Tacos El Panson

Tacos El Panson is a family-owned taco shop in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, founded in 2005 and known for tripe tacos served on thick corn tortillas made in house.

History

The shop opened in 2005 at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Highland Avenue in City Heights, a short drive from San Diego State University. It is run by a family with roots in Mexico City, and by 2019 the owner's son-in-law, Luis, had been working there for a decade. The family has described its hand-pressed tortillas as a link to the food of its home city.

Menu

Tacos are the focus, although the counter also sells mulitas, tortas, tamales and burritos. Fillings include carne asada, pollo asado, adobada, carnitas, chorizo and birria, along with fish and shrimp and offal cuts such as buche, tripa and cabeza. Carne asada and chicken tacos are dressed with guacamole, onion and cilantro, and a salsa bar holds red and green salsas, limes and radishes.

San Diego Magazine singles out tripe as the shop's specialty and recommends a mixed taco that pairs carnitas with crisp tripa. The same publication's survey of local chefs found Kingfisher chef David Sim naming El Panson as a favorite hole-in-the-wall.

Reviews

See also

• Tacos de carnitas
• Corn tortilla

References

1. "Tacos El Panson brings authentic Mexico City flavor to San Diego". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
2. "The 40 Best San Diego Tacos to Try Right Now". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2026-10-10.