Don Carlos Taco Shop is a North Park spot ranked #2 of 10 in our Best Burritos in San Diego list, scoring 90/100 in our Best California Burritos in San Diego. Order the carne asada burrito. North Park's no-frills burrito shop. The carne asada is well-seasoned, the portions are huge, and the value is excellent.
We scored Don Carlos Taco Shop 90/100 in our full editorial review.
Don Carlos Taco Shop sits in North Park — inland central San Diego, about 10 minutes northeast of downtown, east of Balboa Park. The area is known for the densest craft-brewery cluster in the city, murals, the Observatory North Park theater, and 30th Street dining, and the feel is creative, walkable, and unapologetically local — coffee shops by day, breweries by night. Parking: Free street parking on side streets; the 30th & University core fills up after 6 PM.
On our Best Burritos in San Diego list, Don Carlos Taco Shop lands at #2 of 10, just behind Lolita's Taco Shop (92/100) and ahead of El Zarape (87/100). Lolita's Taco Shop holds #1 with 92/100, so the gap is 3 points. It also appears on 1 other list in our San Diego coverage.
How Don Carlos Taco Shop stacks up in the category
Don Carlos Taco Shop scores 89/100 against a best burritos in san diego field that averages 85.9, running from 83 at the bottom to 92 at the top. That puts it 3.1 points above the category average and ahead of 8 of the 9 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 10, and the category leader is 3 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Don Carlos Taco Shop separates itself most on value (92/100 versus a 86.4 category average). Its softest showing is salsa & extras at 86, 1 points over the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for value, not for a clean sweep of every category.
Don Carlos Taco Shop scores versus the Best Burritos in San Diego category average
Criterion
Don Carlos Taco Shop
Category avg.
Difference
Tortilla
88
85
+3
Fillings
90
87.6
+2.4
Salsa & Extras
86
85
+1
Value
92
86.4
+5.6
Consistency
88
84.4
+3.6
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best burritos in san diego.
Who Don Carlos Taco Shop is right for
Go if
You care about value — it beats the category average by 5.6 points there.
You care about consistency — it beats the category average by 3.6 points there.
You care about tortilla — it beats the category average by 3 points there.
You want a proven pick: it is a top-three finisher in our best burritos in san diego list.
You like places that hold up across categories — it earned a place on 2 of our lists.
What else we rank near Don Carlos Taco Shop
North Park is dense enough that Don Carlos Taco Shop rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Tribute Pizza (93/100 in our best pizza in san diego list) or Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream (93/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
JV's Taco Shop — 83/100, #10 in best burritos in san diego
Know before you go
Hours change seasonally, so we link straight to the venue's live hours instead of publishing a schedule that goes stale.
Expect $9 pricing. Budget-friendly. One of the cheaper ways to eat well nearby.
Parking in North Park: Free street parking on side streets; the 30th & University core fills up after 6 PM.
Being ranked #2 means peak times get busy — go early, go late, or expect a wait on Friday and Saturday nights.
If it is your first visit, order the carne asada burrito before you experiment.
Why Don Carlos Taco Shop made the list
Tortilla
88/100
Fillings
90/100
Salsa & Extras
86/100
Value
92/100
Consistency
88/100
Is Don Carlos Taco Shop worth it?
Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Don Carlos Taco Shop scores 89/100 in our Best Burritos in San Diego list (#2 of 10). It is strongest on value (92) and fillings (90). North Park's no-frills burrito shop. The carne asada is well-seasoned, the portions are huge, and the value is excellent.
Plan your visit to Don Carlos Taco Shop
Don Carlos Taco Shop is a good fit for burritos and california burritos. Because it ranks #2 on our best burritos in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in North Park rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
No reader reviews yet for Don Carlos Taco Shop. Be the first.
Own Don Carlos Taco Shop?
Claim this listing to correct details, send us updated hours or a menu, and get the verified badge for your site. Claiming is free and does not change your ranking position.
Score 89/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Carne asada burrito · $9
Don Carlos is a neighborhood taco shop that happens to make an excellent burrito. The carne asada is sliced thin and grilled with a salty, savory crust, and the portions are large enough that a single burrito can easily last two meals. The tortilla is warmed and stretched to accommodate the filling, and the beans and rice are applied with a heavy hand. The salsa bar is simple but effective. It is the kind of place where the regulars order without looking at the menu, and the food is better than the decor suggests.
Score 90/100 on this list's criteria · Order: California burrito · $10.50
Don Carlos makes a California burrito that is built for hunger. The carne asada is sliced thin and seasoned with a salty, peppery crust, and the fries are thick enough to stay crisp inside the wrap. The tortilla is stretched and warmed, and the burrito is rolled with enough pressure to hold everything together. Guacamole and sour cream are applied evenly, so each bite includes a little of everything. The North Park location is a neighborhood staple, and the value is among the best in the city. It is the burrito you order when you need to be full for hours.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.
San Diego focused. Places and practical planning across the county.
Kept current. Confirm prices, hours, and closures with the venue.
Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.