Kiko's Place-The Seafood King — Restaurant in San Diego

Today, I walked down to Kiko's Place at the invitation of my sister. Their "Taco Truck" is parked at the north end of the Del Mesa Liquor Store, which is located at the NW corner of Friars Road and Via Las Cumbres, at the bottom of a very steep hiil.( I always liked the name of that street, because it means "Highway to the Clouds," in Spanish and I always used to think of "Stairway to Heaven"-a famous Led Zepplin song, whenever I rode my mountain bike up to the top of that street "and I wonder?" why¿ Because it was there and it is incredibly STEEP! ). I was told that Kiko's had excellent fish tacos, so I thought that I'd give them a try. They specialize in seafood and "seafood is healthfood." ( Do I get the advertising royalties for that little ditty?). Well? Luck must have been with me for once in my life, because I hit gold at that little restaurant. I ordered two fish tacos and for $2.00 each ($4.00) total, I got two humongous fish tacos; they come on a soft tortilla, with cabbage and pico sauce. The fish was fried and it was a crispy brown however, the combination of the two fish tacos together, left me totally stuffed. There is no way that I could have eaten three of them! Their fish tacos were awesome! They had a number of other items that looked good too and what impressed me even more, was the fact that a number of their customers were local Mexicans. Things like this tell me a lot about a good Mexican restaurant, which is something that you rarely see in San Diego. I certainly don't mean to say anything derogatory, as what I said, was just soley based upon the facts-nothing more and nothing less. There is no question in my mind as to why they got five stars, other than I felt that they should be allowed to put a few chairs down, in a small area in front of their restaurant. Although the majority of their clientele took their food home with them, there were a few of us who chose to eat our food there. I chose to sit on my walker and eat my food there, so I could keep an eye on how many customers patronized their restaurant and there were a few times when their business got fairly brisk. The liquor store operators seemed to be fairly amicable, because they allowed the restaurant's clientele to use their one outdoor table; it has four chairs and an umbrella. As I stated previously, most of their customers either took their food home with them or else a couple of themsat in the cars and ate everyting there. They also picked up customers who used the liquor store however, no one was drinking alcohol anywhere on the premises, as several warning signs were posted. I had a couple of their customers eat next to me and then a family of five, with three smaller children, between the ages of about seven to twelve. Their parents were ecologically conscientious, because they had their children throw their paper plates in a small rubber trash can. I hear that Kiko's had been there for a several months and I really didn't see anything problematic. The trash was picked up by both the restaurant associates, the customers and there were no flies or insects anywhere. Their food was far better than that at Mariscos Oceanos, as well as the "Taco Truck" that I sometimes see up at the top of the hill, near the Linda Vista Shopping Center. The food there is far more expensive and their...

Review: A Hidden Sinaloa-Style Taco Gem in San Diego While passing through San Diego on our way home, we stopped to visit family for a few hours. Someone suggested we grab some Sinaloa-style tacos from a food truck nearby — apparently, they were that good. Naturally, we went to check it out. The place was buzzing with people, everyone crowded around folding chairs and picnic tables, eating and laughing — always a good sign. We ordered Angus beef tacos and fried fish tacos. The order came with a consomé, a light broth made from the cooked fish with a few vegetables. And let me tell you — that broth was insane. I’ve never tasted anything like it. It wasn’t salty; it had the perfect blend of spices, rich and savory yet clean. If the broth alone was this good, I couldn’t wait to see what the tacos were like. The beef tacos were so good it was criminal. Tender, perfectly seasoned meat, melted cheese, and fresh pico de gallo on a flavorful corn tortilla. I asked for no guacamole or mayo (just a personal thing), and it didn’t need a thing extra. Though I did add some pickled onions on top, and the flavor just exploded — I swear, I almost wanted to put my head through a concrete wall, it was that amazing. These tacos deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame. The fried fish tacos, according to everyone else, were just as mind-blowing — crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with flavor. I didn’t even have to try them to believe it. Honestly, this food truck is a must-visit. It’s tucked somewhere near San Diego University, and it’s a hidden gem that deserves way more attention. Just the broth alone should be on your bucket list — I’m convinced it could cure a cold, maybe even COVID. This place deserves to be famous. Period. The prices are current...

*Update

I've been coming to this truck for over a decade and have followed it after each relocation... the quality of the food has declined, and the service has changed dramatically, too, over the years.

I was overcharged on my purchase and asked the cashier why three fish tacos ($3.25) one quesadilla ($10.00) and two drinks cost over $40. She claimed the bottles of soda were each $5, even though the cost isn't posted anywhere, and she had overcharged my food and claimed that I ordered more food than I had. She refused to refund me for the overcharge, and instead gave me an attitude and argued about me just taking the extra food to go.

Additionally, the food was not the same quality that I'm used to. The shrimp had black veins that had a gritty texture, the fish tacos were very soggy as though they'd been sitting out for some time.

It's a shame to see a restaurant I've enjoyed over the years decline in service and quality. My family has been visiting this truck for so long, and we have introduced countless people to Raul, the owner, over the many years we've been eating here.

I'm sorry to have had such a bad experience with Kiko's, this used to be such a hidden gem in San Diego, but I don't believe it's worth...