Our story
Baja inspired. Carlsbad made.
From Baja road trips to Bressi Ranch
Casero Taqueria was born from a love of Baja surf trips, farm-fresh ingredients and regional Mexican traditions. Founders Clayton Wheeler and Craig Applegate wanted North County to have a taqueria that tasted like those drives down the coast — simple food, made from scratch, served with warmth.
Today, Casero is proudly operated by the Swami's Café family, a San Diego favorite. The recipes stay rooted in tradition; the hospitality comes from a team that treats every guest like family at the table.
What “homemade” means here
- Corn tortillas are pressed by hand in our kitchen.
- Al pastor is rubbed with achiote and cooked on a vertical trompo.
- Carne asada and pollo asado are char-grilled; carnitas are citrus-braised; birria is slow-cooked.
- Salsas, guacamole and chipotle crema are made in-house — and sold by the tub in our market.
- The bar pours Southern California craft beer and wines from Valle de Guadalupe, Baja's wine country.
Meet our general manager
Sam Mor
Sam brings more than 20 years of restaurant and hospitality experience in New York and San Diego to Casero. Driven by a passion for food, restaurants and leadership, he brings a twist on tradition to everything from our tacos to our cocktails.
The space
A bright dining room with woven pendant lights, a lounge wrapped in greenery, a long bar backed by agave spirits, and a covered patio with string lights and heaters.
