On the Menu: City Tacos brings a wide assortment of taco options to Pacific Beach

Gerald Torres, whose friends call him Gerry, is a legend in the taco scene around town.

His life reads like a choppy novel — part adventure, part horror and part inspirational. The setting starts in Mexico City where he was born, making pit stops in Miami, Hawaii, Tijuana and finally San Diego with a happy ending.

Torres said he is grateful to his parents, both airline pilots who met in flight school, for introducing him to beautiful foods, different cultures and travel to interesting destinations. But it was his near fatal car crash 20 years ago that sent him searching for a purpose in life.

City Tacos founder Gerald Torres, holding a tray of tacos, with employees in September 2023 celebrating the company’s 3 millionth taco sold.

(Courtesy of City Tacos)

That purpose landed him in La Mesa with the opening of a trattoria called Tiramisu, his first foray in the restaurant business. Then the love of his native food inspired Torres to switch gears and create a concept that incorporated authentic Mexican cuisine with a fun and original twist.

The budding restaurateur’s next stop was North Park in the spring of 2014, when he opened his first City Tacos shop.

“There were only a few options for Mexican food at the time,” Torres said. “The same proteins and presentations, burritos or tostado style, and I thought I can do something better. That’s where the idea for City Tacos came about.”

Torres focused on flavor and premium ingredients rather than traditional preparation. His French-trained chef beautifully paired unusual ingredients, elevated proteins to another level and gave people a different perspective on the taco.

Torres also boasts about the generous portion sizes that were in contrast to the typically skimpy tacos. Salsas are made in-house, along with the masa for the corn tortillas, while the highest quality meats, fresh fish (either wild caught or sustainable) and produce sourced from local, organic farms are used to construct the unique taco combinations.

With his restaurant chain now having seven locations, he has tremendous purchasing power.

Torres opened the Pacific Beach spot in 2020, just a stone’s throw from Crystal Pier near the corner of Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue, offering ocean breezes, salty sea air and a vibrant, rustic space set up for fast-casual service with both indoor and patio seating.

Whether you stroll in from the beach in a bathing suit, or from the boardroom in a business suit, there is a taco to please all palates. The taco-centric menu includes 20 different types, along with the “Taco of the Month.”

City Tacos offers more than 20 varieties of tacos.

(Courtesy of City Tacos)

Let’s start with the ever-popular Mexicali Taco piling grilled Angus steak, onions and poblano peppers over fluffy mashed potatoes and melted Asadero cheese, finished with crema fresca and Cotija cheese sprinkles on a homemade flour tortilla. “Our take on meat and potatoes,” Torres said.

Love fish? Then you can indulge in the Pescado Taco that combines golden battered mahi mahi, topped with cabbage, pickled strawberries, red onions and tomatoes drizzled with serrano and chipotle aiolis. There is also a handful of microgreens on top.

Or what about the Spanish-influenced Veracruz Taco? It envelopes grilled fish in fresh herbs and other ingredients emblematic of the region, including capers, olives, white wine and a lime aioli.

For January’s featured item, check out the vegetarian Artichoke Heart Taco served with a fine dining presentation.

Torres said his favorite menu item happens to be the sassy vegetarian Chile Relleno, a lightly beer-battered blonde chili stuffed with Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses, layered over a bed of arugula and finished with pico de gallo and lime aioli. This dish reflects how the taqueria plays with different flavors, and creates fresh renditions of traditional dishes.

“We have a taco for everyone,” Torres said. “That’s how we designed the menu to provide something for all tastes — vegetarian, or loaded with fish or meat, fried or grilled, simple yet complex. We start with a protein then build from there with other mouth-watering ingredients.”

City Tacos also offers old-school Mexican beans that blend pico de gallo, serrano peppers and Cotija cheese with pinto beans. Called Frijoles de la Olla, the dish cooks for 6 to 8 hours with a slew of onions and herbs. Then wash it all down nicely with a craft beer, or wide selection of authentic Mexican beers.

On Taco Tuesdays patrons receive 10 percent off menu items, along with $3 beers. But Torres is not big on gimmicks, games or surprises.

“We offer quality food with a smile, consistency in operation throughout the year, and work very hard so that customers enjoy a great experience,” he said.

Whether young, old or ages in between, City Tacos attracts diners who enjoy tasty, good quality food with a laid back ambience.

Torres reached the 3 million tacos sold milestone last September at the North Park location. He is proud to serve San Diego county and beyond, with other City Tacos at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Encinitas, La Mesa, Sorrento Valley and Petco Park as you enter on 7th Street.

It’s no wonder the list of honorable mentions and awards he has received over the years is so long, starting with Ranch & Coast Magazine’s “Best Taco,” San Diego Magazine’s “Best Cheap Eats,” The Reader’s “Best Tacos” and so on.

Torres’ recipe for success is a simple one: “Making a good interpretation of what a taco can and should be. Authentic with a twist that Mexicans can be proud of. And that’s what sets us apart,” he said.

After trying one of City Tacos’ creations, diners will have a new respect for the taco, and it’ll give them something to talk about. Olé!

Avocado is added to this taco, one of many options at City Tacos, which has a location in Pacific Beach.

(Courtesy of City Tacos)

Recipe from City Tacos

Taco placero with cactus salad

Serves 1

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Tacos placeros are large, plate-size tacos that can be wrapped in one or more tortillas. While they can be difficult to eat because of their size, tacos placeros can have a wide variety of fillings.

In this recipe, the hefty taco includes cactus salad, crunchy pork rinds, queso fresco and an avocado slice. The meal is garnished with papalo, which is an ancient South American herb that tastes like a combination of arugula and cilantro. You can find it at most Spanish markets.

Ingredients:

• 4 cactus leaves

• 3 Roma tomatoes, cubed

• 5 oz. feta cheese, cubed

• 1 white onion, thinly sliced

• 1 oz. cilantro, chopped

• 1½ oz. olive oil

• salt, to taste

• dried oregano, to taste

• juice of one lime

• 1 corn tortilla

• 2 oz. thin, crispy pork rinds

• 2 oz. cactus salad

• 1/4 avocado, sliced

• 1 oz. queso fresco (or young ricotta, or mild feta cheese)

• Papalo, for serving (or watercress)

Directions:

1. Make the cactus salad — wash the cactus leaves thoroughly and remove any thorns. Cut the leaves into half-inch thick slivers and place them in a pot of salted water. Cook until soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Once the cactus leaves are cooked, strain and let them cool to room temperature. Set aside.

3. Chop the tomatoes and feta into cubes, and slice the onion into thin slivers. Place in a bowl.

4. Add the cactus leaves and season everything with cilantro, olive oil, salt, oregano and lime juice. Stir to combine and set aside.

5. Assemble the taco — use a warm corn tortilla as a base and add pork rinds, cactus salad and avocado. Top with queso fresco and papalo, and serve with pickled jalapeños or a fresh salsa of your choice.

Courtesy of City Tacos