Tacos El Franc

I've been going to the original Tacos El Franc since I first visited Tijuana almost 12 years ago, so naturally when I found out they were opening a new location inside the Plaza Bonita mall, I was very excited. When we got to the mall, we can already see a line forming outside the taqueria, but the line wasn't too bad. We waited about 10-15 mins before being seated and once we were seated, someone was waiting to take our order. All our tacos were served within 5 mins of ordering. We ordered the Adobada, Suadero, Tripa, Cabeza, and the Asada. The tacos are as good as I remember them being at the original location in TJ with a couple of twists (I'm not sure if intensional). The tortillas tasted lightly fried which added a nice additional crunch to the whole taco - I thought it complemented the tripa really well. My favorite is the Suadero, but today the adobada was the star of the show due to the charring on parts of the meat which was evenly distributed throughout the taco. Lastly, there's a bar inside that serves beers, Micheladas, and different kinds of agua fresca. I recommend the Jamaica - it had just the right amount of sweetness and was very refreshing. Overall, Tacos el Franc at the Plaza Bonita mall is a must go if you're looking for legendary, authentic tacos on this side of the border. We left wanting more, so we're definitely going back. 9.5/10

Tacos El Franc is hands down one of the best taco spots I’ve been to. 🌮 The hospitality is on another level! 👌🏽 The owner even shared a specialty that’s not on the menu. Food was fresh, flavorful, and made with so much love. Definitely a spot I’ll keep coming back to! 🙌🏽

🔥🔥 Tacos El Franc at Plaza Bonita Mall – A Must-Try Spot! 🌮🔥 Tacos El Franc inside Plaza Bonita Mall really hit the spot! From the moment I walked up, the service was on point—super friendly, fast, and welcoming. You can tell they care about what they’re serving and about making sure you leave happy. Now let’s talk about the tacos—straight 🔥‼️ Full of flavor, perfectly seasoned, and served hot and fresh. The meats were juicy, the tortillas were soft and warm, and the toppings brought it all together. Every bite had me coming back for more. You can taste the quality and authenticity in every taco. Whether you’re shopping at the mall or just looking for a solid taco spot, Tacos El Franc is a must-visit. Great food, great service, and an all-around great experience. Highly recommend it!

Not sure why this place is rated so low, we had such a positive experience! Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating, and checked in on us a lot. The food was excellent and is almost the same as the TJ El Franc. The only thing is that the tacos are pricey at $5 each, but they do put a lot of meat on it so I feel it was worth it. The food came very fast. My only complaint is that the grilled onion is also $5 which I feel is outrageous. Aside from that, our experience was great, the vibe was nice, and it made me miss Tijuana. ❤️

Visiting San Diego, I was told that this is some of the best street tacos SD has to offer. As a passionate TexMex lover, I was skeptical, but this place really is worth a stop The restaurant itself is connected to the Westfield Plaza Bonita mall in National City. We went on a weekend, and parking was difficult even though it’s a massive shopping mall parking lot As you walk up you can see covered patio seating jutting out from the restaurant/mall. Walk inside the mall to get seated. We sat on the patio as it was a lovely day… and it’s pretty much always a lovely day in San Diego, especially when compared to Texas Apparently, this is the first location opened in the US. It was packed, but we didn’t have to wait for a table. There is a lot of seating options both inside and out The menu offers several variety of dishes that you can get as a taco, toastado, vampiro (pretty much a tostada version but with a different cheese), and even some dishes on French fries. We tried an assortment. Also, try one of their aquas frescas, they have orange juice, a Jamaican juice, and horchata. They also have plenty of beer to choose from For mix-ins (proteins and toppings), they have marinated pork (adobada), grilled steak (asada), beef head (cabeza), brisket (suadero), tripe (tripa), beef tongue (lengua), as well as mix and vegetarian options The service was great. Our server took our order almost immediately, and I was astonished with how quickly everything came out, especially for how much we ordered Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. I love street tacos, and these were some of the best I have ever had in the United States Some tips: Some dishes come with beans, and if that’s not your thing just ask for the dish without beans. The tacos are fully loaded and are reasonably affordable, so, I would consider ordering a variety and trying everything. Street tacos are smaller than most tacos, and while these aren’t tiny, if you plan on sharing you might only get a bite or so Cheers!!

Simply the best. Do yourself a favor and try them already if you haven't, or don't and miss out on the best tacos of your life. We are so blessed to have them on this side of the border. Kind and attentive staff, best tasting meat, quick service. What more could you want? Always my favorite spot. We'll be back soon! ✌🏽💚🌮🇺🇸🇲🇽

If you're anywhere near Bonita and craving authentic, mouthwatering tacos, Tacos El Franc is an absolute must! The flavors are bold, fresh, and unforgettable. The carne asada is perfectly seasoned and grilled, the tortillas taste homemade, and the salsas add just the right amount of kick. Portions are generous and prices are more than fair for the quality you get. The staff is friendly and quick, making the whole experience smooth even when they're busy. You can tell they put love into their food-it's not just a meal, it's an experience. Easily one of the best taco spots in San Diego County. Highly recommended!

