Mike's Red Tacos

Some of the best “chain” tacos you’ll find. The flavor is solid, portions are generous, and they hit the spot when you’re craving tacos without overthinking it. Service is quick and consistent, making it an easy go-to when you want something reliable and tasty. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area and craving casual tacos that punch above typical chain quality.

The absolute BEST service, food, and cook time. My food was served HOT and fresh. My order was taken with a smile and professionalism. I didn’t wait long at all. I highly recommend Mikes to anyone seeking flavor driven food. I was blown away that the chips were seasoned too oh my goodness I couldn’t put them down. The food is also very filling.

Mike’s Red Tacos is everything birria. Birria is not for everyone due to the texture. It’s shredded beef. We got the California burrito and combo #2 (no cheese). The burrito felt like 5 pounds! So much meat. My mom loved it because the meat was soft, tender and flavorful. It was easy on her dentures compared to a typical carne asada burrito. Combo #2 was no cheese and came with chips, cilantro, onions and consume. I should have tried the cheese version. The dining room is not that big and no outdoor seating. We ordered take out and saw people after us dining in but had no seats and ended up going home.

One of my favorite places of all time! I plan trips to San Diego just so I can eat at Mike’s Red Tacos. The Cali burrito is probably my favorite (and it’s huge) but I’ve enjoyed every menu item I’ve tried.

Diamond in the rough ✨️. We passed by here a while back and noticed so many people going in and out, so we had to try it. They are very welcoming and accommodating. The food was delicious. The downside is that if you're paying on the higher side, the different sauces should be part of your order and not pay separately. Overall, great, and I .will be coming back and recommend you trybit out ,of you haven't already .

Overall, not super impressed. First time going, my boyfriend and I approached the counter and both wanted a combo #1, we only received one of the orders. Not really a problem though, because it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I felt the flavor was lacking in the tacos, chips, and churros. Great presentation, but not my preferred spot for biria tacos

Beyond amazing food!!!! Went back for more food!!!! Everything they have is absolutely delicious. First time coming here, we are on vacation from the Midwest and this place blew it out of the water!!! Super fast, everyone tasted amazing. We have the combo number 1, the birria ramen, loaded churros, and chips and Queso!!!! Best food of our trip! Definitely recommend giving this place a try!

Honestly this place was great, as soon as we ordered food was ready within a 5 min time frame. Staff was really welcoming and friendly. Small place so limited seating but nonetheless the food, salsa, portions and everything was amazing!

The guy taking our order was very kind and polite and respectful with our meal and the food was yummy

Wow, everything tasted amazing! Tacos, chips, sides. I went in thinking it was going to be basic and I was absolutely wrong. I don't even normally review things but this was too good and deserved the 5 stars. Service was also perfect. Kind and helpful staff, kept everything clean the whole time.

Mike's Red Tacos is everything birria. Birria is not for everyone due to the texture. It's shredded beef. We got the California burrito and combo #2 (no cheese). The burrito felt like 5 pounds! So much meat. My mom loved it because the meat was soft, tender and flavorful. It was easy on her dentures compared to a typical carne asada burrito. Combo #2 was no cheese and came with chips, cilantro, onions and consume. I should have tried the cheese version. The dining room is not that big and no outdoor seating. We ordered take out and saw people after us dining in but had no seats and ended up going home.

Food was amazing!!!!! The only reason I gave it a 4 and not a 5 is because the wait time is insane! The employees are polite & nice, I think they either need more help or work a bit faster because we waited at least 1/2 hour... It was crowded! I noticed that once the cashier stopped taking orders he just lingered around instead of helping with take out orders or helping in general...their consume is the best I've had so far!!! I like that they give radishes & a slaw on the side...

Absolutely delicious flavored tacos and birria ramen! The place is a bit small with a couple of tables and food comes out quickly. There's a salsa bar and soda machine. Perfect stop for your tacos away from the main downtown area but not too far as well. There is no public restroom. Service was friendly, thank goodness we went on a non busy day because I've seen the photos with long lines. The only thing was the chips weren't that great which docks a star, but other than that everything else was perfect!

