While Dave Portnoy turned pizza reviews into a national obsession, The Taco Fiend, who often refers to himself as "Tio Taco", has become the face of tacos, burritos, and everything served wrapped in a tortilla. Lately, his mission has evolved. Though everything began with tacos - and his name still carries the legacy - his content today is dominated by San Diego’s most famous culinary export: the California burrito. He’s on a relentless hunt for the city’s best carne asada–fries–salsa combination, reviewing a new taco or burrito every single day as part of his long-term goal to rate food in every country in the world.
The Fiend has amassed a huge following: 131,000 Instagram followers, 585,400 TikTok followers, and 19,100 YouTube subscribers. His growth has been so explosive that he can’t even walk into a taco shop to order anymore. Fans pack the counter, owners rush out to meet him, and the experience becomes too chaotic to film - so he now sends strangers inside to place his order while he waits outside with his cousin and frequent co-host, Caesar.
He still bases most of his reviews in San Diego, especially in and around his home of National City, but he’s increasingly traveling. He recently dropped episodes from New York City, featuring iconic slices at John’s of Bleecker and Joe’s Pizza. A trip to Los Angeles led him to declare Tacos El Asadero Poblano one of his all-time favorites. He also finally finished his 50 state taco tour by reviewing tacos in Oahu, Hawaii.
But what truly sets him apart is his charitable streak. Instead of keeping the money he earns from his rapidly growing platforms, merchandise sales and occasional follower donations, The Taco Fiend pours most of it back into the community through taco shop buyouts - paying small restaurants, food trucks, or street vendors for an entire day’s worth of food and then letting crowds of followers come eat for free. His most recent local buyout at La Central Market in Barrio Logan drew a massive turnout and introduced scores of new customers to the business.
His path here was far from easy. Before all the fans, the humor, and the now-famous “gasolina” rating scale, he was at rock bottom. Down to about $700, he left his cousin’s house with nothing but his pit bull Felipe and a vivid, life-changing dream telling him to pack up his car and do a 50-state food tour. For the next eight months, he lived in that car, reviewing tacos across the country and surviving on small donations from TikTok fans until he was eventually monetized.
As he traveled, his following exploded - not because of gimmicks, but because of the raw, unfiltered personality he brought to every review combined with his charitable, good-hearted way. He’s genuinely funny, brutally honest, unpretentious, and always reminds people that “he’s not here to review agua frescas.”
Now, as the California burrito becomes the centerpiece of his content, The Taco Fiend is doing more than reviewing food - he is cementing himself as one of San Diego’s most unlikely cultural ambassadors. He proves that with grit, humor, vision, and an altruistic mission, you can build an empire out of tortillas and good intentions.
And tomorrow, he’ll be back at it again - another day, another taco, another burrito, another shot at finding the next “gasolina” masterpiece.
But what truly sets him apart is his charitable streak. Instead of keeping the money he earns from his rapidly growing platforms, merchandise sales and occasional follower donations, The Taco Fiend pours most of it back into the community through taco shop buyouts - paying small restaurants, food trucks, or street vendors for an entire day’s worth of food and then letting crowds of followers come eat for free. His most recent local buyout at La Central Market in Barrio Logan drew a massive turnout and introduced scores of new customers to the business.
His path here was far from easy. Before all the fans, the humor, and the now-famous “gasolina” rating scale, he was at rock bottom. Down to about $700, he left his cousin’s house with nothing but his pit bull Felipe and a vivid, life-changing dream telling him to pack up his car and do a 50-state food tour. For the next eight months, he lived in that car, reviewing tacos across the country and surviving on small donations from TikTok fans until he was eventually monetized.
As he traveled, his following exploded - not because of gimmicks, but because of the raw, unfiltered personality he brought to every review combined with his charitable, good-hearted way. He’s genuinely funny, brutally honest, unpretentious, and always reminds people that “he’s not here to review agua frescas.”
Now, as the California burrito becomes the centerpiece of his content, The Taco Fiend is doing more than reviewing food - he is cementing himself as one of San Diego’s most unlikely cultural ambassadors. He proves that with grit, humor, vision, and an altruistic mission, you can build an empire out of tortillas and good intentions.
And tomorrow, he’ll be back at it again - another day, another taco, another burrito, another shot at finding the next “gasolina” masterpiece.
Originally published on November 22, 2025.
