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    The Taco Stand

    4.1 (580 reviews)
    ModerateFast Food, Mexican
    Open 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Taco Stand Photos

    Business Info

    THE TACO STAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Pescado Burrito
    Ellen K.

    The meats are tender and well-seasoned, especially the Al Pastor! The Baja fish and shrimp tacos are equally impressive, and there are plenty of vegetarian options too. Don't skip the fresh churros served with condensed milk! For the wait, it did take us at least an hour to order and get the food :,D

    Devin K.

    I've been to a different location before (La Jolla) and I think this location wasn't as good. I'm not sure what the difference was but the tacos weren't as flavorful especially when it came to the Carne Asada. At the La Jolla location you can see the staff making the tortillas + churros and this location the tortillas were packaged. I'm not sure if they use the same ingredients but this could have changed the flavor profile. They were still yummy don't get me wrong but they just weren't as good as I remember them. I ordered chips and guac as well and the staff forgot to include it in my order so I had to go up to the counter another time which was quite a hassle given it's a very busy restaurant with the line out the door the entire time I was there. The salsa selection is rather nice especially when most restaurants are trying to cut down on salsa options + use the lower quality ingredients. You can tell the ingredients in the salsas were high + they even have a few creamy options which is hard to see at most Mexican restaurants these days. I do think the guac was a little limey but it wasn't bad when you added it to the tacos. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you go I would recommend you go with zero expectations of eating inside as there are about 5-6 tables + waiting a long time for your food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The beach is 10 steps away so you can always take your food to the beach too![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    California burrito
    Bubu N.

    Was hungry after checking out sum beaches and LOVE this chain. Idk what it is but this is the best Cali burrito I've had. It's consistent and you can't go wrong here. Me n my bfs go to so far for a good burrito!!

    "The tacos were delicious and fresh! The service was friendly, and the prices were great. I would definitely come back!"

    "The tacos were delicious and fresh! The service was friendly, and the prices were great. I would definitely come back!"

    Tacos Pastor, Carnes Asada, and Sonora

    The best tacos. Came from Colorado because California makes the best tacos!!! Jeremiah was the best!!!

    Lisa T.

    There's a small parking lot and street parking available. The food was good and affordable. The Baja fish is mostly batter and very little fish. The spicy shrimp taco was good. The burritos are big sizes and very filling. I like the self service salsa bar, but I noticed people took a long time to get their salsas and it held up the wait.

    Cali burrito
    Ken W.

    Always a long line, locals and visitors alike, this joint is legit! Having grown up eating street tacos & burritos in LA my whole life, I consider myself a good judge when it comes to Cali-Mex food. I honestly want expecting much, especially in Laguna Beach...I was wrong. The Taco Stand is legit. Their Cali burrito, which consists of your choice of meat along with guacamole, fires, and normal burrito fixins, it always hits the spot. Be prepared to grip this burrito with 2 hands cuz it's big & heavy! For light eaters, definitely can share. AND, for only $10.81...I know, odd price, you get so much bang for the dollar, which is hard to find now when an $18 burrito is common place. The sauce bar offers cilantro sauce, which is creamy and my favorite, a chipotle sauce, and pickled onions & jalepenos. I always order the same thing so I can't comment on their tacos, but would fully expect them to be just as delicious. Seating and parking can be challenging, particularly when crowded. Would highly recommend!

    Menu
    Katie O.

    I love tacos & these were amaze balls! Service wasn't anything to write home about but the food makes this well over 5 stars! We went big...burritos, tacos, guac, chips, anything on the menu, we ordered it! And the only picture is of the darn menu! The food was enjoyed so much that I didn't get one picture! So go get it to see for yourself:) The only things that were not greatest...parking is challenging, always a line (because of the good food), limited seating area & crowded/hard to get salsa bar. But worth the challenge. Try this restaurant.

    Mushroom  , Camaron (spicy shrimp) , & Pollo asado
    Shana S.

