San Diego Taco Tuesday: The Best Taco Deals Every Tuesday

San Diego doesn’t just do Taco Tuesday – it invented the vibe. With more authentic Mexican restaurants per square mile than almost anywhere in the country, Tuesday here is practically a holiday. Whether you’re chasing $1.89 street tacos in North Park, all-you-can-eat deals near the water, or a full tequila flight situation in the Gaslamp, this city delivers.

Here’s the definitive guide to the best Taco Tuesday deals in San Diego organized by neighborhood.

Pacific Beach

City Tacos – Pacific Beach

Address: 4516 Mission Blvd, Suite E
Taco Tuesday: All Day | 10% off all food + $2.50 Mexican beers
Seven locations across San Diego County with 20+ taco options including vegetarian and vegan. Highlights include the Mexicali (grilled angus steak, mashed potatoes, cotija), the Portobello, and a rotating Taco of the Month. Live DJs start at 5 PM.

Mavericks Beach Club

Taco Tuesday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $3.50 Tacos
Half off all drinks 2–7 PM, then $3 tequila & Mexican beers and $3.50 margaritas after 7 PM. The quintessential San Diego Taco Tuesday – beachside, loud, and built for groups.

Gaslamp Quarter

El Chingon – “FORTYTWOSDAYS”

Taco Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 7:42 PM

• La Completa Taco Flight: 5 tacos (carne asada, pollo asado, al pastor, carnitas, pescado) for $9.42
• Monthly rotating Margarita Flight: $15
• Buy a bottle of Don Julio 1942 → 2 hours of AYCE tacos for 4 people

One of San Diego’s most talked-about Taco Tuesdays. The taco flight alone is worth the trip.

Whiskey Girl

Address: 702 Fifth Ave
Taco Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

• $3.50 Tacos: Chicken, Fish, or Steak
• $7 Modelo all day
• $5 Margaritas all day

Solid Gaslamp option right on Fifth Ave – great price point with a lively atmosphere.

Hillcrest

Ortega’s

Taco Tuesday (Taco + Tequila Tuesday): 3:00 PM – Close

• Roasted Chicken, Adobo Carnitas, or Chorizo & Potato: $4
• Shrimp or Poblano Queso: $5
• Steak, Ensenada-Style Fish, or Grilled Mahi Mahi: $6
• Cabrillo Margarita $4
• Presidio Margarita $5
• Pomegranate Margarita $6
• First round of chips + house salsa complimentary

Full-size tacos, freshly made tortillas, and a proper drink menu. Best overall value in Hillcrest.

Baja Betty’s

Address: 1421 University Ave
Taco Tuesday: 5:00 PM – Close | Taco and drink specials starting at $2.75
A Hillcrest institution with a loyal local crowd and good prices.

Ocean Beach

South Beach Bar & Grill

Address: 5059 Newport Ave
Taco Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 12:30 AM

• Tacos $3.95 (excluding Lobster Tacos)
• $7 Patrón Margaritas
• Shark, lobster, shrimp, calamari, and oyster tacos – something different every time
• Appetizers half off

OB’s best all-day Taco Tuesday. The seafood taco game here is legitimately excellent.

Sunnie’s Ocean Beach

Taco Tuesday: $2.75 TJ Street Tacos
Choose from Carne Asada, Carnitas, Adobada, Pollo Asado, Battered Fish, or Grilled Fish – all topped with guacamole, cilantro, and onion. Hard to beat for the value.

Old Town

Café Coyote

Address: 2461 San Diego Ave
Taco Tuesday (“Taco Twosday”): 2:30 PM – Close

• $4–$5 Tacos + $5 Taco of the Month
• $9 House Margarita

Old Town’s landmark Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere alone is worth it, and the tacos hold up.

Old Town Mexican Cafe

Taco Tuesday: $3.95 Tacos – Shredded or Ground Beef, Shredded Chicken, OTMC Signature Carnitas, or Traditional Fried Fish
Watch fresh tortillas made right on the open floor tortilla station.

Fred’s Mexican Cafe

A la carte tacos plus discounted draft beer, Patrón shots, and margaritas. Casual and laid-back – ideal for after-work tacos.

