A bite of San Diego
The USD Vista readers write in their favorite Taco Tuesday recommendations
Lizzy Jennings / A&C Editor / The USD Vista
Any student in San Diego knows that college isn’t complete without a proper Taco Tuesday. The popular term refers to the deals that occur on Tuesday nights at some Mexican restaurants, which draw in students looking for more affordability when it comes to eating out. However, San Diego is overflowing with options when it comes to this type of cuisine, but how are students supposed to find the highest quality of food for the best price?
A bite of San Diego explored both reader-recommended options and staff suggestions to compile the following list of San Diego taco spots. Follow along below to discover the best Taco Tuesday options for our Toreros.
The Taco Stand
621 Pearl Street, La Jolla CA 92037
The Taco Stand is a USD fan favorite, and one of the many recommendations sent in by our readers for this week’s roundup. One of the most popular Taco Stand locations is located on the busy Pearl Street in La Jolla, and patrons can almost always expect a line and a packed restaurant. The atmosphere is fun, with colorful decorations and a bustling vibe, as customers chowing down on delicious tacos and burritos cover every inch of available space. The Taco Stand draws its inspiration for flavors from the traditional taco stands in Tijuana, and proves that there is no reason to fix something that isn’t broken, especially when that something is good quality and delicious Mexican food. The restaurant offers street parking only, and prices for tacos range from $2 to $4, while prices for burritos and side dishes range from $6 to $9.
Bay Park Fish Company 4121 Ashton Street, San Diego CA 92110
The Bay Park Fish Company was yet another highly-recommended student favorite when it comes to San Diego taco spots. This family-owned seafood restaurant has an expansive menu, but the tacos are a standout. There are fish, shrimp, and the classic chicken or carne asada tacos, but an especially noteworthy menu item is the seasonal catch tacos that rotate regularly. Though this spot is one of the more expensive options on the list, with taco platters ringing in at $13 to $16, they do offer Taco Tuesday specials that are more student-budget friendly. Carnitas, shrimp, carne asada, calamari tacos for $3.50, and fish tacos for $4 make this restaurant recommendation an option for everyone. Parking is limited to street spots only, but this restaurant is just a few minutes from campus, so Uber is an affordable and convenient option.
Photo courtesy of Ricky Flores
PB Fish Shop
1775 Garnet Ave, San Diego CA 92109
The Pacific Beach Fish Shop, like the Bay Park Fish Company, is another recommended restaurant that offers more than just tacos. Though they boast a wide variety of fresh fish dishes, PB Fish Shop is also home to an impressive amount of taco options. Diners can select any of the available fish options and a particular marinade, then have their choices served taco style on a flour or corn tortilla. Tacos range from $4 to $6 depending on the choice of fish selected, but the restaurant also offers happy hour specials daily. Parking is street only in Pacific Beach, which can be especially difficult on the weekends, so Uber is a recommended option.
Photo courtesy of Paige Nordeen
Tacos El Gordo
3265 Palm Ave, San Diego CA 92154
Tacos El Gordo’s first location in the United States opened in San Diego in 1998 and the restaurant has been a city staple ever since. The delicious and authentic style of their tacos keeps customers coming back visit after visit, and the spot has become a local favorite. Focusing on fresh ingredients, this recommended restaurant was sent in by readers who rave about the simple deliciousness of these classic tacos. The restaurant holds itself to a high standard, aiming to emulate the Tijuana-style taco, with handmade corn tortillas and freshly made salsas and guacamole. With nine different tacos on the menu, even a picky eater could find an option at this restaurant, especially as the tacos cost just $2.25 each. Tacos El Gordo offers a small amount of parking by the restaurant, and street parking can also be found.
City Tacos
3028 University Ave, San Diego CA 92104
The final spot on this week’s roundup is the beloved City Tacos. With three open locations and three more locations coming soon, the love for this taco shop and its products is clear. Emphasizing innovation, this spot provides a unique blend of flavors for its customers. The Taco Tuesday deals are prime at this recommendation, as City Tacos offers $3 house tacos all day, every Tuesday. Tacos range from traditional flavors like carnitas and pollo asado to the more unique “califor” taco, which is one of their vegetarian cauliflower tacos. The North Park location is most accessible for Toreros as it is closest to campus, and parking can be found on the street. Prices range from $3 to $6 for the various taco styles and budget-friendly side dishes.
