Make Tacos El Panson your go‑to taco shop! Located in City Heights on El Cajon Blvd, Tacos El Panson is a small, casual, order‑at‑the‑counter spot serving up homemade corn tortillas that are truly next level. There's some outdoor seating and an indoor seating area in the back, along with a salsa‑to‑go bar. The tortillas really make or break a taco in my opinion, and these corn tortillas are thick, soft, warm, and amazing. Great taco options, fast and friendly service. Street parking can be a little tough, but worth it. They also make delicious agua frescas! Our go‑to taco spot in City Heights. read more

I stopped by this taco shop on the way home. Parking is difficult so you'll really have to go out of your way to pick up food from here. Nonetheless I was excited to try something new. I ordered 3 adobada, 1 carnitas, 3 carne asada, 3 cabeza, and 3 rolled tacos. All the tacos came with flour tortillas which were on the thicker side. The thickness of the tortillas were almost comparable to arepas. The adobada was flavorful but I'm used to other places adding guac which was not the case here. The cabeza was not as soft and fatty. The rolled tacos were just ok. There's a salsa bar in the back. They give you the sauce lids when you pay so it's a limited amount that you can help yourself to. There is a decent amount of seating available. In terms of cleanliness, this is not it. read more

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A lot of people seem to love the tripa, adobada, and say the salsas are what keep them coming back. I will say, the salsa station did not disappoint; the 3 sauces were pretty good and definitely helped. I ordered the carne asada burrito and honestly, the meat was pretty dry. The burrito was lacking avocado or guacamole. If it was in there, it was very minimal. The adobado taco was also on the dry side for me, which was surprising since that seems to be one of the meats people usually rave about. The place has an authentic taco shop feel, and the prices are fair, so I get why it has a loyal following. But for me, the food was a little miss. Overall 2.5 stars. read more

Never disappoints! I could eat these all day everyday. Asada Smokey, carnitas crispy and porky, and the tortillas are ALWAYS FRESH read more

Tacos El Panson - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Are you looking for good tacos late at night? This might be the best place to go to for affordability. They serve great tacos for 3.50$ each. Out of the tacos I tried, my favorite was adobada, it had a very good taste. Service is good, but be advised that it can get packed because it is a small place so you might be waiting for a spot to sit during peak hours. But they bring the food out to your table which is very cool. The salsa and lemons are available for you to get on your own at the back of the restaurant. read more

Tacos El Panson - Tripa Taco Suadero Taco Adobada Taco Carne Asada Taco - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Found a new spot of Taco Tuesdays. Known for the Crispy Tripa Tacos but everything else was also very tasty. Fresh tortillas. Meat is tender, juicy & flavorful. As you walk in you can see them grilling from the window. It's a pretty small inside. Only a few sit down tables & a couple outside. I believe most people order to go. Sauce bar had 1 green sauce & 2 reds. Wished they provided grilled onions & peppers as well but I'm sure you can order it as a side. Will be back. read more

Tacos El Panson - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

How incredibly lucky I am to have found tacos el Panson! Their meats are tender, crispy, juicy, and everything else in between. That paired with handmade tortillas. Some of the best tacos I've had in a looooong time. And I've been to Mexico a few times in the past year. Ugh it was so so so good. Just wish I lived closer and this would 10/10 be a weekly stop for a quick bite. read more

Tacos El Panson - Tripa, cabeza, buche - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Tacos El Panson isn't on my usual Mexican food radar in San Diego, but I was visiting a friend and he wanted to try it as it was close to his house. I wanted tacos and variety, so I ordered six tacos, one each of carne asada, pollo, adobada, birria, cabeza, and pescado. Everything was solid except for the birria, which tasted more like dry shredded beef than birria. It definitely needed some consome with it. Staff was very friendly. They brought my order out to me, so that nice. Decent spot if you're living close to it. read more

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I still think the hand made corn tortillas are tops. They are thicker, have slight chew, and don't get soggy even if you take a while to finish your meal. My only complaint is that you cannot rely on the meats tasting the same each time. On my last visit in August 2025, my ranking was: 1. Cabeza- meat from the head (not brain. I always feel compelled to get confirmation, partly due to my ignorance and perhaps irrational fear of eating brain). The cabeza was very tender with a slight bits of fat and tendon to add some texture. 2. Carne asada- this has been consistently cooked over the last few years. Thinly sliced and flavorful, albeit a little dry. 3. Adobada. Cut in bigger chunks this time and not as moist as I remember 4. Pollo asado. Tender but missing the chargrilled flavor and texture that was in iterations past. I like that they now have some agua frescas, including a refreshing pineapple, cucumber, and spinach flavor. read more

