Amazing food and service!! And good atmosphere. highly recommend it for authentic Mexican food. read more

Thank you Alexa! Great service. Food was delicious, I will definitely be coming back ! read more

I love the inside of this restaurant ! It gives TJ style diner. They do have a "taco bar" where you can just order tacos and watch them be made. Honestly really cool it was my first time seeing something like that ! I had the following below: *Carne Asada Taco: 5/5 - Really great carne asada ! Very tender, soft, juicy, hardly any fat. Seasoned well ! I ordered 4 in total ! They put guacamole , which honestly tasted fresh, the salsa was not too spicy but did have a small kick ! *Adobada Taco: 3/5 - Average, I have had better adobada tacos ! Still the meat was juicy, tender and soft. What it lacked was flavor, i felt it wasnt as spicy or good like other ones I have had *Birria Taco : 4/5 - Solid taco. Very juicy, soft and seasoned well ! I actually enjoyed it ! *Strawberry Horchata : 5/5 - Really great tasting drink ! Was very sweet, strawberry was on point, mixture was excellent ! *Carne Asada Fries: 5/5 - Fries were fresh, crispy and golden ! Very generous with the guacamole and meat ! Carne asada was seasoned very well ! Emilio was our server he was very attentive and kind ! He always checked on us to make sure we were taken care of ! Love this place will be going back ! I will say it's a little pricey at almost $5 a taco but the quality is most definitely there ! read more

Las Ahumaderas - Carne Asada Taco Adobada Taco - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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**The $0.95 credit card fee is the reason I won't be back.** I really don't understand the logic behind charging customers an additional $0.95 simply for choosing to pay with a credit or debit card. Restaurants and businesses often seem to forget that accepting credit cards actually brings in **more business**. People carry less cash than they used to, and having the convenience of paying by card makes customers more likely to stop in and spend money. The restaurant benefits from accepting cards because it gives customers another way to pay and can generate sales that might not happen if cards weren't accepted. If a business decides to remove its credit card machine and accept cash only, it may quickly discover that it loses customers and revenue. But if you're going to accept cards, I don't believe the customer should be forced to pay an additional transaction fee for the privilege. For me, it's simple: **I refuse to pay an additional dollar just to use my credit or debit card.** Whether I choose cash, debit, or credit should be my choice without being penalized for using the payment method that's most convenient for me. The $0.95 may not seem like much, but it's the principle behind it. There are plenty of other places where I can spend my money without being charged an extra fee just for paying with a card. That is the reason for this bad review, and until Las Ahumaderas changes this policy and eliminates the fee, **I'll be taking my business somewhere else.** If ownership or management eventually changes this policy and gets rid of the fee, I'll gladly reconsider this review and remove it. read more

Made a quick border run last week and needed to cross before we had lunch, so we were looking for something authentic but different than Tacos el Gordo. My wife saw this place, which we assume is named after the famous TJ taco spot of the same name. Other than the missing smoke and steaminess, the place was a lot like Las Ahumadaras in TJ. The white tile. Seating at the counter so you can order one taco at a time and watch them as they are made. Fresh corn tortillas made on site. Mexican sodas. All reminders of a TJ from the past. The food was spot on. All the standard proteins: carne asada, adobada, birria, al vapor, lengua, cabesa and others. I had a torta de adobada. Just perfect. My wife had two adobada tacos and a liquado with chia, cucumber and limon. The tacos were huge, with ample amounts of meat and guacamole. The salsa was delicious and the meat was well seasoned. But the kicker for me was the carne asada. My go to taco has always been CA, but it doesn't taste the same in the US. So much so that I don't eat carne asada unless I make it on my own grill. But This place hit it just right. Food memories of eating at tacos de la Gloria or El Guero came flooding back. This place is legit for real TJ, BC tacos and we will definitely be back. Prices are a little high ($5.99 and $6.99 a taco, $14.99 torta) but you get what you pay for. Good portions. Great food. Great atmosphere. I highly recommend! read more

Las Ahumaderas - Menu - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Food- good Will try again when in san diego Great tacos and meat was very flavorful. read more

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I Live close to this establishment and finally went a few days ago. While the tacos were not bad they were not as good as their sister ones in Tijuana. I had two of the carne asada tacos and found them to be pricey and just okay. The staff was very friendly and do provide good customer service. Although I walked there, did notice not a lot of parking and people were having a hard time finding a parking spot. Overall, the tacos were good but nothing extraordinary. Most likely would not go Back. read more

