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    Papa's Tacos

    4.1 (330 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Papa's Tacos Photos

    Business Info

    PAPA'S TACOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Papa's Tacos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Machaca Chicken Torta w. lettuce, mayo, and guacamole. (mine was with no tomatoes or cheese)
    Grace S.

    I've been coming here for at least a few decades and it is always been a great stop on my way to the beach, or work. The old owners sold it about 3 or 4 years ago. The new owners have kept the menu are doing a fantastic job! This little walk up is located on Pacific Coast Highway in South Laguna Beach. I stopped yesterday and got a machaca chicken torta. The Machaca chicken is delicious whether it's in a taquito, street taco, burrito, enchilada or a torta the meat is tender, juicy and tasty! We stop by to get their guacamole and chips for the kiddos because the guac is pure avocado with no fillers, it's absolutely delicious! And the chicken tortilla soup is the best around. The kids also love their taquitos, which are plump and filled with lots of meat. If you're in the south Laguna area, do yourself a favor and stop in -- you won't be disappointed, it's a local favorite! (I'll try to post better photos next time)

    Papa's California Burrito
    Indi E.

    My kids and I come here every time before we head down to the beach. They love it, which is a win in my book cause they never all eat at 1 place. The seagulls and pigeons will also tell you they love it since they've repeatedly stolen leftovers from the INSIDE of my backpack. Our usuals are the asada quesadilla, potato burrito, and papa's California burrito. The green (mild) salsa is tangy and not spicy which we prefer and compliments our food well.

    Food was really good
    Chencha B.

    Great food..red salsa was FRIRE!!! Definitely recommend Great service Asada nachos and asada tacos Fish tacos was great too And carnita taco

    The vintage sign really adds to the neighborhood.
    Grandma Pika C.

    Visiting from Portland and found this spot while driving around. They gave generous portions and the meats were flavorful. I got Papa's California Burrito and it was excellent. The salsa was good and chunky. Wasn't a fan of the "mild sauce", didn't have much flavor at all. The staff that helped us were polite, prompt, and friendly. Only two outdoor tables that have seen better days, so take this to go! Perfect for a beach picnic or cruising to a park.

    bean cheese rice burrito

    A bit pricey, vegetarian options were more expensive than meat which doesn't add up. Burrito had no flavor, cheese wasn't melted. Salsa verde was flavorless too. Disappointing

    Machado Chicken Street Taco, Black Beans ,Rice
    Jennifer R.

    Great spot by the beach. Food was excellent and served HOT! Service was great, parking is a bit tricky but there is parking in front of the place.

    Mahi Mahi Fish tacos... the bomb

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    2 months ago

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    16 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    21 days ago

    Great service but honestly the salsa straight up did not taste good and perhaps the worst huevos rancheros I've ever had

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    1 month ago

    Great food and very reasonable prices. I love their chicken enchiladas. My husband liked their fish burrito.

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    A bowl of homemade chicken tortilla soup is a delicious and perfect meal for rainy days. Yummy!!

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    IT WAS AMAZING!! They're very quick and the food was delicious. Highly recommend!!!! Their chips are so good.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I got a Papa's tacos for their street tacos. They give you plenty of meat and the tortillas are fresh. For only $3.50 each it's quite a buy!

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 9

    Papa's Tacos Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Papa's Tacos

    Are any of the vegetarian options vegan?

    Yes. The Veggie Bowl (minus rice - our rice has chicken broth in it) and ask to grill the veggies with soy oil instead of margarine. Veggie Burrito and Taco (minus rice, cheese & sour cream). Potato Burrito (minus rice and cheese). Potato taco… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Carmelita's

    Carmelita's

    4.2
    (2.7k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I should have taken photos! Every bite was delicious. The fresh tortilla chips were warm and the…read moreguacamole was so tasty and was served with chopped cucumbers and a wonderfully smoky chipotle sauce on the side. Why? Who knows. Who cares. They were delicious. We ordered several types of tacos, on both regular corn tortillas and crispy tortillas. WOW! Each bite was better than the one before. Is that possible ? Yes, it's possible. The food was so delicious, we ordered food to take with us for later. ( photos of take out attached. We were too busy eating out sit down meal). The service was exceptional. My water glass stayed full. The room is nice and cozy. We had no problem with parking, but I can imagine it may get tight during the dinner hour. We will return, because I look forward to trying several other menu items. I highly recommend Carmelita's.

