La Playa Taco Shop
(between Yarmouth Ct & York Ct)
San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 488-7405
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Alcohol: None
13 Reviews for La Playa Taco Shop
Man, I've been coming here whenever I was in town for years now, and they've always delivered great food. I guess word is getting out because they are busier and busier. It takes a little longer for your burrito to come out, but well worth it. And the prices can't be beat ($3.50 for an awesome breakfast burrito.)
I just wish they were open late-night.
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This is my new favorite place in PB. The Carne Asada burrito is delicious. It is not greasy so I don't feel like my arteries would clog after eating it.
The service is very good.
Going to La Playa Taco Shop will be part of my weekly routine.
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So, while my boyfriend and I prepared for our mini-vacation to San Diego, I mentioned that they do something called "carne asada fries" there. I told him that I didn't know precisely what that meant, but that I assumed it to be something like nachos, minus the chips, add fries and carne asada...
Anyway, that was foolish because after every activity, my boyfriend said "is it time for carne asada fries?" Oh, but yelpers, I was a fool, because we were staying downtown, and all the nearby Mexican joints seemed to be closed (on the weekends? on Sunday? in the evenings? for good? Who knows!). And we'd never been to SD before, so I didn't exactly want to go on driving blindly around town.
Sooo, before we set off on each outing, I'd try and locate nearby carne asada fries. And I kept coming up empty-handed! Finally, our last jaunt, from Old Town to La Jolla, I located a carne asada fry vendor en route. I called to confirm they would be open on Sunday, they were.
We arrived, my boyfriend ordered the carne asada fries, with everything ($7.95) and I ordered the carne asada burrito ($4.75). We sat on their clean & shaded patio, and waited for our food. And man oh man, when we saw those carne asada fries, all our troubles went out the window. French fries covered in fresh guacamole, sour cream, shredded monterey jack & cheddar, cojita, pico de gallo, and some of the greatest carne asada I have ever tasted. Yes, of course I stole bites. My burrito was loaded with fresh-off-the-grill meat and the other burrito standards, and my goodness was it good.
Yes, you San Diegans are lucky suns-of-guns. I officially declare carne asada fries to be all they are cracked up to be.
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I could pretty much live off of Mexican food and hold it to pretty high standards coming from the Bay Area (a lot of diversity = an abundance of amazing Mexican food). Living in San Diego for the past three years I've found the burritos are a little overrated for being so close to the border. I think that a lot of people who rave about places being amazing have never had REALLY good Mexican food. Call me an elitist. But I'll definitely say La Playa is the best I've had in San Diego.
I ordered a veggie burrito with fries on the side that ended up inside of it instead. Turns out it was a happy mistake. It's the only thing I've gotten during the two times I've gone here but I'm already kind of obsessed. I'll expand my horizons soon, I swear.
Plus points for plates, tattoo machines and the neon paint job. I can't say anything bad about this place except I wish it was open late for my drunken stumbles.
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This place is phenomenal. This is on my list of places that everyone that comes into town to visit must eat at. Needless to say, every single person I've taken there absolutely loves it. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to be visiting a buddy who also had this place on that list before I even moved to SD.
I've been going here on a weekly basis (at least) for three years and literally everything I've ever ordered has been delicious (and cheap). The food is not your typical greasy Mexican food. Its as close to Mexican home cooking I've had at a taco shop. If you get a big plate (which are only like 7 or 8 bucks) you get a ton of food and tortillas (including the omelets, mmm breakfast tacos).
Best Chile Relleno ever. Other recommendations: Carne Asada plate (or anything else w/ carne asada in it), any omelet, and the al pastor tacos.
While perusing the streets of Mission Beach/Pacific Beach this weekend, I stumbled across this little taco shop. I was hungry for a Cali burrito and thought I'd give this place a try.
Upon walking in, I my eyes were over loaded with splashes of bright colors all over the place. I think a box of crayola crayons exploded in this place. All walls and trim were painted different colors. Even the ceiling was painted 5 different colors. As I waited for the tourist family in front of me to order I was getting skeptical of ordering my burrito. The lady behind the counter was obviously annoyed by this family who had no idea how to order Mexican food, let alone even know what they were ordering. Finally they leave and it is my turn. I ordered my burrito and took a seat as I knew it was going to take awhile for them to make all the random things this family just ordered. While waiting I saw a balloon machine in the corner. This thing was so old and really creepy looking. You put in your quarter and it spits out a balloon. Then you attach your balloon to this stick that was sticking out of a clowns mouth. WTF? The clown's name is "El Pumpo", no joke. El Pumpo blew up the balloon.
