Always a party at Taco Fiesta (San Diego, California)

Taco Fiesta
2601 Mission Gorge Road
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 283-5285



Back home in Jersey, Mexican food, with a few exceptions, is a cliche. Either it becomes bastardized into Tex-Mex food and gets smothered under too much cheese, or morphs into any number of bland fast food reinterpretations. What is especially irksome is that they nickel-and-dime you for every single thing--- guacamole, sour cream, etc.

In San Diego, which reputedly has the best fish tacos outside of Mexico, there seemed to be more taco and burrito joints than there are Chinese take out places.



On a prior visit, I was doing my early morning walk around seven-ish and noticed a couple of SD cops stop by to pick up breakfast. Mexican never struck me as the breakfast-of-champions-type food. If anything, it is too heavy. Later in the day, I picked up a fish taco and reveled in the perfect awesomeness that is the San Diego fish taco. Of course, UFC had to take this place under consideration.

Taco Fiesta is in a tired-looking and dated building that only has takeout and outdoor seating. No bathrooms. You go up to their tiny window, place your order and pay for it, and then wait under one of their outdoor umbrellas for them to call out your order.

The first night DJKung tried it, he had the carne asada burrito, which he really liked.

Poster for Ole aguas frescas, which they carry. The horchata flavor (milk and sugar drink) was delish, and had a taste of vanilla. It had a very light flavor and went well with the food.

Nachos carnita. I know, it looks suspiciously blanketed with dairy products. But no, underneath is a nice layer of tasty refried beans. Fatty and yummy carnita, and enough sour cream and guacamole.




This carnita platter was ordered on another visit. Clockwise from top left: refried beans, yellow rice, carnita, salad. Also came with warm corn tortillas.



As demonstrated, the portions here were huge. We always sat on this table, which gives you a good view of the street traffic, the drive thru and the counter.

The bestest fish burritos I've had. The fish was light and flavorful, perfectly fried, with just enough soure cream. The flour tortilla was thin and light. Only thing that could be better were the veggies, which were very bland.

We've come here at lunch and dinner. The lunch crowd was very local. Dinner is when all the kiddies come out. Taco Fiesta is open 24 hours, and does a brisk drive-thru business compared to the Mexican joint across the street. Everyone always asked for the green sauce (tomatillo), which we never got to try. We liked the red sauce, which they automatically include with your order. This salsa was smoky, balanced and flavorful.

The California burrito is a popular item, and DJKung just had to try it. Basically, it is beef strips, with beans and tomatoes AND french fries!!!

I guess this is like a naked California burrito: french fries with strips of beef, beans, and other yummy toppings.

DJKung remarked that the menu here is similar to the food he'd had when he went to Cabo. Everything on the menu looked like foods meant to be eaten on the run. This is in stark contrast to the other Mexican fare we've had back home, which I think is more from the central part of Mexico.

So, on a five-day visit to San Diego, we've come to Taco Fiesta three times. Which is a lot. On the first visit, DJKung agreed to place it on SUPERROTATION. And the rest of UFC agrees.