Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pure Taco

    4.2 (550 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pure Taco Takeout or Delivery

    Pure Taco Photos

    Business Info

    PURE TACO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

    More like Pure Taco

    Recommended Reviews - Pure Taco

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pulled Chicken Taco
    Nicole Erin B.

    Impressed by the portion sizes and relatively moderate prices of these tasty tacos. The corn tortillas tasted fresh but were a little undercooked which led to a soggy bottom from all the filling. The chicken and pork tacos were both tender and flavorful with generous portions of guacamole. A lot of the seating is indoor/outdoor style which is a great place to enjoy fresh air but also stay shaded. The menu is clearly labeled with allergens including gluten free and vegetarian. Definitely will return!

    2 fish tacos
    Ray L.

    I love that it's an affordable casual quick order place you go up to the register order. Find a cute seat. Seating is mostly outdoors and they bring the food to your table. They have a stellar deal of two fish tacos for five dollars every day and they are good sized! I would say this is a really affordable place for the area. You can tell the tortillas were freshly made. It seems like it's a California Mexican type place. I would definitely go there again for a quick bite! It looks like they also had a full bar.

    Skinny Margarita, $12 and Pure Marg, $12
    Elle C.

    While I'd been to a few other restaurants and coffee shops on this street and in this area, I'm only discovering Pure Taco now -- perhaps because we usually don't seek counter-service eateries; desiring a small, quick bite, we decided to stop in. We learned, however, seated at the bar top, it's full service... and while I didn't plan on a cocktail, my thoughts are it's wrong not to order a cocktail seated at the bar top! I don't like cocktail mixes; appreciatively, no mixes were used in my Skinny Margarita ($12), which was quite (almost too) tangy but thankfully, not sweet. Hubby enjoyed his Pure Marg ($12) -- both cocktails surprisingly (and deliciously) strong. We started with their Corn in a Cup ($6.95) -- with an option to be served with chips (which were enjoyably thick & crispy, and learned that the tortillas are made daily). In addition, they use fresh fish (never frozen). The Baja Fish Tacos (2/$5) and their Grilled Fish Taco ($5.75) consisted of generous planks of fish, served within thick corn tortillas. We had the pleasure of being served by Osheana, whose positive energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of their menu items made our first visit a fun and enjoyable one! I like the open-&-airy, indoor/outdoor, casual vibe and reasonable prices. We're now fans of Pure Taco.

    Halibut taco
    Billie B.

    The Caesar salad was enough for two or three and delicious. I had the halibut taco which was small but full of fish and very good. My husband had the California burrito but could only eat half. There is no table service. You order a they bring it to your table.

    Paloma Cocktail
    RJ S.

    It's a solid taco shop featuring a modern fusion of flavors! Pure's menu is a melting pot of various global cuisines, but delivered in classic Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, nachos and salads. The staff is great and the open air order-at-the-counter setup screams SoCal. I've a lot of menu items, but some of my favorites include the Baja Fish Taco, Korean Pork Bo Sam Taco, Salmon Bowl and Pure Greens Salad. If you're thirsty, they have a full bar, beer, wine and Dole Whip for those with a sweet tooth. Try their Pure Marg! It's made with an orange simple syrup that packs unique flavor. Don't miss out. Try it for yourself!

    Mixed greens
    Nell C.

    Salads were overdressed and salty today. Mixed greens salad was hard to consume and wish that I got the dressing on the side. Salad leaves were fresh and topped with grated cheese.

    Steak taco, and battered fish taco
    Jan H.

    Went to the Carlsbad street fair, and stopped off here to eat as they had open seats at the bar. If you sit at the bar it's full service, or if you are sitting at a table you must go up and order at the counter. It's not a huge place and most of the tables were for small parties. Thankfully it was just me so I had no problem finding a spot at the bar. It did take them a minute to take my order, but they were a bit busy. The server did offer to get my drink for me from the self-service station, which I really appreciated and took her up on. They have tacos, burritos, bowls, Etc. I ordered the battered fish tacos, and the steak taco, the cilantro lime rice, and the black beans. Both of the tacos were really good, but the rice was pretty bland. It didn't really taste like much, and seems more like a filler. The beans were black beans, they didn't have refried beans, but we're pretty good. They did kind of taste like they needed salt, but since you have to go get all of the condiments from a separate area I didn't want to leave my food unattended so I ate them as was. Honestly though they were fine even without the salt, I'm just a girl that likes a little salt and most of her food LOL. I would like to try one of their bowls, maybe the next time I'm in the area or at the street fair. I did notice they had a taco Tuesday, and a decent happy hour, which would be great if you live or work in the area. If you do I definitely say check them out.

