Is there parking at Rigoberto's?

There's street parking on University Ave in North Park, though it can get tight during peak hours. The real win here is their drive-up window—if you're grabbing tacos to go, you don't even need to get out of your car.

Do I need a reservation or can I just walk in?

Walk-ins only—this is a casual taco shop counter joint, no reservations. It's fastest during off-peak lunch hours (2-4pm); evenings and late-night get busier, but the line usually moves quick.

What should I order on my first visit?

Get the California burrito (carne asada, fries, cheese, pico, sour cream, and guac—trust the regulars) and a couple tacos: the cabeza is tender as hell, and the fried fish is crispy outside, soft inside. Don't skip their green salsa even if you're a red salsa person; it's garlicky and actually flavorful, not just heat.

Is this place good for kids?

Absolutely—it's a neighborhood staple in North Park with a kid-friendly vibe. Breakfast burritos and simple tacos appeal to young eaters, and the casual setup means no one's going to judge if things get loud.

Can I get vegetarian food here?

Yes, they have vegetarian options on the menu, though given the focus on carne asada and meat-heavy dishes, they're not the star. Call ahead if you have specific requests.

According to locals, Rigoberto's is 24 hours and the best late-night Mexican spot within miles of North Park—perfect if you're post-beach or need a 2am taco run.

Any heads up before I go?

No bathrooms on-site, so plan accordingly. Other than that, this is a no-frills counter operation that delivers solid carne asada and fresh ingredients at inexpensive prices—exactly what North Park needs.

Rigoberto's Taco Shop — Restaurants in North Park, San Diego

“Rigoberto's is North Park's 24-hour taco-shop anchor—the place where post-show hunger, 3 a.m. cravings, and weekday breakfast runs all land at the same salsa bar.”

While Olympic slow-cooks Greek classics and Kin Len does northern Thai with wok precision, Rigoberto's occupies different territory entirely: the always-open taco shop that feeds the neighborhood when nowhere else will. The drive-thru hums at hours when 30th Street has gone dark, serving California burritos to bar staff clocking out and breakfast burritos to early risers who haven't slept yet. It's functional, familiar, and exactly what you want when you want it—which, around here, might be any hour of the day.

The menu runs the full taco-shop playbook without much fuss. Carne asada fries come loaded the way they should. The fish taco gets properly fried—crisp shell, tender inside—and the cabeza taco earns its keep with slow-cooked tenderness that doesn't need explanation. Breakfast means potato-bacon-egg-cheese in a flour tortilla, the kind of combination that works because it always has. But the real move is the salsa bar: the green salsa skews garlicky and bright without much heat, the kind of thing that changes how you think about what you're eating.

The California burrito benefits from customization—add sour cream, guac, and salsa roja to the standard carne asada-fries-pico-cheese build, and it becomes something worth the drive-thru wait. The chile relleno burrito works for anyone tired of the usual rotation. No bathrooms, no pretense, no surprise menu pivots. Just a steam table, a salsa bar, and a kitchen that's been doing this long enough to know that consistency beats novelty when you're open around the clock.

Parking's easy on University, even late. The 24-hour window matters more than it should until you need it—then it matters completely. This is the spot that makes North Park work at every hour, not just the ones when the tap lists are fresh.