La Vecindad Neighborhood TACOS

The staff here are truly kind and welcoming, which makes for a pleasant dining experience. I really enjoyed the Aztec soup— it’s flavorful and comforting. Overall, I found the food to be just okay and a bit pricey for what you get. I think some of the dishes could use a bit more seasoning. Still, the atmosphere is fun, and the service stands out.

Truly remarkable albeit a smidge pricey, amazingly creative tacos that are far above your usual taco shop fare. Simply amazing flavors and a next level salsa Verde that is good enough to drink.

The food was amazing! Almost the staff was very nice. Portions were great and we went by recommendations from the hostess and she was spot on. The guacamole was the freshest we've had.

Amazing tacos! Got the al pastor (pictured), pescado, carne asada (pictured), and pollo asado (for the kids). We also got the chips and guac (very creamy!) and horchata (tasty!). The tacos were the real stand out. Great seasoning and spice level on everything. I will be dreaming about these tacos after returning home to Seattle, where we have limited Mexican food options.

Let me preface this review by saying that we are from Texas, so we are spoiled when it comes to Mexican food and maybe had too high of expectations when coming to eat here. While the food was not terrible, I still don’t recommend this place. I get we are in California, which is an expensive city, but no way the food we got was worth $100. The guacamole alone was $15. The tiny cup of guacamole that could literally fit in the palm of my hand was $15… Also on the menu, it mentioned their quac was one of the highest rated in SD, I am here to debunk that myth. It literally just tasted like mushed avocado, no seasonings, no spice, no lime, no onions, no tomatoes, nothing but avocado. Another thing - their frozen margs were flavorless. Being from Texas, I’ve had many frozen margs in my time, this was by far the worst I’ve had. Other than the disappointing food and excessively high prices, the wait staff and ambience was nice.

First time here and it was fantastic…great service, really good Mexican food with an aztec kick, and the drinks are really good. The standouts were the house margarita and the Seafood trio taco. The guacamole was good but $13 for a small cup of it but outside of that great place to eat some really good food

Very good seasoning, recommended,🤩 but I think the meat could be better quality, especially the Asada, my humble opinion, with all respect.

Best Mexican food in San Diego! Ran by three brothers using their family’s passed down recipes. They were so friendly and welcoming. We tried their tacos and burrito and were blown away! The green salsa at the salsa bar was delicious. The drinks were amazing too! Try their micheladas. Wish we would have found this place sooner.

What a fantastic restaurant. It's just a local hole in the wall Mexican spot with picnic tables and a few high tops. Nothing fancy. The service is Great and the food is even better. If I lived anywhere near here, I would be here every week. We had the shrimp quesadilla to start. It was served with some guacamole, chips and sour cream on the side. I had the carnitas taco and the Mahi taco. My friends had the grilled octopus taco and the potato taquitos. Everything was outstanding. They have a salsa bar with 4 types of salsas. Yummy. They have a wide variety of beers as well as a lot of specialty drinks and margaritas. You will absolutely love it here. Extremely casual and laid back atmosphere. I hope to get back on my next trip to San Diego.

We really enjoyed our first visit to la vecindad! We all thought the food was great, my bf really enjoyed his michelada (Mexico city), and service was great. You order inside and they bring out the food to you which we were really surprised by how fast it came out. They have a small salsa bar and everyone thought the guacamole salsa, in particular, had great flavor. The chips tasted fresh and had just the right amount of salt. Carnitas taco was okay per my bf. He said his favorites were the campechana and el Perron out of the three. We all shared the rolled tacos and all agreed that the potato had such good flavor and the tacos were nice and crispy. The carne asada on the fries was tender, well seasoned, and thinly cut. Quesadilla was also really good, the cheese had good flavor. All in all, we'd definitely come back. Establishment is clean, everyone that helped us had a friendly face and attitude.

This place is so full of color and funny sayings throughout the whole restaurant. In the heart of HillCrest. Fun spot to stop by with a group of friends if you've never been. Food wise, thought it was ok. So many Mexican food places to eat in SD that I found this place to be average. But hey- we all have different taste buds.. you may like this place better than me. You be the judge. Give it a try :). Drink wise: I had the Gummi- chela! Flavor wise nothing special (I would stick to the OG) but love the rainbow gummies and the over all of the drink. Can't remember the other Michi i had but didn't leave an impression on me. Parking: street parking/ parking structures around. Busy street. May need to park a bit further and walk.

