Vallarta Express Mexican Eatery

I can never get it my way here, every time I go. I’ve tried to speak spanish and english neither helps. Id love to use the drive thru but nobody gets it right.
I want a Chorizo burrito with «ONE EGG only» and double (extra extra) refried beans, it is always 2 or 3 eggs with hardly any beans sometimes with cheese, I didn’t order cheese? WTF ?
Make sure to tell them no lettuce on rolled tacos, you get very little guacomole.
The Pico de gallo is very wet and cold will chill any burrito going any distance, eat it quick.
California burrito fries are raw, they need to cook em longer.

Vallarta has been one of my favorite taco spots for awhile now; The burritos are very large and they always make everything fresh to order. This time I Got the mahimahi burrito, around $ 8, it was huge as usual. It was stuffed with freshly grilled mahimahi, cabbage, and pico, probably other stuff too. So tasty!
I also like their carnitas burritos and tacos, they are made with the grilled cubed type rather than the shredded type, which is harder to find, i think. I also like their guacamole better than most taco shops, it’s thicker than most places.
What also sets their burritos apart from other taco shops is their tortilla wrap, they seem to have the perfect grill or char to each one. I don’t know if its the type of tortilla they use or how they grill it, or a combination of both, i just know it elevates the whole thing. I know its quite and odd observation, but its like having the right char, crunch and chew to a pizza crust, it really makes the whole thing better.
Also open 24 hours.

This place ALWAYS hits the spot. I always get their carne asana fries. Their fries are always so fresh and crunchy. It is topped with dollops of sour cream and guacamole. The carne is not tough and thinly sliced. Pairing it with red sauce and green sauce is the perfect match.
I prefer their normal carne asana fries rather than Christian fries which has eggs and bacon.

My go to spot for late night mexican food. They are open ²⁴⁄₇ so if you are starving at night, this is the place to go to.
I usually order their California burrito or their Carne asada fries which are both delicious. I have also tried their carnitas torta and those are also bomb.
The best thing is their sauces. The red sauce is out of this world and I smother all their food in it. Their green sauce is also very good. If you use their drive through remember to ask for extra sauce.

Your salsa game is weak.
Tu juego de salsa esta debil.
But its open 24 hrs though and their food is always delicious! But salsa game is weeaaak
4 stars

FUN FACT: I can finish a whole box of carne asada/​Christian fries ALONE. THAT’S RIGHT, ladies and gents! Be in awe of my capacity and potential.
Vallarta is known for its ²⁴⁄₇ business hours since it’s super close to campus AND it’s perfect late night munchies-​weekdays or weekends. I like to call this the «original» just because… I think it is. I’ve tried the one in Mira Mesa which is equally as good but it’s not the same feel if you don’t get the anticipation of sitting out in the cold for your food…
I’ve been coming here since 2013 and I’ve brought numerous friends here throughout my years in college. Everyone LOVES it!
Items I’ve tried include:
–Carne Asada Fries: This is my go-​to whenever I come here! Crispy fries, guac, sour cream, flavorful carne asada meat and LOTS of cheese gets me SO PUMPED! Mix it with the red sauce and THIS, my friends, is the last meal on earth for me (as stated in my Unilocal profile).
–Christian Fries: Same as the carne asada fries EXCEPT, for $ 2 more ($ 10.20 now), you get two sunny-​side up eggs and bacon bits! A bit too overwhelming for me, but I still finished the whole box. So that says something, right?
–California burrito: It’s basically carne asada fries wrapped in a burrito. So… before you go all out and get a box of carne asada fries, definitely get this first if it’s your first time! (Though I do like to say «go big or go home».)
–Surf and Turf burrito: Shrimp and carne asada meat! It had a bit too much sour cream but it had good chunks of meat and shrimp! YUMMMMMMMM!
–Horchata: Eh. One of the things I don’t recommend since it tasted a bit watered down. (They just get it from the soda fountain, not homemade or anything.)
Pros:
–Quick service. The drive thru is insane at night but it’s amazing how fast they take orders inside and outside!
–Awesome portions. You’ll see for yourself!
–Good variety. Love their menu! Easy to read, and definitely super friendly for all age groups.
Cons:
–Since things are just kind of thrown together, it’s not super consistent each time (ie: how much sour cream) BUT the food is amazing each time.
Tips/​Observations:
–If you don’t want anything too heavy, the tacos are the perfect size! It’s around $ 8-​$ 9 for 2 tacos.
–MUST. TRY. THE. RED. SAUCE. I have no idea what’s in it, but it’s AMAZING. You can put it with anything, and I guarantee you’ll need at least three of those little ramekins to finish a meal.
–Parking here is pretty spacious. I’ve always been able to find parking regardless of the time I come at, but I must warn you that the parking lines are not drawn very clearly.
COME HERE. PLEASE. They’ve opened up a bunch of new places in PB, Encinitas… and I’m sure there are more elsewhere! I hope they take over the world, because they deserve to.

