Food was really good and had great service. Only downfall was both of us getting bad gut aches a little later on.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steve A
This is a straightforward authentic, California Coast style taco shop. I got the Al Pastor taco and a cheese enchilada and both were delicious and higher quality than you would expect from small taco shops. As an example, the included beans and rice were quite fresh. Would swing by again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tacos
Jeremy A.
Amazing food and the employees were very nice and welcoming. Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had
Rajjin N.
I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Playa Taco Shop, just a block away from the picturesque Pacific Beach. My experience here was nothing short of amazing. The moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the inviting atmosphere, with hints of beach vibes adding to the charm of the place. The service was exceptional; the lady at the register was incredibly sweet and attentive, making me feel welcomed from the start. For my meal, I indulged in the verde enchiladas paired with a refreshing horchata, and I must say, it was a match made in culinary heaven. The flavors were exquisite, and I can confidently say these were the best enchiladas I've ever had. What sets La Playa apart is the diverse menu offering something for everyone. Whether you're a taco aficionado or craving traditional Mexican dishes, you'll find it here. In terms of pricing, La Playa strikes the perfect balance between affordability and quality. You get exceptional food and service without breaking the bank. As for recommendations, I have none - La Playa Taco Shop has truly mastered the art of delivering a flawless dining experience. In conclusion, La Playa Taco Shop has earned its place as one of the top Mexican eateries in my book. I wholeheartedly give it a 5/5 rating and cannot wait to return for another culinary adventure by the beach. I highly recommend visiting La Playa Taco Shop for an unforgettable dining experience.
Kyle Weaver
When I lived in the area I struggled to not eat here every day. Fresh food, amazing owners, and the price is very reasonable. When I drive back down from Carlsbad this place is a must stop every time for my family and I. Don't miss it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aaron C.
Charge top dollar but microwave their food ... I'm so sure folks expect to go out an American restaurant and see that their food is being prepped in a microwave
Maaz B.
The best Mexican food in San Diego -- period. 100% authentic. Always served with love. We love sitting in the sun and enjoying our food. It's always fresh and consistently high quality (I've been coming here weekly for a decade). Fish tacos are a favorite here. That first bite of crispiness is always perfect. They pull off their version of the fish taco with rice (!) in it. It works (against all odds?) The Cali Burrito might the thing to order if you are visiting from out of town. San Diego's burrito, with fries inside. This place does it better than anyone else. If it's too much food for you, go with the carne asada taco instead. The location is amazing: right by la playa. Our family's go-to spot near the beach. They have a parking lot so it's always possible to swing by.
NORMA VALDIVIA
SUPER RICH EVERYTHING TO A
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tostada, Machaca
Jenny F.
Bomb dot com. The end. Okay, but for real though - legit so good. You ever reminisce about a place, hype it up in anticipation, and then you finally get to experience it only to be let down? Well, this ain't that. Places like La Playa are the reason why I think so fondly of my college-hood memories, and this place did not disappoint. The tacos are pricey compared to most places, but you get some legit bang for your buck. These things are massive 6-inch diameter behemoths. The fish taco has an incredible crunch and a delightful juicy bite. The carnitas taco was so flavorful, made me wish I got more than one each. Also had a super California burrito and the carne asada inside was delicious - usually at other places I'm used to meat just being a chewy protein diluted among all the other fillings and not adding too much to the actual burrito, but you could really taste the meat in this one. My husband got loaded chicken nachos and he went to town. Like most family-run taco places, this spot will let you customize your order any which way off of the menu, so let your imagination and your heart go wild. Only downside is that this spot has very limited parking. A tiny lot that was packed when we visited at 3pm on a Wednesday, and a few street parking that was also occupied. We clandestinely parked at the hotel nearby, and my husband ran in to order and get the food while I sat in the car with the kiddos, prepared to move the vehicle at any given moment. After husband came back, we got to drive across the street right over to Mission/Pacific Beach and enjoy a late lunch with a stunning ocean view. Fantastic gem of a place, worth every penny and stellar Yelp review. Thanks for filling my heart (and my stomach) again after all these decades.
K T
I took my food back to my hotel and by the time I got there, it was cold. My room didn't have a microwave either, but I still ate everything on my plate. I mention that to say that the food was so good, I ate it cold with no complaints. I will definitely be going back.
Great food with very friendly service! We found this restaurant on our way back from a long walk along the coast. We ordered a two taco (crunchy shredded beef taco & soft carnitas taco) combi plate and a California burrito. These were not little street tacos, but were large super meaty tacos and were delicious! The California burrito was hefty with carne asada goodness. We especially liked how the fresh cilantro worked with the potatoes in the burrito. It's obvious they use quality ingredients. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and will be back next time we're in PB.
Melody Moore
Best fish taco in San Diego .
Marcia Jahn
I'm always on the hunt for good rolled tacos. These were disappointing. No guac or shredded cheddar and jack. Just came with lettuce and sour cream and a little cotija cheese. I don't do sour cream or cotija cheese. I will continue my hunt elsewhere!
John Dermody
I moved away over a decade ago and still think about how good this place is on a regular basis
jesse king
An excellent taco shop. Right between Mission Beach and PB. A little bit of parking. The green enchilada sauce is perfect. A little sour, Very spicy, Completely delicious. I get it on the fish burrito. It's fabulous.
