El Indio has been a part of the San Diego landscape since 1940. It really began as a tortilla factory. It pumped out of some of the best, freshest tortillas in the San Diego area, and most Hispanics knew that El Indio tortillas stood for quality. Soon, the factory took the next logical step and started serving basic Mexican food from the outlet on India Street near the San Diego Airport.
Making great Mexican dishes with the best tortillas in town was a winning formula. The rest is history; the popularity grew and soon everyone in San Diego considered El India some of the best Mexican food in town.
It isn't fancy and it's not much to look at, but who cares, as the food here is top-notch. Lines form out the door at almost any time of the day. During the busy lunch hour, you can expect a wait up to 20 minutes long to get up to a cashier. This is a favorite with locals, and more and more tourists are finding this little gem hidden on India Street.
The menu is pretty basic, with enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. A sign boldly states that this is NOT fast food, and each order is made by hand as it is ordered, so orders can take up to 20 minutes to make.
Once you take your first bite, none of the lines or the wait will matter to you. This is GREAT down-home Mexican cooking. Don't forget to pick up a bag of their delicious chips to take home.
When driving to El Indio, I was bragging to my son Patrick that this will be the BEST burrito he has ever eaten. His eyes just rolled at my enthusiasm and his look said, "Whatever you say, pop." He took his first big bite of his burrito, his eyes light up, and he proclaimed, "You are right. This is the best burrito ever!" I had the chili relleno burrito, and it was a delicious choice.
I don't know the secret here, maybe it's the fresh tortillas flying off the machine just behind the counter, or maybe it's some special family recipes. I don't know, but it's not my imagination. The food here really is better!
El Indio is a large, somewhat plain building. In the old days, the only seating was a few tables outside across the street. In sunny weather, these tables were always full, but even in rainy, cold weather, you would find brave souls munching on their burritos. Recently, El Indio has opened an indoor seating area next to the counter.
Don't expect great service. The girls behind the register move the line along, and there isn't a lot of chatter or smiles. Don't expect a cozy environment; the tables are pretty basic here and the food is wrapped and served on paper plates. However, none of the fixings, service, or ambience matter here, because the food is the focus - and they have that down pat!