If you’re looking for some midnight snacking that won’t let you down quality-​wise, Vallartas is definitely the place to go!
Try their California burrito to satisfy that craving for carne asada, French fries, and more. Their rolled tacos are one of my favorites, not to mention that they load generous amounts of lettuce and other garnishes on top. Can’t complain with 4 huge taquitos under all of that goodness! Additionally, their carne asada fries are delicious; even better, upgrade that order to «Christian» fries to add not only a fried egg, but bacon! Frankly, can you really ever go wrong with bacon? Don’t forget to add their green and red sauce for that extra punch of flavor.
It may be a bit busier on Friday/​weekend nights and what not because this establishment has a lot of foot traffic from college students, but is that really their fault? Their food hits the spot for that ideal midnight snack and waiting in line (which goes quickly) is worth it.
Parking is easy and has always been readily available in the lot.

I came to this location with the goal of stopping by HoneyBaked Ham next door but unfortunately they closed their deli thirty minutes before closing.
I decided to stop by here instead and give the fish burrito a try. I love fish tacos so naturally assumed a burrito would be just as awesome. I normally get the carne asada fries here but the fish burrito did not disappoint. The fish was crispy and the slaw and sauce were on point.
My favorite thing about Vallertas is that their orange sauce seems spicier than comparable restaurants. Normally I dislike spots without a salsa bar, but a mixture of their green+orange salsas lathered over my food is good enough for me.
*note* my picture of the burrito was take after I made the tortilla crunchy by rolling my burrito around on the stove lol (I have odd preferences). The tortillas normally just come slightly warmed.

CHRISTIAN FRIES!
(Off the secret menu)
Every college student from the SD area knows that for 24-​hour late night munchies, you go here. They also know about an item that is not on the menu, the Christian fries. These fries are so good they will make you believe in Jesus! Lol just kidding. Supposedly the guy who made this incredible twist on the classic carne asada fries is named Christian.
+ CHRISTIAN FRIES: Carne asada fries topped with cheese, guac, sour cream, fried egg, and bacon! It is a huge serving in a styrofoam to-​go box and you should most definitely share this with multiple people. The crispy bacon and fried egg that drips runny yolk is a serious game changer. You get crunchy bits, soft and crunchy egg, runny yolk, guac, sour cream, cheese, well cooked meat, and fries all in one huge bite! Also, definitely get the green and red hot sauce with your fries and drizzle it all over the top. I personally liked the green sauce better.
+ HORCHATA: We also got horchata with our Christian fries, and it really helped balance out the salty and spicy flavors from the fries and hot sauce.
This location is very small with more outside seating, but has a drive-​thru, so it is ideal for taking it home. We crammed near the cash register and scarfed the whole thing down in less than 10 minutes, so you could do that too.

I always stop by whenever I’m in SD. I’m craving their burritos as I write this review now.
Parking can be tricky as they have a small lot and they’re located next to a big plaza. If you don’t want to look for parking, you can always go to the drive thru.
Seating is very limited as there’s only 3 – 4 seats inside, but lots of seating outside. this is more of a to-​go place.
I always want to get like 10 different items everytime I come here. but their California burritos are delicious! can’t go wrong with that.

Meh. I’ve experienced better. Even though this is the more popular ²⁴⁄₇ Mexican place in SD, I never saw the hype. Sure they give you a lot of food, but the quality is definitely lacking and they put a lot more of the stuff you don’t want (i.e. guac. salsa, cheese), than the meats/​fries/​etc. And something me and my friends notice is that the food generally is cold/​luke warm — I think it’s the salsa or guac they leave refrigerated, which is always a bummer. Even for drunchies, I just don’t find the same satisfaction I get from Rigobertos.
And be wary that there are maybe 4 seats inside and like 5 small tables outside. But at least they have a pretty quick drive through. Go here for the experience but don’t have that high expectations for the food.

If you’re looking for a Mexican shop with clean white chicken meat for a healthy meal, then do no hesitate to stop by. This is my goto place for a basic chicken and rice burrito (not on the menu but you just ask for it and they know what it means) after my workout sessions.
Don’t be fooled by their «orange» hot sauce because it’s literally fire – very spicy! If you’re ever in the drive-​through, do not hesitate to ask for 20 hot sauces!
What I also love about this place is that you can ask to substitute regular pinto beans for black beans.

