Chen Dow

Famous taco shop extremely popular with locals and tourists. Large selection of Tijuana style tacos are sold in a setup designed to handle the large crowd it attracts every day. You join different lines to get different tacos and go to the cashier to pay once you get all you need. Their adobada is crispy on the outside but not as salty as those sold elsewhere. The cabeza was really tender. Seating is outside and very limited, so prepare to eat it standing up.

+8

Ellen

Great asada and spicy pork tacos. They serve other parts of the meat like tongue, cabeza, etc. Service is quick, and there are a couple of seats outdoors. Recommend visiting.

+2

Rebekah

Their asada is really good! Chorizo also surprisingly good! A must try taco place! The line at 6pm was super long, so we went again at 10pm, and there was no line.

Karoline L

When you walk in, there are three separate lines to order different tacos. I know it may sound gross but definitely try the lengua (beef tongue). Carne Asada was a tasty #2. We also had the classic Chorizo, which was pretty decent. We came here after a hike, so maybe our hunger made the tacos taste extra tasty, but I would come here again. It's located downtown, they have seats inside and outdoors, and a great spot for a quick lunch. They are also open late.

TTK Daily

We were waiting for the line longer than a half an hour. At that time, I had no idea what people were line up for. There were two lines long and short ones. My husband said just go for the long line, it should be the better option. The food was so good. The wait time was worth it.

+3

Channing Blue

The food was amazing. We got the asada tacos and the asada quesadillas with everything on it. It looks just as good as it tasted! The place is small but it’s packed for a reason! The food was worth the short wait! Not bad on pricing too considering we are from Texas! Loved the food here. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area

+4

Ameya Bhakay

Beyond fantastic tacos! Carlos at the entrance has a simple question to ask: Pork or Beef - and so your journey begins! You stand in the line, say one word - "everything" - and see an absolutely bangin' taco served to you. Given the limited option, we had to try both. 1 taco hits the spot, and two of them fill you up. Perfect portions, brilliant taste, and very very reasonably priced. As you head to pay for your tacos, make sure to ask for the green and red sauces. They are really good, green one being the spicer one but filled with flavor!

+1

Every time I'm in SD, I'm making a stop here. The Al pastor and the beef are so Smokey, tender and delicious! The tortillas are freshly made and help make it a great bite, maybe my top 3 tacos I've h…

food was great!!!But customer service something else,I was given attitude and a dirty look for asking for salsas for 13 tacos and a carne asada fries apparently it was my fault that the cashier…

Food was great!!!But customer service something else,I was given attitude and a dirty look for asking for salsas for 13 tacos and a carne asada fries apparently it was my fault that the cashier did…

Finally tried this place and wow, it was great. The Al pastor is delicious, probably the best I've had in SD. The staff were friendly and helpful. I'd say give it a chance if you're ever in Chula V…

Food was great!!!But customer service something else,I was given attitude and a dirty look for asking for salsas for 13 tacos and a carne asada fries apparently it was my fault that the cashier did…

Food. Tacos of all flavors with the option of fresh made tortillas, their Mula is a must to try if you like cheese, the salsas, catered to the community.\nService. Fast service despite always being…

i like their line system, it's p fast. don't be intimidated by the line out the door.\n\nadobada is by far my fav meat there.\n\nall of the meats had great marinade but still smokey flavor. best ta…

We were in a coffee shop in Fremont, Ohio and a Barista heard we were going to San Diego. She recommended Tacos El Gordo saying it was a life changing experience. That was an amazing characterization…

We were in a coffee shop in Fremont, Ohio and a Barista heard we were going to San Diego. She recommended tacos El Gordo saying it was a life changing experience. That was an amazing characterizati…

We were in a coffee shop in Fremont, Ohio and a Barista heard we were going to San Diego. She recommended Tacos El Gordo saying it was a life changing experience. That was an amazing characterizati…

Food was superb, and hard to find elsewhere (e.g., beef head, beef tongue, very fatty pork). No-frill environment. Did not know this was a chain restaurant until later.

food was superb, and hard to find elsewhere (e.g., beef head, beef tongue, very fatty pork). No-frill environment. Did not know this was a chain restaurant until later.

