Silva's Taco Shop: Authentic Mexican Delights in El Cajon

A staple of El cajon. El cajon is a saturated market of taco shops. Standing out of such A large variety is often difficult. Silva's, while easily missed due to location issues is arguably one of the best options in the city. Silva's, stands out by quality and quantity. Everyone always has their favorite spot and a lot of locals choose to go here. Thier customer service is also a high point. They often go to any lengths to satisfy your needs. The downside- Location is very poor. Situated nearby and across from the famous Yogurt Mill, Silv's tiny lot between taller building and very inconvenient access and parking make this location had to get to and very easy to drive past. Additionally their sauce game is pretty weak. Their sauce options of red and green are very watery, and aside from some heat offer no flavor. Red is spicier and packs some decent heat, while the green is a weird unnatural nuclear waste green color and has little heat or flavor. Recommendation- I love the Grande burrito, but their breakfast burrito is also a top choice. I do highly recommend this location just bring your own sauce.

Order a California burrito, size of the burrito is pretty big compared to other taco shop. The fries were pretty crunchy, just how I liked them. Would definitely come by again whenever I’m in the area. Also, the staff were very friendly.

I was having new tires installed across the street from Silva’s and I asked the clerk at the tire store if Silva’s was pretty good - he said, “Fantastic!”. I ordered a machaca burrito with a side of spicy pickled carrots and it was served quickly. The ratio of seared pork to eggs was perfect with the right amount of grilled bell peppers and onions. The flavor was better than the machaca I make myself and I consider myself a connoisseur. I’m going to make it a point to go back and try some of my other favorites.

Amazing food and service. We had the bean toasta and Carne Verde plate. Highly recommend!

The carne asada is incredible. They let it caramelize on the grill for a bit so it has a nice, slightly crispy texture and flavor. I haven't been to another taco shop here that does that. It brought a tear to my eye. The red and green salsas are super fresh, flavorful, and spicy. This isn't your average taco shop. Highly recommend.

I’ve tried most of the taco shops in the El Cajon area and silvas is by far the best! So many options. Food is always hot and fresh and the staff is always so friendly and welcoming. It is by far my favorite taco shop in El Cajon.

Continuing to explore my hypothesis that you can find amazing burritos in literally every California community, I checked out Silva's Taco Shop on a drive between my San Diego office and a jail outside of Yuma. Silva's was the only taco shop in this area that had a 4.5, which is the cut off for a well reviewed fast food place. This was a hash brown/egg/cheese/beans combo where you could add a meat. I added ham and said no to the beans on the theory that it would be a scoop of refried beans, this being the San Diego area. It was hot and fresh, the tortilla was solid and I liked the amount of cheese and how it combined with the hash brown. The egg was uninspired but that's normal. The hot sauce was standard for the area. It was a huge size, no way I could have eaten the whole thing without a fork and knife so I just threw away the last third of it. The restaurant was clean and the cashier was cheerful. It's about a half mile from the 8. Nothing unique but still a burrito you would absolutely kill for in most parts of the country.

Amazing tacos! The meat is perfectly seasoned, the tortillas taste homemade, and the salsa adds the perfect kick without overpowering the flavor. The portions are generous for the price, and the service is fast and friendly. Definitely one of my go-to spots — I’d recommend it to anyone looking for authentic, flavorful tacos.