Had an incredible 5-star experience at Tacos El Franc--this place absolutely lives up to the hype. Everything we tried was great, but the real standout was the Al Pastor tacos. The Al Pastor was on another level--perfectly marinated, juicy, and packed with that classic sweet and savory flavor you want from a top-tier taqueria. The meat had just the right crisp on the edges, and every bite was balanced with fresh toppings and warm tortillas. Honestly, they're the kind of tacos you think about long after you leave. The ambience is very well kept with rhe manager being hype as well and cheering on my group over the speaker!! Service was fast and efficient even with the crowd, and the whole experience felt authentic and dialed in. If you're anywhere near the area, this spot alone is worth the trip. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Seats - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Whenever friends come to visit, they inevitably request a proper taco tour of San Diego. After spotting Tacos El Franc on Netflix, it quickly earned a spot on the list and it did not disappoint. We lucked out by arriving without much of a line and snagged a table outside, perfect for a bit of classic people-watching. The space itself is inviting and open, with great indoor seating as well as both front and back patios that give you plenty of options to settle in and stay awhile. Naturally, we had to sample a range: suadero, adobada, and lengua. No taco outing feels complete without drinks, so we paired everything with a cold beer and a refreshing horchata. On the recommendation of hah the staff, we added queso to all the tacos a decision we fully stand behind. The lengua and suadero were standouts, rich and flavorful with every bite. On a bright, sunny San Diego day, it was exactly the kind of laid-back, delicious experience you hope for. A perfect addition to any taco tour. The one down fall is unless your already galavanting downtown parking can be difficult. read more

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Friend recommended this place to check out because the line from another taco shop was out the door. Brother and I ordered a few tacos and then the next day friends came here for the adobada fries which I think is the star dish here! I wasn't too big of a fan of their adobada tacos, felt like it was a bit bland. My favorite taco protein of choice was the saudero. Taco tortillas was amazingly fresh and if I am back in the SD area next time, will order me some saudero tacos and an order of adobada fries! Don't sleep on the fries here imo! Tacos are a bit pricey at almost $5 a taco though. read more

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My first time at Tacos El Franc and I loved it! Robbie greeted us right away and showed us how they made the tacos fresh in the back. He also recommended the best tacos which helped because there are so many choices. Food and service were great! I ordered an adobada taco and it came out so fast. I love the fresh guacamole that comes with it. Robbie always checked up on us and made sure we were doing good. Thank you Robbie for a great first experience! I can't wait to come back! read more

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Totally worth the hype in my opinion! Tacos were loaded with meat, and all the meats I tried (suadero, pastor & carne asada) were perfectly seasoned. The tacos are more on the expensive side, as the 2 tacos I got were about $11. The service is friendly and fast. 100% worth a try! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - el mixto (bottom) and suadero (top) - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Michelin rated tacos? Say less! Freshly made tortillas combined with an assortment of hot off the grill fresh meat is a recipe for scintillating tacos. I wish I ordered a whole bunch more but the suadero and al pastor street tacos were my absolute favs and completely off the charts. The suadero came fresh off the grill, was uber juicy and bursting with flavor. The al pastor was just as good while the splash of guacamole on all the tacos with the salsa just took it all over the top. I hear the original Tacos El Franc is located right over the border and garnered a Michelin rating...and rightfully so. You will not be disappointed and neither was I. Dos Yumz up! read more

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Went for dinner and and the interior was very clean and inviting. The cashier was very nice and my food was ready within 5-10 minutes of ordering. Tacos start at $4.75. I ordered a variety of different meats and while they were all good, I wasn't blown away by the flavors. The meat overall could have used some more seasoning and I thought the tortillas were fine too. The salsas were needed but overall I think these were just okay. I was definitely expecting more and so my overall experience fell a little short. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Taco Asada ! If you find yourself in the area, these tacos are a must-try. I can't wait to return for another round and explore more of their menu! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: A bit disappointed as they were not exactly the same as the ones in Tj. I'm personally not a fan of beans in my tacos. However, the guacamole and tortilla were pretty good. Service: Pretty quick and friendly staff. Atmosphere: Plenty of indoor seating with a very cozy ambiance with lights towards the very back. There's also some outdoor seating available. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Carne Asada Tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Tacos El Franc is a Michelin recognized Bib Gormand taco shop, known for quality and value. I was excited to give their tacos a try. We sat in the back patio and snacked on sliced cucumber and radishes while we waited. Once my name was called out, I walked up to pickup the Adobada and chicken tacos I ordered. They were topped with cilantro and a dollop of guacamole. I really liked how tender the corn tortilla was and that their flavor didn't overwhelm the taste of the meat. Two tacos was enough for me for lunch. The music was a little loud for me, but otherwise everything else was good! I'll have to come back and try more of the menu! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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service is great and the food comes out fairly fast. its not as packed as El Gordo but it is a Taqueria that deserves its own respect. Flavors hit hard and though i am a big fan of their adobada but the shining star is their asada. something about them adding the beans into it just ups it up a notch. i also love that you can grab beer here with your Tacos. compared to the original location in Tijuana? It is almost there minus the price. check it outand make sure you try their Tacos de Asada. read more

