City Tacos

Great place for small bites and cold beer. Prices are beyond reasonable and tastes outstanding. Their menu includes vegetarian and vegan options. Both indoor and outdoor seating with the potential for private parties on the lanai. The staff is helpful and friendly. I am new to the area and this is only a couple trolly stops away so, definitely someplace where I can become a regular.

Having been to this location over legitimately 30+ times in the last year, let's start with the good in this detailed review... I can confidently say that the food is honestly pretty solid most of the time (when the order comes out correct on the first try that is). Their rewards system gives me enough points to redeem a free $5-7 every few visits, from just buying 2-3 tacos each visit as well! I used to frequent this location regularly each week, but over time have had a multitude of such poor, unprofessional experiences with their customer service and vibe of the place - it's just not even worth swinging by anymore. I'll just go to the other City Tacos locations more near the coast when I'm really feeling a Surf N Turf, Mexicali, Pollo Asado, or Salmon taco. Each of the last 5 times I have been here, I've waited in line for a noticeable amount of time. Even when it's not Taco Tuesdays, and there's only one or two customers ahead of me. Also, 2 out of the 3 last times I have visited this place after 8pm (they close at 10pm) and I request specifically for corn tortillas due to food allergies on all the tacos rather than flour, they literally have all been flour even though some of them are supposed to be corn by default in the first place in their menu. My guess to this is the cooks just are too lazy to prepare/handpress and lightly cook their corn tortillas to shape once they run out of their regular stock they made for the day or something like that, so just make the flour ones because it's easier and faster then hope no one notices. Every single time the guy who works Front Of House that wears a backwards flex fit hat has taken my order, literally always get a flour tortilla on the tacos or the entire order is not packaged "to-go" from my order even though it was mentioned before paying. So I always have to take the extra time to wait for them to make actual corn tortillas from scratch, or get a box from them and I box it myself most of the time I've been here lately. This location lacks proper customer service and critical thinking skills, and I'm quite frankly just over it and don't crave it anymore even though the food is pretty bomb. Especially with their yellow mango salsa, but also about that; 3 out of the last 5 times I have visited they haven't even had the yellow mango salsa in stock and ran out for the night! Ahhh c'mon man, everyone only comes for tacos and salsa. Not even rice or anything special for sides is on the menu anyways. Just needs a bit more training and management in my opinion happening here, and honestly I would gladly come back more often if the backwards hat guy isn't playing BigXThaPlug's same song repeating on loop 5+ times over and over on the speakers lol. Whenever the filipino guy is working or any of the latina ladies take my order, usually you can expect professional and polite customer service. There's a couple guys who work there that if you pull up and are in line, you already know something about your order is going to get forgotten, or the salsas are out of stock or something generally not going very smoothly. From the first few months I was going there it was mostly a couple of polite ladies working there, since then there's been a few weird vibes/attitude with the backwards hat fella when I gently ask for the things that were forgotten (it's been a handful of times now unfortunately). He has offered to give me a refund a couple of times for getting the food wrong in my order when I receive it and I catch it before I leave, but just kind of rather go somewhere I can have a more consistent and enjoyable experience really. Cheers! Really hope this location can improve.

I've been to.this place maybe half a dozen times, the food is okay, mind you I only ever get the chips, or a carnitas or carne asada taco. The customer service is always lacking. My coworker comes here more than i do and she's always had a bad/weird experience. This place is alright for what it is, the portions are small and it's pricey but it's just okay.

My husband and I look forward to taco Tuesday at "City Taco's for two reasons excellent service and authentic food that is absolutely delicious . I get the potato tacos & guacamole chips , my partner gets fish tacos , we are both happy campers . The patio is really nice and spacious, we sat there today and enjoyed our meal 💯

Great tacos. The specials of the month are always something to look forward to. Beers in tap are good. 2 tacos is enough for a small appetite but you can easily eat 4 or more.

Very yummy tacos, I really enjoyed going here. The service personnel were amazing! Very helpful and friendly. The atmosphere was very relaxed and super casual. They have a large variety of tocos with plenty of your favorite toppings. The price was very reasonable as well.

