Tacos El Trompo

Mexican restaurant · Imperial Beach

Tacos El Trompo

Mexican restaurant · Imperial Beach

1

764 13th St, Imperial Beach, CA 91932

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Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
Tacos El Trompo by null
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Highlights

Tacos El Trompo is your go-to spot for authentic Tijuana-style tacos and unbeatable weekday specials, where every visit is a fiesta of flavor.  

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764 13th St, Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Get directions

eltrompotacos.com
@tacos_el_trompo

$10–20 · Menu

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764 13th St, Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Get directions

+1 619 947 6550
eltrompotacos.com
@tacos_el_trompo

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"A Tijuana-style taco chain with four locations in San Diego, Tacos El Trompo is notable for its different specials that are offered every day of the week. Mondays bring two mulitas for $10, tortas come with free fries on Thursdays, and adobada tacos are only $1.50 on Fridays and Saturdays." - Candice Woo

12 Essential Spots for Affordable Eats in San Diego
View Postcard for Tacos El Trompo

sherman tovar

Google
The food was great. The burritos were huge and filling, as well as some amazing tacos de trompo that stole the show! With those being as low as 1.99 on certain days this is definitely a spot you want to go to if you are looking for an amazing deal. For some people tho the lack of refillable drinks can be a downside but they offer a wide variety of drinks.

Cero Grubs

Google
Tacos tacos and more tacos! Came here and it was packed and it wasn’t even taco Tuesday. That’s how you know a spot is good ! I got several tacos. Carne asada, birria, lengue ( tongue), and a spicy shrimp ! I had one of each my favorite was the shrimp ! Me and my buddy also shared the Cali burrito and their carne asada fries. It was super yummy! Lots of places to sit and the staff was great! Can’t wait to come back !

JayEl Gee

Google
Taco prices are unbeatable every Tuesday. I've tried most tacos and the carne asada is the best. However, the tacos are very dry despite the hearty amount of gauc, squeezed lime, onion, cilantro and bottled salsa on top. Only thing these tacos are missing is authentic homemade salsa. The one provided is your run of the mill taco shop salsa; a bland sauce with no substance. Also, the tortillas weren't all that fresh either and they give you two per taco, adding to the dryness. Most meats do taste good except for the chicken... not too sure how they marinate it but it has a soy / terriaki / GMO taste to it. Their beans and rice are super authentic and phenomenal. Lastly, their dining area is very nice, clean, and gives off 'you're in Mexico' vibes. Considering Tijuana tacos now cost more than their $1.75 deal, Tacos el Trompo is the place to go every Tuesday with a doubt.

Daniel D

Google
Best taco deals this side of the border! Taco Tuesday $1.50 per taco. They have delicious Carne Asada plus the rest of the cuts are good. Friday and Saturday the Adobada Tacos are straight from the Trompo and they are only $1.50. Not sure how long they can afford to keep this price but grateful it's in my area.

Rick Howrey

Google
I have already tried the new taco place in town a few times. There is no doubt there tacos are delicious. I've tried carnitas, adobada, pollo asada, birria and they were all tasty and flavorfull. My only complaint is the tacos are pretty small but if you go on Tuesdays and Fridays tacos are only $1.50. Definitely worth it. If you go on a normal day the tacos are almost $4 each.

tone balone

Google
First time coming here since it changed names. I had a breakfast burrito and a california burrito. I enjoyed both a lot. The red salsa was very good too. I would absolutely come back. The lady at the counter was nice too.

Ryan's

Google
This place was alright. The burritos were decent size but the meat portion was less than expected. $30 for 2 (1 carne & 1 chicken) burritos and 2 cans of pop. As far as I could tell there was just 1 red and 1 green salsa options. No labels, just sitting in a chilled box/stand type thing. The men's restroom is not ADA compliant as the TP holder is above the grab bar, rendering the grab bar useless. This isn't the same quality as I remember when it was El Celantro.

