Tacos, tacos, and more tacos! From vegans to meat lovers, Tijuana has a taco for everyone!
In Tijuana, we eat tacos for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. The city has been praised by many as one of Mexico’s taco capitals due to its variety and delicious flavors; we are sure that you will find something that will leave you asking for one more. Here we share a great list of where to eat on your next visit. How many of these have you tried?
Fish & Seafood:
El Mazateño
This long-time spot earned everyone’s respect for their famous camarón enchilado taco; a buttery spicy shrimp quesadilla that is hotly delicious. If you haven’t tried it, you must! They are located in Calzada Tecnológico in Otay.
>LocationLa Carreta Seiza
This street cart has been getting great reviews due to their great-tasting Baja style shrimp and Marlin tacos. Find them in the Gabilondo neighborhood.
>LocationOtto’s Grill
Within Telefonica Gastropark you will find Otto’s Foodtruck a veteran in all seafood endeavors, the octopus taco is a delight and so are the shrimp tostadas!
>LocationLa Cahua del Yeyo
This unique and wholesome dish traditionally from the Sea of Cortés is very popular among locals, you can also find marlin and shrimp tacos with cheese. This taco shop is on the corner of 8th st. and Pio Pico.
>LocationEl Angel
In the Buena Vista park on its main street, you can find this savory street cart that offers seafood and shrimp tacos, along with traditional shrimp and octopus cocktails.
>LocationAsada or Grilled meat:
El Jockey
Behind Tijuana’s racetrack locally known as Hipódromo, you will find a local favorite. Make sure to ask for grilled onions and their delightful salsas to complement your order.
>LocationEl Vaquero
One of the most recommended taco spots in the Gabilondo neighborhood has grilled carne asada prepared with exquisite salsas.
>LocationTacos El Nuevo Poblano
In the heart of the Buena Vista neighborhood, you will immediately smell the charcoal burning; once there, you will be surprised by the size of their finely chopped carne asada quesadillas with a scrumptious cheese crust and abundant avocado.
>LocationEl Franc
This taco shop has been featured in many taco tours and shows such as Netflix’s Taco Chronicles as one of the best tacos in the city; their asada tacos and adobada tacos are to die for. They are located in the Zona Rio area, they also have another taqueria called El Francés in the Playas area.
>LocationTacos varios, steamed tacos, and more:
La Especial
Steamed tacos are a rendition of traditional canasta tacos from Mexico City, they are filled with your selection of meat & potatoes, pork cracklings in green salsa or beans; then they are steamed and stacked one on top of the other to give them a soft texture. They are served with a side of tomato salsa, fresh scallions, radishes, and pickled onions, carrots, and serrano peppers. The most traditional steam taco place is La especial, this taqueria has been on Revolution Avenue for over 70 years! you can find them between 3rd and 4th st. right next to one of the historic passages, you can also find them at Salinas Blvd.
>LocationTacos Aarón Río
Tacos varios are a must in Tijuana’s taco scene. To put it simply, these tacos are a wide variety of dishes such as chile relleno (cheese-stuffed peppers), milanesa (traditional breaded meat), beef skirt and potato stew, pork ribs in green salsa, and many many more; served on a corn tortilla with beans and rice. Tacos Arón is one of the most visited food trucks in the city, you can find them right next to Office Depot in Zona Rio.
>LocationDon Esteban
A different take on the traditional taco, at Don Esteban, the 5-star taco is a grilled New York Steak taco, topped with grilled onions, avocado slices, fresh cabbage, mayo, and salsa; although it is a different approach to what you’ve tasted before, they are de-li-cious!
>LocationAdobada:
Los Poblanitos
In the Tercera Etapa del Río Tijuana district, right in front of Parque Morelos on Insurgentes Blvd., you will find the best-rated tacos with the huge meat-covered spinning top.
>LocationLas Tres Salsas
Located in the Gabilondo neighborhood, there is a street that has 7 taquerías back-to-back. This area locally known as Las Ahumaderas, has been featured in international television shows including the famous No Reservations by the late Anthony Bourdain. Hands down, Las Tres Salsas is one of the best taco spots in Las Ahumaderas, there you can have the “campechano” taco, a perfect mix of adobada and chorizo; this spicy taco is unforgettable.
>LocationBirria and barbacoa:
Aquí es Texcoco
Here you can find authentic sheep barbacoa prepared with the original recipe from Texcoco, Hidalgo, ask for an order and get ready to be surprised. They are located in Otay, right in front of Politécnico.
>LocationTacos Fitos
This Birria taco shop is located just behind the traditional Mercado Hidalgo in Zona Rio, a local favorite because of its great-tasting birria and warm service.
>LocationEl Sabroso
This street cart has gained popularity for its diverse menu, it is located in the corner of Brasil and Aguascalientes, on Colonia Cacho.
>Location/b>Birria Sí Libertad
Located in one of Tijuana’s first neighborhoods called Libertad or simply “La Liber” you will find this birria spot famous for its quesabirria, a mouth-watering birria quesadilla, you can also try a cheese tostada and their savory tortas.
>LocationCarnitas:
Tío Pepe
A tradition brought directly from Guadalajara to the Gabilondo neighborhood; this family-owned and operated business has delighted the Tijuana community with great tasting carnitas for decades. Here you can find a wide variety of tacos named after famous boxers such as Julio Cesar Chavez and Canelo; on top of that this is the cathedral of the Torta ahogada. They also have another restaurant in the Libertad neighborhood.
>LocationDel Koshy
A chef’s take on traditional carnitas. Chef Mario Peralta known for his acclaimed restaurant Los Compas, opened a taquería honoring his dad, blending time-honored recipes with high-end techniques resulting in mouthwatering tacos; topped with a wide variety of exquisite salsas, Tacos Del Koshy is a must, we recommend the Taco Maniaco.
>LocationVegans:
Tacón Veggie
This taco cart is located in the Cacho neighborhood on the corner of Colima and Colombia street, it has become a fan favorite because of its savory, healthy, and creative options, their menu will certainly surprise you!
>LocationTaquería Veggie
Another great option for vegans is located in the Marron neighborhood on Rio Bravo street, they have a full menu of traditional Mexican dishes vegan-style, including “shrimp” tacos, tostadas, and even pozole!
>Location
