Authentic Flavors to Enjoy at Home!

Join us for Happy Hour

Hillcrest’s Favorite
Mexican Grill

Cater your events

Tacaliente Mexican Grill

Looking for a tasty and authentic Mexican dining experience? Look no further than Tacaliente, the newest addition to Hillcrest’s food scene. Our menu offers a fresh take on traditional Mexican cuisine, crafted with care by a local native who knows what it takes to make great food. From our delicious tacos to our mouthwatering salsa, we use only the freshest, highest quality ingredients to create dishes that will leave your taste buds tingling. Come on in and see for yourself why Tacaliente is quickly becoming Hillcrest’s favorite neighborhood Mexican grill.

SEE MENU

Fresh ingredients to bring you the best

At Tacaliente, we pride ourselves on using only the freshest ingredients to bring you the best-tasting Mexican food in Hillcrest. We source our produce locally from Southern California, which not only supports our community but also allows us to provide you with the most authentic and flavorful dishes possible.

CATERING

Enjoy our food, your way

At Tacaliente, we understand that life in San Diego can be busy, which is why we offer our food to be enjoyed on your terms. Whether you prefer to dine in and savor the experience of our restaurant or take your food to go and catch a stunning sunset, we are here to accommodate your needs. Conveniently located in Hillcrest, we are excited to offer you the best Mexican food in the area, however you choose to enjoy it!

ORDER ONLINE

Tacaliente Mexican Grill

4.7

ooplopoo

05:45 11 Oct 22

My new favorite local spot for some fast and delicious Mexican food. I got the surf and turf fries which was freshly made and perfectly seasoned. The fried fish taco was also a highlight with the array of toppings added on. The best part is that the price point for what you get is perfect. Will be dropping by again!

Tania Ballo

19:21 24 Sep 22

Tacaliente has been the absolute best Mexican restaurant to open in Hilcrest in YEARS. The ambience is amazing! So different from what it used to be. You can tell the new owners have put in a lot of work to make it a better environment!Since they have opened my family and I come here at least 3 times a week for so many reasons. The taste and quality of the food is unmatched and the pricing is great!!My brother and I shared the Al pastor fries and the Caliente Super Bowl and they were deliciousThe front of house staff and chefs are incredibly accommodating and friendly. The owner of the business himself has personally come up to us to greet us while having our meal to make sure we're doing well every time we're there.And can we just talk about those happy hour Micheladas!!!! DELICIOUS. One of the best I've ever had and I don't even really like beer to begin with lol

David Castro

02:22 13 Sep 22

Accidentally took the photo after taking some bites. But that’s because it was THAT good! Found my new favorite taco shop in the area and I’ll be a regular. Got the carne asada fries and my girlfriend got a Cali burrito. Both were 10/10! Meat was tender and flavorful. They didn’t skimp in the ingredients; the burrito was LOADED! Do yourself a favor try it out!

Shane Coles

23:12 31 Jul 22

A new Mexican spot in Hillcrest featuring premium marinated delicious Carne asada as well as vegan options such as bowls and tacos. Even vegan salsa options. The surf and turf burrito was actually the size of my forearm and tasted great for both lunch and dinner. Can really taste the flavor and tenderness of their steak. Staff was super friendly and happy to help out and toss in extra salsa.

Andrew McCauley

05:16 05 Jul 22

We discovered this place after a long day at the zoo… and we were very happy… prices were very reasonable and the food was great. Apparently this place has just opened and it was very clean snd the staff were also friendly too. Great choice