Aqui Es Texcoco is the best taco in San Diego . Get the lamb tacos and onions! The green salsa melts in your mouth!

You know what. This place is not for me. I am not accustomed to lamb and I reached my limit half way through. But culinary technique. Top notch. Their lamb, I tried lean meat, ribs, cabesa. Great texture, great flavor. If you solely focus on the meat, I felt the chef here knows exactly what they are doing. So if you love lamb meat, this place is great. read more

The best thing I can say about the food at Aqui es Texcoco is that it won't kill you. If you have to go there, like, if you promised someone you love that you'd take them wherever they wanted to go for their birthday and they picked Aqui es Texcoco, and if you know anything about the types of foods they serve at the place, you'll be disappointed. Consomé isn't supposed to be a bland, thin cup of murky water, but that's what you'll get, and though some of the side dishes are decent - they know their way around a huitlacoche quesadilla, and their cheese on a grill is a neat trick - who picks a restaurant based on it's afterthoughts? As for the main attractions: you'll find better barbacoa and mixiote in City Heights, at either El Borrego or La Barbacoa Autentica De Borrego. Period. Aqui es Texcoco's success is not due to a strong, capable kitchen, but instead to its strategic selection of odd and hard-to-find menu items, which is simply a marketing ploy; and to the publicity it has gained from exposure via the Food Channel and other media outlets, which is a corrupting influence on any dining establishment. Save your time and money. Go somewhere you never heard of, and enjoy a meal cooked by people who understand that the food they serve, and not they, themselves, is the reason people come to their restaurant. read more

Texcoco is a small city about an hour from Mexico City with some of the best lamb barbacoa cooked in an underground pit. At Aqui es Texcoco in Chula Vista, they roast their lamb indoors for seven hours in maguey leaves, avocado leaves, and spices. Plato de Barbacoa: When they lead you to your table, they also bring five little containers with cilantro and onions, pickled onions, green citrus salsa, red salsa, and a mountain of limes. Choose between the following cuts of roasted lamb: ribs, head, and tripe. The lamb "pot roast" is bundled in foil, and the meat falls apart from the slightest touch. Place some of the tender and juicy meat on a corn tortilla and dress it with all the onions, salsa, and some lime juice. The flavors, textures, and sauces blend together effortlessly. The bits of meat closest to the bone are the most tender. In between each taco, take a couple sips of the golden consommé from the mug with soft chickpeas. And before you know it, four or five tacos have disappeared. Dining Area: The large space has a couple dozen tables. Parking: The shopping plaza has plenty of parking spots. read more

Aqui Es Texcoco - Plato de Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Awesome lamb Birria and queso tacos w consommé !highly recommend combo platters too.live the onions two ways

This place is phenomenal. The lamb is cooked perfectly, portions are great, and the Jamaica is really good too. Service is good and the food makes it even better. Definitely will recommend this place to others. read more

Aqui Es Texcoco - Quesataco - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Texcoco is a region in Mexico known for being the origin of Barbacoa (Lamb Barbecue). This delicacy is made by wrapping lamb in maguey leaves before slow-roasting it underground. The resulting meat is juicy and succulent but with the right amount of chewiness and flavor. The barbacoa was perfect for wrapping into corn tortillas to make tacos along with the condiments--a spicy salsa verde, a red dried chili salsa, spicy marinated onions, and lime. The meat also came with a salty lamb consommé with chickpeas, which was nice for dipping with the tacos. In addition to the lamb, we also had the Mixiotes Conejo, which were bone-in chunks of rabbit cooked with spices and flavorings in parchment paper. The chunks of rabbit were super tender and juicy, and were cooked in a tasty marinade. Next, the grilled quail were flavored with a house special beer marinade with a deliciously distinctive flavor. For a vegetable side, the Plato Azteca came with grilled cactus and onions topped with huitlacoche (corn fungus) and mushrooms, along with refried beans topped with queso fresco. Finally, the most adventurous dish we had was the guacamole topped with chapulines (grasshoppers)! The freshly-made guacamole was rustic and chunky, and the grasshoppers on top added a nice salty crunch, while the dried fried chilies added a nice spicy heat. Everything we had here was flavorful and delicious--unsurprisingly, I especially liked all the meats and the guacamole, but the one disappointing element was the corn tortillas, which were dry and stale. Nevertheless, the food at this casual restaurant was certainly special, and the service was super quick and friendly too! read more

