
“La Jolla taco counter where locals line up weekly for California burritos that out-of-towners remember for years.”
Reviewers mention 'close to the beach' as a practical benefit for grabbing food before or after.
Two reviewers specifically call out the California burrito as exceptional, one claiming 'one of the best I've had'.
Reviewers note it's a 'to-go' operation with minimal seating, typical fast-casual taco shop format.
One reviewer's partner 'ordered from this place basically almost every week for 5+ years' — this is a neighborhood ritual.
Multiple reviews highlight 'ton of vegetarian/vegan options' — soyrizo, cheese tamales, veggie enchiladas all praised.
“Don Carlos is where La Jolla locals go when they want an actual burrito, not a photo of one.”
While Girard Gourmet rotates soups and The Taco Stand pulls lines for grilled fish, Don Carlos differentiates by doing the neighborhood's least glamorous job: feeding people quickly, generously, and cheaply. The California burrito here — carne asada, fries, cheese, pico, guacamole — runs under $10 and consistently shows up in reviews as the best burrito people have ever had. The soyrizo appears in multiple forms: breakfast burritos, enchiladas, tacos. The vegetarian and vegan options aren't afterthoughts — they're half the draw.
This isn't the kind of place that benefits from lingering. There are three seats inside, a handful of tables outside on Pearl Street. Most orders are takeout. The move is ordering ahead if you're feeding a group post-beach — the portions are large enough that one burrito often splits into lunch and dinner. The Ari Shaffir burrito (named after the comedian) gets called out repeatedly, though the menu doesn't explain what's in it beyond the standard California format.
The salsas — both red and green — get as many mentions as the food itself. They're not packaged or watered down. You'll use more than you expect.
Practically: parking on Pearl is easier than fighting for a spot near the cove, and the walk back to most vacation rentals below the bluff takes under ten minutes. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though hours aren't posted reliably online. The cheese and jalapeño tamale shows up in multiple orders alongside the soyrizo enchiladas, which suggests the vegetarian menu isn't just theoretical.
This is a taco shop in the old sense — fast, affordable, no pretense about what it is. The village has plenty of places where you pay for the view or the vibe. Don Carlos charges you for the food.
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Smallgoods Cheese Shop & Cafe offers a natural progression from savory tacos to artisanal cheese and coffee, ideal for a post-meal casual stroll and dessert.
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858 Burger pairs perfectly as a complementary casual meal option—grab tacos at Don Carlos, then satisfy burger cravings nearby without duplicating the taco experience.
737 Pearl St UNIT 113, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
6 months ago