    Boyfriend brought me to Carmelita's on a date and I loved it! It's a cute restaurant in main beach…read moreLaguna with a nice ambiance. We started with their chips and salsa and beans. The chips were super fresh and crispy, with just the right amount of salt. Their margarita was classic and simple in the best way, with a salt rim (my fav). I ordered their burrito bowl and they were able to add fajita veggies instead of a protein as a vegetarian option. This bowl was loaded - rice , beans, cheese, guac, veggies, cucumber, lettuce, and tortilla strips. Huge bowl and everything tasted so so good! The lettuce was tossed in a fresh lime dressing and the fajita veggies were spiced to perfection. Would def come here again. They made what could be so simple into an elevated meal. And staff is also super friendly!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chef's Combo Platter
    Chef's Combo Platter
    Seafood trio

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    Seafood trio
    South of Nick's

    South of Nick's

    4.6
    (1.2k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    South of Nicks is my favorite stop in Laguna. The food is always awesome, but you have to also get…read morethe Butter-cake at the end. The views from here are gorgeous, although it can get packed and loud, it's still a great visit. Service is honestly great, I love coming here. There can be a lengthy wait so I recommend reservations if you can!

    We wanted some late night bites after an eventful day at the beach luckily this restaurant was open…read moretill 10p. We came in around 8:30p on a Sunday night hoping to get seated, however they said they had full reservations but the bar had some space. We ended up sitting at the bar, I'm so glad I gave it a chance. The service at the bar was really awesome and the bartender/server helping us was really attentive. I ordered a Paloma and my newly fiancé ordered a spicy watermelon margarita. The drinks were pretty good. I preferred his over mine. The Paloma had a blood orange taste that was interesting. The margarita didn't have much of a spice still really good. I really enjoyed the complimentary chips and the trio salsa black bean dip. The salsa could have had a little more spice. Entrees: we ordered the enchiladas divorciadas and the filet taquitos, everything was really delicious. I especially loved the green sauce on the cheese enchilada and the mole was perfect. The taquitos were just as good with a great amount of guacamole. The portions were a decent size. Overall it was a great experience and price point. I'll definitely be coming back the next time we are in Laguna and I'll be sure to make a reservation to get a table next time.

    Photos
    Bar area with chips and dip
    Bar area with chips and dip
    Mini Soft Taco Platter; carnitas, roasted chicken, al pastor, and steak
    Mini Soft Taco Platter; carnitas, roasted chicken, al pastor, and steak
    Pork mole enchilada and chicken chipotle enchilada

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    Pork mole enchilada and chicken chipotle enchilada
    The Taco Stand

    The Taco Stand

    4.1
    (580 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Taco Stand never misses -- but just know this is not the exact same experience as the San Diego…read morelocations. The flavor profile here is definitely a bit smokier/charred compared to the Taco Stand spots down south, especially compared to La Jolla. There are slight variations in how some of the food is cooked and prepared, but it's not bad at all -- just different. If you come in expecting an exact replica, you may notice the differences. If you treat this location as its own thing, it's honestly really solid. Huge shoutout to Carlos at the register for the excellent customer service. We ordered food both for here and to-go, and everything was packed separately exactly how we asked. We also made a few modifications after placing the order, and Carlos went out of his way to track down our ticket and write the changes on it himself to make sure everything came out correctly. Food was still great, service was amazing, and we'd definitely come back again.

    I waited in line for about 10-15 min. Service was good it was very loud. Food was decent I don't…read morethink it's that worth the hype. I got the Cali burrito and the presado taco. The fries tasted ok not that thin and crispy. I expected a lot more flavor. The sauce stand was a mess... it didn't look sanitary whatsoever. I grabbed the newest one that I requested get put out since it was empty.

    Photos
    Great spot
    Great spot
    Pollo Asado taco
    Pollo Asado taco
    California burrito- good carne Asada in there

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    California burrito- good carne Asada in there

    Papa's Tacos - mexican - Updated August 2026

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