Tacos El Panson - You can choose a big soda for the 7.95 combo meal - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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A small hole-in-the-wall shop with some inside seating and a modest salsa bar (3 options). When I went, they didn't have any limes! They only had lemons which wasn't a great sign. It wasn't busy when I went at 1:00pm on a Saturday, and my food took about 10 minutes to be ready. The carne asada taco was definitely the better taco out of all the ones I got. The meat had a slight charred flavor to it and wasn't overly smoky. The cabeza was okay. The adobada flavor and texture were lacking. It wasn't that tender/moist and the flavor could have been more. And for the mulita, I got it with suadero. Usually suadero meat is cut more thinly, however this one was cube chunks of suadero. The ratio was off because of this and the meat itself was dry and not tender. I don't know if I came on an off day, but for San Diego standards of tacos, I felt that my experience really fell short. read more

Tacos El Panson - Tacos and Mulita - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

I was in town for training and one of my coworkers asked one of the locals for a good place to eat that was close. Tacos el Panson was the answer. They knew what they were talking about! Located on the very busy El Cajon Blvd, Tacos el Panson is a place you'll miss because you didn't see it or you'll miss it because you're looking for a parking spot. Seriously, parking around here is terrible. Tacos el Panson is super small where you order pretty much as soon as you walk in. There's a few tables in the rear where the salsa bar is and a couple more tables outside. The menu is pretty standard fare. I went with the 5 Rolled Tacos combo and it was all really good. The tacos were super crispy and topped with all the fixings. The beans and rice were pretty basic. I like more of the lard flavoring as that's what reminds me of homemade goodness. My coworkers got regular tacos and they raved about them. Would I make the trek from Riverside to SD just for Tacos el Panson? No. If I was in the area would I eat here again? Absolutely! The food is fresh, tasty and comes out fast. They have a large variety of meats if you want something other than pastor or asada. Just be prepared to eat in your car (if you find a parking spot) because of the limited seating. Highly recommended! read more

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I visited Tacos El Panson recently and had a frustrating experience. While the food itself was decent, the service really took away from the visit. The person taking our order kept walking away in the middle of us trying to order, multiple times. It made the whole process feel rushed and disorganized, and we had to keep repeating ourselves just to finish placing a simple order. I understand places get busy, but basic attention and communication go a long way. It felt like our time didn't matter, which isn't a great impression for first-time or returning customers. I hope they can improve the customer service because the food alone isn't enough to make up for that kind of experience. read more

They had tripas tacos, so we had to come grab some. My cousin and I got two tripas tacos each, and also each got a birria taco to try. It was pretty busy, so we just stood at the front and watched them cook and make tortillas. The tripas tacos were good, and we had requested it to be extra crispy. We didn't care too much for the birria tacos; we were thinking of the crispy birria tacos, the quesabirrias, when we ordered it. read more

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This is my go to place when I'm at work, or on my way home, since it's close to my work. They are always so friendly! Today I was in the mood for a California Al Pastor burrito. It was a fat@$$ burrito and so good! No hot sauce needed because the pork is tender and flavorful. Great place to come to! read more

This place has amazing food and great service. Ideal for to-go as it's a small restaurant. Their bacon breakfast burritos are the best!

I was in town and decided to stop by. Place is very small. Felt a little claustrophobic. The cashier guy was nice and patient. I was pretty hungry since I drove 2hrs to get here. I ended up ordering their enchiladas, 3 taco plate deal, carne asada fries, and a quesadilla. The tacos were AMAZING! The homemade corn tortilla was outstanding. Enchiladas were okay and the asada fries were enough to feed all 8 of us. The only down side of this place is the seating. Not enough tables. read more

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I live in the area, and this is always the taco shop I take out-of-towners to! They have a variety of meats (suadero, buche, cabeza, etc.) that are always grilled perfectly. Their salsa bar is also great and constantly restocked. I highly recommend coming here for tacos and mulitas -- things that really focus on the meats. If you're looking for more Calimex food like burritos and carne asada fries, head down the street to Chuy's. read more

Definitely do not recommend , I asked for double rice instead of beans & rice & the employee scoffed & groaned ( basically complaining ) for doing his job . It was very weird & uncomfortable read more

Tripa Tacos... the best I've had in San Diego! Carne Asada is Smokey and good but if I had to sum this place down it's the tripa tacos. Al pastor is okay. I would rate 1. Tripa, 2. Carne Asada, 3. Al pastor. Go there and get 3 tripa tacos with green sauce and you can thank me later! read more

