Tacos El Gordo

Tacos El Gordo is a top notch waiting in long lines and wishing it would hurry up street size tacos full of flavor goodness establishment! One line is for the ever so popular adobada o al pastor. The other line is for everything else from lengua, brain, beef, asada, and steak. Why one line just for adobada o al pastor? Well that’s the magic question isn’t it? The answer?
BECAUSE IT’S THAT DAMN GOOD AND IT DESERVES A LINE OF ITS OWN!
Just watching the spindle of meat turn and turn and turn with pineapple juices rolling down it and glazing the goodness of the spicy pork, and you know that’s what you need to get! They make it the way they make it which is with onions, pineapples, the al pastor, and a creamy green sauce that knocks the taco out of the ball park.
What about the other meats? I had the lengua and the tongue was soft juicy goodness. I would say it’s a top 5 lengua taco that I have had. With that said, I wouldn’t expect anything lesser about the other stuff. Pick your poison and go with it, but DON’T FORGET THE ADOBADA O AL PASTOR!

Usualmente como seguido tacos aquí pero el viernes pasado como tacos y me llevaron directo al hospital. Aguas, especialmente con el taquero mayor. Las muchachas que trabajan ahí pareciera que están a la fuerza dimite con jetas y atendiéndote de mala gana. No se diga la que hace las tortillas! Súper mal y horrible atención.

Realmente una experiencia diferente. Comida mexicana con muy buen sabor. El restaurante se pone bien lleno. Pero en verdad vale la pena la espera. La carne adobada definitivamente mi favorita y sin duda volvería otra vez.

There’s a reason this restaurant has just about 5 stars after 2k+ reviews.
Just do yourself the favor and try it. The pork was out of this world good and so was the asada. All meats were tender and seasoned well. For GUAC lovers it will be a treat as just about each taco comes with it.

This is the best place to get tacos!!! As soon as you pull in the parking lot there is a very nice man that guides you into a vacant parking spot. (Which is very accommodating, and convenient) When you enter the restaurant the aroma of grilled meats, and onions fill your lungs. It’s breath taking! :P I came around lunch hour and this place was packed. There are three different lines that you can stand in and all lines are for different types of meats. The cooks are so fast, and hard working. Although they are working at a fast pace, they make sure to greet every customer. I had a couple of the Carne Asada tacos, and there was another meat that was pork but it was on a rotisserie turner. UGHHHHH SO GOOOOOOD!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Also you MUST get there quesadilla. Get like 4. Hahaha Sooooo delish. They are $ 2.00 per taco… A little bit pricey for a taco but TRUST me… It is absolutely worth every penny.
I will definitely be returning. Happy Customer

Here for lunch for taco Tuesday and now i am ready for bed. El G never fails, however, the original one down where I grew up will always have that special place in my heart. Not only do I have a bunch of memories there after walking home from school, but I feel like they have the best cooks there.
This location has a solid second place position for me out of all the others. This place just gets ridiculously crowded, especially during lunch. This place does have a better and a more friendly staff in my opinion. They don’t roll eyes or expect a tip when you ask for sebollas y chile.
Keep up the good work crew!

I am a huge fanatic of tacos and this taco place is definitely hit the spot.
It is an average sized restaurant with many tables inside and a few tables outside. Good for groups of 2 – 6! Although, this place is always packed so either prepare accordingly or be ready to take it to go because finding a place to sit, eat, and chill is kind of difficult.
When you walk in, there are multiple lines to get different types of tacos. It is a similar to cafeteria style in the idea where you wait in line to get what you want, then you take what you go and pay at the register off to the side of the restaurant.
TACOS. Were. Amazing. I got two lengua and two adobada with everything on it and the flavors blew me away because they were that delicious. The meat was very fresh as the workers prepare it in front of you, the lengua was very tender and the flavor of the sauces and spicy pork (adobada) was the right amount of spice, sweet, and savory.
The service was very friendly! There were workers who helped people in line explaining which line was for what, and there are workers who will take away your trash when you are done eating!
Overall I am very satisfied with my experience here and I would come back here whenever I am in San Diego.
Only bad thing I have to say about this place is parking– the parking lot is small but there is street parking a few streets over.

thoroughly enjoyed our lunch here at Tacos El Gordo, an authentic Mexican taco shop that originated in Tijuana and is family owned and run. there are separate lines for all of the different meats which can make the process a bit long, but well worth it. Many of the employees speak only Spanish which was a bit of a struggle but there are others who are English speaking and can help along the way. be prepared; parking can be quite a pain and the line is often out the door.
I tried 3 tacos; the carne asada, adobada & lengua. they were all very good but I loved the adobada and lengua above the carne asada which is funny since that is always the longest line. my favorite part was watching the lovely ladies make the corn tortillas to order. can’t wait to come back and try more!

