Taco Tuesday

96 hours, 5,760 minutes or 345,600 seconds. That’s exactly how long it will be until the weekend. It’s Tuesday morning and you just got over a heavy case of the proverbial “Mondays.” Wouldn’t it be great if you could unwind right away? You can — it’s called Taco Tuesday.

With such close proximity to the Mexican border, San Diego boasts some of the most flavorful food from the south imaginable. Below are some of the best joints in America’s Finest City.

La Puerta

With all the swagger of downtown minus the hefty tab, La Puerta on Fourth Avenue serves delicious tacos at some savory price points every Tuesday night. Try one of La Puerta’s various street tacos (carne asada, carnitas, pollo, cochinita, pastor-style pork or ranchero shrimp) for an affordable $2 each, and wash it down with Tecate. And if your taste buds like to stay a little closer to home, try La Puerta’s “TJ style” hot dogs for the same price.

The ambiance of a contemporary, downtown establishment mixed with the flare of Mexico truly make La Puerta a “mexperience,” and it has been this way since the local hot spot opened on Cinco de Mayo of last year.

Restaurants in the busy Gaslamp Quarter have the connotation of being expensive, and it was exactly this notion that co-owner Darren Moore, a San Diego resident for more than two decades, set out to break.

“One thing we experienced was that everything was priced for the tourist, and there weren’t many places for the locals,” Moore says. “We teed [La Puerta] up to be consumed by the locals and give them somewhere intimate to have some fun.

“We want our tacos served with a little edge and a little rock n’ roll and to break the norm of how we serve Mexican.”
Great prices and a fun atmosphere make La Puerta the main attraction on Tuesday nights. Downtown no longer requires you to take out a loan to enjoy some food.

Specials: $2 tacos, Tecate and Tecate Light, and hot dogs
Time: 3 p.m.–close
Address: 560 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Phone: 619-696-3466
taco619.com

Pacific Beach Bar & Grill

To some, PB is regarded as the king of Taco Tuesday — and for good reason. The food and libations won’t break the bank and you have tons of options to choose from. But only one place really seals the deal for a true Taco Tuesday enthusiast: Pacific Beach Bar & Grill.

PB Bar & Grill offers some of the best deals around with a daily happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m., and more than 16 styles of tacos to choose from on Tuesdays.

With three different bars, you can take your pick of one of the 20 various beers on tap or a margarita on the rocks for $3.

You and your friends can fill up on taco and drink specials while playing pool, dancing to some music, watch football on one of the 60 TVs or just chatting in the grill’s outdoor courtyard. And with such close proximity to other bars in the area (right next door to Moondoggies) you have endless options to end the night strong.

Specials: $2.50 Beer of the Month, $3 drafts, $3 margaritas
Time: 4–8 p.m.
Address: 860 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
Phone: 858-272-1242
pbbarandgrill.com

En Fuego

While Taco Tuesday might date back a few decades, this establishment dates back nearly a century. En Fuego in Del Mar has a rich past that speaks to its savory Mexican menu and one that solidifies its place as a must-see in San Diego County.

Situated alongside the coast on Camino del Mar, the building in which En Fuego resides has a long lineage of Mexican and seafood restaurants. Going back to the 1930s, the building was Del Mar’s original restaurant and was known as La Tienda, a major hub for Del Mar racetrack socialites. And in the 1970s it was known as El Pescador, meaning “The Fisherman,” but did not see too much success.

In 1995, on the racetrack’s opening day, owner John Wingate reopened the doors of the historic building with a new name: En Fuego.
Most of the seating at En Fuego is outside, but to Wingate it is this very characteristic that makes the restaurant so unique. “I’ve had people come in and tell me it’s exactly like the Mexican Rivera out here,” Wingate says.

With a dedicated menu to Taco Tuesday, patrons can choose from eight à la carte taco varieties ranging from $2 to $6. Unlike any other restaurant, En Fuego has its own spin on the original taco, serving up options such as ahi, halibut, mahi, calamari, swordfish, carne asada, pastor-style pork and pollo, and black bean, all coupled with their own unique salsas to give them each a delectable and tasty taste.

And if you want to turn your Taco Tuesday into a relaxing night beyond the outdoor cantina, the new wine room, fittingly called La Tienda, should do the trick.

Specials: $2–$6 tacos and drink specials
Time: 4:30 p.m.–close
Address: 1342 Camino del Mar, Del Mar
Phone: 858-792-6551
enfuegocantina.com

Café Coyote

With a rich Mexican history that can be traced back 150 years, Old Town San Diego is the epicenter of Mexican tradition in our city. And while old buildings remain open as museums and gift shops, its restaurants allow locals and tourists to partake in one activity that still remains: enjoying the foods that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Unlike fine wines, old recipes don’t have to mean bigger bills. Café Coyote in Old Town is the perfect blend of the old and the new and without paying the price. Enjoy $2 tacos (pick from eight types) from 3:30 to 10 p.m. while listening to the strolling mariachis or just catching the big game on one of the five big-screens and the new sound system.

With two distinct rooms solely for Taco Tuesday — Puerta Vallarta and the Cantina — Café Coyote makes it known that Tuesdays are more than just another day on the calendar.

From draft beers to various margaritas (pineapple chipotle, pomegranate and strawberry), celebrate Taco Tuesday in authentic fashion at Café Coyote.

Specials: $2 tacos ($3 for seafood), discounted margaritas and beer
Time: 3:30-10 p.m.
Address: 2461 San Diego Avenue, Old Town
Phone: 619-291-4695
cafecoyoteoldtown.com

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