    We stumbled upon this place when our usual Laguna taco spot was closed, and quickly realized it was the exact place we had been hearing about for months. So I am not exaggerating when I say fate brought us here us here! The chill vibe was perfect for us, and the food did not disappoint. Good people and great service sealed the deal ... we already can't wait to go back! Here's what we got: - Carne asada burrito - Mar y tierra (surf & turf) burrito - Mushroom taco - Camaron (spicy shrimp) taco - Pollo asado (grilled chicken) taco - Corn on the cob - Churros - they are actually perfect! Literal rave reviews from everyone, even our very picky 15 year old. They did not miss! Wish we got more photos, but we were grubbin ... hope you enjoy as much as we did!

    Carne asada
    Kirsten L.

    Tacos: 4.25 out of 5 Ordered 3 tacos (spicy shrimp, pollo asado, & carne asada). Fresh tortilla, well seasoned, & cooked well. I enjoyed the shrimp & asada the most. Service: 3.5 out of 5 Waited over 25 mins for tacos during the lunch hour. Management should really consider hiring more employees to handle both the in store & take out orders Environment: 4 out of 5 Fast casual taco spot. Overall: 4 out of 5 The fresh tortilla is a huge selling point. Beware you may have a long wait.

    Christine V.

    Glad to see The Taco Stand has multiple locations. I love the food and it makes it very convenient. The burritos aren't stuffed with beans and rice like most Mexican restaurants. The price is also amazing. It's a small parking lot, but cars are usually coming and going frequently. The California burrito and the Mar Y Tierra which are my favorites. Their food is the closest I can get to the ones in San Diego (since that was their initial location). Service is fast and there's some seating outside so I could sit outside with my dog. Definitely coming again!

    Salsa bar
    Jane I.

    Had the best churros of my life, and a phenomenal burrito here. Amazing and friendly staff, casual, fun atmosphere, and delicious food. Fresh, hot, and great portions of everything. I got the Cali burrito and enjoyed every bite :-) the steak was perfectly cooked, and the flavours all worked so well together. The salsa verde was perfect, and I wish I could buy some to take home with me. A must-go spot if you're in Laguna!

    Brittany P.

    This taco stand has a lot going for it! I appreciate the limes, salsas etc being self serve off to the side. That's perfection to me! The tacos were delicious! Seating is a bit cramped, they could ditch a few tables to make it more comfortable but we overall loved this taco stand! It's very loud which was fine for us, but skip with small kids who get overwhelmed with loud places. Get the chips and guacamole, and try out all the salsas at the self serve bar!

    Pescado burrito

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    2 days ago

    Yum!!! First time in Laguna, first place we stopped for food. I recommend the tacos, salsa bar, and churros

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    4 days ago

    Awesome customer service. Amazing food and great place for a nice taco spot in Laguna beach

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    Page 1 of 15

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    Ask the Community - The Taco Stand

    Do they serve alcohol?

    I've seen bottles of cerveza in their refrigerator but didn't see anything else. No bar.

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    Jack in the Box

    Jack in the Box

    2.2
    (95 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Bringing in the second stop for burgers on our trip through Southern California, we happened upon…read morelunch at a Jack in the Box location on the coastal highway right outside of Laguna Beach. What was the most surprising thing when I stepped inside of my very first Jack in the Box was the just sheer volume of variety of selection and choices. It took me several minutes of simply standing there to look at the multiple panels of menus above the register area just to process how much choice there actually was, and I eventually settled on what appeared to be a standard cheeseburger with all the regular fixins! The location was fairly quiet and nice and clean, and had Arby's from the 1980's vibes with the windowed seating area with the curved glass. If you were around for that wonderful and weird era of fast food, then you'll know exactly what I am talking about, and you can still find some fast food locations that still showcase that retro styling...kind of like the old original Pizza Huts. Everyone that we spoke to and everyone that was working was incredibly nice and extremely patient considering trying to decide on everything there was to choose from. My burger was fantastic and everyone else seemed very satisfied with their orders as well and we were able to sit out front at the outdoor tables and enjoy our quick lunch. This was the second burger that we had the opportunity to stop and have and the second time that I was impressed with the burger crafting in California. They are definitely doing something that should be emulated back east, and I am not sure why places like this and the other chains that only exist out here have not made it out by me. I really with they had. If you are visiting California, make sure you try Jack in the Box and take the same burger plunge as myself. You'll be happy you did. Zoridia Fry Index: very good. Right amount of crisp. Balanced seasoning and potato. Needs just a bit more salt.