Tacos El Panson - Carne asada, tripa, Al pastor..... Tripa for the win! - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Tacos El Panson on El Cajon Blvd never disappoints! The tacos de tripa are hands down some of the best I've had. They're perfectly fried crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside cooked exactly how tripa should be. Every bite has that golden crunch with juicy flavor that keeps you coming back for more. The tortillas are fresh, the toppings are on point, and the salsa brings the perfect kick without overpowering the meat. You can tell they know what they're doing back there. the service is top tier. The staff is always welcoming, quick, and attentive. You feel taken care of from the moment you walk up to order. Even when it's busy, they keep things moving and still treat you with respect and good energy. The ambiance has that authentic taco spot vibe casual, lively, and full of good smells coming straight from the grill. read more

I live nearby and was excited to finally try this place. My favorite was the Carnitas taco, so flavorful and tender and packed with pork. The tortillas are freshly made and the salsa had a great kick. A great neighborhood find and good service and value! read more

My husband and I came here for some tacos and it did not disappoint. Good size tacos with reasonable prices. Buche was my favorite cooked perfectly. Birria was tender and flavorful. Salsas flavorful with the right amount of spice. Nice staff, I recommend eating here. read more

Tacos El Panson - Outside of Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

I was craving rolled tacos and this spot came up as a place to try nearby. It's a true little shop, parking on side streets is best rather than El Cajon blvd. Ordered my three rolled tacos, no cheese, and was given some cups to use at the self serve salsa bar. They called my name when food was ready, and I ate them about ten minutes later. The rolled tacos were on the saltier side, and unfortunately didn't hold their crisp. But they were nicely filled, the guac was good and so were the salsas. Friendly people running it. I'll be back read more

Tacos El Panson - Three rolled tacos and salsas - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered a cabeza burrito with guacamole on the side. Took 4 containers of their green sauce. HOLY S**T this green sauce was the best thing ever. I've had it many times before but tonight it was INSANE. It was chunkier than usual, real spicy, salty, acidic and perfect to cut the savoriness of the cabeza. The cabeza was done and kept right, which is important because a lot of places don't get it right and it gets hard and dry...but not here! It was great!! Whoever made the salsa tonight, let them keep making it!!' read more

I ordered two Al Pastor tacos and a drink. The amount on each Al Pastor taco was more than enough and it was tasty except not enough spice to them. I had to add a bunch of salsa but after that they were good. The service was great and served right away. I wish they had a trompo but other than that no complaints. It does appear to be a mom and pop taco shop. read more

Tacos El Panson - Two tacos Al Pastor. - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Small spot!! Hole in the wall! But that's why these are the best places to eat!!! The service was amazing! Great people amazing atmosphere in that place. Guy was making jokes and everything. They answered all questions that wifey had! And she has a lot !! Not a lot of tables to sit but there's enough! People eat and go!! I had a mulita de carne asada ( meat had great flavor) the barbacoa was good and the birria was good! Everything was good!! read more

Tacos El Panson is everything. I got the carne asada, carnitas, and adobada tacos--and they were all insanely good. Like, I genuinely dream about these tacos. The flavors were bold, the meat was perfectly cooked, and every bite was packed with flavor. I can't wait to go back. The shop is small but has seating inside, which is perfect for a quick bite. Plus, unlimited salsa and limes? Major bonus. There are a few parking stalls right out front, so it's easy to pop in. If you're a taco lover, this place is a must. read more

Tacos El Panson - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Tacos were alright. I ordered a carnitas, carne asada, and chorizo. Chorizo was good (you cant really mess it up), carne asada was overcooked and the carnitas was a little too fatty for my liking but up to preference. Salsas were great and i liked the tortillas and guacamole. read more

Not bad, not bad at all. I had 3 adobada tacos today for $9. So affordable. The tacos were packed with a generous portion of meat on what I assume are homemade tortillas. They had 3 different kinds of salsa and I thought all 3 were pretty good. The tacos are actually huge and after eating 2 tacos, I was too full to finish the 3rd one...so I could get away with eating lunch for $6! Wild! Adobada was cooked well and flavorful. Ambiance is homey and not crazy busy. Not as good as Tacos El Gordo, but I would still come back. read more

