Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Taco Centro

    4.2 (41 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Taco Centro Takeout or Delivery

    Taco Centro Photos

    Business Info

    TACO CENTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Taco Centro

    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

    Tyra S.

    My Hubs and I checked out this Taco Spot in Little Italy. It's fairly new, but I think it's worth a try! It has an awesome salsa bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Vibrant decor that makes the restaurant stand out. The staff were super nice! ...and most importantly the tacos are delicious. We tried the Carne Asada and Birria Tacos. They were so tasty and the salsa kicks. For me, the salsa is what makes or breaks a Taco Shop so I really like their salsa.

    Axel C.

    Stopped here for lunch since I was being adventurous. I would say overall, their tacos or I guess they're meats, need some more of that Mexican flavor flavors. I had a Tierra y Mar taco, which is basically carne asada and grilled shrimp, and a Al Pastor taco. The Carne Asada was too thick and kind of chunky so I didn't really like it in granted I'm biased. I really don't like Carne Asada, but you know I had to try it. The Al Pastor lacked flavor. I didn't feel like any of the tacos had flavor to them. I did expect more from this place, but you know sometimes you have to try and see. They have other tacos like chicken, and Birria, mushroom, they also have breakfast burritos, fries, or nachos, they have quite a few options for everyone's taste. And the prices are not that bad for you this place being in Little Italy. For example, the Carne taco is $4.90 and the most expensive taco is $6.90 which is a Sonora taco which I really don't know what that is. They do have a salsa bar and an actual bar for those who like to drink beer. They also have 2 fairly large TVs. They have a lot of seating and I actually like the open seating facing the street. It's not a bad spot. I just expected more.

    Carla O.

    As a total taco lover, I decided to try Taco Centro, a delightful new spot on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy, San Diego. It's only been open about a month, and while I believe it's part of a chain, this location is just perfect. The menu is expansive, offering a huge variety of fresh Mexican dishes. I ordered the pollo asado taco, and it was fantastic, super fresh, full of flavor, and just delicious. They have a full salsa bar, which was a real treat, and the interior was clean and super inviting. The lady behind the counter was really friendly too. Parking was a breeze; I just paid at the meter right in front of the place. I went in the morning, so I would suggest going during a weekday morning if you can, when it's a bit quieter. But trust me, it's worth it, whether you are in the mood for tacos, burritos, or any of their amazing options. And don't forget Taco Tuesday! I can't wait to come back! 5 Stars plus!

    Anthony L.

    So freaking good! Stopped by here on my last visit to San Diego and really enjoyed the vibe and Micheladas! They have a fantastic salsa bar with all different kinds of salsa from mild to spicy. I ordered the nachos and burrito and the asada meat and pastor meat were really good. Definitely worth checking out.

    Jack M.

    Taco Centro makes some pretty good tacos indeed. They also added breakfast items at this location, which I have yet to partake in, but will soon. During this visit at this location in Little Italy, I had a couple of al pastor tacos, one quesa taco with beef birria, and a side of black beans. Not to mention endless trips to the salsa bar. The al pastor tacos came on very good quality corn tortillas, with tender well marinated pork, and a great avocado salsa. The cilantro and onions were fresh, and I loved that they put little pieces of pineapple in each taco. The beef quesa taco was terrific. The beef birria was very juicy and full of great flavors. The beef was not doubt the star here and if definitely shined. The taco came with plenty of griddle tasty white cheese and the tortilla had that great wet yet crispy texture from the birria broth. It was a great taco. The black beans were very well made. They were well tender and well seasoned. The salsas from the salsa bar were all great. I enjoyed the pickled red onions and grilled onions, too. The service was friendly and upbeat. The gents, when I arrived, were ready to roll. They offer a good amount of casual seating.

    Birria single taco and carne asada taco.
    David F.

    The food menu was pretty large. From cheap to high price range. The service received was fast and efficient. I went around 6pm on a weekday (Wednesday) and there was virtually no wait or crowd. It is a new taco shop with a small indoor and medium sized outdoor vibe. I grabbed the birria taco. The meat was tender and fresh. Great spot for a quick grab and go or pre round get together before a grand escape.

    birria
    Danielle S.

    Came to Taco Centro because someone in our group said it was good. We thought the tacos were just okay. We ordered carne asada, al pastor and birria tacos. There was nothing wow about these tacos. The birria wasn't as flavorful and tasty as other places we've had birria. Not bold in flavor and it was weired to us that they put beans inside the tacos. They also forgot to give us the consume for the tacos so we had to go back to the counter to ask for it. Their salsa bar is good as it provides a variety of salsas and condiments. I think that was one of the best things at the restaurant. The restaurant is not very big, it has a small bar on one side with tables inside and bar stools outside.