9/10 great atmosphere, great tacos, great music. The steak quality is exceptional and the flour tortillas are tasty. The pescado taco did fall short either the fish being too small or over fried. They have alcoholic beverages if you’re into that, definitely give them a shot

Remember this is not an authentic Mexican taco place. They put their own spin on the items to add some nuance but sometimes it goes wrong. I got the beer battered fish taco, which would have been excellent but there was a strawberry on it! Didn’t add anything good to the flavor profile. The best part was the carne taco as it was plain and didn’t do too much. The best part was the lady who worked at the counter. She was super cool.

The tacos are so good Nice size Came out on time Great customer service Great salsa options

Yum....yum...yum.....This place was so yummy! We ordered a few different tacos as I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to the taste, texture and overall flavor of the tacos. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the tacos are. Some of them needed some extra lime and salsa but overall they were really good. The place was clean and was really busy. I didn't realize from the front looking in how much space they actually had toward the back and outside. Definitely looking forward to the next time we try this place.

I will first say that their food is always excellent. But in terms of our most recent experience a week or so ago, I have to say I'm extremely disappointed. I came here with five other people for taco Tuesday at around 6pm. We know that on Tuesdays that they have a live DJ, but this particular Tuesday it was abnormally loud and it had been getting louder each week. We were talking about the volume and literally as we were (trying to) discuss the volume in their outdoor area (which was less loud than indoors), the DJ looked at us, smirked, and turned up the volume. We talked to the workers up front who told us there was nothing they could do. Well, the DJ works for them, not the other way around, so I don't know if the DJ is some family member of the owner, but we left for surfrider pizza up the street which also had music playing, but it was at a pleasant level that didn't distract from either the eating or social experience. I would suggest to city tacos that the live music isn't the problem, but the decibel level is and when you have families bringing young children (we saw a family with an infant) the decibel level is downright dangerous. Turn it up after 7:30 pm when there's a younger crowd, but maybe keep it reasonable before then. Hate to break it to city tacos, but we were here for the food, not the DJ. Now I don't really want to go here at all. Kind of a shame because we go out with those 5 people fairly regularly and we will be taking our business elsewhere.

City tacos has become a staple for great tacos in the heart of downtown La Mesa. The staff is always welcoming and friendly as you walk in to a view the menu of unique offerings. I typically go with the surf and turf and the pescado tacos. They don't skimp out on the portions and the flavors are on point. The salsa bar is a must to mix and match the different varieties. I've ordered delivery a few times, but nothing beats the tacos coming out fresh out of the kitchen.

Good tacos, when they are delivered with everything included and they don't forget the sauces or the elote asada. I've had more than 3 separate orders have issues. Most recently, delayed delivery with a missing elite asada. Frustration post. But only go in an pick up because grubhub is ass

Service was great! She helped me pick out the Maui taco and it was the absolute best! Moist, mixed with so many flavors that blended perfectly! I want to try everything else on their menu. They have a spacious interior and back patio. There is also a front area with a few bar stools. Music selection was superb.

We've been to City Tacos in OB, IB, Downtown by Petco Park and now the La Mesa Village. The same great quality and creative tacos, best Frijoles Charros and excellent service. Mexicali grilled angus-steak, onions & poblano peppers over melted asadero cheese & mashed potatoes, finished with a crema fresca and cotija cheese sprinkle 5.25 The City Tacos original. A classic. Always a winner! Shank You Taco slow cooked beef shank with mushrooms and garlic topped with fresh onion & cilantro finished with our creamy serrano salsa over a crispy corn tortilla with asadero cheese 5.25 This was the first time I tried this one. It won't be the last. Delicious succulent beef. Juicy and tender. The taco was loaded with it. Great taco, shank you very much! Carnitas slow-cooked pork carnitas topped with cilantro, onion, guacamole & crunchy chicharron (pork rind) 4.25 Becky's all-time favorite. She loves the crunchy chicharron. Frijoles Charros pinto beans with pork trio (chorizo, bacon, carnitas) asadero and cotija cheeses, finished with tomato, onion, cilantro & a grilled chili pepper 6.25 Best. Pinto Beans. Ever. Regardless of location, City Tacos never fails to deliver high quality food at a reasonable price.

