If you’ve eaten a taco or two, you know the best ones don’t come from fancy shmancy dining rooms or sponsored Instagram posts. They come from spots you hear about through a friend of a friend — usually the kind with faded signage, four tables, and no website.
With help from customer reviews on Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Reddit, we put together this rundown of the best hole-in-the-wall taco joints in every state.
Tuscaloosa
Tucked in a quiet strip mall near downtown Tuscaloosa, Antojitos Izcalli is the place when you want hole-in-the-wall ambiance and a top-notch street taco quality. It’s nothing flashy, but it doesn’t need to be — it’s built a reputation as the best Mexican in the state one taco at a time.
Locals cram into the tight space for birria tacos that drip with broth and flavor, and the elote gets whispered about like it’s a secret.
Anchorage
El Jefe is an unassuming little spot with, according to many, the best tacos in the Last Frontier, and locals are quick to back it up. The menu focuses on street tacos — small corn tortillas filled with meats like barbacoa, carnitas, and honey-lime chicken.
While some note the tacos are smaller than expected and a bit pricey, many call it the best Mexican food in Anchorage.
Phoenix
You’ll know you’ve arrived at The Beach House in Central Phoenix when you spot the baby blue Volkswagen parked out front, Mod Podge décor, and casual outdoor seating. This family-owned taco spot is known for laid-back Baja vibes and top-tier tacos.
According to the owners, the focus is on simple, handmade tacos with bold flavor — think fish, shrimp, and carne asada served on soft tortillas with fresh toppings. The menu leans more Baja California than traditional Mexican, and regulars say the fish tacos and “Stiffy” burritos are must-tries.
Little Rock
Tucked into a strip-mall corner on Stagecoach Road, La Tapatia is one of those blink-and-you’ll ll-miss-it places that ends up being unforgettable, and then you never stop going back.
Reviewers say the birria tacos are crazy good, the street tacos are the best in Arkansas, and the salsa bar doesn’t mess around. One regular called it “like a hole in the wall in Mexico. The small, family-run spot with kitchy decor offers classics like al pastor, carnitas, and house-made chips that pack a punch.
San Diego
Long before birria became the trendy taco filling of the moment, Ed Fernandez was already doing it better than most. This family-run spot in San Diego built its name on slow-stewed beef simmered with smoky guajillo and California chilis, then tucked into handmade tortillas or fried up with cheese into crispy quesatacos.
Yelp named it the No. 1 taco spot in the country, and regulars agree.
Lafayette
Tacos Aya Yay doesn’t look like much — just a small counter spot in a strip mall — but it landed in 24th place on Yelp’s list, and that’s not nothing.
According to regulars, quesabirria tacos, al pastor tacos, lengua tacos, and carne asada tacos are all top-notch. There’s not a lot of seating, and the vibe is more get-in-get-out than hang around.
New Haven
In the self-proclaimed "Pizza Capital of the U.S.," it takes a lot to stand out — but Tacos Los Gordos manages just fine. The spot has built a quiet following for its Oaxacan corn tortillas, fresh-cut al pastor, and deeply flavorful suadero, birria, and carnitas.
While the tacos are on the smaller side, and the seating is limited, that doesn’t stop regulars from lining up. As one Reddit user put it, “I haven’t had anything from the trucks that Gordos couldn’t make with their eyes closed.”
Wilmington
El Pique sits quietly on Old DuPont Road, but locals know it’s doing some of the best taco work in Delaware. The setup is bare-bones — a few stools, counter service, and not much else —but the food doesn’t need a big stage.
The menu leans classic Jalisco-style, with lamb barbacoa, carnitas, suadero, and lengua, plus a lamb consommé that regulars swear by.
Parkland
Los Bocados opened inside a Chevron gas station in 2016, slinging tacos next to bags of chips and a soda fountain. That setup didn’t stop it from getting national attention — Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured it in 2020, calling it a “gas station gem.”
