TACO CENTRO — Restaurant in San Diego

I’ll say up front- The first time I got these, they were the best Al Pastor tacos I’ve ever had. But things did not go very well the second time I got them, see update below.

Everything awesome about shawarma (which is what Al Pastor is, just pork instead of lamb) is in these tacos. They’re very tender, incredibly well seasoned, and have that perfect shawarma crisp.

Most every other place I’ve gotten Al Pastor or Adobada from around here are fine, but it’s more like a bit of pork with some seasoning on them. These are legit, and the texture is completely different.

Also got a birria taco, and it had some nice seasoning and had a generous amount of meat, and it was very solid overall. Though not what people might have normally gotten with birria since there is no consume (dipping broth). More like a nicely seasoned carnitas.

Highly recommend this place overall, but for me it’s the Al Pastor that really sets this place apart.

UPDATE: Places can be weird. After having a great El Pastor taco, I went back for their Taco Tuesday El Pastor special, and it was a terrible experience overall. It was late at night and fairly busy, but after waiting for over 20 minutes after ordering, I started to see people that ordered well after me starting to get their orders. After another 5 or so minutes of this I went up to ask if they actually still had my order in or if they forgot about it.

The person working was like yeah yeah, we’ve got your order, and it was almost another 10 minutes, when every single other person in the place had gotten their orders who came in 15 minutes after I did, and absolutely no one else was in line to order, FINALLY they called out my order.

They were not even close to the same thing I had earlier, they had no sauce, no pineapple, and just weren’t that good in general. Not sure if they do this to everyone that actually orders the Tuesday special or I got lucky with extra bad service.

So yeah, not sure why they would do that but here we are. Some of the best tacos I’ve had to probably never going back, and have adjusted the rating accordingly. They ask for Google reviews in the restaurant, so I’ve made sure to share my experience with...

Taco Centro in has the best tacos when it comes to mouthwatering tacos downtown! I recently had the pleasure of devouring several tacos here and tried most of the menu over my several visits, and I must say, its always a great experience! I cant wait to go back. If I could give them more than five stars, I definitely would!

From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted with the sight of fresh tortillas being made and "Bad Bunny" on the speakers. The staff at Taco Centro are always incredibly friendly.

Now, let's talk about the tacos themselves. These are hands down the best tacos I have ever had in my life. The flavors were an explosion of pure joy in my mouth. The meat was tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. Every bite was a heavenly experience, and I found myself savoring each taco, not wanting the taste to end. So I went back up to the counter and ordered more. Told my friends, and went back the next day.

One of the things that sets Taco Centro apart is their amazing pricing. They offer incredible value for the quality of food you receive. It's refreshing to find a place where you can enjoy outstanding tacos without breaking the bank. I appreciate their commitment to providing an affordable yet unforgettable taco experience.

And let's not forget about the salsa bar! It's a game-changer. The variety of salsas available was mind-blowing. Each salsa had its own unique flavor profile, and I had a blast trying them all. Whether you prefer mild or spicy, tangy or smoky, the salsa bar at Taco Centro has something for everyone. It's truly a salsa lover's paradise! I recommend getting a side of chips to really explore the variety here.

If you're in San Diego and looking for the best tacos in town, look no further than Taco Centro. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Prepare your taste buds for a flavor extravaganza, enjoy the perfect pricing, and immerse yourself in the...

Make Salsa, Not War. The sign over the salsa bar made me smile because I love salsas and Taco Centro had an abundance of options at the salsa bar. It was a positive sign for our visit. We also loved the blue lights and decorations - different than a lot of taco joints.

We walked in and were able to place our order right away. We ordered two Al Pastor Tacos and a Carne Asado Burrito. The prices on the menu price this place a little higher than a lot of the other downtown taco shops but not so high as to deter us from giving them a shot. The Al Pastor tacos come with fresh pineapple, cilantro, onions and a cilantro sauce. The meat was tender but overall we felt the tacos weren’t anything super special and they were somewhat small for the price. The carne asada burrito was of a decent size and the meat was super tender. It had guacamole, onions, a house salsa and cilantro inside. Again, price on this was a little high but given the Gaslamp District location it wasn’t too bad. Pricing and average Al Pastor are the reason for knocking this down one star.

Service was friendly. They give you a number after ordering and bring the food out to you. Again, I can’t say enough about having a good salsa collection and Taco Centro excels in that regard. We will come back again sometime soon. We like that they are open until midnight most days and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re out celebrating in the Gaslamp it’s another option for a late night snack. Please note that they do not have assigned parking at...