Is there parking at Ocho?

Parking right at the order window is tight—spots fill up fast. Your best bet: park in the surrounding Bankers Hill neighborhood and walk over. Since most people order to-go, spots do turn over frequently, so don't give up if the lot looks full on your first pass.

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

Walk-ups are the norm here—this is a casual counter-order spot, not a sit-down reservation place. The line moves quickly even during busy times, though weekend brunch can get crowded. Go early or off-peak if you want zero wait.

What should I order on my first visit?

Start with the tacos (asada and carnitas are standouts) or go big with a burrito—the bacon burrito is massive enough for two meals, and the machaca is genuinely excellent. If you're there for breakfast, the chilaquiles plate and mini chorizo-egg burrito are solid. Their iced Mexican mocha deserves a mention too.

Is Ocho good for kids and families?

Absolutely. It's marked as kid-friendly and casual, with generous portions that kids can share. The menu is straightforward, prices are inexpensive, and the atmosphere is relaxed—families come here regularly.

Yes, the outdoor seating area is dog-friendly. You can grab a table on the patio with your pup while you eat, which makes it a solid neighborhood spot for a casual meal with your dog.

Do you have vegetarian or dietary options?

They have vegetarian options on the menu, including bean and cheese burritos and other plant-based items. Portions are generous, so veggie choices here are satisfying, not an afterthought.

When's the best time to go to avoid a wait?

Breakfast or lunch on weekdays will be your fastest bet. Weekends and brunch hours draw crowds, but the line moves reasonably fast. One heads-up: some reviews mention occasional slowness during peak times, so order-ahead or go during off-hours if you're short on time.

What's the vibe—is this casual or do I need to dress up?

This is pure casual. It's a neighborhood taco and burrito joint in Bankers Hill with outdoor seating and a quick-service feel. Come as you are—people grab food to-go or eat at picnic tables.

Ocho Mexican Food & Cafe — Tacos in Bankers Hill, San Diego

“Ocho runs the morning shift for Bankers Hill's workaday crowd—breakfast burritos the size of forearms, real chilaquiles, and zero pretense about being anything other than a walk-up taco window.”

While Parc polishes silverware for date night and CUCINA moves bottles of Barolo across Fifth Avenue, Ocho handles the unsexy logistics of feeding people before 9 AM—which means the bacon burrito gets portioned like you might actually need lunch later, and the machaca comes wrapped tight enough to survive the walk back to your apartment. This is order-at-the-window Mexican food that doesn't pander: the iced Mexican mocha arrives properly creamy with chocolate sediment at the bottom, the kind of detail that separates a coffee shop from a café that happens to sell coffee.

The menu sprawls wider than you'd expect from a takeout window—mini tortas, monthly specials, a full chilaquiles plate that one couple split for breakfast and still had leftovers. Portions tilt generous without crossing into novelty-burrito territory: the mini chorizo-and-egg works as an actual single serving, while the standard bacon burrito handles two meals if you're not trying to prove anything. The line moves fast most mornings, though the kitchen occasionally bogs down on simple orders—one customer clocked thirty minutes for a bean-and-cheese, which suggests staffing gaps during rushes.

Parking's the recurring annoyance: a few spots near the window, then you're circling the surrounding blocks and hoofing it back with your coffee getting cold. Most people grab-and-go, so turnover's decent if you're patient. The monthly specials keep regulars checking back, and the menu's deep enough that items share names across formats (the bandido exists as both mini torta and burrito, so clarify when ordering). No one's calling this a destination, but if you live within six blocks and need breakfast that isn't pastry-case muffins, Ocho's the dependable play—the spot that's there when the French-press ritual feels like too much work.

Ocho Mexican Food & Cafe

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