Tacos mean serious business in Austin. They are a rite of passage here! It feels like we have more taco trucks than any other city in Texas, and you can get so many different types around town. Although it is true that you probably come to Austin for the breakfast taco, I think our BBQ tacos are masterpieces as well. My ideal taco all depends on the homemade tortilla and how they prep it. For breakfast tacos, I prefer my eggs to be fluffy (not pinned down) and for lunch or dinner, I usually choose a chicken taco over other meat. I also love a quesadilla and a guac or green sauce topping.Ā Keep reading for my personal list of favorite taco joints and taco trucks, and click HERE to see my guide to the best Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in town. Let me know your favorites!
Best Tacos š® Austin, Texas
TAQUERIA DE DIEZ: At TaquerĆa de Diez, youāll find cooks dressed in paper chef hats screaming, āNo ticket, no taco,ā while firing up your hand-sized tacos on the grill for all to view. The tostadas, burritos, and tacos exude authentic Mexican street food with my favorite, a quesadilla thatās the opposite of American oozy cheesy, but a homemade corn tortilla folded over with crispy cheese melted into the center, draped with chicken, cilantro, onion, and incredible guac (always included) on top. I usually love a homemade flour tortilla on a quesadilla, but, Iām voting corn here, and I also like the steak taco!
TACO FLATS: The fact that you can actually order a margarita, beer, or glass of wine and have tacos makes these giant flour monsters taste even better. Itās an actual restaurant so they have a liquor license. The tortillas are super floury, and you could easily just eat one and be full, but we all know thatās no fun! I prefer breakfast tacos here over dinner. Go for the Black & Green: Grilled Jack Cheese, Refried Black beans, Scrambled Eggs, Guacamole, Grilled Onion. Just make sure you order one with their refried black beans.
VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL: The Migas Originales are the best migas tacos in town, but then they add poblanos on the Migas Poblanas, which I like even better! They give a good portion of eggs that are soft and taste fresh vs. some of the food trucks in town that use a flat top to make overcooked eggs. Everything is made from scratch with all natural, fresh, whole ingredients so I feel good after I eat it! Donāt forget to try the tender Barbacoa Taco, too.
NIXTA TAQUERIA: Edgar and Sara have a menu at Nixta that canāt be matched by anyone else. They have bountiful vegetables, tuna and beet tostadas, and are making their own masa through nixtamalization for the corn tortillas. When it’s in season, the Carrot Tostada is my #1 dish to order, and my other favorite is the Duck Carnitas taco. Their paletas also seal the deal before you exit.
DE NADA: I really judge taco places based on their vegetarian option, chicken, and barbacoa tacos, and I have found that De Nada has the best sweet potato taco in town, topped with smoked black beans, chimichurri, and chipotle slaw. Anything with chimichurri is so good, and this is a great taco option that isnāt greasy, especially if you want some vegetables. Although I donāt regularly eat pork, my friend once ordered the Fried Carnitas & Cheese Mexico City Quesadillas, and I didnāt know there was pork in it when I tasted it, but it was so cheesy and tender. Itās a tie between these two options at De Nada, depending on what your stomach is feeling.
TAMALE HOUSE: I had the best Birria tacos Iāve ever had in Austin here. Not to mention, the backyard has a gorgeous teal staircase and patio seating that feels like a Mexico City jungle with plants, hot pink walls on the house, and colors galore. Itās a great backyard to host a party, Iād say!
CARNITAS EL GĆERO: When you go here, just get what theyāre known for! The employees donāt speak English and the menu was in Spanish, so we pointed at what we wanted, and ended up with a huge platter/DIY situation with carnitas and salsas and homemade corn tortillas that taste like tortillas you would find at Suerte or La Condesa instead of ones you would typically find at a food truck. Simply order the carnitas, and you’ll get a platter for a super fun, authentic experience.
CUANTOS TACOS: This beloved taco truck was recognized with a Bib Gourmand by Michelin in 2024 for their small Mexico City-style tacos. Options include Suadero Brisket, Carnitas, Longaniza, and more, an stay tuned for their brick-and-mortar opening on Justin Lane soon!
DISCADA: These two best friends only have ONE taco on the menu and earned a Michelin nod for this tiny taco truck. Located at Chalmers, their Mexico City street style tacos come in servings of 3 for $8.50, 5 for $13.50, and 8 for $19.50. The tender meat is made up of beef and pork and marinated for 24 hours before they cook it in layers for 6 hours on a tractor plow disc. The tortilla almost looks crunchy from the photo, but it is indeed soft and melts in your mouth with each juicy bite. This is a steal and will be imprinted in your mind forever.
CASA DE LUZ: Yes, the macrobiotic and vegetarian haven tucked right by Town Lake has guacamole tacos on Wednesdays, and gorditas, too! They mix the guac with āshrooms, carrots, and green beans, and itās pretty hearty.