Food was superb, and hard to find elsewhere (e.g., beef head, beef tongue, very fatty pork). No-frill environment. Did not know this was a chain restaurant until later.

Insanely good tacos. Fantastic flavors and seasoning. Only got to eat there once, but would’ve gladly gone several times.

Stumbled upon tacos El Gordo in downtown San Diego and WOW—what a legendary find! Earlier this year we first discovered them in Las Vegas, and we’ve been craving them ever since. So imagine our sur…

Best Tacos bar none . Place was packed but everyone super friendly both staff and customers. I tried all Tacos except Pork , all were tasty so we ordered even more . Perfect place for any Tourist …

Tacos El Gordo serves the best tacos I’ve ever had! The flavors are incredible, and the quality of the ingredients is top-notch. Despite the long wait, the experience is worth it—this place is tr…

If you’re in San Diego then it’s worth the trip to El Gordo - I visited with a friend early evening and we had some delicious tacos, which were very reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend.

Great food at a very affordable price, the flavours including the cactus taco is unique when compared to the regular Tex-Mex that one gets to eat in the southern states. The staff including he sec…

Great food at a very affordable price, the flavours including the cactus taco is unique when compared to the regular Tex-Mex that one gets to eat in the southern states. The staff including he sec…

A buzzing taco restaurant that offers great food at an incredible price. Definitely worth a visit when feeling peckish.

There are two queues to order, based on the protein you want. The lines move quickly and it is worth the wait. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Tacos El Gordo on F Street is an absolute staple for authentic Tijuana-style street food in San Diego. The carne asada is a standout, featuring a perfect smoky char and a generous topping of fresh guacamole. For those who appreciate traditional cuts, the lengua is exceptional—slow-cooked to a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that is easily some of the best in the city. The atmosphere is high-energy and fast-paced, centered around a unique system where you join a specific line for each type of meat. While the setup is no-frills, the quality of the handmade tortillas and seasoned meats makes it well worth the wait.

Tikitty Boo (Tikittyboo)

This is a hectic, fast paced taco stop but a must visit any time you’re passing by! The food is unbelievably fresh, flavourful and cooked in front of you. It’s quite a melting pot if you’re there at night but all the better for a local experience. Absolutely delicious, mouthwatering choices and generous portions of beautifully seasoned meat (tacos).

Lauren & Santiago Castillo

Decent tacos and a no frills atmosphere. Prepare to just walk up to the various stations to order and then pay at the end. Adobada was the best compared to the nopales and asada options.

Lockie Hunter

Some tips on ordering and seating! As people can glean from some of the other reviews, it’s a little confusing how to order and/or where to seat. Seating is a bit problematic, but there is a room upstairs that a lot of folks did not seem to know about! So try to make your way up there! For ordering, there is somebody who comes through the line and funnels you toward different lines based on what you are ordering.So, I was really hoping this would be a five star review. And it was very very very good, maybe a 4.5. But it certainly wasn’t a five star review. Here is why. I wanted to order Cabeza, and so I was sent to a quicker line, and then nobody really waited on me. It was very confusing. I was trying to ask them for two tacos to go, and they were waiting on the people that were behind me. So, my husband (who ordered in the longer line) had his tacos finished much before I did. I think they followed me to a spot that they thought I had already ordered? It was really unclear. And then they gave me the tacos and they were not “to go.” And I did say it in Spanish and in English. Now, keep in mind it was super chaotic, line was out the door, and loud, so I completely understand that maybe they did not understand my order needed to be “to go.” And the tacos were excellent! But people were saying there were some of the best they’ve ever had, and I used to live in San Francisco, and I had tacos like this in the mission district on a regular basis. So I don’t know what I was expecting, but all of the reviews made it sound like this was just a “wow” moment, and it was not. It was very very good. It was a very solid excellent taco with lots of good toppings, but was it the best taco I ever had? No. We also travel to other countries, including dipping into Mexico and Argentina and so perhaps that was also affecting my expectation? All that said, it was a solid taco with good flavoring, but I especially heard the Cabeza was excellent, and maybe it was because I got it “to go”, and so it dried out a little bit, but it just wasn’t the excellence that I had hoped and heard.

