Don't Eat Tacos Outside San Diego #substack #shorts

17 Mar 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:06

In this YouTube short, Speaker A shares a personal rule: they refuse to eat tacos outside of San Diego, citing a strong regional loyalty to San Diego’s taco culture. They mention popular spots like El Gordo and a favorite shrimp salsa verde taco from Rubio's in Chula Vista. Neal Bloom responds, praising Rubio's fish tacos as a San Diego classic that helped popularize fish tacos across the United States, noting its founder Ralph Rubio, a San Diego State alumnus, and its Carlsbad origins and franchise growth. Neal also reveals he is recording at San Jose State University and plans to visit a Rubio's food court afterward for a carne asada taco. The clip blends personal food preferences, regional pride, and brief brand history in a casual, conversational tone.

Chapters

My rule is you don't eat tacos outside of San Diego. So when I go to like Boston and someone offers me a taco, I'm like, I lived in San Diego. I cannot eat a Boston taco. But, you know, everyone says El Gordo is the place to go, right? And down in Chula Vista, I, I'm good old like, I like Rubio's, like the salsa verde shrimp taco. So that's kind of my go-to when I sometimes I have a craving for it. But that's my, my Rubio's taco.
Love it. Rubio's a classic, especially their fish. I mean, they really brought the fish taco to, I feel like, the American audience, you know, and a San Diego State alum, Ralph Rubio, built it and still a Carlsbad-based company, I think. So, yeah, a very San Diego but also like scaled business to brought it to the world and franchise and everything. It's a great one. For sure. I'm actually right from here. I'm at San Jose State right now. So we're recording. I'm going to Rubio's right after this at their food court to get a side of their carne asada. That's what I eat now. Like