In 2021, it moved a few steps down the plaza into a proper brick-and-mortar, but kept the same casual, order-at-the-counter vibe. The mahi-mahi tacos, brisket tostadas, birria quesatacos, guajillo chicken, and house-made sauces are the heavy hitters.
Kennesaw
Tacos Del Chavo is tucked in a Kennesaw strip mall, andit’s the kind of spot where you order at the counter, grab a table, and get handed a plate of birria, carne asada, lengua, or barbacoa on house-made corn tortillas. It’s simple, fast, and according to one Reddit user, “doesn’t get more authentic.”
Kahului
Acevedos is a small, family-run spot in Kahului that mixes Mexican street food with Hawaiian touches. The tacos come on grilled corn tortillas with fillings like carne asada, carnitas, and birria, topped with cabbage, cilantro, jalapeño aioli, and lime. The salsa gets a lot of praise, and portions are generous.
It’s mostly counter service with a few outdoor tables. People come here for the food, not the setup.
Wallace
Muchachos Tacos is easy to overlook in a town this small, but people who’ve been, tend to come back. It’s a casual spot on Bank Street with counter service and a short menu — ribeye tacos, shrimp, burritos, crunch wraps.
Patrons praise the generous portions and reasonable prices. It won’t blow up your feed, but it might become the one place you always recommend if someone asks where to eat in Wallace.
Chicago (Edgewater)
Edgewater Tacos doesn’t announce itself — a very unnoticeable walk-up counter next to a gas station, across from a parking lot. But ask around, and this is where people send you for top tier tacos.
The al pastor gets the most attention — spiced just right, with enough fat left on to keep it from drying out. Carnitas are also rich, fall apart easily, and don’t need help from any sauce. Even the shrimp tacos hold up. Regulars say it's “The closest thing to authentic street style tacos here in the city.”
Indianapolis
Julieta Taco Shop is tucked into the Stutz building courtyard in downtown Indianapolis, near North Capitol. It has counter space, a few stools, and no extras.
Everything runs on fresh, nixtamalized corn tortillas, and the menu rotates but usually includes al pastor, carnitas, and the now-famous broccolini taco. Locals rank it top-tier for street tacos, and it draws a steady lunch crowd from nearby offices.
Iowa City
La Regia has been mentioned more than once as one of the best spots for tacos in Iowa City. It’s a small place near Highway 1 with a focus on the basics — tacos, salsas, and fast service. According to reviewers, the meat is well-seasoned, the tortillas hold up, and the food comes out quick.
Kansas City
Don Antonio is part meat market, part taqueria, tucked into a strip off State Avenue, with counter service, house-made tortillas, and a steady stream of regulars who know exactly what they’re there for. One Redditor called the barbacoa “the best tacos I’ve had,” and couldn’t believe they got four of them for five bucks.
The birria and carne asada get the most attention, but people also mention the burritos and tamales like they’re part of the rotation.
Covington
OLLA sits on MLK Jr. Boulevard in Covington and doesn’t make a big scene about itself. It’s a small space — order at the counter, grab a table if you’re lucky — but the food speaks louder than the square footage. Redditors are genuinely obsessed with their birria tacos and Guti Fries, which are basically carne asada-loaded fries.
Baton Rouge
Technically, Los Compadres isn’t a hole-in-the-wall currently — but it used to be. After a fire shut down their small restaurant, they moved operations to a food truck parked around Baton Rouge, often near Costco.
They specialize in birria and barbacoa de chivo, loaded into crispy quesabirria tacos with consommé on the side. These are big, rich tacos with enough weight to make a plate feel heavy.
South Portland
Taco Trio operates out of a small storefront attached to a house — counter service only, with room for maybe a couple of souls to eat in. Its reputation comes from doing a few things well: vegetarian tacos like zucchini-and-squash asados, hearty burritos, and a salsa bar that reviewers swear by — especially the arbol salsa, which they call “so spicy but SO flavorful.”