Amazing tacos, felt like I was in Tijuana fr :) amazing horchata, tasted like my moms. Beautiful atmosphere & vibes, the owner and employees treated us like family, amazing service. Really recommend !!!! read more

Lacking 1 star for something so simple -yet cannot be under looked- and the reasoning behind it is that in order to get a full authentic street taco spot in Mexico experience you have to have all condiments and necessities at reach - we asked for a side of jalapeños and grilled onions but they never came- until I had to ask for a second time and by then we were already on the last bite - so eh' if it's a busy night be smart enough to ask for all your savory garnishes from the get- About the Bar ! Best seat of the house -imo Michelada mix with rimmed cup was lots of draft beers - and they do have HappyHourDeals!! Best treatment tho' man working it gave us a taste of house michelada with a twist- we tried the Jamaica flavor and it was amazing and refreshing! Not a common flavor of choice to mix with beer - but it pairs nicely! Give it a try! Meats we had , asada and adobada ordered vampiro which is a hardened corn tortilla with melted cheese and your choice of meat Quesa tacos - corn taco with melted cheese on tortilla Good size tacos and generous servings ! Will go back to try the Tripa and cabeza stuff ! read more

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Food was delicious and hot, service was prompt. Our server Alexa was wonderful, kind and funny. We will definitely be back. Recommend this establishment 100% read more

04/18/2026 My friend introduced me to this place. Here is what I had: -Lengua Taco ($5.39) 5/5: Tender and juicy; I would definitely order this again. -Birria Taco ($4.59) 3/5: Tasty, but the meat was a bit dry and nothing really stood out. Service: 4/5 The waitresses were pleasant and checked on us often to see if we needed anything. Would I return? Not really--it is a bit too far from where I live. read more

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Great service from Alexa, great food as well, i recommend the adobada ie very good, amd the quesadilla

Recently stopped by here and discovered this hidden gem by my coworker. Ordered their mango aqua Fresca and ordered their tacos: simply heavenly. If you like guacamole with your tacos this is your place. Prompt service and enjoyed my server humor + transparency. Loved the ambiance and wanted to seat outside but the Mother Nature told me to die b inside. Highly recommend this place. read more

My partner ordered the asada and cabeza tacos. The asada is a bit bland and the cabeza tasted mostly of oregano. I ordered the mixed quesadilla with asada and adobada, the adobada had more flavor and I liked the guac. We ordered a side of beans and they tasted really good, not canned or frozen beans- they were very fresh. The servers were nice but they didn't really check on us. The vibe is cool though, they have cool neon signs and outside they have a big screen which would be good to watch a game or a fight here read more

Las Ahumaderas - Asada and adobada quesadilla - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Late post. Took my family here that was visiting from out of town. There were close to 30 of us having a pre wedding celebration. Great service by Alejandro and his team. He made sure we were well taken care of. Every got their food fast and were very impressed with the flavors. The whole wait staff did an excellent job making everyone feel welcome and not being frustrated or overwhelmed by all of us. We will definitely be back and will share your business with people we know!! read more

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Amazing food and service! Alejandro welcomed us right away and our server was so attentive. read more

Las Ahumaderas - Carne asada taco, chips and salsa, cucumber and mango/jamica agua fresca - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Great experience. Food was delicious. Great service. Great music . Like the decorations

Famously known from TJ now they here in San Diego. Of course it's not the same exact taste or price of TJ, it has its pros & cons. First I like to say the customer service is good, attentive, fast & it's pretty clean inside & the vibe is good. Menu is very extended from tacos, Tortas, menudo, burritos, crepes, baked potatoes & a good bar with TV's. Let me start with what everyone loved, the Crepes, the kids loved it so much we got 2 & Baked Potatoes with carne asada, Chipotle with the trimmings were also very good & the tripa here is very good. The tacos were ok, Tripa was my fav but the others needed more seasoning, Birria, Asada & especially the Adobada were a bit bland & thier guac they use was a bit bland too & the Cabeza was a bit dry to my liking. Tho they probably have some of the best handmade corn tortillas I've had & kind of made up for some of the bland meat, those tortillas are very good. They are a bit pricey compared to other taco spots, about $5 a taco so if you a big back like me & eat alot it can get pricey. Menudo was ok but you come to a taco shop for the tacos not menudo but hey if you bring your Tata & Nana they may want a bowl with a taco. Overall it's ok, a bit pricey but a good vibe & good to have a family event especially if they like drinking with the bar they have. If I was invited I go again & get a few Tripa tacos. read more

Las Ahumaderas - Tacos, beers & laughter & celebrating my pop's EL Jefe's 71st birthday, Salud :) - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Overpriced and not good at all. I wouldn't recommend this place. F anything I told people not to go. I didn't even finish my food.

