Let’s dip into birria 🌮

Where to get mouthwatering birria in San Diego

Tuetano Taqueria certainly knows its way around the birria biz. | Photo via @tuetanotaqueria1

Birria — the slow-cooked dish originally from the state of Jalisco in Mexico — has worked its way into the culinary spotlight. Traditionally featuring goat meat, variations of the recipe have been adapted over the decades to include modern ingredients like beef, especially in the US.

In San Diego, shredded birria beef is a popular taco filling — served with consommé on the side for dipping (the red liquid the meat is braised in). Today, we take you to seven local spots that make truly bomb birria.

Ed Fernandez Birrieria SD — Yelp ranked this Nestor birrieria the No. 1 place for tacos in the US in 2022.

🍖 Tuetano Taqueria, 2548 Congress St., Old Town
Chef Priscilla Curiel — who’s been in the local birria biz for nearly a decade — runs the Michelin-recognized taqueria at Old Town Urban Market (the original San Ysidro location is now closed). There, she specializes in perfectly seasoned, stewed beef shoulder. The menu also features the item that put Tuetano Taqueria on the culinary map: A birria taco topped with bone marrow. The eatery opens daily at 11 a.m.

🌮 Ed Fernandez Restaurant Birrieria, 2265 Flower Ave., South Bay
Known for its slow-cooked, bold birria seasoned with smoky guajillo chilis, Yelp ranked this eatery the No. 1 taco spot in the US in 2022. Pro tip: You can order birria tacos or a bowl of birria that comes with six warm tortillas so you can build your tacos at home. Visit Wednesday-Sunday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mr Birria SD — What’s in a name? Well, everything when it comes to Mr. Birria in Santee.

🌯 Mr. Birria, 8926 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee
As you might have guessed by its name, this eatery is all about birria — in all forms. Don’t miss the menu’s traditional Birria Taco, but also save room to dip into the Birria Torta, Birria Sopes, Birria Burrito, Birria Nachos, Birria Quesadilla + Birria Grilled Cheese. Mr. Birria is puttin’ in work. It opens at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday, and at 8 a.m. on weekends.

MORE TACO 'BOUT BIRRIA

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Thursday, October 27

Fall Fest at Belmont Park | Thu., Oct. 27 - Mon., Oct. 31 | 11 a.m. | Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego | Free | It’s the final stretch of this seasonal event at the beachfront attraction, which wraps up on Halloween.
Kurtis Conner Live | Thu., Oct. 27 | 7 + 9:45 p.m. | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $36.00 - $66.00 | The YouTuber + stand-up comic takes the stage.

Friday, October 28

Halloween Party Cruise | Fri., Oct. 28 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego | $30.00 - $40.00 | Don your costume for this spooky, boozy voyage on Mission Bay.
Lions Tigers and Bears Spooky Campover | Fri., Oct. 28 | 3 p.m.-10 a.m. | Lions Tigers & Bears, 24402 Martin Way, Alpine | $35.00 | A rare campout opportunity at Alpine’s big cat sanctuary.
Música en la Plaza | Fri., Oct. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Blvd, Escondido | Free | A night of music + dancing.
“Piñatas”: Opening Day | Fri., Oct. 28 | 10 a.m. | Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, San Diego | $14.00 | “Piñatas: The High Art of Celebration” rises now through April 30, 2023 — spotlighting the traditional, vibrant art form with pieces from 80+ Latinx artists.
Taj Mahal | Fri., Oct. 28 | 8 p.m. | Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway | $64.00 - $94.00 | The Grammy Award-winning blues artist headlines.
Taylor Swift Night - The Taylor Party | Fri., Oct. 28 | 9 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St, San Diego | $25.00 | You might want to wear your red scarf to this 21+ dance party inspired by the one-and-only T-Swift.

Saturday, October 29

Barrio Art Crawl | Sat., Oct. 29 | 4 p.m. | Logan Avenue, Logan Avenue, San Diego | Free | The monthly gathering in the heart of Barrio Logan gets a seasonal spin — expect a costume contest + “trunk-or-treating” at Chicano Park at 6 p.m.
Owl-O-Ween | Sat., Oct. 29 | 4:30-7 p.m. | Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr., Chula Vista | $30.00 | Rock your costume to this after-hours Halloween party featuring mysterious animal encounters, night hikes, trick-or-treating, crafts, food + more.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

71º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:02 a.m.
Set: 6:03 p.m.