Locals — especially West Coast transplants — say it’s “full on authentic Mexican food” and praise it for being affordable and consistently satisfying.
Hyattsville
Tucked into a strip mall off University Boulevard, Taqueria La Placita is tight on space but big on flavor. Regulars praise the tacos al pastor and the lengua, both served on thick, house-made tortillas that hold up to the mess. There's a salsa bar with rojo, verde, pickled onions, and a hot one that hits later.
Waltham
Taqueria El Amigo has earned its stripes in Waltham as a go-to for legit tacos. Regulars talk up the smoky-sweet al pastor, the melt-in-your-mouth lengua, and the chorizo that brings real heat. The house-made tortillas get plenty of praise, and the aguas frescas — especially the horchata — have their own loyal following.
Milford
You'll find Chino Loco in a small strip plaza at 240 W Summit Street in Milfrod, but don’t expect to find your run-of-the-mill tacos. The menu combines Mexican staples with Asian flavors, featuring dishes like Korean BBQ tacos, Mongolian beef on scallion-pancake tortillas, spicy tuna burritos, and elote chips.
Reviewers call it “Milford’s gem” and recommend the Korean pancake tacos. They do both take-out and sit-in, but the sitting options are limited.
Minneapolis
Tacos El Kevin operates out of a convenience store with a kitchen counter serving hot food inside. There’s a menu board above the register, but most people already know what they’re getting. Al pastor, suadero, and tinga come double-tortilla’d with orange salsa, roasted onions, and radish.
They also run a taco truck at Theo Wirth Lake during the summer and make raspados in flavors like tamarind and rompope.
Ridgeland
Word on the street is you’ll find some of the best Mexican food in Mississippi at Juarez Tacos in Ridgeland. It started as a food truck and still keeps the low-key, hole-in-the-wall feel in its brick-and-mortar spot on Old Canton Road. Locals praise the cachete (cheek) and cabeza (beef head) tacos as well as the fresh tortillas.
Osage Beach
If you blink while driving down Osage Beach Parkway, you might miss Pablito’s Taqueria — and that’d be a real shame, especially if you’re a taco fan.
Tucked into an unassuming strip mall, this tiny spot is a textbook hole-in-the-wall. Inside, you’ll find corn tortillas cradling juicy carne asada, tender cheek meat, and smoky chorizo, topped simply with fresh cilantro, diced onions, and a squeeze of lime.
Helena
A small walk-up taco joint in Helena, El Vaquero Taqueria is only open for lunch Tuesday through Friday. It doesn’t skimp on portions, and it’s known for low prices and consistently good street-style Mexican food.
Besides tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas can also be found on the menu. You can order at the window and eat outside at one of the picnic tables.
Omaha
Taqueria Tijuana is a sit-down spot in South Omaha that locals head to when they want real-deal tacos without the fuss. It’s known for a wide selection of meats, including lengua, buche, beef cheek, and al pastor.
The carne asada tacos are a crowd favorite, topped with guacamole and queso. Yelpers love the generous portions and reasonable prices. The place stays busy as it gets — especially on Tuesdays, when tacos drop to $2 each.
Las Vegas
Birria Bite started out as a hole-in-the-wall favorite on Maryland Parkway and later added a second location on Decatur Blvd — but it’s still the same family-run business, focused on slow-cooked birria and comforting Mexican dishes.
The menu leans heavy on birria, with popular picks like the three-taco combo, quesabirria, birria ramen, and birria fries. Tacos come with beef or goat, plenty of cheese, and a rich consommé for dipping. Most people tap out after two tacos — they’re that filling.
Manchester
Consuelo’s is a small, family-run spot serving tacos, burritos, and quesadillas that shows up consistently in local “hole-in-the-wall” lists and gets praise for its filling portions, reasonable prices, and tasty food. Menu favorites include the pastor, carne asada, and chorizo tacos, along with enchiladas and alambres.
