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    The Taco Stand

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Food Stands
    Closed 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Taco Stand Takeout or Delivery

    The Taco Stand Photos

    Business Info

    THE TACO STAND ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Taco Stand

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    Reviews With Photos

    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!!!

    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.

    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!

    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!

    CAMARON BURRITO

    Not worth it. I counted a total of four shrimp in the whole burrito. Not to mention the tortilla was totally ripped so I couldn't even eat it is as a burrito. It was basically a flat cabbage and chipotle taco... I'd even expect more shrimp in a taco, totally disappointed. I feel like I just got scammed...

    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!

    The menu
    Hanna O.

    I've had The Taco Stand on my must-try list for quite some time. I finally went today, after my Barber encouraged me to give it a try. In Barbers, we trust! This spot blew my taco expectations out of the water! I arrived around 6:30 on a Monday, which was the tail end of rush hour. I was only in line for a handful of minutes before putting in my order which was three tacos; Carne Asada, Al Pastor, and Baja. I was told my order would take around 10 to 15 minutes , so I hit the salsa bar, filled some small plastic cups with a variety of salsas and limes, and patiently waited for my meal. Less than 10 minutes later, my name was called and it was time to grub! I know this might be a standard expectation, but I was absolutely delighted that all three of my tacos were piping hot and freshly made! I've been at other taco joints where I received my food lukewarm, which is always a bummer. I tried the baja taco first. The fish was fried to perfection! I really enjoyed the medley of cabbage, veggies, and sauce. Such a perfect balance of all the elements. This was so so good. It didn't need any of the extra salsas I had gotten on the side!. I moved onto the Al pastor taco, which was garnished so beautifully! The meat was tender, had that iconic Al pastor color, and was topped with a few pineapple slices and onions/cilantro. Oh my gosh, this taco scrumptious! Again, there was such a great balance of meat pineapple and onions/cilantro. This was such a well-done Al Pastor! And last, but certainly not least was the carne asada. I spritzed on lime juice and took a bite into the perfectly grilled, tender, and seasoned meat. this was everything I hoped for and more! I really appreciated the dollop of avocado on top! I know there's a big debate as to which taco spot is the best in San Diego.... Dare, I say this is one of the top contenders?!? I will definitely be coming back to this spot the next time I'm craving tacos!

    California burrito and Baja taco
    Graschelle H.

    Probably the best California style burrito I've ever had! The steak was super flavorful and the melted cheese was a nice touch. The baja tacos were good, classic fish tacos. The salsa bar was stocked and clean, and the chipotle sauce took everything to the next level. Horchata was on point too. Everything tasted fresh and the prices were great. I came on a weekday evening and it was pretty busy. There are tables inside and some outdoor seating as well. Wasn't really an issue snagging a table for 2 if you keep an eye out for people leaving. TLDR: This spot is now on my non-negotiable good eats list whenever I visit SD. Their Cali burrito with chipotle sauce is a must try!

    CORN ON THE COB
    Cat N.

    I just don't get the hype of The Taco Stand. I went with one other person during the weekday for a quick grab of food. Parking was atrocious even though it was a weekday. The lot was full and street parking was non-existent. After a while we finally found parking. After ordering they told us our food would be a 15-20 minutes wait. I got their popular fish taco. I got the grill one and it was bland AF, even with their bland ass salsas. The corn on the cob was made boiled which I preferred grill. The flavor was nice but wasn't super sweet. Can't say I loved the food. Unfortunately I won't be back. Consider my 3 stars generous.

    Menu (06/09/26). @LetsTaco @ExploreNorthPark #SanDiego #MexicanFood #Burritos #Tacos
    Jeff B.

