We love tacos in Austin — and when I say “love,” I mean LOVE. This is my ultimate guide to the best tacos in Austin, from James Beard-winning masa to Mexico City street-style trucks to the puffy tacos I eat on a weeknight. (For the morning kind, here’s my separate guide to the 17 best breakfast tacos in Austin.)
A lot has changed since I first wrote this. Austin’s taco scene got its first national spotlight through the Taco Mafia — the collective of East Austin taquerías (Nixta, Cuantos Tacos, Discada, and Veracruz) featured in the 2023 PBS docuseries — and then its first Michelin recognition in 2024. So here’s my updated list of where to go right now.
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Table of Contents
The Michelin & James Beard Tacos
Start here. These are the most acclaimed taco spots in the city — and most of them are within a few blocks of each other on the East side.
Nixta Taqueria
If you eat one taco in Austin, make it the duck carnitas at Nixta. Chef Edgar Rico has collected just about every honor there is — a James Beard Award, a Michelin Young Chef nod, a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a Green Star — and it all comes back to the corn. Nixta nixtamalizes heirloom Mexican corn in-house for tortillas that actually taste like corn: earthy, fragrant, unforgettable.
WHAT TO ORDER: The duck carnitas taco, the beet “tartare” tostada, and the migas taco with duck-fat refried beans. If you want the full experience, book the masa omakase.
2512 E 12th St, nixtataqueria.com
Cuantos Tacos
My personal favorite, hands down. Cuantos is a tiny food truck on East 12th doing Mexico City-style street tacos on fresh Nixtamal tortillas, and every one is juicy and perfect. It earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and it deserves it.
WHAT TO ORDER: Get one of each — longaniza (Mexican chorizo), cachete (barbacoa), suadero, and buche. Tacos around $2.50, quesadillas around $7.50.
1108 E 12th St, cuantostacosaustin.com
Suerte
Chef Fermín Núñez’s East Austin restaurant is masa-forward, gorgeous, and Michelin-recommended. His résumé runs through La Condesa, Launderette, and Uchiko, and it shows.
WHAT TO ORDER: The suadero tacos — wagyu brisket, black magic oil, avocado crudo — are the signature and worth every penny. Great for weekend brunch, too.
1800 E 6th St, suerteatx.com
Veracruz All Natural
Sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez started with a juice truck and built it into the most beloved taco operation in Austin — now a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The migas taco is, hands down, the best breakfast taco in the city.
WHAT TO ORDER: The migas taco. Also great: the fajita steak with queso fresco and avocado, and the vegan veggie with grilled mushrooms.
Multiple locations, veracruzallnatural.com
Discada
Do one thing and do it well — that’s the whole philosophy at Discada, a Michelin-recommended truck that serves exactly one taco. It’s a Northern Mexican cowboy-wok method: beef, pork, peppers, and onions on a concave steel disc, slow-cooked for hours.
WHAT TO ORDER: Order in threes, sixes, or eights. Add an elote.
1319 Rosewood Ave, discadatx.com
Comedor
The most upscale pick on this list — a stunning, architect-designed modern Mexican restaurant downtown from chefs Gabe Erales and Philip Speer, and Michelin-recommended. The tacos here are a special-occasion splurge.
WHAT TO ORDER: The bone marrow tacos are the signature. Don’t skip the goat barbacoa tamal.
501 Colorado St, comedortx.com
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The Best Street-Style Tacos & Trucks
Vaquero Taquero
Some of the best al pastor in Austin, carved off a flame-seared trompo right in front of you. What started as a truck by campus now has a brick-and-mortar plus a downtown location — the tacos remind me of the ones I had in Mexico City.
WHAT TO ORDER: Al pastor tacos and the Quesadilla al Pastor with pan-seared Oaxacan cheese.
4301 Duval St (plus a downtown location), vaquerotaquero.com
Norte
Parked at Hi Sign Brewing in East Austin, so you can eat all the tacos and drink all the beer. The Volcán first got me hooked.
WHAT TO ORDER: The Volcán (flour tostada, carne asada, queso chihuahua costra, grilled onions, avocado) and the al pastor.