Alejandra Ruiz

Google
My carne asada burrito was suppose to come with guacamole and had none also asked for sour cream had none. paid extra for a plain burrito never going back .

Jack M.

Yelp
I had four adobada tacos for $1.50 each, which is a Friday and Saturday daily special. The tacos were good and came with a very good amount of tender tasty marinated pork. I like that they put some crispy bits in the tacos as well. The guacamole was very good and the chopped white onions and cilantro were fresh. The house made corn tortillas were very good, too. The red salsa available at the salsa bar was pretty good, too. It could of offered a little more flavor but it had a good medium heat. A more variety of salsas and hot sauces would of been good too. The lady at the service counter was very nice. There's a good amount of parking and plenty of inside seating at this location.

Eric F.

Yelp
10 Red Sauce is all I asked for since I baught 10 Carne Asada Tacos to go. The lady whose name I didn't get to ask for said that I could only have 8 would ask if she could. When I got my order at the counter I realized and checked the bag. I only got 4 sauces l. So I waited until she came back out from the kitchen. Luckily Allan came out and I asked him for a few more of the red sauce and he happily abliged and came to my rescue. Something is wrong with the Ladies there that makes them so stingy. So next check inside your bag order when ever you come across any of the women behind the counter. Thank You Allan for listening and making your customers feel welcome and appreciated. Those ladies need to be reoriented of what is important in this business is costumers have a voice in social media and they need to change their mindset!!! Allan I will remember to ask for you every time!_! 1 star for the stingy lady. But 4.5 stars for Taco Tuesday!

Adenomous F.

Yelp
Tacos El Trumpo Imperial Beach is a must-visit for any taco lover. The food is consistently top-notch, with tacos that deliver on flavor, freshness, and authenticity. The ingredients are clearly high-quality, and the tortillas, fillings, and sauces all come together for an outstanding taste experience. If you're looking for the true flavor of Mexican street tacos, Tacos El Trumpo does not disappoint. However, be careful when ordering fish tacos, I have found on many instances that it's pure batter and no fish. WTH? Also, temperatures on the tacos are hit and miss, sometimes hot and sometimes cold, no consistency. One last gripe, limes seem to be a commodity. If you order 5 tacos, you get three lime wedges. They need to give a lime wedge for every taco, it's inconvenient having to get up from your table to go ask for limes. There are other noticeable downsides that detracts from the overall experience, particularly on Taco Tuesdays. Given the popularity of their Taco Tuesday deals, it's reasonable to expect a high customer load, but it appears that the staffing doesn't quite align with the demand on these busy days. The wait times can be unexpectedly long, and it sometimes feels like the team on the floor is stretched thin, which impacts service efficiency. This gap in staffing on such a predictable high-traffic day seems like a management issue. Proper planning and increased staffing on Taco Tuesdays would not only streamline operations but also enhance the customer experience by reducing wait times and ensuring consistent service quality. Overall, while the food is excellent and definitely worth the visit, the service aspect--especially on high-demand days--could use improvement. A more proactive approach to staffing would make Tacos El Trumpo even better and help maintain their great reputation in the community.

Cirwan S.

Yelp
Tacos tacos and more tacos! Came here and it was packed and it wasn't even taco Tuesday. That's how you know a spot is good ! I got several tacos. Carne asada, birria, lengue ( tongue), and a spicy shrimp ! I had one of each my favorite was the shrimp ! Me and my buddy also shared the Cali burrito and their carne asada fries. It was super yummy! Lots of places to sit and the staff was great! Can't wait to come back !

Loribeth U.

Yelp
Everything was seasoned so well, the red sauce was on point, the horchata was delicious, and the ambiance was great along with the service. My only disappointment was with my adobada burrito and carne asada fries was the meat was very over cooked. I always get adobada because normally it's on the trompo and freshly cut off the big juicy meat log. I assumed from a place called El Trompo they have their meat on there too. But it tasted like the bits of meat that fall on the grill and get burnt up. They just scraped it up for my burrito. Now I hate taking food back and asking for them to fix things. I hate wasting food even if it's burnt or bad, so of course I ate it hoping it was only a few pieces of burnt meat. But the whole burrito was burnt meat. Same with the carne asada fries. The meat was dry and over cooked, almost as if it was made in bulk a day before and reheated today. Like I said the flavor was there but quality lacked.