Since I've been to the original place i can tell you this place falls short. The food was just ok definitely not what u get at the original place. I think it has a lot to do with the employees in good old USA are entitled and most not all, dont know what its like to earn there wage... We saw our server to take our order and an hour later to come charge us. When we went the entire outside part was mostly empty. Pretty disappointed for the price for what you get here for tacos. Meat was a little under cooked and there was so many flys.

Best tacos in San Diego! Wanted to see if the hype was real and now it makes sense why people line up for their tacos. Will definitely recommend to others and check out the TJ location in the future! Place was packed, but their customer service absolutely killed it. They were helpful and quick.

This place was phenomenal! Do it, you won't be sorry. You can taste the quality- they must use only the best meats and their tortillas were perfect. Had the carnitas, mixto, asada and brisket tacos and we split a carne asada casa dilla, with a naranja drink. I would order each one of those again but the owner told me they make their carne asada fries in beef tallow... so next time we'll try that. 10/10 would recommend.

Perfection! We got to Tacos El Frac and yes -- there was a long line to get in. But to my surprise, it moved super fast. They assigned us a table, and just a few seconds later a waitress showed up with an iPad to take our order. She explained that while she's entering everything, the taco masters in the back are already getting the ticket and starting the order immediately. No joke -- three minutes later, I had a beautiful, steaming hot Adobada taco in front of me. Let me tell you... it was shockingly good! Same goes for the Asada, Lengua, and Suadero tacos -- everything was top-notch. The service? Super friendly and efficient. After eating here, there's honestly no reason to go back to those other taco joints in town where they treat you like crap -- first you're standing 30 minutes just to order, then another 30 to pay, and finally you're fighting for a table. By the time you sit down, your tacos are cold and chewy. At El Frac, you go straight to your table, the food shows up warm and fast, and everything hits just right. This place? It's a taco temple, period. ¡Perfección total! Llegamos a Tacos El Frac y sí... había una fila larga para entrar, pero para mi sorpresa se movía rapidísimo. Nos asignaron una mesa y a los pocos segundos llegó una mesera con un iPad para tomarnos la orden. Nos explicó que mientras va capturando la orden, los maestros taqueros ya están recibiendo el ticket y comenzando a prepararla al instante. No es broma: ¡tres minutos después ya tenía frente a mí un taco de adobada bien calientito y delicioso! Y déjame decirte... ¡estaba sorprendentemente bueno! Lo mismo con los tacos de asada, lengua y suadero -- todo de primer nivel. ¿El servicio? Súper amable y eficiente. Después de comer aquí, sinceramente ya no hay razón para volver a esos otros lugares de tacos donde te tratan de la fregada: primero tienes que estar parado media hora para ordenar, luego otra media hora para pagar, y después esperar otros 10 minutos para encontrar mesa. Cuando por fin te sientas, tus tacos ya están fríos y duros. Aquí en El Frac, llegas directo a tu mesa, todo te llega rápido, calientito y como debe ser. Este lugar... es un templo del taco, ¡y punto!

I feel compelled to write this review due to the incredible experience I had. I have been a patron at the location in Tijuana for quite some time now. I recently moved to San Diego and found out they had opened location in the USA... I had to check it out. The food is fantastic. I had their famous adobada taco, their asada taco and their suadero taco. All were well above a great taco standard. The tortillas made from scratch and each taco had their unique preparation with designated sauced and toppings. I cant speak on any other items because I'm all about TACOS. the service was impeccably speedy. The second the waiter took our order the food was at our table. And the restaurant was packed. We waited in line to get in but it moved fast. The ambiance was elevated to look more like a restaurant rather than a taqueria. Which confused me just a little since I am used to their vibe in TJ. But did not take away from the experience whatsoever. Very much approved!!!

We were really excited to have Tacos El Franc open in San Diego, but unfortunately, the flavors and salsa were a letdown. It's definitely not the same as TJ, which is disappointing. The flavors taste Americanized, the salsa seems store-bought, and the food was under-seasoned. For the prices being charged here, you'd expect the same top-quality experience as the original, but that wasn't the case. Hopefully, the owner addresses this and brings back the authentic Tacos El Franc flavor we know and love.

As someone who has been going to the original Tacos El Franc in Tijuana for over 2 decades (since I was a teenager) this review comes with genuine disappointment. Naturally, I was excited to hear they were opening a new location, but my experience here fell far short of expectations. I even gave it two tries before writing this. My first visit was during their inauguration, which was understandably chaotic. I chalked up the off flavors to opening-day growing pains and decided to come back once things settled. Unfortunately, the second visit confirmed my concerns. The Adobada tacos just don't taste right. It's noticeably sweet flavor and chewy in texture, something the original never was. The salsa doesn't complement the meat, had no heat, and even the guacamole feels way off in texture (looks like it's blended and not mashed making it a super smooth creamy texture). It's just a completely different experience, and not in a good way. This location, sadly, feels like an imitation. I really wanted to love it, but they're nowhere near replicating what made their original tacos so special in Tijuana.

Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Adobada is alright but ASADA is where it's at. The place is really nice and clean; people were really nice too. Adobada I'd personally say tacos el gordo is better but asada was freaking fire. Recommend. Would NOT wait in a 2-hour line for this tho.

Finally had a chance to try Tacos El Franc the new restaurant location in Plaza Bonita Blvd, National City, CA. The restaurant opened in June of 2025 and every time we tried going, the line was out the door with a long wait time. We got here at 4:30pm and there was no line. So we tried the following tacos and sharing the best to least favorite: 1. Suadero Tacos -WINNER! 2. Carne Asada -Generous amount of guacamole. 3. Cabeza -Very tender 4. Lengua -A bit dry 5. Adobada-I didn't like this recipe as other taquerias I've tried in the area, but that's just me. We really enjoyed the Suadero tacos. Suadero is a specific cut of beef, often described as being between the flank and sirloin cooked in lard in a metal disk. The taste is very similar to pork carnitas. There are so many great taquerias in Chula Vista and each one has something different I like about them. Tacos El Franc's Suadero Tacos with the works is a must try!! The restaurant was clean. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Our server Sofia was great, very attentive and made very good recommendations. Give this place a try! Happy Yelping :)

We finally made it down to Bonita for this gem and let me tell you it was well worth the drive! Located on the east-side of the mall, next to the main entrance with ample parking, makes it an easy find. The service was top-notch; servers were friendly and attentive. The outdoor patio is very clean, open and airy, with plenty of seating. Now, the food....OMG! Everything we ate was perfection! From the homemade tortillas, to the generous portions of delicious meat on each taco, tasty salsa and refreshingly sweet aguas frescas (their jamaica was perfect). Our experience was one for the books! Don't sleep on their mulitas and quesadillas either; the cheesy goodness between chewy (in the best way), fresh homemade tortillas made these tasty treats stand out in the best way! We were skeptical, however, Tacos El Franc definitely proved themselves and lives up to their hype. This place is worth the trip...you will not be disappointed.

I was so excited to finally try this spot! Whenever we're in Tijuana, we always talk about going, but happy they opened in San Diego this time we made the drive down to National City just for it. There was a line, but it wasn't too bad about a 30 minute wait. Once inside, the staff was organized. Someone greets you and seats you, and the service overall was solid. They were great about clearing tables and keeping things clean, which I really appreciated. We ordered four tacos, one carne asada fries, and two drinks. The total came out to $46.27. I'll be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I wasn't quite sure what they were known for beyond the name, and I was hoping for a more diverse menu, maybe some fish, shrimp, or chicken options. The food was good, but I probably wouldn't drive all the way down again just for it. There are other spots closer to me that I'd choose instead. Still, it's definitely worth checking out at least once, especially since it's recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Tacos el Franc is finally open in the Westfield (around 1) mall! Their Tijuana, Mexico location has a Michelin guide distinction. This is a nice way to try it without crossing the border. Entrance is through the mall entrance. The gate is exit only. This is a sit-down type of establishment. They will take you to a table, and a server will come by shortly to take your order. Parking is plentiful on this side of the mall. You can sit indoor or outdoor. The bathrooms inside are separated by gender. The menu is easy. Of course I tried the tacos. The adobada was slightly disappointing to me. It was pretty packed with meat but also overloaded with guacamole. It cost $4.65, which seems high to me. The cabeza, asada, and suaderò were good. The inside of the restaurant was smelly (due to meat cooking and open kitchen), and the smell stuck to my clothes and hair since I sat inside. Credit card / Apple Pay accepted.

We came around 7ish and were able to get a seat at the bar fairly quickly. Seems like the lines of opening day/week have eased. The service was great and the food came out really quick. All the staff were friendly and they all looked like they were having a great time serving up great tacos. The energy of the staff definitely made for a better experience. We ordered a few cabeza, lengua and adobada tacos with charro beans and a couple of beers. The bill came to a little over $50, which seemed reasonable. I wouldn't say these were the best tacos I've had, but definitely in the top five. The tortillas melted in your mouth and the meat and toppings were on point. Having minced cabeza and lengua tacos were different from what I would expect, but both were good. The adobada tacos were ok, but didn't stand out compared to others I've had. I would recommend coming during off peak hours as I could see waiting in a long line could lead to a disappointing experience. All in all, another great taco spot in Diego and looking forward to eating here again.

Delicious tacos, efficient line process to check in. Come at off hours because it can get crowded. Stuff came within minutes of ordering with our server. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Will definitely be back. The carne asada and the mixto were my favorite. Also FYI no pollo on the menu here!

