Fish tacos in old T1 that actually taste like San Diego
In Terminal 1’s airside food area, Rubio’s Coastal Grill gives you fish tacos and shrimp burritos instead of another generic burger stand. It sits past security near the main Southwest gates, so you’re fine staying in shoes-off mode. Pricing runs in the $$ range, a couple dollars higher than street locations in town, but still below full-service sit-down spots in SAN.
The move here is the original fish taco plate or a single taco with a side, usually landing around the low teens in dollars. Regulars also call out the shrimp burrito as solid preflight fuel before a Southwest hop. Portions track with city Rubio’s, just expect airport markups and slightly less salsa bar freedom. Rating hovers around 3 out of 5, which makes it one of the better bets in this older terminal against the national fast-food competition.
Lines spike in Terminal 1’s morning and late-afternoon departure waves, and waits can stretch close to 20 minutes when several Southwest flights stack up. That’s when the kitchen starts to overcook fish, according to a few reviews, so keep your order simple if you see a crowd ten deep. Regulars stick to classic fish tacos and skip extra-complicated bowls when boarding time is tight.
Seating right by Rubio’s is limited, and tables in the shared food court area near the Terminal 1 gates fill fast around the top of the hour. Grab your tray, scout for any open chair, or plan on carrying your tacos back toward your gate if Group B is already forming. Cash isn’t an issue; they run standard airport POS with tap-to-pay and cards.
Tip: Build in an extra 20–25 minutes before boarding in Terminal 1 if you want Rubio’s without stress, and check the line before committing to anything beyond fish tacos or a shrimp burrito.