La Perla #3

People say this is one of the best California Burritos in San Diego and I would have to say, I agree with everyone who made that statement. I ordered a Oaxaca California Burrito at 10 am. To be honest it took quite a bit of time, about 15-20 minutes but I have learned this burrito is made with love. First the tortilla is extremely fresh. Next the Oaxaca Cheese was plentiful and melted perfectly. The meat was seasoned well while the fries had a nice crisp to it. I've had my fair share of California Burritos in San Diego and this is by far the best.

First time to La Perla #3! We ordered the signature Oaxacan burrito. It’s huge, we split it between two people. It’s a solid burrito. The meat is excellent. Fries were crispy. The quesadilla that wraps the burrito wasn’t too overpowering. BUT- it was rather dry due to not enough pico and guac. You can see in my picture it’s lacking moistness. Next time I might have to ask for extra guacamole. Their salsas are just OK, I prefer the green over the red. We waited a total of about 30 minutes (it’s probably best to call in your order). We got lucky with parking. However I can see it being an issue during peak lunch time. It’s an extremely small restaurant. We were planning on eating there, but it was just too congested inside so we went to Liberty Station. Overall, the Oaxacan burrito definitely has potential, they just need to add more guacamole and pico de gallo.

We stopped in for lunch and left so full and happy. Some of our party remarks were “the best burrito I’ve ever had” (the Oaxacalifornia), and “these tacos are unbelievable!” I don’t think anyone was disappointed by their meal, but the real star of the show was the churros. If you go, those are a must.

I knew it would be good because it was hard to find. But once we found it and got out the car… the smell of tacos and meat filled the air. I ordered the King Kong and hubby had the Oaxocalifornia. Both were great. But the fish tacos!!!!! Those were the hit!!! Rice and beans flavorful. And the salsas are great.

Food is a necessity for all people on this earth—especially for those of us who start our day well before the break of dawn. After a long morning of building inspections, I found myself inspecting something far more urgent: my Google Maps, in search of a tasty burrito from a spot that’s been lingering on my “Want to Go” list for far too long. I was in the area and decided it was time to show face and make my presence known. To my delight, they opened at 8, just in time for my “lunch” break. Nothing screams San Diego like a California burrito first thing in the morning. I quickly called to place my order, refusing to waste a single precious second. By the time I pulled up, I was practically fiending for that cali log. I’d been scrolling images and reading reviews like a man possessed. The counter worker was attentive and fast, and I could tell my food was fresh—just waiting for my chompers to sink into it. You can’t find many quality places that lists a burrito for 11 bones… but I didn’t let that deter my expectations. I unwrap my baby and take the first bite. Unbelievable. The red and green sauces harmonized beautifully with the juicy carne asada and crispy fries. The pico and guac added a cool kick that sent twitches below the belt. I’m usually critical in my reviews, but when a place earns five stars, it earns it. Well done. I WILL be back.

This is some of the best Mexican food places around I got the oaxacacalifornia burrito and that was probably the best burrito I've ever had the carne asada was so flavorful and juicy truly delicious I also got the rolled tacos and they were great definitely a must try Mexican food place service was excellent parking was difficult

There was a small parking lot outside the restaurant, the staff was so friendly and did give us a military discount. The menu was huge and had so many options to choose from, the Horchata and Jamaica we got were not on the menu, you just have to ask the staff. The staff gave good recommendations and we absolutely loved everything we got! You can tell that everything was freshly made and we didn’t wait too long for our food. The meat was tender and flavored, nothing was overcooked, and every bit was just perfect! We forgot to take a picture of the stuffed churros but it was really good! We will definitely be coming back!

Good food but it is a bit hot inside. I recommend the California burrito, lots of food for the money

I just discovered La Perla Cocina the last 3-4 months and LOVE it - food is very tasty & service very friendly, also a great deal! I've ordered their tacos, carnitas, chicken, always tender & very flavorful...and recently tried their chicken nachos -which were fantastic!! The man taking my nachos order even substituted the pico for just onions & cilantro, without me asking to adjust, when I said I couldn't eat raw tomatoes & to just leave off the pico. I was so glad he offered that, the onions & cilantro made it so much better since I usually order without the pico. Service is also very efficient, my order always ready in a very reasonable amount of time. This place is a gem & I can't wait to pick up my next delicious dinner!

