Where to Get Authentic Mexican Food in San Diego
Updated April 26, 2024
Craving tacos, churros, or fresh tortillas? As someone who’s always on the hunt for the best Mexican food like chicken mole and adobada, we know there are so many Mexican restaurants options out there to choose from. If you’re playing tourist and planning your San Diego tours, here are some of the top spots to get both Southern California contemporary and the best authentic Mexican food in San Diego, per locale.
OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO
TAHONA
Tahona is a quaint, rustic restaurant located in the historic Old Town, just along San Diego Ave, that packs a powerful punch with its mezcal selection and cocktails and its Oaxacan-inspired menu. Enjoy unique menu items such as the carnitas bao bun, wagyu agua chile tostada, and their Tetela mole flight. After dinner, slip into their speakeasy-style bar for an intimate experience with cocktails you won’t find anywhere else.
COYOTE CAFÉ
Courtesy of San Diego
Looking to try Mexican food in Old Town, San Diego? Coyote Café doubles down with two lovely ladies on opposite sides of the entrance, making and cooking tortillas, so you can watch from the street. This mainly open-air Old Town Mexican cafe and restaurant offers delicious margaritas and tequila cocktails, as well as some of the best enchiladas.
ROCKIN’ BAJA LOBSTER
Rockin Baja Lobster offers a lively dining experience with a focus on Baja-style seafood. Their menu boasts fresh, flavorful Mexican dish options in a festive, casual setting. The menu boasts unique bites like Mexican Street Corn and Chili Lime Fries, blending traditional Mexican flavors with a Californian flair. The atmosphere and culinary creations make it a unique spot to enjoy the vibrant flavors of coastal Mexican cuisine.
FLOR’S FARM TO TABLE
Flor’s Farm to Table captures the essence of Mexican cuisine with a refreshing, farm-fresh approach. Their shrimp flautas are particularly remarkable, offering a crunchy texture paired with juicy shrimp, a delight for the palate. Equally impressive is their salmon salad, showcasing a harmonious blend of rich salmon and crisp, fresh greens. It’s an ideal spot for those who cherish innovative flavors and fresh ingredients in a cozy, welcoming setting.
EL AGAVE RESTAURANT & TEQUILERIA
Holy Mole! That’s right, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria has terrific mole enchiladas as well as a wonderful selection of mezcal and tequilas. Grab yourself a tequila-tasting flight with your meal to get the full experience.
MISSION HILLS, HILLCREST, NORTH PARK
EL COMAL
Head to El Comal in North Park for excellent fish tacos in a handmade corn tortilla and either of their pozoles. Don’t forget your margarita, maybe even make it a Cadillac. Everything is good here!
KARINA’S CEVICHES & MORE
Courtesy of Karina’s Seafood
Enjoy some of the best Mexican ceviches al fresco at Karina’s Ceviches & More. The Pescado Ceviche with white fish is delicious but the fusion Ahi Poke ceviche tostada is really something else. Yum!
MARISCOS LA CHALUPA #1
Mariscos La Chalupa #1 is a celebrated food truck in San Diego, known for its authentic Mexican seafood. It garners acclaim for its vibrant, flavorful dishes, including the Marlin Tacos, and the Mar Y Tierra tacos. This food truck is a go-to for those seeking a genuine taste of Mexico sans the bougie restaurant experience.
SUPER COCINA
Known for its home-style Mexican food, Super Cocina is where you want to go if you’re looking for the best pozole or some incredible enchiladas. Food is served cafeteria-style with the wonderful aromas of Mexican cuisine filling your senses the moment you walk through the front door.
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
PUESTO
Courtesy of OpenTable
Taco flights! You can never go wrong with taco flights and tequila cocktails, which is exactly what you’ll want to get when visiting Puesto. Try their Birria, mushroom, and chicken mole tacos with a mango margarita with a tajin rim that is not too sweet.