Passaic
Taqueria Brenda Lee is a tight little taco shop on Monroe Street in Passaic with just a few stools, a counter facing the window, and a grill within arm’s reach of where you order. Tacos come four per order for around $14, and you can mix and match meats like al pastor, carnitas, suadero, buche, cuerito, and carne enchilada. Handmade tortillas, fresh toppings, and a side of lime and radish come standard.
They don’t list everything on the overhead menu, but if you ask, they’ll offer cuts like seso, cachete, ojos, and trompa.
Albuquerque
El Paisa is a classic hole-in-the-wall in Albuquerque’s South Valley, known for affordable, straight-up Mexican food and an outdoor patio that feels more like a roadside market than a restaurant. You order at the window and have the best gorditas and tacos in the state.
The Desherbada en Rojo gordita is a favorite — stuffed with shredded beef, red chile, and potatoes — and the frijol con queso version is simple but hits the spot.
Brooklyn
Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint is a tiny storefront taco spot that locals say might just serve the best tacos in NYC. Tacos come loaded with meat like suadero, al pastor, campechano (mixed meat), and tripa, served on fresh tortillas.
Reviewers praise the tender suadero and flavorful campechano, though the popular al pastor sometimes gets mixed feedback for saltiness. There's also a self-serve salsa and toppings bar.
Durham
La Superior Carniceria is a Mexican grocery, bakery, tortillería, and taqueria under one roof — set in a converted auto dealership. Tacos are $2–$4, filling out with cabeza, tripa, asada, plus fresh tortillas and toppings from a self‑serve salsa bar.
La Superior also serves tamales, gorditas, sopes, flautas, horchata, champurrado, and chilaquiles. Authentic and lively, though a little rough around the edges.
Bismark
This sit-down spot off 12th Street looks unremarkable from the outside, but the menu is stacked. Tacos come with options like birria, carne asada, and shrimp, and there’s a full slate of enchiladas, tamales, and tortas.
Columbus
Originally a food truck, El Tacoriendo opened its brick-and-mortar spot on Refugee Road in 2007 and still runs a second location on Allegheny Ave.
The tacos — carnitas, cecina, lengua, and more — are around $2 and land in house-made tortillas. Tortas go big, especially the cubana and hawaiana, and weekends bring pozole and menudo. The habanero salsa gets name-dropped for a reason.
Oklahoma City
Big Truck Tacos is a well-loved spot in OKC that started as a food truck and a small brick-and-mortar on NW 23rd. In its second year, it was named America’s Favorite Food Truck in a nationwide Food Network contest.
Favorites include the Flaming Lips (brisket with sriracha mayo), the Rancher (potato and egg with chorizo), and the Crispy’cado (fried avocado). There’s a salsa bar to doctor up your tacos, and both indoor and outdoor seating if you want to stay a while.
Portland
Located in a nondescript strip on Fremont, Taqueria La Mestiza doesn’t look like much from the outside, but locals swear it’s one of Portland’s best spots for real-deal Yucatán food.
The menu includes salbutes, panuchos, relleno negro, and banana leaf tamales — dishes you don’t usually see outside southern Mexico. It’s counter service with limited seating.
Pittsburgh
Las Palmas in Pittsburgh is a Mexican grocery store with a taco stand right out front. You order and pay at the butcher counter inside, then grab your tacos from the outdoor grill setup.
Tacos are usually under $4 and come loaded with options like al pastor, lengua, and carne asada. Locals say it’s the best food money can buy in Pittsburgh, period.
Central Falls
Taqueria Lupita falls in that sweet spot between a mom-and-pop and a hole-in-the-wall. It’s inside a small Mexican market in Central Falls with just a few tables and a basic setup. No hype, just solid food.
Regulars go for the al pastor, carnitas, and lengua tacos — simple, flavorful, and done right. You order at the counter and eat killer tacos without any ceremony.
