217 3rd Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 863-7417 (map)

Tacos El Poblano says that it's an authentic TJ style taco shop. And since they actually run several taco shops in TJ, we can accept that as fact. Of course people will still argue about it, much like people will argue that Guinness tastes better in Ireland, but I suggest just relaxing and not worrying about it. The tacos here are really good.

The menu here is simple. Asada, goat, adobada in either tacos, tortas, or burritos, and not much else. And that's fine. Because what you're likely coming here is the tacos and there's no point making it more complicated than that. My go-to order is 3-4 carne asada tacos without guacamole. They come with plenty of smokey meat, a tangy and spicy salsa, and a slightly crunchy tortilla. Simple and delicious.

I typically leave off the guacamole just because I think it overpowers the meat, not because it isn't good. In fact it quite good, I'd just rather have more meat flavor. But you'll have to decide that for yourself.

How does it stack up against the 437 other carne asada tacos in San Diego? In my opinion these are some of the best. The meat is the key, and the meat here is just a touch better. Also, rather than the typical raw onion in fresh cilantro garnish, these come with a very well made pico de gallo salsa. The slightly crunchy tortillas are also a nice touch.

There is usually plenty of metered parking on the street. And they only take cash, although there is an ATM there.

524 Stevens Ave
Solana Beach, CA 92075
(858) 755-0788 (map)
Official website

Bottomline - Some of the best street tacos in San Diego. Seriously good meat.

I have no idea how a hole in the wall convenience store in Solana Beach ends up having some of the best Mexican food in San Diego. Logic would suggest that the closer you get to the border the more authentic the food would be. Not in this case.

The star of the show here is the meat. The carne asada has that great grilled taste. The cabeza is crunchy and tender at the same time. The carnitas is juicy and unctious. The al pastor is sweet and savory. The al pastor is actually my favorite here. Rudy's recipe is orginal yet familiar, with carmalized onions replacing the pineapple for sweetness.

While I recommend just getting the street tacos, they do have all the usual San Diego Mexican fare, including breakfast burritos. And it is a full convenience store as well, so you can also pick up beer and cleaning supplies if you wanted. If you're just coming for tacos, inside seating is rather limited, but there is a patio out front with several tables. It's usually pretty busy though, so you may end up eating in your car. In my humble opinion it's worth it.

Rudy's food has soul. Many restaurants lack that. So don't be scared off by the Solana Beach address, as this is the real deal.

4370 Genessee Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 571-8843 (map)
Official website

Bottomline - Classic San Diego Mexican. Some locations better than others.

I've only eaten at the Genessee location. Reviewers seem to like this one and not like the others. So your mileage may vary.

First of all, this is not authentic Mexican food. It is purely and unapologetically the style of Mexican food most San Diegans eat. Burritos, carne asada fries, rolled tacos, fish tacos, etc. And while you'll see basically the exact same menu in hundreds of other San Diego taco shops, I think the food is just a touch better here.

I particularly like the tacos here. Especially the fish tacos and al pastor.

But there is just no getting away from it - This is gringo Mexican. It's fast food. And a chain place to boot. Normally that would be two big strikes against it for me, so why am I reviewing it? Well, sometimes you just need to be open to the idea that fast food can be good. And this *is* what people eat around here. It's our regional cuisine as much as the po'boy is in New Orleans or chowder is in New England or a loaded hot dog is in Chicago.

If you live in San Diego you likely already have a personal favorite for this sort of food, or you really don't like it. If you're from out of town and want to try some local favorites, I think Cotixan is a good place to do that.

So....... Is this San Diego's best Mexican food? No. It's not. But if you're hungry for a fish taco or burrito it's actually pretty good. And if I'm going to pick a San Diego chain as our best, this is the one I'm picking.

110 W Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-9713 (map)

Bottomline - A quintessential San Diego local taco shop. And one of the best.

A while back my sister from Montana told me that when she came to San Diego she wanted to eat at a little hole-in-the-wall, mom & pop taco shop. For me, El Cuervo would be that place. It's nothing special. Not a place that tries to be the greatest this or that. Just a neighborhood taco shop that comes out on top when competing with the many other shops near by. All the standards are here, and are done quite well.

I'm not going to try to identify what gives this place it's "something extra", but it's there. The garnishes work a little better, even though it's the same onion, cilantro and sauce. The salsa bar always gets a second trip, even though it's the same basic sauces. The fish taco is something I'd order again, which is a rarity. Whatever it is, things just taste a bit better here. And that's the hook for me - Hundreds of places in San Diego have this exact same menu, but El Cuervo's food tastes just a little better.

Keep in mind, no one will seriously hold this place up as San Diego's best Mexican food. There is no "wow" factor here. But that's not what it's about. People come here from the surrounding offices for a reliable cheap lunch that won't put their taste buds to sleep. It's what my sister wanted - What the locals eat. So order some tacos and cerveza, sit down and relax at one of the chunky wood tables, and worry about fancy-pants foodie Mexican cuisine some other time.

I've liked everything I've tried here, although I tend to stick with the basic tacos. Some people rave about the seafood dishes, others hate them. The burritos tend to get raves, as do the rolled tacos and asada chips. I advise trying several things from the salsa bar - it's good stuff - but only take what you'll use.

There is plenty of parking on the side or around the back, so don't try to fight for street parking. At noon on weekdays it tends to fill up with people on their lunch break, so to avoid lines come earlier or later.

The tacos here are the larger SD size, but smaller TJ style tacos are also on the menu. Either way you are getting darn good value.

1417 University Ave
San Diego, CA (map)
Official website

First, the Food Network thing. I read a lot of reviews for Mama Testa where people have seen the fish taco throw down with Bobby Flay and come here with weird expectations. Stop that. The restaurant has never been about fish tacos, and they don't even do them in the style most people are used to. So forget about the Food Network thing and try something besides just the fish tacos. Or.... better yet.... try one of the only unique fish tacos in San Diego.

Bottomline - This is an authentic taco place in a fancier setting. More tacos styles than you'll find anywhere else. Delicious food.

The menu here seems pretty simple - soft tacos, crunchy tacos, and steamed tacos. Don't let that fool you. The stews are great, and there are some creative dishes like the crunchy rolled tacos in broth. It may be just tacos, but you'll likely see some things you've never encountered before. Also, don't let the Hillcrest hipster location color your opinion, the place is legit. The owner is from Mexico and is dedicated to real authenticity.

The salsa bar is also a star here. The generic red and green sauces are gone, replaced with 9 complex sauces plus other toppings. With all of those flavors you can really customize the food you get. So be sure to sample anything that loks good so you know what to put on your tacos. Especially with the little street tacos, you aren't suppose to just eat them as is. You could of course, but try some salsa.

There are a couple problems. The prices are higher than you'd pay for great street tacos at places like El Paisa or La Fachada. You'll have to decide whether the bigger menu, nicer neighborhood, and better salsa bar make up for that. The seating is also an issue. When only a few people are there it's fine, but when the place is full you'll end up bumping and being bumped a bit. Sitting outside might be better.

For me those things don't really matter. When you combine the quality food with the diverse menu you have a real winner here. Mama Testa is a restaurant that has taken a chance and tried something truly different, and made it work beautifully.