PureTaco in Carlsbad Village opened in 2021 on State Street as a globally inspired taqueria co-founded by the team behind Casero Taqueria and Urban Plates co-founder John Zagara. Hand-pressed tortillas form the base for fusion builds like pho beef and Korean bo ssam pork alongside traditional carne asada and al pastor, a cross-cultural taco format that contrasts with the Baja-rooted menu at Norte Mexican Food & Cocktails down the block. The bar pours a custom-brewed Mexican lager made exclusively for PureTaco by a local North County brewery, plus specialty margaritas and rotating local taps. State Street Commons positions the restaurant across from Campfire and within Carlsbad Village's walkable restaurant cluster near the Carlsbad Farmers Market. The ahi poke nachos and Thai-chili shrimp tacos reflect a flavor vocabulary that ranges wider than traditional Italian-American Village dining at Spirito's Italian Diner on Carlsbad Village Drive. Each tortilla is hand-pressed to order from a proprietary masa recipe, and the Korean bo ssam pork undergoes a multi-step marination and slow-roast process before final assembly on the line.