+15

yuri rangel

Huge line when I show up around 12:00, but it moved fast. They 3 lines, one for pork, beef and the rest ( tongue, cheeks ), I got the carne asada since they put guacamole on top, but the meat tasted like propane gas and it tasted awful. Maybe when In town will try to avoid the rush hours and will head to La fachada. Prices when up too, so take that into consideration. To get a seat is hard too, I will start trying new places.

Nick Su

We stopped by the Gaslamp District location of Tacos El Gordo after hearing all the hype — and it definitely lived up to its reputation for flavor. The line was long and the space was packed, but once you get inside, you can immediately smell the grill and hear the sizzling from the open kitchen. We ordered a mix of tacos — carne asada, cabeza, lengua, and a couple of mulas. Every bite was fresh, hot off the grill, and full of that classic, smoky street taco flavor. The meats were perfectly seasoned, and the tortillas were warm and just the right texture. That said, the ambiance isn’t great — it’s crowded, loud, and the limited seating makes it more of a grab-and-go spot than a place to relax. The service, however, was quick and efficient despite the chaos. Food: 4/5 – Authentic, flavorful, and satisfying. Ambiance: 2/5 – Crowded and noisy with minimal seating. Service: 3.5/5 – Fast and organized. If you’re looking for top-tier tacos and don’t mind waiting in line or standing while you eat, this is absolutely worth a stop when you’re in downtown San Diego.

+1

Vlad Satchouk

The Al pastor tacos were incredible. There was a really long line but they manage it really well with a system. Gets busy with convention goers so there was limited to no seating. Found somewhere upstairs ate quickly then left since people were waiting for the table. I got an horchata to drink and it was good but it was from a fountain. Same with the other aguas frescas. Overall would definitely come here again especially if I found a time that was after the lunch rush.

This location specifically did not live up to the hype. The carne asada was bland and had way too strong of a smoky flavor. It was like eating charcoal at that point. It's also a pretty confusing sys…

2026 San Diego. Lunch review. Taco shop.\n\nAdobada (spicy pork)\nTaco de Adobada\nVampiros de Adobada\n\nOverall, "I'm a fan.

tacos El Gordo was a letdown this time around, especially knowing how good it used to be.\n\nThe food is where most of the disappointment came from. Prices have clearly gone up, but the quality d…

tacos El Gordo was a letdown this time around, especially knowing how good it used to be.\n\nThe food is where most of the disappointment came from. Prices have clearly gone up, but the quality did…

Tacos El Gordo was a letdown this time around, especially knowing how good it used to be.\n\nThe food is where most of the disappointment came from. prices have clearly gone up, but the quality did…

Great Tacos, great service and fun atmosphere. Everyone is friendly. The only downfall is that they're a bit too greasy for me. I still enjoyed them, but did find another spot nearby that blew them…

Atrocious parking since it's downtown + long line. Carne asada ($22) and tacos ($4) were okay, I've had better at their other locations.

Food was actually pretty bad. I was surprised because reviews were good. Carne Asada just tasted like smoke and didn't have a lot of flavor. It was actually expensive for crappy tacos. Taco centro …

Service is always amazing and quick, no matter how long the lines look. Food is just okay! In my opinion the meat needed to be marinated longer. Adobada was way better than the carne asada. Not muc…

Popular tacos spot in downtown area. They have seating area in the front and second floor. Their meat is dry imo. I would give it 7/10 in taste. However, the services here are super nice.