Stopped here on a limb on our way to sea world.... Dayummmmmm this place is bomb, especially the Cali burrito and loaded fries. 5/5 for sure. The tacos were delicious too but not as tasty as the burrito. They also have to many selections of salsa that you can try so of course we had to try all of them. The best one in my opinion was the green one. Service was also on point, everyone was really friendly and helpful with our order. My only gripe is that the place inside is super tiny, and also parking kinda sucks. On a side note, I was soooo full that I didn't even eat dinner when I got back home to Ontario. Anyway if you're in the same Diego area or on your way to sea world, come give this place a try. TIL next time my fellow yelpers

Delicious food. The fries, the hot sauces, the tacos, the consume are all wow!!! It's not the healthiest choice but that's necessarily what you expect at a taco shop. Def making this a regular thing

Finally I got to try this place out. So Mike's Red Tacos has been in my bookmarks for quite some time and I finally had the opportunity to try it out yesterday evening with my family. It's tucked in a corner of a smaller shopping plaza in the area. Parking is sorta crappy with tiny spots but it was extremely had to find a spot. It's a small little shop that had a out 5 tables. We went yesterday evening around 6pm and it was consistently busy but we were able to get a table. We ordered a Cali burrito, combo #2 and a crunchstack for my family of 6. Our food came out pretty quick. My youngest did not eat any of it. It was plenty of food to share. I thought everything was good. My kids enjoyed the meal (especially my son who is super picky). Staff was super friendly. We all had a good experience. I'd definitely come back again in the future.

I was interested in trying this place because I saw they had birria ramen on their menu. Birria ramen is one of those trendy fusion foods that has come onto the scene recently and I've been curious to try it for some time now. Finally got the opportunity with a couple of friends out on a trip in San Diego for a friend's bachelor party. I was pleasantly surprised -- it tastes like a slightly modified version of classic Taiwanese beef noodle soup! Same rich taste with a bit of acidity. I think I still prefer Taiwanese beef noodle soup to this, but it's worth a try for anyone who is curious. You won't be disappointed!

Everything we ordered was legit good. My boyfriend enjoyed the birria tacos with consume. The loaded fries were bomb, with the fries being soft and crispy at the same time. The birria ramen is also really really good. Everything also pairs very well with each other. We ate the tacos with ramen, the fries with ramen, and tacos + fries. All so yummy! The guy who served us last night was also very professional and friendly. Highly recommend!

Got a 2 taco without cheese combo that came with chips and onions and cilantro and sliced radishes and two limes. Oh boy, the tacos were so juicy and delicious! It came with a hot cup of soup that you can dip the tacos in and that broth is so bomb! Overall, the perfectly balanced tacos that satisfied every bit of my soul and gave me so much pleasure to devour. There is a salsa bar and I love the jalapeño and green salsa. I didn't dare to go for the two spicier ones. There were two computers to take your orders when you walk in, or someone behind the counter. We took it out so we didn't dine in, but the place was packed. We walked in and got right up to order, but when we were leaving there was a line out the door. That seems to happen to us a lot. You definitely want us at your restaurant cuz people follow where we go! Hahah, got a taco craving, get you some mikes red. They do not disappoint.

Mike's Red is a regular neighborhoods take-out spot for my friends in the area. Their salsas are so good and a must-get with their menu (sometimes we take home a lot). We ordered the taco combo with chips and cheese, crunchstack and loaded nachos, which came out to 50.37$ for 3 people. Staff are quick and friendly there - sometimes we walked around the plaza while waiting for the order, but it was fast. I loved the crunchstack with 3 of their jalapeño salsas - like an upgraded crunchwrap.

