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Taco stand is a large Mexican food chain that originally started in San Diego, so it is always busy, for good reason! This location is also very close to the beach, so if there isn't indoor seating available, you can definitely grab your food to-go and enjoy it by the ocean. My favorite dish to order is the Mar y Tierra fries. The fries are loaded with plentiful shrimp, steak, guacamole, cheese, and sauce, and even though they are loaded, the fries still have a nice crunch and texture to them - truly one of the best loaded fries in the game. I am also a huge fan of Taco Stand's creamy cilantro salsa and usually get a couple cups of those to go with the fries as well. I have also previously tried their California burrito, which is a solid option if you're craving burritos instead!
Absolutely delicious! This place is located on a main street lined with a bunch of different retailers, restaurants, and shops, so there's lots to look around. We ordered the California Burrito, Baja Taco, and Al Pastor Taco- all were 10/10 combined with their sauce bar and various toppings. I loved the crunch of the fries combined with the savory, tender meat in the burrito. The baja and al pastor were super flavorful. Everything perfectly melted in my mouth! Food took a while to come out (maybe they are understaffed?) but it was well worth the wait. Since it can get crowded, you'll have to snipe a table quickly if you want to dine in. There is free street parking- yay!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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!!
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!
10/10 good location, great flavor, good service. The salsa was amazing would defiantly recommend if in the area. There are other location but out of the ones I've been to this was the best.
1 year ago
YESSSS! Do it. Absolutely best tacos we've had all year- we travel coast to coast. This checked every box for us. Rich, authentic flavor, fresh ingredients, and uniquely impeccable sauces. Friendly service, efficient flow, not too long a wait. Lively atmosphere, really delivered the colorful, laid back SoCal San Diego energy we all love. I hope we can come back asap!!! read more
1 year ago
Needed a quick snack & wanted Mexican food so this was a no brainer! Fish taco solid, needed some more fish but fresh corn tortilla & amazing salsa. Steak taco on flour tortilla way better, could eat a ton. The salsa bar is clutch & solid service too read more
Iconic chain restaurant in San Diego so wait line is just insane. I decided to try anyways to satisfy my curiosity. Sadly to report this shop is very mediocre. The al pastor is below average, the baja is decent. The best thing here is a super spicy chili/salsa that they have. There are other much better taco shops in the area. read more
8 months ago
What a huge disappointment. After numerous positive recommendations, I finally made the trip down to SD County to try Taco Stand on a Sunday. We knew we would have to wait in line, and we were willing to because of the high expectations that were set for us for the food. Sure enough, it was a 20-30 min wait in line. The menu is simple enough to order from, which I appreciate. The prices aren't awful. Next to the drink fountain, there's a plethora of sauces to try out. However, the problem begins with the lack of seating. There is simply not enough room to sit, and folks are hovering around tables like vultures to find a seat. Outdoor seating lacks shade, and indoor seating is very loud. The music is fun and appreciated, but the entire experience is a sensory overload. All of this was exacerbated by the fact that the wait for food was an exorbitant one. We ordered at 12:37pm. We got our orders at 1:15pm. In fact, in our group of 3, there was a huge time disparity between the first order coming out and the other two even though we ordered in quick succession of each other. Now, if all of this frenzy was followed by good food as promised, I may not have written this review. However, the pollo asado burrito was not only mediocre but disappointing. It was barely filled, watery, and lacking flavor. My favorite part was the avocado, I have to admit. However, there was no rice or cheese. It was just watery beans, salsa, and chicken. Personally, I don't understand the hype in the least. read more
1 year ago
This place lives up to every bit of the hype it gets. The tacos are AMAZING (especially the al pastor), and I loved that they had such a plentiful salsa & toppings bar. The staff are friendly, and we loved sitting out on their patio and enjoying some Pacificos with our meal. 10/10 recommend! read more
8 months ago
We drove 6 hours for lunch at The Taco Stand. We were the first in line and ordered the carne asada fries, burrito, mushroom tacos. Shrimp taco and carne asada tacos. The fries were different than the last time (2 yrs ago), fries were smaller but still crispy, carne asada was flavorful, guacamole pretty good...the cheese seemed like it was from a can it's still better than what we have at home but not as good as they use to be. read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
Food was outstanding, I had asada and Al Pastor tacos, they have great customer service, the place was full, there was a line , music had great ambiance. read more
1 month ago
1 month ago
3 months ago
Some days all the planets seem to align and this was one of them. We passed the Taco Stand observing the unicorn ( no line) This made the choice easy and using previous reviews knew a delicious fish taco was in my future. This place will ruin other fish tacos since you will measure them by this standard. I also loved the chunky gauc. Personal preference since the wife likes guac smoother. We also tried the carne asada, seriously, so tender with a smoky char. The street corn is a meal in itself with delicious depth of flavor. Everything in the salsa bar was fresh and delicious. The ambiance is no nonsense since the food is ridiculously good. Sorry, I doubted the reasons for your popularity, you are the real deal! read more
10 months ago
7 months ago
Taco Stand is always consistent, and a great lunch after the beach. The service is great and the restaurant is always lively! read more
8 months ago
Wow! My 1st time to this location!!! Hands down the BOMB....on price, quality, freshness, service and taste. My son and I had two spicy shrimp tacos and a Cali burrito each and crawled out the door....and they have Beer too! The steak and shrimp are cooked to perfection and are incredible! Don't wait, don't think...just get there and enjoy phenomenal authentic great food!!!!! read more