730 Shady Ln, East Austin
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Carnitas El Guero
For carnitas, this is the one. Order it “surtido” and you’ll get a mix of slow-cooked pork — butt, ribs, belly, skin — chopped to order with tortillas, two salsas, pickled onions, and lime.
WHAT TO ORDER: Carnitas surtido.
KOKO TIP: The little South Austin spot is cash-only; the North Lamar location has a full kitchen and a liquor license.
Multiple locations, carnitaselguero.com
Paprika ATX
One of the most exciting newer taco spots in town — modern technique meets traditional flavor. The carnitas are sous vide, the refried “beans” are lentils, and somehow it all just works.
WHAT TO ORDER: The carnitas and suadero are the fan favorites.
6539 N Lamar Blvd
Taqueria 10 de 10
Mexico City-style tacos downtown, inspired by Orinoco in CDMX — casual, cool, and open late with a bar up front. Run, don’t walk.
WHAT TO ORDER: Al pastor tacos, the carne asada quesadilla, and the Volcán.
206 Trinity St, Unit 110
Everyday Austin Favorites
Tacodeli
Everyone knows Tacodeli for breakfast tacos, but I love their lunch tacos with a side of queso. A reliable Austin staple with locations all over town.
WHAT TO ORDER: Mexico City sirloin, the Sabrosita barbacoa, or any of the daily specials.
Multiple locations in Austin
Fresa’s
One of my favorite tacos in Austin is the chimichurri skirt steak at Fresa’s — roasted onions, rice, beans, and a whole jalapeño. The achiote chicken is popular too, and the frozen prickly pear margarita is a must.
WHAT TO ORDER: Achiote citrus chicken and chimichurri skirt steak tacos, queso, Mexican street corn, and a frozen prickly pear margarita.
1703 South First St, fresaschicken.com
El Chilito
My weeknight go-to for puffy tacos — a thicker corn tortilla that’s deep-fried and best eaten immediately. Get any taco puffy-style, but the classic beef puffy taco is the move.
WHAT TO ORDER: Beef puffy tacos and an agua fresca.
Multiple locations, elchilito.com
La Condesa
One of my longtime favorites for upscale modern Mexican downtown. I come for the salsa and guacamole tasting, the tacos, and the classic margarita.
WHAT TO ORDER: Barbacoa en mole tacos and carnitas tacos.
400 W 2nd St, lacondesa.com
ATX Cocina
Upscale, all-gluten-free modern Mexican downtown, on the water. The meat dishes shine, and the tacos are excellent.
WHAT TO ORDER: Patos tacos (duck carnitas, citrus mojo, cilantro salad) and the machete.
110 San Antonio St, Suite 170, atxcocina.com
Ensenada
My favorite seafood tacos in town — Baja California-style fish and shrimp with an incredibly fluffy batter, from three generations of women who’ve perfected the craft.
WHAT TO ORDER: The fish and shrimp tacos.
Arbor Food Park, 1108 E 12th St
El Primo
A small roadside stand on South 1st slinging breakfast tacos, burritos, and super tortas. Ask for the cheese — they crisp it on the flat top.
WHAT TO ORDER: Chorizo (or lengua, if you’re feeling adventurous).
KOKO TIP: Cash only.
2011 S 1st St
More Great Austin Tacos
Still hungry? A few more worth seeking out:
La Santa Barbacha — a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its Michoacán-style barbacoa; generous portions and agua frescas.
Asador — a taco stand tucked inside Seven Grand and Las Perlas; the smoked brisket mole is the order. 405 E 7th St
Turf N’ Surf — downtown seafood tacos (tilapia, snapper, oysters, crawfish) with generous portions. 407 Lavaca St
El Tacorrido — drive-thru taqueria; pair tacos with an El Equinox (iced horchata with a shot of espresso). 2316 S 1st St
Dai Due Taqueria — wild game tacos (including wild boar) at Fareground downtown.
Güero’s Taco Bar — the South Congress classic, with a salsa bar.
Torchy’s Tacos — the homegrown chain; ask about the secret menu.
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