See all

I went a few days ago. Never good to go. I asked for lamb. Solid and rib. Half a kilo. But it came like a quarter of the meat totally pure fat. And not fresh, the meat already looked dry maybe for several days. The broth was too salty, that's because it was already overheated too many times by several. Bad experience read more

I came here early in the morning with my kids, and honestly, the experience completely ruined our day. One of the ladies taking orders, middle-aged, wearing glasses, didn't even greet us. She just kind of sat us down like she didn't want to be there. I asked her for a high chair for my baby, and she literally dragged it across the restaurant. When she handed it to me, I even said "thank you," and she didn't respond, just walked away. No smile, no "you're welcome," nothing. After that, she never asked if we wanted anything to drink or even acknowledged us again. Then a big family came in, probably 8 to 10 people, and it was obvious she knew them or the owner. She greeted them super friendly, asked if they wanted "the usual," brought their drinks, and kept checking on them while we were completely ignored. We sat there for about 10-15 minutes with zero service before I finally decided to get up and leave. The other employees looked confused as we were walking out, which just made it even more awkward. I was really hoping for a nice breakfast with my kids to start the day, but the way we were treated totally ruined the mood. Definitely won't be coming back. read more

The food was really good but the customer service sucked, the waiter (middle aged, wears glasses) was eating while helping customers and chatting for like 15mins. The other waiters were very on top of the customers but the one we got was just ignoring us and never checked on us. I had to go to the front several times to ask for things. Very disappointed! read more

Visited 3/11/2024 A Long Time Coming. I've been wanting to try this wonderful Family owned Mexican Authentic Lamb BBQ out for a long time. There is History behind the menu here. (Check out the last Menu Photo to see what I mean.) Lots of parking and super clean inside with loads of seating. Lots of great homemade choices from a place that specializes in bbq lamb dishes. First I must say that the lamb had no gamingness in the flavor department. The meat was cooked and seasoned perfectly with a fantastic flavor profile. I started with The Lamb Rib Meat Flautas. Three 10in stuffed rib meat rolled tacos. Nice and crispy outside and tender and juicy inside. Next I had to try The Lamb Rib Meat Queso Taco. My favorite of the day. It's a real fried cheese shell taco stuffed with loads of lamb and more melted cheese. After the first bite I was in love. It comes with a fantastic flavored Consume for dipping. I dipped everything I ordered in it than drank the rest. Next I ordered a single Grilled Quail. They come Three to an order or you can order just one. The flavor was very tasty but the bird was a tad dried out for me liking. Glad I only ordered one. ‍ Lastly I ordered The Plato de Barbacoa / Lamb Barbecue Plate. 1/2 Order. Includes a small lamb Consume, Corn Tortillas, Onions, Cilantro, Salsa, and Limes. A 1/2 order makes about 6 tacos. Excellent way to go. To finish off my experience i tried The House Made Flan. I liked it as it wasn't overly sweet. This place did not disappoint and I definitely want to come back to try more of the delicious menu. Worth the drive and it's the only Place I've found in SD that specializes in BBQ Lamb. I recommend it even for those that "Think" they don't Like Lamb. read more

See all

I checked out this place mainly for their menudo. Sunday at 1:00 there was quite a wait. Ordered mine to go in the to line. Service was fast and friendly. The menudo was mid at best. Thin broth with good flavor. Hardly any meet but it was tender. No corn, which I like and enough total for two small servings or one big one. They included all the onions, cilantro and lime in the bag. Large menudo, large drink, tortillas and a 15% tip came to $22. read more