Tide

Low: 4:16 a.m. + 5:41 p.m.
High: 10:34 a.m.
Water Temperature: 66º

Announced

Save the date: Comic-Con announced Open Registration for its 2023 convention is on Sat., Nov. 5, for those with valid Member IDs. Follow these tips for your chance to buy a coveted badge — and remember, they will sell out. Comic-Con is Thurs., July 20-Sun., July 23, 2023. 🖖

Coming Soon

Hommage Bakehouse owner Justin Gaspar supplies local cafés with baguettes + pastries, but by early next summer, he’ll have his own shop in Mission Valley. He’s also expanding his wholesale biz to a larger facility in Sorrento Valley. Recognize Justin? He competed on the Hulu series, “Baker’s Dozen,” last year. 🥖(Eater San Diego)

Number

$38 million. That’s how much a winning SuperLotto Plus ticket sold at a Bankers Hill 7-Eleven in April is worth, but the lucky player never claimed their prize. Per California Lottery rules, that person has until the end of today to cash in on their luck. If it’s you, you’re welcome. 💵 (Fox 5)

Sports

“They drove us and inspired us.” Padres manager Bob Melvin said the Friar Faithful were pivotal to the team’s postseason success. In a press conference, Melvin said fans were like a part of the Padres roster and their rooting at Petco Park was everything — adding, “Man, we felt it.” ⚾
Three San Diego Wave FC players scored top honors in the National Women’s Soccer League’s 2022 Best XI First Team awards: Naomi Girma, Alex Morgan + Kailen Sheridan. The awards honor the top 11 players in the entire league — quite the showing for our city’s inaugural team that could. ⚽
While we’re talking soccer superstars, the Wave FC’s Kailen Sheridan was named the 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. Sheridan anchored defense in 18 matches, recorded a 8-5-5 ledger to help the team ride into the postseason, registered 75% saves + stopped 56 shots during the regular season. 🥅

Arts

Remember when we told you about the grand opening of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center in Barrio Logan? The museum at 1960 National Ave. next to Chicano Park has launched its regular operating hours, which are 12-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Visit. 🎨

Cause

The North County Food Bank is running its Scare Away Hunger Peanut Butter Drive through Mon., Oct. 31. Donate via the nonprofit’s Virtual Food Drive or drop off unopened jars at ~20 businesses around North County. The food bank says one jar of PB can provide 12+ sandwiches. 🥜

Announced

Rapper YG will bring his “Red Cup Tour” to Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on Feb. 4, 2023. The concert lineup also includes OHGEESY, Day Sulan + D3szn. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. 🎤

Eat

Pardon us, drooling in progress. Donut Bar says Chef Santiago Campa has been busy rolling out another sweet treat: vegan cinnamon buns. The goodies are now available at the shop’s popular location at 631 B St. in downtown San Diego. 👨‍🍳

Seasonal

Put on those Halloween costumes + head to Seaport Village on Sun., Oct. 30, from 12-5 p.m. for “TREATport Village” — a free celebration where kiddos can trick-or-treat at 30+ retailers within the landmark. Pro tip: Also pop by Seaport Fudge Factory during this time for the shop’s big Halloween Town Costume Party. 🍭
The Comic-Con Museum will host “Mask-O-Raid” — an exhibit of vintage Halloween masks + costumes — presented by Funko this Sat., Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $100 and all proceeds support the museum’s Education Center and School Access Fund. 🦸
Westfield Plaza Bonita will celebrate Día de los Muertos with a free community shindig this Sat., Oct. 29, from 1-5 p.m. RSVP to enjoy live mariachi, traditional folklorico dance performances, face painting + meet-and-greets with characters from “Coco.” 💀

Stat

Location, location, location. Nationally, 32% of prospective homebuyers are willing to move out of state to get their dream home. Would you? 🏡 *

Shop

Looking to relieve muscle soreness without dropping $150+ a month on a deep tissue massage? Enter: the RENPHO massage gun. It has 17,000+ five-star reviews and is on sale for $99 (down from $249) for a limited time.*

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Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep 🧟

Nightmare on Normal Street returns to Hillcrest

Nightmare on Normal is the stuff Halloween weekend dreams are made of. | Photo via Fabulous Hillcrest

It’s going to be a hoot over in Hillcrest on Sat., Oct. 29, as the Halloween-themed bash — Nightmare on Normal Street — returns with DJs, dancing, drinks, vendors, food trucks, and an epic costume competition offering $2,000+ in prizes.

The fest goes down from 5-11 p.m. at the Pride Flag Plaza at Normal Street + University Avenue. Local entertainer Strawberry Corncakes will host, while DJ Michael Paul and DJ Karl Kswift provide the tunes. 🎧

Tickets are going fast and are expected to sell out, so get on it. 🎟️

Pro tip: Don’t forget to wear your costume or cosplay.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Monica.

Editor’s pick: Have you seen that huge tent outside Westfield Mission Valley mall? That’s where “Jurassic World: The Exhibition” — an immersive, touring attraction featuring life-size, animatronic dinosaurs — is living for the next six months. The only other place to see it in the world right now is London. 🦕

I got a chance to check it out; my favorite part was petting a baby dino. You can also dig for fossils and come face-to-face with a T-Rex — just be careful, he sure looks hungry. 🦖

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We shared fun facts about San Diego.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Monica Garske, Michael Beausoleil, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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