Where are the best burritos in San Diego?
The shops that turn up on the most best-of lists are Ortiz's Taco Shop and La Perla #3 in Point Loma, Nico's in Ocean Beach, JV's on Morena Boulevard, and Lolita's in Chula Vista. San Diego Magazine readers voted The Taco Stand the city's best burrito in 2026. Expect to pay about $10–$15; Ortiz's California burrito was $12.89 on November 3, 2026.
- Most-listed shop
- Ortiz's Taco Shop, Point Loma
- Readers' pick 2026
- The Taco Stand
- Typical price, 2026
- $10–$15
- Heaviest California burrito
- Nico's, 1 lb 7.9 oz
Infatuation 2026, Food Republic 2026, The Daily Meal 2018
San Diego Magazine Best of San Diego, Aug 2026
Ortiz's California $12.89; La Perla #3 steak and egg $10.75
Axios San Diego kitchen-scale test, 2026
The short version
- San Diego Magazine's 2026 readers' poll named The Taco Stand the best burrito in town (Aug 2026).
- The Infatuation's 'Best Burritos in California' (Oct 28, 2026) picks five San Diego County spots, led by Ortiz's and JV's.
- Axios San Diego weighed eight California burritos in 2026: Nico's topped the scale at 1 lb 7.9 oz.
- Ortiz's Taco Shop, 3704 Voltaire St, listed its California burrito at $12.89 on Nov 3, 2026.
- Kono's Cafe in Pacific Beach stops serving at 3 p.m., per The Infatuation (Sept 2026).
Every San Diegan has a favorite taco shop, so we didn't add our own vote. We pulled the burrito picks from San Diego Magazine's 2026 readers' poll, The Infatuation's 'Best Burritos in California' (October 28, 2026), Axios San Diego's 2026 burrito weigh-in, Food Republic's breakfast-burrito list (September 6, 2026), the Times of San Diego 'Best of Uptown/Downtown' (December 2025) and The Daily Meal's national ranking from 2018. Then we counted which shops show up more than once. New to the dish? Start with what is a California burrito.
Shops that appear on more than one list
Ortiz's Taco Shop
Infatuation, Food Republic, Daily Meal
3 listsNico's Mexican Food
Axios, Food Republic, Daily Meal
3 listsLa Perla #3
Infatuation, Food Republic
2 lists
Taco Surf
Food Republic, Daily Meal
2 listsLucha Libre Taco Shop
Axios, Daily Meal
2 lists
Lolita's Mexican Food
Axios, Daily Meal (Chula Vista)
2 listsThe Taco Stand
SD Magazine readers, Axios
2 listsJV's Mexican Food
Infatuation, Food Republic (Morena Blvd)
2 lists
Lists: San Diego Magazine readers 2026, The Infatuation 2026, Axios SD 2026, Food Republic 2026, Times of SD 2025, The Daily Meal 2018. Counted Nov 3, 2026.
The best burrito by type
Who recommends what
| Burrito | Shop | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| California burrito (carne asada and fries) | Ortiz's Taco Shop, Point Loma | The Infatuation, Oct 2026: fries instead of rice and beans, overnight-marinated beef |
| Carne asada | Nico's Mexican Food, Ocean Beach | The Daily Meal ranked it No. 5 in the US (2018); Axios found Nico's California burrito the heaviest of eight (2026) |
| Surf and turf | JV's Mexican Food, Morena Blvd | The Infatuation calls it the best surf-and-turf in San Diego (Oct 2026) |
| Surf and turf, Mission Hills | Lucha Libre Taco Shop | The Daily Meal, No. 27 in the US (2018) |
| Adobada | Cancun Mexican and Seafood, Encinitas | An Axios reader's go-to order (2024); also weighed in Axios's 2026 test |
| Breakfast | Kono's Cafe, Pacific Beach; Humberto's, Golden Hill | The Infatuation (Sept 2026); Food Republic No. 1 (Sept 2026) |
California burrito (carne asada and fries)
- Shop
- Ortiz's Taco Shop, Point Loma
- Who says so
- The Infatuation, Oct 2026: fries instead of rice and beans, overnight-marinated beef
Carne asada
- Shop
- Nico's Mexican Food, Ocean Beach
- Who says so
- The Daily Meal ranked it No. 5 in the US (2018); Axios found Nico's California burrito the heaviest of eight (2026)
Surf and turf
- Shop
- JV's Mexican Food, Morena Blvd
- Who says so
- The Infatuation calls it the best surf-and-turf in San Diego (Oct 2026)
Surf and turf, Mission Hills
- Shop
- Lucha Libre Taco Shop
- Who says so
- The Daily Meal, No. 27 in the US (2018)
Adobada
- Shop
- Cancun Mexican and Seafood, Encinitas
- Who says so
- An Axios reader's go-to order (2024); also weighed in Axios's 2026 test
Breakfast
- Shop
- Kono's Cafe, Pacific Beach; Humberto's, Golden Hill
- Who says so
- The Infatuation (Sept 2026); Food Republic No. 1 (Sept 2026)
Sources: The Infatuation, Axios San Diego, Food Republic, The Daily Meal; checked Nov 3, 2026
Ortiz's on Voltaire Street is the one shop on both The Infatuation's 2026 list and Food Republic's, and it was No. 8 on The Daily Meal's national list in 2018. Next door is Cotija's, which Food Republic picks for a hash-brown breakfast burrito. La Perla #3 on Rosecrans Street is The Infatuation's pick for an 'Oaxacalifornia' burrito: carne asada wrapped in an Oaxacan-cheese quesadilla.