Paola A.

Yelp
This is definitely my go to taco place for Tijuana style tacos and on top of it they have taco Tuesday which makes it even harder to not purchase more. I especially love all the paintings they have inside. Will 100% be coming back and recommending it to my family and friends.

Krissie R.

Yelp
Just moved near here and walked over on a Monday night. Everything was clean and tidy. Customer service was excellent. You order up at the counter and then take a seat. There are plenty of options, but we stuck to the basics for this 1st time. Rolled shredded beef tacos are good. Nice and crispy topped with avocado sauce, lettuce, and cheese. The salsa bar has cut limes, radish, and 3 different squeeze bottles of salsa. The green one was our choice. 2 crispy beef tacos were special, and they are regular hand size tortilla filled with shredded beef, lettuce, and cheese. Our order came out quickly and brought to our table. Menudo is every day, bonus!! Definitely returning since we can walk over.

Edward B.

Yelp
The pollo asado TJ style tacos were delicious! You get one thick tortilla per taco instead of two thin ones. The tacos were wrapped nicely with paper. There is a small self-serve bar with different salsas, lime, and sliced radishes. I recommend adding lime and salsa for extra flavor. The cashier, Anahi, gladly answered my questions. There were no issues with customer service! You order upon entry, sit down, and wait for your number to be called. There was music playing, and the paintings on the walls were lovely. Excluding tax, two chicken tacos cost me $7.80.

Jorge S.

Yelp
Adobada tacos were excellent, lengua taco great. Asada was good. The roll tacos have a healthy portion of meat. Clean space. A little loud w the música but over all good service.

Shaina H.

Yelp
Great place for taco Tuesdays! The size of the tacos is good and definitely worth it. I like how each taco is also individually wrapped and makes eating less messy. Also, it's not so greasy. Used to like going to Tacos El Gordo, but after trying this place, this is definitely one of my new favorites! The horchata is also delicious here! Looks and tastes fresh, not the fountain one. Also, there's a good amount of parking available and good for cars that are low for the driveway.

Gene G.

Yelp
I I have probably been to tacos El trompo 10 times, each time I've been able to order my food quickly, also receive it quickly, the service is good. The food quality is pretty decent., As a mile from my house and very convenient I will continue to go there

Luis A.

Yelp
I go to the gym that is close to this place and sometimes when I get out, it smells so good. Well, I was finally able to try it when one of my friends decided to get us carne asada fries from here. Back when it was El Cilantro, the fries were good. For these, they're just as good if not better. I think the price was about $13 which is not bad.

Carli S.

Yelp
My go to spot for Mexican breakfast! Haven't had the other food options thou, but they look appetizing.

T W.

Yelp
This was my third visit and quite honestly, my meal was not as good as the two previous times. On my most recent visit, the shrimp was overcooked and altho i paid for extra shrimp, the shrimp did not come out to the edge of the tortilla. In addition, the sides of guacamole have always been skimpy & they charge for each little cup. The interior of the restaurant is nice and clean, the food is pretty good but it is a little expensive.

Rafael V.

Yelp
La comida esta muy buena pero la atencion dentro del restaurante no fue agradable, pregunte en ocaciones solo por una bebida que me faltaba y por atender a todos los que iban llegando despues ya no toman como prioridad a los que les falte detalles en su orden, mi comida claro que se enfrio, eso fue muy desagradable, es la tercera vez que me pasa en este restaurante. Mejoren la atención en las ordenes por favor, su comida no deja de estar rica

Dawn B.