Little shop tucked into a mini center? I missed it and had to go around again. If you're coming from Rosecrans, the turn will be between the alteration and mail boxes express store. It is a very tiny lot so you can do street parking. They have a simple list of foods, sides, and drinks. Wished they had horchata there. But they offer sodas, teas, water, coconut water, juice, and more. Service was great! They're patient and help you with your order and clarifying of what is in each item if you ask them. If you're eating there, they bring your food to your table and the salsas. They're clean and organized. For the food I got rolled tacos. They offer both chicken and beef. I got the chicken/pollo with a side of hot carrots. And I saw they had stuffed churros.. say whhhhhuuuuut. Not alot of places I've gone have churros but this place it offers churro stuffed with dulce de leche!!! The rolled tacos were skinny but really crispy with fresh lettuce, I think pico de gallo, guacamole, and cotija cheese on top. The rolled tacos were really crispy and the chicken was all right. Just your standard taco shop rolled tacos. It wasn't dry or seasoned. I doused it with a lot of salsa (green and red) and it wasn't spicy for me. The hot carrots were sweet? I haven't had hot carrots like that before. Wished it was more I guess vinegar taste and spicy. I wished the tacos had shredded cheese on top. I'll ask for that next time to see if it'll make a difference. My friend got the carne asada burrito and said it was very flavorful compared to other taco shops she's been to. I don't eat red meat so I can't comment on that. But I do notice a lot of people ordering the burritos. So I'm gonna try that again next time. The star for me was the churro. ooooommmmggg. it was the right amount of crispy to softness, enough cinnamon and sugar, warm, and the melty dulce de leche in the middle was bomb! I'm thinking about it as I'm writing this. I'm totally getting more than one churro next time.

La Perla what are you doing!!! Why are you so dang good this was my the freshest Mexican food I have ever had in my entire life. The flavors were bright, everything was seasoned to perfection, I didn't feel bad after inhaling my tacos because it didn't weigh me down it wasn't super heavy or greasy it was perfect. The pico was packed with flavor, the guacamole was legit probably just made, the limes were just plucked from the tree. It has a farm to table taste. ** From my husband...Also the customer service is a million stars!!! I went yesterday 1/25/2024 around 5:24. Our order was slightly complicated so he put the toppings on the side (picky kids) and he was so sweet about it. Very accommodating! You can tell he's a sweet guy!! Thank you so much La Perla!

Definitely a locals only kind of place - which is what we wanted. I was determined to find the best California burrito in San Diego and I think I might have found it. The meat was tender and flavorful and not dry. The French fries were actually crispy and not soggy! The green and red sauce were both very good. The tortilla was super thin. They have limited parking spaces in the lot. They have maybe 10 tables inside. Food took maybe 10 minutes to come out. Overall a solid burrito.

Small casual place with efficient use of space. Come at lunch time, there will be a line and we waited for a bit for our food. Nothing outrageously long and the wait was worth it. The Oaxaca and addiction burritos were bursting with flavor. My preference was for the addiction burrito which had some smokey flavors reminiscent of fajitas. Oh yeah, don't sleep on the perfectly grilled fish tacos! Also I was super happy that I had enough burrito leftover for dinner.

What an amazing spot! Wonderful service, delicious food, a nice screened in patio to enjoy! Definitely a great place for breakfast tacos!

Amazing Mexican spot tucked away in a small parking lot (be mindful of parking difficulties on the weekend). Service was reasonably fast and there was minimal indoor seating. Do yourself a favor and stop by for amazing tacos and burritos!

Burrit-ohhh my gosh! With all the burritos in the world, I just may have to claim this as my new favorite. One bite in and my Captain and I both rolled our eyes back in delight. The carne asada is more than deserving of the awards, and the combination of pico and guacamole makes it fresh and vibrant! Even the tortilla felt fresh, and the sauces they provided tantalized my tastebuds! This hole in the wall is one I would jump into every day if I could. We stumbled upon this place after making a run to the West Marine across the street, and you best believe that I will make a visit every time I come to port here in SD!

