Category: Taco Shops

If you live in San Diego, you’ve probably eaten at Roberto’s at least once. It seems like they’re everywhere. If you do a Google Search on Roberto’s Taco Shops, San Diego you come up with 17 matches between Chula Vista and Oceanside. Be careful of imitators, though I understand that there are actually only a few "authentic" Roberto’s, whatever that means. I’ve seen Reyberto’s, El Roberto’s, Filiberto’s, Aiberto’s, and countless number of "something"-berto’s around. Inexpensive, tasty, greasy, and usually open 24 hours, Roberto’s is very popular. The one I usually patronize is on Clairemont Drive, only 4 blocks away, a very scary thing indeed!

This tiny shop is the only 24 operation other than 7-11 for several miles around, and can sometimes be packed to the rafters.

Prices range from $1.75 for 3 Plain rolled Taco’s (taquitos) to $6.00 for combination plates. I usually get either the Carne Asada or a "California" Burrito ($3.25), and sometimes the Rolled Tacos. On this trip I got the California Burrito and 3 rolled taco’s with sour cream ($2.00).

So what’s a California Burrito? Well in this case it’s a tortilla filled with Carne Asada, Cheese, and French Fries, yes, you heard that correct french fries! Pretty "politically incorrect" but delicious. I was just thinking; one more starch and this could be a plate lunch! Here’s a closer look:

So how was it? Well, the Carne Asada was a little bit dried out, tough, and tasteless today – but the fries were great! In fact I woulda just ordered a french fry burrito if they had one. I like the way the tortilla was prepared, both a little crunchy and yet still with a little "pull",  a nice texture. The taquitos were ok, a little too much sour cream glopped on them, and they were a bit smaller than I remember them. But still relatively cheap and filling.

I know alot of people who love Roberto’s, especially after a hard night of "liquid refreshment", and in the minds of many San Diegans this is the quintessential "San Diego" chain. Roberto’s fills a real niche in San Diego, a place other than Denny’s open 24 hours a day.

A last note, I’ve found that not all Roberto’s are created equal, the Solana Beach locale (I’ve been told that this is one created by the original "Roberto") is by far the best I’ve been to, Clairemont Mesa the worst in both service and food.

Roberto’s Taco Shop
Many Locations
Most open 24 hours daily

Now I have to admit something right off the bat, we’ve been to El Zarape 3 times since I’ve started this blog about 6 weeks ago. The first time I brought the camera, but forgot all about it when it was time to eat. The second time I didn’t even bother to bring the camera, period! Well this time I made sure to bring the camera, and displaying extreme self-control, even managed to take some pictures.

This little hole in the wall, features fresh, flavorful Mexican food. In what must be one of the best bargains in San Diego, the Fish Taco’s here are just 99 cents, yes, 99 cents.

The fish tacos are always fresh with a crisp batter, and moist in the interior. Though it usually comes with a white sauce, we order it without it, and use a good amount of the smoky hot sauce. It’s a taste and texture delight that totally blows another “famous” San Diego’s chains soggy, gloppy, fish tacos out of the water! Oh, and did I say, just 99 cents every day!

Today I ordered the Shrimp Chimichanga, basically a deep fried burrito. This was filled with a generous amount of large shrimp and topped with Sour Cream and Guacamole. Very crunchy, with shrimp that had been sauteed before being rolled in the tortilla, this is a favorite of mine.

My only, slight complaint with El Zarape, is that the Guacamole is a bit “over-processed” and tends to be runny and bland, but everything else is “spot on”, and scratches all those little “gastric itches” (OK, let’s call them cravings).

We also had a shrimp quesedilla($4.99), easy on the cheese:

Crunchy on the outside, with great tasting shrimp and fillings inside, topped off with some spicy hot sauce is the definition of what mmm-yoso!!! is all about. This was alot of food, but we managed to finish everything.

El Zarape boasts a huge menu with everything from soy burritos and vegetarian offerings to “don’t tell my cardiologist” loaded carne asada fries. El Zarape is another one of those “places” with a regular spot on our rotation. I may not know much about Mexican Food, but I know what I like, and I like this place.

Parking can be an adventure, so I recommend going to the end of Park Blvd, finding a space and walking half a block. Service can be slow at peak times with a line forming out the door. So be like us and go early, and often!

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant
4642 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 692-1652
Open Daily 10 am-10 pm