Mexican food Street tacos Jugos Adobaba Al pastor. Asada Fast service Restroom outside with code Amex accepted Small parking lot. Good for large parties Limited vegetarian options Table side salsa Large menu selection read more

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Every time I come I get great service from all the staff and I like my usual server Angelica, I like the ambiance and it's always a good experience for my girls and my self. read more

The Areachera papa was delicious as well as the agua fresca de Tamarindo. Definitely recommend.

Alexa, our server, was pleasant and very attentive. Good environment, food is excellent. will recommend to all.

Alexa. Is amazing and a great waitress. I will always come back to see her at this restaurant

Neon lights, tacos stacked, micheladas & margaritas rimmed with chamoy this place does not play around Every taco was loaded and messy in the best way. The adobada and asada were top tier, and the salsas had me sweating (but like... happily). Came hungry & left full & buzzin Loud, chaotic, and delicious; 10/10 would come back. read more

Las Ahumaderas - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Alexa is the best, we have a wonderful time with our friends and family, they have good customer service and the food is so good 100 % recommend read more

Walked in expecting counter service but was shown a table and ordered via a server. This was just one of many food stops of the day (sampling the local fares) so we ate light. We tried three tacos, the Asada, Pollo & Cabeza. All felt authentic to Mexico and had great flavor, especially the Cabeza. To us $4.59 each was more than a fair price. They came out quick as well. The place was clean. The restrooms are outside requiring a code which was provided to us by the server as we were seated. All around service was fantastic. Only drawback at the end was apparently no one ever pays by card here as it took a bit to find the machine and an employee that knew how to use it. Didn't tarnish a great outing. read more

Yikes! Too much hype, not a lot of substance. I gave 2 stars because I couldn't bring myself to round a 2.3 up to a 3... As someone who grew up eating (and still is) the best tacos Tijuana has to offer (extinct places like Loma Bonita, San Cosme, Tacos Jalisco, to still-open greats like El Franc, El Ruso, San Juan, etc. and even the original Las Ahumaderas, which are decent), the Chula Vista location was a massive dissapointment! The interior is really nice, but it does not live up to the actual taco experience. I went today not expecting perfection, but at least something good locally that could come back to when I have that craving. Nope! I always try the "trinity" at a new taquería to gauge the quality of their tacos (asada, adobada and cabeza), then order more if I like what I got (tripa, suadero, or more of the same if delicious). Visually, the tacos looked very promising, but the best thing about them ended up being the guacamole... Asada: As we say in Tijuana, "malitos"! The beef was unseasoned, did not have the signature charcoal smoky flavor from Las Ahumaderas in Tijuana, very chewy (we say "tosudos" and "con mucho cebo") with rough fatty parts that I had to spit out. It's as if they used the cheapest cut of beef from Walmart to make them. Adobada: Visually exciting, but that was it. Poorly seasoned even though the adobo/marinade had a deep color. The meat has a very weird aftertaste that was unpleasant that even the worst adobada I've tasted does not have...until now. Cabeza: Tasted like meat boiled in water with zero flavor, more like soft shredded beef from a San Diego-style taco shop than a taqueria. I even foumd a bone piece that I had to spit out. The green salsa tasted like Herdez salsa verde from a can... I asked for the check asap, paid and left, never to come back. For all the hype I was hearing about this place, it was not warranted at all. read more

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My family and I visited this place to check it out. Parking is limited, so on busy days you might need to find a spot elsewhere. Once inside, the host or hostess is friendly and acknowledges you right away. If there's availability, you're seated promptly. The food is served quickly, and the flavors are genuinely delicious. However, I gave this place 3 stars primarily due to the pricing. I spent $80 for dinner for three people, which included four small tacos, one burrito, one corn, and one kids meal. That's pretty steep--definitely not Tijuana prices, and it's not fine dining either. Just too expensive for what you get. read more

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Food quality and taste has declined. Birria tacos were not good. Alot of clove taste in the meat along with big chunks of fat. Adobada tacos were bland and not the greatest. The cooks are doing a terrible job. read more

Our server was amazing! He hooked us up with free agua fresca refills! Service was amazing as well.

