San Diego’s 10 Best Taco Shops & Mexican Fast Food(10 to 6)

10. La Fachada. 20 25th Street, at Imperial Avenue, Logan Heights. Fish tacos are awesome for those who like fish with white sauce and carnitas tacos are always made with juicy and tender pork meat. Try the birria meat taco. It is lamb / goat meat. La Fachada also has other meats not common to other San Diego Taco Shops. Grab sides like grilled onions and jalapenos for free just like roadside stands in TJ. Not the cheapest tacos in SD but worth it if you are in the mood for a few TJ style tacos.

9. South Beach Bar & Grille. 5059 Newport Ave, Ste 104, Ocean Beach. Two restaurants bring me to OB twice a month. One is Hodad’s and South Beach Bar is the other. South Beach Bar & Grille offer good taco deals along with drink specials. It is a very social place, always with a good crowd.

8. Taco Express. 1330 State Street, Little Italy, Downtown. A hole in the wall hidden behind a car shop on State Street in Downtown San Diego just south of Little Italy. They are only open on the weekdays until to 3 and mostly serve the downtown lunch crowd. Good tasting cheap Mexican food, especially in downtown.

7. Casa Adams. 3038 Adams Avenue, North Park. A well known neighborhood establishment with good mahi mahi tacos and refried beans. For something else try their chile colorado, a chili dish made with dried red chiles and meat offering a complex, hearty flavor. This is a traditional style chili without beans and tomatoes. More than a taco shop, they are a full service sit down restaurant. Munch on their spicy carrots and chips while you wait for your meal.

6. Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop. 1810 W Washington Street, Mission Hills. How many taco shops do you know whose theme is Mexican professional wrestling? If you are just north of the 5 coming out of downtown, in Hillcrest, or Mission Hills, this is the Mexican restaurant to visit. The ingredients are always fresh and flavorful. They even sell $1.50 TJ style street hotdogs wrapped in bacon. My favorite is the surf and turf burrito with carne asada steak and shrimp smothered in chipotle sauce.

10. Old Town Mexican Cafe. 2489 San Diego Ave; Old Town.  This indoor/outdoor Mexican restaurant in the heart of Old Town is one of the most popular destinations among tourists with it’s fresh tortillas and good atmosphere. Get $2 tacos, $2.50 margaritas, tequila shots and Tecate beer all day every Tuesday.

9. The Local. 1065 4th Avenue; Gaslamp.  This downtown bar and restaurant has all the food, drinks and entertainment you could ask for.  Taco Tuesdays include $3 lobster, fish & shrimp tacos, $2.50 steak, chicken, spicy Chipotle chicken tacos, $3 margaritas and Mexican beer.

8. La Finca D’Adobe. 5202 Bonita Road; Chula Vista. Authentic Mexican restaurant in Chula Vista.  On Tuesdays, sit inside or on the patio and for around a dollar you can get a carne asada, pollo adobado, or carnitas taco.  These authentic Mexican tacos will fill you up at super low prices.

7. Fiesta Cantina. 142 University Avenue; Hillcrest.  This new bar in Hillcrest has cheap drinks and $5 all you can eat tacos on Tuesdays, served with beans and rice.  Another popular place where seats may be hard to find.

6. PB Shore Club. 4343 Ocean Blvd; Pacific Beach. Located on the second floor on a beach front property.  Half priced appetizers and $3 Dos Equis beer 6pm to close on Tuesdays.  Great bar food and music at this popular destination for the PB young crowd.

See our other articles on the Best Restaurants & Food in San Diego.

10. Presidio Park. The first permanent European settlement and fort on the Pacific coast built in 1769 on top of Presidio Hill. It was built to protect the Spanish settlement from Indian attacks. Killer views. Bring your camera to capture the views, bring your dog, or have a romantic picnic in the park. Unlike other parks in San Diego this one is built on a hill and is the recreation areas are not flat. Parking is limited be prepared to walk up and down the hill.

9. Santee Lakes. 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee. Famous for fishing, birdwatching and photography. The mandmade lakes were originally built to recycle wastewater from the growing town of Santee. Wastewater slowly moved from one lake to another in a row cleaning the water for reuse. Before the lakes were opened to the public a third natural cleaning process was added to ensure areas used for recreation passed Health Department standards. Today Santee Lakes offers camping, recreation & fitness areas, fishing, and special events like Summer Movies by the Lake.

8. Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Park. 1133 Coast Blvd, La Jolla. Scripps Park is a small recreation area designated as a park in 1887 on the western coast of La Jolla. La Jolla Cove located within Scripps Park, is one of San Diego’s best beaches.

7. Soledad Natural Park. On top of Mount Soledad is a memorial cross and park dedicated to US veterans. Offers the best views of La Jolla, Downtown, and the coastline. Bring a date here on a clear night after dinner or see the spectacular daytime views of San Diego. Listed as one of the top tourist attractions in San Diego.

6. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Point Loma, San Diego. A 68 acre park located along the western end of Point Loma. The park is a favorite among locals. The largest and most secluded 50 acre section is accessible through an entrance on Ladera Street. The park offers a beach, sea caves, hiking, and more. This is my favorite place to get away from it all in San Diego and I never have a problem taking my dog off-leash.

9. Tidepools – La Jolla Cove. La Jolla Cove is a tiny beach that is known as the most beautiful beach in San Diego and one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. La Jolla Cove offers views of widelife and is a popular spot for scuba divers and snorkelers. No surfing allowed at La Jolla Cove.

8. Exercising – Mission Beach. From the jetty in Mission Beach t0 the North PB runs a wide concrete boardwalk where you can run, rollerblade, skateboard, or ride your bike. For a more challenging run try the soft sand on the beach. Mission Beach is also home to Belmont Park and the famous Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and the Wave House Bar and Restaurant where you can ride a large artificial wave.

7. Locals favorite – Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Old school concession stand, fire pits, and volleyball courts. Near pier and local seafood and other restaurants and shopping district.

6. Learning to surf – La Jolla Shores. This family beach in La Jolla offers consistent smaller waves to help beginners learn how to surf. See 10 Best Surf Spots in SD for other areas. Considered the #2 family beach behind Coronado Beach.

10. Seaport Village. 831 West Harbor Drive, Downtown. The southern end of San Diego’s downtown next to it’s harbor is one of San Diego’s finest tourist traps. It is fun to walk around and see the shops and harbor but if you want good San Diego food do not eat here. Instead hop over to Karl Strauss Brewery & Restaurant, 1157 Columbia Street, Downtown San Diego north of Broadway or to Phil’s BBQ on 3750 Sports Arena Boulevard.

9. Mount Soledad. San Diego. This point has the most spectacular views in San Diego so bring your camera and come on the clearest possible day. You will see La Jolla, Downtown, Mission Valley, and more. Bring a jacket, it is always windy on Mount Soledad. The monument honors living and fallen US soldiers. See San Diego’s 10 Best Parks and Recreation

8. Sea World. San Diego. San Diego’s Sea World is a major outdoor attraction located minutes from Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Downtown. Home of the famous black and white killer whale named Shamu who performs a show in a multimillion gallon tank.

7. Cabrillo National Monument. Point Loma. Once home to the tallest lighthouse in the United States and a battery of guns designed to protect the US coast during World War II. Cabrillo National Monument is most well known as the first place European explorers arrived on the now west coast of the US in 1542. A Spanish captain named Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the group of conquistadors. See San Diego’s 10 Best Parks and Recreation

6. Beaches. Located along San Diego’s coast. San Diego is known to have good beach weather almost year round. Even in the winter temperatures can reach into the 80s. If surfing is your sport read this article: 10 Best Surf Spots in San Diego. For a college and 20s singles crowd go to Pacific Beach or take our family for fun in the sun at Coronado Beach located on Coronado Island. I prefer the hidden beach located in the park below the cliffs at the end of Sunset Cliffs. Rarely ever crowded and I can unleash my dog on the beach without worries. See San Diego’s 10 Best Beaches

10. Swami’s, Encinitas. Swamis is known internationally throughout the surfing community for it winter right point breaks. Waves are always a little bigger which means a large crowd.

9. Ocean Beach Jetty, Ocean Beach. Waves coming off the jetty are decent and consistent The spot is always crowded and preferred by locals. OB is the seediest of the three main beaches, Mission, Pacific, and Ocean Beach.

8. Cardiff Reef, Encinitas. This break is full of locals and preferred by long boarders. All skill levels welcome. Winter has the best breaks at Cardiff Reef.

7. Windansea Beach, La Jolla. On this San Diego shoreline the surf is fairly consistent. It can get crowded and locals take surfing seriously.

6. South Del Mar, Del Mar. Surfing is best from 15th to 29th Streets with 25th, 23rd & 19th St. tending to have the best breaks.