Adobada Taco ($4.75) - There's a reason why Adobada Tacos are one of my all-time favorite foods. Each bite was like a beautiful symphony of flavors coming together, particularly with the marinade of the pork shining through. Carne Asada Taco ($4.75) - This is the best carne asada I've ever had. Their marinade is superior and I've never had carne asada as juicy and flavorful. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ok. Gaslamp Taco wars are starting. I'm going to say the early winner is El Franc over Gordo... Yeah... Both seem tourist trappy but Franc is legit. I'll say the best in the gaslamp for sure... Service is amazing. The tacos I had were incredible... I'm coming back..I go to a lot of padre games and this will be one of my pre game stops... LFGSD. My suggestion: Bring in fish tacos and dominate! read more

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2026 San Diego. Lunch review. Tacos. Vampiro - Adobada (-onions) Mulitas - Suadero (-onions) Taco - Adobada (-onions) Taco - Lengua (-onions) Taco - Adobada (-cilantro) Taco - Suadero (-cilantro) Flan Overall, the Adobada off the spit is so good. "As good as it gets." read more

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I have been to Tacos El Franc in TJ, so I was looking forward to this visit, and it did not disappoint. The tacos were very tasty and a good size. I got 3 tacos in total and I was comfortably full after eating. The staff is friendly. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time given they're prepared when ordered. I could see there being a bit of a wait during busy times, but it's worth it. The music is a bit loud, but other than that the place is comfortable. I will definitely go back when I need another tacos fix. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Carne asada taco - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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I visited during lunch with some coworkers! I thought this place was ok. It was empty when we visited, very clean restaurant and friendly staff. I ordered a pork and beef taco and it came out to more than $10. The tacos were super oily and messy, not a big fan! Flavor was good but I wish the servings were bigger and less oily. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was ok. Among the many mexican restaurants this was decent but I'm willing to try more from here read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Carne Asada - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Came hungry and left completely satisfied after my experience at Tacos El Franc! We were greeted by a super hospitable and welcoming gentleman at the register, and we were honestly shocked by how fast the service was. Even with the quick turnaround, they definitely did not sacrifice quality. We ordered the cabeza, adobada, carne asada, and tripa tacos, plus an order of adobada fries to share. While the prices are on the higher side, it's absolutely worth it for the quality of the ingredients. They do not skimp on the protein here! Each taco was perfectly seasoned, and I loved that there were different topping options that complemented the flavor of each meat so well. The tortillas were also top-notch and clearly high quality. My favorite was definitely the carne asada. The adobada fries were incredible too! There's plenty of seating inside, and parking was fairly easy to find, which made the whole experience more convenient. Would definitely come back! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - carne asada, adobada, cabeza, and tripa! - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Loved it! Finally, the spot from TJ is here in the states. For anyone that has been to TJ, knows Taco el franc is the spot over Gordo. Surprisingly, this spot is not crowded or busy. This place is almost the same as the TJ one which is why I don't know why it isn't as busy. Ordered Taco de asada, adobaba, lengua, and Cabeza. Everything was amazing. The asada was very flavorful and seasoned. I still think this was not as good as TJ but not by much. The adobaba was great! I think better than Gordo's. Service was good, interior is clean and spacious. read more

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Get the Adobada tacos, first item on the menu. This spot is super casual, Think TJ style tacos where u order up front and seat urself. It was kind of a long line but went by quickly. The flavors from the pork adobada were fantastic (I personally liked it better than tacos El Gordo but pretty on par). Not a very big condiment/side bar with salsas but u can ask for them when you pick up your food. read more

