Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the San Diego area by diners

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February 28, 2025
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Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the San Diego area by diners

Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn't just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there's anything wrong with that style of food; it's delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.

It reflects Mexico's diverse population鈥攕haped by waves of immigration鈥攁nd has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of "Mexican food."

According to a 2024 Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, , and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.

These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?

To help you out, compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the San Diego area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Mexican" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of San Diego were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides Mexican food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 50 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite Mexican spot made the list or to discover a new restaurant to try!

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#30. El Tianguis

- Rating: 4.6/5 (508 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2810 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Gluten-Free
-

#29. Mariscos La Capital

- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 National City Blvd. Ste 105 National City , California
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos
-

#28. Taquizas Los Chuchys

- Rating: 4.7/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 713 Broadway Ste I Chula Vista, California
- Categories: Caterers, Food Stands, Mexican
-

#27. Qu茅 Saz贸n!

- Rating: 4.7/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3974 Harney St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican, Salad
-

#26. Birrieria & Taqueria La Huasteca

- Rating: 4.7/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 865 Turquoise St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

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#25. Delicias Taco Shop

- Rating: 4.7/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1212 South 43rd St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#24. Sabor A Birria

- Rating: 4.7/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 3013 Juniper St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
-

#23. Contodo Fresh Mexican Eats

- Rating: 4.7/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 South Meadowbrook Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Fast food, Tacos
-

#22. The Burrito City

- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1255 Avocado Ave. Ste 103 El Cajon, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
-

#21. Roxys Tacos

- Rating: 4.7/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 815 C St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

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#20. Jane's Cafe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 591 Camino De La Reina Ste 130 San Diego, California
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
-

#19. Papasotes

- Rating: 4.7/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 4223 30th St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Hot Dogs, Pop-Up Restaurants
-

#18. Big Boyz Tacos

- Rating: 4.7/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1415 Skyline Drive lemon grove, California
- Categories: Food Stands, Tacos, Caterers
-

#17. Armon铆a Kitchen

- Rating: 4.7/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1422 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
-

#16. Tacos La Chorreada

- Rating: 4.7/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3030 Clairemont Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
-

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#15. The Craft Taco at SOVA

- Rating: 4.7/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11585 Sorrento Valley Road Ste 108 San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos
-

#14. The Waves Taco Club

- Rating: 4.8/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 916 Fifth Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Seafood, Beer, Wine & Spirits
-

#13. Birrieria Enriquez

- Rating: 4.8/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 2041 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos
-

#12. La Perla Cocina Mexicana 3

- Rating: 4.8/5 (358 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1224 Rosecrans St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#11. Carnitas Quiroga

- Rating: 4.8/5 (102 reviews)
- Address: 2241 Highland Ave. National City, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

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#10. La Costa Fusi贸n Cuisine

- Rating: 4.8/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 2859 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
-

#9. Ferchaladas

- Rating: 4.8/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2709 Imperial Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
-

#8. Mike's Red Tacos - Point Loma

- Rating: 4.8/5 (472 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3365 Rosecrans St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos
-

#7. Mariscos Mi Gusto Es

- Rating: 4.8/5 (547 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4425 Home Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, Seafood
-

#6. Mariscos La Morena

- Rating: 4.8/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4630 Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Seafood, Tacos
-

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#5. The Godfather Diner

- Rating: 4.9/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 7914 Broadway Lemon Grove, California
- Categories: Diners, Mexican
-

#4. Tamales Brenda's

- Rating: 4.9/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2815 Imperial Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Hot Dogs, Food Stands
-

#3. Taco Tuesday

- Rating: 4.9/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
-

#2. Mission Baja Tacos

- Rating: 4.9/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 3819 Mission Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos
-

#1. Cali Craft Tacos

- Rating: 5.0/5 (96 reviews)
- Address: 2707 Boston Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Caterers, Food Delivery Services, Tacos
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 326 metros.

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