    Nachos with beef
    Pamela R.

    2.5 stars... The hubs and I wanted Mexican food for lunch so we decided to try Pure Taco since we were in the area. The space is cute, mostly outside with inside bar seating. They have a full bar and a wide choice of tacos but its more like a fast food restaurant... Chips and salsa are not complementary, so we chose the nachos and added beef. We also ordered the avocado fries. To drink, we tried the Paloma and the Pure Marg. The service...our server/bartender seemed disinterested and preoccupied with finding the right channel on the TV. She only checked in with us after we were done eating. The food...everything looked/tasted like it came out of a can/bag/jar. Nothing was good. The drinks...also tasted like pre-made mixes and bottled juices...not good. Will not be returning and do not recommend.

    Chips and Chips, Salsa & Guacamole**
    Justin C.

    This is a solid spot for global tacos in the heart of Carlsbad. You order at the counter, self serve drinks, and they bring the tacos out to you. I liked in the indoor outdoor vibes - classic San Diego surfer Carlsbad. I wanted to try as many flavors as possible so I ordered the traditional 1/2 flight. I got four tacos: grilled steak, pulled chicken, pastor, citrus braised pork. I really enjoyed the grilled steak and citrus braised pork. Tortillas were a touch thick for me. Also ordered chips with guacamole and salsa and enjoyed them as an appetizer. My tacos came out pretty quickly. Next time, I'm looking forward to trying the global 1/2 flight.

    Suzanne W.

    Nachos were good for a snack. Margarita was good. We liked the outdoor seating. Bartender was friendly. Will come back for the fish tacos. What a deal.

    Baja Fish Burrito
    Leanne D.

    We were spending the day in Carlsbad and wanted to grab a bite to eat. Walking down State Street Pure Taco caught our eye. At Pure Taco you place your order and pay at the register and then you seat yourself at a table and your order is delivered to your table. We opted to sit at the bar which is full service. We ordered the braised pork burrito and the Baja fish burrito. My fish burrito was more rice than fish but was still good but we did come pretty hungry. Adding some Tapatio to the burrito gave it more flavor as it was a bit bland for my liking. Based on our burritos the food was a 3-31/2 but the bartender's service and friendliness and ambiance bumped my rating to a 4. I would definitely try this place again but next time I would try their tacos since it seems to be their specialty given the place is called "pure taco".

    Pastor Taco &  BBQ Brisket taco
    Hanna S.

    Great prices here. I'm pretty picky with tacos so I wasn't too impressed - it felt more like texmex from the few tacos I tried, but they do an interesting BBQ taco and the beans were quite good. Overall, this is an ok spot for a quick bite.

    1/2 Global Flight tacos
    Elaine L.

    Absolutely loved Pure Taco! The flight interactional was super tasty. Loved the flavors. Pretty messy so don't go on a 1st date there. Haha! The service was fast...similarl concept to Panera where you order at the counter and they give you a number and they bring the food to you. I cannot wait to go back!!

    Grilled Steak Taco

    See all

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elle C.
    91
    1006
    2295

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Billie B.
    69
    44
    117

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris P.
    14
    96
    114

    21 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nell C.
    317
    808
    2115

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sheri S.
    162
    13
    1

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ed M.
    0
    13
    0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vin B.
    13
    45
    111

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rizl L.
    30
    26
    62

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Thanks for your review Shane. The pho taco is amazing.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Prices are reasonable and food is good. Service is attentive and you can listen to the band across the street

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S J.
    265
    200
    152

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Robert U.

    Robert U.

    Thanks for your kind words SJ. We are an excellent little taco spot!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Pure Taco

    Is this place dog friendly?

    Yes we are!!

    Do they accept Apple Pay?

    Yes I believe they do, but best to call the location.

    Do you serve fry bread?