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What an experience! Be opened minded to the unique food style they offer as they are Tijuana Inspired. When visiting town I usually go with other choices, yet this was recommended from a close friend at sdsu! My order consisted of one Taco de Suadero ( a cut between the Belly and the Leg ) & one Tostada de Carne Asada (Steak). Both were flavorful and served to perfection. My curiosity grew and I ordered again two Quesadillas, one being Flour and one being Corn. I enjoyed the Flour more for my preference yet both had an immense Cheese Pull! The ambiance is Spacious with three options to dine either in the Front, Inside, or in the Back Patio. My order was placed before me noticing the Michelin guide 2024 & 2025 acknowledgement! Will they go 3 for 3 this year? I recommend to try if you have not experienced before! read more

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Mind blowing...tacos! Very festive! Lots of seating available in the back. Banos are clean! read more

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My wife and I came here on the recommendation of my daughter. I ordered two tacos: One Adobada )marinated pork) and one Suadero (beef brisket). Very different. The former had a generous portion of meat and good fusion of flavors, including the avocado. The latter was relatively plain with a salsa toppingand borderline scimpy portion of meat. Very popular place on a Padre game day and friendly counter help. We barely were able to find seating. read more

While the establishment is clean, the food itself was unfortunately just average and didn't live up to the hype for me. Honestly, there are several other taco spots in Oceanside that offer much better quality and flavor. Additionally, the service fell short; the staff didn't take the time to explain the menu or the components of the dishes, which would have been helpful. read more

Carne Asada Vampiro taco - 4 out of five stars Like a tostado with guac, cheese and beans Adobada taco - it was on the spicy side for me; 3 stars Brisket taco - 1 star ; it felt like it was missing something It was pretty busy at lunch ; it probably took about 10-15 minutes to order and get my food so maybe order ahead. It's fast casual ; order at the counter. They had plenty of seating including an outdoor area in the back It was good but not as good as the TJ location and I have a couple of other local spots that I prefer read more

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One of the newest Tiajuana taco shops jumps over the border fence into hungry San Diego. Unlike Tacos El Gordo, you got a very clean modern and welcoming environment, and much more seating. Tacos are a bit pricier, but they do seem a bit larger and tastier. Service is straight forward but friendly. $4.75 Taco de Cabeza(Beef Head)...beef cheeks and whatever meaty bits they can salvage from the cow head. The beefy bits are tender and rich in beef flavor, and have a delightful crisp char. $4.75 Adobada Taco(pork)...vibrant red adobo marinaded to give this tender pork meat that amazing red color, and classically roasted and cooked on the tall spinning thing, while soaking in pineapple juices. A generous heap of fresh green guacamole smothers all this tastiness. $4.75 Suadaro Taco(beef brisket)...very tender, rich, slow-cooked beef brisket that melts in your mouth. The beef and fat liquify deliciously and magically in your mouth, for an ascent to flavor Heaven. Spicy! This one had a a bit more of that roja salsa but still delicious(not sure if that was a accident). read more

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Don't bother stopping here might as well go to the original tacos el franc in Tijuana, the staff here don't pay attention to ppls orders, been here twice and both times my order was messed up. Food itself is good but not Tijuana good. read more

It's nice to see more taco spots pop out throughout the city. We were recently on a little staycation in downtown so decided to stop by here for dinner before watching the bay parade of lights nearby. My kids love tacos and fries so we figured this would be quick and easy. It's right smack in the middle of the gaslamp so parking was not the most ideal but after circling a bit we found a close spot. There are plenty of seats all around and I didn't walk past the counter but it looks like a lot more seating back there as well. We ordered 4 adobada tacos, 1 order of the mixta fries, and 1 adobada mulita. I thought the food was juat average. The tacos looked a bit sloppy(you can see based on my picture-this is prior to me adding any hot sauce) but I enjoyed the slight crispness on the adobada. Overall, it was average to me and didn't wow me on the first bite. I wish the hot sauce was spicier. Service was good. The gentleman in the front who took our order was nice and the food came out quick. I would give it a try again and order other things on the menu in the future. read more

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While pricier than the standard taco joint, the flavors of the meat were truly elite. I had never tried lengua before and the lengua taco was a perfect balance of flavor and texture, and became my favorite of the ones I tried. The al pastor was good, but I wish they had a salsa bar to complement the avocado on top. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fast food, but so good. Fresh and tasty in the Gaslamp District with a cool vibe. We got the SUADERO TOSTADA; they are the bomb! We also tried the mixto, which was good but not my favorite. The flan was very good. Prices are reasonable for what you get. read more