Best taco shop carne asada! Family vibes all the time. If you blink you'll miss it...don't blink!!! I really love coming here and supporting this family run business. Why? The people are great, the food is excellent (and inexpensive), and patrons are generally really excited about being here. Had a great conversation with a gentleman that comes in on Tuesdays and orders himself food for the week!... Glad I'm not the only one. The taco Tuesday special is $1 off tacos. I'm super stuck on their burritos, but I might have to give one a try. There is a cash prices and a card price. I'm not sure which price is listed on the menu so you might want to ask. Love the red and green salsas. On this visit, they opened a little bit late, approximately 10 minutes, however they did pop out and let us know they were running a little behind, which was greatly appreciated. Neither myself, nor the other patron, had any qualms with the delay, as we were both willing to wait for what we knew would be an excellent meal. Enjoy! Thanks to the family, and our friends, at La Perla #3

Yo. Bro..... this my burrito shop. I've hesitated to chat this place up. It's my go to, it's bustling, and I don't need your indecisive ass clogging up the line when I've got a hankering for a King Kong burrito. That's the special menu item which has me coming back on a weekly basis these days. It's a carne asada burrito with a chili relleno shoved up in there and if you ask politely they will also shove some fries up in there as well. They have the burrito game mastered! It' is more than just a vibe my yelping friend.... It's the only improvement to the SanDiego native delicacy known as the California burrito that I can get behind... and I suggest you get behind me in line.

Visiting from Arizona and this place really hit the spot. All 7 of my family members approved. Truly such good food and great prices! Highly recommend

Wow - they have amazing tacos! During one of my stays in San Diego, I decided to pick up some tacos to go. I could not narrow down what I wanted (they have an extensive menu and everything looks so good), so I ordered a carne asada burrito, 2 fish tacos, a couple side dishes (extra guacamole and pico de gallo), and a stuffed churro, and ate it over two meals. The location is in a little strip mall with limited parking. The restaurant has indoor seating but it seemed many people were ordering to go. There is a window there where you order, pay, and wait. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful and not heavy! I would most definitely come here again!

When in San Diego there are no shortage of amazing taco spots, La Perla happen to be one of them. This location is on Shelter Island and is a little tricky to locate as it's tucked away behind a small plaza, they do have a small parking lot but it's only about 4-5 spaces so we parked on a nearby side street. My wife and I each ordered tacos of course, Al Pastor chicken and a Carne Asada for each of us and I got a fish taco as well. Each tacos is very well priced and the size and food quantities they give you are well worth it. Not to mention the quality of the ingredients, the lime, the tomatoes, the cilantro it was truly amazing. We each loved all of our tacos and we ranked them accordingly. We liked the Al Pastor the best, followed by the fish taco which was fried local caught tilapia and last was the Carne Asada. No knock on coming in last we just preferred the others a little more. They have some indoor seating and the place was filled with people coming and going. The burritos were ordered by a lot of people we noticed, have to give those a try.

Delicious food, fast and friendly service. They haven't updated their menu with their new pricing yet. Everytime I come here it's consistently good. Their nachos and cheese wasn't what I was expecting. I was surprised that it was melted shredded cheese instead of something like nacho cheese sauce. Not bad but have to eat this one quickly before the cheese hardened. This is the perfect place to grab food to eat on the go. Prices are cheap. I got two burritos, one side of rice, one side of beans and nacho with cheese for $28 including tax.

Good breakfast burritos! They aren't super greasy and their potatoes taste really fresh. I think they make their spicy carrots in house but I am not sure. I have tried all of their salsas and the green is my favorite. The habanero is really good but spicy! Whoever wrapped my burrito is a pro! The customer service is really good as well . The cashier was really friendly and upbeat!

My new favorite taco shop. Their quesadillas are really tasty - especially shrimp or carne asada. But my favorite is the King Kong burrito - a cheesy chile relleno with carne asada wrapped up in a burrito. Unbelievable. Perfect to share and delicious with their salsa verde. Eater recently rated it one of the best burritos in San Diego, and I have to agree, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Picked up 21 burritos for a burrito mimosa brunch last weekend, and they were a huge hit!

Can be slow. But man their Oaxacan cali is so huge and so delicious it's worth it. Salsas pretty good as well. A def spot for burrito lovers

A family run taqueria that is as good as it gets. I had the California burrito and it was honestly one of the best burritos I have ever had. It is a small restaurant that is easy to miss as it is hidden by a dry cleaning shop but it is worth the effort to find it. The staff was super friendly and efficient and the seating was low key but nice. I will definitely be coming back to try more items on their menu!

Great service every time Asada is the best. Burrito, taco, nacho Can't wait to be back in San Diego

Accommodated my request for a deconstructed burrito so I can bring it on a flight home!

Everything about this place is fantastic. The younger man who works the register is polite the people not sure how many in back made no mistakes I wish I knew of this place earlier it's hidden clean gem. My husband and I will make this a staple I had shrimp burrito my husband had surf and turf also my husband loves the habenaro sauce.

Food and service exceptional. Fish and shrimp tacos very good. Have eaten here a half a dozen times both in the restaurant and to go. Chips salsa and guacamole very good. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!!