North Park

City Tacos – North Park

Taco Tuesday: 10% off all food + $2.50 Mexican beer + $3 Tacos
Highlights: Mexicali, Pollo City, Borrego (pulled lamb), and Chorizo Asado with caramelized pineapple. Live DJs at 5 PM.

Colima’s

Taco Tuesday: $1.89 TJ-style street tacos + $2.29 bottled beers
A North Park cult favorite. Four tacos will fill you up and cost you under $8.

Mission Beach & Mission Valley

Sandbar Sports Grill – Mission Beach

TKO-style tacos with locally sourced fish, chipotle aioli, and beer-brined escabeche slaw. Great post-beach spot with creative fish taco options.

Puesto – Mission Valley

Taco Tuesday: 3:00 PM – Close
Inventive takes including filet mignon tacos, chicken al pastor with spicy pineapple, and slow-cooked carnitas. Happy hour runs 3–5 PM and overlaps with Taco Tuesday pricing – arrive early for a double deal.

Bankers Hill & Downtown

Barrio Star – Bankers Hill

$5 tacos (generous size) with fresh tortillas and a great margarita program. Options include chicken, spicy chicken, carnitas, soy chorizo, fish, shrimp, and salmon.

La Puerta – Downtown

Carne asada, carnitas, pollo, cochinita, pastor-style pork, or ranchero shrimp at competitive prices, with a full bar downtown.

Greystone Steakhouse – Downtown

Taco Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Bar only
$8 for 2 Blackened Salmon or Garlic Prime Beef Tacos. A sleeper pick – steakhouse-quality fillings at bar-special pricing.

La Jolla & Del Mar

Jose’s Courtroom – La Jolla

Taco Tuesday: 3:00 PM – Close
$4 Street Tacos: Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Carnitas, Portobello, or Shrimp. Oceanview dining in La Jolla at street taco prices – one of the best-value setups on the north end.

En Fuego Cantina – Del Mar

Address: 1342 Camino del Mar
Taco Tuesday: 4:00 PM – Close | Signature taco and margarita specials

Kensington & East San Diego

Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant – Kensington

Taco Tuesday: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
$9 for 3 Street Tacos (Carne Asada, Pollo Asada, Carnitas, Shrimp, Fried Fish, or Grilled Veggies) – beverage purchase required.

Hooley’s Public House – La Mesa

Taco Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
$3.50 Taco: Corned Beef, Blackened Chicken, Zucchini, or Fried Fish
$5 Taco: Surf & Turf, Calamari, or Specialty

Oceanside & North County

Rockin’ Baja Lobster Coastal Cantina – Oceanside

Taco Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Dine-in only

• $4 Fried Avocado Taco
• $5 Tacos: Blackened Mahi, Surf & Turf, San Felipe Style Fish
• $7 for 2 Street Tacos: Grilled Chicken or Rib Eye Steak

All-You-Can-Eat Taco Tuesday Deals in San Diego

For those who go hard, San Diego has legit AYCE options:

• ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar – Liberty Station: $18/person AYCE street tacos, 4–9 PM, with rotating proteins, Mexican rice, refried beans, and house-made sauces at a chef-attended patio station
• El Chingon – Gaslamp: Buy a bottle of Don Julio 1942, get 2 hours of AYCE tacos for 4 (valid 4–7:42 PM)
• American Junkie – Various Locations: AYCE for $5, 5–10 PM — budget pick with happy hour layered on top
• El Torito – Multiple Locations: Consistently ranked among San Diego’s top AYCE taco options

Budget Picks: Best Tacos Under $3

Pro Tips for San Diego Taco Tuesday

• Stack deals at Puesto. Happy hour (3–5 PM) overlaps Taco Tuesday – lower drink prices AND taco specials at the same time
• City Tacos has 7 locations. Ocean Beach, North Park, Encinitas – you probably already live near one
• Gaslamp doesn’t wake up until 4 PM. Most Gaslamp Taco Tuesday specials don’t kick in until late afternoon
• El Chingon’s taco flight is the group move. Five proteins, rotating marg flights, and a tequila-forward menu make it a full night
• ZENTRL is the best AYCE. $18/person at Liberty Station beats everything else on quality
• Some deals are dine-in only. Rockin’ Baja, Greystone, and Ponce’s won’t honor specials on takeout or with other discounts