    (Tookout 06/09/26 TU @ 6:00pm): This place was more than a taco stand! After waiting most of the day for Best Buy's Geek Squad to show up with a new TV and soundbar delivery and installation, I was famished and decided to take The Taco Stand off my bookmark list. Being a newbie to the area and neighborhood, I was actively trying all of the local eateries (preferably within walking distance from our place for starters), and I hadn't eaten any Mexican food in the area yet, so the timing was perfect. Founders Aram Baloyan and Julian Hakim were inspired by Tijuana's bustling taco stands and their personal culinary adventures across the Baja Peninsula, they opened their first location in 2013 in La Jolla, California (the North Park location was their 4th in 2018), and have progressively opened more locations throughout San Diego County, parts of Orange County, and into states such as Florida, Nevada, Texas, with more planned on the horizon. Would I be willing to stand in line for their tacos after this first meal!? PURCHASE(S) Grupo Modelo Victoria Lager Beer 4.0% ABV 12floz Bottle ($5.69): Golden amber color, light malty aroma, light body, light malty flavor, clean smooth finish, and light malty aftertaste. Baja Taco ($3.99): Their fish taco (choice of baked or grilled; I had mine grilled), this was a mass of sloppy goodness seasoned supple fish mixed with taco salad, a fresh crema, and Lord knows what else, barely held together on a homemade corn tortilla, this finger-licking entry to their food was stupendous! Pollo Asado Taco ($3.99): Highly-seasoned and flavorfully tender chicken with guacamole and cilantro wrapped in their homemade corn tortilla, this was simplicity at its best! Mushroom Taco ($3.85): Caramelized seasoned plump mushrooms with a thick avocado slice and cilantro held together by a freshly-made corn tortilla, this was a filling healthier taco, and I loved it! Carne Asada Burrito ($10.69): Generally speaking, this was an all killer and very little filler burrito which was how I liked it! Packed with juicy seasoned succulent tender chunks of beef, guacamole, and little else all wrapped in a stretched flour tortilla, I was loving this gordo burrito during every bite and finger-licking moment! SERVICE As a first-timer, I casually walked in, placed my order, and waited for my name to be called. Another option was ordering online ahead of time and picking it up. Whatever, the wait was barely ten minutes as I watched the line grow the entire time I was there. The staff was friendly and fast. Everything was easy and straightforward - muchas gracias! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): Because I walked barely five minutes from the property, parking wasn't an issue. However, there appeared to be minimal available spots along the main drag of Upas St. and all of the surrounding residential streets (read any posted signs) - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE Truly a stand with an open kitchen, an easily legible menu above the order counter, a few tables inside with the fountain drink machine, salsa bar, and cooler for bottled drinks, the outside front patio had most of the dining tables and some communal benches. It got crowded quickly once the line got long. Plenty of natural lighting entered through the front door and window while electric street and string lights filled in the rest. There weren't any TVs nor could I recall any background music; although, there was plenty of chatter and vehicular traffic all around. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL The Taco Stand was a wonderful way to introduce me to Mexican food in the neighborhood, and I would definitely be back. The food tasted awesome, the prices were affordably reasonable, the menu was varied enough although they didn't have any of the preferred "off" meats (e.g. cabeza, lengua, suadero, tripas) which took luster off the authentic claim, and the service was outstanding. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $30.00 BEFORE any discounts, points usage, and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

    Michelle L.

    Taco stand has always been my go to taco spot whenever I come back to san diego. Unbeatable freshness and the endless sauce is the game changer (cilantro lime is my personal favorite). I always get the baja and camaron taco although the baja is probably my favorite!!! I tried one of the secret special menus which was like their spin on a surf & turf with camaron shrimp and carne asada. The carne asada is also done very well here. There can be a decently long wait but I honestly think it's worth it!!

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    1 month ago

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    1 month ago

    Fantastic Burritos, great service and location was great. Fries were top tier! Asada was amazing, some of the best I have had

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    2 days ago

    Food delicious, staff are very catering and friendly! Food is a 10/10, will be coming again.