Best meal I've had in San Diego. Got the Addiction Burrito and it was FAT. Full of flavor from the carne asada, bacon and guac. Also the service was super friendly. Will definitely be going back!

Good cali burrito. Meat is well seasoned. Pico and guac are nice. Really like the green salsa

Excellent fresh homemade Mexican Food! Very clean restaurant and friendly staff!! Seems to be family owned. I highly recommend!

Great ! The food is fresh and really good! The service is always polite and with a smile. The prices are about $3 cheaper than the neighboring Mexican places that suck. I have never had a bad meal there and will keep going back. Staff is super nice. Food is excellent. Gets real crowded around lunchtime as it should.

We were visiting SD for the weekend and needed a quick bite to eat. After searching for an al pastor place, this came to the top of the list. The place is small and somewhat hidden from the main street. Although there are a few tables in their indoor patio seating area, this is probably best described as a takeaway establishment. We called in and ordered in advance, and it took them about 25 minutes. Just want to mention that they close early, 7 pm on Fridays! The service was very friendly and the prices were reasonable. My husband had the al pastor California burrito as recommended by others here. According to him, the al pastor was one of the best he's ever had. I had the shrimp burrito, which mostly tasted like other shrimp burritos, except it had perfectly cooked shrimp--most places overcook their shrimp. We also ordered a side of chips, which was extra but was served hot. Salsa included with these chips was tasty. Great choice for Mexican takeout.

It actually surprised me for being one of the best burritos and best rolled tacos I've had lately. My sister got the California burrito, I got the King Kong burrito, And we shared rolled tacos. Rolled tacos were still pretty crispy eating them later on. The King Kong burrito is highly recommended if you're a carne asada burrito fan and chile relleno fan. The meat for the carne asada was delicious. The quality overall is top notch.

Tbh we came here because of the 5 stars and it's not all that, this place will unfortunately not be on my top taco shops list. The hot sauces weren't spicy and lacked flavor, they were ok but nothing to come here for. The fries were ok but no salt, the pollo had no flavor as well and the carne asada (which everyone raves about) is mediocre at best. The tortilla was just a regular tortilla that you can find at pretty much every taco shop and the beans were bland. It was edible but nothing to drive here for.

The carne asada is out of this world, whether you have it straight or in a California burrito or any other option. It is just absolutely amazing. Everything else I have had there is also top notch, but the carne asada is just beyond good. I cannot recommend it enough. The place can definitely get busy, so if you are in a rush call in your order to go to be timely. But even then, way worth it.

Always great and friendly service and most important GREAT quality food. We are locals of PL and that's our to go -always happy place - No one can be disappointed about La Perla.

If you love a good burrito head to La Perla.... I dare you to say you've had better in SD. My fiancé and I headed over there on a whim searching for street tacos but after reading a few yelp reviews it was clear that we were both ordering burritos. As soon as they came out wrapped in that yellow paper we knew they were going to be good as hell. They were beyond good, they were SLAMMIN. This is not a fast food joint, everything is cooked fresh when you are in comes out piping hot. We ordered the Addiction Burrito and the Surf & Turf. Both were OFF THE CHAIN, although I think I liked the Addiction just a tad better. Their carne asada is to die for and comes on both. The Addiction has mushrooms, bacon, melted cheese and guacamole. Both of the salsas, red and green, were excellent as well. The next time we go we're definitely going to check out the King Kong which has carne asada and a chili relleno inside. I'm literally drooling right now thinking about it. I really appreciate how helpful the gentleman was that ring us up, he was very patient explaining all of the different burritos etc. I also give them high marks for having a nice clean bathroom that was well stocked with paper towels and hand soap and hand sanitizer prominently placed in the dining room. So thankful to have found this spot!! My new obsession.

Nice little spot in shelter island. The reviews about how tasty the carne asada is really doesn't do them justice. This is some of the juiciest meat, that is seasoned to perfection. I tried the California burrito and it didn't disappoint. It was better than I expected. I will be returning with the wifey to explore the menu, further.

No better place to get a cali burrito in Point Loma. Repeat customer time and time again.

Such a small shop and truly hidden but amazing food!! I had a variety of items and all hit the spot! Bacon breakfast burrito 5/5: Definitely a good amount of bacon, potatoes and egg, very well balanced! Steak and egg burrito 5/5: Perfect amount of steak and egg, amazing flavors! California burrito 5/5: The cheese is perfect with this burrito and everything is well portioned. Definitely my favorite. Sauce 5/5: Little red sauces with lots of flavor, spicy and tasty. Service 5/5: They always provide great and welcoming service.