Tacos El Panson - Adobada tacos - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Solid taco spot on El Cajon! My good friend took me here and we had a great meal! I personally had the carne asada, lengua, and pastor tacos. Salsa is self serve, The tacos are on the 2-3 biter size. I did enjoy the carne asada the most! Seating inside. Street parking is extremely tough during peak hours. Surcharge for card use, so I recommend bringing cash. read more

Absolutely amazing food. Parking is a pain, but it's worth it. Simple, honest food that came out quickly & was delicious. Easily one of the best in the city. read more

Food was delicious and affordable. Only downside was we should have ordered more food for the next day. LOL. Also this is mostly a takeaway place. read more

Ambiance: Place looks like a mom and pop place BUT DONT BE DISCOURAGED Food: I had classic carne asada tacos ...LOVE Tortillas are hand made. Meat was perfectly seasoned, tastes like your uncle pulled the meat from the bbq grill. Guacamole was fresh and fantastic. Service was soooo good, they came asked us if we needed anything, they even grilled some for us. They were bomb. read more

Tacos El Panson - Location - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place absolutely rules. The adobada and carnitas tacos are delicious. Every single component. Tortillas are perfect. Onions, cilantro, and guacamole add fantastic flavor. The meats can't be beaten. Adobada is my #1. Cold beer. Aguas frescas. Good prices, and a couple of meters just steps from the door. read more

If you're looking for incredibly flavorful tacos without breaking the bank, this spot is a hidden gem! What sets them apart is the authenticity and attention to detail in every bite. They make their own tortillas fresh on-site--yes, someone is literally devoted to just making tortillas!--and you can taste the difference. Unlike most places that just slap meat on a flat top, they grill their carne asada over an iron grill, the way it's meant to be. The result? Smoky, juicy, and perfectly charred meat that lives up to the name asada. Every taco is generously packed with meat, and the flavor is always on point. They are consistent. My absolute favorite is the cabeza taco--tender, rich, and bursting with flavor. The only minor downside is the lack of dedicated parking, so you'll need to find street parking. But honestly, we can all use more walking in our lives so its okay. This place is a true gem for taco lovers looking for quality and consistency. read more

Hands down to their tacos and mulitas ! This place is a tiny hole in the wall and did not disappoint. We stumbled upon their business on Instagram and had to make the drive! We'll definitely be back! read more

The best tripa in town. Finding a spot with really good tripa is not easy, but this one exceeded all expectations. Hands down the best I've ever tried. Thank you! read more

I almost feel bad reviewing this place because it's one of the last true hole in the wall restaurants. It is without a doubt the best tacos in San Diego. Rarely is there a line. A single taco is $3. And they make the food fresh and fast. Whenever I have friends and family visit I make sure to make this a food stop. So tasty. So good. read more

Hot, fresh, and delicious 3 Tacos Special. Really hit the spot and right around the corner from where I was visiting.

Pork-bellied tacos, right? Seems simple enough. But in Mexico, un panzon (note the 'z') can also metaphorically mean 'pork-bellied' aka fat. (Or the guy who made the sign screwed up. Who knows.) So that a restaurant advertises itself as 'fat tacos' tells you you know you're mixing some clever elements under one relatively small roof; a place where you get real Mexican food unadorned with today's scientific heart-healthy data points. Just basic hot, DELICIOUS Mexican food served quickly by a kind staff in a building that looks the Kardashians before they discovered plastic surgery. I'm not the first person to sing its praises - and I won't be the last - but the fact that it's literally less than two blocks away from me, makes me ashamed. Ashamed and mad. Mad, because I never took the time to stop in. But I did a few weeks ago and two things immediately stuck out: One, they are universally cheaper than most other Mexican joints at this price point and two, they have a very simple menu. I paid just under $11 dollars for a pollo asada burrito and waited, at best six minutes? Eight? I think. Now, I personally like fewer choices. In pretending to understand Millennials, advertisers offered them choices because that's what they thought they were accustomed to and, therefore, expected. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of choices. Why have just tuna when you can have dolphin-salvaged, testosterone-free, partially sustainable from the gills down, lemon-pepper-urine infused "tuna flakes" in an environmentally-adjacent package? I exaggerate. But you get my point. There was never a thing about 'choice paralysis' until about 2000 and then it blew up. I mention this because, in all fairness, most Mexican joints in town have 257 items on their menu and they all have the same basic ingredients. The key is in the seasonings, and my pollo asada burrito had cilantro, yes, but there was something else that elevated it. Not sure, so I suppose I'll have to try everything until I can figure it out. So, to recap: Great bites, (relatively) cheap grub, hot and quickly served comida and proximity make this one a new haunt, fo sho. ¡Viva México! read more

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