MyBertos.com Brings Taco Shop Culture to Your Fingertips

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Picture this: it's a warm summer night following a day spent playing horse shoes and lounging at the beach with friends - perhaps even sneaking a few beers under the sun (shh, we won't tell).

The heat clings in the air as the sun goes down and all you can think about is food. Or, it's well past last call and hunger strikes harder than your last shot of tequila.

For any other city, answering a late night/early morning hunger pang is often limited to a trip to a fast food drive thru, but in San Diego we have the advantage of a nearly unlimited scattering of authentic Mexican taco shops, many with 24-hour drive thrus and quality ingredients usually found only south of the border.

Along with late afternoons at the beach and long nights at the beach bars comes the other San Diego summer staple: larger than life portioned, guacamole topped, hot sauced drenched, extra everything Mexican food. And I'm not talkin' sit-down restaurants with real plates and utensils.

Our advantage is geographic. With Mexico so near, San Diego is afforded the luxury of genuine Mexican food. Burritos in other cities just do not compare; we simply have the best. I mean, have you tried TexMex? Even a burrito in LA doesn't match the San Diegan standard.

But with hundreds of local under the radar shops across San Diego County, it's hard to try them all and really find your absolute favorite. Absolving this dilemma and on a mission to discover the best Cali Burrito by the coast is MyBertos.com - the first online community for taco shops.

MyBertos.com is essential for those of us in search of a superior set of rolled tacos or quality carne asada fries. The genius of the site is search engine technology. Rather than driving all over town looking for greasy treasures in hole in the wall shops, simply type in your area code or address and select from the directory of taco shop categories. From 24-hour shops to various restaurant styles and drive-thru only locations, MyBertos.com covers all important factors. And when you select your mile radius, your mouth will water at the map of genre-specific taco shops in your area.

The site is designed and run by Angelo Fernandez who now shares his discerning palate for Mexican cuisine with us. In lieu of how intrinsic taco shops are to San Diego culture, Angelo remarks on how the site began. "I'm not a San Diego native, so my first taco shop experience was Alejandro's in Mira Mesa."

Upon trying his first burrito in San Diego, the directory idea sparked. "I had never seen or tasted a burrito like this. The burrito put Taco Bell, Del Taco, and Baja Fresh to shame since those were the few I was familiar with in Los Angeles." Angelo continues that his love only grew when, to his surprise, he found out all taco shops in San Diego are not the same.

We all have our go-to taco shops; the tried and true hole in the wall spots we know will always be open just when we need them - most ending in some form of "bertos." For me, it's Humberto's, a late night burrito Mecca many denizens of Golden Hill rely on. For many La Mesans, it's the Buenos Dias' neon sign that guides their hungry stomachs to satisfaction. After a day at the beach not much beats the California Burrito at Taco Surf in Pacific Beach. Up north Encinitas citizens quell their cravings with a Justin Burrito at Rico's or a Rolled Flautas Plate at Juanita's in Leucadia. Down south Lolita's holds the fame with authentic enchiladas for days.

According to Angelo, a top shop is defined by the variety of multicolored hot sauces, a diversified side bar teeming with hot carrots, and of course, quality. Angelo believes his favorite shop, Super Sergio's in National City, has the best Carne Asada Burrito. "Nicely marinated and seasoned, this burrito is top notch." Angelo recommends ordering yours with guacamole and cheese. Angelo recommends heading to El Zarape on Park Boulevard to get your downtown fix of the iconic California Burrito. "The amount of fries in the burrito is just right and the carne asada is very tender," he shares.

Rolled tacos have a way with many San Diegan hearts and stomachs, for which El Patron on Mira Mesa Boulevard is a cut above the rest. In addition to being reasonably priced and well garnished, Angelo enthuses: "At El Patron, the meat is soft and feels like I'm eating fillet mignon. Seriously. They also have an open condiment bar, so you can refill on the hot sauce or go back for some free spicy carrots that both complement well with the rolled tacos."

Angelo calls the Carne Asada Fries at Juanberto's off Miramar Road the "crowd pleaser." At over 9 dollars, these fries might cause the common patron to hesitate, but they are well worth the extra cash. "The fries were crispy, the carne asada is soft, the guacamole thick and chunky. On an empty stomach, I was only able to finish half, so go in on it with a friend."

For the "burrito of all burritos" try J.V's Taco Shop on Morena Boulevard. "J.V.'s Surf and Turf Burrito is one not to kid around with. It normally comes in one giant tortilla wrap but having it chimichanga style just takes it to a whole other level."

While San Diego fine dining restaurants typically hold the spotlight year-round, summertime calls for a return to the basics: carne asada, rice, and beans - with all the fixings, of course. "Taco shops in San Diego are a culture unto themselves," says Angelo.

Summer is a state of mind in San Diego, but we can all feel the season approaching quickly with the drastic rise in recent temperatures. This means beach trips and late nights are soon to be more frequent and taco shops will quickly fill up with happy locals. Whether after a day at the sandy beach or a night at the beach bar, it's always the right time to cheers your glass of Horchata high to San Diego taco shops.

Hungry yet? Find a new "bertos" beginning or add your favorite "bertos" to the list and share the love. Want to fight the hype of popular spots or have a late-night guacamole horror story? Thanks to MyBertos.com, our traditional dining trend is one click closer. Check out the site and join the community today.