Great food just hard with long lines into the sidewalk. The tacos and overall food quality is always good! The ambiance was busy and crowded

I wanted to love this place, but the Gaslamp location feels like a tourist trap. The line is long, the place is hectic, and the prices are wild for tacos, especially when the hype makes you expect …

Great food. Can't go wrong with carne asada tacos and trips tacos were really good. Place (ambience) and Service was a bit overwhelming but worth the food. Minimal sitting but there is Upstairs sit…

Still the king taco of san diego..\n\nThis venue is downtown ... convenient to all things gaslamp... but also subject to the craze of downtown including no parking. \n\nWe came here after tacos el …

Long day exploring and they said it was time to eat. Tacos and tacos always sound good. \n\nSo we decided to check out Tacos El Gordo \nWe found parking pretty darn close by and headed in \n\nSo th…

As people can glean from some of the other reviews, it’s a little confusing how to order and/or where to seat. Seating is a bit problematic, but there is a room upstairs that a lot of folks did not …

The separation the line by meat order was efficient, but the people making your order weren’t really putting in much effort. Besides the lack of acknowledgement and response, the tacos are slopped on to the plate. But the above wasn’t the entire reason for my rating. The adobada was just ok, it was really dry and didn’t have much punch to it. Overall it was ok, so landing right in the middle.

Ala HR

Tried the steak taco and honestly, it was not worth the hype for me. The steak itself was tasty and well cooked, but the avocado lacked flavor and the overall taco felt pretty average. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out either. It was fine for a quick bite, just not something I’d go out of my way for.

The 3 stars is as much about the service as it is about the food. If you want both pork and beef, good luck. Getting through the either line during lunch rush is a nightmare. The staff seemed …

The 3 stars is as much about the service as it is about the food. If you want both pork and beef, good luck. Getting through the either line during lunch rush is a nightmare. The staff seemed …

Parker Green

I used to LOVE getting Tacos El Gordo anytime I was in San Diego, but on my latest visit, I unfortunately found myself quite let down and disappointed... As a popular destination, you can often expect for Tacos El Gordo to have a wait - especially during late night hours. So that wasn't surprising...what did surprise, however, was the lack of quality or flavor in any of the ingredients for both the Tacos and Mulas that we ordered. The asada taco meat was dry, overcooked, and quite flavorless. They seemed to have attempted to make up for that by just utterly drowning the thing in salsa and guacamole - the problem is that (aside from being WAY too much) these also tasted very bland and flavorless. There were definitely not-so-fresh ingredients comprising them. The tortillas were also all very dry, crumbly, and will fall apart while you try to eat the Tacos or Mulas. Another thing I noticed - the tacos are now almost FIVE DOLLARS. This was supposed to be a great spot for grabbing some solid & cheap tacos.....now the tacos aren't even cheap OR of decent quality! One more thing to keep in mind is that there is limited seating inside, and the environment isn't necessarily conducive to a relaxing space to eat within. This is best as pick-up/take-out! But regardless of where you plan on eating your tacos, I can no longer say I necessarily recommend Tacos El Gordo...for pretty much ANY situation. They were never easy to order with the chaos of the environment and the long lines, but now you're waiting all that time for overpriced tacos with low-quality preparation and ingredients.

brittney trackstarr

Omg! I was so excited to try this place based on the reviews, but I was highly disappointed. Let me start with the quesadilla—it tasted like it was made with vegan cheese, and the shell was disgusting. We didn’t even finish it. The asada tacos were under-seasoned and left a distasteful flavor in my mouth. I ordered two but only ate one. I honestly don’t understand how this place has 4.5 stars—this is pure cap. The line is long for no reason. The food is not good, and I will never eat here again. In fact, I’m still hungry, so I came over to El Chingon to check out their food. Wish me luck.

Hands downs the worst El Gordo location. tacos were absolute trash. Adobada was absolute trash. taco Bell could've made a better taco. If you come here expecting el Gordo. You're better off buy…