California Taco is sooo good. Also I loved the hopscotch near the cashier. Fun staff too.

Don't sleep on La Vecindad's tacos! The tacos may seem pricey, but they come packed with enough meat to be decently filling. My girlfriend and I shared the ceviche and each had two tacos, leaving us completely satisfied. The Costa Azul taco was the standout - the bacon-wrapped shrimp are unbeatable. The Al Pastor taco came packed with meat, but the pineapples weren't very noticeable. My girlfriend got the Chicken and the Carne Asada tacos, she preferred the chicken since the carne was a bit chewy. We're big fans of shrimp ceviche, but La Vecindad only had mahi mahi ceviche. Despite our fears, the mahi mahi was outstanding, and the addition of Tapatio was the cherry on top. My girlfriend tried the Tamarind Margarita, which tasted like a Jarritos soda, very unique and flavorful. Some menu items are on the pricier side, like the $22 surf and turf burrito, so we opted to skip those. Parking can be a bit challenging as there's limited street parking, but there are paid lots nearby. The outside seating area makes this a great place to enjoy the sun and some tacos. Overall, La Vecindad Neighborhood Tacos offers a delightful dining experience with excellent food, especially their standout Costa Azul taco, mahi mahi ceviche, and Tamarind Margarita!

Really solid mexican place with a WIDE variety of options to choose from! The waitress was literally the woman in the menu so it was cool to see how personal the business is with how they operate. Tacos are a solid 3.5/5 nice crisp fish, 4/5 Potato tacos were hitters, fluffy potatoes, nice a crunch and crispy outside. 4/5 for the shrimp burrito, absolutely loved the size, generous amount of shrimp and that chipotle garlic sauce on the inside was amazing!

If you are looking for a fun and casual friendly Mexican Restaurant which has good food then La Vecindad is your place. Located in the Hill Crest area of San Diego so it can be challenging finding parking . My suggestion is to park a few blocks away and walk in. The food is always delicious every time I've eaten or take out from there. Everyone is welcoming and friendly. My wife ordered the Mahi fish taco and I ordered the California Chicken Burrito. Both were delicious but note inside my burrito his French fries. Surprisingly, it was pretty good but not like a traditional chicken burrito. If you are looking for traditional Mexican food, they do have this too. La Vecindad Mexican Restaurant is one of my go to's when visiting family is SD. You won't be disappointed :).

For realz y'all- the Costa Azul taco is FIRE! Add a little bit of that creamy green jalapeño salsa to it and it gets even better. Ignacio the bartender also made me an incredibly tasty and well-balanced margarita when I sat at the bar today. I haven't had one in forever, and it totally hit the spot. I don't get the feeling that this is the most authentic Mexican joint but it's a damn good time. It's bright and colorful with fun music playing and everybody seem to be having a good time. I looked around and saw people eating and chatting and not on their phones, which is always refreshing.

The ingredients did not seem fresh at all, left a weird taste like I was going to be ill from eating the meat. Didn't eat the tacos. The server didn't remark on the fact that we didn't eat the food which was strange. He just threw it away. Decided not to cause a fuss and just paid and left. Wouldn't recommend this place honestly. Leaving 2 stars cuz they have decent beer and margarita deals on taco Tuesday.

This place is awesome. The grilled fish tacos were perfect as well as the enchiladas. The service was excellent and very attentive. It's an open-air restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Well worth a visit.

Absolutely listen to the menu or workers when they say what they're known for. Its the tacos. The menu also says their guac is A1 as well. My partner got tacos, pork ones and the battered fish one, and absolutely loved them. The mole on the enchiladas is very bitter. I'd skip the fundido and get the guac instead.