A California burrito (this one from Chuy's in Rolando): carne asada and fries, no rice or beans. Ortiz's version was $12.89 on Nov 3, 2026.
What you'll pay in 2026
Burrito prices seen in 2026
| Shop | Burrito | Price | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortiz's Taco Shop | California Local Favorite | $12.89 | Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026 |
| Ortiz's Taco Shop | Carne asada or al pastor | $12.96 | Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026 |
| Ortiz's Taco Shop | Shrimp | $14.50 | Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026 |
| Ortiz's Taco Shop | Breakfast (chorizo, ham or machaca) | $11.55 | Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026 |
| La Perla #3 | Steak and egg breakfast | $10.75 | Food Republic, Sept 6, 2026 |
| Don Pedro Taco Shop, Chula Vista | Bacon breakfast | $9.29 | Food Republic, Sept 6, 2026 |
Ortiz's Taco Shop
- Burrito
- California Local Favorite
- Price
- $12.89
- Seen
- Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026
Ortiz's Taco Shop
- Burrito
- Carne asada or al pastor
- Price
- $12.96
- Seen
- Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026
Ortiz's Taco Shop
- Burrito
- Shrimp
- Price
- $14.50
- Seen
- Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026
Ortiz's Taco Shop
- Burrito
- Breakfast (chorizo, ham or machaca)
- Price
- $11.55
- Seen
- Shop menu, Nov 3, 2026
La Perla #3
- Burrito
- Steak and egg breakfast
- Price
- $10.75
- Seen
- Food Republic, Sept 6, 2026
Don Pedro Taco Shop, Chula Vista
- Burrito
- Bacon breakfast
- Price
- $9.29
- Seen
- Food Republic, Sept 6, 2026
Prices change often; tax and tip not included. Source: Ortiz's Taco Shop website; Food Republic. Checked Nov 3, 2026
The Taco Stand won San Diego Magazine's 2026 readers' vote for burrito, and Axios found its California burrito the second heaviest it weighed, at 1 lb 7.5 oz. It's a chain, with San Diego shops at 645 B St downtown (9 a.m.–9 p.m. weekdays) and 3000 Upas St in North Park. Its menu lists a Mar y Tierra (steak and shrimp) burrito rather than one called surf and turf. Downtown, the Times of San Diego's December 2025 'Best of Uptown/Downtown' named Hasta Mañana Cantina at 310 Fifth Ave as best burrito.
San Diego Magazine reports Lolita's is often credited with putting fries in the burrito, though nobody knows for sure who was first.
Lolita's is a South Bay institution. San Diego Magazine reported in May 2025 that the Bonita shop is credited with putting fries in the burrito in the 1980s, though the family says no one knows for certain who was first. Its California burrito weighed 1 lb 5.9 oz in Axios's 2026 test. Prefer the beach? Taco Surf on Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach has been open since 1989, according to Food Republic. For fish tacos instead, see the best fish tacos in San Diego.
Point Loma & Ocean Beach
Pacific Beach
Uptown & Downtown
Morena & Linda Vista
South Bay
Addresses from shop websites, The Infatuation, Food Republic, San Diego Magazine and Times of San Diego; checked Nov 3, 2026.
See these on the full San Diego mapIs this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 3, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
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SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Ortiz's Taco Shop · Checked November 3, 2026
3704 Voltaire St; Mon–Sat 8–9, closed Sun; burrito prices
- PrimaryLucha Libre Taco Shop
Lucha Libre Taco Shop · Checked November 3, 2026
1810 W Washington St; hours
The Taco Stand · Checked November 3, 2026
645 B St and 3000 Upas St Ste 105 hours; Mar y Tierra burrito on menu
San Diego Magazine · 2026-08-05
Burrito: The Taco Stand
The Infatuation · 2026-10-28
San Diego County picks: Ortiz's, JV's, La Perla #3, El Pescador, Mesa Agricola
The Infatuation · 2026-07-08
Carne asada California burrito details
The Infatuation · 2026-10-28
Surf and turf; Linda Vista; 1112 Morena Blvd
The Infatuation · 2026-07-08
Oaxacalifornia burrito; 1224 Rosecrans St
The Infatuation · 2026-09-30
Breakfast burritos; kitchen closes 3 p.m.
Axios San Diego · 2026-02-11
Weights of eight California burritos
Food Republic · 2026-09-06
Humberto's No. 1; La Perla #3 $10.75; Don Pedro $9.29; Taco Surf since 1989; addresses
Times of San Diego · 2025-12-09
Best Burrito: Hasta Mañana Cantina, 310 Fifth Ave
ABC 10News (reporting The Daily Meal) · 2018-08-23
Nico's No. 5, Ortiz's No. 8, Lolita's No. 24, Lucha Libre No. 27, Taco Surf No. 47
San Diego Magazine · 2025-05-27
Lolita's Bonita origin claim; Roberto's
Axios San Diego · 2024-01-30
Cancun Mexican and Seafood adobada burrito (reader pick); Humberto's
- Background9 24-hour restaurants in San Diego
Trip101 · Undated (checked November 3, 2026)
Humberto's, Rigoberto's, Saguaro's listed as 24 hours; not confirmed for 2026
- BackgroundNico's Mexican Food listing
Ocean Beach MainStreet Association · Checked November 3, 2026
4918 Newport Ave; family history
Times of San Diego · 2026-04-01
Lolita's and The Taco Stand operating in 2026