Food is usually not the central theme when we travel. I try not to be over-obsessive about checking out trending eateries, which results in evolving our travel agenda around restaurant reservations. Our trip to San Diego was no exception—until it became an exception.
Good Morning, San Diego
We arrived in San Diego with no prior research. Our agenda was to fly in at 9 am and attend my friend’s wedding at 3 pm; everything else was TBD. After picking up our rental car at the airport, we decided to start our day with an Italian coffee in Little Italy. The coffee was less than okay, and our stomachs growled after a stroll through the farmer’s market. A quick Google search revealed that San Diego is famous for its fish tacos and California burritos. ‘The Taco Stand’ kept popping up on several websites.
The Taco Stand Experience
Our journey led us to The Taco Stand, nestled in downtown San Diego, across from a bustling WeWork building. Despite the early hour, a line had already formed at the ordering counter. The vibrant interior, adorned with painted corrugated steel panels, gave the impression of a shop born from a repurposed cargo container, creating an atmosphere that practically begged us to indulge in a taco or two.
Google Maps reviews recommended the California burrito, but I decided to be adventurous and ordered a Baja (fish taco) and a Camaron (shrimp taco). The wait was a while, but we killed time at the salsa bar, which offered around eight buckets of sauces: tomato salsa, salsa verde, cilantro, chipotle, and pickled onions. As a taco amateur, I tried a bit of everything. When the food arrived, my husband and I quietly ate. We sat by the ordering bar, and people came and went. For a moment, we were the only table with food in the entire restaurant, and I could feel the stares from every pair of eyes as I swallowed the fourth shrimp from the Camaron.
Who can say no to a delicious fish taco?
The tacos were excellent. The fish in the Baja was fried but moist and soft, while the shrimps in the Camaron were flavorful with a hint of grilled smokiness that I loved. If I had to rank them, I’d say the Camaron was slightly better. The tortilla had a base of seared cheese, topped with four shrimps, tomato salsa, lettuce, and a slice of avocado. It was so good that I would have ordered another if my stomach wasn’t so small.
Our Love for The Taco Stand
Our trip to San Diego is only a day; we’re heading to Irvine and flying out from San Diego again two days later. We bid our fair well to the Taco Stand, thinking that our subsequent encounter may be far in the future
The next day, my husband and I were strolling down the street at Laguna Beach. It was almost noon, and an eatery by the road was crammed with people. It caught our eyes, and after a closer look, OH MY GOSH, it reads The Taco Stand with the same logo! THE TACO STAND is a chained restaurant!?! We joined the queue without hesitation, and I ordered the same tacos as the day before. They still tasted amazing.
Twenty-four hours later, we found ourselves at another Taco Stand location. It was the last day of our SoCal trip, and we had tacos every day for three days straight!
The Ranking
Over three days, we tried Carne Asada, Al Pastor, Baja, Grilled Pescado, and Camaron tacos. Here’s our ranking:
- Camaron (Spicy Shrimp) ranks first, and the flavor is fantastic.
- Baja (Fried Fish) comes next; though the Mission Viejo fish tastes slightly less flavorful, I still love the texture and the entire taste.
- Carne Asada (Flame Grilled Angus Steak): The steak is grilled at just the perfect timing, with a dash of charcoal outside and a slight pink inside. You can taste the fire, and I love it.
- Grilled Pescado (Grilled Fish): I only got to steal a tiny bite from my husband’s taco. The fish is still tender and moist, and at this point, I’m affirmative that all of the grilled things taste good at the taco stand because I can also smell the fire in this taco, which makes it great.
- Al Pastor (Rotisserie Marinated Pork): The pork seasoning tastes like Taiwanese grilled pork, slightly sweet and salty. It still tastes good, but the other seafood flavors stood out more from our tastings.
I never imagined I’d write an essay dedicated to a chain restaurant, but there you have it. After three consecutive days of tastings, I can say my love for The Taco Stand is real. I hope they continue to deliver amazing tacos, and I look forward to tasting them again soon.
Have You Visited The Taco Stand? Have you ever visited The Taco Stand? Is there any other taco spot that you love? I’d love to hear your stories!
📎 Visit The Taco Stand – Downtown San Diego:
Location: 645 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Opening Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 am – 9 pm
Friday: 9 am – 10 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm
Sunday: Closed
Official Website: http://downtown.letstaco.com/
Leave a Reply