Most amazing tacos ever. My favorite was the marinated pork (or was it carnitas… either way it was a pork one). The meat was soooo tender and flavorful, unlike any tacos I have ever had and I have had a lot of tacos haha. The carne asada was also delicious but a tiiiny bit less flavorful than the pork. The tripe was meh… it was a little bit too thick and tough for me. My only complaint is that the torillas are super oily, but the meat definitely makes up for it. The lines were long too but they moved pretty quick. Parking sucks, but we parked in the parking lot next door. You’re not supposed to but oh well.
This is a must try if you are ever in San Diego.

Born and raised in San Diego and going up to the OC, I can confidently say that these are some of the best tacos I’ve ever had.
The service was mixed. There was 2 lines, and it was hard to tell what was going on. The cooks seemed to be biased based on the fact that I wasn’t Mexican. The chef cutting adobado was the rudest, not even giving us the pineapple that was supposed to be in our tacos. He told my friend that they ran out, and we see the next guy with pineapples on his taco! So we got some, but not without dirty looks.
The food itself, though, was amazing. I recommend the adobado fries (half size), and also the adobado tacos. I tried the lengua (tongue) and it was pretty bomb too. Ask for extra hot sauce. It is amazing, and i love the fact that they give free radishes.

SAN DIEGO AFTER HOURS!!!
Though you’ll more than likely encounter loud, obnoxious ratchets (if you’re in around 10pm or later) … it’s hella worth it. ADOBADA, ADOBADA, ADOBADA. I tried the carne asada too and it’s bomb, but ADOBADA for the win. They’re so good that there is a separate line for carnitas orders only! I noticed everyone was ordering tacos, but my boyfriend ordered the quesadillas too. He knows wussup. They’re not your average quesadillas, trust. Try em.

The food here tastes amazing!
There is plenty of street parking and lots of restaurant space, although it is quite often packed. Service is also quite slow, and the lines are a long mess, but the food makes it worth it.
Everything they cook is right in front of you and everything is being cut as they make it. It is all fresh and delicious. I have had various tacos and they are all juicy and tasty such as the carne asada, lengua, and cabeza, but by far the best is the adobada tacos which you can see the them dip their tortillas in the grease (as disgusting as it sounds, it tastes amazing!). Unfortunately, this location does not do the fries versions, but the food is great here none-​the-​less!
They also offer a various mexican beverages, and complimentary salsa, fried green onion, and radishes (both whole and sliced) to help cut down on the delicious greasiness!

Why 5 stars? Because these were possibly the best tacos I’ve ever had.
— — —
Unilocaler Jando S said it best — the best tacos in the US. I think I might have to agree. And his review is much more thorough than mine is about to be, due to the gringo affect (also mentioned in his entry.)
So for my fellow gringos vacationing in San Diego (because you locals already know better) — yes, it is absolutely worth the drive down to Chula Vista. I’d even say it’s worth taking an Über if you don’t have a car. There’s nothing else of merit around Tacos El Gordo, so just take your $ 15 one-​way ride in an Über, eat a bucket load of tacos, and take another $ 15 ride back. The tacos are cheap enough that your grand total out-​of-​pocket will still be relatively low compared to a nicer, sit-​down Mexican restaurant.
I originally ordered 3 tacos. After doing the Carlton dance in between each bite, and reaching peak-​euphoric state, I had to order 3 more. Then came the great debate of: should I order all of these for myself, or take some to my lovely fiancé who was busy working downtown? I met in the middle.
I’d give you specific recommendations, but here’s as narrowed down as I’m gonna get: EAT ALL OF THE TACOS. I’d say the only limits you’d need to place on your ordering is if you’re not into eating some of the more exotic cuts of meat: tongue, cheek, brains, etc. But there are plenty of traditional cuts of meat as well. And don’t worry, even if you accidentally order something out of the ordinary, it shall be delicious.
And as much as the tacos are the main event, every Batman needs a Robin. The Robin here is the machine with fountain Auguas Frescas drinks. Horchata, Pina Colada, and all different types of whipped, fruity delights can be found here. The commute to Chula Vista is almost made worthwhile by this alone! Nothing goes better with a little bit of spice in a taco, than a whipped, fruity drink, to cool your gringo mouth off.
Tacos El Gordo… an all-​time favorite of mine.