Large food portions, an amazingly personable staff and a truly homey vibe that pays homage to Mexican culture - obsessed! We found street parking and stopped by for some margaritas & food before exploring Hillcrest's vintage shops. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful conversation with the bartender (and maybe owner?) while decoding all of the spanish sayings on the wall. He was extremely nice and attentive, checking on us often. What we ordered: - Skinny Margarita: Delicious & STRONG. - Tacos: I ordered the battered fish taco, mushroom taco & al pastor taco - they were on the larger side for a taco and 3 filled me up perfectly. - Shrimp Burrito: A BIG boy - my best friend ordered this, loved it and brought home leftovers. Overall, I adored this spot. Charming, queer-friendly and very filling. Highly recommend.

This place is great! Friendly people, good service, and great food. We randomly happened in on taco Tuesday so tried the carne asada, Al pastor, and shrimp tacos as well as the cucumber lime aguas frescos (soooooo good). Everything had great flavor and the portions were a really good size. Sorry no pics because we were too busy eating. Would definitely come back!!

The food is amazing and the service is too !! Highly recommend! The ambiance is nice .. it has an area to eat outside which is nice !

I was in San Diego from Los Angeles for a getaway with my son and he asked for "Chips and Guacamole". I had previously fallen prey to finding an amazing taco place that, true to purest street taco tradition, had no chips and guacamole available so I was particularly cautious in finding a place that was a mixture of authentic but with chips and guac. After a yelp search, I settled on this place and we were so impressed with the food. Much like other reviewers, I listened to the wait staff and they steered me to the homemade chorizo as well as the carne asada...all the food we ate was impeccable, actually. So good that, I'm embarrassed to say that instead of finding a different restaurant the next evening, we went back. The salsas...in particular the house avocado salsa...were out of this world...I kind of wish I could bottle that sauce and take it home as I would put it on everything. And to the reviewer who made a comment about the phrase on the wall...I don't know if that was meant to be derogatory...I doubt it because both times we were there there was a large and happy LGBTQ+ community dining and enjoying the atmosphere. Perhaps it was meant to be positive and embracive of all lifestyles?

The first time i came here I had a mini hangover so i couldn't appreciate the food properly but the michelada and chips/salsa and owners are why i came back. Fortunately this time around, i had a huge appetite and the asada tacos were literally amazing. I think they had cotija cheese and a light guacamole on them even. That and a michelada were so good. I wish i lived in San Diego just so i could come eat here and feel welcome and at home. Really the owners are amazing. Parking is tough fyi, but worth it.

Come here often and get their fish tacos and the potato rolls. Both super good and tasty. Their chips and guacamole is also really good. The staff is always friendly here and ambiance is cute. Prices are good too.

We came here for Taco Tuesday happy hour, and the hype is worth it. Fresh and tasty guacamole (one of the best restaurant made I've ever had), warm crispy chips, and savory tacos; I had the Pescado and California. They were the perfect choices for a first time visitor as they made a lasting impression. Made us want to definitely come back for more. I highly recommend this place if you're in the mood for some amazing and authentic tacos.

Came to La Vecindad for the first time and absolutely LOVED it! The tacos were so delicious and filling. We got to meet one of the owners and he told us about how the restaurant came to be along with his two other brothers. We also tried their flan for dessert and it was very flavorful. We will definitely be coming back!

Food was delicious. The server was so kind to us! She might have been the manager. But she really made my experience great at this spot. Ambiance is casual, good amount of seating. Would come back

Yet again, La Vencindad blows me away with excellence. The tacos (and other items) here are simply as good as it gets. It comes down to quality and attention and creativity. I've been "updating my reviews" for five years now. Yesterday the hostess said, " I recognize you; you've been here before." Well, yeah...many t. And she was floored when I told her I've never lived in San Diego. But this fantastic eatery is one of the reasons I have made many trips to the city. Jus so, so good.

This place has become my go-to if I'm in Hillcrest and want good tacos! Their other food is also amazing - I recommend the ceviche and the guacamole is you want to try something different! It's also a great place to get drinks! They have a happy hour almost every day and Taco Tuesday has a deal for 2 tacos for $7. The owners Antonio and Eduardo are some of the nicest people and will make your experience at La Vecindad really feel like you are grabbing a drink/food with your neighborhood friends. They also have live music nights and salsa parties! Definitely recommend you stop by!