Stopped by yesterday but the line was so long. Decided to try today since we were inside the mall and surprisingly there was no line. It was noon when we arrived we were greeted, party of 6 adults and 3kids. They told us about 10-15min wait. They were kind enough to combine 2 table so our party doesn't get separated. We waited less than the time we were told. Water was provided all around. Our server was so kind and welcoming and she answered all of our questions. We ordered a few adobada tacos, asada, cabeza and an asada vampiro (on tostada with cheese). Our food came out fast less than 10mins. They had beans and quac on the asada tacos, optional pineapples for the adobada for an extra charge. The tacos were AMAZING!!! Loaded with meat and toppings. The asada meat had a smoky flavor but a little on a dry side. The adobada was so flavorful and juicy. One of the best tacos I've ever had! Lives up to the hype! Highly recommend and will definitely return. When we visit SD again.

From TJ to SD Tacos El Franc opened up a spot in National City Mall to provide their street tacos to the US. Solid spot, great food, super busy. I have heard plenty of good reviews of Tacos El Franc in TJ and wanted to try it out now that they are here in the US. I had different expectations given it is a different location than their OG. We arrived around lunch time and there is plenty of parking given its the mall. The line was out the door and we waited about 20-25 minutes until we were seated. Its a sit-down restaurant so you get your menus and order your food and they bring it to you. Tacos are pretty expensive in this economy so I'd say they are a bit more on the pricer side ($4.50~ per taco). The flavors were excellent. I loved the options of the various meats. My favorite was the lengua. I wasn't as impressed by their Al Pastor and I think there are places with better Al Pastor. Their green salsa was tasty and delicious. The ambiance is your usual taco shop vibe with open kitchen and roasting meats. They have a large outdoor area and a indoor seating area. Solid spot. I'll go if other people want it but there are better options out there.

Very good tacos! Service was prompt and the ambiance was decent; restaurant is located at Plaza Bonita Mall so there's a lot of traffic coming in and out, therefore, loud voices and noises to talk over. Parking is free but depending on the time of day and probably the season, it can be difficult to find something close by but again it's at a mall so if you don't mind walking, you'll be fine.

Tacos tan perros que ladran! I did not expect to be floored by tacos! They tortillas were soft and the meat was perfectly marinated. My food came out super fast and hot! Recommendation... don't pick your taco apart, ask for them "CON TODO" and open wide!! They service was great and attentive. I say at the bar area and was waited on by Alexa who made me feel lien I was home eating at my cousins house. She made me the most mouth watering michelada with Modelo! The restaurant has a fun and friendly vibe with lively Mexican hits. Will definitely be frequenting this spot!

Yum tastes just like the one in Tj. This spot is Michelin Star and on Netflix Taco show. Great service. You come in and they sit you. Then you can order and someone will bring you your tacos. I got 2 carne asada tacos and an adobada taco. To wash it down I had a Jamaica. The adobada was full of flavor and even had a lil spice kick. It also came with a lot of the meat sauce. The carne asada was smokey meat with beans, salsa and guacamole. Really delicious. It is located in plaza Bonita. Lots of parking since it is located in the back of the mall. Great spot and there was no line got to walk in immediately.

When we arrived, the line seemed long. However, it actually moves at a decent speed. Once we got sat, a server came to start taking our order. Once placed, items arrive as they are made. Got 2 tacos and a mulita. Everything tasted so good. If even say better than Tacos El Gordo. Definitely a more authentic TJ street taco flavor.

There was a fairly long line to get in but it was one that kept moving. The staff is very friendly and i felt very welcomed by them and our waitress was so nice taking our order and got us extra salsas. My fav was the abobada the meat is very soft and flavorful. The cabeza is soft slow cooked taste. The others were just okay for me. The carne asada comes with beans and u can opt out of them. Horchata was very yum. I would come here for the abobada but the others i think other places might do better.

An awesome addition to the San Diego food scene. We wanted to try something different while down here from the regular Tacos El Gordo. Heard about this place on social media and it being Michelin star related. Originally from Tijuana so you're getting authentic Mexican food. Atmosphere was great, it is as located at the entrance of the mall. There is a line, just like any other popular taco spots, so expect to wait to get seated. Carne Asada Tacos - 8/10 These were good and you can taste the smokiness from the grill. Meat was tender and marinade was solid. Guacamole was smooth and nutty and complimented the tacos perfectly. Love the corn tortillas. Adobada Tacos - 9/10 These were my favorite among our selection. Meat was succulent and marinade was great. Slight spiciness but not like El Gordos. Don't remember pineapples in it. Tripas Tacos - 9/10 Love these as well. Very flavorful, almost a flavor bomb. Tripas was absolutely tender with a slight bit of crunch. Didn't get any gaminess whatsoever. Lengua Tacos - 8/10 Oh man these were so tender. Like that it wasn't overly marinated and you can taste the beefiness of the tongue. Cabeza Tacos - 9/10 These were so good! The flavor from the fattiness of the cheek meat was . The toppings made it pop even more. One of my favorites. Overall: It was nice to finally try this place out after a month. Do I give it an edge over Tacos El Gordo?.. No actually lol, it's good and a great alternative but Tacos El Gordo just hit differently, in my opinion. Some variation of tacos are better here, mainly the specialty meats. I can definitely see people preferring this place over El Gordo. Mainly because it's more of a restaurant style, you sit down and just order which tacos you want instead of lining up at different stations. Definitely give this place a try!