City tacos has been one of my favorite places to eat the past few years. We have come here dozens of times. On father's days, my family asked me where I wanted to go.. I didn't hesitate, I wanted city tacos. We went there and unfortunately had a bad experience. My wife was about to bite into one of her tacos when she noticed something moving. It was a SLUG and it was very much alive! The staff was sorry and took care of our meal, but honestly we lost our appetite after that. The lady working took my info and said the manager would call me. It's been a few weeks and no recovery attempt has been made. Disappointed!!

City tacos is the best! Love the portobello taco option for non-meat eaters and dairy free people. Just make sure to ask for no cheese. Always laid back and chill!

Wow!!! Absolutely the best tacos I've had! I hate it when a taco has tons of cabbage or the meat is not tender!! Not City Tacos!! Minimal cabbage!!! Meat was tender!! Omg so flavorful! Service was great and they server gave great recommendations. One downfall.. which I'm sure they are taking care of is the bathroom was out of order. I hope they fix it. Can't wait come back. Amazing

Honestly the best local taco joint in town. The flavors packs and punch and they have wild and fun taco creation! The staff is amazing and quick. They get your orders correct and fast service. Plenty of seating and super dog friendly. The salsa bar is my absolute favorite. Such great tasting salsa!

Best Tuesday taco date night. On Tuesdays, not only do they serve epic tacos, but they also have a DJ spinning cool songs. But let's not forget that tacos are still the show's star. They always feature a taco of the month, but I was in the mood for a simple battered fish original. That and a crispy chorizo con papas. Wow, both were great, but the crispy chorizo was delicious. Don't forget to order the pinto beans; they're life-changing Great beers are on tap, and the staff is always on point.

Ordered the portobello, Baja, chorizo, and Mexicali tacos. All super tasty and reasonably priced! You order at the counter and they bring your food out when it's ready. Waited kinda long but they were pretty busy. There's a sauce and add-ons (onions, etc.) station.

Brought by a good friend after going to a local brewery. I had the Chile relleno taco and surf & turf taco. We were greeted by Anthony and given great customer service. Even when it was 30 mins until close we experienced great service Thank you for your a great experience and food Anthony.

The tacos were very fatty and didn't satisfy my liking. The service was standard. The chef in the back kitchen kept staring as I was getting my salsa and it made me feel uncomfortable. Rather than that the restaurant was a nice place.

Great food and service every time we visit !! It's casual dining atmosphere with fine dining flavor

Tacos were great here! Same place as the location in North Park. Tasty tacos around the area of La Mesa. Tried their shrimp enchilado and carne asada, both were great! The staff is very friendly there, ready to help and serve. The vibe in there was nice. Loved the music they had playing and the volume was perfect! Would definitely recommend for quick taco stop.

Good tacos and friendly service. Atmosphere was nice but maybe the music was a bit too loud.

My daughter and I were in downtown La Mesa. She has been talking about City Tacos and their $10 appetizer platter for a while and we finally went. It is such a cute little place with seating inside and out. The staff are all friendly and efficient. We ordered the platter which had a generous amount and variety of chips, flats, empanadas, beans and guacamole. We also got the elote which was huge and generously covered with crema and cotija cheese. Everything was awesome. The fried goods still managed to be light and crispy. I highly recommend this place. Please check out my video on YouTube and like, subscribe, and tell all your friends! Thank you! https://youtu.be/iMykwEQhAXA

City Tacos has some unique tacos that are delicious I really like the Pescado tacos. Love the favors! Service was good and quick. Atmosphere was nice. I've been here a few times and love it!

Lovely calming outside space. Very relaxing. Yum tacos. Had the cochinita pibil taco, with their sauce on the side. Lucky for me, as the sauce has a kick!

Absolutely love the food and the value, however; I am extremely disappointed and dissatisfied about the cancelled door dash order that was placed. There was a special being held on Chile Relleno tacos, (if it were a computer glitch,then they should honor it) .. Puts a bad taste in their loyal customers mouths about their relationships and appreciation. Will not look at this place the same way again. Very disappointed.