Had a friend choose where we'd eat for dinner after work, and she chose Mike's Red Tacos. I can't even begin to put into words how thankful I am that she decided to choose this place. Such delicious birria tacos! Parking wasn't too bad, but it was definitely a crowded spot. Mike's Red Tacos isn't super spacious, and there wasn't a lot of seating, so it won't be a guarantee that you will be able to dine in. FOOD: Combo #2 (5/5) - Comes with two beef birria tacos with cilantro and red onions, a cup of consome, and a heap of tortilla chips. It also came along with a bunch of extra sides/toppings of cilantro, red onions, pickled red onions, lime slices, and radishes you can add to your tacos. The beef was sooo tender and juicy. The taco shell was perfectly crispy, and dipping the tacos into the consome was just a wonderful explosion of flavors. Get Combo #1 if you like everything in combo #2 but want the addition of cheese. It's their only difference. (I just don't personally care for cheese.) There's a salsa bar near the entrance of the taco shop with such a wide variety of fresh options. They also clearly label the spice levels of the different salsas/sauces. Adding them to the tacos and dipping the tortilla chips in them will further elevate the mouthwatering experience. You can scoop them into the provided plastic cups to bring back to your table, or cap them and bring them to go. SERVICE: (5/5) Everyone was so smiley and kind. You order at the counter, and your food won't take very long to come out at all. It got pretty busy during our dine-in in but everything and everyone at this establishment was efficient. TLDR// Wonderful birria tacos spot! It will make you understand and visit "flavortown." I will absolutely be back! Highly recommended.

This place gets so busy! We ordered online on a Friday night around 8pm and it said it was a 40min wait until it was ready. We went a bit earlier than estimated hoping it would be done earlier cause we were hungry lol. The parking can be quite filled, but should be some spots open. At least there are the 'green' parking spots so it's easier to grab and go. So we arrived and it was pretty busy. A lot of kids too! I went up the counter at 9pm and they said it's not ready and to wait 10 more mins. So we did, walked around the plaza, went in again 10 mins later... and another staff said they needed an extra 10 mins.... so they seemed pretty backed up. Finally we got a text that it was ready and we eagerly went to go get it haha. Grabbed it and went back to our place to feast. We ordered several birria tacos, loaded fries, two of the #1 combos, and a loaded burrito. I mainly had the tacos and the fries, but the tacos were pretty nice! I feel like they were pretty standard, maybe if I tried it with consome, it would have made a bigger difference, but it was pretty nice in general. The birria itself was quite tender and flavorful. The loaded fries, I actually enjoyed a lottt more. Those were so good! With the birria too, it was really nice. My friends also enjoyed theres and the combo can be filling because it comes with chips.

Small little shop that serves some tasty tacos! Got the number 2 combo for two birria tacos that comes with chips and they have a salsa bar by the front door you can pick from numerous selections of salsas. Service was fast and the cashier greeted us with a smile. Our food came out fairly quickly as well. The ambience is chill. People were seated eating or waiting for their order so it was fairly busy and crowded but plenty of room to sit. It was a little loud but not so much that I couldn't hear my friend talk across from me. Would def come back.

We met a friend here for lunch. Mike's Red Tacos is nestled in with other businesses and a busy shared parking lot. As you enter the restaurant, there's a large menu posted for you to read. It's a smaller scale place so the tables fill up quickly. Luckily, there's tables outside, too. We ordered their Keto Tacos that were DELICIOUS!! It's the Birria tacos and the taco shell are made with cheese. Crispy cheese shell, tender beef, and more melted cheese inside!! YUMMY!!! Our friend ordered his favorite Red Quesadillas!!! Overall, you order at the counter. Pay your bill and they will call your number when ready. There's a drink counter that is self served. Find a seat inside or step outside. It's a shared parking lot so it can be busy during peak times. Prices are competitive with today's market. Employees were friendly, helpful, and full of smiles!! The restaurant was clean, bright, and vibrant. We can't wait to try other menu items. Ohhhh! We were so hungry that we forgot to take pictures!

Dropped by here because we were in San Diego and that usually means tacos! We got the Cali burrito & the birria tacos. The tacos were really good & balanced. The birria had a deep rich flavor that came through & it wasn't too fatty like some places. They had an array of salsas that were all very delicious! The Cali burrito was good but wasn't bursting with flavors like the tacos. I'd come back if I was in the area!

5 Stars - Birria Heaven! Mike Red Tacos is next level! We ordered the birria tacos and the birria ramen, and I can't even express how amazing the food was--so flavorful, tender, and absolutely delicious. Every bite was perfection! The salsa bar was a huge plus, packed with fresh and tasty options to customize every bite. On top of that, the service was great--friendly, fast, and welcoming. I seriously cannot wait to come back again. If you love birria, this is the place to be! Highly recommend!

The food was AMAZING! They were busy but we got our food quick and the people working there were so sweet and attentive. The restaurant was clean, well stocked and had plenty of spots to sit when we went.