Read about Tacos El Franc opening in National City and while I was waiting for the popularity (I.e. lines) to be shorter, decided to just stop by the other day. It's conveniently located next to Broken Yolk and lots of parking in the lot. Surprisingly, there was no wait and we were seated in the outdoor patio very quickly. There was a sign that said dine-in only and I wonder if that will change. There's a lot of seating here both inside and out and their service is excellent and super quick. It was also difficult to choose what to get since the menu had a lot of things I like. Our party landed on a lot of tacos (carne asada, adobada, suadero & lengua), fries and horchatas. The main consensus was that the tacos are so tasty, packed with meat, salsa, onions and cilantro. It had a little bit of a kick and the meat was both crispy and tender. The fries were packed high and the horchata was amazing. The only things I was surprised about was the beans in some of the tacos and the prices. I realize it's not Tijuana but was a little more than expected, but I've been saying that about a lot of things. In conclusion, It seems to live up to the hype and is definitely a place to check out for good food!

Everything about this place is amazing! Where to begin: we came on a Saturday around 3pm and were happily surprised to see only one person ahead of us in line! However most likely expect a wait as usually this place is packed with a line out the door. We were promptly seated at a shared table but not an issue for us as we were only a party of two. As soon as we sat down we were provided with a menu that displayed all their options. We opted to try one of almost every meat taco as is and a regular sized mixta fries (adobada and carne asada). The mixed fries came out first and WOW! Probably the best "asada style fries" we've ever had!! Crispy fries loaded with all the fixings - sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa, cheese and of course the carne! So flavorful and delicious, I still dream about it and my mouth waters every time I think about it. The tacos were also delicious and super fresh with soft, supple handmade tortillas and generous amounts of meat with their respective condiments. You can't go wrong with any of their meat selections for tacos, but for us we would rank the tacos we ordered as follows: adobada, lengua, asada, and suadero (beef brisket). So so so yummy!!! Wish we could've tried the whole menu but it's okay we will definitely be back!

Mexican food Street tacos Adobada and asada Famous in Tijuana (Michelin 2024) Outdoor indoor seating Amex accepted Restrooms inside Alcohol available Mall parking North side of Plaza Bonita Fast service Line moves depending on campers People tend to camp due to alcohol consumption Asada tacos served with beans in it Limited vegetarian options

My partner has always raved about the original location in TJ, so she was excited when they opened up on this side of the border. We went shortly after they opened and only had to wait about 15 minutes, not bad at all. We ordered a handful of tacos and decided to try the mixed fries too. The tacos were solid, I preferred the asada over the adobada. As for the fries, they were just okay. Next time, I'll probably stick to the tacos. I'd definitely come back, and it's earned a spot in my taco rotation. Just a heads-up if you want salsa, make sure to ask your server for it.

What a great hidden gem in National City! I stopped by here before hitting up round 1 and it was a great choice! The tacos are about $5 each depending on which meats you get. I personally liked the carne asada taco more than the adobada. Carne asada quesadilla was pretty great too! This taqueria is more of a sit down fast casual dining. The servers were super nice and food came out really quickly! Would try the other items like the mulitas and vampiros next!

A friend and I finally got around to visiting Tacos El Franc at Plaza Bonita. We had a variety of tacos including carne asada, adobada, lengua, and cabeza. The tacos were all great. The preparation of the corn tortillas were great. I like the way they warm the tortillas in either the juices of the meats or in vapor. The adobada was very flavorful and I loved that the meat had that very good charring flavors from the trompo. The carne asada was well seasoned and tender, and both the lengua and cabeza were super tender. The service was friendly. The young lady who took our order was very nice and did a great job. They offer inside and outside seating. The hot sauce were great, too!

So over hyped and not worth it. Carne asada was abysmal and tripas were inedible. Wouldn't ever go back

Ehhhh, my honest review would be 3.5 stars overall. Since I can't put half stars - I'll mark it as a 4. Maybe I had higher expectations. But we've eaten at so many different places in Tj & SD overall... & to compare this place to Tj tacos, not even close. It's not bad, but it's not the best. This isn't somewhere I would go out of my way to eat, but more so if I'm in the area & unsure of what to eat. Lol. But with the wait times, maybe this may not even be an option. We waited 30mins to be seated. The ambiance was nice & updated. Made me feel like we were in Tj. Loved the vibes of the place. The food took a while to come out. I understand they're busy, but how long could it take to make some tacos. Apart of waiting in the line for 30mins, we had to wait 15 additional mins just to get our food. Which when it was brought out, it was incorrect about 3xs. A bit on the pricier side. We paid around $80 for our total order. When tf did tacos get so expensive?! Lol. We ordered - 5 adobada tacos cn todo, 2 adobada puro guac (for my son), 1 adobada quesadilla, 1 suadero taco, 1 asada taco, 1 Jamaica, 1 horchata, a glass coke, & some chiles/cebolla. The jamaica wasn't good. Needed some more sugar & tasted super watered down. Horchata was good. The salsa was also good & had a small kick. They bring out complimentary pepinos, rabanos, y limon for you. Adobada was ok, tasted better in a quesadilla than it did in a taco. Prefered suadero over the asada (which had no flavor). Everything DEFF tasted better than El Pastor Del Rica Taqueria (Canelo's brother's spot) if you've ever been there though. Only reason I mention is because they were hyped up too at one point. Fernanda was our waitress. She was great! Super bubbly & sweet personality. Easy to talk to + professional. I never felt like I was bothering her when I asked for something. She'd know all the right queues when we needed her but was also not too overbearing watching us. Her service was so good that I told her if we ever came back, we'd request her section!

