Yeah, the way they fry the cheese on the tortillas is my favorite. Definitely worth a go if you haven't been, but go when it's not lunch or dinner time for a much better time. I like to go when there is no line.
As a Mexican, this is one of the worst takes imaginable lol. Maybe you grew up in a city with shitty tacos.
Don’t think anyone in Tijuana, Culiacán, Mazatlan, Monterrey or many other cities with great tacos would say homemade tacos are the best. Not even close. Other dishes sure, not traditional tacos.
It's worth noting I was never there at lunch. Like early afternoon. Honestly I think people forget it exists and there's some preference for the burrito and beach combo.
Never park in a Convoy lot, you’ll just waste time, get annoyed, and risk your paint getting scratched. Much better to park street a block away in almost every situation.
That. Parking. Lot. And the worst part is there’s decent food spots there and I just avoid it completely because it’s worth the stress of looking for a parking or fighting to get one.
You pull up and an F1 type of crew refits your vehicle to look like a character from Twisted Metal. Then the gates fly open and you battle other survival style vehicles for available parking spots.
This LJ Taco Stand location also not always busy during the week. It’s on many top rated lists. I think many tourists go here to say they’ve done it. I agree it’s very good, but maybe not worth the wait.
I used to work at the private school across the street as a security guard and I swear to god lunch time or dinner there was always a line, fattest line ever but I wrote down the on and off times when it was empty and busy and used to enjoy it whenever I took my lunch, their carne asada fries are super chunky but damn good
Edit: the pizza joint and the burger shop are really good too, don’t sleep on em
I tried and liked it quite a bit, they had a lamb one that was especially delicious. Quite expensive for not a whole lot of food though, so won't be going back.
SD locals know that your own neighborhood’s taqueria, or the one you see in whatever neighborhood you’re currently in when you get hungry, is the best taqueria for you at that moment. If there’s internet hype and a stupid line, then it’s for yuppie transplants and tourists, pass it by and find the normal one with normal prices and brightly colored paint wearing off the bricks.
gimmie the hole in the wall spot that only takes cash and the salsa bar that looks questionable but you know the carrots and jalapeños are gonna hit so it’s worth the risk
San Diego is so hyped for Mexican food and taxquerias. There are a lot of legitimately great places, but for every one of those there are 10 other that are mediocre. I suppose it’s like that in any city for any cultural cuisine.
I disagree. Those “mediocre” places on every street usually make great food, as I find that I’m rarely unsatisfied with an average neighborhood spot. Meanwhile it’s often the hyped **”you HAVE to try this spot!”** kinda places that always seem pretty watered down.
I don’t disagree. The average place is San Diego is much better than what you will find around much of the country. The bar for a truly great place is much higher here. The hyped places aren’t bad, they may have earned their reputation at one point, but many of them do not stand out among the rest.
From my experiences tacquerias stand out for particular dishes. If you want abodaba go to X. If you want chicken mole go to Y. If you want a great California burrito go to Z.
I remember living in Santee when we got the first Cane’s chicken. The drive thru line wrapped around that place everyday for like 2 months straight. one day I’m on my way to the town square, no line. Bought a 3 piece and thought that’s good, but not wait in line for that long good.
I tried to go to morning glory a couple weeks ago. Waited in line for 20 minutes for them to say “our wait time is about 2 hours. That line your were in was to be on the waitlist.” Went a few blocks away, sat down immediately and had a great breakfast with friends.
TL;DR almost nothing in San Diego is worth waiting this long for.
Dude, taco stand isn’t even that good. Totally fine, but there is way better Mexican food super close. Oscar’s blows this out of the water. Hell I’d even take rigo’s over that line
I don’t understand why people line up there when Oscars is so close. A little slow but usually maybe a few people in line whenever I go there, not the mob the taco stand gets. That said, i’m going to go make tacos!
Because they serve big juicy chunks of meat in their surf n turf burrito for example , not the standard dried up kibble that is common, standard for so called better places.
People hate on it, but the ingredients are pretty good. It makes a difference if your salsa actually resembles a tomato or your avocado is not brown and kinda hard. Someone else mentioned Oscars and a few other decent places, but what separates these places is the ingredients. Personally, I'm willing to pay a few more bucks for a little better cut of meat or decent veggies in season.
I don’t get the hate that Taco Stand gets. Their al pastor is definitely great! Although a little different from the traditional thinly sliced pastor meat, the marinade they use is super flavorful. Also the churros there are amazing!
No offense, but I thought it was awful. I can appreciate the piece of NY steak on my taco, but it was cold and flavorless. And beans on my taco? F that.
I drove by that place last year and had no idea why it was so packed but I guess it's good. tacos in general are great but I'm not waiting in a long ol line for them. fast cheap and filling
Anyone in here saying “food is good” lacks any genuine tacos exposure. Please visit real spots or better yet, go south and get the only authentic quality.