Columbia
Columbia might not scream taco town, but Tacos Nayarit might just as well contradict that notion. It runs out of a strip mall on Percival Road with counter service and a handwritten menu that sticks to the basics.
The carne asada gets love for its bold seasoning and char, but regulars also recommend the tender and balanced Al pastor, and the rich and stewy birria, complete with the pressed and grilled on-site tortillas are.
Sioux Falls
Tortilleria Hernandez is a tortilla shop that quietly serves some of the best tacos in Sioux Falls. There are only two chairs inside, and most people eat in their car or grab and go. It’s easy to miss, but locals swear by the carne asada and the massive burritos.
TikTok creator The Taco Fiend, who reviews tacos in every state, named this his South Dakota pick.
Nashville
San Luis Taqueria is a walk-up taco stand with a loyal following and zero pretense. Tacos go for under $3 and cover all the hits—barbacoa, pastor with pineapple, carnitas, lengua, and chicharrón.
Everything’s served with grilled onions and that addictive green salsa that regulars swear by. You can grab a torta or burrito too, but the tacos are what keep people coming back.
Dallas
Picking just one taco joint in Texas is a losing game, but Mami Coco in East Dallas makes a strong case. It’s been shouted out by locals, food critics, and pretty much every Dallas taco roundup for doing things right.
The al pastor comes off the trompo hot and caramelized, the barbacoa is rich and tender, and everything lands in housemade tortillas. The green salsa packs heat, the service is quick, and at $2.50 a taco, you won’t feel bad about ordering five.
Green River
This roadside taco stand sits in a gas station parking lot in tiny Green River, but don’t let that fool you. Locals and road-trippers swear by it, and it made Yelp’s top 100 taco spots nationwide.
Tacos come loaded with well-seasoned meats like al pastor and carne asada, and you can grab a full plate with rice for under $10.
Burlington
Taco Gordo started as a taco cart and now lives in a bare-bones warehouse-like space with a small menu including tacos and snacks. Everything’s made fresh, including the corn tortillas
The al pastor is the hit and sells out every night but pork belly and chunky carnitas are also strong contenders.
Richmond
Tacos Mexico sits on Jefferson Davis Highway in Richmond, in a gritty strip-anchored area. It's a tight, bare-bones spot with a small dining area and steady foot traffic.
Tacos come on fresh corn tortillas with barbacoa, steak, chicken, or chorizo — barbacoa gets the most praise. Staff is fast and mostly Spanish-speaking, salsa verde is extra hot, and the whole operation runs on a flat top and crockpots.
Everett
Taco-Book Taqueria runs out of a strip mall on Broadway in Everett, Washington, with a counter-service setup and a short wait even at rush hour. It’s family-run and prices stay around $2–$7.
The barbacoa tacos with consomé are the most name-dropped, though regulars also go for the sopes and flautas. Everything’s made fast, and the staff is known for being kind and efficient.
Nutter Fort
Taqueria Lou Lou is a sit-down spot with plenty of tables and zero fuss, and it’s big on tacos flautas, and giant plates coming out fast. Locals go for the carne asada and call it the best Mexican in West Virginia.
Milwaukee
Taqueria Buenavista is what you would call street-food-with-a-roof. It runs out of a tiny, unassuming strip in West Allis, just outside Milwaukee. It’s a tight space — bright walls, a few tables, and not much else — but the tacos don’t need the help.
Carnitas, lengua, and barbacoa are regular picks, and you’ll usually get a basket of chips and salsa while you wait.
Cheyenne
Taqueria Mexicana Mi Tierra is wedged into a forgettable strip in Cheyenne with barely any signage, the kind of spot you'd only find if someone told you to look. Inside, it's bare tables, fast service, and zero distractions from the food.
Regulars say their shrimp tacos are where it's at, as are their tamales, and anything wrapped in their house-made tortillas. It leans quiet during off hours but fills up fast at lunch.
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