    I can't believe I'm actually taking time out of my day to write a review for Jack in the Box, but…read morehere we are. The food was what you'd expect at 2 a.m., but the customer service was on a whole different level. The Hispanic lady working the night shift seemed genuinely annoyed that customers were showing up to a restaurant that's open and serving food. Every question felt like an inconvenience, and the attitude came free of charge. I've had better customer service from a self-checkout machine. Jack in the Box, if you're going to be open late, at least have employees who act like they want to be there. This experience was so bad it inspired me to write a review, and trust me, that's harder than getting fresh fries at midnight.

    Photos
    Jack in the Box
    Jack in the Box
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    Slice

    Slice

    3.9
    (274 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Best Pizza I've Ever Had!…read more Service was quick and employees were friendly! This spot is a bit on the pricer side (it's Laguna Beach after all) but they have great selection of specialty pizzas! I decided to customize my own. There's limited seating inside and i waited at least 10 minutes for my pizza to be served. I can't describe how delicious it was! I recommend you coming and giving this place a try!!

    Tried this place for the first time and really enjoyed it! I had the chicken meatball pizza, which…read morecomes with red sauce, shredded cheese, meatballs, garlic, and pickles. I ordered it without the pickles, and it was absolutely delicious. I also got a plain cheese pizza for my three little ones (ages 8, 6, and 2), and it was more than enough for them to share. Parking in the area can be a bit busy on weekends...I was there on a Sunday, so unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to go in and instead found a 20 minute metered spot. Luckily, my pizzas were ready in about 10 minutes. In fact, by the time I walked in, the guy was already packing them up. The pizzas are a great size for sharing. My husband and I shared the chicken meatball one and still had a couple of slices left. Same for the kids with the cheese pizza...they had some leftovers too. Customer service was spectacular. I wish I had caught the name of the guy who helped me since he was super friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be coming back!

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    Slice's Menu
    Slice's Menu
    Waiting for her Shaws Cove
    Waiting for her Shaws Cove
    Build your own pizza

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    Build your own pizza
    Carmelita's

    Carmelita's

    4.2
    (2.7k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Came here for dinner around 7 pm on a Tuesday and we were able to be seated right away on the patio…read morewith our dog. They start you off with complimentary chips, salsa and beans. I really enjoyed the beans and liked that it was offered as something different. I also ordered a spicy michelada with Modelo which was really good. For food we shared the pollo à la chipotle and seafood enchiladas. Both entrees were really good! You could taste the crab in the enchiladas and the sauce on the chicken was really good. The chicken was also moist and not dry. I enjoyed the chile relleno but felt like it wasn't needed. My boyfriend really liked the rice. They offered us more chips once we ran out and brought out a fresh batch. Oh my, the chips were amazing when they were still warm! If I wasn't full I could've eaten the whole basket myself. Our server was also friendly and brought water for our dog without us having to ask. Great location near the beach for a nice dinner with a breeze. We would definitely return!

    I should have taken photos! Every bite was delicious. The fresh tortilla chips were warm and the…read moreguacamole was so tasty and was served with chopped cucumbers and a wonderfully smoky chipotle sauce on the side. Why? Who knows. Who cares. They were delicious. We ordered several types of tacos, on both regular corn tortillas and crispy tortillas. WOW! Each bite was better than the one before. Is that possible ? Yes, it's possible. The food was so delicious, we ordered food to take with us for later. ( photos of take out attached. We were too busy eating out sit down meal). The service was exceptional. My water glass stayed full. The room is nice and cozy. We had no problem with parking, but I can imagine it may get tight during the dinner hour. We will return, because I look forward to trying several other menu items. I highly recommend Carmelita's.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chef's Combo Platter
    Chef's Combo Platter
    Seafood trio

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    Seafood trio

    The Taco Stand - hotdogs - Updated August 2026

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