Street tacos are the way to my heart. I loooooove them! So after spending a few hours down in Tijuana today, I knew where we were gonna get a late lunch after crossing the border. This place is hike from where I live in North County, so I’ve been waiting (& waiting & waiting…) for a chance to finally get these tacos when I was in the proximity.
I think we got pretty lucky because I was expecting lines out the door and we had none! 3:45 on a Monday for the win!
I’m glad, too, because I wanted a couple different meats and would have been bummed to wait into two different long lines, thereby causing my tacos to get cold. If lines are short, their ordering process is no problem. If they are long, then it is kinda a bummer so I’d either just pick one meat or divide and conquer with a friend.
This trip I got 2 asada and 1 al pastor, both with everything, of course. Onions and cilantro are always a yes on street tacos. If you’ve read my reviews, you know I am a sauce freak and I don’t know what the green sauce was on the al pastor but it was amazing! The al pastor was spicy and tender and so, so good. The asada was served with a generous helping of guac (yes please!) and they were super good little street tacos.
I also got my kids a couple quesadillas and they are small but maybe the best quesadillas ever. Which, I know, right?! It’s just cheese and a tortilla, but these were super good.
The guys (& woman!) behind the counter were friendly and super fast!
Anytime I’m close to the border, I’m getting some tacos! This place is totally worth the hype! Authentic and delicious!

Things can be a bit chaotic and at this Tacos El Gordo. I could almost swear this store was transplanted straight from the streets of Tijuana.
There are small parking spaces surrounding the building with only one way in and one way out, so parking here can seem like an accident just waiting to happen. At times, there are staff members outside, kindly guiding you into one of these small spaces. Most of the time, every single space is occupied, forcing you to illegally park in a nearby lot. Behind the glass door from which you enter posts a warning that your car will be towed, if parked at Carl’s Jr.
The lines are almost always long and one has to know in which line to stand to order your taco (s) of choice. (From right to left) Line #1-​Adobada O Al Pastor, Line #2 — Asada, Mulas, Sopes, and Chorizo, and Line #3 — Cabeza, Lengua, Sesos, Suadero, Buche, and Tripa.
Line #1 is often the longest because it is for their most popular street taco, Adobada or Al Pastor. From what the gentleman behind Line #1 had informed me, Adobada and Al Pastor are one in the same.
On the way to the cashier counter, you will pass an freezer of ice cream bars, juice and soda fountains, a coffee station, and a condiment (incl. radish and limes) station. I didn’t know if I was supposed to grab my drink, before paying, or the other way around. Turns out, it’s the other way around.
Taped above a button and intercom-​looking gadget, between the Men’s and Women’s restroom doors, is another paper sign that reads, «Ring the Bell» and is translated in Spanish, «Toque El Timbre». The message is open ended, as it does not explain why you should do this. Does it mean that by doing so, you can speak freely with the person sitting on the toilet inside?
After all my complaining, one would think I would post a bad review of this place. On the contrary.
I have had the opportunity of trying many different street tacos here over the years and every one of them has been fresh and great tasting. The Al Pastor is still my favorite with its tasty red and green sauces, fresh chopped onions and cilantro. They give a decent amount of meat for what they are. For only $ 2.10-$ 2.25 per taco it’s worth a little bit of chaos for some great street tacos!

The hype is not real here. The tacos were just meh. If you must, try their abodabo which is what they call their al pastor, which is probably their most popular. But if it that is true, I’ve had better al pastor before.
The carne asada, has a smoky flavor to it which isn’t bad but not what I come to expect from carne asada. The tortillas they use are seemingly made from scratch which is pretty cool.
The setup of the restaurant is strange because they have a separate line for each protein and then you pay on your way out?
Parking is horrendous here, give me a break! At least they have a friendly parking attendant.

I’m so indifferent about this place. Last night’s line was HORRIFIC. I seriously hate their system of taking orders. Pastor, Asada, Lengua, and others are separated in three different lines. I literally stood in line for an HOUR. Long story short, asada was definitely NOT worth the wait, but Pastor was AMAZING. Definitely, one of the best pastor tacos I’ve ever had… especially with the pineapples. Other than that, I’d still prefer Lincoln Height’s tacos over these… Never again, would I EVER wait here like last night…
$ 2 tacoos

Los tacos de Adobada, no se comparan con los de Tj. Es mejor cruzar la frontera por que los de esta taquearía son una porqueria, y el guacamole es una mierda!!!