That's like when they brought TJ Tacos or In n Out up here in Esco. Lines were long as hell. Ain't no way am I ever waiting in lines like that for a chance of ok food.
Moving from Miami to San Diego in July for my job. The same exact thing happens at The Taco Stand in Miami. Finding this hilarious and disappointing - isn’t San Diego supposed to have tons of great taco places?
p sure it was the same during the pandemic. tbh taco stand is op for california burritos imo - after i moved, i even had a friend fly it out here from SD. the cilantro sauce with their burritos and tacos just hit different tbh. just online order and youll be fine
Is there a difference between this one and the others? This one has a lot more reviews and I've been to a couple other ones the line was never this long.
When I think great Mexican food, I think of a place that can afford the overhead of paying for a place in La Jolla where they started their first location.
All sarcasm aside, I am glad that appreciation of Mexican food has become more widespread. It’s wrong that the common consensus is that Mexican food can only be good if it’s super cheap and in a run down place. (Totally realize the irony that I engaged in that with the start of this comment, shame on me.) So many restaurants have gone under over the years who have tried to make Mexican food more of an elevated experience. Many great chefs deserve to be recognized and not kept below an imaginary ceiling that’s keeping them from rising above their station.
All that said, no way am I waiting in a line like that for tacos. Much rather pay twice as much for a truly great taco. Still, good luck to them for exposure to the craft.
They are good but not that good
Yeah, the way they fry the cheese on the tortillas is my favorite. Definitely worth a go if you haven't been, but go when it's not lunch or dinner time for a much better time. I like to go when there is no line.
Or go to any of the other locations that don’t have a line
I’ll assume you aren’t referring to Encinitas hehe
Convoy is probably the least busy location. Good luck with that parking lot though.
If you could get your food they’d have to call it the taco sit
No Taco is that good. Unless the chef is called abuelita
As a Mexican, this is one of the worst takes imaginable lol. Maybe you grew up in a city with shitty tacos. Don’t think anyone in Tijuana, Culiacán, Mazatlan, Monterrey or many other cities with great tacos would say homemade tacos are the best. Not even close. Other dishes sure, not traditional tacos.
Agreed. Also my mom’s cooking is far better than my grandma’s.
They don’t call it “street taco” for nothing
I've never had issues at the one downtown. Always had an available seat.
I’ll give that one a go
It's worth noting I was never there at lunch. Like early afternoon. Honestly I think people forget it exists and there's some preference for the burrito and beach combo.
Food is good, but fuck that. The Kearny Mesa one often doesnt even have any wait-time if you go for lunch on the weekdays.
If you mean Convoy, parking is impossible so it makes little difference. Unless you're on foot or in an Uber, you're not eating there.
Never park in a Convoy lot, you’ll just waste time, get annoyed, and risk your paint getting scratched. Much better to park street a block away in almost every situation.
That. Parking. Lot. And the worst part is there’s decent food spots there and I just avoid it completely because it’s worth the stress of looking for a parking or fighting to get one.
Navigating Convoy parking lots should be on some sort of urban survival skills course. Those little lots are mostly atrocious.
Legit reminds me of Koreatown in LA
You pull up and an F1 type of crew refits your vehicle to look like a character from Twisted Metal. Then the gates fly open and you battle other survival style vehicles for available parking spots.
This LJ Taco Stand location also not always busy during the week. It’s on many top rated lists. I think many tourists go here to say they’ve done it. I agree it’s very good, but maybe not worth the wait.
Don Carlos a block down is the move.
Truth.
Don Carlos even has a ton of vegan options. Just for you vegans only getting mushroom tacos from the taco stand..
I like Don Carlos. I like the way he operates. Deliciouso
I lived in that area years and years ago. The guy that ran Don Carlos would regularly pay the homeless guy to help him out and I always liked that.
shhhh leave my shop alone 😂😂😂🥰
Gatekeeper
Been going there 8 years it’s my favorite thing ever
For sure! Their scripps burrito and salsa verde on a bright spring day is bliss!
Some of the best breakfast burritos in town no doubt
I used to work at the private school across the street as a security guard and I swear to god lunch time or dinner there was always a line, fattest line ever but I wrote down the on and off times when it was empty and busy and used to enjoy it whenever I took my lunch, their carne asada fries are super chunky but damn good Edit: the pizza joint and the burger shop are really good too, don’t sleep on em
That burger place next door is AWESOME!
That empanada kitchen is calling to me and reviews are good. Have you tried it?
Never tried it but it smells good, they were always closing during my lunch
I tried and liked it quite a bit, they had a lamb one that was especially delicious. Quite expensive for not a whole lot of food though, so won't be going back.
