Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Taco Stand

    4.2 (3.1k reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Open 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order The Taco Stand Takeout or Delivery

    The Taco Stand Photos

    Business Info

    THE TACO STAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Taco Stand

    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

    Fenny C.

    After our dinner we decided to check out this place as recommended by our concierge lady in our hotel. Parking: free street parking. The area is very nice to walk around, so many shops, restaurant, ice cream parlor. Btw, when we got there around 8:45pm, there's still a line. Oh wow. Seating: plenty indoor and heated outdoor patio. Menu selection: many types of tacos, burritos, chips and salsa. Be aware, as they put in their wall, everything is made to order and fresh, so yes, it's gonna be a wait ok. We ordered: Al pastor taco Carne asada taco Churros Mexican sparkling water There's a self serve condiments and water stations. You order, you pay, then they give you a sign so they can deliver your order. Overall everything is good. Ppl are nice.

    Shrimp and grilled fish tacos
    Tasha H.

    Great tacos that are huge and loaded up with toppings. I especially loved the shrimp taco - the shrimp are cooked so well. Chips and guac are great, not quite enough guac to finish the chips so make sure you get some of their house salsas at the salsa bar! Long lines and good takes a while to come out, but tacos are worth it!

    CHIPS & GUACAMOLE
    karla S.

    Stopped by with a group of friends on Saturday night the line was really long, but we decided to stay, which I'm glad we did since we only waited about 15 minutes in line before we ordered, we tried the fish taco which was nicely fried but not overly greasy, we also ordered some carne asada fries ($10) it was loaded up with big chunks of steak, cheese, sour cream and guacamole the portion was big enough for me and my husband to share, we also ordered some guacamole and chips the chips were perfectly fried nice and crunchy with the perfect amount of salt and the guacamole was so good no fillers only avocados lime and salt, we ended the night with some churros which I highly recommend they were authentic Mexican churros not like the stuff you get at Costco. Over all a great experience

    Brittany C.

    BEST MEXICAN FOOD alert! I ordered the CA burrito here and some churros, and both were easily the best I have ever had. The meat was so tender, juicy, and the whole burrito was packed with flavor and tasted super fresh. The churros were so soft and loaded with cinnamon and cooked to perfection, and paired with some condensed milk dipping sauce. They also have an extensive salsa bar ( I recommend the mild-it had a unique flavor) with some pickled onions and other things. I am salivating as I am writing a recap on how good this all was!! YUM. The line to order is long usually, but the wait is well worth it. You must order at the register and they bring your food out. Service was very friendly. Ambiance is upbeat. They have an inside and patio area. This place is bustling! Located close to other bars and restaurants, this is the perfect spot to grab a bit and walk around for a bit, etc. A MUST in the area.

    Dog friendly :)
    Jamie W.

    3 California burritos please! Genuinely one of the best burritos I've had, and I love it when the burrito is the size of your head :) The fries inside were crispy and helped make the perfect bite. Their salsa station was clean, the limes were juicy, and the green salsa was the perfect added spice for me. It did take around 20 minutes after ordering to get our food, which was a little longer than expected. Nice dog friendly patio and a cute place by the beach!

    AL PASTOR TACO
    John K.

    We wanted to check out this restaurant. When we would drive past there were lines of people out the door. I ordered three tacos, one carne asado, one pollo asado, and one Al Pastor. The Al Pastor is my favorite with the marinated pork, cilantro and pineapple pieces. Very flavorful! My second favorite is the pollo asado with the grilled chicken, cilantro and guacamole. The beef in the carne asada was a little chewy. We were greeted with a big smile by the young lady taking orders. They have inside and patio seating. We took our food to go so we could eat at the beach. The vibe for this restaurant is fun and high energy.

    Upgraded fish n chips!
    Rick M.

    Met up with family for some food and beers. I had the fish shop shrimp and elote taco. Food is always delicious. These are my favorite shrimp! So delicious. Super fun spot with good ambience. It's always busy. Clean and plenty of seating. Service is always good. Parking can sometimes be tough! Street parking in a super busy town!

    AL PASTOR TACO, BAJA TACO, CARNE ASADA FRIES
    Sabrina B.