LAS CUATRO MILPAS
Immediately giving off that authentic Mexican feel, Las Cuatro Milpas does old-school Mexican food right. Don’t let the lines deter you, go in and get your fill of rolled tacos, crispy pork tacos, or the chorizo with rice and beans. They are cash only, so plan ahead.
LOLA 55
Lola 55 offers a modern take on Mexican cuisine with an emphasis on tacos and creative dishes. Their menu features a fusion of traditional flavors with innovative culinary techniques, such as their Quesadillas Oaxaca and the Pork Belly Al Pastor drizzled with a cilantro crema for spectacular flavor.
The vibe is über-cool as well with high ceilings, concrete floors, and a full bar/ lounge area. Perfect for a casual dining experience and a special night out in Downtown San Diego!
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TACOS EL GORDO
Courtesy of Insider
Rising in popularity over the past 20 years, Tacos El Gordo is a growing family-owned chain that is a go to for every San Diegan. They are known for their authentic Tijuana-style tacos. These street tacos start with a delicious, handmade corn flour tortilla that can be filled with the more popular carne asada, adobada, chorizo, etc., or you can be more daring and choose one of their uncommon meat selections.
MENUDERIA DON VICENTE
Their specialty is in their name; You go to Menuderia Don Vicente for their Menudo Rojo. However, it’s the fresh tortillas that seal the deal as they are always a hit!
MARISCOS & BIRRIA EL PRIETO
After a late night out on the town, nothing sits better that next morning than the spicy Aguachile Verde at El Prieto. Looking for something with a little less kick? Their Birria Tacos really hit the spot. Surf or turf they’ve been one of San Diego’s favorite food trucks since 1998. Catch them on Tuesdays for 2 for 1 fish tacos at their Mira Mesa, El Cajon and University Avenue locations.
BY THE BEACH
DON TOMMY’S MEXICAN FOOD
Located at the edge of Ocean Beach in Point Loma is Don Tommy’s Mexican Food. Tommy’s is known for their fresh-from-scratch, huge flour tortillas that they sell a la carte or use for anything from their burritos to their quesadillas. Specifically, their Carne Asada Quesadilla is incredible! With hefty portion sizes and a side of one of their four salsas, you’ll definitely want to stop in.
OSCAR’S MEXICAN SEAFOOD
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood is celebrated for its fresh, authentic Mexican seafood, especially its fish tacos. Known for being both fantastic and affordable, the fish tacos are very generously filled! In addition to the popular tacos, Oscar’s also offers a range of Mexican-style seafood dishes, including a notable mixed-grill Fisherman’s Torta featuring spicy shrimp, scallops, and grilled and smoked fish, making it a go-to spot for seafood lovers in SoCal.
LA PLAYA TACO SHOP
If you find yourself in Mission Beach, you’ll want to stop into this taqueria for some of the best authentic Mexican tacos by the beach. Grab a breakfast burrito to enjoy on the sand for dawn patrol or some carne asada or fish tacos for lunch if you choose to have a beach day. La Playa Taco Shop is a San Diego gem.
LA MESA
CASA GABRIELA
Courtesy of Casa Gabriela
We have to mention this new Mexican restaurant brought to you by The Cohn Restaurant Group and Chef Gabriela Lopez, formerly of La Doña in Ocean Beach. The “La Jefa” Asado Molcajete at Casa Gabriela is (how we said in the 90s) bomb dot com! Share the Carne-based dish with a friend and finish the meal off with Chef Gaby’s famous Tres Leches dessert. Chef Lopez really brings her family’s Guadalajara roots to the table.
Still not quite sure where you want to go? Let us take the reins and guide you through our Daily Old Town food tour. We’ll make sure you try the best of what Old Town has to offer and introduce you to a handful of Mexican restaurants that have been catering to San Diegans and visitors for years. Cause if there’s one thing that Southern California is known for, it’s its fantastic Mexican food scene. If you’re looking to drink your way through Old Town, check out our guide on the best Happy Hour Spots in Old Town San Diego.
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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