tacos el gordo de tijuana / chula vista, ca

You like Mexican food? Of course you do! What’s not to like about delicious tacos piled with meats and cheeses? Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana is one place that really does it right. This little taco shop is originally from Tijuana and they have ported themselves over the border to San Diego with three locations in town, plus one in Vegas.

[menu at tacos el gordo in chula vista]

As soon as you walk in, you can tell this place is just a little bit different from the other taco shops in town. The menu is well lit above you and there are stations. Each station specializes in a particular kind of meat. There’s a carne asada guy, an adobada guy and a guy who kind of serves up “everything else” (tripe, cabeza, legnua, etc.)

You pick the kind of meat you want and order from that station. Jake and I always go to the adobada station for the spicy pork that’s turned on a spit.

[adobada slowly turning on the spit]

Mmm, meat on a spit.

[slicing pieces of adobada]

I always make Jake order because he does know enough conversational Spanish to get by. I’d rather not break out my rusty old high school Spanish.

God, I’m such an American.

I’m sure they’ll understand you even if you speak English, but I still make Jake do all of the ordering. What a good boyfriend.

The guy starts slicing meat off for our assortment of treats and prepares our tortillas by dipping them in the drippings from the pork and then grilling them. Holy heart attack on a plate! Probably why it tastes so darn good…

They’re fast and efficient and get your order ready in no time. There’s a line behind you, they gotta be quick with this stuff. Once you have all of your treats you go over to pay then try to find a seat so you can devour your meal.

[juicy, freshly made adobada taco – $2.00]

Jake usually gets the tacos with everything – salsa, onions and cilantro and some avocado looking dressing tucked on top of two corn tortillas.

[mula de adobada – $3.75]

I always get a mula. I never even knew what a mula was before I came to Tacos el Gordo – it’s basically a taco but with a tortilla with melted cheese placed on top. Yeah, how could you not want that?!  All of the same stuff from the taco + melted cheese.

The adobada is so tender and flavorful and makes for a taco like nothing you’ve had before.

I can only eat one of these. They’re really filling but pretty greasy, too. It’s so worth it, though!

[quesadilla – $2.00]

I also like getting a quesadilla. Here they’re stuffed with baby jack cheese (also used on the mulas) and are folded over using the little corn tortillas. It sure doesn’t look like much, but it is so delicious. The baby jack cheese gets perfectly melted and oozing. It’s so creamy and lush and gone in about 15 seconds. Yeah, I like ordering two of these. I could probably skip the mula and just order these. My love of cheese knows no bounds.

For an extra $1.75 they’ll also stick some meat on this. I don’t know if its just cheese and meat or if they add the other toppings though – which would kind of make it like a mula…

[greasiness on a tray]

[Campechana fries with adobada – large, $10]

If you feel like trekking all the way down to their Otay location, you can order up their crazy Campechana french fries. The Otay location off H Street is the only one that serves up this heartstopping concotion with your choice of meat, cheeses, sour cream and that avocado-like sauce.

You get your choice of meat – again, we always go with the spicy pork adobada on top of the crispy fries.

For the love of god, please share this with someone. It’s so rich you really have to share it. The fries with the meat are heavy, but really delicious.

I personally prefer going to the location on H Street, but sometimes Jake gets a hankering for these fries. Also! The best time to go here is in the evening, after the meat’s been cooking on the spit all day and has had time to hang out and get all spicy and juicy.

I tried the carne asada once, but I didn’t dig it quite as much as the adobada. I never order anything else anymore. Maybe I will someday. Be warned though, this food can get mighty greasy. My tummy kind of hates me later after eating here and it’s not used to it. My poor tummy, suffering for my taste buds desire for delicious food. Ignore my tummy and do your taste buds a favor – try it at least once! Don’t forget to get one of those quesadillas, too!

Tacos el Gordo de Tijuana
(multiple locations)

689 H St
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 691-8848

3265 Palm Ave
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 424-7423

1940 Highland Ave
National City, CA 91950
(619) 474-5033