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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Budget Picks: Best Tacos Under $3

Pro Tips for San Diego Taco Tuesday

Top 10 Taco Tuesdays in Santa Ana

Santa Ana is one of Orange County’s taco hot spots and on Tuesdays, it shines. From dollar street tacos to creative chef-driven bites, here are 10 of the best spots to celebrate Taco Tuesday in Santa Ana.

1. Tacos Madre Kitchen & Cantina

📍 3390 South Bristol Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704
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All-day Taco Tuesday means $2.50 street tacos with choices like pastor, chicken tinga, chorizo, or asada. Pair your tacos with a $7 classic margarita or $5 draft beer for the ultimate combo.

2. Rosa Madera Sabores de Mexico

📍 2158 South Bristol Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704
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Authentic flavors at a great price—$2 street tacos (Pastor, Asada, or Chicken), $6 margaritas, and fun $6 mango shooters.

3. La Super Birria

📍 1041 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA 92703
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Known for legendary birria, this spot also offers $1.99 tacos on Tuesdays—making it one of the most budget-friendly and delicious deals in town.

4. Papi Tacos & Churros

📍 2603 S Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92707
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Street tacos for $2.75 every day of the week. Add a churro for a sweet finish.

5. Chapter One: the modern local

📍 227 North Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
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A chef-driven Taco Tuesday with gourmet creations: birria, quesabirria, vampiro tacos, blackened shrimp, meatloaf tacos, and even vegan hearts of palm tacos. A must-try for foodies.

6. Avila’s El Ranchito

📍 2201 East First Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
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From 3–9 pm, enjoy $4.25 soft tacos (shredded beef or chicken) or two crispy tacos for $8.50. Don’t skip their Black Raspberry Margarita.

7. Lola Gaspar

📍 211 West 2nd Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
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Upscale and mesquite-grilled, tacos here include Jumbo Shrimp ($7.50), Black Garlic Octopus ($7), Angus Carne Asada ($6.50), Pork Chop Adobada ($6), Achiote-Honey Chicken ($5.50), and even a Brussels Sprout Tinga ($5).

8. La Casa De Marcos

📍 2501 N Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
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One of the best bargains in town: $0.99 tacos all day—choose from asada, chorizo, pollo, pastor, or birria (beef or goat).

9. Casa Ramos – Main St

📍 1717 S Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92707
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Tacos for $1.99 with your choice of asada, chorizo, chicken, carnitas, or al pastor. Drink deals include $5 house margaritas, $18 margarita flights, and $20 beer buckets.

10. Three Roots Mexican Cocina

📍 2800 N Main St Suite 760, Santa Ana, CA 92705
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A vibrant spot for $2 tacos all day, plus $7 house margaritas, $6 apps, $5 wines, and a can’t-miss Fresh Guava Margarita with Herradura Tequila.

✅ Whether you’re after a $0.99 taco or a gourmet chef’s creation, Santa Ana has a Taco Tuesday for every craving.

FIND MORE SANTA ANA TACO TUESDAYS

Reimagining Taco Tuesday: MIX Downtown Brings the Rooftop Fiesta to Sacramento

Taco Tuesday has never looked like this before. In the heart of downtown Sacramento, MIX Downtown is taking the classic midweek taco tradition and flipping it on its head with taco towers, punch bowl margaritas, and rooftop games. Welcome to Taco Tuesdaze the most fun you can have on a Tuesday night without leaving town.

Tuesdays Just Got a Glow-Up

Every Tuesday from 6PM to midnight, MIX transforms its sleek rooftop lounge into a vibrant party in the sky. This isn’t your average taco night this is a full-blown rooftop takeover with elevated eats, oversized cocktails, and playful energy that captures everything we love about going out… but with tacos.

Happy Hour runs from 6PM to 8PM, offering special prices on select tacos, cocktails, and giant punch bowls. After that, the music turns up and the city skyline becomes the perfect backdrop for your midweek reset.

Tacos That Tower Above the Rest

Forget plates, MIX stacks their tacos vertically on steel towers for a dramatic (and Instagram-worthy) presentation.

