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    BAJA RICK'S Cantina

    3.7 (121 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    Comic con special
    Deb N.

    This is the only spot that's respectable by the convention center during comic con Stop in for a taco and a smile

    Rice and beans
    Josh P.

    In SD for a conference and the Cantina is right across the street from the convention center and 2 blocks from Petco. Walked right up about 11:30 to order on a Tuesday and there was no line. I ordered the street taco sampler (because it's Tuesday). Sat out on the patio which is nice and mostly covered. Took food about 5 minutes to come which was awesome. The ribeye and birria beef tacos were awesome! I wasn't impressed with the chicken at all though. The chicken was bland and pretty dry. The big plus for me though was the street tacos were not loaded down with onions and cilantro. The rice wasnt quite cooked long enough for me and the beans were much thinner than I have had at other places. All in all a good lunch. I might try to sub out the chicken taco though.

    3 fish taco sampler with salmon bowl behind.
    Jody M.

    Amazing fish tacos. The trio was my favorite. I loved getting a mix of grilled and fried fish. Huge menu with lots of choices for everyone.

    Birra Tacos
    Connor Y.

    Baja Ricks is a really awesome Mexican food spot that sits in the heart of San Diego's entertainment center. So it was packed because we went on survivors weekend, so everybody was eating here, but the service was great. We got our food relatively fast and it was pretty affordable. Great pricing for good food. So I got the Beria tacos. The beer was nice juicy flavorful. I wish it would've came with a consume on the side to dip my tacos in, but it didn't, but it was pretty good. I also got the shrimp taco and I love that it was full-size shrimp inside of the taco like that's so important to like mention nice juicy shrimp flavorful seasoned well. Enjoy the taco. The beans and rice were both a little dry didn't finish them. If I'm being honest, they definitely needed something more. My cousin got the steak quesadilla and he let me try it. Nice juicy steak flavorful lots of cheese great pull on it. and you get a lot of quesadilla.. He also got the chicken taquitos with the chicken taquitos were OK. It felt like the taquitos themselves lack effort like they had decent flavor, but nothing special. Overall, I would definitely go back to Rick Cantina the next time I'm down to San Diego for an event. It's just it's in prime location so convenient good pricing good food would definitely recommend.

    Linda W.

    I came here for a conference and the food is very solid but definitely not the best tacos. Lots of seating and service is fast and friendly. I got a margarita which was good and what they're known for.

    Drinks
    Kristi P.

    My hubby loves Mexican food so we stopped here a couple of times while visiting San Diego. Sat at the bar once and on the outside patio the other time. Patio gets a lot of sun, at least during lunch hours but they do have umbrellas to help. Hubby liked his tacos. I got a dessert sampler which was really good. Server / bartender was good. No issues.

    Outside sign
    Paul K.

    We came here before a Padres game awhile back when this place was the Tin Fish and loved the location. It's great for people watching especially when the Trolley comes in on game day. As my first time at Baja Rick's I love that they kept the outside seating the same and now offer some wonderful Baja fare. We had the Birria Gnarly Nachos and a large fish and chips. The nachos were super big and very filling. I couldn't eat it all and took it to go and tried to give it to a homeless person but that didn't work out. The beers are abundant with two outside bars and probably one inside but I never went inside as all the action was happening outside. The staff I interacted with were very nice and attentive. A great place pre or post game right in Gaslamp and with the Hard Rock Hotel literally across the street, you can party all you want here and have a place to stay if so inclined. Great job BAJA Rick's! I'll be back!

    Michael L.

    I cannot speak to the food because we only ordered drinks on the outside patio, but I highly recommend this casual restaurant in a great location. The outdoor patio is very nice and comfortable and is conveniently located on the other side of the train tracks from the Convention Center and on the edge of the Gas Lamp District. Bartender Nick is awesome. Not sure how much this restaurant is paying him, but it is definitely not enough. Not only is he a great bartender and very friendly, but his customer service skills are amazing. He quickly and efficiently greeted and helped numerous Convention Center related customers as they walked up to the restaurant. Well done Nick!

    Three tacos
    Jim E.

    Comic Con Thursday night, service was good, food is good, prices average for the are $130 for 4 people with drinks, tax and tip. Not too crowded good choice after the convention. Three taco plate, poke bowl, burrito and taquitos.

    An amazing hotdog! Good waffle fries too!
    Rick D.

    An outdoor venue situated in perfect locale for Padres pregame and postgame beers and dogs. Went for pregame beer and hotdog. Average ambiance, service, beer, etc. ... BUT the memorable thing was the hotdog. Easily one of my best. You want a great hotdog go here.

    Mahi fish bowl
    Tom U.

    I really don't recommend this place because they don't know their ingredients. I'm lactose intolerant and I asked if it had any dairy. They removed coleslaw, but not everything dairy was gone. Yes. This is missing coleslaw, in the photo. It's a great view and music playing inside the restaurant. Staff is really straightforward about food selection and ordering was quick. Outside bar is awesome to have and you can order from there too. It was disappointing that my allergies were happening after eating there. It really messed up my mood. I would recommend this place, but wouldn't if you have a dairy allergy.

    Outdoor seating at Baja Rick's Cantina at the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown, San Diego, CA.
    Olga M.