We were looking for a place to get tacos after a long day of fishing. This popped up and we gave it a try. I got the Al pastor burrito which had fresh guac and pico and was very good, but I wish the al pastor had pineapple. But otherwise it was a solid choice and very affordable. The Al pastor burrito was around $8. Definitely worth a try!

Best chile relleno burrito I have ever had. Amazing service as well! And salsas! Can you tell I'm craving it right now.

The food is amazing!!!!! I cannot recommend this place enough . I had a Chicken burrito plate and it was delicious. We will definitely be back. Also everyone was nice and friendly.

Yes there is an abundance of great Mexican food here in San Diego but La Perla is still one of the best sit down/takeout restaurants. It's hard to explain why, it just is. We are fortunate to have a location right by our office here in Shelter Island, Point Loma.

Amazing place on the strip great for Mexican. super cool art, chill spot, and amazing food. Service is great to even though it's just pickup and eat style they give you everything you need and would expect from good Mexican food.

Incredible chimichangas, burritos, and tacos with the best salsa verde. We've never been disappointed and I'm confident you won't be either.

Two words...KING KONG. Best burrito I've tried in San Diego! Chili relleno with carne asada. I split it with my husband thank goodness or I would have been in a serious food coma. My friend had carnitas and it was loaded with meat...she couldn't even finish it. My other friend had the pollo asada with pico de gallo (custom request) and he literally had the identical burrito from his favorite Lolitas in Bonita the night before and he said the one at this place was superior. From now on this will be my go to spot when I'm in Point Loma or even just need a bite before a flight.

One of the better bean and cheese burritos I've had. Not off the charts, but if you're looking for something reliably good and at a good price, stop in. I've stopped in multiple times and I've never been disappointed. The pinto beans are hand made, the cheese is mostly melted uniformly through (although something they could work better on) and the tortilla is cooked well.

The meat quality in the burritos were absolutely phenomenal. I've tried a lot of burritos in the surrounding area and you need to try them here. I got the carne asada burrito and I'll be getting it again. If I could say one thing I'd say the fries could be a little crispier but other than that definitely come and try it here!

A pretty good burrito for a good price! I got a carne asada burrito and added beans, and the total came to exactly $10. The carne asada burrito comes with pico de gallo, guacamole, and cheese. The carne asada was well seasoned and had a good texture. There was an average amount of meat inside and a lot of pico de gallo. La Perla has two types of salsa - red and green - and both were tasty but neither very spicy. They added a good moisture to the burrito but I wish at least one had more of a kick. The burrito was a good size for lunch but smaller than a lot of other Mexican restaurants. A hungrier person might have been a bit disappointed, especially at dinner time. I called ahead and the cashier estimated that my burrito would take about 15 minutes, which was a spot on estimate. The restaurant was fairly busy around 1:00pm on a weekday and I was glad I found parking in the tiny lot. This wouldn't be my go-to place for a carne asada burrito, but I'd definitely come back and try other things and possibly a carne asada burrito again if I were feeling like it.

The customer service is good! Nice staff working there and if you are eating inside you don't have to get out of your table to give the food to your table. And the food is super good. The ambiance has a good menu and has a tv which it looks like the tv wasn't really working, but however they were playing kid shows on the tv. I recommend this places if you have kids or a family to hang out at this restaurant it's has good food and good service. Overall 5 stars.

Did some research about the local eateries near my hotel (Humphreys) before my trip, the reviews put this place near the top of my list, absolutely did not disappoint. My son and I both got the oxacalifornia burritos. Huge burritos, and so delicious, carne asada cooked perfectly and so full of flavor. My wife got chicken, my other kids got the King Kong and the regular California. Everyone loved theirs. Very friendly staff. Don't blink or you'll miss it though. I'll be dreaming about this place until I return!

Wow! Best Mex. Fresh-fresh ingredients. Made to order. Simple surroundings. Friendly staff.

Best carne asada ever totally recommend to anyone who loves good Mexican food. Amazing people amazing food

The best little Mexican cocina when you are waiting for someone at the airport. Fresh made, not greasy, flavorful food made by kind people. New tradition for pickup and drop offs. We ordered chicken enchilada, carne asada fries (San Diego classic), breakfast burrito, and grilled fish tacos. Everyone was happy and stealing from each other. Corn tortillas were clearly in house.