    The Sonora, Al Pastor & Carne asada tacos are a must! The handmade tortillas and salsas are awesome too! The carne asada fries were a bit much but glad we tried them just once. The churros were good also! I would say our least favorite was the Baja Taco, only because it was so heavily fried.. couldn't taste the fish. We will definitely make it back! They have a wait everyday for a reason. Worth trying for sure!!

    SONORA TACO, BAJA TACO, CAMARON TACO
    Valerie C.

    Came here for a quick bite over the weekend and was met with many choices on the menu between burritos and tacos. We ordered a shrimp taco (camaron), baja fish taco, sonora taco and a carne asada burritoy at the front. For drinks like soda or beer, there's a fridge by the front where you can grab your drink and pay. There was a small line when we arrived but it went by quickly. Seating was already staring to get crowded around 5 pm on a Saturday but luckily there were seats inside and out on the patio. While you wait, there's a sauce bar where you can grab onions, limes, and all the fixings. Food came out quickly and we demolished just as fast. Great to come here for a bite if you're around the area!

    Exterior
    Adina S.

    Big fan of The Taco Stand! My first time I went to a location in San Diego and remembered liking the salsa bar, so I had to check this one out. My friend got a burrito and I got a bunch of tacos. I will say, stick to the tacos... it's in the name, after all! The restaurant gets pretty busy, so make sure to come at an off peak time. There's plenty of space, but I'd definitely prefer the outdoor seating. Good spot!

    Indoor
    Chaudhry A.

    And when i stop to get tacos, as usual, while cruising on my favorite highway, i searched and decided to check the Stand out. It made me stand in a line for half an hour. There was a good amount of stuff in the menu that I ordered to check out if the line was worth the wait. Great food it was. Plenty of seating there was. Salsa bar was an indoor line. Felt spoiled.

    CARNE ASADA TACO
    Maria M.

    I love this taco place! The food is great and the prices are surprisingly low for the quality you get. They have a nice salsa bar with various sauces and toppings. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Unfortunately, it's a small place so it's hard to find a table and there is always a line. Parking is tricky too.

    CARNE ASADA TACO SONORA TACO
    Cyrus G.

    This place did not live up to the hype. 30 minutes in line to order 4 tacos. 45 minutes waiting for our order, and it was honestly a very MID taco restaurant. There was better. I will say it truly depends on what you get. Carne Asada Tacos just had too much guac and couldn't really taste the meat as much, I'd give this a rating of 7.2. Sonora Taco definitely had a bit more flavor and really impressed me. I'd give this a rating of 8.4. Surf and Turf (special menu) really stole the show. The shrimp with carne asada were absolutely delicious. If I were to ever come back here, it would be for their shrimp or surf and turf taco. I'd give this a rating of 8.8.

    The sweet man behind the kitchen making fresh tortilla

    See all

    1 month ago

    Great food and great music! Love the vibes, always stop here when in town! Food is always fresh.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great California burrito! This place is my go to before going to the beach. They known for their carne asada.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shona M.
    150
    28
    1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 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

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    The most amazing food, customer service and cleanliness, and Grace is the best. L.C. Thank you.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cyrus G.
    737
    25
    19

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adolph A.
    13
    76
    72

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 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

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Priscilla M.

    Priscilla M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    22 hours ago

    These are the best tacos I've ever had. The service was spectacular, especially Jamie. He was so kind and helpful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eva H.
    0
    56
    72

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris S.
    22
    10
    14

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anne G.
    38
    63
    21

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 77

    The Taco Stand Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Taco Stand

    How long is the wait to order and get your food?

    What's the go-to taco here- Al pastor or baja? Any recommendations?

    Where do you park?

    Anywhere you can. Busy area especially a Friday or Saturday... not designated parking lot

    Do you have the salsas and sauces available behind the counter? It seems unsanitary to have it out to get filled from everyone. Also takes a very long time to get any sauce

    They have a salsa bar for everyone to get with pickled carrots in jalapeno n limes

    What is the corporate headquarters phone?

    I don't believe there is, on there website they have numbers for the different locations, I believe this restaurant chain was a mom and pop place that was able to be franchised and expanded and owned by different people.

    Do they have anything gluten free?

    Corn tortilla tacos, tacos wrapped in lettuce too!