This restaurant specialises in traditional lamb barbeque. I ordered a half order of Plato de Barbacoa (Lamb Barbeque Plate) to go and it comes with lamb meat, small lamb broth, tortillas, two salsas, diced onions, cilantro and limes. The meat was very tender and delicious and the portion was pretty big even for a half order. A small lamb broth had a good flavour too. The restaurant has a good space to accommodate groups of people and the interior is clean and neat. There's a plenty of parking as well and the staff are helpful. I would recommend this place for a traditional Mexican lamb meat. read more

Aqui Es Texcoco - Plato de Barbacoa - Half Order (1/3 lb) to go - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I was immediately greeted by Ariana and allowed to sit at my preferred seat. There is Mexican music playing in the background subtlety and Spanish news on a few TV screens. The Barbacoa is tender and flavorful with an able side of tortillas, consomé with chickpeas, and various salsas, onion and cilantro. Will return next time I am in Chula Vista. read more

See all

When a restaurant specializes in one thing, they do it very well. Aqui es Texcoco knows how to cook Lamb Barbacoa. So tender and full of flavor. You have to try and not compare to other similar delicious meats of Mexican cuisine. This is truly unique! First time here, you have to try your own combinations of salsas + cilantro + lime + picked onions. First time eating a green salsa that is very picante. The staff is busy but also efficient. Kind when things slow and quick when tables are all full. The kitchen is always in full swing. Chapulines... A must try, either on the side, or mixed in with guacamole. Pretty good and would eat again. Dining area is open and has nice murals along the walls. Love that they make their own Agua Frescas in-house daily. Added plus would be if they served beer as well. I understand why many said this was a favorite place to dine. Definitely a unique experience. Would go back one day but not frequently as it warrants as a special experience. read more

See all

Tell me why I had my uncle from Riverside recommend me to try out this restaurant in Chula Vista? Because it is real authentic Mexican barbacoa. I never would have known this place existed if not for my uncle who is in search of authentic Mexican food. My family and I decided to order to go to bring it back to our family for a taste test. However, the ladies in the front were very patient and knowledgeable in recommendations for what to order. I must add they are exceptionally a nice modern looking restaurant with great service. As for the food: we ordered the half pound of lamb tacos and chiccaron tacos. They were so delicious and amazingly priced! It was so worth the trip and price. If you like spicy, you must try the habanero pickled onions. They are so spicy, yet addicting. I can't wait to come back and try this place with friends and try out the interesting menu I've never seen before. Such as : Grasshoppers, rabbit and brains! Definitely worth a visit if you're tired of the same old carne asada! Open up your taste buds guys. read more

See all

I love this place. Excellent food and customer service. They have the original recipe for the barbacoa. read more

Really bad service Today I went to the restaurant, and I ordered Enchiladas rojas , a small broth and a mineral water, I finished the enchiladas and the broth and the water never showed up, then I ask her for the check, and she started to clean tables instead of giving me the check, so sorry but no tip and I won't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Great dining experience for me and the wife until the singer there asked us for money. We usually put a tip in a "tip jar" whenever possible while out dining. Trying to ease our way out of situation, we stated we don't have cash. She then broke out her phone and says she has Zelle or cash app! My wife then felt obligated and paid her using one of the apps she had mentioned. read more

Always delicious, I love lamb, so I treat myself by going there either Mediterranean style or Mexican

Well. On my way to Mexico via CBX and the Tijuana Airport I had to pull an eating establishment out of my Hillcrest Head somewhere along my route to treat my driver. I can safely say I know Mexican Foods pretty well. Fluent in Food. The reviews for this place were pretty good, but would it be good? Oh yeah it was. Consider it just another taco shop with that important table side ordering and delivery system as an option. The tostada was amazing. The tacos were up solidly in my top 10%. But the service and sauces just blew us away. I congratulate the owners and workers for their thoughtful design and commitment to both quality and service. Look...it's not Mexico, but it could play Mexico on Day Time Television convincingly. Well, except that is cleaner. read more