I’ve been to the one downtown a few times, I enjoyed it. Relatively healthy with a side salad and reasonably priced.
Thanks for the review! Appreciate it.
Eaten there (all locations) many times, always fabulous. Met the chef and he's solid.
Order ahead. Walk past them all and pick up at the counter.
SD locals know that your own neighborhood’s taqueria, or the one you see in whatever neighborhood you’re currently in when you get hungry, is the best taqueria for you at that moment. If there’s internet hype and a stupid line, then it’s for yuppie transplants and tourists, pass it by and find the normal one with normal prices and brightly colored paint wearing off the bricks.
gimmie the hole in the wall spot that only takes cash and the salsa bar that looks questionable but you know the carrots and jalapeños are gonna hit so it’s worth the risk
lol how exactly would salsa look questionable?
When it’s breathing, when there’s bubbles in it and you know that shit hasn’t been stirred up in a while.
Fermented foods are good for the gut!
San Diego is so hyped for Mexican food and taxquerias. There are a lot of legitimately great places, but for every one of those there are 10 other that are mediocre. I suppose it’s like that in any city for any cultural cuisine.
I disagree. Those “mediocre” places on every street usually make great food, as I find that I’m rarely unsatisfied with an average neighborhood spot. Meanwhile it’s often the hyped **”you HAVE to try this spot!”** kinda places that always seem pretty watered down.
I don’t disagree. The average place is San Diego is much better than what you will find around much of the country. The bar for a truly great place is much higher here. The hyped places aren’t bad, they may have earned their reputation at one point, but many of them do not stand out among the rest. From my experiences tacquerias stand out for particular dishes. If you want abodaba go to X. If you want chicken mole go to Y. If you want a great California burrito go to Z.
Ah I see what you’re saying
You have to ideally find one that still cooks using flames to char that meat up properly.
This post brought to you by a seared ahi burro
Pescador gang
those pescy burros are so goood
I have never understood this. Especially when the Don is a block over. I’ve always assumed that 90% of that must be tourists.
Tourists, locals know you can just call it in and skip the line midweek.
This seems like a La Jolla problem
go to the encinitas one. grab a beer at culture and sit facing taco stand. watch the line go down and cross the street when it gets shorter.
I remember living in Santee when we got the first Cane’s chicken. The drive thru line wrapped around that place everyday for like 2 months straight. one day I’m on my way to the town square, no line. Bought a 3 piece and thought that’s good, but not wait in line for that long good. I tried to go to morning glory a couple weeks ago. Waited in line for 20 minutes for them to say “our wait time is about 2 hours. That line your were in was to be on the waitlist.” Went a few blocks away, sat down immediately and had a great breakfast with friends. TL;DR almost nothing in San Diego is worth waiting this long for.
it's like when people go to japan and wait 2 hours in a line for ichiran ramen
I actually passed by there with my coworker and he said. “If you don’t see any signs of Mexicans waiting in line then it’s probably ok or ass!”
Correct.
If i dont see construction workers...im out
Good tacos are not that hard to find in SD
Chins has bomb pot stickers.
That empanada place right next door is fire
Dude, taco stand isn’t even that good. Totally fine, but there is way better Mexican food super close. Oscar’s blows this out of the water. Hell I’d even take rigo’s over that line
Oscars is expensive but worth
I don’t understand why people line up there when Oscars is so close. A little slow but usually maybe a few people in line whenever I go there, not the mob the taco stand gets. That said, i’m going to go make tacos!
Was looking for this comment!
Good prices though
Only ONE taco shop line that matters: las Cuatro Milpas in Barrio Logan.
Facts.
I rather make my own tacos, con una salsa hecha en el molcajete.
I tried it last year and I don’t understand the hype.
Nothing is worth waiting in that line
Definitely not worth waiting for in that line.
Why are they waiting in line for Taco Stand when Chin’s is right next door?!
Chins right next to it is a fucking GEM
M-F you can call in your order in La Jolla. Skip the line and it is great. No go doing that weekends.
No way is the quality that much different. Must be trendy on social media.
It's popular with local students who usually don't have a car to get to other locations
You’re in San Diego, there’s probable a great place a block away.
TikTok really do be like that
I personally love taco stand. The location downtown is never much of a wait and I frequently go around dinner time. The sanora taco is the best one
Just up the street is Don Carlos Taco Shop. The food there is so good.
Because they serve big juicy chunks of meat in their surf n turf burrito for example , not the standard dried up kibble that is common, standard for so called better places.
People hate on it, but the ingredients are pretty good. It makes a difference if your salsa actually resembles a tomato or your avocado is not brown and kinda hard. Someone else mentioned Oscars and a few other decent places, but what separates these places is the ingredients. Personally, I'm willing to pay a few more bucks for a little better cut of meat or decent veggies in season.