    Is there a Taco Tuesday special?

    It may depend on the location, but the Encinitas one does a special. However it’s minimal, like 50 cents off tacos haha

    Do they use lard in their tortillas?

    We do not use lard in any of our items. Thank you!

    I love everything here, but I wished they served breakfast all day. Would you change your breakfast serving hours? Your breakfast burrito is BOMB!

    Have not tried the B.B., but looking for a great one. Gonna try it.

    What is the name of that creamy spicy sauce you have?

    The light green one is cilantro, they also have a creamy chipotle sauce which is not as spicy.

    View All 14 Questions

    You might also consider

    Pavlos Tacos

    Pavlos Tacos

    4.4
    (131 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Pavlos Tacos quite literally serves THE BEST FISH TACOS I have EVER had in my ENTIRE life... and…read morehaving been a pescetarian for 14 years, I have had a LOT of fish tacos -- believe me. You HAVE to stop by and try their fish tacos for $3/taco on Tuesdays! Somehow they are SO fresh, even though they are battered. A battered fish taco that somehow is insanely delicious AND also tastes kinda healthy?? And they were sizable too -- I only needed 2 fish tacos to get full. I didn't know that existed, but now that I do, this will certainly be one of my go-to spots! My boyfriend also said their surf & turf burrito was the best he's ever had... and if all that isn't enough, to top it all off, the customer service + atmosphere is 5 stars as well! Pavlos himself is the SWEETEST man -- so down-to-earth, genuine, and super duper cool... and when we walked in, my first thought (spoken aloud) was, "Wow, this place is so CLEAN!" I can now absolutely see why this is a neighborhood favorite. Go to Pavlos Tacos today. You won't regret it! Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 10/10 Cost: 9.5/10

    I rarely write reviews, but this meal was bad enough that I felt I had to share my experience…read more The Surf & Turf Burrito was confusing from the start. It contained crinkle-cut, Ore-Ida-style fries, a few decent shrimp, and dry carne asada. The pico de gallo had an overpowering flavor and a soggy texture. The burrito itself was large, and the toasted tortilla was one of the few positives. The fish tacos were equally disappointing. The tortillas were cold and rubbery, while the fish was this overly large, rectangular, store-bought frozen fillet rather than something freshly prepared. The rolled taco combo was arguably the worst item. They were extremely dry and topped with what tasted like processed, store-bought melted cheese. The avocado mash (not guac) was actually pretty good, which was one of the only highlights of the meal. The beans tasted like store bought, canned beans and the rice was okay. Most importantly for any taco shop, the red salsa was simply awful. The green salsa was decent, but the red salsa was honestly the worst I've ever tasted. The flavor reminded me of Ragu marinara sauce mixed with a dash of hot sauce...I kid you not! I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but I hope ownership takes this feedback seriously and makes some changes. There is potential here, but the food quality and ingredient choices need significant improvement.

    Photos
    Pavlos Tacos
    Pavlos Tacos
    Pavlos Tacos

    See all

    Agave Birrieria

    Agave Birrieria

    4.6
    (325 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    My wife asked me to pick up some food from this spot on my way home one night. As I drove up and…read moresaw it was connected to a gas station, I called her and asked her if she knew. She responded that the reviews were really good, so it was worth giving it a try. Man, she was right on the money. The food was outstanding! The place is built for speed and lacks warmth. No drive-through, makes it less convenient, but it's still worth it. I just moved to Carlsbad a couple of years back, and I've been trying to find the best Mexican food place around. I can confidently say that I have now found it and I will be frequenting it on the regs. I had the Agave Birrieria. It was amazing. Probably not something that I can eat regularly, though. If you are looking for takeout Mexican food, this is the place to go.

    I've seen this place numerous times on my way to the Starbucks and finally decided that today's the…read moreday to try this place. We went at 1:30 pm today (Friday). No drive through. So my bro and I went in and ordered food for the rest of the fam. This place is set-up more for take out rather than dining in. The lady at the register was super nice and friendly. We ordered the carne asada and shrimp rancheros plates that came with rice, beans and a flour tortilla. Also two burritos, cabeza and fish. And a coconut flan for dessert. Pros: Convenient location Food came out very quick Great customer service Coconut flan was absolutely delicious The shrimp rancheros were also delicious, very well seasoned & cooked perfectly. Cons: The burritos were much smaller, not as filled as other burritos from other Mexican restaurants. The carne asada was over cooked and dry There was only 2 pieces of fish in the fish burrito that were so over fried that it was hard and inedible. We had high hopes for this place, but our first impression fell flat. Not sure if it would be worth it to try and go again.