El servicio es de lo peor y los taqueros son bien culeros!!! I would never eat here again. Terrible food.

Estos son los mejores tacos de San Diego! Probe los de lengua, buche y cabeza. Aparte de que no en todos los lugares se encuentran estas carnes, todos estaban deliciosos. Las tortillas son recien echas. Mientras esperaba mis tacos estuve viendo como las tortillas esponjaban y en ese momento supe que hiba estar bine rico. La calidad es excelente! Todos los ingredientes son frescos hasta los limones que estan jugosos. En otros lugares los limones estan cortados muy chicos y secos. Tambien me gusto que tenian varios sabores de aguas frescas, incluyendo tamarindo cual es mi favorito.
These are my favorite tacos in San Diego! I had the lengua, buche and cabeza tacos. These were delicious in addition to a rare treat because they are not available at all taco shops. The tortillas were made fresh there. While I waited for my tacos I watched as they sponged up, which is a sign of great tortillas. The quality is excellent! All the ingredients are fresh and even the limes are super juicy. I’ve noticed that a lot of places have really small slices of lime which are sometimes dry. I also liked that they had a large assortment of aguas frescas including tamarind which is my favorite.

Pinchi taquero estas 2 estrellas son para ti cabròn. Hoy (6÷30÷15 @ 8:00p.m.)fui a lo que antes era mi taqueria favorita, pero este pinchi taquero me sebo la situación. Le pedi dos tacos de adobada y me entrega 4. Y todavia me alega el cabròn sordo que yo avia dicho que queria 4. Lo bueno es que tenia a mi vieja por mi lado y le dice que ellá escucho que yo avia pedido 2 tacos nadamas.
Pues para hacerla corto, el mierda me los da bien casiquiados. Que onda! Se quieren cobrar la pintada del restaurant a huevo? Pero que fea la combinacion de colores. A que naco se le ocurrió pintarlo asi!
Mas bien pienso que ese buey se desquito su pinché coraje con mis tacos. Pues no pienso regresar pronto. Que se vallan a la vergs! Hijo de toda su $&@@ madre!

Verdaderos tacos!

Me encanta este Tacos el Gordo. Siempre estàn occupados pero no más porque hay mucho gente que comen aquí. Esta circa del trolley. Pero, no hay papitos en este lugar, y a veces no son simpáticos. Pero, ¡así son!

Deliciosos!!!

Buena comida pero en porciones minúsculas para su precio.

AMAZING! I crave it, I dream about it. Abodaba FTW.
Hablan espanol.

Clean establishment, quick preparation and service, and AMAZING flavor: Taco El Gordo is a San Diego MUST!
I never went to a taco establishment like this one, where you order at the counter, have the meat literally shaved/​prepared, and had the taco quickly dressed up right in front of your eyes before going to pay at a further counter. I’ve also never had a taco that did NOT need the extra flavor of lime, that was offered at the establishment. The flavors I got were just that flavorful.
For my first visit (out of many future visits) to Tacos El Gordo, I had to try the pork, the beef, and the Adobata. Though lots of Mexican food places have proteins as the overwhelmingly strong flavor, I found that THESE tacos just had a great balance to them. There was HEAT! There was MEAT! There was onions and cilantro and such. GREAT… FLAVOR! Though both the pork and the beef taco were delicious, it was all about the Adobata. (ADOBAT-​IT!) This ‘spicy’ pork taco only had a bit of heat to it, but I swear, I’m going to have dreams about this taco for a long time. The taco had such amazing… dimension to it. There was creaminess from the avocado-​esque dressing, savory and flavorful pork, plenty of fresh onion and cilantro, as well as sweet pineapple. PINEAPPLE! ON A TACO! I never heard of that, but man… it was just meant to be.
Though the place was a self-​clean facility, there was a nice older lady who came around after a bit and helped us clean up our table. :D Good vibes.
You gotta try this place out if you have not had the chance to do so. Three tacos easily filled me up, and there is a good variety of different proteins to sample (despite there being no chicken). Take it from my friend, and now me though: get the Adobata. Its just that good!

This place has the best tacos ever (That I have had). It is all about the Adobada thats why that is the longest line.
TIP: There are different lines for each taco, you order and get them right there then pay at the register. I recommend getting the others first before the Adobada. I find it really cool this is a hole in a wall place that gathers many different people because of the food. The taste lives up to the hype. When they cut the Adobada right in front of you for the tacos, it is not just in looks, you can taste the freshness. A definite must got to if you are in the area (San Diego). It is pretty convenient that this place is open late, expect a wait as this place is very popular.