Their Taco Tuesday menu is made for sharing:

Everything is designed for the ultimate eat, sip, share experience because food always tastes better when it’s fun.

Margarita Punch Bowls & Rooftop Mixology

Let’s talk drinks. MIX is redefining the group cocktail with massive punch bowl margaritas that are made to be passed around.

Standouts include:

All cocktails feature premium Herradura tequila because quality matters when you’re raising a glass 30 feet above the street.

Games & VIP Vibes

If you like to play while you party, you’ll love the lineup of rooftop games:

Want to elevate the experience? Book a VIP table and get your own lounge setup with food, drinks, and space for your whole crew.

Reimagining the Taco Tuesday Tradition

What MIX Downtown is doing with Taco Tuesdaze is more than just tacos and tequila. They’re redefining a cultural tradition and transforming a weeknight into a must-attend social experience. It’s about creating community, celebrating flavor, and turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.

In a world of Taco Tuesday, MIX stands out by pushing the experience to new heights, literally.

See Taco Tuesday Page

🌮🚗 The Ultimate Taco Road Trip: From San Diego to Santa Fe

Pack Your Bags and Your Appetite

Ready to hit the road for a flavor-packed adventure? This ultimate taco road trip takes you from the sun-soaked shores of San Diego to the high desert charm of Santa Fe, with tacos leading the way. Stretching across California, Arizona, and New Mexico, this journey celebrates the diverse taco traditions of the American Southwest.

This isn’t just about food—it’s about culture, local stories, and discovering what makes each taco stop unforgettable.

tacos chiwas

🗺️ The Route: 1,000+ Miles of Taco Glory

Start: San Diego, CA
Finish: Santa Fe, NM
States Covered: California, Arizona, New Mexico
Best Time to Go: Spring or Fall (cooler temps, epic sunsets)
Total Drive Time: Approx. 16 hours (not including taco time!)

📍 Taco Trail Stops (with Signature Bites) –

  1. San Diego, CA
    Must-Eat: Baja Fish Tacos
    Spotlight: Oscar’s Mexican Seafood – Perfectly battered fish with creamy white sauce and pico.
    Bonus: Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs with a taco in hand.
  2. Palm Springs, CA
    Must-Eat: Jicama-Wrapped Tacos or Vegan Carnitas
    Spotlight: Tac/Quila – Upscale Mexican with desert-chic vibes.
    Bonus: Sip a prickly pear margarita poolside.
  3. Phoenix, AZ
    Must-Eat: Carne Asada Tacos on Flour Tortillas
    Spotlight: Tacos Chiwas – Authentic Northern Mexican family recipes.
    Bonus: Pair it with a cold Mexican lager.
  4. Tucson, AZ
    Must-Eat: Birria or Sonoran-style Tacos
    Spotlight: El Güero Canelo – Iconic Tucson stop, now a James Beard award winner.
    Bonus: Try the Sonoran hot dog for the full experience.
  5. Hatch, NM (Quick Stop)
    Must-Eat: Green Chile Pork Tacos
    Spotlight: Sparky’s – A kitschy roadside gem for legendary green chile everything.
    Bonus: Snap a photo with the giant cowboy statue.
  6. Albuquerque, NM
    Must-Eat: New Mexico Red Chile Tacos
    Spotlight: El Modelo – Home-style comfort and deep flavor.
    Bonus: Explore Old Town after your taco fix.
  7. Santa Fe, NM (Final Stop!)
    Must-Eat: Blue Corn Tacos with Lamb or Elk
    Spotlight: The Shed – Traditional meets creative in the heart of Santa Fe.
    Bonus: Sip a mezcal cocktail on a rooftop overlooking the Plaza.

🌮💡 Road Trip Tips

🏁 Conclusion: Tacos as the Journey
The beauty of this road trip isn’t just in the delicious bites—it’s in the people, stories, and moments shared between taco stops. Whether you’re a foodie, adventurer, or just taco-obsessed, this route is a love letter to the Southwest—one tortilla at a time.