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So excited to have tacos, El Frank coming to San Pedro anticipating trying their tacos Michelin star 2024, 2025 this summer five star review is for them, having the faith in our town and the amazing people of Los Angeles read more

100% I don't recommend this place. Very dry meat and no flavor. I'll never be back. Service was good but I was here for the whole experience I wanted good food. Wasted my money :( it's the worst Mexican food that I've had in my life. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - The worst Mexican food I've had In my life. So sad and shame on you tacos el franc. - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

100000/10 NO NOTES ! Everything was amazingly good! Staff were so friendly!! This place is so packed and constantly busy the staff are great and keep everything moving quick! Considering the size of this location there is a good amount of seating and the place looks very clean. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Horchata... tacos de asada y adobada - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

We tried one of each taco and a mixto quesadilla. All was good. The tripa was our least favorite. The meat was gamey and my kids thought it tasted like soap. The lengua was really good and very tender. Nicely seasoned. Tortillas were yummy and good textured. Probably will stick to tacos and not get quesadilla next time. We ordered to go and all was still warm and fresh after a 20 minute car ride. Didn't get a chance to take photos before we dug into them because we were hungry. Parking is tough but I got a 15 minute space and took food to go. Place was clean and cool on a hot day. Service was quick and efficient. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Menu - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Def a good option for street tacos in DT. I mean sometimes you don't wanna wait in a crazy line for tacos el gordo and if that's the case this is second best taste wise. Please please please be warned they put beans in their tacos so if your like me and despise beans make sure you tell them to omit. Their adobada can't come close to their competition but their carne asada is def wayyyy better! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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I literally fell madly in love with "Tacos El Franc" (Downtown San Diego) after ONLY one dining experience with my friends. The bold, rich flavors surely intensify with every bite!! Satisfied that "Tacos El Franc" have UNIQUE gourmet tacos & their customer service is outstanding! The taco shop has a relaxing, laid-back vibe that makes it easy to "unwind" while you eat their gourmet tacos! Verdict is in! I'm "divorcing" Tacos El Gordo for "Tacos El Franc!!" LOL. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a weekday night, and the wait was minimal. Food came out very quickly, which I appreciated. I ordered the adobada and suadero. I really enjoyed how the pork was crispy and the sauce complemented it well. Suadero reminded me of beef brisket and was also very juicy. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was that the food wasn't as warm as expected, and it was pretty expensive; two small tacos (not enough for a full meal in my opinion) cost me ~$12. Perhaps this is the going price for tacos these days. Despite the negative aspects, this is still a solid taco shop. I'm probably going to be back to try the other meats! read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Adobada (left) and suadero (right) - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Signature Tacos El Franc taste! Service is quick and easy, and the inside has a cute "secret" back room that resembles TJ. The horchata was good, but definitely on the sweeter side. Also, note that this location does not have the naranja agua fresca, and I wish they did! read more

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Such a lovely experience! The service was top notch and the food was delicious. As a vegetarian, they do offer multiple options. The salsa bar is great with cucumbers, radishes, limes, and salsas. There are also plenty of delicious beverage options. read more

Tacos El Franc - Gaslamp Quarter - Radishes and Cucumbers from the Salsa Bar - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tacos El Franc began in 1996 when Don Javier Valadez opened a taqueria in Tijuana.  In 2024 and 2025 Michelin Guide recognized the Tijuana location.Night falls and there is a light chill in the air.  Roberto Kelly opened The Gaslamp location October 8 the second in San Diego. Tacos El Franc shines in the darkness.  Inside it's warm.  I order at the counter.  Through the window I see a mound of masa.  They make corn tortillas to order. Carne taco features fresh corn tortilla which was soft and had a delicious light corn flavor.  Carne asada was tender and had a slightly sweet flavor from the marinade and a light smoky flavor from the grill.  Very good taco. Adobada taco also had a tasty fresh corn tortilla.  Adobada was tender and juicy.  Loved the mix of savory and light sweet flavor.  Very similar to Tacos El Gordo's adobada.  Excellent taco. Mexican Coke was sweet and had a bold cola flavor.  My favorite type of cola. Staff was friendly and provided speedy service.  I love the made to order tortillas and flavorful meats. read more

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