If you have been to Tijuana, you have probably gone to Tacos El Franc. The taco shop is arguably the most popular spot in the city for good eats. The restaurant has been recognized by the Michelin Guide of Tijuana in both 2024 and 2025. Fans of the tacos in San Diego are now able to get the tacos anytime without going to Mexico. The restaurant has a location in National City, just south of San Diego, and has plans to open another one. Here’s where to go to enjoy some highly sought-after tacos.
Tacos El Franc has a location near San Diego
Michelin-recognized Tacos El Franc opens taqueria in National City – https://t.co/hEudA91dxMTacos El Franc, one of Tijuana’s most popular taquerías, opened its first U.S. restaurant in San Diego on Wednesday. “After many years of waiting, we’ve made ou… pic.twitter.com/kSuLoYYYjU
— Media Alert Press (@mediaalertpress) June 17, 2025
The famous Tijuana-based taco restaurant opened its first location in the United States in San Diego. The restaurant opened in National City, south of San Diego. You can visit the restaurant in the Westfield Plaza Bonita. The owners of the restaurant expanded into the U.S. market and focused on doing things a little differently and with more planning.
“The biggest issue we have in Tijuana is that there are no parking spaces, and here we have thousands,” Roberto Kelly, one of the main partners of Tacos El Franc, told NBC7 San Diego. “Between having thousands of parking spaces, a pretty big restaurant space, we couldn’t have picked a better place to open the first one.”
The restaurant started as a taco stand on a street corner in 1974. It was opened by Javier Valdez and grew in popularity over the next two decades. In 1996, Tacos El Franc opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Zona Río neighborhood of Tijuana. Over the years, the restaurant continued to attract diners, eventually earning it a place in Tijuana’s Michelin Guide.
People have wanted the restaurant to open in the U.S. for a long time
Me: if I were a millionaire business man I would bring Tacos el franc to San Diego Also me: pic.twitter.com/m7gbcEzjhE
— Josh Lopez (@Jlopezosh) June 22, 2019
Foodies and travelers have been enjoying Taco El Franc for decades, and the popularity of good food is contagious. Social media is filled with people wanting the restaurant to open in the U.S., along with people celebrating the news of the new location and planned expansion…