Anyway, I finally get my burrito and head back to the beach house I was staying at. To my surprise, my burrito was amazing! It was so fresh and the grease was to a minimum. The guac was not your standard watery taco shop mess and the meat was cooked and seasoned perfect. I think I just consumed one of the best Cali burritos I've ever had.
I would definitely go back to this place next time I'm in the area. It's a little south of the Catamaran, but don't blink, you might miss it. If I remember correctly, I think they had a couple of parking spots on the side of the building. Another plus!
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I've been frequenting this place for close to 5 years. From the outside, it looks like the standard PB, 24 hour taco shop. It is not 24 hours, and it's far from standard.
The service is incredible. Sit down and eat there. Real plates and forks. Great prices, great food.
Suggestions: Breakfast Burrito with no meat add potato, or anything with Al Pastor (i like the #5).
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It don't look like much from the outside, but don't let that fool you! the food is cheap in price, but with great flavor! We first stopped in there for a quick lunch, I had the carne asada plate. It was a good portion, good flavor and made me feel like I was back in Mexico. We went back several more times for breakfast and lunch. Staff is very friendly, fast service and helpful. It offers parking, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
If your in the area and you need a quick bite full of flavor that is authentic Mexican food, then this is the place to go!
Order at the counter, the staff will then bring you the food to the table.
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Hands down, this is the best Mexican food in San Diego.
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Two restaurant truths, i always thought, were incontrovertible: (1) Ordering fish on Sunday is stupid, and (2) the closest taqueria to your house sucks. Well, now i may have to try ordering fish on Sunday.
When i'm too lazy to cook or go more than a block for supper--and active enough to not order delivery--i pop across the street. For what? Breakfast, carnitas, asada burritos, various tacos, enchiladas... it doesn't actually matter what sorts of standard SD-Mexican i want, it's all good. Surprisingly good. And the chiles rellenos are jammin'.
Note well: Most of the tacos (maybe not the beef-based) have a light crema sauce--you know, sour-creamish--which some people, like Sarah, don't like. i do.
The proprietors are quite friendly, although they may be biased towards me out of good-neighborliness. They also have a small lot to the left, a certified bonus in North Mission. There's also a little outside seating if you don't want to get sand in your taco (not from inside, silly, but from the beach). And yes, i pretty much know what i just said.
And this is totally weird to comment on for a taco shop, but i really like the decor inside--bright colors painted geometrically.
That holy grail, the chile relleno burrito? Check.
The strangest dispenser, where you pay a quarter for a balloon and place it over a tube extending from a painted clown's face, pumping from above to blow up the balloon, which goes by the name of "El Pumpo the Clown"?
Really?
"El Pumpo"?
Check.
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This place is right across the street from my house and you know what it is awesome. I basically live off the carne asada burrito, if I get tired of that I get the fish tacos. The people are really nice Elba is the owner I believe. This place hands down has the best mexican food in PB Nuff said!!
This is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite Mexican place in San Diego. I started going here when I lived in PB during my college years. Went here probably 2-3 times a week for those years. And unlike other cheap, Mexican places, I never get sick of it. Pretty much everything on the menu is under 10 bucks, but don't let that fool you. This place makes FINE Mexican food regardless of price.
My favorite item is the Carnitas Chimichanga (or chicken depending on my mood). Their carnitas is THE BEST carnitas I have ever tasted. Not fatty, super flavorful and tender. And you can't go wrong with a fried burrito (unless you're on a diet).
To top it off, the people there are very friendly. The owner used to remember my friends and I and treated us very well whenever we would come in. Bottom line, if you like mexican and are on a budget ( or not), you have to try this place out at least once.
Probably the only deciding factor that led me to move to San Diego... specifically Pacific Beach. The burritos from this little taco shop are worth the visit: they are inexpensive, gargantuan, and overflowing with deliciousness. It is worth the hassle of finding a parking spot to attempt to demolish one of these monstrous and drug-laced burritos. Take my word on it - I have found most mexican around here to be dismal in comparison to La Playa Taco Shop!
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