Restaurants & Bars
National Taco Day Freebies, Steals & Dining Deals 2022
Need muy bueno reasons to get your taco fix? Find specials near you Tuesday, Oct. 4 at restaurants throughout California.
CALIFORNIA — Taco Tuesday gets a double olé Oct. 4 — as National Taco Day falls this year on a Tuesday.
Estupendo! Need an excuse to celebrate? Deals abound.
Check out some of the standout specials and offers planned at restaurants throughout California, or scroll the photo show at the top of this post for visual inspiration.
Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Indulge, enjoy and Happy National Taco Day, from Patch!
Know of other Taco Day deals at joints and shotout-worthy taco stands in your neighborhood? Share with readers in the comments section.
Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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A+O RESTAURANT | BAR AT BALBOA BAY RESORT: Orange County taco lovers are in luck! The eatery's newly added "Birria Taco Tuesday" coincides with National Taco Day. Slow cooked with pork, onion, tomatoes, chiles & spices, tacos are served with dipping consommé, plus pickled onions & limes. Served 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., or until they sell out. At waterfront Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach. Details & booking info.
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ACAPULCO: Free taco alert! From 3 p.m. to close on Oct. 4, say the password “TACO DAY” to your server to get your first taco free. Then check out the $3 build-your-own taco bar & enjoy live entertainment all evening. Website here. Find locales in Costa Mesa, Downey, Glendale & Long Beach.
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BLUE PLATE TACO: It's a National Taco Day fiesta Oct. 4 at the Santa Monica spot. Guests can feast on $10, three-taco + rice & beans combo plates, all day. (Does not include lobster.) Plus, a live DJ plays 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. for a true, beachside Taco Tuesday. Location: 1515 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. Check its Facebook page for updates.
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CASA VEGA: San Fernando Valley's legendary, Mexican restaurant is running specials for Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15 to benefit No Us Without You, a charity created during 2020 pandemic to support undocumented, back-of-house staff & families. Among menu offers that fall on National Taco Day: chicken mole tacos (flour tortilla, chicken, mole, queso fresco, pickled red onion, cilantro, lime & elote) available in-house & to-go. Chicharrons con guacamole & takeout margs available, too. Info & reservations/ordering details here. At 13301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks.
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CHA CHA'S LATIN KITCHEN: Treat yourself on National Taco Day to 50% off entire menu, including the Short Rib Taco, with guajillo-braised beef, goat cheese & radish, or Wild Mushroom Taco, featuring corn, rajas, cotija cheese & avocado salsa. Plus, select tequilas are half-price. Irvine Marketplace location also hosting live Latin music. Website & reservation links. Locations: 13126 Jamboree Road, Irvine; and 110 W Birch St., Brea.
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CHEVYS FRESH MEX: Dine out with $3 build-your-own taco bar, with handmade flour tortillas & choice of chicken, steak, carnitas or barbacoa tacos, and happy hour from 3 p.m. to close featuring $6 house margaritas, $8 salmon tacos & more. Live entertainment throughout the evening, as well. See website. 3 p.m. to close. Restaurants include Elk Grove, Emeryville, Fairfield, Roseville, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, Union City & Vallejo.
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CHRONIC TACOS: It's $1 off tacos all day Oct. 4 at all locations. Plus, sign up & verify an account via Chronic Tacos App before National Taco Day to be automatically entered to win free tacos for an entire year. Find locations in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Website here.
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CITY TACOS: Get the fiesta started Oct. 4 — Taco Tuesday! — with 10 percent off all food and Mexican beer for $2.50. Info & menu details here. Locales include Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Pacific Beach, San Diego Ballpark, Sorrento Valley and the Village at USC in Los Angeles.
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CONCORD TACO TRAIL: Hit the 2022 trail at 40, top taco spots specializing in authentic Mexican & Latin cuisine. Download your free companion passport and check-in at various Taco Trail locales for swag & restaurant gift cards, plus one grand prize winner will win a “Stay and Play Taco Trail” Package at Hilton Concord. The Taco Trail runs through Oct. 15. See details here.