Aqui Es Texcoco - Tostada (Chicken) - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

See all

I had one of the most bizarre meals here! It was absolutely incredible! I discovered this restaurant by driving by and seeing a long line of people waiting to be seated outside, so I decided to give it a try. I got the brain taco, which was excellent. It was smooth and creamy, similar to Alfredo sauce. The black fungus tacos tasted like mushrooms and had a distinct umami flavor. 10 out of 10 would suggest! The crickets were delicious! I liked how it came with salt and hot suace. I devoured every creature. It's addictive! My uncle ordered the rabbit, which arrived with tortillas. It tastes exactly like chicken with an abundance of bone. It didn't feel like anything exotic, but it tasted good. I'd suggest go for it if you're feeling daring. read more

See all

La verdad la Comidas exelente pero el servicio pesimo solo te sientan te toman la orden y no los miras asta que te vas Tienes Que pararte para pedir algo mas por favor pongan mas atencion en sis meseras nada como antes que daban ganas de regresar ahora mejor buscar otra opciones que lastima read more

Texcoco is a region in Mexico that specializes in Lamb Barbecue and this specialty has come to San Diego at Aqui es Texcoco I came here and got a few lamb tacos both regular and quesataco as well as the chicharron tacos. I liked the Lamb tacos they were tasty and moist and the quesataco was nice because they melted the cheese on the grilll till it formed a crust and used that as the shell, it was good but i think the cheese overpowered the lamb a little too much. I got different cuts of lamb for the regular tacos and the quesataco but i forget which. The real star of the show was the Chicharron tacos. Its pork belly which was fried crispy and had a nice bits of skin and pork which make it very tasty. I know this place is known for their braised lamb but i think the Chicharron is even better. Don't forget to try the Lamb Consume too, it comes in some of the combinations but also unique and worth a try. Some people think lamb is too gamey but i think it's quite mild and most people would like it. Highly suggest giving it a try. They have their own parking lot which was nice, the green salsa is super hot so tread with caution. Most places the green salsa is the mild one, here its HOT, probably habaneros, so use it sparingly. You've been warned! I'd like to try the lamb head next time but probably just get the Chicharron, its gonna be a toss up. read more

See all

Horrible service. We went on Sunday and it was super busy, but the lady who helped us was clearly in a bad mood. I get that it can be stressful, but her attitude made the experience uncomfortable. They definitely need more staff to handle busy days. read more

Food is ok but customer service is really awful. The crickets were so salty it is not edible. Just a bad experience.

The service is amazing! If you're looking for authentic lamb barbacoa this is the place. I recommend getting half order (for one person) with only maciza if it's your first time, and it comes with lots of tortillas and consomé. The lamb is just amazing, and as someone who grew up in Mexico I approve this place! read more

As of 6/28/25 The prices on the website do not reflect the actual prices, at least in the San Diego location. They were about 35% more, and when asked why it doesn't match they don't care. read more

Service needs a little more polishing and attention. Our server looked very stressed and had attitude. Food was good, but the consomé was a bit salty. I wouldn't go back, I had better barbacoa (El Borrego in Midcity). read more

See all

My father in law wanted to try this location because he saw the special on TV. We were able to get a table for 4 on a weekend for lunch without any wait. The service was friendly and quick - it helped that my in-laws are Spanish speaking so we can get a better explanation of the food options. We ordered a little bit of everything since it was our first time. The micheladas are a must and complimented the food well. It's some of the best lamb we've ever had anywhere. I would definitely recommend this place for adventurous eaters or those who really enjoy authentic regional foods. read more

See all

The food was delicious and the service from Samantha was amazing. In my book what makes a server great, is one that observes their table and understands when to provide things like napkins, refills or ask if everything is okay etc. with out the client ever having to get up or ask their waiter for something. Thank you Samantha for your attentive service. read more