    Photos
    Front counter/register
    Front counter/register
    Birria Mini Taco (x2) with Nachos
    Birria Mini Taco (x2) with Nachos
    Birreria tacos

    See all

    Birreria tacos
    Encinitas Fish Shop

    Encinitas Fish Shop

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Delicious food and friendly staff! We had a larger group with us, so we placed a very large order…read more Tacos, sandwiches, ceviche, and so much more. We tried different marinades and various fish, but my hands-down favorites were the lobster tacos (lemon butter) and the red snapper (fish shop) tacos. We also ordered large sides. They do NOT skimp out on these. Massive onions rings and a large pile of fries. All were delicious! The kids liked their grilled cheese sandwiches. "Best grilled cheese besides the ones we make at home." Only downside on the food was the clam chowder. Good flavor but hardly any clams (if any). I wouldn't get that again, but everything else was phenomenal. I almost rated this down to a 4 because of this (and a small order mishap), but honestly, this place is worth a solid 5 based on the overall food, vibes, and staff. This place's vibes are super chill. You can either sit inside or out. Very clean all around! Well-maintained restrooms and tables too. Solid drink options - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic as well! Would definitely go back!

    I've been going to the pb location for years so was excited to try out Encinitas fish shop while in…read morethe area. I might like this location even more than pb. The restaurant is very clean and they gave us real plates! I got lucky on timing because there was no wait to order when I got there. There was a line out the door when we were finished though. This place is very family friendly with lots of kids and dogs. There was easy street parking so we didn't have trouble finding a spot. I love the fish plate with fish shop seasoning. I even own a bottle of their seasoning to use at home it's so good! I always get the vegetables as my side and this location had zucchini instead of cauliflower in the mix, which I prefer! Can't wait to go again.

    Photos
    Encinitas Fish Shop
    Fish Shop Lumpia (2)
    Fish Shop Lumpia (2)
    Ahi Poke

    See all

    Ahi Poke
    Serranos Mexican Food

    Serranos Mexican Food

    4.2
    (212 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    $7 for a Breakfast Burrito in Southern California is unheard of. Its also a daily feature which on…read morea Sunday morning was completely unexpected. The chorizo was ok but the fresh salsa bar was the star of the show. Friend had the bacon breakfast burrito and it did taste better, will likely order it next visit. They also offer bottles of beers and micheladas. Clean, friendly atmosphere right off the freeway. I will definitely return

    Tl;dr don't stop at this place, keep driving…read more We stopped in for dinner on our way back to OC. The service was friendly, but very slow. The cashier was really nice, but she seemed more concerned with chatting with customers than working quickly (maybe she felt like she had to talk to these people, as they seemed like regulars). We waited patiently, but some customers were getting really upset at the long wait times and making a scene, so that was awkward and definitely took away from the atmosphere. The food was very mediocre, especially given the high prices. The guacamole was outright gross and we only ate about half of it, which is unusual for us as a guac-loving family. It tasted like poor quality avocados were used; it had that weird rotten fruit taste that low quality avocado variants often have. The beef taco was good with a nice portion. The fish tacos had a nice flavor, but there was barely any fish in them and one of my tacos had a bone that hurt my tooth. The potato taco was flavorless and definitely the worst of the tacos. My husband said his California burrito was 4/5 and my kids seemed to like their kids meals (though I ordered the quesadilla only for each of them and was given the more expensive plate with rice and beans, which they don't like, so I was charged for food I didn't order and didn't want...).

    Photos
    Menu board as of 7-8-24
    Menu board as of 7-8-24
    Unfortunate cross section of Cali burrito with mostly undercooked fries
    Unfortunate cross section of Cali burrito with mostly undercooked fries
    Serranos Mexican Food

    See all

    The Taco Stand - tacos - Updated August 2026

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