Wanted to try this place because of all the hype and they did not miss! We visited on a Tuesday, and the staff mentioned that it was Taco Tuesday, so combo orders came with a free taco. We ordered two #1 combos and a veggie taco and everything was so delicious. These tacos were soo yummy especially with the onions and cilantro. The shell was crispy, the meat was tender, and the consome paired perfectly with the tacos. The service was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for the order even though it was busy. There's also a self serve sauce station at the front which had a variety of sauces to choose from. I would definitely return next time I'm back in SD!

Food and service was good good customer service food was served fast I love there salsa bar

Came here with a friend as I told her I was craving birria-- And I am glad we did because this is my favorite spot at the moment! We ordered Combo 1 & 2, plus a side of churros. The birria was very flavorful, and not as greasy compared to other places. The consume was perfectly paired with the tacos, and staff was very kind to costumers. The place itself is small, and can get crowded easily. If you don't like small places, they offer take out and uber/doordash. Overall, I'd definitely come back and recommend to a friend!

Solid birria spot. Came here late night about an hour before closing. There was still decent traffic flow for a Wednesday night, and the staff was very friendly and helpful for my first time here. I ordered the #1, the red quesadilla, and the mini churros. I enjoyed the tacos especially because it still had a good crunch and wasn't soggy at all. The red quesadilla was delicious and it was a good size cut into about 4 pieces. After the tacos and the quesadilla, I was already really full but I had to try the mini churros. I had no regrets. They were crispy and not overwhelmingly sweet or cinnamon-y. They were the perfect treat to end my meal. Definitely want to try the loaded churros next time!

Overall, a pretty good experience. The consome is the really stand out. Whatever you order, I recommend getting the consome added. They only negatives had to do with their loaded fries. No complaints about the Tacos. Pros: * Delicious consume; recommend the #2 combo * Adequate service at the register & quick service with the food * Clean inside * Great Salsa bar; recommend the jalepeno salsa Cons: * We ordered a large loaded fries and while the tray seemed large... the portion seemed quite small once we started mixing it. * There was not enough meat to the already small portion of fries * The loaded fries were dry. Thank goodness we had consume from out #2 order. The fries dipped made it a delicious bite. Extra: * Limited parking & the spaces are tight * Limited seating. There are a few benches outside. * No bathrooms

This was such a pleasant dining experience and we were super excited to try it. There was a long line in the beginning so we knew it was gonna be good. There was a bit of a wait time for the food to be ready, but it was worth it! We got the loaded nachos, which the full order is huge. So definitely either share with a big group or order the half one. We got the birria quesadilla that was packed with so much flavor and delicious add ons. The drink options were really great and we enjoyed some fruity aqua frescas. The staff were super friendly and inviting. We definitely will be back when we are in the area!

Mike's is the place for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the days go on. My lady enjoys the Crunchy taco made right. The Chips are fresh and the deals are fresher. Enjoy the time till later at night its a good place to stop.

This taco eatery is a gem among the hundreds of taco shops that San Diego is famous for! Although the menu is not extensive, their birria specialty dishes are well worth it. We ordered the birria cheese tacos and the birria ramen to go. They were packaged securely when we came to pick it up. We added a few cups of their famous salsas. Very generous of them to have an open salsa bar, I might add. Side Note: the jalapeño salsa, my fav, is flavorful and spicier than "medium". Unless you can handle fiery burn your mouth heat, I'd stay away from the orange habanero salsa. The staff was friendly and efficient with any requests. Since it's a tiny shop with a small dining area, I would highly recommend using the online ordering from their website. Beats fighting any possible lines or crowding around a small table as you wolf down your food while others stare hungrily at you just waiting to pounce on your table when you leave! Overall, when that taco craving hits you, remember Mike's Red Tacos. They are unique among the many taco stands out there. Don't let the strip mall setting fool you!