We like to visit city tacos on Tuesdays as they have a dj on site which creates a fun atmosphere for my little ones. I like that the tacos are consistent in taste and size. The salsa bar is clean and packed with condiments and various salsas. One of my favorite is the surf and turf along with the papas con rajas.... but don't overlook the taco of the month (some of them i wish were on the permanent menu). The staff is friendly and attentive, we feel comfortable whenever we visit.

Super yummy tacos! Excellent and unique flavors too! Cute outdoor patio and great service.

First off - I need to say, they aren't bad at all. They're pretty decent for a taco. However, I thought they were a lil overrated compared to a bona fide taco shop. They were good, albeit a lil pricey & not as authentic as I would like. But still good & decent tacos. Clean & cute lil shop in downtown La Mesa w good salsa!

I have become a regular at this taco gem in La Mesa not only because the tacos are delicious and satisfying, but also because the staff is consistently very welcoming. Not only do they make me feel at home, but I also enjoy sitting outside and enjoying a beer and tacos. My go-to order is the papas con rajas, the chile relleno, and the crunchy shrimp taco, plus a Modelo, def unbeatable! & the best & friendliest staff member is Anthony. He is always working, very welcoming, happy, and hardworking, from running the front of the house to providing excellent customer service. He ensures that everyone is always taken care of, and the vibes are just friendly and relaxed. Thank you Anthony for always making me feel right at home! Def awesome staff & chill place!!!

El Pollo grill..Lemon Grove.. People from outside of cali...we apologize for thinking city tacos is what cali is about...Don't eat this crap.

Food was so good. The staff were straight to the point. No extra just bomb ass good tacos. The sauce was delicious and place felt like the San Diego I grew up in. It's was great. Did I mention the amazing tortillas.

Been to this location a few times. I like their simple approach with some twists on TJ style. If you're a purist, beware, they don't stick to the playbook but the results are solid. Today, I ordered Frijoles Veggie. Cool little dish but the bok choy was confusing. One of these things is not like the other... Try eating that big thing with only a spoon. :-) The rest was solid and yum. Shank You Taco - Great beefy flavor and mushrooms (yes, in a taco?) that was moist and flaky. This one will be on my "again" list. Camaron Enchilado - I ate is so damn fast that I forgot to take a picture. Seriously, that chipotle aioli would make a sweaty gym sock taste good. So, not your traditional taco stop but def a must try on a street full of good food.

Found on Yelp. Excellent location in the heart of La Mesa. Great vibes!!! Awesome food.

A bunch of east coasters came to San Diego wanting tacos, and City Tacos did not disappoint! We each had 3 tacos for lunch, which were quite filling but allowed us to try all of the various delicious flavors. The chile relleno taco was a treat!

My niece and I grabbed a quick bite while doing a little shopping. Be sure to check in and get the free cheese quesadilla coupon. I ordered a couple of tacos and the free quesadillo. The tacos were fresh and tasty. And I loved the variety of sauces to choose from. There was indoor and outdoor seating available. Service was friendly and fast. If you are in the mood for tacos, stop in and give them a try.

As you can tell, this is place is my drinking fan favorite. Everything we had today was delicious. This is a great place to come to weather you're drinking or not.

The food is great here! Loved the creativity of the tacos and the taste was amazing. The back patio area was a cool spot to hang out. The server delivering the food rushed us to sit down to take the tray he delivered it on and made us feel way too fast paced. Other than that it was great!

The location by sunset cliffs is much better this location doesn't care & doesn't make the tacos the same.

The food here just hasn't been the same the last few times we've been in. The presentation used to be great, the tacos were put together so artfully. Now they just look sloppy and thrown together. Our Mexical tacos tonight had big fatty pieces of meat that were unchewable that we had to just take out completely. They were so greasy it was just running down the tortilla and pooling onto the taco plate. My chili rellano was cold on arrival and mushy. My hungry teen wouldn't even finish hers because of all the grease and fatty meat. Disappointing as we've been coming since this location opened and it was always such a treat in the past.

Delicious tacos and great sauces. Be sure and get some of the green salsa from the salsa bar it's excellent. Friendly service and fresh ingredients. We go here frequently.

