Travel

Day Trippin’ to Tijuana
12.16.11
Tell someone that you just spent an afternoon in Tijuana and know that you’ll be scolded for doing something unsafe and crazy. But just last week, we did just that and were pleasantly surprised to find that our Tijuana experience wasn’t dangerous at all. (Of course, random violence can happen anywhere, just watch the news for a few minutes.)
We recommend that on our way down to TJ, you stop at Cups in La Jolla for some excellent gluten-free and organic cupcakes, a glass of strawberry milk on tap (no really, it’s to die for) and espresso drinks. Cups is a cute organic cupcakery and lounge that also offers catering and culinary classes.
Or stop by the mod Burger Lounge, a popular hamburger joint with six locations in the San Diego that’s committed to serving premium burgers made from grass-fed beef; and tasty fries, onion rings, shakes and salads—even flavorful quinoa burgers for vegetarians.
It’s certainly easy to dismiss Tijuana as a border town with a bad rap, but we like to think of it as a place to travel internationally to in a short amount of time. We found some hidden treasures.
Start the day off in downtown Tijuana near Avenida Revolucion, where Mexican crafts shops abound. It’s a tourist district, but you’ll find no shortage of inexpensive jewelry, blankets, baskets, pottery and leather goods in stores.
We liked the Silver Mine (1181-B Avenida Revolución) filled with silver jewelry from Taxco as well as turquoise, amber, Mexican fire opal, and traditional Mexican masks made of clay, wood and stone.
Definitely check out the open air market for food lovers, Mercado Hidalgo (Boulevard Sanchez Taboada and Avenida Independencia ), where locals buy kitchenware, sweets, spices, dried chilies, produce, herbs, fresh tortillas and deep fried chicharrones and more; and the Mercado de Artesanías (Ocampo and Negrete Streets ), a huge crafts market for finding pottery, blown glass, carved furniture, handmade clothes and locally made clay ware.
We were blown away at how well you can eat for very little money. One of the first stops was Tacos El Gordo (Constitución 992 Centro), with bright red tiles known for its carne asada tacos. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also go for sesos (beef brain) or lengua (beef tongue) tacos, or the spicy tacos adobada that come right off the trompa (vertical spit) smothered in salsa verde and costing no more than a few dollars for large portions.
We were also in taco nirvana at San Manuelito-Carnecerita (Niños Heroes 1024 Centro), where you can order five carnitas tacos with chopped onions, fresh salsa and two drinks for just five bucks. Lastly, go to Tacos El Poblano (7813 Boulevard Diaz Ordaz)) for carne asada taco perfection. The meat is tucked in two corn tortillas and served with a creamy avocado Baja-style guacamole, with diced onions. The taqueria is known for its three cuts of choice meats with a proprietary blend of seasoning grilled over an open flame—tacos are juicy and flavorful.
Ok, so now you’re full. You picked up some great silver jewelry to take home as gifts, a handmade leather bag, and maybe some Mexican jumping beans for the kids. Que bueno.
More Travel
- 08.22.22 – Labor Day Staycation in Mission Bay
- 02.23.21 – Carmel’s Bernardus Lodge & Spa Awarded Forbes 12-Stars
- 02.03.21 – Hotel Maya’s Gourmet Meals To Go & Getaway Room Package
- 02.02.21 – Hotel Cerro Offers a Suite Deal Throughout the Spring
- 10.21.20 – Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 03.31.25 – Free Outdoor Movies and More This Spring at Irvine Spectrum Center
- 03.31.25 – Puesto Welcomes Spring With Seasonal Dishes From Creative Chef Raul Casillas
- 03.30.25 – Saijo, a New Japanese Dining Experience, Opens in Culver City
- 03.28.25 – Pacific Symphony Premieres Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” in St.Clair’s Final Season
- 03.27.25 – South County Outreach’s Empty Bowls Gala 2025: Setting the Table for Change
- 03.27.25 – Live Music and Sunset Sips Midweek at A Crystal Cove
- 03.25.25 – Lights, Camera, Brunch! Broadway Divas Return to Segerstrom Center
- 03.24.25 – Z SUPPLY Rides Again With Diamond Cross Ranch Collaboration
- 03.24.25 – Craft & Create: DIY Wood Workshop at Puesto Los Olivos
- 03.21.25 – WonderCon Returns to Anaheim March 28-30
- 03.20.25 – World-Class Training Returns: Sunday Master Class Series at ABT Gillespie School
- 03.20.25 – Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Hosts Fintastic Fun for National Mermaid Day
- 03.19.25 – Multi-Brand Warehouse Sale Returns to Tustin
- 03.19.25 – Preserve Your Flowers in a Unique Way at Maivie
- 03.18.25 – San Pedro Fish Market Hosts Special Fundraiser for the Western Flyer’s Return
- 03.17.25 – Tickets for LAWineFest 2025 Are Now on Sale!
- 03.16.25 – Late-Night Happy Hour Arrives at KIN Izakaya
- 03.12.25 – Free Vuori HIIT Workout at Fashion Island – March 15
- 03.12.25 – Kiddle Karoo’s Monster House Party at Soka University – March 16
- 03.11.25 – March at The Lido Theater: Classic Films, Iconic Stars, and Sports Favorites
More Daily Doses
- 03.31.25 – Festival Ballet Theatre Presents The Sleeping Beauty at Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 03.30.25 – Pasta Sisters Expands to Costa Mesa Kitchens
- 03.28.25 – Roger’s Gardens Celebrates 50 Years in Corona del Mar with Spring Events
- 03.25.25 – Dr. Jennifer Armstrong: Subtle, Beautiful Results That Make All the Difference
- 03.21.25 – Legendary Ramen Nagi Arrives at South Coast Plaza
- 03.20.25 – Escape to Relaxation: A Spa Day at Pacific Waters Spa
- 03.19.25 – Spring Dining Experiences at Patina Restaurant Group in Downtown Disney
- 03.16.25 – Graze Craze Expands to Costa Mesa with Charcuterie Boards & Boxes
- 03.13.25 – Executive Chef Jeffrey Boullt Unveils Flavor-Packed New Dinner Menu at SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar
- 03.11.25 – Spring at Irvine Barclay Theatre: A Season of Music, Dance, and Conversation
- 03.09.25 – Deli Nerds Brings High-Quality, Clean Eating to Costa Mesa
- 03.05.25 – Discover Endless Summer Fun at the Summer Opportunities Jamboree!
- 03.04.25 – Golf For A Cause: Join ‘18 For The Elephants’ and Support Conservation Efforts
- 03.02.25 – Now Open: CasaDamí – An Intimate European Café & Wine Bar in Newport Beach
- 02.24.25 – Celebrate OC Restaurant Week March 2 - 8, 2025
- 02.16.25 – Dizzy Bird Expand to Irvine Spectrum with Bold Rotisserie Flavors
- 02.12.25 – Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week: 10 Delicious Reasons to Join the Fun
- 02.11.25 – Love at First Bite: Valentine’s Dining in Orange County
- 02.06.25 – Bring Your Podcast and Video Content to Life at Sunset 17 Studio
- 02.02.25 – Pepper Lunch Expands to Irvine Spectrum with a Sizzling Grand Opening!