The Haunted Road Trip: California’s Spooky Spots with Taco Stops

California, known for its sun-kissed beaches, towering redwoods, and glittering Hollywood, has a spookier side waiting to be explored. If you’re in the mood for a thrilling adventure, why not embark on a haunted road trip across the Golden State? And while you’re chasing ghosts, satisfy your earthly cravings by stopping for some of the best tacos in town.

1. The Queen Mary, Long Beach

The Ghostly Tale: Now permanently docked, this retired ocean liner has seen her fair share of history. Some say the spirits of those who perished aboard still roam the halls, with numerous reports of spectral sightings and eerie sounds.

Taco Tip: Before boarding, head to Playa Amor in Long Beach. Their gourmet tacos, especially the lobster variation, will give you the strength to face the ship’s phantoms.

The historic Queen Mary ship docked in Long Beach with a sunset backdrop.

2. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, San Francisco

The Ghostly Tale: The Rock, once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, is said to be haunted by former inmates. Visitors often report cold spots, disembodied screams, and apparitions.

Taco Tip: Once back on the mainland, swing by La Taqueria in the Mission District. Their carne asada taco is legendary and might just make you forget the chills from Alcatraz.

The ominous Alcatraz Island surrounded by the misty waters of San Francisco Bay.

3. Whaley House, San Diego

The Ghostly Tale: Declared as one of the most haunted houses in America, the Whaley House has been the site of numerous ghostly encounters. The spirits of the Whaley family and others are believed to haunt this historic home.

Taco Tip: A visit to San Diego isn’t complete without stopping at Oscar’s Mexican Seafood. Their spicy shrimp taco will give you a kick, preparing you for the paranormal.

The stately Whaley House in San Diego with its vintage architecture.

4. Hotel del Coronado, Coronado

The Ghostly Tale: The spirit of Kate Morgan, who died under mysterious circumstances in 1892, is said to haunt this beautiful beachfront hotel. Guests and staff have reported seeing her apparition and experiencing unexplained phenomena.

Taco Tip: Head to Miguel’s Cocina in Coronado for some creamy white sauce shrimp tacos. It’s a local favorite and the perfect comfort food after a ghostly encounter.

The sprawling beachfront of Hotel del Coronado with its iconic red-roofed architecture.

5. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles

The Ghostly Tale: This iconic hotel is believed to be haunted by several of its past celebrity guests. The most famous of them is Marilyn Monroe, whose reflection has allegedly been seen in a mirror.

Taco Tip: Drive to Guisados in Echo Park for some of the best handmade tortilla tacos. Their Cochinita Pibil is a star, much like the spirits you might encounter at the hotel.

The classic neon sign of The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with LA's night sky in the background.

6. Preston Castle, Ione

The Ghostly Tale: Formerly a reform school, there have been reports of shadowy figures, footsteps, and even ghostly confrontations. Many attribute these occurrences to the spirits of past wards and staff.

Taco Tip: Drop by Taco Jalisco in nearby Jackson. The authenticity of their street tacos will ground you after the eeriness of the castle.

The majestic yet eerie facade of Preston Castle, looming against a cloudy sky.

A journey across California’s haunted spots offers a mix of history, mystery, and delicious taco stops. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a foodie, or both, this road trip promises an experience like no other. Grab a map, a hungry friend, and an appetite for the unknown, and embark on this spirited Californian adventure. Ghosts and guacamole await!

California & Texas: The Mexican Food Titans of the U.S.

The United States has long held a love affair with Mexican cuisine. From the zesty flavors of a good guacamole to the rich depth of mole sauces, Americans can’t seem to get enough. But two states, in particular, have emerged as the undisputed champions of Mexican dining: California and Texas. Together, they house over 36 percent of the nation’s Mexican restaurants! With such an abundance, how does one decide where to dine? Fear not, fellow foodies, for we have curated a list of 20 must-visit spots across these two great states.

In California: The West Coast Wonder

In Texas: The Lone Star Love for Mexican Food

Both California and Texas proudly wave the flag of Mexican culinary excellence. Whether it’s the fresh coastal flavors of California or the deep-rooted Tex-Mex traditions of Texas, every food lover will find their match in these states. ¡Buen provecho!