Esmerelda Taqueria

This location has changed hands so many times it’s hard to keep up with the different names. It recently reopened again as Esmerelda’s. I tried it a couple of months ago, got tacos and they were pretty good. Went again recently and got rolled tacos. They were pencil thin, cold and just not good. It’s so close to home, it’s a shame it’s not better. Thank goodness Lupe’s isn’t too far.

I first (tried to) stop by a week ago, and it was closed in the middle of the afternoon with no sign as to when they’d reopen. When I finally did come by yesterday, I was the only customer, yet they still took about 15 minutes to cook a two fish taco plate & a california burrito, which I didn’t mind, although the staff was not very friendly (probably because I broke up their tv time). When I got the food home, there was almost no fish in the tacos, the tortillas were chewy; the burrito had raw fries, and beans, which wasn’t bad, but not what I was expecting and a little more than I wanted. I would not have minded all this if it had been cheap, but it wasn’t! I will not be going back, which is a shame because it’s super close to my house & within biking distance.

Perhaps, this establishment has changed hands again. Because, I have to believe that I was one of their first customers today. I ordered their «Big Plate» and the woman at the register didn’t know what that meant. After her review of the menu board she was able to charge me the proper price.
She then attempted to give the order to the cook. The cook had to come out and review the menu board to determine what the dish was comprised of (one taco, two rolled tacos and a bean tostada). Well, what I received was two rolled tacos, a bean tostada with rice and beans. I resigned myself that this is going to be as good as it gets here. The food was pretty good, but the service was horrible.

I have really grown to love this little taco shop that is so close to my house. I like the décor: bright, sunny yellow walls decorated with mirrors and ceramics, tiny blue booths and tiled tables lining the front window.
The owner usually has an off-​menu special of the week written on a piece of cardboard in front of the cash register. (Don’t be afraid to ask for a translation if you don’t know what something is.) In my experience, these have usually been more home-​style dishes out of the family kitchen: one week was vegetable soup with meatballs, another week was pork sauteed with cactus. Very simple, very delicious. This is true comfort food that isn’t your usual carnitas plate or tijuana-​style tacos — which, granted, are solidly done here.
I’m fairly certain you can get better tacos elsewhere in San Diego. But this taqueria is homey, clean, simple, quiet, friendly, and always delivers quality food. I love that it feels like my personal hidden spot, but I’m sure they could use the business, so you should go there, too!

This taco shop went through a whole lot of name changes. When I was in junior high, this was La Corona. When I was in high school, it was El Sabroso. Then it was Lucy’s and now this. This used to be a high school hangout before the strict truancy laws went into effect. We normally buy some carne asada burritos and TJ-​style tacos. I don’t know how the food is now because when the place changed names, so does the food.