This place is an absolute gem! I was on the hunt for some top-notch tacos and stumbled upon this hidden treasure. As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the staff. Opting for seats at the bar turned out to be a great choice because we got to chat with 2 out of the 3 owners, who were incredibly personable and funny, they made our experience even more enjoyable. What sets this restaurant apart is that it's family-owned and operated by three brothers, you feel the authenticity as you walk through the door. With so many tempting options on the menu, I had a tough time deciding, but ultimately went for the carne asada taco and the California taco with steak. Let me tell you, both exceeded my expectations! The homemade corn tortillas were a game-changer, boasting incredible flavor and texture. The steak on both tacos was cooked to absolute perfection, showcasing the use of high-quality meat. And can we talk about the California taco? Despite my initial skepticism about the fries, they were a delightful surprise and added a unique twist to the dish. I know it might sound like an exaggeration, but these tacos are hands down the best I've ever had. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and indulge in some of these mouthwatering tacos - you won't regret it!

This place is so fun, there's so much to look at. they're so attentive and nice. Make sure to grab a Michelada. My favorite are the chicharrón tacos they're delicious.

The atmosphere was so fun and chill! Probably one of the best spots for taco Tuesday in san diego! I had the quesabirria and the house margarita with the chamoy rim. The margarita was great and the chamoy rim was legit! The quesabirria was good and soo cheesy! My only issue is that it wasn't served with a side of consomé. I'll be back to try the other tacos, they did look bomb!

Fell upon this restaurant by accident looking for a spot for Sunday brunch, the music and welcoming hostess is what drew us in. We ordered the bottomless mimosas, doblitas, and chicaquilles. For the mimosas, I had peach, mango, and Tamarindo - I DID NOT like the mango and Tamarindo ... or the fact that they use a syrup for their mimosas - it didn't mix well and left a bad aftertaste . The food though! So tender and juicy. The eggs were cooked perfectly, rice was great, and the beans - YUM! Their guacamole wasn't t good to me either but their salsas and spicy carrots were yummy. You order at the cashier in the back and you get a stamp on your hand to continue ordering your bottomless mimosas at the bar. Overall - good food and good service.

An ode to an institution: La Vecinidad is a treasure. It's perfectly situated on 5th ave in the heart of Hillcrest, and is incredibly open and inviting. I love the decor: an homage to queer liberation and Mexican culture. I came here with a friend and my spouse to honor a friend who loved this spot, and we felt warmly hugged during our time there! The food was all SUPER good (I am dreaming of the fish and california tacos in particular, my friend said the chile relleno one is a must get!), the guacamole is perfect, and the staff and owners could not be more delightful. This is the type of spot I want to support and want to thrive in Hillcrest. I will be back whenever I get the opportunity, this place holds a special place in my heart and is well worth a visit.

Two words: Mole Chilaquiles! And the chips and salsa! This restaurant is owned by 3 brothers from Mexico City and they do a great job of creating a fun environment with delicious food! The chips and salsa are some of the best I've ever had. We loved them so much, we came back 3 times in one weekend to get them! The Mole Chilaquiles were tasty. The sauce was flavorful and not too sweet. The chips were crisp and eggs were cooked perfectly. The brothers were so friendly and engaging! It was like we became family by the end of our meal!

Came here for Taco Tuesday with a few coworkers. Slightly on the pricey side, but reasonable for the San Diego area. Absolutely loved the tacos and drinks. I had a frozen mangorita with Tajín on the rim. Had a mix of veggie and meat tacos. The inside is bigger than it looks from the outside. Everything is bright and colorful. Service was fast and friendly.

Always loved this authentic place for casual Mexican food, but they have really expanded their menu and I really appreciate that! No more remembering which day they had what special! Guac and aquachile were so good- fresh chips and salsa bar are fantastic. I liked the option to choose the spice level of our shrimp! Great idea! Everyone enjoyed the tacos- shrimp, fish, pork all super flavorful and tasty. Only 2 shrimp in the taco but they were pretty big. Bonus they had wine for my Dad- and lots of cocktails for everyone. I always miss coming here and now will definitely return for the platos. A lively fun atmosphere and super nice service!