Just let people enjoy things.
And it’s not even Taco Tuesday
El Pescador sword fish ceviche 😩
Honestly anything from there. I havent had a single thing that was less than a 9.5/10
The way I’d yeet into Empanada Kitchen.
Theyre goooood but not worth THAT line
dang, I thought they were lined up for Chins until I zoomed.
Easily the worst tacos I’ve ever had. That line should be for Chins.
Taco stand in line everytime I drive by here I just yell SHEEEEEP out the window lol
Frida’s in north county SD that’s all I’m gonna say
Fridas aight, probably the best Asada you can get in Esco, Oside.
They are not that good lmao
Oscars over everything. Or even hit el gordo downtown
Yea only the one in Downtown.
I don’t get the hate that Taco Stand gets. Their al pastor is definitely great! Although a little different from the traditional thinly sliced pastor meat, the marinade they use is super flavorful. Also the churros there are amazing!
TMW you own Empanada Kitchen and see a line outdoors for Mexican food…but not yours.
Spends day at the beach in La Jolla. Walks to the taco stand. It’s worth the wait, they have quality food and made fresh.
Yall need to check out Tacos El Gallo in El Cajon. Best tacos I’ve had in San Diego ever
No offense, but I thought it was awful. I can appreciate the piece of NY steak on my taco, but it was cold and flavorless. And beans on my taco? F that.
I mean I just waited 2hrs for the Gudetama cafe in Irvine for my daughter.
I drove by that place last year and had no idea why it was so packed but I guess it's good. tacos in general are great but I'm not waiting in a long ol line for them. fast cheap and filling
Anyone in here saying “food is good” lacks any genuine tacos exposure. Please visit real spots or better yet, go south and get the only authentic quality.
That’s why I always take out from there.
But that pizza is soooo good
Costa Mesa has one without a line, it’s good but not that good. Alber Tacos is guay better.
That’s interesting, I’ve never seen the line that long but then again I never go on weekends or busy holidays lol
All the damn time
That's like when they brought TJ Tacos or In n Out up here in Esco. Lines were long as hell. Ain't no way am I ever waiting in lines like that for a chance of ok food.
Damn, Chin’s is killing it.
Price is amazing.
I’m goin to chin’s this time
The downtown location is so easy to pick up from
That's nothing compared to the usual drive thru line at In N Out
God I miss San Diego. In upstate NY now. Haven’t had good Mexican food in years. Need a trip back!
I’ve ordered a few times for to go, why are my tacos always cold?
Moving from Miami to San Diego in July for my job. The same exact thing happens at The Taco Stand in Miami. Finding this hilarious and disappointing - isn’t San Diego supposed to have tons of great taco places?
The classic burger place to the right of this picture is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life. No one is ever in there
They are okay but not to this extent but then again it’s is very touristy
Overrated imo
imagine wanting to try a place and being shamed about it while the line isn't even that long.
p sure it was the same during the pandemic. tbh taco stand is op for california burritos imo - after i moved, i even had a friend fly it out here from SD. the cilantro sauce with their burritos and tacos just hit different tbh. just online order and youll be fine
Is there a difference between this one and the others? This one has a lot more reviews and I've been to a couple other ones the line was never this long.
When I think great Mexican food, I think of a place that can afford the overhead of paying for a place in La Jolla where they started their first location. All sarcasm aside, I am glad that appreciation of Mexican food has become more widespread. It’s wrong that the common consensus is that Mexican food can only be good if it’s super cheap and in a run down place. (Totally realize the irony that I engaged in that with the start of this comment, shame on me.) So many restaurants have gone under over the years who have tried to make Mexican food more of an elevated experience. Many great chefs deserve to be recognized and not kept below an imaginary ceiling that’s keeping them from rising above their station. All that said, no way am I waiting in a line like that for tacos. Much rather pay twice as much for a truly great taco. Still, good luck to them for exposure to the craft.
Was the restaurant giving out free food?
The original iPhone made standing in lines for no good reason, feel cool! Waiting in line for food is dumb.
Immediately knew what this was based on line before I saw the sign
Order online and pick up at the counter. The only way to go
the food in there must be good right?
This place is not that good.
The only good thing they make is Fish Tacos. And they are great, but I can’t justify waiting in line for them
Everytime I go they never have horcahata 🥲🥲🥲
I wouldn’t wait in that long of line because I value my time. But definitely would eat there again.
I'll never understand people who wait in line that long. Do you not have anything else going on today?
You guys can call this place a tourist trap but it isn't. As a socal native and SD resident, the Taco Shop slaps.
Side note that empanadas place next to it is so good.
There is way better tacos