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wow.... Didnt know carnitas were noted in the great song...

Rubios is a little better but Taco Cabana is very good. I need to get back to California for Rubios (or Phoenix)

I can't think of any chain restaurants that have good tacos in California. FIN'S used to be a chain that serves one of the better fish tacos. They had 6 locations when I lived in San Diego, but they have only 2 now or maybe 1.

Fins

Do you mean soft shell as in flour, e.g., Chipotle, or soft shell as in not cooked crunchy corn tortillas?

OK small chains in San Diego include Roberto's and Alberto's.

Fins is good, I live a few minutes from one and go there often. Rubios used to be good but IMO over the past 5-6 years their tacos have begun to really suck. Wahoo's is good too, another SD-only place (as far as I know). The Roberto's/Royberto's type chains are really delicious depending on the location around the county. :)

Am I the only one who finds Chipotle disgusting? Everyone seems to love that place...but I tried a burrito there once and was totally unimpressed. Maybe I need to give them another shot since people always talk about how much they like it.

I would add another vote for Chipotle, although, I must say that I slightly prefer their Burritos to their tacos, I find their tacos to be outstandingly good.

Wahoo's fish tacos with Mr Lee's sauce

http://www.wahoos.com/

I can't eat their burritos anymore, my stomach gets all crazy on me.

Their tacos though are still good (IMO) and I get them if I really need my Chipotle fix.

For this native Californian, Surf Taco is the closest thing on the east coast to what I remember from my youth.


http://www.surftaco.com/

Best, best tacos in L.A. - Tito's Tacos on Washington Place, in Culver City. Not a chain, but fantastic. I read a review that said they are not "super authentic" and I guess that is true: meat, cheese, lettuce and a fantastic sauce/salsa , and so tasty! There are always lines there, and although we don't live near there, we detour whenever we are nearby. I have met people across L.A. who have been there and love it.

This thread drove me to have dinner at Chipotle last night - although I had a beef burrito, not tacos.

This thread has made me want to try Chipotle next time we are in the US -- either the one on the Vegas Strip by Harrahs or in Palm Desert.....

Chacho's is a smaller chain, but still counts imo.

Best fast-tacos in Houston (Westheimer at Fountain View); you order, watch the old ladies roll out the tortillas as they take the dough out from the kitchenaid stand mixers, grab your food & margraitas and enjoy.

Ive never been to their other Texan outlets.

I'm not sure they actually are "chains," but anyone who has actually spent any time in San Diego (BA-UCSD, 1983) knows that you can't go wrong with any Mexican take-out or drive-through that ends in "...berto's" (My favorite one was "Humberto's")