    No - not to my knowledge but they have delicious food.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Same Same - NEW YORK STRIP STEAK with fried shallots and Thai-style chimichurri

    Same Same

    4.5(255 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    My husband and I came here for our first wedding anniversary and it was amazing! Don't let the…read moresmall menu fool you - every single thing we ate was delicious! FOOD: - hot potatoes: has a pickled radish and some sort of crème sauce that was so good - these were my husband's favorite. - chicken satay: It came with pickled cucumber (think when it's cucumber kimchi, but it wasn't a kimchi type of marinade). The peanut sauce had a little spice (if you don't have any spice tolerance I would avoid the sauce, but it was sooo good). This was my favorite. - khao soi curry (has egg noodles) and that was delicious. We added the brisket to it which was a good add. My husband ate his so fast and I had to make him not take any more so we could have leftovers! DRINKS: - we got complimentary champagne for our anniversary which was so so sweet of them and made our night! The champagne itself was actually one of the best champagnes I have had. It had a nice sweetness to it. - my husband had the thai lager, which he said was okay. It tasted like most lagers he's had. - we shared the tangerine you are my sex machine as it sounded interesting and i do have to say this was the only thing we weren't big fans of. it was very smokey, but my husband put "old boat motor" in my head and that's all we could taste. if you love smokey drinks this would be for you. - I had a house cocktail that I cannot remember the name of for the life of me, but it was sweet, peachy (I think) and had champagne in it from what I remember. It was so good and would get it again! The vibe inside the restaurant was cool and there are over 30 tigers (our server counted for us, but she said she couldn't even find them all). The bathrooms were cute and very clean. 10/10 recommend. The check even came in a romance novel!

    Located in the village on the second level of the plaza, is an artsy and definitely trendy little…read morerestaurant but not in a way that's doing too much. I think everything really complimented each other well from the music to the art to the menu, it was great! Our server was nice as we were indecisive with even such a small menu, we had a hard time. The drinks were good and strong, unique and creative. Which I guess when you're going out and want to stay on theme, it works. We had the coconut broth hamachi which was so lip-smackingly addictive with those wonton chips! I would come back just for that dish! The chicken satay skewers were also delicious and the sauce that came with it was a good mix of sweet, savory, spicy and salty. I do think from there it was kind of just okay? I got the half fried chicken which smelled a fish sauce glaze and that's what I went in expecting but there was no punch of that fish sauce flavor you know? It needed a bit more pop. BF got the pork belly banh mi bowl which I guess in theory why would you get that at a Thai place? But the pork belly was hard and firm, not as you'd expect it to be which was dissapointing. Our friends got the Khao Soi which was delicious I do have to say and the Panang with Brisket. I think it was cool to try but im just stuck in my ways and prefer the ole mom and pop down the road with more options. But its fun for a night out!

    Photos
    Same Same - Indoor decor

    Indoor decor

    Same Same - HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)

    HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)

    Same Same - The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

    See all

    The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    4.3(3 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I'm so glad the Heritage crew decided to utilize this space. Urge had the vision, but not the…read moreexecution to make 101 Proof really shine. They had fantastic bartenders and menu, but the speakeasy concept has been outdated for a while. Now, a Honky Tonk is a very different, good thing. The tunes are something North County has been wanting, but been missing in favor of larger venue DJ's, but the juke box here has been curated with classics. It's far too small to dance unless you're slow or maybe 2 stepping in the corner. The ambiance is dim, relaxed, fun. The drinks are just as good as some of the top bars around, helmed by Wyatt who you may remember from Switchboard and KNVS is a staple in Oceanside. Prices are excellent, staff is great. While you can get a cocktail here, you don't have to. A classic shot and a beer is just as likely to be had here as a stemmed glass proper cocktail. When it's jamming it is near a standing room all the way around. No doorman asking for a password, no re-entry on nights when Heritage are open (Monday is this exception). It's funny to watch South O locals wander in here and realize maybe it's time to stop trying to change places to be like other places and enjoy the experience shown.

    Drinks are solid and served in kitschy mugs or fun appropriate to their name glasses. The…read morebartenders were as good looking as the drinks and knew how to make them, but the ambiance is lacking in a huge way. Cheaply done from the tables to decor and even though we went on a Saturday night the place was slow. Music was also good, but the DJ stopped playing about 20 min after we'd gotten there. That was a bummer. One round and we moved on.

    Photos
    Ladies Love Outlaws
    Ladies Love Outlaws - Mac and cheese with Tri Tip

    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    See all

    The Plot - One of the dishes I just can't remember what it's called!