The lamb is so tender and tasty! This restaurant has a nice family vibe. Everything tasted delicious epsecially with the broth ( consume). Staff was lovely and provided good service/recommendations . Thank you read more

This is an incredible restaurant. I have never read a menu from which I wanted to eat so badly. Lots of classics executed perfectly. You can see that the food is made with love. The service is great. read more

All of my meals have been delivery - and the packing is always perfect, no spills, nothing missing. This place is all about the lamb - the lamb bbq platter is the recommended dish. I prefer the costillas, or ribs, which are slightly fattier and more flavorful than the regular meat. The green salsas are also good. Next in line - the quail were surprising good and perfect apps. They are crispy but not overdone. The mixiote is one of the specialties but I never find it that flavorful. The texture is perfect, though. The tacos are the usual- we like the prensada, huitlacoche, the tripe and the brain. A bit below average is the accompaniments - the tortillas (both corn and flour), the guac, the corn. I really appreciate the service. My dd has many allergies and the kitchen was very patient going over the ingredient list with us. They also never made any mistakes with our customizations - like no tomatoes. I would rank Aqui es Texcoco as a notch below Antojitos Tenampa - but still a good choice. read more

I've always enjoyed the presence of this vendor at the local taco festivals because after noshing on so many beef, chicken, and pork samples, you get a change-up with a lamb offering. The last time I visited their brick and mortar location, they were still operating at the old facility down the street on Broadway which now houses an off-shoot, De Cabeza. This newer spot was occupied by Al Pastor for barely a year. I wasn't aware that Aqui es Texcoco had taken over, but they inherited a large, modern suite with ample parking. You're allowed to enter inside and place an order at the counter before being asked to wait outside for your food. A menu was affixed to the window so you could browse and decide before walking in. Plates, combinations, and specials were prominently featured. All I wanted was some Barbacoa de Borrego (lamb barbecue) in the form of tacos. The following cuts of lamb meat were available... maciza (lean meat), costilla (rib meat), pancita (tripe with giblets), sesos (brain), and cabeza (head). My picks were the lean, rib, and head. The last of the bunch was the fattiest and most gelatinous. Cilantro, onions, and salsa were provided on the side. The corn tortillas were so soft and warm off the plancha. You could detect some gaminess from the meat, but the odor wasn't to the point that it was off-putting. I could see why Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods fame enjoyed this spot. Besides lamb brain and tripe, other unique menu choices included chapulines (grasshoppers), huitlacoche (corn fungus), blood sausage, grilled quail, and rabbit cooked in parchment paper. If I had one request, then it would be the addition of goat. Since lamb is already being braised and slow-roasted, they may as well add goat into the fire and create birria de chivo. When on-site dining resumes, this is a great eatery to bring out of town guests with adventurous palates which I have done before. The prices and portion sizes were quite reasonable. I have enjoyed each of my experiences at Aqui es Texcoco to give them four stars. read more

See all

* New Menu Update * My family and I will make a 30min drive down to get the all famous barbacoa. On this visit we were surprised that this location is now specialized in Cabeza (yes, the head). Surprised and shocked we order! 1lb for a family of three, came in at noon on empty stomachs & had a big appetites. In simple terms, the meat was Delicious. Soft, juicy and with a melt in your mouth factor. A perfect amount of flavor and the DIY tacos were very enjoyable. It serves a very similar experience to the regular lamb barbacoa plates we would get. read more

Food is great. Love birria and quesadilla con huilacoche is a treat I can rarely find.

Great place to eat I loved the food. I had the Mediterranean plate so so good. The people are very kind. The waitress we got was very nice and helpful overall great experience really do recommend this place. read more

The service here is exceptional, and the barbacoa is fantastic. I truly love this place!

Best birria and consome ever!!!!! The chicken flautas are delicious too. The service is awesome. The only bad thing is they need a more spicier salsa and the women's bathroom water doesn't flush good. read more