Salud Catering: Taco Menu, Prices and Packages

Salud Catering is a taco catering business rather than a restaurant with a dining room, so you won't find a place to sit and order. The Becerra family runs it, and they say their family has lived in San Diego since 1900 as fourth-generation residents. The business was previously known as San Diego Taco Company and Salud Tacos & San Diego Taco Co. The food is cooked on a self-contained mobile taco cart, and most of the meats are cooked in front of guests. The listed address is 1516 Roosevelt Ave, National City, CA 91950, and the company says it serves all of San Diego County and surrounding areas. You can reach them at 619-292-2674 or info@sdcateringco.com. The company has received the "Best Catering Company in Town" award in San Diego in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Its Google listing shows a 5.0 rating from 3,231 reviews.

The menu centers on grilled and slow-cooked meats. The carne asada is marinated overnight and cooked over 100% mesquite. Other options include pollo asado with herbs, chipotle, and citrus, al pastor (listed as adobada) made with achiote paste and pineapple and cooked on a griddle, carnitas, birria, lengua, cabeza/cachete, and chorizo cooked over an open flame in its natural casing. Meats are sold by the pound: carne asada, lengua, and cabeza/cachete are $12 per pound, al pastor and birria are $11, carnitas are $10, and pollo asado and chorizo are $9. For vegetarians, the Veggie Potato tray with soyrizo, potatoes, onion, and red pepper costs $50 for a half tray (serves 25) or $100 for a full tray (serves 50). The Grilled Veggie tray with peppers, onion, and zucchini costs $45 for a half tray or $90 for a full. Seafood tacos include beer-battered cod, Baja shrimp, and grilled shrimp, each priced at $3.50 with a minimum order of 20.

The salsas come in 16-ounce and 32-ounce containers. The 16-ounce size costs $20 to $25 and serves 25, while the 32-ounce size costs $40 to $45 and serves 50. Options include Chipotle Tomatillo, Habanero Tomate, Salsa Verde, La Clasica (red garlic), Habanero Especial, Avo-Salsa, Pico De Gallo, Molcajete, and Salsa Fresca. Sides such as Mexican rice, refried or de la olla beans, Mexican street corn, table-side guacamole, and Mexican slaw are sold in half and full trays. Beans and Mexican rice are $75 for a half tray and $150 for a full. Churros are $2 each with a minimum of 20, and flan is $4 per portion. Aguas frescas come in 5-gallon batches for $70, serving 65 to 70 people, in flavors such as horchata, jamaica, and tamarindo.

Catering prices depend on the service level. The Tacos Only package is $10 per person with a minimum of 100 guests and includes three meat options, one chef, and 1.5 hours of service. Food pickup costs $12 per person with a minimum of 10 people and includes no servers or delivery. Delivery costs $14 per person with a minimum of 15 people and covers the area within 25 miles of 91950, including a 10% service charge and 15% tip. Full service with chafing dishes is $17 per person with a minimum of 30 guests and needs electrical access for the tortilla griddle. The street taco cart runs $19 to $22 per person with a minimum of 30. The a la plancha cart, where meat is cooked on a hot griddle, is $20 per person with a minimum of 30. For events of 200 or more, a $350 setup fee is recommended for the full-service and cart options.

A few practical details matter before booking. The company recommends about three to four tacos per person, and it is not an unlimited buffet. The cart measures about 26 by 79 by 36 inches and cannot be carried up stairs. Events go ahead rain or shine, and rescheduling requires at least one week's notice. A 25% deposit is due at booking and can be refunded within 3 days. The balance is due 10 days before the event. Travel is free within the first 25 miles, and beyond that it costs $3 per mile round trip. Clients must provide liability insurance, workers' compensation, and any required permits at least two weeks before the event. A site inspection costs $50. Bartending is $180 per hour with a three-hour minimum, and bussing is $120 per hour with a two-hour minimum.