Tacos mean serious business in Austin. They are a right of passage, included on every dude’s Bumble profile as a pick-up line for knowing the “best in town.” They are on individual’s bios on business websites bragging which spot they order from for the whole office weekly. In Austin, we have taco trucks galore and more than any other city in Texas (well at least it feels like it). It’s true, you come here for the breakfast taco. I personally think our BBQ tacos are masterpieces.
Best Tacos đŽ Austin, Texas
PALO SECO: [pictured above] This is first birria taco truck I tried in town. They stand out with their homemade Consome with Birria, a Mexican brisket stew used for dipping the tacos in. My favorite was the Birria Tacos ($2.50 each) and the Mulitas ($4.00 each). A Mulita is like a quesadilla and their tortillas were pretty crispy/bubbly with melted yellow cheese and shredded brisket inside. Itâs not sliced but round. The queso tacos are the brisket tacos but with a tougher cheese layer. I prefer the plain brisket over this so you can get the full meat flavor. Be sure to order a side of connote, but beware when itâs hot out – this can make you sweat more.
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. Itâs 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 thatâs 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.
TAQUERIA DE DIEZ:Â At Taqueria de Diez, youâll find cooks dressed in paper chef hats screaming, âNo ticket, no taco,â 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 thatâs 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, Iâm voting corn here, and I also like the steak taco! Located in the same venue as ReyRey, Reina Rooftop, and Roma, come for a late night bite and margarita, and who knows where youâll end up within this compound next.
DE NADA: I really judge taco places based on their vegetarian option, chicken, and barbacoa 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 isnât greasy, especially if you want some vegetables. Although I donât regularly eat pork, my friend once ordered the Fried Carnitas & Cheese Mexico City Quesadillas, and I didnât know there was pork in it when I tasted it, but it was so cheesy and tender. Itâs a tie between these two options at De Nada, depending on what your stomach is feeling.
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 because it rounds it out even more! 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! Taco Flats used to be my favorite, but Veracruzâs eggs are a little bouncier, which makes them my favorite now. Donât forget to try the tender Barbacoa Taco at their larger brick-and-mortar in Mueller, Veracruz Fonda & Bar.
NIXTA TAQUERIA
Edgar and Sara have a menu at Nixta that canât 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. My favorite is the Duck Carnitas taco. Their paletas also seal the deal before you exit.
MAUDIE’S: An old Austin classic Tex-Mex restaurant that has everything you could want from Mexican food. Their tamale breakfast taco is a secret weapon. I guarantee youâve never seen this anywhere else.
TAMALE HOUSE: This historic spot on East Sixth has lots of Mexican sou inside and on their patio. Go for the chicken mole taco.
CARNITAS EL GUERO: When you go here, just get what theyâre known for! They donât 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 find at a food truck. Order the carnitas, and you’ll get a platter for a super fun, authentic experience.
CASA DE LUZ: Yes, the macrobiotic and vegetarian haven tucked right by Town Lake has guacamole tacos on Wednesdays, and gorditas! They mix the guac with âshrooms, carrots, and green beans, and itâs 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 because weâre known for BBQ and Mexican food, served in a fun atmosphere where you can get other dishes and cocktails, and I donât know if Iâve 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 â 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, and let me know how the soup is this winter!
ASADOR TACOS: Everyone knows this is my all around favorite chicken taco mostly because they grill their tortillas on a flat top and because I stumbled upon this during SXSW one year and didnât 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. Itâs located outside their mezcal bar, Las Perlas, and itâs fun to play darts while you wait.
TACO DELI: This is an instant 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. Iâm ready to go back for breakfast!
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 itâs not just greasy fat in your math. Itâs crunchy, soft, and really rich, so itâs good for one taco and moving on to your next dish. I haven’t seen this anywhere else and love that it makes you think about food and what youâre eating. You might notice I put two restaurants on this list because they make a statement on the culinary scene in Austin that sparks conversation that could last the whole meal!
GRANNY’S TACO TRUCK: Ever heard of a Chilaquiles Breakfast Taco? Well, now you have!
THAI FRESH
More people need to know about Thai Freshâs 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 theyâre 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.
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!
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 itâs a taco you’d be impressed with at a restaurant.
CON MADRE KITCHEN: If you are looking for something DEEP, down and dirty, get the chorizo taco here. Itâs cheesy, meaty, and might stay in your tum tum for two days.
PUEBLO VIEJO: This taco truck brand is 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 canât get anywhere else.
RELATED: Best Tex-Mex Restaurants in Austin HERE
As you can see, my ideal taco all depends on the homemade tortilla and how they prep it. I prefer my eggs to be fluffy (not pinned down) and usually a chicken taco over other meat. Always love a quesadilla and a guac or green sauce topping. Let me know your favorites!
PLACES I STILL NEED TO TRY:
- Un Mundo de Sabor
- Las Trancas
- Joe’s Bakery
- Texas Honey Ham