San Diego
El Cuervo Taco Shop
El Cuervo is a popular mom-and-pop taco shop in an aging Hillcrest strip mall. The red tile roof and neon sign outside signal the casual interior with heavy wooden tables and chairs and a blue-and-white tiled kitchen. The salsa bar is fresh and mostly authentic, which adds flavor and spice to the shop’s much-talked-about tacos, burritos, tortas, and other Mexican classics. Business types from nearby offices come for the fast and cheap lunches, while families line up for the reasonably-priced dinners. El Cuervo’s breakfast burritos are a mainstay for locals and morning commuters.
Insider Tip:
For a sampling of the shop’s specialties, try the affordable street tacos special in four flavors, such as carne asada and carnitas, as well as stomach, head, tripe, and tongue.
