This is way, way off the beaten path. Located in the heart of El Cajon’s Bostonia neighborhood, Rodeos Market is a gem in a gem-field of great places to eat along Broadway.

Inside you’ll find all the normal stuff you’d expect in a Mexican meat market. Lots of meat, lots of vegetables, lots of fruits, and a few grocery items you don’t typically find in communities which don’t border Mexico.

But Rodeo’s also has an excellent taco counter. Don’t be shy, step up to the counter and ask the lovely staff what they have cooking. On a normal day you’ll find carne asada, carnitas, and pollo asada. But on some days you’ll find several other options, including my favorite guilty pleasure… lengua. (Beef tongue) This perfectly cooked meat is tender and full of flavor. It’s similar in texture to pot roast but with even more flavor.

I typically order three street tacos (pretty small) and then walk to the back of the shop to score a Jarritos. (They also sell Coca-Cola made with real sugar!) Then I head to the produce area and grab a fresh avacado. After I pick up my little bundle of taste from the counter, I head to the cash register and take my pick of wonderful Mexican candies. My favorite candy at Rodeos is the coconut bars colored like the Mexican flag.

After paying, head outside and grab a stool by the counter. You can enjoy a little taste of East County culture while you indulge in the best street tacos in East County.

Bringing the fun of Mexico to San Diego Lucha Libre is a great little taco shop located just north of downtown San Diego in the Mission Hills neighborhood. The first thing that will smack you in the head about this place is the wrestling theme. Lucha libre, Spanish for free fighting, is a form of professional wrestling practiced in Mexico and Latin America. If you liked Jack Black’s Nacho Libre than you’ll love the decor of this place.

The Good: As far as the food goes I was completely satisfied. Gourmet tacos, great salsas, Jarritos, and the infamous TJ hotog. What is a TJ hotdog? This is an all-beef dog, wrapped in bacon and swamped in grilled onions, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. This is one of those things you just have to try when you visit. At just $1.50 it’s worth it even if you just take one bite. The thing that makes Lucha Libre truly unique is the wrestling decor. Hot pink seats, wrestling posters and movies, masks, belts, and of course an area reserved for the champion. You’ll want to bring a camera and snap some photos of your group eating the TJ hotdog here. Price wise this may be the best deal in San Diego. Specialty tacos are less than $4 each. Even the hungriest of families is going to come up at less than $10 per person.

The Bad: If success in the restaurant business is based on location, location, location, than these guys are in trouble. The shop is small, seating about 30, and parking can be an issue.  The flip side of their location is that it’s really close to the airport. When we pick up friends from out-of-town we make Lucha Libre our first stop and indoctrination into San Diego.

Lucha Libre Taco Shop