Went on a Sunday stroll and decided to get some tacos before the dinner rush. We really just arrived at the perfect time because right when we sat down there was a line. There is always a line at Taco Stand because the tacos are out of this WORLD! The tortillas are FRESH and the meat is marinated and JUICy. I recommend just getting the tacos, but my wife did enjoy the carne asada fries as well. I think the salsa bar is kinda the unsung hero at Taco Stand. So many great choices you can't go wrong. The roasted chipotle salsa is so good you could drink it, but the pick de gallo is refreshing! Service is consistently top notch and friendly. This place is perfect for any occasion. Saw a young couple on an awkward first date, a bunch of beach bums refueling after hitting the waves, tourists from a far off country, and of course LOCALS! read more
3 months ago
The California is the best thing I have ever eaten. And on top of that, it's only $11. The line is long but so so so so worth it. read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
Amazing customer service every time we come down from Temecula. All the workers, professional and experienced. Top notch!! Thank you for being consistent and making amazing food! To the guy in the black shirt and beard, keep the great work! read more
5 months ago
9 months ago
5 months ago
10 months ago
chips- thick & almost like a crispy tortilla. Wouldn't order again. Salsas- all good and bursting with flavor. The dark salsa is my fav with the chips, the creamy one is my fav w quesadilla fav entree isn't on menu- carne asada quesadilla. yummiest tortilla, perfect amount of cheese & the carne asada is seasoned so well. jacob got the california burrito and loved it. he'd get it again. carne asada fries were so yummy. the shrimp was delicious! the fries were crisped perfectly. Waited 10 minutes for our food. We've always had to wait for a table & it's a little tight if you have a big party (larger than 4), but if you have someone scouting tables while someone else is in line you'll be able to hopefully get the bench out back! read more
8 months ago
The best customer service ever! The hardworking employees here are what truly makes this place special! They deserve an award! read more
5 months ago
Worth the wait! Would for sure make sure you time your hunger, if you're not too hungry I think 1 taco and chips+guac can be filling enough. Chips and guac is generous, don't forget to get the sauce sides by the drink stand. I had two tacos and they were delicious! Lots of flavor with the al pastor especially. They packed the meat for the carne. The overall vibe was lowkey, busy but not overwhelming. Finding seating can be rough, but people seem to cycle through quickly for the small space. Love the decorations, it makes it feel fun and inviting. read more
5 months ago
The taco stand is by far one of my favorite restaurants. This is a really good location with a lot of seating and amazing staff, specifically Jaime I love that dude read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Needs lots of improvement, but absolutely fine for the area. This area (Encinitas) is tepid and bland, and so is the food. The meat is ok, not seasoned well if at all. The tortillas are the saving grace. But the tacos are weird. It is a washed down, very boring version. Not a dash of cilantro in sight for the basic tacos. Instead they had onions and guac on them. And then are rolled up and compressed with a parchment sheet. So when you get the tacos they're kind of like in a open cannoli style. The guac is good but I asked the cashier if it had onions and tomato chunks and she said yes. It did not. I'm not sure if she misunderstood or the guac is different for tacos vs the burritos. In my order, I had tacos, burritos, carne asada fries etc etc. I wanted to try everything. Carne asada fries are good only because of the fries. Nice and crispy and thick diner fries. Not super special though. Might order again if I had to. Tacos are ok, as I've explained. Might order again due to the tortillas being fresh and made to order. Burrito, standard has beans, carne, tomato and guac. I omitted the tomato and guac based on my line of questioning earlier. This made the burrito soggy and thin. Every bite, the burrito would flop inward and make kind of an odd bite for the next. Would not order again. Anyway, salsas are the same interesting spread as I've seen in Americanized taco spots. Some creamy cilantro and creamy chipotle stuff. Sweet and almost no spice. I'm not even sure why they have it in the salsa bar. Would not return. Not super tasty. read more
4 months ago
Great spot, boyfriend and I found street parking pretty easily on a weeknight and wandered in. I'd already had dinner and he hadn't. We opted to get 5 different tacos so we could try a wider selection of their menu and I really wanted some churros. We got the pescado, mushroom, carne asada, pollo, and al pastor tacos. I tried a bite of each and really liked all of them. We were most impressed by the fish. The carne asada was on point and usually our metric for figuring out if a spot is legit. Churros were super yummy and fresh. There's a salsa bar. It was pretty crowded but we managed to snag a table as soon as it was vacated. It was kind of hard to hear our order being called since we were sat away from the pick up window. We noticed our order sitting on the counter and got up to ask. Overall, great experience. Would absolutely return! read more
1 year ago
Absolutely phenomenal experience at The Taco Stand in Encinitas! My wife and I stopped by for a quick bite and ended up having one of the best meals we've had in a long time. We ordered the Mar y Tierra Carne Asada Fries--and wow, they were incredible. The combination of tender carne asada, perfectly seasoned shrimp, crispy fries, and all the toppings was next-level delicious. It's the kind of dish you think about long after the meal is over. What really made our visit even better was the service. Our server, Humberto, was outstanding--super friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. He made sure we had everything we needed and served with a level of hospitality that made us feel right at home. Great food, awesome vibes, and excellent service. We'll definitely be coming back soon! read more
2 years ago
We tried the Taco Stand after hearing so much about it and the tacos were really good. We ordered the Al pastor, Baja, and grilled fish tacos. The Al pastor was definitely the favorite since the meat was tender and a little sweet from the pineapple. Their green sauce was good and went well with all the different tacos. Be prepared to wait 40+ minutes bc the line is always out the door. Parking is crazy since it's a Main Street but the side streets had more open spots. read more
4 months ago
More info about The Taco Stand
642 S Coast Hwy 101
Encinitas, CA 92024
Directions
(760) 230-2061
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Visit Website
http://www.letstaco.com
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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.
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