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DEL TACO: On Tuesdays in October, including National Taco Day on Oct. 4, Del Yeah! Rewards members can score "Tacoberfest" Tuesday Taco Night Deals via the rewards app. Registrants can earn double points on orders placed through the app or at deltaco.com. Offer is for pre-taxed order subtotal, amount of points vary depending on Del Yeah Rewards tier, and is not valid with third-party deliveries. Check here for information or rewards sign-up.
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DESCANSO MEXICAN RESTAURANT: This O.C. eatery runs "Taquero Tuesdays" deals every Tuesday, National Taco Day included. The Plancha Room transforms into a casual, street-side taco stand with $2 gourmet street tacos, $3 quesadillas, $4 beers & $6 margaritas. First-come, first served. No reservations required. 5 p.m. to close in Plancha Room only. Details. Location: 1555 Adams Ave., Costa Mesa.
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EL HALAL AMIGOS: On National Taco Day, Pollo A Pastor Tacos are $2.50 each (normally $3.80) at the Halal-Mexican eatery that began as a food truck. Menu also offers a variety of other street tacos with different meats and a vegan option. At 1100 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. Details here.
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EL POLLO LOCO: On National Taco Day, the chain is encouraging diners to explore the vastness of Hispanic cuisine "beyond the famous staple," and is skipping a taco promo this year. In its place is an Oct. 4 offer for new & existing Loco Rewards members: Purchase $10+ of any menu items —other than tacos — and be rewarded with eight free tacos added to accounts & redeemable Oct. 5-31. Also on Oct. 4, delivery is free for orders placed via Loco Rewards app or online. See details. Location finder here.
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EL TORITO: Celebrate Oct. 4 with a $3 build-your-own taco bar, with handmade tortillas & choice of chicken, steak, carnitas or al pastor tacos, plus a happy hour from 3 p.m. to close featuring $6 house margaritas, $6 mini steak and and chorizo tacos, $6 signature margaritas & more. Live entertainment planned, too. Info. Find locations statewide.
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JACK IN THE BOX: Download the eatery's app, and score two tacos for 99 cents. "Times are crazy, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting Jack’s delicious tacos," the company said. Website. California locations here.
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LAS BRISAS: The iconic, cliffside restaurant is a go-to for its views and Mexican cuisine. Seeking unique tacos? Stop in Oct. 4 for such offers as the Crispy Chicken Taco, featuring pea hummus and white sesame on handmade, blue-corn tortillas, and the Maitake Mushroom taco with avocado, guajillo, pickled carrots & cotija cheese. Info & booking details here. Check menu details for availability — whether lunch or dinner.
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MIGUEL'S JR.: Score a full-size Carne Asada Soft Taco for $3 on Oct. 4 — a deal valid for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru and online ordering from open to close. Keep in mind: The authentic recipe was inspired by Miguel’s co-founder and "Chief Recipe Officer" Mary Vasquez’s childhood in Central Mexico. Sites throughout the Inland Empire and Orange County. Website here.
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ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA: Don't miss Taco Tuesday here with a la carte chicken tinga, seasoned ground beef or veggie tacos starting at $2. Or sample southwest chicken or brisket tacos starting at $4. Drink specials planned, too. Details. Find restaurants in Eastvale, Mira Mesa/San Diego & Escondido.
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PACIFIC PARK FERRIS WHEEL, SANTA MONICA PIER: No foodie deal here. But the Ferris wheel is getting in on National Taco Day with a light-up "taco" display planned Oct. 4, beginning at sunset to about 12:30 a.m. The ride will "rain tacos" from 130 feet with lighting of taco patterns and yellow, white & blue colors. At Pacific Park, 380 Santa Monica Pier. The Ferris wheel light celebration also can be viewed online.
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PRESIDIO POP-UP: Stop by SF's new Tunnel Tops park destination Oct. 4 for its vast roster of food trucks, trailers, carts & tents — including Cochinita, a mobile caterer that serves an array of taco dishes or Cater2uSF's braised oxtail tacos,— fitting for National Taco Day. 9 a.m. t0 5 p.m. Dine in picnic areas, lawns, benches, Presidio Tunnel Tops, the Main Parade Lawn & elsewhere in the park. Info & map here. At 103 Montgomery St., San Francisco.
