and it this head wave it was so refreshing.

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    La Puerta - Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

    Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

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    Cocina de Barrio

    Cocina de Barrio

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
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    My sister recommend this location when a friend of mine and I were looking for a place to have…read morebrunch on a Saturday and I am so happy she did! We got there early and got a good spot in the Patio. The service was amazing Jose and Karen provided what felt like white glove service in a fun atmosphere. I saw Jose take a glass of Milk with a Paleta Payaso to a kid as a surprise and the look on the child's face was worth his efforts! Bottomless mimosas were good! We had the Mango Habanero Aguachiles and the Breakfast Tlayuda as well and both were superb. For me the Aguachiles needed a bit more spice so Karen recommended their matcha salsa and that went well with everything! Will definitely be coming back! Thank you all for a great experience!

    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!

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    Cocina de Barrio
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    Coasterra - main entrance

    Coasterra

    4.0(4.1k reviews)
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    We had such a wonderful experience at Coasterra! From the moment we arrived, everything was…read morefantastic. Our server, Case, was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, attentive, conscientious, and timely throughout our entire meal. He made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing. My mother even said she would eat at Coasterra every day if Case were her server, that's how impressed she was with his service! He truly went above and beyond and made our dining experience extra special. And the food was AMAZING! Everything we ordered was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can definitely tell there is care put into the food. The meals are a little on the pricey side, but considering the beautiful setting, quality of the food, and exceptional service, we felt it was worth it for a special occasion. We will definitely be back, and hopefully we'll get Case as our server again! He is a true asset to Coasterra.

    I don't normally write Yelp reviews but I was truly blown away by the service I received at…read moreCoasterra this past weekend! Our server Ari (Ariana?) was so welcoming and kind to my husband and I. She recommended we order the Ahi tuna tostada and it did not disappoint!! The calamari was incredible as well- so delicious!! She was truly one of of the best servers I've ever encountered- gave us the full run down and recommendations based off the vibe we wanted for the night :)

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    Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.

    Coasterra - View from patio

    View from patio

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    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    1.8 mi•Hillcrest
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    Hands-down the best seafood and fish taco place in San Diego! A must order is the Taco Especial…read morewith smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, tomato, cilantro, onion, melted cheese and avocado. I highly recommend pairing this with the chipotle sauce, which is offered along with all of the other sauces. The Battered Fish Taco and Tuna Ceviche Tostada is also a must. Every time I have visitors to San Diego and they want authentic Mexican Food I take them to Oscar's. I won't eat my fish tacos anywhere else! This place is definitely a local establishment. Note that parking is tight in the parking lot, but you can also park on the street around the corner. The food is worth the search for a spot if the lot is full. This eatery is legit!

    I don't get it…read more Saturday 10:45am. Party of 8. They have some outdoor seating but was able to get a spot inside to fit us all. Very small location! We sat under the TV and it was so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking even while right next to each other. We asked them to turn down the volume which wasn't an issue. Food was okay. As a seafood restaurant, I was expecting the seafood to be great. I enjoyed the turf in my taco more than the surf! The tacos I had were good and seems to be their main focus on perfecting because everything else was below mediocre. I usually prefer a lot of lime in my ceviche but this was waaayyy too lime-y. And I have never seen elotes sitting in a soup! Plus, the rice and beans were bland! Their sauces are very good though!

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    Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms

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    California Burritos

    California Burritos

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    •$$

    This is my first time dining inside this California Burrito Restaurant…read more I was driving around in this area and I saw this California Burrito Restaurant and I wanted to give this place a try. I enjoy eating authentic Mexican cuisine. I parked my car in their parking lot then I walked inside their front door. I talked to the owner Caesar and asked him How long has he been in business at this Starling Drive location in San Diego, CA? Caesar said he's been operating his California Burrito Restaurant business for 20 years now. Caesar also said to me that he works with his wife and grown children at his Mexican restaurant every day. My order was placed by Caesar today for my lunch time meal at 12:30 PM. I ordered one Beans and Cheese Burrito. The price is $7.50. Then I had to pay a tip of 20 percent that came up to $1.25. The tax was $1.50. My total purchase today was $9.25. I had to wait at least 30 minutes later until my order number 109 was called to the front counter today. There was non stop walk in customers coming into this California Burrito Restaurant at the lunch hour between 12:30 AM to 2:30 PM today. Their majority of their customers were of Mexican descent and I saw only 3 Black People placing their orders with Caesar today. I was the only Asian person ordering from this California Burrito Restaurant this afternoon. I also noticed 2 Nurses picking up their orders today who work for Sharp Memorial Hospital today. This man and woman nurse were of Caucasian descent. It's interesting for me to get to know the population of people who are living nearby this Starling Drive location. Caesar called my order number 109 today. Then I was served a really HUGE Beans and Cheese Burrito. I also drank cold ice water today. It was a beautiful day today because the weather conditions were very cool and cloudy. I sat down at this window seat so I could see the outside. The Beans and Cheese Burrito was very tasty the beans were refried and thete was a very generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese. The Tortilla was heated up and slightly toasted. This Beans and Cheese Burrito was a HUGE Size. I wasn't sure that I had an appetite to finish eating this Beans and Cheese Burrito but the flavor was amazing! I kept taking small bites on this Beans and Cheese Burrito for my lunch time meal this afternoon. I also received excellent customer service from Caesar and the rest of his family I saw was working very hard in the back kitchen area preparing and making their very popular Carne Asada Burritos. I also saw Caesar and an older lady sweeping up the floor and also mopping up the floor inside their front entrance to their California Burrito Restaurant Caesar told me to come in again soon to try their Steak Carne Asada Burrito. This item is the most popular food in their California Burrito Menu. I told Cesar the owner 3 I will dine inside his restaurant again soon. I love Carne Asada Burritos.

    When i saw that there was an actually spot called California Burrito, you bet that I had to try a…read moreCalifornia burrito at California burrito lol Got the California burrito, carne asada taco, chicken taco and menudo. Portions were massive but unfortunately there was not much flavor, and im not too keen on hot salsa since i cannot handle spicy. It was ok but unsure if this would be a go to spot. The staff here are friendly and at the time i came, a Wednesday night around 5pm, there was a steady stream of people ordering to go and also eating there The place itself isnt that big. Theres counter space with about 5 stools inside and 4 tables outside. This is more of a take out spot. Parking may be limited depending on the time of day/night you go.

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    California Burritos - Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

    Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

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    The Taco Stand - mexican - Updated September 2026

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