I’ve been coming here since 2008.
Vallarta is a good late night Mexican food option after drinking. As a lactose-​intolerant person, however, their excessive use of sour cream + cheese is meaningless to me. (since I remove them most of the times).
Their service is very efficient but due to how popular this location is, it can take forever to receive your food. I once waited about an hour at 2:30am just to get my food. (beware!!)
Burritos are well-​made and doesn’t taste gross afterwards. Their sauces are good but I still prefer Super Sergios’.

This place is ALWAYS packed especially at night time because of all the late night college students. Despite the crazy business they get here, the service here is quick so the wait is never too long!
Usually, I get the California burrito which is already bomb af. Today, I decided to try the CHRISTIAN BURRITO which isn’t on the menu but you can request it! It is so filling… Definitely need to share with someone. The christian burrito consists of everything in the california burrito with the addition of eggs and bacon. Think I would stick to my usual california burrito since I could barely finish that as it is. Oh yeah, don’t forget to add the red sauce to the burrito because it adds some spice and it’s the best sauce I’ve ever had!
For the price and amount you get, this place is so worth it! Would definitely recommend this to everyone, especially to broke college students.

This review is specifically for the carne asada fries I ordered today. The meat was very flavorful (although a bit salty) however the fries were soggy and seemed old. The toppings were mediocre and the salsa verde was lacking in flavor.
Now this said I have had many items on the menu that were really good. Unfortunately today’s item was not one of them.

I used to come here all the time during college and graduate school for some late night Mexican food. Now that I’m gone, I always crave this place. There’s only two real burritos I get. The carne asada burrito and the California burrito. The only difference is that you get more meat in the carne asada burrito. Both of them have pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cheese but only the California burrito has the fries!
Overall: Place is open ²⁴⁄₇ and great for a Late night Mexican fix! Even has a drive through if you don’t feel like getting it of your car! There’s another location in Mira Mesa but I haven’t tried it yet.

Almost pointless adding my 2 cents into the 700+ reviews but I will anyway. This is 110% drunk food. Don’t get me wrong it’s still good sober but drunk it must be amazing. Sad to say I went sober and got the carne asada fries with a pile of guacamole, sour cream and cheese on top. I even look home some of the red sauce they have. The only bad thing was that the fries were not quite as crispy as I like but everything else was really good. Just a massive pile of yummy greasy food.
The red sauce stuff was also really good. I don’t know what it is but it’s spicy and I can just dump it on. I’m not from around here so it’s all new to me. Well I say give this place a try. With maybe 4 or more drinks in you.

You can’t go wrong with Mexican food! Definitely get the Christian fries. It’s your typical carne asada fries but with bacon and over easy eggs. SOOOO GOOOOOOD! The burrito was gigantic! Wasn’t the best asada I’ve had but definitely hit the spot!
If you’re around and craving Mexican food, I would definitely recommend this place.

The Definitive California Burrito.
After a long wait in the drive thru the payoff was a very heavy California Burrito. When I got back to the office I made a promise to myself to only eat half of it. My first bite was pure steak. Tasty, little charred from the grilling, nice sized pieces. The second bite was more steak and fries. The fries were a little crispy, definitely not soggy. Continuing on there was cheese, sour cream, guac (I think). It wasn’t long till I realized that I ate most of the burrito. What I realized was that I enjoyed it so much, I just couldn’t stop eating it. For me, that puts Vallarta Express in my «Best Burritos of San Diego List»
— Drive thru is a bear
— It’s confirmed faster to walk up and order Vs. Drive Thru
— Parking sucks because you can get blocked by the Drive Thru line (Park in the lot behind this restaurant).

One of my favorite mexican restaurants whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or late at night after a long day of drinking.
Yes they have a dining area.
Yes they have a drive thru.
Yes they have a variety of items on the menu.
But I usually only come here for their carne asada fries…
OR their famous CHRISTIAN FRIES.
+ Christian Fries $ 10.80 (after tax)
(Carne Asada Fries with Crispy Bacon, Fried Eggs, Sour Cream, Guacamole & Cheese)
This item is not on the menu, but you can order it at ANY vallarta’s! It’s always such a huge portion, I highly recommend sharing it with at least another person. The bacon is always nicely crispy. The eggs are fully cooked. But the meat is ok because they grill their meat on a real grill, so sometimes it gets too overcooked and dry. But it’s definitely something worth trying at least once.
I love their orange colored hot sauce! Always tons of flavor and a nice spicy kick it. Not too spicy and not too mild.
Yup, that’s all I really go here for.