San Diego Mexican in ATL

[u/Free_Elevator_63360]

For context, I grew up out west, and the wife and I lived in El Paso for the better part of a decade, where we got to enjoy great Mexican, including hatch green chilis (in hatch, NM).

We also just got back from San Diego where we had amazing tacos and burritos. Is there anywhere in ATL where we can get good southwest Mexican? What about good ingredients or tortillas?

[u/SomeVeryTiredGuy]

I asked about San Diegan Mexican food earlier this year in r/atlanta and got nothing. Let me know if you find any.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/SomeVeryTiredGuy]

This is terrible and what I fear.

[u/5thStESt → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

From the thread above - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BLSyMA7FUzXdJkVi9?g_st=ic

[u/5thStESt → u/SomeVeryTiredGuy]

You must have missed this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Atlanta/s/PN6CoRu9Yv

[u/SomeVeryTiredGuy → u/5thStESt]

I dunno. That post asks about California burritos, not necessarily Sand Diegian Mexican food. Yes, I know there's a Venn diagram overlap, but from what I understand SD is very specific. I'll leave it up to any San Diegians who come across this to provide more detail

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/5thStESt]

Bookmarked.

[u/J_Rod72]

Best of luck! Spent some great years in SD and oh what I would do for a Juanburtos esc place here. 5 Rolled
Tacos with guac and cheese, carne asada with guac or carne asada chips or
Fries, heck even a been and cheese burrito are just non-existent here in the greater ATL area like SD. El grill in Norcross is ok, wouldn’t say close though. Street tacos are best off food trucks around, find you a good one and enjoy the tacos they are serving up.

[u/BenneroniAndCheese]

I’m not from SD but lived there for a few months last year. Funny enough the best street tacos I’ve had in Georgia are in the Augusta metro about two hours from here. It’s called Taqueria mi Casita and it really hits the spot. I stop there every time I drive thru Augusta.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/BenneroniAndCheese]

Adding to the list. We have 2 kids… so a random five to Augusta might keep them entertained.

[u/LordArjuna08]

You want to go to either Don Pedros on Buford Highway in Norcross. Absolutely delicious and none of the employees speak English so you know it's good. And the prices are really good, too. Another one you want to go to is El Progreso near Grant Park. It's a little Mexican grocery store that has no English speaking staff and in the back they have a restaurant that absolutely slaps! Both of these spots also have a salsa bar with all of their homemade sauces and pickled jalapeno/carrots/onions free of charge.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/LordArjuna08]

Thank you!

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/[deleted]]

I might be willing to help fund your smuggling operation.

[u/righthandofdog]

Since my travel in MX is CdMX and ya Stan peninsula, I don't know what makes San Diego / Baja California Mexican unique. aguachile? there are some good ones around, but it's way expensive compared to what you can get in MX

As for tortillas or masa, https://www.molinotortillas.com/

[u/whirling_cynic]

There are plenty of unique and delicious taco shops in Norcross and Tucker. Start exploring.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/whirling_cynic]

I got one DM naming a place in Tucker.

Any you want to share?

[u/whirling_cynic → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

El tacos del rey.

[u/CoverHistorical8642]

It depends on what your looking for, fish tacos? No idea. Great carne asada,Taco veloz, they make a good carne asada burrito. Fresh tortilla? superica has the best flour housemade flour tortillas, but that’s really more Tex mex. Cheap super market tacos that are good but they’re cheap so they’re even better? Talpa. The OG who I’m sure has fallen off but it’s an experience? Hit up some prison tacos at el progesso,#4 I think. Taqueria palafox has carne asada fries. They’re good but they use a cheese sauce which takes away from the meal.

[u/AllTheEggsIVF → u/CoverHistorical8642]

You know your spots friend! Mexican from San Diego here and agree with your assessment. I think little Rey tops superica. Minus Talpa- they’re tasteless. Also don’t sleep on taquito express at the gas station in VaHi. Solid Mexican and the pupusas (el salvador).

[u/Alternative-Way-9994]

This isnt authentic or San Diego necessarily but Poco Loco in kirkwood has excellent tortillas, provisions, tacos, and breakfast burritos. Also recommend Pollo Primo, again sort of its own thing but great in its own right.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/Alternative-Way-9994]

We are in Decatur so go to poco loco often.

Adding pollo primo to the list.

[u/Suitable_Barber_7846 → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

Norcross/doraville/lilburn

[u/Zestyclose_Law_7809 → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

Pollo primo is mid…

[u/OneEyedWillieOne]

Classic Southern fare in San Diego? Seriously?

[u/r2atl]

https://www.vicetaco.com/

This is so good.

[u/yasdinl]

Okay I think I’ll get downvoted but I think Chiringa is meant to be Southern California Mexican. They call it like beach food or something. I actually think it’s pretty delicious but ymmv

[u/Surround8600]

Panchos is good on Buford Hwy

[u/No_Effective_2100]

Talpas for ingredients
I've seen mom and pop bodegas but idk about their quality, talps is pretty great

Believe most of the good Mexican restaurants will be in doraville area

[u/capnstaben]

Nuevo Laredo cantina

[u/OriginalWorth3138]

Buford highway. So chamblee , doraville Norcross area and plaza fiesta and my favorite burrito is from a truck called taco dad

[u/still_fkntired]

The closest you will get to a food burrito will be from taco Veloz. The tacos at talpa are pretty good. Or Don Pedro’s if I really need something. Signed a Californian who’s searched high and low for at least a similar burrito. It’s not the same

[u/Specialist_Run_1607]

Not a single place…. lol.

[u/Kind-Cry5056]

The amount of people asking for a place they move to to be the same as the place they moved from is amazing. No, we don’t roast chilis here outside in a rotating bin. The pepper doesn’t grow here and isn’t tied to the culture.

[u/ContributionDapper84]

Probably best to stick with food types that are better or comparable here, like Ethiopian, BBQ pulled pork, meat-n-3...

Kinda askin for disappointment, going to Alaska for Hawaiian food.

[u/Free_Elevator_63360 → u/ContributionDapper84]

Ethiopian isn’t local. We’ve also had great Thai, Indian.

But for some reason southwest Mexican can’t be found here.

[u/Dominique3333 → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

I lived in Atlanta for a long time and my BIL from San Diego ran into the same problem. There’s decent Mexican food to be found but I never found that Baja style place

[u/ContributionDapper84 → u/Free_Elevator_63360]

I'm not saying that Ethiopian food is local, just that it might be relatively strong here.

Yeah, Indian and Thai are great as well - fun to cook too.

[u/Wrong-Ad7990]

I grew up on the west coast and the only thing I miss is Mexican food! For me Superica is the closest I can find. I also enjoy the street tacos from the Talpa Supermercado on Buford Highway.