Living close to the border comes with many food-related perks—and tortas are at the top of the list. Yes, tortas are technically just sandwiches. But anyone who’s indulged will tell you that they’re lightyears beyond whatever deli-meat-and-cheese combo you’ve been packing for lunch.
They’re also kind of impossible to pin down. Some are stuffed with eggs and warmed for breakfast, and others are left cold and drowned in red sauce. There’s no rhyme, no reason, and definitely no rules (though, typically, they’ll be served on one of two types of pillowy white rolls: a bolillo or a telera). That’s what makes them tortas.
San Diegans, I know I don’t have to convince you to try a torta. But I will try to sway you toward the 12 local joints that I believe are serving them best.
Adobada Torta
California Burritos
California Burritos probably makes a solid California burrito. I wouldn’t know, because the adobada torta has been my go-to order since I first visited this tight, counter-serve spot tucked away in Serra Mesa. The combination of marinated pork, fresh guacamole, and soft bread makes this simple torta an unsuspecting flavor bomb worth ignoring the rest of the massively packed menu for. Just make sure you have a handful of napkins ready to go.
Chilanga Torta
Barrio Donas
I know I’m asking a lot when I tell you not to get a horchata and donut at Barrio Donas. But co-owner Janet Martinez promises that passing up the sweet side of this Mexican bakery at least once is worth it for the chilanga torta. Her husband and fellow co-owner Jonathan Martinez uses his fourth-generation baking prowess to create the base for this delicious handheld: homemade toasted telera bread. One bite of its equally yummy insides—breaded beef steak, grilled ham, chorizo, mozzarella cheese, tomato, onions, refried beans, and mayonnaise—will make you forget all about those donuts (at least until tomorrow).
Veggie Torta
Señor Mango’s
This family-owned juice and smoothie bar represents a sandwich fundamental most of us forget: the simpler, the better. Opened by brothers Armando and Jaime Leòn in 2002, Señor Mango’s was one of the area’s first Mexican counter-service joints to offer a torta vegetarian-style. The shop’s combo of lettuce, mayonnaise, onion, avocado, and panela cheese on warm telera bread may seem basic at first, but the fresh take on the classic quickly becomes addictive.
Carnitas Torta
Lucy’s Bakery
Bread is arguably the most important part of any sandwich, so it’s no surprise that a bakery would have a killer torta on the menu. Lucy’s Bakery has been serving fresh bolillo rolls since 1996 and stuffing a smorgasbord of scrumptious fillings—including carnitas, salsa, frijoles, mayonnaise, onion, and avocado—between them.
Milanesa Torta
Frutas 100% Natural
A carb-heavy lunch might not be what you had in mind when patronizing this frutería. But take one bite of Frutas 100% Natural’s milanesa torta, and you’ll ditch the idea of a liquid meal real quick. The shop loads it up with breaded carne asada, avocado, lettuce, mayonnaise, onion, and tomatoes for a taste explosion that’s equal parts crunchy and creamy. You can save the wheatgrass juice for another day.
Birria Torta
Tuetano Taqueria
The bone marrow–topped birria tacos may have made this former Old Town haunt go viral, but Tuetano Taqueria owner Priscilla Curiel argues that the birria torta is just as worthy of TikTok fame. So if you’re one of the many who have been missing the mix of braised birria, salsa taquera (made from the potent chile de árbol), pickled onions, housemade avocado sauce, and telera bread topped with melted cheese, we’ve got great news. Doors to Tuetano’s new Chula Vista location will open next month.
Què Torta
Què Tortas
No, that’s not a typo. Què Tortas’ most popular menu item is its namesake torta. In addition to all the normal fixings—mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado, jalapeño, cheese, and chipotle sauce—it’s also packed with a meat-heavy trio of pork loin, ham, and turkey on a crispy, toasted white bread. The full-size could fill you for days, so thankfully this counter-service spot also offers a half-size for the less ravenous.
Torta Ahogadas
Cantina Mayahuel
This University Heights joint has more torta options on its menu than most (including a rare vegan-friendly version with cactus and fire-roasted tomatoes). But the tortas ahogadas are where it’s at. The name of this Guadalajara specialty translates to “drowned sandwich,” and Cantina Mayaheul‘s take is a messy masterpiece of carnitas on a French roll with Peruvian beans, pickled onions, and a spicy tomato dipping sauce.
Carne Asada Torta
Chuy’s Taco Shop
Guy Fieri may have declared his love for Chuy’s chiles rellenos burrito on national TV, but this spot’s torta menu is just as noteworthy. Any of 10 fillings can be sandwiched between the bread of your choice here. The carne asada torta is a fan favorite—so much so that it may be time to petition Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives to make a second stop.
Torta De Oscar
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood
Oscar’s fish tacos are arguably some of the best in town (which is saying a lot for a city riddled with fish tacos). Don’t miss the shop’s fresh-caught seafood in torta form, however. The Torta De Oscar is packed with your choice of smoked fish, skirt steak, or spicy shrimp, plus cheese, cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro, and avocado for a deliciously different take on the classic Mexican sandwich.
Torta La Puerta
La Puerta
This cozy cantina in the Gaslamp serves up a namesake torta worth fighting downtown traffic for (though you can hit the Mission Hills location if you’re really not feeling the parking struggle today). La Puerta’s mix of achiote pork, arranchera steak, ham, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, jalapeńos, pickled onions, avocado, and mayonnaise comes with a side of crispy french fries. You can also upgrade your plate with wet red sauce for some delectable dipping action.
Carnitas Torta
La Perla Cocina Mexicana
When you think of California burritos, I know you think of La Perla. But I want to challenge you to expand your horizons and look to this San Diego staple’s torta selection. The carnitas torta may not have been the reason behind the restaurant’s Taco Chronicles appearance, but the mouth-watering pork and house potatoes are worthy of their own Netflix special.
Torta
Cocina 35
Dining decision fatigue is real. So I’m thankful for places like Cocina 35 that narrow down your torta filling choices to two: carne asada or cochinita pibil (a slow-roasted pork). Both are delicious and served with lettuce, tomato, pickled onion, avocado, pickled jalepeños, house mayonnaise, and a side of french fries.