Food was really good and had great service. Only downfall was both of us getting bad gut aches a little later on.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a straightforward authentic, California Coast style taco shop. I got the Al Pastor taco and a cheese enchilada and both were delicious and higher quality than you would expect from small taco shops. As an example, the included beans and rice were quite fresh. Would swing by again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tacos
Amazing food and the employees were very nice and welcoming. Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had
I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Playa Taco Shop, just a block away from the picturesque Pacific Beach. My experience here was nothing short of amazing. The moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the inviting atmosphere, with hints of beach vibes adding to the charm of the place. The service was exceptional; the lady at the register was incredibly sweet and attentive, making me feel welcomed from the start. For my meal, I indulged in the verde enchiladas paired with a refreshing horchata, and I must say, it was a match made in culinary heaven. The flavors were exquisite, and I can confidently say these were the best enchiladas I've ever had. What sets La Playa apart is the diverse menu offering something for everyone. Whether you're a taco aficionado or craving traditional Mexican dishes, you'll find it here. In terms of pricing, La Playa strikes the perfect balance between affordability and quality. You get exceptional food and service without breaking the bank. As for recommendations, I have none - La Playa Taco Shop has truly mastered the art of delivering a flawless dining experience. In conclusion, La Playa Taco Shop has earned its place as one of the top Mexican eateries in my book. I wholeheartedly give it a 5/5 rating and cannot wait to return for another culinary adventure by the beach. I highly recommend visiting La Playa Taco Shop for an unforgettable dining experience.
When I lived in the area I struggled to not eat here every day. Fresh food, amazing owners, and the price is very reasonable. When I drive back down from Carlsbad this place is a must stop every time for my family and I. Don't miss it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charge top dollar but microwave their food ... I'm so sure folks expect to go out an American restaurant and see that their food is being prepped in a microwave
The best Mexican food in San Diego -- period. 100% authentic. Always served with love. We love sitting in the sun and enjoying our food. It's always fresh and consistently high quality (I've been coming here weekly for a decade). Fish tacos are a favorite here. That first bite of crispiness is always perfect. They pull off their version of the fish taco with rice (!) in it. It works (against all odds?) The Cali Burrito might the thing to order if you are visiting from out of town. San Diego's burrito, with fries inside. This place does it better than anyone else. If it's too much food for you, go with the carne asada taco instead. The location is amazing: right by la playa. Our family's go-to spot near the beach. They have a parking lot so it's always possible to swing by.
SUPER RICH EVERYTHING TO A
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tostada, Machaca
Bomb dot com. The end. Okay, but for real though - legit so good. You ever reminisce about a place, hype it up in anticipation, and then you finally get to experience it only to be let down? Well, this ain't that. Places like La Playa are the reason why I think so fondly of my college-hood memories, and this place did not disappoint. The tacos are pricey compared to most places, but you get some legit bang for your buck. These things are massive 6-inch diameter behemoths. The fish taco has an incredible crunch and a delightful juicy bite. The carnitas taco was so flavorful, made me wish I got more than one each. Also had a super California burrito and the carne asada inside was delicious - usually at other places I'm used to meat just being a chewy protein diluted among all the other fillings and not adding too much to the actual burrito, but you could really taste the meat in this one. My husband got loaded chicken nachos and he went to town. Like most family-run taco places, this spot will let you customize your order any which way off of the menu, so let your imagination and your heart go wild. Only downside is that this spot has very limited parking. A tiny lot that was packed when we visited at 3pm on a Wednesday, and a few street parking that was also occupied. We clandestinely parked at the hotel nearby, and my husband ran in to order and get the food while I sat in the car with the kiddos, prepared to move the vehicle at any given moment. After husband came back, we got to drive across the street right over to Mission/Pacific Beach and enjoy a late lunch with a stunning ocean view. Fantastic gem of a place, worth every penny and stellar Yelp review. Thanks for filling my heart (and my stomach) again after all these decades.
I took my food back to my hotel and by the time I got there, it was cold. My room didn't have a microwave either, but I still ate everything on my plate. I mention that to say that the food was so good, I ate it cold with no complaints. I will definitely be going back.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food with very friendly service! We found this restaurant on our way back from a long walk along the coast. We ordered a two taco (crunchy shredded beef taco & soft carnitas taco) combi plate and a California burrito. These were not little street tacos, but were large super meaty tacos and were delicious! The California burrito was hefty with carne asada goodness. We especially liked how the fresh cilantro worked with the potatoes in the burrito. It's obvious they use quality ingredients. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and will be back next time we're in PB.
Best fish taco in San Diego .
I'm always on the hunt for good rolled tacos. These were disappointing. No guac or shredded cheddar and jack. Just came with lettuce and sour cream and a little cotija cheese. I don't do sour cream or cotija cheese. I will continue my hunt elsewhere!
I moved away over a decade ago and still think about how good this place is on a regular basis
An excellent taco shop. Right between Mission Beach and PB. A little bit of parking. The green enchilada sauce is perfect. A little sour, Very spicy, Completely delicious. I get it on the fish burrito. It's fabulous.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5