Came back again to try more food and it was another big hit. Service was great, everyone is nice and the ambiance was clean and busy.

what we ordered | 2 birria + cheese | additional birria taco | horchata | side of queso taste | birria tacos had lots of flavor and the cheese option made it even better. queso was pretty good since most places I feel like don't really offer queso. service | workers were nice and food came out fast parking | plaza lot notes | definitely good to try if you're craving birria. t

If you're in San Diego and you're in the mood for a great burrito. Like one of the best burritos you can have. I would imagine eating on a crisp early morning in a San Diego parking lot or eating at an outdoor table watching the planes fly in the sky. I would come here. So easy to order either at the counter or the self-kiosk. Parking: Located in a big supermarket and shopping plaza. Won't be hard to find a space available and walk over. Breakfast Burrito: I honestly liked the burrito more than the taco. Very few places can execute ooey-gooey cheese and warm scrambled eggs packed with generous meat. It's a pretty thick burrito too, and pretty worth it for its price. Birria Taco: This taco is packed with veggie toppings and shredded meat. Taco shell is sssoooo crispy! Doesn't come with birria sauce cup, but the meat juicy when you bite into the shell.

limited seating -- like 5 tables inside and one outside we ordered the loaded fries and combo 1 to share and both were really good fries were crispy and good dipped in the consome too tacos were hot and so good with salsa + consome also really enjoyed the chips -- they were a rly good thickness and crisp! parking spots are a little tight but there are a lot

Came for a late lunch - nearly no wait time which was fabulous and food came out fast. We got a smattering of options to try the different ways they make birria. We figured it would vary the meal but every bite tasted the same. We ended up feeling like it was too much of the same. That being said, the birria was good. Salsa bar did have options but they probably would have benefited from a cilantro or a more creamy type sauce to break up flavor. The location is small, maybe 5 tables and no bathroom. People were very kind! Service was quick Tried it once because of all the talk but I'm not sure I'd go back since it felt like one time was enough

If you're looking for a decent birria taco, this is definitely a god spot to try. There are lots of places that don't do birria well but this place does a good job. I got my tacos real quick ! It's a small little spot but during non-peak hours, you can get your food quick and find a spot to sit. Would recommend!

A small hole in the wall restaurant vibes with decent side seating but not a lot, made it designed like a quick stand and eat place (though it does have chairs, just talking about the vibes). I say this mostly because there's also no bathrooms, and as a germaphobe, I just really want to wash my hands but couldn't which for me is a huge downside. There's a sauce bar in the back and everything else was self serve for water, cutlery, ect. Anyhow it's pretty fast, ordering was easy, cashier/waiter was friendly and helpful. I Ordered a #1 Two birria taco with cheese, side of guacamole, and added churros. Wow, the birria tacos were great, good flavor, tender, cheese portion was great and the dipping sauce, great!!! Guacamole was delicious Don't skip on the Churros!!! They were also amazing, good flavor, crunch, and tender bounce, fantastic! I dunno if they had chocolate or anything to dip it with (I only thought of it later) but that would be awesome if they did. Overall, excited to come back and try more of their stuff!! Loved it and would 5/5 recommend

I love birria and usually resort to the tacos, but then I seen something different... the CrunchStack. It was similar to a torta, instead used with a tortilla, filled with birria, beans, queso, guacamole, cilantro, and onions. The flavors were delicious. Even the chips on the side were flavorful. I got the crunchstack combo, so that included a side of consomé. Even their salsas were good, especially Mike's mix.

I'm not sure why I took so long to try this... I was definitely hesitant to, especially since there were so many mixed reviews, but after trying I can confidently say that it's definitely some of the better Birria I've had in San Diego. Tacos: - crispy/soft shell (combination) - was flavorful - meat was a *tad* dry, but the consume dip definitely made up for it

Was in SD area and wanted to grab a quick bite for lunch. My boyfriend and I came across Mike's Red Tacos on Yelp and decided to give it a try! The store is located in a pretty spacious plaza so parking wasn't an issue! I will say though that Mike's Red is definitely a small store with limited table seating. They also don't have a public restroom, unfortunately. We decided on the birria tacos (which comes with a side of tortilla chips) and loaded nachos. There's also a sauce bar where you can grab whatever condiments you'd like without having to ask, which I thought was a nice touch. Everyone working was also super nice and helpful! My boyfriend and I LOVED the birria tacos, it was definitely the highlight of our meal! The birria was flavorful, the consume was steaming hot, and the tacos were crunchy with every bite -- it was delicious! I wish we had known before that an order of birria tacos comes with a side of chips, otherwise we wouldn't have ordered the loaded nachos at all. The extra tortilla chips were an overkill and we didn't end up finishing it! The loaded nachos were good, but I'd skip getting them tbh -- was nothing noteworthy. In all, Mike's Red Tacos is a great spot if you're hungry and craving some birria tacos, they definitely hit the spot for a good price point!