I would give it a 4 for the asada but the adobada was awful. Go to el gordo instead. This place makes tacos el franc in tj look bad. Don't come here.

Tacos El Franc opened two weeks ago in National City, San Diego to epic lines. The reason for the hype was that El Franc is a Tijuana based taqueria with a recommendation in the Michelin Guide. In order to avoid waiting in the sun, I showed up before opening and people formed a line about 30 minutes before open. I ordered lengua, adobada, and carne asada tacos. The adobada was the star of the show for me as the meat was juicy with a crispy crust. Their lengua was a juicy meat with an almost shredded, stewed texture. The asada had nice flavor and was on a thick corn tortilla with avocado sauce and salsa. I absolutely think that this is a great addition to the Chula Vista and National City areas and is worth visiting, especially when the crowds slow down a bit. People want to always compare this to tacos el gordo, but they are different. Just be happy that you guys have two really amazing options for tacos. You guys are allowed to eat both!

Located at the Plaza Bonita mall. With it being new, there was of course a long line. However, the wait wasn't too long. Table service with friendly servers and the food came out extremely fast. The only thing was, the food runner had a difficult time differentiating which taco was what. In order to tell, he had to bring the plate close enough to his nose to see. Yup, breathed all over our food. Closed our eyes and ate it anyways (gross but no choice, lol). They're generous with the protein and toppings but with all the sauce on top, the tacos became soggy quickly. Our group tried pretty much almost every protein of choice on the menu. Some were definitely better than others. The tacos were good but unfortunately, not the best of what San Diego offers. The fries were disappointing, though. The meat to toppings ratio were out of proportion. There were more toppings than meat, and I wish the cheese were more melted. Other than that, it was good but there's better.

Wish I could give this place 4-5 stars because the staff (the ones in blue) were beyond friendly and their customer service was excellent. While we waited for our food we saw an interaction between the regular staff and what we assume management/owner (tall light skin gentleman in all black with a red hat. The gentleman in black was not only scolding his staff in the middle of the dinning area, proceeds to be rude, roll his eyes and walk away as the staff member in blue continued to explain it was an accident and he didn't mean it. Management needs to remember how you treat your staff will directly impact how your staff treats your customers. This was our experience but we haven't heard from friends that they have also witnessed this same behavior when they have stop by since they opened. We waited 35 minutes in line and we took the first seating available which was next to the bar. The food came out relatively quickly. We ordered adobada tacos, tasted good but the meat was cut too thick but this could be our personal preference. The sauce they came with wasn't spicy. We ordered suadero tacos which were extremely chewy and fatty. We ordered tripa tacos which were good and crispy. We ordered a mixto de carne asada and adobada, which was actually really good and actually had a spicy sauce on it. We ordered campechana fries, we couldn't agree if we liked them or not so we'll give them a 6.5/10. They have music playing extremely loud. Definitely not worth the hype, especially considering how they treat their employees.

I am a huge fan of tacos el franc in Tijuana. The fact they have been setting up to open in San Diego had me excited. I played hooky at work today and decided to come try them. My first impression was how nice their set up is. I did prepare to stand in line, but it was not as bad as the weekend lines. I got 2 adobada tacos 2 carne asada tacos a cheese quesadilla and their frijoles with carne. The adobada is not the same as tijuana I can tell you that right now. The taste was off it was not bad, but the flavor from accross the border is different. I also noticed they flood the tacos with this red salsa that just over powers everything else. The carne asada tacos were good they had a nice smokey flavor to them. The guacamole is fresh and they are generous with their servings. At the end I started eating my taco with my fork and noticed my meat was not all the way cooked. I like medium rare so to me I didnt mind, but I know someone who cant stomach red meat would not be happy. My beans were good reminded me of a nice bowl of carne en su jugo. Say no salsa if you dont like them spicy. Lastly my quesadilla was disappointing the cheese was hard and never melted. These complaints are all just my own personal preference. This place was needed at plaza bonita. The mall has been missing some good Mexican food. Tacos el Franc in san diego is going to be a hit for sure.

