Few things does Houston do better than tacos. From authentic Mexican tacos dished out nondescript food trucks to Tex-Mex havens, Houston’s best tacos can be found in the city’s many nooks and crannies. Read on to discover our 10 favorite taco joints in Houston – in no particular order.
1. Tacos Tierra Caliente
Where: Montrose, 2003 W Alabama St.
Parked across the lot from the historical West Alabama Ice House, Tacos Tierra Caliente is a cash-only food truck that serves up some of the best street tacos in town. Their no-frills menu features tacos and gorditas with a choice of meats from barbacoa, chicken, and beef, to fajita, pastor, and chicharron, on flour, corn, and veggie tortillas.
Green sauce is a must. Prices range from $1.50 to $5.00. Feel free to chase your meal with a couple of brewskies at West Alabama next door.
2. Tacos La Sultana
Where: East End, 7011 Capitol St.
Sharing a patio with East End Bar, Tacos La Sultana is a welcome sight for not-quite-late-night eaters. Open until 11:30 pm nightly – closed Mondays – Tacos La Sultana serves skillfully-sliced trompo and bistec tacos on oil-warmed corn tortillas. Since you’re there, you might as well get a quesadilla and/or torta.
3. Taconmadre
Where: Multiple locations
Taconmadre is a mini-fleet of green taco buses spread out across Houston with locations in Port Houston, Allendale, South Houston, and Channelview. Here, Houstonians can enjoy authentic Mexican street food until deep in the night – their Freeport location is open 24 hours. Get whatever catches your eye, but be sure to include the Gringa in your order – a chile-and-achiote-spiced pork, Monterey Jack cheese, and avocado slices on a flour tortilla.
4. The Original Ninfa’s
Where: East End, 2704 Navigation Blvd
Come home to where it all started. A half century after “Mama” Ninfa created the iconic restaurant the name has become synonymous with Mexican food in Texas. Today it continues to turn out the gold standard of fajitas, Mama Ninfa’s Original Tacos Al Carbon, and top-notch Tex Mex.
5. Que Tacote
Where: Airline, 8705 Airline Drive
Sunny Flea Market features vendors selling everything under sun: from cheap clothing, makeup, trinkets, to birds and baby turtles. Low-cost, authentic, and delicious food is also available on site at Que Tacote food stand. We try not to use the expression often but dare we say their meat options are super succulent. Plus four sauce options, I mean c’monnnn.
6. Laredo Taqueria
Where: Multiple locations
Lines aren’t for everyone, we get that. But when seeking breakfast tacos that will make your morning, the deceptively long line in front of Laredo Taqueria is a queue you should do. Laredo Taqueria, offers incredible scratch-made barbacoa, nopales, and spicy chicken tacos that just might make a morning person out of you.
7. La Guadalupana Bakery & Cafe
Where: Montrose, 2109 Dunlavy St.
La Guadalupana Bakery & Cafe is a family-owned restaurant in Montrose that – more than most area restaurants – feels like true Mexican home-cooking. Their breakfast taco options might occupy a small part of their extensive menu, but they surely occupy a large part of our hearts.
8. Taqueria Tacambaro
Where: Airline, 2709 Airline Dr.
What is the best $2 you’ve ever spent? Think again. Located in the Canino Produce Market in the Greater Heights, Taqueria Tacambaro is a weekend taco trailer that specializes in mollejas (sweetbread) tacos priced at just two bucks.
9. Hugo’s
Where: Montrose, 1600 Westheimer Rd.
Helmed by James Beard Award-winning Chef, Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s serves a delicious spread of authentic, yet innovative, Mexican cuisine that has garnered a trophy case-worth of awards over the years.
10. Cantina Barba
Where: Greater Heights, 3701 N Main St
Cantina Barba began as a food truck, turning out cheap, massively popular tacos to the point where they were able to open up a brick-and-mortar a few years back. Though their menu options are limited, each dish is packed with flavor.
Their tacos range from $2.50 – $4 a piece with options that include Carne Asada, Barbacoa, Smoked Pork, Papas Con Rajas, Pork Hash, Steak and Eggs, and more, as well as Birria Tacos on Mondays.