    Vivian T.

    Taco Centro has replaced what used to be Bun and Patti down here on Kettner Blvd. The remodeled vibrant blue storefront is hard to miss. Taco Centro offers on the menu tacos, taco bowls, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, birria, breakfast, and Mulitas. They do offer alcohol beverages such as beers, seltzers, micheladas, and Paloma. I ordered two tacos: Carne Asada Taco and the Mar y Tierra. My friend ordered their Camarón Enchilado Taco and a chicken burrito. To put it simply, we weren't buzzed by our choices. The pieces of shrimp in their tacos are quite small. Only receiving about 2 mini shrimps per taco, this just wasn't worth the price. Their carne asada taco, on the other hand, was so delicious, however, for a simple taco being one of their standouts, I was pretty surprised my other taco wasn't as tasty. The chicken burrito had way too much refried beans and tomatoes. It was bland and basically needed so much salsa to save it, and could maybe benefit from having flavorful rice included in the burrito. I will say though, their salsa bar is impressive! They have all the creamy sauces, multiple green and red salsas, fire roasted salsa, peppers, carrots, onions, and even more bottled Mexican hot sauces lined up on top of the bar. It had every garnish you wanted for your food as I took advantage of all the sauces for my meal. I would be willing to give other items on the menu a try, but compared to other taco spots in Downtown SD, Taco Centro is quite average on terms of flavor for the price. There is even another Taco Centro on the other side of town that I feel is more fitting for the night vibes in SD, but it is a convenient location if you don't want to venture out on that side of Downtown.

    Soda fountain options
    Nayoun K.

    I've been eagerly waiting for this spot to open as we live just a couple blocks away. The highlight is definitely the salsa bar for me. Tons of fresh options, even including grilled onions & chilies, pickled peppers, radishes, and an incredible orange sauce similar to cotixans/vallartas before they watered theirs down. We came for an early lunch and tried the bacon sausage hashbrown breakfast burrito and two tacos. The burrito was on the smaller side but overall delicious as the flour tortilla was fantastic. The al pastor had good flavor, texture is more on the crumbly small pieces side, but the pineapple was too soft like it might have come from a can. The carnitas is cubed chunks, the soft and juicy type rather than shredded and crispy, so I would skip that one. They have a beer & wine license, so I will definitely be back for happy hour ($5 beers between 3-6pm every day) to try more of their menu. Prices are pretty steep at $5 a taco and $16 for burritos, but the quality of ingredients is high. Liked the open layout so that I was able to bring my dog and be at one of the street tables.

    Sarah T.

    Hell. Yes. These tacos were ridiculous. Full disclosure: I'm a Northern CA girl that just happens to spend a fair amount of time in SD. There are so many good eats in Little Italy, of which I've tried several. But seeing this new taco place pop up near many of my faves, we knew we had to give it a try. Service was really friendly -- order at the counter, grab a table, some salsa and goods, and your food will be out to you in short order. The salsas and sauces were unreal-- we grabbed a few tacos to taste a variety and had to stop ourselves from ordering more bc it was just supposed to be a snack. Loved all of them -- and each was unique. Highly recommend.

    Gerald P.

    Happy New Year!! Best place to get Birria Ramen is this place right in Kettner Blvd in Little Italy! So so good!! So tasty! Not too salty! Slow cooked for five hours. Yummm! I love open-air eating area. Relaxing to eat...

    Street view
    Mac B.

    New location for Taco Centro on the far end of Kettner in Little Italy. The Al Pastor was great and I liked the Carne Asada, but places like The Taco Stand, La Perla #3, and Vallarta Express have better Carne Asada. Love the options when it comes to the salsa and Agua fresco and the space is open and beautiful to enjoy a sunny day in San Diego.

    Chicken Quesadilla

    See all

    Photo of Debbie R.
    67
    43
    24

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Abel T.
    521
    252
    1202

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 3

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    The vegetarian burrito was so good! Recipe was clearly made with intention. Easily the best I've ever had.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah T.
    57
    26
    50

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    13 days ago

    Finally real tacos and burritos in the Little Italy area! Great chili too. Can eat there or take it to go.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric K.
    0
    181
    7

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adrian G.

    Adrian G.

    Hi, was this a delivery?

