Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Diego by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Diego 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—shaped by waves of immigration—and has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has 32 distinct regional styles of cooking, 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 Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican food, 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, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Diego using data from Yelp. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered. Data is current as of January 2024.
Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#30. O My Taco
- Rating: 5.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4633 Convoy St. Ste 103 SOHO Gastropub San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Stands, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Mariscos Mi Gusto Es
- Rating: 5.0/5 (459 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4425 Home Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Mati's Birria + Beer
- Rating: 5.0/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4150 Mission Blvd. Ste 107 San Diego, California
- Categories: Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Mariscos La Morena
- Rating: 5.0/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4630 Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Seafood, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Chilanga Mexican Food
- Rating: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 1009 North Harbor Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#25. The Waves Taco Club
- Rating: 5.0/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 916 Fifth Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Seafood, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Steak & Bones Tacos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3923 4th Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Beer Bar, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Mariscos El Katrin
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 3636 Gateway Center Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Seafood, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Birria Truck
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4058 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Kyrios Mariscos #2
- Rating: 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 6950 Linda Vista Road San Diego, California
- Categories: Seafood, Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Tamales Brenda's
- Rating: 5.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2815 Imperial Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Hot Dogs, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Tacos La Chorreada
- Rating: 5.0/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3030 Clairemont Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Birrieria Y Menuderia Guadalajara
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 4448 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. La Perla del Pacifico
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3201 National Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Casa Ocho
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 7335 Girard Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Street Vendors, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Taco Tuesday
- Rating: 5.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Fish Guts
- Rating: 5.0/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2222 Logan Ave. Ste 1 San Diego, California
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Fruteria La Costeñita
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 2312 Morley St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Mexican, Shaved Ice
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cali Craft Tacos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (82 reviews)
- Address: 9932 Mesa Rim Road Ste A San Diego, California
- Categories: Caterers, Food Delivery Services, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Carnitas La Bendición
- Rating: 5.0/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 1956 54th St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The Krispy Boyz
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Yummy Yummy Juice bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 6784 El Cajon Blvd. Ste B San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#8. My Pozole
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 901 Hornblend St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Roberto's Taco Shop
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 1155 Scott St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Blue Fire Bliss Mexican Food Stand Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 1740 South 43rd St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Stands, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#5. La Burre
- Rating: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 4616 Texas St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#4. La Libertad Cocina Urbana
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5841 Market St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Mexican, Caterers, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Harrys Taco Club
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 3665 Voltaire St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Carlitos Tacos Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: San Diego, California
- Categories: Tacos, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Kazbah Tacos & Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Diego, California
- Categories: Caterers, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.