    Got off the trolley to bar hop & dine at Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown, San Diego, CA. Our first stop was Baja Rick's Cantina. We liked the indoor and outdoor seating. The bar is near the Convention Center. We ordered a tall Coors Light beer for $10 & red sangria. My sangria wasn't the sweetest and was struggling drinking it, but Ivan the bartender gave me pineapple juice to make it sweeter and better. He was very accommodating and made sure I left bar with a good experience. Baja Rick's Cantina is a fun hangout not far from the San Diego Padres Stadium. Ivan indicated that during the home baseball games, the bar/restaurant has great specials on food and drinks. We'll definitely come back to check out the specials on game day! Happy Yelping :)

    Tres Amigos Tacos
    Daryl E.

    The Tres Amigos Taco sampler is absolutely delicious. Lobster Bisque soup had a gritty texture to it, wasn't too impressed by it, but still fairly decent. Would definitely get the shrimp or lobster tacos any time I come back, very pleased with them

    Buffalo chicken strips

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    13 days ago

    Great food and great service great price on all food and drinks always a great spot for eating before the Padres game

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    Page 1 of 4

    BAJA RICK'S Cantina Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Waves Taco Club

    The Waves Taco Club

    4.7
    (388 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    Wanted to try some tacos while out here and this one had good reviews. It was also near our hotel…read morewe were staying at in Gaslamp. They have drawings all over their walls which was fun to look at. They have a few specials which are a good deal if you're going to get a drink anyway. I love c that c they had a self serve salsa bar. Must get the chipotle shrimp taco! 10/10 with flavor. Battered fish taco was ah ok.... Salmon taco was great too 10/10. Service was prompt. We had chips and salsa while we waited so it was cool. Overall, I recommend checking this out and trying the chipotle shrimp and salmon taco!

    I stopped by on a Wednesday after a fútbol game and found it to be a great late-night option…read more Ordering is simple. You walk in, place your order at the counter, and find a seat. There were a couple of groups dining in and someone picking up a to-go order, but there was still plenty of seating available. The employee working the counter was friendly. They also serve alcohol, and during my visit drinks were 20% off. Options included Pacifico, Modelo, Blue Moon, hard seltzers, and a selection of canned craft beers. I ordered: * Mahi Mahi Taco: the fish tasted fresh, and I liked the crispy onions on top. There was quite a bit of sauce, which made it pretty messy to eat. While the fish was good, it felt like a very heavy taco overall. * Surf & Turf Taco: this was loaded with steak and topped with two flavorful shrimp. The shrimp had an amazing flavor, and this taco was much more enjoyable and balanced. Overall, the service was great, the prices were very reasonable, and the protein quality was excellent. My only critique is that the tacos felt a little overdone with toppings and sauces when the quality of the protein could easily stand on its own. Still, it's a solid spot for an affordable late-night bite. One thing to note: there are no restrooms available inside the restaurant.

    Photos
    The Waves Taco Club
    Surf Turf Burrito
    Surf Turf Burrito
    Shrimp Burrito

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    Shrimp Burrito
    Chula Tacos

    Chula Tacos

    3.9
    (294 reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    Sometimes, there are nights when only tacos can fix me. It's no secret that San Diego has tacos in…read morespades and being so close to the border, you'd think that a quest to find the perfect taco would be as simple as rolling down to the nearest taqueria. Except, it's not quite that simple. Many beloved staples have gone downhill, while some newer spots that might boast things like a Michelin mention or multiple locations ranging from TJ to Vegas contain more hype and gristle than tender meat and substance. Enter Chula Tacos. Chula is, and always was, the type of place that makes you forget that you're not actually in Tijuana. While part of me misses their OG Market Street location, seeing them with brick-and-mortars feels hard-earned and well-deserved. This location on Palm in IB is relatively easy to access from the freeway, but parking can be tricky. You can safely assume that it will be busy and you will either have to be very lucky or be willing to find a spot on the street. Out of all the times I've been here, it's always been crowded enough that I've never been able to find a table inside, but I enjoy sitting out on the patio next to the ahumederos. The first thing that hits you walking through the door is how amazing everything smells. The queue to the cashier takes you near a window showing the kitchen where you can see the Chula Tacos team making fresh tortillas, slicing meat from the trompos, grilling up jalapenos, nopales, onions, labio, and tripa. For me, it's not so much a challenge to decide what I want, it's more a challenge to keep myself from ordering everything. My usual is four tacos: two asada, two al pastor (but I've heard that I should also try their world famous keka). The tacos though? Perfection. Every time, the asada is the juiciest and most tender I've ever eaten, the al pastor is succulent and flavorful, and no taco in front of me is long for the world. At $3.50 each, every one of them is absolutely loaded. Three would honestly fill me up, but I always want four. After getting burned by spots that ask around 75% more and deliver anywhere between 25-50% less, Chula Tacos feels like an absolute godsend of a Tijuana-style taqueria and I can't see any other contenders being my go-to. So, when I say "Tacos will fix me," what I mean nowadays is "Chula Tacos will fix me."

    Chula Tacos in Nestor is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for authentic, flavorful tacos…read morewith generous portions. Every item we ordered was packed with delicious flavors and made fresh. One thing that stood out was their attention to detail with to-go orders--they provided plenty of condiments, including a variety of salsas, cucumbers, radishes, and peppers, which really elevated the meal. The highlight of the menu is the Keka Taco. It is incredibly delicious, loaded with flavor, and so filling that it can easily satisfy even the biggest appetite. The only downside to this establishment is the limited parking, which can make picking up your order a bit challenging during busy times. However, the amazing food and generous portions more than make up for the parking inconvenience. If you're in the area, the Keka Taco is a must-try!

    Photos
    Chula Tacos
    Keka (carne)
    Keka (carne)
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating

    BAJA RICK'S Cantina - tacos - Updated August 2026

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