Have always loved these tacos and when I heard they were finally open in 1/2 locations I dragged my partner over to try! We got 1 horchata, 4 asada tacos, 1 adobada, 1 suadero, and a small order of mixed fries, our total after tax was $50.30 Upon arrival you are seated and server comes to take your order, food came out separately as it was done which is traditionally what you would see in Tijuana. Everything was yummy and tasted close to the authentic flavor I remember, since it is very popular you can definitely expect a wait to be seated but in our experience it moved quickly, definitely worth a try!

what we ordered | adobada taco | carne asada taco | vampiro lengua taste | all the meats were tender and lots of toppings, i just wish there was some green sauce to add on top service | tacos came out quick parking | mall lot notes | you get seated first and then a waiter will take your order, have a dog friendly outdoor seating that is shaded, in the westfield mall

Heard the hype around this place since it's apparently the best tacos in TJ. Of course, they're not going to be exactly the same, so you should expect that. My group and I went around 8:30pm on a Tuesday night and there was no line at all. There was plenty of seating with a few groups scattered throughout the place. The service is really good and it's different how you are actually seated and waited on. Our waitress was nice and said it would be a 8-10 minute wait for our tacos, but they came out super quick. The tacos were good, but nothing mind-blowing. I got the adobada, carne asada, cabeza, and suadero (brisket). My top two were the carne asada and suadero. It's weird how the carne asada came with beans inside, but it was still good. Overall, it's not bad, but not the best tacos I've ever had. I'd still come back for those two tacos mentioned above.

This taco restaurant isn't like most where it's order and sit down, it was sit down then you order. I thought there was a lot of seating and that it was fairly packed when we went but we didn't have to wait. I ordered the adobada fries, adobada taco, asada taco, lengua taco, and cabeza taco. I was just so disappointed with everything. Everything did not taste how much their price was on the menu. I felt like I was overpaying for mid tacos. The tortillas were so bland and the meat was cooked how any other average Mexican restaurant would cook it. Their fries were thicker than your average Mexican fries and they had the consistency of steak fries. The ratio of the fries to price was not worth it. I did not have a good experience here. It felt odd. I have eaten at plenty of taco places but never had I been sat down and then had a server take my order. I'm so used to ordering at the stand then sitting down. There was no sauce bar to grab sauce or toppings. I felt like they had too many servers. We had two different times that a server came up and asked if we ordered a dish they were holding and both times were no. I think they had too many servers. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a guy who skimps out on tip but why am I tipping for service that isn't necessary in this type of cuisine. I felt like I was obligated to tip. This menu is too pricey for what I was served and I don't ever see myself coming back.

Thank goodness I've read some recent reviews before our visit. Although their upcoming location in Downtown SD will be opening August 5,2025- why pay for parking when it's plentiful AND free here at Plaza Bonita! Daily hours of operation are taped and posted at the main entrance (inside glass doors of the mall). Seems like (wish I took a pic) temporary hours are from 11am- 2pm 5-9pm So, plan accordingly if you plan. To visit anytime soon. I've always been intrigued about ordering a Vampiro. I've been turned off at another very famous taco location in Chula Vista because I would see their Vampiro tortillas just stacked up. I get a bit picky about my tortillas. Like, if they are already grilled and stacked up like that- are they even harder and tougher compared to the pre fried ones used for tostadas? And I do like the idea of a tortilla having that fresh charred/ grilled flavor on it. That's just me though. Even with the cabeza and suadero tacos and my Micro Vampiro orders- the meat and guacamole portions are amazing here! One thing I did like is, your food items will come in a bit of a staggering delivery to your table. I feel it's cool because you get to enjoy each and every little tasty bite from each item. We didn't feel rushed at all during our lunch experience. And service was excellent. Besides the gal that took our order- different staff members would check up on you and bus your table if they saw an empty plate or cup. There are clean restrooms available inside down the hallway of Tacos El Franc too.

The wait is over!! Tacos El Franc has finally opened. We arrived around 10:50 AM and already about 30 people were lined up ahead of us. They started letting people in at 11am. By 11:15, the line definitely got longer and the wait increased since people were now being served. They were handing out small samples of what I'm guessing was horchata, which sadly stopped right before us. But we ordered one anyway and I'm glad we did. I'm not sure if it's housemade or premade, but either way it was still good. Adobada - Easily the winner of the day. It has a lot of flavor and served on a crispier tortilla that gave it that perfect bite. Honestly better than other spots we've tried around San Diego. Carne Asada - I thought it had a decent flavor but could've used a char for that smoky edge. My husband thought it was a little bland. It did have beans in the taco, which caught us off guard. It's not something we usually see here. Next time I will ask for no beans. Cabeza - Super tender and juicy. I would've added just a pinch more salt, but the texture and overall flavor were solid. Lengua - A little on the bland side for my taste. Not bad, just missing that richness I usually expect from lengua tacos. Prices are on the higher end, but that's pretty standard these days, especially for a place with a rep like theirs and the location they chose. Something interesting was that they charge for cebollitas and chile. We definitely will be back. For a first day, they handled the crowd well (they had someone at the entrance to ensure no one would cut the line as a few people did try to). Welcome to San Diego, Tacos El Franc!!