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RUBIO'S: It's a two-day, taco fest at all locations —Monday, Oct. 3 and Tuesday, Oct. 4 — with a free à la carte taco with any purchase. Plus, Rubio’s all-day Taco Tuesday specials include chicken tacos for $1.99 & steak tacos for $2.29. Orders can be placed for take-out, curbside or express pick-up and delivery. Join Rubio’s Rewards to earn points toward free food. Details.
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7-ELEVEN: The chain gives 7Rewards members something to taco 'bout Oct. 4, aka National Taco Day. Celebrate with 10 mini tacos for $2 — crispy, crunchy tacos with spicy shredded beef, green chiles, jalapeño peppers, cilantro & spices, stuffed into miniature crispy corn tortillas – making it a grab-and-go snack without the mess. Check for info here. Valid only to those with 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards membership cards, and while supplies last.
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SOL MEXICAN CANTINA: Toast National Taco Day at the eatery renown for Baja-inspired cuisine — in particular a Carne Asada Vampiro Taco, featuring double corn tortillas stuffed with serrano peppers, cheese, carne asada, guacamole, pico de gallo, cotija cheese & chipotle sauce. Website info here. Locations in Newport Beach and Playa Vista.
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SOLITA TACOS & MARGARITAS: Celebrate taco's big day with such options as Pork Belly Dorado Taco (house-cured/smoked pork belly, corn tortilla, amarilla sauce, onions, cilantro & solita slaw), Spicy Shrimp Taco (shrimp marinated in sriracha and garlic, plus guacamole, salsa verde, mango salsa, lettuce) and Street Taco Plates with choice of two sides. Website info here. Find locales in Huntington Beach, Valencia and Long Beach.
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SPOTLIGHT 29 CASINO: Stop at Taproom 29 restaurant on National Taco Day to enjoy Baja Tacos for $11.95 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beer-battered cod is served with yellow corn tortillas, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, cabbage, spiced sour cream sauce, grilled lemon & salsa roja. Casino dining site here. At 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella.
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TACO BELL: Want 30 tacos for $10, taco fans? On National Taco Day, Oct. 4, customers can score a $10 "Taco Lover’s Pass," which translates to a month-long fiesta redeemable for one of seven tacos per day for 30 consecutive days. Taco options include Crunchy Taco, Crunchy Taco Supreme, Soft Taco, Soft Taco Supreme, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Doritos Locos Tacos & Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme. Rewards Members can purchase the Taco Lover’s Pass via the app. But remember: It's a one-day-only offer to buy the pass. Website.
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TALLULA'S: Every Tuesday — including National Taco Day, Oct. 4 — enjoy special pricing on all tacos, including mix & match, three-taco plates from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Discounts extend to drinks & such bites as jalapeño miso-glazed rock cod with guacamole, spicy slaw and cilantro, and carnitas with white onion, salsa roja and cilantro. Details. At 118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica.
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THE BAMBOO CLUB: With perfect timing for National Taco Day, Tiki Taco Tuesday launches. New taco menu at $2.50 each includes: vegan house-made soyrizo, picadillo style with grilled onions and peppers; vegetarian, cheesy mashed potato, lightly fried with spicy mayo; tempura grouper fish with quemada sauce, spicy mayo, slaw & pineapple pico de gallo; and glazed pork belly, with quemada, pineapple pico de gallo, cabbage & cilantro. Location: 3522 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Details.
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TOCAYA MODERN MEXICAN: The Beverly Center eatery will offer its wide selection of tacos starting at $2 on Oct. 4, along with an all-day happy hour menu of rice, beans, street corn and salsa – all for $2. Website here. Location: 8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles.
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TREJO'S TACOS & SANTA MONICA TACO CRAWL: Start the National Taco Day Crawl Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. at Trejo’s Tacos, meet actor & owner Danny Trejo (4 p.m. - 5 p.m.), then grab punch card & tool about participating restaurants for free dishes, with purchase. Gift card giveaways also planned. Trejo's in Santa Monica is at 316 Santa Monica Blvd. Details here.
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VILLA ONE TEQUILA GARDENS: National Taco Day could be perfect time to check out this newly opened rooftop destination in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Specializing in craft cocktails, featuring an extensive list of top tequilas, the restaurant also offers tacos galore — including carne asada, birria, pork belly, lobster, shrimp & grilled salmon. Located at 701 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Website & details.
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