I did not enjoy this place unfortunately. First, when I walked into the restaurant there was a strong chemical smell. That alone almost made me leave, but I was hungry, and with all the great reviews, I figured I'd try it. Second, the staff were all nice, however there was a lot of chit chat and dancing on the side that was distracting. Lastly, the food...the guacamole was good, and there was a decent amount. I ordered the chicken tacos which were not great. The chicken tasted boiled not grilled and had zero flavor. There was a lot of it which I appreciated, but the consistency was tough, dry, and as I said, zero flavor. I tried to cover it with salsa as much as I could. Maybe it's just me based on the reviews, but coming from SF where the taco game is pretty on point, this didn't make the cut.

Good food for good prices, fast and friendly service. Great, lively environment. Large variety of food with lots of vegetarian options

This is one of the first taco places in San Diego I've gone to that genuinely make me feel like I'm eating homemade tacos. The servers at this establishment were so nice and helpful, giving us recommendations for dishes that tasted amazing. The tacos were filling, I got carnitas and carne asada and the meat was juicy and tender. The location is also great too. Because it's right at the beginning of Hillcrest on University Ave, we were able to walk down to the bars after a healthy meal (and margaritas). Would 10/10 recommend going here before the pre-game.

Pros: fun decor, hand made tortillas Grow: ordering system A fun and colorful restaurant in the heart of San Diego. The decor is inspired by the popular tv show, El Chavo del 8. Order at the counter first and then find a seat. I found this a bit uncomfortable given the counter way way at the end of the restaurant. Parking is a bit limited to try to come early. They have a check in offer so make sure to take advantage of that. Food: we tried multiple tacos and they were all so yummy on a freshly made tortilla. My favorite was the bacon wrapped shrimp taco as It was very unique. The fish tacos were also really good and I would stick to sea food because we are in San Diego! The drinks were a good size but we didn't really like the kiwi margarita.

The tacos are absolutely amazing, so is the guacamole! The service is absolutely impeccable. I highly recommend coming here. The only thing I have to say is that there is a phrase painted on the wall in Spanish that appears to state "If you read this, you are gay", at least that's my interpretation of it. I dunno - maybe it's supposed to be funny, but it seems like it's meant to be offensive?

Came in today for taco Tuesday with my sister. Pleasantly surprised, the tacos were delicious, the guacamole was so yummy and decor was super fun. The drinks are delicious and that chamoy tho . Will be back again

The server was awesome and that is for the two stars. The tacos are not good. I drove out of my way to get these tacos due to all of the 5 star reviews and major disappointment. We got them to go and gave them away. These tacos are not for someone who is sober!

great tacos, strong drinks. I've only ordered the tacos and had the drink but consistently delicious. the tacos are interesting combination of authentic with a little fusion going on, lots of taco options. I am mexican so I know good mexican food.

Went here today for a late lunch. We ordered the enchiladas and tacos (the California, carne asada, pollo asado and a fish taco). All of the food was solid but we'd say the carne asada taco and the fish taco were the best. The service was excellent!!! The hostess helped us select entrees and gave us good info about the number of dishes we needed for our party - no annoying attempt to upsell! Also, she offered to bring water for our dog. We felt the tables and seating were really clean and actually saw another employee wiping everything down after each party left.

I has high expectations but the tacos were just okay. Nothing out of this world. Cute ambiance

Great, lively, atmosphere that was enjoyable. The seating arrangement encouraged conversation with friends and strangers alike, almost as if they expected you to look to your neighbor and say "this is delicious!". The salsa bar was stocked with everything one could want from a Mexican restaurant, and the service was well executed. 10/10 would eat here again!

Colorful restaurant with friendly service. They have and order counter with plenty of seating. Small fridge with beer and salsa counter help support the food coming out. I ordered 5 different tacos to get a sense of the flavors. The pescado is one of the better fried fish tacos in SD, has nice mango pico de gallo on top. The costa azul is a bacon wrapped shrimp isn't a taco combo i've had before. The California steak taco is ok, but better combinations exist. The cochinta pibil taco is really nice, good balance of flavors with seasoned shredded pork and beans. I also enjoyed a blue corn tortilla shrimp taco, another unique offering and it was pretty good. I would come back to try some more of this place and will even try to recreate the pescado and cochinta pibil at home.