Line wasn't too long on a Saturday around 1-2p. Even then, it only took a out 15 minutes to get to the front to grab a table. The line is really just to get a table. Once seated and ordered, the food comes out very quickly. Tacos El Franc excels at suadero. 2nd was adobada though we thought TJ Tacos was still better. Cabeza and lengua were tender but bland. Carne asada was smoky but the least favorite for our group. Note that it also comes with beans which is not typical so make sure you say no beans if you don't want them. I also liked the tortillas here because they had a light crisp to them. Their hot sauce was good. Tacos a bit pricey. Overall, pretty good but TJ tacos still holds the number 1 spot in my mind.

Very good tacos and super service today! I enjoyed the adobada taco with meat that was crispy and flavorful, the carne asada had good flavor too and the beans added an interesting twist. I love the little plate of radish, cucumber and limes. Everyone was hustling and working to keep the busy lunch crowd happy. It's clean and fresh, organized really well too. I sat by the kitchen and watched the staff prepare many tacos! For me.. there was too much guac, and I wish there was salsa served on the side and salt/pepper for the veggies too. I ordered a quesadilla to go and it's corn, just different than our taco shops here. I noticed the fries were well priced and available in 2 sizes. It was authentic and tasty.

So nice to have Tacos El Franc at the mall! The servers were very kind, though ours was not fluent in English, so if you aren't able to speak Spanish please speak a little bit slower to prevent miscommunications (we had one menu item wrong, but it looked delicious so we kept it). The decor was very appealing, and we loved the cleanliness of it. As for the food, it was definitely delicious. I am a pineapple fan, so I must say that I was sad that there were no pineapples to accompany the adobada. Love that they have a carne asada and adobada combo option (the mixto), and it was my first time trying brisket (suadero), which did not disappoint. Also, if you're into oranges, the naranja agua fresca is amazing. I will probably wait for the line to calm down before I return, but I would love to come back :)

Came here yesterday around 5:10pm and got seated around 6:20ish. There were so many open tables and workers standing around so I'm not sure why they took that long to seat people. It took awhile for someone to come help us and take our order. I understand it was their first day but we literally saw workers just standing there lol. Adobada tacos: one of them had dry meat and the other had juicy meat 3/5 Suadero tacos: seasoned pretty well. Probably the only taco I'd come back for 5/5 Tripas: standard and cooked good 4/5 Lengua: i wish the tortilla was cooked longer because it was falling apart with the Lengua and toppings 3/5 Fries: there was more thick cut fries versus actual protein 3/5 I see potential for this place! I'd probably wait for the hype to die down before I come back. The line was super long still after we finished eating.

If you're looking for the most authentic Tijuana-style tacos this side of the border, look no further than this new taco shop located on the first floor of Plaza Bonita Mall. This spot is an extension of the Michelin-rated restaurant in Tijuana, Baja California. The tacos are hands-down the best tasting in the area: flavorful, fresh, and prepared just like you'd find across the border. While the salsa selection could be better, the quality of the food more than makes up for it. One thing that really sets this taco shop apart is the level of customer service. Unlike most casual spots, you're seated and have your order taken by a server, which makes the experience feel a bit more elevated. The horchata is refreshing and not too sweet. The chiles toreados are an absolute must if you want to spice up your tacos. Since the restaurant recently opened, it's been very busy, but the staff keeps things moving smoothly and with a smile. When my husband and I came in it was extremely busy (7pm) but the line went very quick as there is a lot of seating. Conveniently located right in front of the parking lot near Target, Plaza Bonita Mall always has parking. Whether you're a taco lover or just curious, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I definitely recommend you try the carne asada tacos and the veggie taco. There is also a decent selection of tostadas.

According to the owner, if you're not part of the Yelp Elite Squad, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR REVIEW. Anyway I was excited to try these tacos, but unfortunately, they fell a bit flat. While the presentation was decent and the tortillas were fresh, the overall flavor just wasn't there. The asada needed more flavor. Al Pastor was ok. I'm a taco connoisseur, who normally buys 40 tacos to go, from the original Tacos El Franc in TJ. I'm not joking look at my review. Y cómo soy mexicano, A mí me encantan los tacos. Another customer gave a long two star review and the owner replied, "We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We apologize that you were not 100% satisfied with your experience with us. We have passed along your feedback to our upper management and kitchen to ensure we are growing on these opportunities. We hope to provide you with a better experience next time." And I gave a short two star rating and the owner replied "Hello readers. If you're a customer thinking of coming to Tacos El Franc please read reviews from Elites only."

This place had really great service. The place was spacious and clean. The tacos were tasty. The horchata paired well with Adobada and tripa tacos. Thank you Tacos El Franc for your hospitality and for opening one close to home.

The tacos tasted good. But it is way over hyped. Don't forget we are in San Diego and there are a lot of other taco places that are on par with this as well. I dont think its a bit pricy but the quality is definately there. The food does come out fast and I came during lunch which there wasn't really a big line.

As a brief update to my prior review, went a second time and the food is still great! However was a bit disappointed that the restaurant isn't following California guidelines and not offering guests water other than $3 bottled water. They should address this! In response to the owner, yes I did ask my server for water, and was told only bottled. She did not offer to bring any water other than bottled.