Tacos El Gordo ★ 4.7
Tacos El Gordo on Broadway in Chula Vista, San Diego, the canonical Tijuana-style adobada trompo carving handmade corn tortillas until 4am on weekends.
Try: Vertical-trompo adobada taco
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in San Diego.
Don't-miss vendors
Las Cuatro Milpas ★ 4.6
Las Cuatro Milpas at Mercado del Barrio in Barrio Logan, San Diego, the 1933 Estudillo-family counter back open since May 2026 with its same tamale-and-tortilla menu.
Try: Pork tamales, hand-pressed flour tortillas, rolled tacos
Lolita's Mexican Food ★ 4.4
Lolita's Mexican Food on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa, San Diego, the 1984 Chula Vista taco-shop spinoff slinging the platonic California burrito.
Try: California burrito
Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop ★ 4.2
Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop in Mission Hills, San Diego, the 2008 Rojano-Garcia counter on Washington Street with pro-wrestling decor and the Surfin' California burrito.
Try: Surfin' California burrito, Lucha-style adobada
Oscar's Mexican Seafood ★ 4.5
Oscar's Mexican Seafood on Emerald Street in Pacific Beach, San Diego, the local-vote fish-taco champion with smoked and battered options for under five dollars.
Try: Battered fish taco, smoked fish taco
Salud Tacos ★ 4.3
Salud Tacos on Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan, San Diego, the Chicano taquería near Chicano Park with a steady rotation of asada specials.
Try: Asada taco, carne asada burrito, Chicano specials
City Tacos North Park ★ 4.2
City Tacos on University Avenue in North Park, San Diego, the original of the local chain with handmade tortillas and a Camaron Ahogado shrimp taco worth ordering twice.
Try: Camaron Ahogado shrimp taco, Tinga de Pollo
El Pescador Fish Market and Restaurant ★ 4.4
El Pescador on Pearl Street in La Jolla, San Diego, the day-boat fish counter pulling local catch into grilled sandwiches and ceviche just blocks from the Cove.
Try: Grilled fish sandwich, ceviche, smoked fish tacos
Carnitas' Snack Shack Embarcadero ★ 4.4
Carnitas' Snack Shack on the Embarcadero in San Diego, Hanis Cavin's harbour-side window for carnitas tortas, schnitzel sandwiches and pork-belly tacos with bay views.
Try: Carnitas pork torta, schnitzel sandwich, pork belly tacos
South Beach Bar and Grille ★ 4.3
South Beach Bar and Grille on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, the 1992 Pier-side cantina behind the Mahi fish taco that locals defend by name.
Try: World-famous Mahi fish taco
Puesto La Jolla ★ 4.3
Puesto's original counter on Wall Street in La Jolla, San Diego, the award-winning blue-corn taqueria two blocks from the Cove with crispy-cheese filet mignon tacos.
Try: Filet Mignon taco, Chicken Al Pastor, blue corn tortillas
El Comal North Park ★ 4.2
El Comal on a residential block of Illinois Street in North Park, San Diego, the family-run kitchen pressing tortillas to order with mole tacos and carne asada burritos.
Try: Carne asada burrito, hand-pressed tortillas, mole tacos
Mariscos German ★ 4.4
Mariscos German truck on Federal Boulevard in southeast San Diego, the Tijuana-style aguachile and Gobernador-taco lifer that brought west-coast mariscos north.
Try: Shrimp Gobernador taco, fish ceviche tostada, aguachile
Rubicon Deli Mission Hills ★ 4.3
Rubicon Deli on India Street in Mission Hills, San Diego, the oversized Dutch Crunch sandwich counter where the Late Riser breakfast roll goes for under ten dollars.
Try: Dutch Crunch sandwiches, Late Riser breakfast sandwich
Street Food in San Diego, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in San Diego?
Peak food season in San Diego is year-round.
What time do people eat in San Diego?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in San Diego?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in San Diego?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. San Diego rewards trust.