Best Mexican Food on Convoy
4 picksThe short answer
The best Mexican food on Convoy depends on what you're after: Lolita's Mexican Food for carne asada fries, The Taco Stand for tacos and churros late, El Gordo Mexican Food for birria and an early drive-thru.
- Best for carne asada fries: Lolita's Mexican Food
- Best for tacos and churros late: The Taco Stand
- Best for birria and an early drive-thru: El Gordo Mexican Food
- Best for breakfast burritos and big plates: Brother's 3 Mexican Food
How to choose
Convoy is San Diego's Asian food capital, but when the craving is a burrito, four taco shops have it covered: a San Diego institution for carne asada fries, a taco stand open until midnight on weekends, a 6am drive-thru for birria and breakfast, and a family-run counter for breakfast burritos and sit-down plates.
Pick by what you're after. Carne asada fries or a California burrito: Lolita's, with easy parking in Independence Square. Tacos and churros late: The Taco Stand in Convoy Court, open until midnight Friday and Saturday — order ahead, because the lot is brutal. Breakfast on the way to work, or birria: El Gordo's drive-thru opens at 6am on weekdays. A breakfast burrito, ceviche tostada or molcajete from a family kitchen: Brother's 3, closed Sundays.
Reviews on all four are mixed on burrito fill and seasoning, so order to each shop's strength — the picks below say what that is.
Before you go: tips for Mexican food on Convoy
- Order The Taco Stand ahead online — cooked-to-order waits can run 30 to 60 minutes
- Breakfast burritos start at 6am at El Gordo (weekdays), 7am at Lolita's and 8am at Brother's 3
- Brother's 3 is closed on Sundays
- Easiest parking: Lolita's and Brother's 3; The Taco Stand shares the brutal Convoy Court lot
- El Gordo and Lolita's have salsa bars; at Brother's 3, ask for the habanero
Compare the picks side by side
| Spot | Best for | Style | Burrito | Breakfast from | Open until | Parking | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lolita's Mexican Food | Carne asada fries | Sit-down taco shop, kiosk ordering | $12 carne asada, $13.70 California; fries $14.05 / $18.75 | 7am daily | 9pm | Easy | - |
| The Taco Stand | Tacos and churros late | Chain taco stand, mostly takeout | $10.49 California; tacos from $3.85 | - (opens 10am) | 10pm (midnight Fri–Sat) | Brutal | Often |
| El Gordo Mexican Food | Birria and an early drive-thru | Drive-thru taco shop | About $14-16 | 6am weekdays (7am Sat, 9am Sun) | 10pm | Medium | - |
| Brother's 3 Mexican Food | Breakfast burritos and big plates | Family counter, full menu | About $16-18 | 8am (closed Sun) | 8pm | Easy | - |
Prices are approximate, before tax, as reported by recent diners. A dash means we haven't confirmed it.
The 4 picks
Lolita's Mexican Food
The San Diego institution: carne asada fries (a half order fills most people), California burritos and the 2 in 1 with rolled tacos inside. Big renovated room, patio with a fire pit and easy parking — but pricier than most taco shops, and burritos can come underfilled.
The Taco Stand
Handmade tortillas, a loaded salsa bar and churros worth the trip on their own, open until midnight Friday and Saturday. Mostly takeout, in the brutal Convoy Court lot — order ahead online.
El Gordo Mexican Food
A castle-fronted taco shop with a drive-thru that opens at 6am on weekdays, handmade corn tortillas and a seven-salsa bar. Get the quesabirria, cabeza or carnitas; skip the carne asada.
Brother's 3 Mexican Food
Family-run counter in Mercury Village with a menu that runs past burritos to ceviche tostadas, molcajete and mole. Forearm-sized burritos, a habanero salsa worth asking for and easy parking. Closed Sundays.
Latin, but not Mexican
Want Latin flavors without the taco shop?
Mexican food on Convoy: common questions
Where is the best Mexican food on Convoy?
Lolita's for carne asada fries and California burritos, The Taco Stand for tacos and churros late, El Gordo for birria and an early drive-thru, and Brother's 3 for breakfast burritos and sit-down plates like molcajete. Reviews on all four are mixed, so order to each one's strength.
Where can I get a breakfast burrito early near Convoy?
El Gordo's drive-thru opens at 6am on weekdays (7am Saturday, 9am Sunday). Lolita's opens at 7am every day, and Brother's 3 at 8am Monday to Saturday.
Which Mexican spot on Convoy is open latest?
The Taco Stand, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 10pm other nights. El Gordo is open until 10pm every day, Lolita's until 9pm and Brother's 3 until 8pm.
Is there a Mexican drive-thru on Convoy?
Yes — El Gordo Mexican Food at 4768 Convoy Street. The lane is tight and runs against traffic, and food is made to order, so expect a short wait.
Are there taco deals near Convoy?
Brother's 3 runs a weekday plate special ($17.85-18.45: Monday burrito plate, Tuesday birria, Wednesday two tacos, Thursday carnitas, Friday fish tacos), and El Gordo has had a $3 fish taco and beer happy hour. Ask before you order — deals change.
Where is parking easiest for Mexican food on Convoy?
Lolita's (Independence Square) and Brother's 3 (Mercury Village) both have big lots rated easy. El Gordo's corner lot is medium, and The Taco Stand shares the brutal Convoy Court lot.