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.
Address: 3028 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
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
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 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 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'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 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 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
