Score 86/100 · Order: Carne asada fries after last call · $8–15
The definitive Pacific Beach post-bar taco shop.
Local tip: Cash moves the line faster at 1am.
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Pacific Beach · $8–15 · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Nico's Taco Shop is a Pacific Beach spot ranked #3 of 5 in our Best Late Night Food in San Diego list, scoring 86/100. Order the carne asada fries after last call. The definitive Pacific Beach post-bar taco shop.
We scored Nico's Taco Shop 86/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Nico's Taco Shop reviewNico's Taco Shop sits in Pacific Beach — coastal San Diego, 15 minutes northwest of downtown between Mission Beach and La Jolla. The area is known for the 3-mile Ocean Front Walk boardwalk, Crystal Pier, beach bars along Garnet Avenue, and beginner-friendly surf, and the feel is young, loud, and casual — the closest thing San Diego has to a permanent spring break. Parking: Free street parking, but circling is normal after 10 AM on summer weekends; paid lots near Crystal Pier.
Explore Pacific BeachOn our Best Late Night Food in San Diego list, Nico's Taco Shop lands at #3 of 5, just behind Convoy Street kitchens (Cross Street, Menya Ultra area) (87/100) and ahead of Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop (86/100). Rudford's Restaurant holds #1 with 88/100, so the gap is 2 points.
Nico's Taco Shop scores 86/100 against a best late night food in san diego field that averages 86.2, running from 84 at the bottom to 88 at the top. That is 0.2 points below the category average, though it still finishes ahead of 1 of the 4 other places we scored. It lands 3rd of 5, and the category leader is 2 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Nico's Taco Shop separates itself most on value (92/100 versus a 88.4 category average). Its softest showing is atmosphere at 74, 6.4 points under 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.
| Criterion | Nico's Taco Shop | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 86 | 86.4 | -0.4 |
| Consistency | 88 | 87.6 | +0.4 |
| Value | 92 | 88.4 | +3.6 |
| Atmosphere | 74 | 80.4 | -6.4 |
| Uniqueness | 84 | 85.6 | -1.6 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best late night food in san diego.
Pacific Beach is dense enough that Nico's 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 Sushi Ota (93/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) or Rocky's Crown Pub (90/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
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Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Nico's Taco Shop scores 86/100 in our Best Late Night Food in San Diego list (#3 of 5). It is strongest on value (92) and consistency (88). The definitive Pacific Beach post-bar taco shop.
Skip it if atmosphere matters most to you — that is its weakest category (74/100).
Nico's Taco Shop is a good fit for late night food. Because it ranks #3 on our best late night food in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Pacific Beach rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Cash moves the line faster at 1am.
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Score 86/100 · Order: Carne asada fries after last call · $8–15
The definitive Pacific Beach post-bar taco shop.
Local tip: Cash moves the line faster at 1am.
Scored with our ranking methodology — late-night-food.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .