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Open 24 hours

El Pueblo Mexican Food
Cardiff-by-the-Sea

A Cardiff-by-the-Sea institution serving authentic Mexican food around the clock — breakfast burritos at dawn, late-night tacos, always fresh.

Order online Directions (760) 230-1771
El Pueblo Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Address

820 Birmingham Drive
Cardiff, CA 92007

Hours

Open 24 hours · 7 days a week

What to expect

  • Open 24 hours
  • 7 days a week
  • Shared address with Cardiff Valero

Mexican Food in Cardiff-by-the-Sea — Open 24 Hours

El Pueblo's Cardiff-by-the-Sea location is our flagship — the original kitchen that started the neighborhood's love affair with fresh, fast, affordable Mexican food. Tucked just off the 5 at 820 Birmingham Drive, this is the only Mexican restaurant in Cardiff open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Surfers grab breakfast burritos before dawn. Night shifts drop in for carne asada tacos at 2am. Families roll through after soccer practice. Whenever you're hungry, we're open.

Family-owned, El Pueblo Cardiff has become a neighborhood staple — the kind of place locals send visitors, and the first stop for everyone coming back to town. Our kitchen turns out the same menu you'll find at our Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, and Del Mar locations, all made fresh every day with produce delivered each morning.

Fish Tacos, Breakfast Burritos, and Late-Night Eats in Cardiff

Cardiff is where the famous $1.39 Fish Taco was born — crispy fried-to-order fillet, chipotle sauce, fresh pico, crisp cabbage on a warm corn tortilla, with no limit on how many you can order. It's the taco we've never raised the price on. Locals come in for five at a time.

Beyond the fish taco, the Cardiff kitchen serves the full El Pueblo menu all 24 hours: breakfast burritos (Super, Steak and Eggs, Machaca, Chorizo), huevos rancheros and chilaquiles in the early morning, carne asada plates and burritos through the day, and late-night favorites like adobada tacos, carnitas quesadillas, and carne asada fries for the post-midnight crowd.

Easy In, Easy Out — Right Off the 5 in Cardiff

El Pueblo Cardiff sits at 820 Birmingham Drive, sharing an address with Cardiff Valero — gas, snacks, and cold drinks next door. Fuel up the car and the people in it at the same stop. Order at the counter, take it to go, or eat in the lot with the windows down — it's how Cardiff does it.

From Google

What people are saying.

4.6 1,790 reviews See all on Google →

Matthew Mills

★★★★★ 5 months ago

A great spot for quick tacos. The fish tacos are only $1.39, taste great, and are very filling. I usually get those every time because it is such a great deal but I also got a carne asada taco and it did not disappoint. It was crowded and parking was hard but those are good signs when you want great food. I got three tacos and left full. I ate one fish taco before I took the picture because I was hungry.

Elliana Calvillo

★★★★★ 2 months ago

El Pueblo is a fantastic spot! The food is consistently delicious, offering a wide range of authentic Mexican flavors that keep me coming back for more. I’m always impressed by the quality of the ingredients and the care that goes into each dish. What truly sets El Pueblo apart, though, is the exceptional service. Tania, in particular, always greets us with a smile and goes above and beyond to make sure we have a great experience. Her recommendations are always spot-on, and her friendly demeanor makes the whole atmosphere even more welcoming. If you’re in Cardiff and craving genuine Mexican cuisine with top-notch service, El Pueblo is the place to be!

Warren Nickerson

★★★★★ 3 months ago

$1.39 Full Size Fish Tacos, Corn or Flour, (not street taco mini size)...@ 150lbs 3-4 of these have been the most i have managed to conquer! OPEN Daily & 24HRS. Skip the cereal or bagel, These fish Tacos are amazing for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or Midnight Snack! ~as of 1/13/2026~

Bryce Kreiser

★★★★★ 3 months ago

A favorite spot for sure! Love the fish tacos deal. Service is always kind and fast, and Arturo was especially helpful today. Anthony & Jeremiah too.

norma daniela lepe trillo

★★★★★ 2 months ago

Everything was perfect since i walked in, Aylinn was a big help while i was going through the menu and the cooks (Fabian and Iracema) did an awesome job cuz it was delicious 💕

Frequently asked

Cardiff-by-the-Sea — questions

Are you really open 24 hours?

Yes. El Pueblo Cardiff-by-the-Sea is open 24 hours, 7 days a week — the only 24-hour Mexican food in Cardiff. The full menu is available all night, including fish tacos, burritos, and carne asada plates.

Where is El Pueblo Cardiff located?

820 Birmingham Drive, Cardiff, CA 92007 — just off the 5 freeway at the Birmingham exit. We share a parking lot with Cardiff Valero gas station.

Where do I park?

820 Birmingham Drive shares its lot with Cardiff Valero gas station — plenty of parking, easy in and out. We're a counter-service location; most orders are takeout or eaten in the lot.

How much are your fish tacos?

$1.39 each, with no limit on how many you can order. Our signature fish taco — crispy fried-to-order fillet, chipotle sauce, fresh pico, cabbage on a warm corn tortilla — and we've never raised the price.

Do you serve breakfast at night?

Yes. Breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and every other breakfast item on our menu are available 24 hours at the Cardiff location.

Hungry, Cardiff?

Order pickup, browse the menu, or drop in — we're ready.

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