    The Plot

    4.7(703 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    The dishes are masterfully created art pieces that taste as good as they look! Even as someone who…read moreisn't vegan or vegetarian, this restaurant completely changed my perspective on plant based cuisine. The attention to detail, flavor profiles, and presentation feel more like a high end gourmet restaurant than what most people expect from vegan food. The fried tofu is honestly mind blowing. If nobody told you it wasn't fried chicken, you'd never know the difference. Crispy, flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and incredibly satisfying. Every dish feels intentional, fresh, and thoughtfully crafted with high quality ingredients that truly stand out. Beyond the food, the atmosphere and community surrounding The Plot make it even more special. The staff are welcoming, the energy is positive, and the entire experience feels centered around wellness, creativity, and connection. Healthy food rarely tastes this indulgent. The Plot is easily one of the best culinary experiences in North County.

    We go and do Restaurant Reviews & attend special events at The Plot quarterly with my groups San…read moreDiego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies. This time around, it's just the family for Mother's Day. Since I know my food, the table let me order. Fresh hand cut thick long French Fries without a ton of seasoning or oil arrived: one with a cashew cheese truffle sauce, one with no salt, and one salted as requested. My daughter loved her reuben. I loved my blt. The two Caesar salads for the table disappeared quickly because their dressing is unbelievable! Let's see .... what didn't we eat is probably smarter than what did we eat. Beet ketchup, The C Word (braised cabbage), a couple of cronic sushi rolls, and there was a special lemon creme brûlée. Everyone enjoyed everything they ate, including my almost 3 year old grandson (they brought out a specially sliced fruit bowl for him). They offered many choices for kids, but he just wanted fruit. Hope you had as wonderful a Mother's Day as I did. Yes. We appreciated eating healthy and not walking away stuffed but instead satisfied. They were selling plants. So I bought 4 and planted them today! The gift that keeps on giving! We will be back for sure! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian

    Photos
    The Plot
    The Plot - Sausage and biscuits

    Sausage and biscuits

    The Plot - Fries with sauce

    See all

    Fries with sauce

    Sound by the Sea - Food: Prosciutto Flatbread. Drinks: Tropical Princess

    Sound by the Sea

    4.2(110 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    My friend organized a '70s-themed beach party in Oceanside, and we ended up at this cool spot for…read moreappetizers and drinks. This was my second time here, and I love everything about this place. First of all, kudos to the bartender--I forgot her name, but she was incredibly generous and kind. She accidentally forgot my drink and kept apologizing, but I told her it was totally fine since we had a large party. To make up for it, she gave me two shots instead of one and even added a big discount. The ambiance of this place is unique and very artsy. If you're looking for a cool, one-of-a-kind spot to hang out, this is it. There's so much attention to detail throughout--even the restroom door is thoughtfully designed with a modern, creative touch. My friend ordered a variety of cocktails, and everyone enjoyed them. The food was great as well. I ordered the hummus plate, and it was the best I've ever had--so fresh and served in a generous portion. My friends tried the pizza and a few other items from the menu, and everything got a thumbs up. If you're in the area looking for a cool place to hang out or planning a party, this is the spot. I'll definitely be back again soon.

    Oof, I really wanted to like this place. But this wasn't it. They have potential but they're not…read morethere yet. First off, they have a "wait to be seated" sign at their entrance, but it took a while to get anyone to seat us. When we were inside, we noticed there was another entrance and people were just walking in, so "waiting to be seated" was just an option? We ordered a beer and seltzer and it took easily 10-15 minutes to get our drinks. Drinks that were in cans by the way. Music was good, DJs were good, but the whole vibe of the place is kinda everywhere. This lighting in this place needs to be more dimmed. DJs are spinning right in the middle of the room, and there's a clothes rack just chilling against the wall. The baristas are way in the back, and you can't really tell who works there. It took equally as long to get the check as it did to get my drinks. We only had 1 round of drinks. I dunno, waiting for canned drinks just threw me off. I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken to get a mixed cocktail. I only saw one guy mixing drinks and a bunch of women just hanging around. I'm assuming workers that look like they don't work there.

    Photos
    Sound by the Sea - Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.

    Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.

    Sound by the Sea
    Sound by the Sea - Dean Martini

    See all

    Dean Martini

    Pure Taco - tacos - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...