Wow! I ordered there special Friars fish taco. I was impressed how delicious it was and the fish was fresh and tender. Service was quick. I sat in the back patio which was nice with ambient lighting.

Small place in downtown La Mesa. They have non-traditional and traditional type of tacos. They are to die for! Greeted right away, 2 cooks in the kitchen. It took a while to get tacos. But it was worth the wait.

This is not a taco shop. I think folks in San Diego not familiar with Mexican food only know about Roberto's or Old Town but this place specializes in tacos so you don't come here for a Cali burrito or carne Asada chips. The tacos are the star and they have a large variety. They are not your typical tacos I would say they are more like gourmet tacos because they are so unique and flavorful. You have to be willing to try something new and different if you come here but they also have basic carne asada tacos as well. The owner are from Mexico City and that's where the name comes from. I prefer this location because it is in the old school down town la Mesa where there is plenty of parking behind the building that still accepts coins for the meters. The front of the building is on the original style down town main streets that existed before shopping malls were a thing. Now time is doing a reversal and small businesses on main drags where you walk and talk to people is coming back in style. I'm all for it because malls are lame and I prefer small mom and pop shops that support the local economy and not some big department store.

This is the first time I have ever been here. The tacos and elote are absolutely amazing! I highly recommend the pork carnitas tacos. The staff is also very friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back!

The best fish tacos ever, they were fully loaded and only cost $3.50. They got out fast and it was nice to sit and watch the traffic go by.

I had one of the best shrimp tacos I have ever had. And the service was good and the prices were reasonable. It was also dog friendly which was perfect for our group.

Cameron Enchilada is our favorite. We usually love the scallop but they forgot to include the scallops on the taco. I hope to get a complimentary taco for this mistake. It was Taco Tuesday and perhaps their busyness according for this mistake. The Vera Cruz grilled fish taco was still overcooked. 2nd time so I won't get this again. The steak taco had some grizzly meat. Though we really enjoyed the chili relleno taco. Service was good except for the omitted scallops on the taco. Still a solid taco Tuesday place, watch quality control though!

Omg! Yes! You've come to the right place for some fun tacos! Congrats. You did it!! The Mexicali taco is delicious! I have Irish blood so I'm pretty much always down for anything involving mashed potatoes. This taco is hearty and filling. It has lots of flavors that complement each other well. The chorizo is my favorite (don't tell the others)! It's just incredible! The melted cheese on the inside! The flavor or the meat! The pineapple--it's a must! The quesadilla isn't your mama's quesadilla. I'm not culinarily expert, but I believe it has butter AND cheese. It is absolutely delicious!! City Tacos is my favorite! The service is always great! The prices are right! There is plenty of seating! The food is consistently good! What's not to love?

I wanted to respond to the comment from Gerald. The taco I was referring to in my critical review was the portobello taco that used to be served on a handmade rustic style corn tortilla that had a significantly better mouthfeel when paired with the Oaxaca-style cheese that is melted on the tortilla before the filling is added. I think the reason I found this switch up so offensive was that this used to be one of the tastiest vegetarian taco options in the city and changing it really downgraded the taste. Vegetarians already have few options when it comes to tacos, and changing this particular one was a serious let down.

Everything about this location is 10/10 Friday there is a farmers market so that's always nice . I recommend the Mexicali Taco for sure !

tldr LOVED IT it's taco Tuesday so there was a ten percent discount and the lady who served us was really sweet. i think i came at the perfect time (4:50) because they had a dj and i put a photo where you can see him in the back, it was fun, using that same pic i'll talk abt the food. the elote was fire but i would get it without the tajin. the quesibirria taco - 10/10 homemade tortillas it was soooo delicious i can't even describe chips and salsa - mid it is what it is bf got the chicken taco and the Kids Quesitacos he f'd them up -fire she said the Mahi a La Plancha was really good she also said the salmon taco was a little fishy overall 10/10 would come again

Would be 5 stars other than the rude server named mark D working the front taking orders. He was very impolite and unwelcoming and seemed annoyed with everything. All the other staff were great other than him. The atmosphere in the porch in the back to amazing. Our tacos were amazing!