Yelp
Oh my gosh the tacos here are so good! I love the salsa bar and the taco Tuesday is fabulous. I used to love the Mexican place that was here before but I really like what they have done with the inside of this restaurant. I ate in last time and had a couple tacos and a shrimp burrito, look out for their specials.

Sam W.

Yelp
This place has good food, the lady at the counter is a lil rude, and they also take a very long time to prepare your food I've been waiting almost 20 min for some beef tacos, and there is hardly anyone in here.

Oliver G.

Yelp
I heard this place had a taco Tuesday and that the Adobada mini tacos were the best so I went down and gave it a try. I had almost all of the tacos they had on the menu for the Taco Tuesday special. They were all seasoned very well and delicious I went back for seconds And I will be coming back to this place again and again. Give it a try and for sure stop by on Tuesday.

Cynthia M.

Yelp
Not only did the food have absolutely no flavor but the service was not great. We walked in and said hello to the lady taking the order when you walk up. Not only did she not greet us, she looked at us and proceeded to gossiping to her coworker about another guest. Once she was done gossiping then she took our order. There were probably 3 other tables seated and yet it took over 20 mins to get our food. We ordered 3 tacos, carnitas, asada and adobada and an adobada torta. Our fries were cold! Took a bite of each thing and decided to just throw it away and go elsewhere. We wanted to support local businesses but will not be coming back.

Daniel M.

Yelp
Great Customer service! usually businesses tend to hire people that look like they don't want to be there not here I appreciate the friendliness of staff , Great Food Quality ! The Aguas Frescas must try !

Robert K.

Yelp
Great place! Friendly staff. Tacos are amazing. Their menudo is also very good. Lots of meat in all dishes! Authentic!

Evelyn T.

Yelp
They supposed to close at 10:00 I was calling to place a order for takeout at 9:40!!! They would not answer there phone !!! Got there at 9:45 they close the door right in my face wild they wear kicking out a couple that was eating inside!! They sat outside the bench to finish there food!!! That was so disrespectful!!!! I understand if it was after 10.00 but they should change there hrs and to closing at 9:40 Not 10:00!!!!! 10/24/23 the owner should check the cameras!!! I thought they wear exited to open in Imperial beach a small neighborhood but believe me the words get around!!! Fast!! I hate negative feed back but that was very disrespectful!! So just lost a customer that will eat there 3-4 times a week there!! At least be considered and say you closing early and turn off your open sighn!!!

Brendan L.

Yelp
Best tacos in town! Burritos are delicious too! Come check this place out. It is super big inside and well decorated. I hear there are a few locations around the area but this is the only one I've tried. Service is fast and friendly and their taco Tuesdays specials are insane! Stop on by!

Lissette G.

Yelp
They have a very good variety on their menu. They also have daily specials. The food that I have ordered has always been delicious and a good value. The service is always very good. Parking is limited, but the restaurant itself is spacious and clean.

Dave W.

Yelp
Food's really good. But you guys need to make sure, not just ours but for all customers, make sure you're writing down the order correctly and making sure EVERY order placed is there when we come by to pick up. 2x in less than a couple weeks you guys have forgot to make an order and we've paid for the item already.

Mc R.

Yelp
Long time Mexican food eater. First time here. Early afternoon. Sunday. I usually go for a fish or carne asada something but wound up trying my first Birria: A fist size hunk of pull-apart brisket in soup with more pulled apart brisket. I need to find out what else is made with the soup liquid. Large tortilla that had to cool. Good sides. I'm not into the green hot-sauce but the red was hot and super tasty. Small rice and beans. Also tasty. All fresh and hot or cold as appropriate. Wrapped well so I did not get home with a plastic bag full of fatty, red liquid. Smiling, friendly woman behind the counter. Clean. Reasonable music volume. It has been a while since I have eaten out, but the prices seem average. Maybe a little less?

Andrea G.

Yelp
My go -to spot and because i live so close so im always here for their specials. Cant beat taco tuesday AND friday, saturday for their $1.50 tacos. I highly recommend adobada and birria. Also the ladys are very lovely and the restaurant is always super clean! Great service all around!