Easy five stars. You won't leave hungry and the food has a ton of flavor. Birria is the name of the game here and you can have it served however you like: in a taco, burrito, quesadilla, ramen, and so on. Combination number 1 gives you two large hard shell birria tacos with melted cheese, a large cup of terrific consome, and a nice portion of well-seasoned chips. Everything on the plate was excellent. I saw people literally drinking the consome and I don't blame them. The Cali Burrito is absolutely massive and is easily shareable. It's a terrific burrito but if I had one criticism, I would say there's no crunch or texture. But if you want a ginormous, delicious burrito that you will be enjoying for days, get this. The birria quesadilla is also huge. It's cheesy, meaty, and greasy, in a good way. I don't know how some people think can wonder whether the aguas frescas are homemade. They come out of a self-serve machine. They obviously aren't homemade. Finally, the salsa bar near the front door is ingenious. It's a refrigerated unit. I found the "spicy" sauce hotter than the "spicy AF" one but the superstar is the creamy jalapeño salsa. It's absolutely delicious. The prices are a little expensive but you get a ton of high quality food. It's well worth it. The food is awesome here.

Not just another San Diego taco shop, this spot definitely stands out amongst the rest, the flavors are pretty amazing, and the consumè is a nice addition. Their selection of sauces are all amazing, and the spicy is not kidding. The team is super friendly and helpful. Spots a little smaller than most but still good

This place is the definition of overrated Basically all they sell is Birra tacos or really just call them shredded beef. It was very dry and not a lot of flavor I have had so many better. Also, the staff here is not friendly. I won't come back.

Food was average not bad but nothing that set it apart. The sauces are again average super clean ambiance fast service and everyone is friendly would eat here again just not a unique cuisine experience.

Stopped here when we landed into SD late night and what a great find. Service was really nice. The food was amazing. We got the combo # 1 & the loaded nachos. I must say that the food was sooooo flavorful. I highly recommend this place

This place is so amazing. Food is top notch and prepared fresh! Service and ordering is easy and can be made at a kiosk or at the register. Inside is large and very clean too. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for solid food at a good price and portion for your money!

My first time here. It was very good. I'm a sucker for a salsa bar and they have like 7 varieties to choose from. The tacos were tasty. I wish we had split the burrito, it's HUGE! The beans and guacamole were good too. The girls at the register were very friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that there is no public bathroom, which is a big deal for me. We had to go a few businesses down to the Pollo Loco.

This place was busy when I arrived at the location. I ordered 3 tacos without cheese. These tacos with the sauce were the best I had while visiting San Diego area. I really enjoyed this place as it lived up to the stars and reputation of good food. If you are in San Diego try this place, it's really good and worth it! Enjoy.....

The place is small but mighty. Most of the tables were taken by the time I ordered, and there was a line nearly out the door by the time I left. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Plus, I like it when servers repeat your order back to you to ensure they got it right, which they did. I got the crunchstack, and it was generously filled with birria goodness plus the satisfying crunch I wanted. It was juicy but not overly so, which I appreciated. The salsa station is in the back with a closed lid and a clean surface. I like the flavors of the hot and green (which I think was medium), which added a nice kick. There are multiple locations, and I wish there was one closer to me because this would be a great, regular grab-and-go option. Happy I finally got to try and will need to revisit and order more off the menu.

All the food is great but it is on the pricier side. 6 tacos, chips and consume for close to $60 is steep.

Amazing mexican food: birria tacos with very tasteful chips, however the console is not necessary due to the self serve salsa sauce counter(combo#1). Churro is crispy and just right. We went on Taco Tuesday so free extra birria Taco . The place is small with limited seats so some people are eating at outside table around the plaza since they're super busy!

Best birria tacos I've ever had. Coming from a native Texan. Top notch! Quick service, very clean. Will definitely be back!