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    Page 1 of 35

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

    Great place, perfect for a third date. Parking can be tough so plan for that. Smaller venue that…read moregets a bit loud. Dimly lit but that is part of the ambiance. Heaven and Hell theme that would make Miguel de Cervantes proud. Goths love and would love this place. The service was great as was the food. A small rotating menu with many treasures to choose from and many items to share. The plating is very unique. A bit on the pricy side but it is worth it for the experience. You need to go at least once. A good place to bring peeps from out of town as well if the budget provides. Reservations are recommended. My only real gripes are the parking (not really their fault), the prices being a bit high and the noisy and dim atmosphere, but the other perks make up for a lot of this. Also, be careful of the candles, one dripped on my date and messed up her dress.

    Photos
    Dramatic dining space!
    Dramatic dining space!
    Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!
    Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!
    Sangre Santa. Taste like a sangria. It was delicious.

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

    Coasterra

    4.0
    (4.1k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$

    If you're heading out to Coasterra, do yourself a favor and go. The view alone is worth the trip,…read moreyou're right on the water looking out at the San Diego skyline, and honestly it feels like a mini escape without leaving the city. We grabbed a table for our whole crew, kids included, and settled in for what turned out to be a really memorable evening. Now, no meal is perfect, and ours had a funny little hiccup. We ordered the shrimp salad, and it showed up... shrimp-less. Just a salad. We laughed about it because hey, things happen, but what really made the night was how it got handled. Our server Erika noticed something was off before we even said much, and she jumped right on it. Not only did she get the dish fixed and out to us fast, she also surprised the kids with free dessert, no fuss, no attitude, just genuine hospitality. That's the kind of service that turns a small mistake into a story you actually want to tell. The rest of the meal was great too. Fresh flavors, a menu that leans into that coastal Mexican-meets-California vibe, and a setting that makes everything taste a little better. Sunset hit while we were there and the whole patio just glowed. It's one of those spots where you're paying for the experience as much as the food, and honestly, both delivered.

    We are total creatures of habit and always end up at C Level for lunch whenever we're in San Diego,…read morebut we've been eyeing Coasterra next door for a while now. Decided to finally mix things up this time, and it did not disappoint! It's definitely an upscale Mexican spot, but the main draw right off the bat is the location. We got hooked up with a waterfront table, and the views of downtown SD and the Coronado Bridge are unreal. Here's what we ordered: Queso Fundido: Started with this and it was delicious. Famous Fajitas (Shrimp & Steak): Hands down the highlight. The meat was super well-seasoned and the charred veggies added so much flavor. Tampiqueña: Really solid and flavorful. Note on the chips: The chips here are a little different than what you usually get at a typical neighborhood Mexican joint--a bit thicker/different texture--but still tasty! All in all, everything was fabulous. If you're stuck in a routine of only going to C Level, definitely give Coasterra a try! We're super glad we finally did.

    Photos
    Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.
    Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.
    View from patio
    View from patio
    Main dining room

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    Main dining room
    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    4.2
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.8 mi
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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!

    Oscar's came highly recommended by a bunch of SD locals. I've been here three times and it hits…read moreevery time. Some highlights: -Mixto Ceviche: ceviche with shrimp and fish. Comes in a personal sized cup and can be shared as a group or as part of your entree. -Grilled Octopus/Pulpo Taco: I'm always a little hesitant about grilled octopus because it's hard to prepare and can end up being really chewy. It was grilled perfectly here! The chunks were big enough so you get the squid flavor. It also comes with a sweet/spicy sauce which was unexpected but really yummy. -Battered Fish Taco: my favorite dish! Huge flaky piece of fish that's fried really well. Not too much rough and you can really taste the fish. -Chips and Guac: fresh made guac! Get it as a side order and you can add to your tacos too. It can get really busy here. Our food took longer than expected and you have to wait around for a table too. Parking lot can be a hit or miss. Try to come during off hours!

    Photos
    Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms
    Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms
    Battered Fish Taco
    Battered Fish Taco
    Fish Ceviche

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    Fish Ceviche

    The Taco Stand - mexican - Updated August 2026

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