7 Places To Actually Get Crazy Good Carne Asada Fries In San Diego

The ultimate food dream, for locals and visitors alike

San Diego is home to many of the important things in life: sandy beaches, warm sunshine, and everyone’s favorite invention, carne asada fries.

Whilst in San Diego, the eating of said fries is somewhat of a religious ritual. And, similar to how New Yorkers feel about their pizza, what people are looking for when it comes to the presentation and taste of this divine delicacy varies from individual to individual.

Whether you’re venturing from out of state or venturing from down the street, we’ve rounded up 7 favorite spots to find the best, wildly tasty carne aside fries.

Coming in at the number one pick time and time again is none other than Lolita’s Taco Shop. Since 1984, Lolita’s family-owned restaurants have been serving generous portions of authentic Mexican food. You’ll find a pile of golden fries with hefty dollops of guac, Cojita cheese, crema and of course — that ribboned, perfectly seasoned steak.

To say this plate of beauty will make all your carne asada fry dreams come true is an understatement.

Wanna go crazy? Ask for the tsunami fries with shrimp.

As they state on their Instagram account, “LaPuertaSD carne asada fries need no introduction.” Behold La Puerta’s artistic masterpiece: the carne asada fries which can be found for half price during happy hour.

They’re heavy and beautiful — piled high with salsa and onions and drizzled with loads of crema. Wash them down with a margarita and you’ll be all set for your night out in the Gaslamp.

If you want that incredible and authentic taco shop feel, give El Paisa a try — located in Pacific Beach and also on 47th Street. A little bit of everything and not too much of anything is the name of the game with these fries (although they do pile that meat on high).

Order a little extra guac if you please and top your treat with any sort of taco fillings you desire. To quench your thirst, there’s agua frescas aplenty — like melon and horchata. (And maybe, cheesecake for dessert.)

Known as the cotixan fries, these babies have guacamole, carne asada, sour cream and shredded cheese. There’s a simplicity to them that people love. A heaping plate for $8.40 in combination with the fact that Cotixan is known as a just-before-midnight option makes this the perfect fry stop with friends.

Venture to their salsa bar if you’re in the mood for hot, mild or green sauce to top your night off.

Known for their surf ‘n’ turf burritos, combo plates and of course — carne asada fries — Sarita’s in Spring Valley is your open-24-hour-option for munchies.

Residing in the ever-so-famous white styrofoam box with a layer of thin yellow paper, the fries are plopped in a basic and glorious manner, awaiting to be devoured by eager eaters. Yum.

For a mound of carne asada fries coming in at $9 — eating these with friends accounts for the best Friday night tradition ever. Famous in the world of college students and late-night eaters, Rigoberto’s has a couple different locations and make their warm, crispy fries to order. You can even go for the option of pollo asada if you *shudder* aren’t in the carne mood.

True to this shop’s slogan, each week we find ourselves counting down the days until we can say “Let’s Taco!” to our friends – you know, without looking like a glutton or something. But lucky for all San Diegans, The Taco Stand has locations downtown, in Encinitas and La Jolla – so perhaps the true solution is to just maintain friendships in different area codes (thanks for the tip, Ludacris)!

But seriously. If you think we’re being a little… dramatic… you need to try these fries. Once you’ve tried this particular mixture of flame grilled 100% Certified Angus Beef goodness, guac, sour cream and cheese, the line out the door of this spot will be making a whole lot more sense to you.

$8.49 can buy you happiness, my friends. Add some shrimp to the mixture for an extra dollar, but feel about one million dollars richer.

Whether you’re visiting San Diego or just in the mood for exploring one of the local staples — we hope these 7 options prove a sufficient amount of carne asada food experimentation is in your near future.

From all of us at There San Diego, we wish you happy eating as you indulge in your fry-filled adventure!