Small taco joint in the bustling area of Hillcrest. Good area for some quick lunch options as well as shopping. Was able to get seating for two people inside without any wait. Started off with the Chips and Salsa ($8?). They have a salsa station to the side so you can try different items depending on taste and spice level. Pretty straightforward fare, with most of the salsas being quite mild. After that, ordered the Pescado Taco and Carnitas Taco ($4.50 each). The fish taco is topped with mango, cream, and greens. Not the easiest to eat but the fish itself is very nice. Carnitas taco is more basic, with just onions and cilantro on top. The tortillas themselves are nice, not stale and keeping intact. Setup here is very low-key and even having an island style vibe. Would recommend for a quick lunch in the area.

Fabuloso! From the fantastic decor, festive with rich urban Mexican culture. To the outstanding food offerings. Authentic Mexican cuisine made by the owners. Simple ordering and quick delivery to your table. Outstanding service from happy employees with a gracious hello to a thankful goodbye. Rafa!

Grilled Mahi taco on the blue corn tortillas 10/10 treat yourself! Employees are so kind

Outstanding and super delicious tacos! We were visiting SD and wanted some good tacos and came here due to the good reviews on Yelp and we are very pleased with this place and can't wait to comeback to SD to eat here one more time. Homemade tortillas and homemade longaniza.

Yum! We had an excellent time celebrating cinco de mayo here. The decorations were colorful and festive, the service was really fast and everyone was really friendly. The house margs were great and only $7. The rolled tacos were 10/10 delicious, as were the rice and black beans. Of the tacos, we really liked the chicken, carne asada and al pastor. The mushroom ones were kind of oily and bland. The salsas were really good and there's a whole self-serve salsa bar! Would definitely recommend and come back to try more :)

5/5 for vibe. 5/5 for friendly staff. 5/5 for menu and drink options. 4.5/5 for the great tacos. I really enjoyed this place and is definitely on my list of places to go back to when I'm in SD. Came here on a weeknight around 8pm and got a table no problem. The indoor decor is colorful and creates a fun yet casual environment. You can sit at the little bar, at an indoor or outdoor picnic table, along the wall, at a high top, so plenty of options. You are given a menu but order at the front and take your number to a table. They have a huge selection of fun taco options in addition to other Mexican favorites. I got the hongos and Al pastor tacos, both were stuffed and soooo tasty. It's pricy for a single taco, ~$4.25. But they pack them well and deliver on flavor. They also have a great drink menu from micheladas and local beer on draft to hard kombucha and cocktails. Really a great spot, check it out.

Came for lunch with my wife around noon. The food was not only satisfying but delicious and flavorful. The place had a casual but fun vibe to it as well. We were greeted by one of the waiters quickly and thankfully the waiter was kind enough to ask if we would like recommendations because it was our first time. Here is what we got: Sopa Azteca 4/5: We got a cup serving to share and it was just enough to share between two people. The roasted tomatoes really popped out in this dish, and crema paired with the avocado helped give it a nice creaminess to the overall flavor of the dish. The crispy tortilla strips made it even better with the added crunchy texture. Campechano taco: probably our least favorite taco, but only because the longaniza was too dry for our personal taste. Steak was well seasoned and cooked. The grilled onions still had a nice crunch and the potatoes were thoroughly cooked. 3/5 Cochinita Pibil: we would definitely recommend this taco to anyone who likes carnitas. The meat was tender and seasoned well. You could really taste the achiote, and the red pickled onions were refreshing and helped add a nice crunch to each bite. 5/5 pescado: This was your standard fish taco. I like that they add chopped mangos to this taco because it blends so well with the lemon habanero sauce. The battered fish was lightly battered but I only wish the fish filet was a little bigger. Solid 4.5/5 costa azul: The costa azul was without a doubt my wife's favorite taco and I have to agree. The bacon on the shrimp was crispy and the size of the juicy shrimp was more than expected. The red cabbage and chipotle sauce topped the whole taco off adding some spice and nice smoke flavor to the taco. 5/5 Things to know: Walk over to the register to put down your order.