Cotija's Taco Shop

Thank you so much for staying late for me on my birthday!!

I know Covid-19 has been a rough year on all of us and adjusting your schedule to accommodate customers when you can is wonderful. You have every right to be closed and take time off when you need it for your own self and sanity.

I saw a lot of negative reviews based off of you not being open all the time and I had to disregard them. They seemed more annoyed that at the given time they wanted to come to you, you just so happened to be closed and that doesn't warrant a bad review.

The point is I see that you put your heart and soul into running a business. Your food was incredible and my family was so happy that number one your food is not only affordable but absolutely delicious. The portions are amazing as well. Fresh ingredients made with LOVE!

I appreciated you making me custom tacos due to my allergies. Shrimp tacos, with no garlic or onions Addis fresh lettuce, cilantro and tomatoes! Yum! So fresh and delicious!

Your daughter was so sweet to all of us.

I love that you are a family owned business and you run it with integrity.

I unfortunately live 2.5 hours away but when I'm in town again I will for sure try you out again and support your small business.

5 stars excellent service
5 stars to the yelpers who led me to the plate.
5 stars quality food

Ignore the "Karen's" your doing great and keep it up!

Thanks again!!

Went here for a late lunch with my gf. I've tried a lot of spots similar in Pacific beach and by far this place is the BEST!

I got the California buritto and a horchata. Gigantic in size, full of meat, and super flavorful. Oh and dont miss out on their horchata. So freaking good! I definitely will be back to try everything on their menu.

Service has always been super friendly to me and gives me extra sauce even tho they have a sign that says 3 per buritto. I'm a sauce fien lol

This is my main TacoShop when I am out in pacific beach. The green salsa is on point, I also enjoy the veggie burrito, rolled tacos, & carnesada fries they have, solid prices on food.

If you're looking for a super affordable forearm sized burritos this is your place!  This spot gets your order fast and easy.

The burritos are hefty: this was my forearm size and it was heavy and filled with fairly decent marinated (a little too salty beef / Carne Asada.

Their large Horchata was also huge!

Their guacamole was decent but a bit watery and not as thick as other places.

This is a small shop, and currently during Covid pandemic they have no dine-in and only takeout (as of 12/22/2020).

Parking:
Their parking lot is shared with other places but the spots are a bit tight and unfortunately as this is not a glamorous place you will have a bunch of weirdos parking very erratically that makes you fear for your car, - why would someone park next to you with less than 2 inches of spacing left next to you?!

Just be careful where you park and make it quick in/out of there, or like me, you will move your car to safety while awaiting food.

This place looks just like any other taco place driving by but the tacos here hit different. The mini tacos are normal taco sizes which is a great deal for 6.99 for 3 tacos. The soft soft tacos are a bigger than typical taco tortilla size. The adobada here was absolutely delicious. It was tender, juicy, a little greasy, and had lots of flavor!! Highly recommend stopping by as they have a very big menu, are friendly, and also are a good price point.

After walking around the Pacific Beach area (late July/ early August 2019), we came upon this small taco shop next to the Flame Broiler. (Tiny parking lot.) It was a nice surprise. Noone else was there except us, but we took a chance. Ok, I looked at it on my Yelp app. (I think that they were between cooks, because one of the ladies there put up a sign for a Hiring Experienced Cook sign.) There is a lot of competition in the area, but some of the options were pricey.  

Hubby got a breakfast burrito, our son got two tacos, but they were a little big for him (bigger than the Chipotle's kid's meal tacos). Hubby enjoyed his burrito. I liked my food too. I added pics for your reference. I think it was $27 but if we go here again, we would only get one taco for the boy, unless his appetite increases somehow.

As far as decor and ambiance, this isn't really a place for that. (And I agree with Rachel L. that this is a hole-in-the-wall). If you're not too concerned with these details, and you want some good Mexican eats in the area, I would definitely recommend this place (and think that there are other Mexican eats (the competition) in the PB area that is overpriced).

(About us, we visit Chipotle/ Zabas/ Baja Fresh/ Rubios/ Cafe Rio in our city, regularly, like once a week, usually. Hubby usually eats a burrito and our son and I enjoy tacos. Sometimes I get the kids meal, bowl, nachos, fajitas, or tostada.)

I don't like writing bad reviews, but this place used to be one of my favorites and has gone downhill. I'm from the area originally and moved away several years ago. Visited here for the first time yesterday in a couple of years and had a really bad experience.

I walked in at 11:01am and asked if I could still squeeze in the breakfast burrito deal, which ended at 11:00am. The girl behind the counter said no. That's fine, not the greatest level of flexibility, but I'll go with it.

I order a bean and cheese burrito instead and pay with a card. The girl asks if I'd like to add a tip to my payment and I'm a bit caught off guard. "Ummm, nooooo....?" is what I manage to reply. Firstly, there's no service involved when I walk to your counter and you take my order. Secondly, you literally just denied me the breakfast burrito deal for being 1 minute late. I think I'm going to keep that dollar tip.

Mind you, this is still covid times, so I didn't expect a salsa bar, but used to have a great one. My order was ready, she called me up, and asked if I'd like salsa. I said, "yes, 2 red and 2 green, please". She then points at a sign on the salsa fridge that says something to the effect of only 2 salsas per order, any others are $.25/ea.

I just said fine, took my 2 salsas, and walked out incredibly disappointed with the entire experience. You can't kick a blacked out 'Zonie without hitting another Mexican joint in SD, don't be the place that charges extra for salsa. There are other places locally that have entire salsa bars FOR FREE... all you can eat.

Sorry Cotijas, you had a good thing going, but I do not plan on returning after yesterday.

Salsa isn't even salsa it's watered down I get it if not everyone wants spicy but watered down and no flavor come on
Not to mention I ordered 2 burritos
Surf n turf that had more rice than meat &3shrimps inside only

Definitely an average Mexican restaurant. Somewhat questionable decor, retro seating, and good enough food.

Went here on a tuesday at lunch and nobody was in. I'd say a total of 4 people came in to get to go orders for the hour I was there on lunch.

I got a simple bean and cheese and it was about 4 bucks. Didn't take long and is a nice size for the price. However! First bite is just super cold with mainly just unmelted cheese. Like the whole top was cold while the rest of the burrito was pretty hot. Always a bummer when the cheese clumps up like that :(

Friends ordered roller tacos, california burrito, and some mini tacos with fries. We all agreed it was decent food, but definitely not something I'd be craving.

Probably will come here again for quick Mexican food, but I'm not going to drive out of my way for it like I do with other restaurants I love.

Best shrimp burrito on the planet!
Great breakfast burrito specials before 11am Nicest people ever. Love this place.