SUERTE: These are probably the most expensive tacos on this list, but Suerte is an award-winning restaurant, and I felt like their Suadero Tacos deserved a place here! The Confit Wagyu Brisket is beyond tender, served on open high-quality tortillas, topped with black magic oil, avocado crudo, onion, and cilantro. This is a perfect dish for Austin, served in a fun atmosphere where you can get other dishes and cocktails, and I donāt know if Iāve ever had better brisket tacos.
EL MARISQUERO: El Marisquero actually feels like Mexico City to me for some reason, unlike a lot of other trucks ā maybe because it has its own area, but maybe it’s the flags, decor, and long picnic tables. Their menu is quite large, and all the seafood really excited me since most taco trucks in Austin primarily boast their Al Pastor recipes. Go for the Shrimp Taco and Battered Fish, which is the biggest monster I’ve ever seen and still tender inside.
ASADOR TACOS: Everyone knows this is my all around favorite chicken taco mostly because they grill their tortillas on a flat top. I stumbled upon this during SXSW one year and didnāt know another soul who had been. The grilled tortilla makes the taco taste almost like a slightly crunchy quesadilla, but without the cheese, so you really dig into the flavorful chicken. Their chips and guac and salsa make it a match made in heaven. Itās located outside their mezcal bar, Las Perlas, and itās fun to play darts while you wait.
TACO DELI: This is a classic for all your breakfast, lunch, dinner and queso needs, wherever and whenever around Austin.
LA SANTA BARBACHA: This taco truck connected to Fleet Coffee on Manor Road wowed me when I visited for the first time. I recommend trying the Santito Taco, a vegetarian taco full of roasted but still crunchy cauliflower, red cabbage, poblano and onion, on a spinach tortilla. The Quesabarbacha is also amazing, as it’s basically a quesadilla with crunchy cheese on the edges and soft cheese on the inside with an ideal amount of barbacoa, all in a beet tortilla. You get plenty of food in a great venue with covered seating, wooden tables, and sturdy chairs. Iām ready to go back for breakfast!
THAI FRESH: More people need to know about Thai Freshās HUGE Thai omelet breakfast tacos with fluffy eggs and so much flavor from Thai ingredients. I love the Spicy Shrimp Omelet Taco with Thai chilies, onions, mushroom, Thai basil, eggs, pickled shallots, and soy sauce, and you only need one because theyāre so filling! Stop in for a breakfast taco, try a Beet Cocoa Latte, and wrap it all up with the best coffee cake in town that happens to be GF.
COMEDOR: Bone marrow is such a rich food and can feel scary to eat, but I think what Comedor does so well is they add ingredients like greens and pecan gremolata to balance it so itās not just greasy fat in your math. Itās crunchy, soft, and really rich, so itās good for one taco and moving on to your next dish. I haven’t seen Bone Marrow Tacos anywhere else and love that it makes you think about food and what youāre eating. You might notice I put Suerte and Comedor on this list because they make a statement on the culinary scene in Austin that sparks conversation that could last the whole meal!
EL PRIMO: El Primo, which is cash only and closed on Sundays (big things to remember), offers a short menu with all the basic necessities. I like the Egg, Bean, and Cheese. It’s really creamy with the refried beans, and the eggs come in a nice portion. What surprised me most on my last visit was the incredible shredded chicken taco with pico. It’s fresh, made with high-quality meat, and itās a taco you’d be impressed with at a restaurant.
CON MADRE KITCHEN: If you are looking for something down and dirty, get the chorizo taco here. Itās cheesy, meaty, and might stay in your tum tum for two days.
TAQUERIA LA GUERA #2: If you like light, not so greasy/juicy, this truck, located at Sunrise Mini-Mart on Oltorf and South 5th street, is a fast taco fix!
ROLLIN SMOKE BBQ: This BBQ food truck at Chalmers serves a number of tacos with their super tender meat. You must try the Quesataco with pit-smoked carnitas, barbacoa, or brisket.
CHURCHROW BBQ: If you were disappointed when Valentinaās closed a few years back, Churchrow comes from its former pitmaster, as well as the owner behind my beloved Taco Flats. With influences from both of those original businesses, Churchrow serves tender meats in Tex Mex-influenced forms such as tacos, nachos, meat-topped queso, and enchiladas. You can also stick to BBQ classics and be fully satisfied, but I love that you can order a taco to try the smoked meats and not feel overly full afterwards. Try the Tejanita Taco with smoked and grilled chicken thighs, roasted poblano and red onion, pico, guacamole, tomatillo salsa.
ASADOāS TAQUERIA: We are talking about tacos here, but the thing to order at Asadoās Taqueria is the Super Burrito. You donāt find too many California-style burritos in Austin, and this one satisfies with your choice of steak, carnitas, or chicken in a flour tortilla with rice, pinto beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.
PUEBLO VIEJO: This taco truck brand also a winner, but I actually love their quesadillas even more than their regular tacos.
ROSITA’S AL PASTOR: Known mostly for their Al Pastor (duh), I prefer the Gordita. That bread is unlike no other. I obviously like to order specialties at some of these places that you canāt get anywhere else.
PLACES I STILL NEED TO TRY:
- Paprika
- Las Trancas
- Joe’s Bakery
- Texas Honey Ham breakfast tacos