@print/online: The Taco Stand, Restaurant and Bar Guide Fall 2015 @date: September 30, 2015 @section: Arts and Lifestyle @words: 541 @byline1: Christine Whitman @byline2: Senior Staff Writer For some reason, there seems to be a highly rated restaurant offering authentic Mexican cuisine on every street corner in San Diego, except in La Jolla. But as it turns out, San Diegans can find a family owned taquería less than two miles from the shoreline after a long day of beach activities. Located on Pearl St., The Taco Stand originally opened its doors to the public in 2013, and is currently scheduled to open another location in Encinitas later this year. The Taco Stand opens at 11 a.m. everyday and closes at 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends, giving local La Jolla residents plenty of time to enjoy what the establishment has to offer. The restaurant’s menu includes a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But the Taco Stand sees its largest crowds during the evening hours, especially on Taco Tuesday where the price per taco decreases. The shop has a assortment of tacos, one of the most popular, the Al Pastor ($3), consisting of rotisserie marinate pork on a corn tortilla topped with cilantro, onion, cilantro sauce, salsa, and interestingly—pineapple. Although The Taco Stand offers several sauces to accompany its dishes, including mild chipotle, medium heat cilantro and salsa verde; its recommended to try the taco individually without adding the additional sauces to absorb the spiciness of the cilantro and the sweetness of the pineapple in a single bite. While a California burrito ($7.09) can certainty be enjoyed at almost every establishment offering Mexican cuisine, it never hurts to try another. The Taco Stand’s take on the classic entre features Angus steak, cheese, fries, guacamole, tomato, and sour crème wrapped in a flour tortilla. As a general warning, don’t be surprised if the first bite contains solely tomatoes because every bite following is a mixture of the listed ingredients. The freshness of each ingredient pairs nicely with the plethora of sauces mentioned earlier, in the simplest terms—go crazy. Surf and turf burritos are commonly held on high pedestals as a crowd favorite, although the Mar y Tierra ($8.29) featuring, grilled shrimp, Angus steak, melted cheese, cabbage, avocado, tomato and chipotle sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla held up to the establishment’s high standards of taste, it may loose in a taste test against other restaurants offering almost identical dishes in San Diego. The Angus steak is seasoned to perfection, but the seasoning on the grilled shrimp seems to be lacking, simply thrown in for the added texture. The establishment offers both indoor table and outdoor bench seating, allowing small groups to inhale the mouthwatering aroma of marinated pork, and large groups to soak up the sun and enjoy the occasional sea breeze. Besides the array of tacos and burritos on the menu, The Taco Stand also serves imported bottled beer to clientele of legal drinking age, as well as Mexican Coca-Cola, Jamaica and Horchata for all ages. For customers craving something sweet, fruit popsicles in a variety of flavors, as well as Rosarito-style churros, three per order, are also available. The two burritos and taco combination totaled $18.38 plus tax, which is more than affordable for such advanced combinations of flavors. Don’t forget, The Taco Stand going up, on a Tuesday. @Copy: The Taco Stand Website http://letstaco.com