Andrea B.

Yelp
Great value , friendly staff and best of all reasonable taco Tuesday !!!! Thanks for the yummy green salsa

Mandee M.

Yelp
My family and I have a taco Tuesday tradition with this place now because of how amazing it is. The taco Tuesday special has discounted street tacos and they are fantastic. We do the Birria tacos with consome dipping and they are *chefs kiss*. The service is always great and we have yet to be disappointed. They have some kind of special almost every day, so please do not sleep on this place!

Maria A.

Yelp
Love everything here and the service is always great, the aguas frescas are delicious!!

John S.

Yelp
Good food this place stays busy . I think the prices are high for certain items but besides that food is good. Last time I ate there I ate carne asada fries they were good but didn't like the sauce on top.

Christian G.

Yelp
Got tacos for taco Tuesday and they did not disappoint! Good price for some good tacos!! Best taco Tuesday around forsures

Bob B.

Yelp
Need picked carrots and onions on the condiment tray. Taco Tuesday is a good deal. Needs more visibility from Palm Avenue.

Cristina L.

Yelp
Taco tueaday is a must! The food is fresh, and the aqua frescas are amazing. Very friendly staff.

Ari Q.

Yelp
The food is great however they will literally take phone orders and just have you waiting standing in from of the register. They need to make the people that are present a priority not the phone, or have another person answer the phone. 40 min wait for 3 tacos at the I.B location.

Gabriel R.

Yelp
Good taco Tuesday Fast service Large sitting area with salsa bar We tried asada taco,adobada taco and birria taco They were all good

Monica R.

Yelp
Food was OKAY in flavor. Size is decent. BUT THEY TOOK SOO LONG TO MAKE A BURRITO ! Went in my lunch break and couldn't even eat my burrito by the time my lunch was over, and I work in that same shopping center. NEVER AGAIN WILL I GO THERE.

Jackie Z.

Yelp
Good food. Inconsistent service in the restaurant and take-out orders. Generally a comfortable setting.

Ashlynn F.

Yelp
This place is honestly the best. The customer service and quality of food is so good, especially for the price. There's plenty of seating and in my personal opinion the orders are done quickly for take out. I don't even go here often and there's a specific worker that recognizes me and she is so kind. I'll have to catch her name. She's worked in this location I guess for a while, even for a different business that used the spot. The agua frescas cannot be skipped, nothing else pairs better with the food. The food doesn't taste like it sits under a heat lamp and you can even partially see the kitchen. Much more cleaner, organized, and well thought through than a majority of Mexican cuisine locations. The place overall is clean!! These are people who want you to have a good meal. For dinner, after work, because you might be trying it for the first time, or simply because you're hungry. They aren't just trying to sell you thrown together ingredients, they're selling you hunger satisfaction and a true insight to a part of a culture through food.

Silvia F.

Yelp
Ambiance was good and spacious. Great paintings of famous Mexican artists on the walls. I ordered a taco and it was so disappointing! Not going back!

Ryan C.

Yelp
Took 25+ minutes to get our tacos. Zero flavor, horrible Mexican food. Don't waste your money here!

Hector F.

Yelp
Ordered a bacon breakfast burrito and the bacon looks and taste like ham, it's pretty gross. Do not recommend.

Kiki D.

Yelp
Absolutely disappointing. This location is utterly disappointing. I order a breakfast sandwich it had one piece of bacon broke in half. I came in on a Sunday order two tacos, which are typically bigger than the ones that they serve on taco Tuesday, she serves me two street tacos, as if I didn't know any better, but charge me the price of a regular taco. I ordered fries, extra guacamole and cheese I can hear her correcting the young man making my order telling him not to put to much, I'm think that's what I paid for extra, yes I called her out. This location will take your money and cheat you ( fraudulent) although it's an inconvenience to drive from SB to Barrio in the long run it's worth it, the location on national will never disappoint. They keep this up. I can see them being bought out just like El cilantro.