When someone asks me “Where is a good place to get tacos?”, it’s always difficult to answer and not just because they usually wait until I’ve taken a huge bite of whatever I’m eating to ask.  Not all taco eateries are created equal.  This week’s restaurant is proof of that.

City Tacos has been making a big buzz since it opened 8 months ago.  Several of my friends have recommended this place to me so I was coming in with very high expectations.  Located on University Avenue, City Tacos is smack dab in the middle of a bustling and growing food/drink mecca in the San Diego neighborhood of North Park.  It’s also right next door to one of my favorite FroYo places, but that’s not important right now.  What’s important is the look is cool, in no small part thanks to the hand drawn menu boards by one of my favorite local artists and a dear friend, Amanda Visger.  The staff is super friendly (the owner bussed our table at one point) and the food… Dear sweet Taco-y Jeebus, the food.  City Tacos offers a variety of tacos and the first three I ordered were so good, I immediately got up and ordered two more.  Here’s the breakdown of what I had:

The Borrego Taco is pulled lamb with wild mushrooms, cotija cheese, tomato, cilantro and fried leeks in a chipotle cream sauce on a corn tortilla.  The lamb was rich, juicy and full of flavor.  The cream sauce was bomb and the whole dish was perfectly accented by the cripsy-ness of the fried leeks.  This taco was a particularly unique blend of flavors and textures.  A Must-try.

Rich and delicious Greek-Mexican-Irish. Same way I likes my men. THANK YOU GOODNIGHT!

The Camaron Taco was my favorite.  Camaron is Spanish for “shrimp”.  Gringo is how you say “white food blogger who took this beautiful Spanish word and pronounced it like a Frat Boy’s name”.  In any event, the Camaron is sauteed shrimp in a serrano chile egg batter topped with grilled calabcitas and corn in a tomatillo salsa with cilantro and red onions on a corn tortilla.  This one was my favorite.  Freshness makes all the difference and the shrimp was excellent.  My heart can be easily won by fresh corn (it’s a thing, I have no further explanation why corn is special to my tastebuds) and every flavor note of this taco was a hit for me.  I ate two of them.

With each bite I became more and more sorry that I ever considered Rubio’s a proper Mexican meal.

The Chorizo Asado Taco is grilled pork chorizo with caramelized pineapple melted over oxaca cheese on a corn tortilla.  It’s a rich, hearty, spicy and robust essay on everything there is to love about Chorizo.  It’s filling, which is why I didn’t tear through 6 more of them on the spot.  That and I was sure my dining companions would worry about losing a finger in the taco massacre.  Seriously delicious.

Why weren’t pigs worshiped as Gods by any cultures? Were they? Is that a thing? I need a research assistant. And about a dozen more of these…

Next up (Yeah, there’s more.  Seriously, y’all, I went IN on these damn tacos) is the Chile Relleno Taco. Beer battered chile guero filled with oxaca and cotija cheeses, diced tomato, onion and cilantro on a corn tortilla.  It’s one of only two vegetarian options on City Taco’s menu but one taste and you’ll see why it’s kind of all you need.  It was a rich blend of flavors but the cheese takes center stage almost immediately with a nice, mild heat on the finish.  One of the biggest endorsements for this place came from my friend Amy, who is vegetarian.  it’s also worth mentioning that another of their offerings, the portobelo con vegetales taco, can be made vegan upon request.  Good times.

Rich fried meat-free cheesy goodness. You’re welcome, tree huggers!

In addition to their standing menu, City Tacos also offers a new special taco about once a month.  Also featured on the menu is a quesadilla and several actual Mexican draft beers.  But make no mistake about it, the reason you need to run and not walk to this place is the tacos.   I didn’t even care that I went back for more after eating 3 tacos.  The cashier smiled and said “Round two?” While I would ordinarily smile and lower my head in fat kid embarrassment, this time I fully owned it.  HELL YEAH, ROUND TWO!  TACO SLAY MY LIFE, BLUE EYES!!!  I’m not sure what that means but when one is drunk in taco love, one speaks from the heart.

So, yeah.  A winner for sure.  Going back ASAP and you need to as well before the lines form down the street.

Further reading can be found here