I was recommended this spot by my friend who grew up in SD, so I had high expectations. You walk in and order first, then you pick up at the counter in the back. There was a wide variety of options and the ordering process is pretty straight forward. I liked how the inside was clean and well maintained. The tacos were ok though. We got the carne asada, cabeza, and adobada tacos which weren't that flavorful. Even with the sauce it felt kind of bland. I have had more fatty and flavorful tacos elsewhere. Not sure if I would come back... I would probably go to Tacos El Gordo instead if I was down here and wanted tacos. read more

Las Ahumaderas - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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I used to frequent Tijuana quite a bit we would always stop by the famous "Taco Alley" before crossing the border back to the US. My boyfriend and I were surprised to see that they opened it here in Chula Vista. This place is huge but confusing. I was expecting it to be similar to Las Ahumaderas where you sit down in front of the cook and they give you the tacos right then and there. However, the experience is far from it. We had to order at the bar where we then received a buzzer that let us know when our tacos were done. I feel like one of the key components of a taco from Las Ahumaderas is the charcoal taste. That was missing from these tacos which then makes these tacos mid at best. Not to mention the prices are way more pricer per taco compared to other places. The concept of this place is interesting. I can see they're trying to make it like a food court situation where you could get dessert, tacos, and drinks all in one place. While the concept is cool, there are definitely better tacos down the street. Overall, I wouldn't come here expecting it to taste like just like the Las Ahumaderas in TJ. I'm glad to say I tried it but I personally wouldn't come back. read more

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This place is great The food here is amazing, the servers are very attentive! as well as Álex the manager who came and checked in on us multiple times great service, very cool spot to go to if you want a lot of options read more

The food is delicious. I had the baked potato with al pastor and Carne Asada. I like the al pastor a little bit better. The potato was huge plenty of seasoning and very filling. I had to take half to go. I was super happy that they had Happy Dad here the death row grape flavor. It's one of my favorites is actually the reason why I stopped in. I will be back to try the taco Tuesday and I will try some desserts and more Happy Dad had it with a rim of Chamoy and Tahin highly recommend! My server was Laura. I sat at the bar and she was very helpful with recommendations. I love that they have happy hour here and that the food comes out perfectly hot and full of flavor. It feels like you're in Tijuana. The vibe is loud like Mexico, but still fun and warm with music. read more

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Great food and even better service. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the entire staff was welcoming. A special thank you to Alexa for taking such great care of us. She was friendly, helpful, attentive, and made the whole experience enjoyable. It's clear she genuinely cares about her customers and takes pride in providing excellent service. We'll definitely be back. Thanks again, Alexa, for making our visit a great one! read more

The food here, along with the customer service, is ALWAYS a hit or miss... tonight it was a miss. I ordered a pick up order through Uber Eats, because you can't phone in your order in advance. Sure, you can call it in, but they don't stay preparing it until you come in, in person to pay. Anyway, I ordered two orders of adobada/carne asada fries, and the guac was nasty and brown. Not only that, they only gave me the spiciest salsa I like spicy, but daaaammmmnnnnnnn! I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon. read more

Las Ahumaderas - Adobada fries - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Overall the service was top notch with awesome food! Ambience feels authentic with music playing in the background. Thank You Esmeralda! Great Service definitely coming back read more

Las Ahumaderas - Ambience - Tacos Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Best tacos in San Diego !! And I have lived in SD for 12 years and havent found a spot like this. Tortillas are handmade. They also have lengua and tripas which tells you its very authentic. Legit spot! I had asada and suadero tacos. Sooo bomb!! the bartender was so nice. And he made the best PALOMAS!!! JUST HOW THEY MAKE THEM IN MEXICO. read more

I visited Las Ahumaderas in Chula Vista, CA on Thursday, 1/23/25, around 11 PM. For dinner, I decided to order one Carne Asada Burro & two Birria Quesatacos. The food was quite tasty and flavorful. The carne asada in the burro was seasoned to perfection. It was delicious, especially paired with the hot salsa. The Quesatacos were also delectable. The inside of the restaurant was very lively and inviting. I liked the nice decor and entertaining music. The customer service was very friendly. The parking lot was spacious. Overall, the price point of the food may be just a tad high. However, the food from "The Original Tijuana Taco" restaurant is appetizing. I recommend trying this place out. read more

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