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian G.
    185
    21
    13

    5 months ago

    Great food. Good prices and served quickly. Great spot for families with kids. I'll go back when I'm in San Diego next.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al A.
    1
    10
    2

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR BUSINESS! I couldn't believe how insanely good it is. I ordered half the menu and didn't have a single bad item.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alec H.
    12
    18
    0

    3 months ago

    Great california burrito, probably the best within a 10 block radius. Very well done, clean place, salsas variety and quality!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of EJ L.
    314
    78
    64

    4 months ago

    Very lovely ambiance and location. However the churros were disappointing. They were slightly overcooked and subpar

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Went last night for tacos. Was soooo good. Really good quality. Staff was super friendly and music was great too. Definitely recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Really good beer battered Baja tacos. TVs showing games are a good touch. Nice people. Coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of PP
    0
    12
    0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Delicious food!!! We had combinations of tacos, guacamole, and rice and everyone was pleased. So good!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Love Taco Sonora i go there every week wirh my dog. the cashier with curly hair is the nicest

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Johnny F.
    0
    115
    24

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    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

    Page 1 of 2

    Taco Centro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Taco Centro

    Quixote - Chocolate cake

    Quixote

    4.0(660 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    This place is so cool for celebrating special occasions…read more We celebrated our anniversary and they gave us a candle with our names on it!! So sweet The interior is so cool - very gothic medieval vibes inside!! We tried a couple of items but specifically LOVED the squash blossom and the crab donut and the duck memelita! The fried chicken tacos were pretty good as well Personally I did not love the fondue - comes with corn tortillas on the side - it's not my favorite style Drinks were great - I tried the guava Paloma and liked it a lot but wish it was a bit more sweet more guava flavor

    Four of us dined at Quixote last night. I can see why it takes a few weeks to get a reservation…read more The place is truly magnificent. We ordered about six small plates, and they were all delicious and unique. Hard to pick a favorite. I'd say the shrimp tacos were absolutely incredible. Everything else was packed with flavor and very different than anything you will encounter at any other restaurant. It is special. My only complaint is that the place is so dark that you can barely read the menu. Also, being so dark, you can't get a good look at the food or even see color. And I would think that the food is beautifully presented. We are in our 60s. That might have something to do with our inability to see anything in that low light condition. We had to pull our phones out so that we could light up the menu and check out the food we were about to eat. It does make for a dramatic ambience. There are thousands of candles that add to the experience. But I gotta knock them a point because I couldn't see my food or read the menu without help.

    Photos
    Quixote - Dramatic dining space!

    Dramatic dining space!

    Quixote - Bay Scallop Black Cocktail. Tender octopus, creamy avocado, and a hint of sweet heat from the sauce.

    Bay Scallop Black Cocktail. Tender octopus, creamy avocado, and a hint of sweet heat from the sauce.

    Quixote - Cool and dramatic setting!

    See all

    Cool and dramatic setting!

    Coasterra - main entrance

    Coasterra

    4.0(4k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    Made reservations on open table but the space is so big there were still lots of vacancies when we…read morewent for a Saturday lunch. Ordered the crispy calamari, ceviche trio, and ahi tuna tostada. Enjoyed the different flavors of ceviche and was a fan of the super crispiness of calamari. My fav was the ahi tuna tostada. Super dressed up and had a good mix of crunchy, tart, salty, and mildly spicy. The restaurant has a great view of the ocean especially if you sit outside. Our waiter was very friendly and our food came out in a timely manner.

    My girlfriend made reservations for Mother's Day for an early dinner since her mom was in town. The…read morehostess were friendly and led us to our seats. The gentleman/waiter handed us the menu and went on his way. Chips and salsa along with waters for the table were brought and then that was when the service of our waiter went downhill. We ordered the ahi tuna and guacamole for our appetizers but the timing for the meal was so off. It was a long wait before the waiter even checked back on us and which is when I asked for a refill on my water and chips. We had order drinks as well. The smoked old fashion was good and the ahi tuna appetizer portion was plentiful. There were some parts of the diced ahi that was a bit chewy. The gaucamole portion was large and it wasn't until I asked another waiter did my refill of water and chips arrive. For entree, we got the scallops with corn cake, a salad and I had the poblano burger. I asked for the burger to be cooked to medium. When the entrees arrived my burger was overcooked with no pink in sight. The flavor of the burger was good but the burger was definitely dry as can be. The corn cake with scallop was interesting it was almost like the corn cake was a croquet that encased a corn salsa. Overall the food was okay but the service left a lot to be desired. The waiter and the end seemed to put up a fake act when the check came. Since we asked for the check it seemed like the waiter was on hyper speed. Overall the view is nice but the food and service did not meet the expectations.

    Photos
    Coasterra - Skyline & bay views

    Skyline & bay views

    Coasterra - View from patio

    View from patio

    Coasterra - Main dining room

    See all

    Main dining room

    Taco Centro - mexican - Updated May 2026

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