It's hard to say when tacos became massively popular in the
U.S., sparking things like Taco Tuesday into pop culture. The taco as we know
it may have come into existence in the 1800s when silver mines were booming in
Mexico. Taquerias eventually popped up all around Mexico City and started
selling these inexpensive but delicious tacos.
Tacos can now be found all over the world, including many restaurants serving up tacos in town. It's not uncommon for these restaurants to have a wait list, especially on Tuesdays.
The Best Tacos You Can Get in New Orleans
1. Juan's Flying Burrito
Multiple Locations
juansflyingburrito.com
Now boasting four locations, Juan's originally started on the corner of 2018 Magazine St. You can now find Juan's at either the Mid-City location (4724 S. Carrollton Ave.), CBD location (515 Baronne St.), the Lower Garden District (2018 Magazine St.), or the Uptown location (8140 Oak St.) to get your flying burrito fix.
Feeling something a little more NOLA, but still want veggies? The original Juan's Creole Tacos is a favorite among locals and tourists. You can't go wrong with three tacos filled with black beans, melted cheddar-jack, shredded lettuce, salsa la fonda, on grilled flour tortillas. Their churros are also a great option for a pre-game snack, especially since their double-house margaritas go for $8 every day from 2 to 6 p.m.
2. Felipe's Mexican Taqueria
Multiple Locations
felipestaqueria.com
Felipe's has three locations to grab your taco fix, from Uptown (6215 S. Miro St.), Downtown (301 N. Peters St.), and Mid-City (411 N. Carrolton Ave.). If you want something 'healthy' that counts as a taco, their spicy taco salad is something to "taco" bout. A crunchy taco filled with chicken tinga, shredded lettuce, black beans, corn, pico, Jack cheese, baja sauce guacamole, and comes served with chipotle ranch dressing.
Felipe's also has three signature tacos with fried shrimp, ground beef, or al pastor. Want to build your taco? In addition to their signature tacos, Felipe's offers a range of toppings and salsas to customize your tacos at every location. Every day from 3 to 6 pm you can enjoy $2.5 tacos and $5.5 hand-squeezed margaritas.
3. Barracuda
Multiple Locations
eatbarracuda.com
Barracuda is located in Uptown (3984 Tchoupitoulas St.) and Algiers (446 Pelican Ave.). Popular with local students, this spot boasts great tacos and bowls. It features a lovely backyard for those who prefer to enjoy their tacos al fresco.
All of their tacos are served on a fresh flour tortilla with cilantro, lime, and onion. Feeling something with seafood? The crispy fish taco comes with Louisiana beer-battered catfish, shredded cabbage, homemade crema, spicy salsa macha, and pomegranate. Vegetarians will love the grilled mushrooms with salsa macho, onion, and cilantro.
4. El Taco Loco
634 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 372-3224
eltacoloconola.com
El Taco Loco is a build-your-own-style with authentic Mexican food and dangerous frozen margaritas (in the best way possible). Get a plate of chicken and carne asada tacos and be sure to try the signature Taco Loco pork taco. You can always find a range of Jarritos flavors, which is a Mexican soft drink.
5. Vals
4632 Freret St., (504) 666-2397
valsnola.com
If you're hanging out on Freret Street, take a stroll over to Vals. This former service station-turned-gorgeous contemporary Mexican restaurant features a large, friendly patio perfect for outdoor dining on nice days. The food menu is humorously divided into "Not Tacos" and "Tacos" and the drink menu is divided into "Not Margaritas" and "Margaritas." It makes choosing your items a little bit easier.
For "Not Tacos," check out the Quesabirria
(braised brisket, Chihuahua cheese, and consommé). The "Tacos" have flavors
including Crispy Beef Belly, Chicken in Green Mole, Fried Fish, and Sweet
Potato. Wash it down with a Vals Margarita, which is organic blanco tequila,
orange liqueur, salt, and lime.
6. Taqueria Corona
Multiple Locations
taqueriacorona.com
You can get to a Taqueria Corona to satisfy your taco craving in Uptown (5923 Magazine St.), in Metairie (3535 Severn Ave.), and in Harahan (1827 Hickory Ave.). Each location has a wide variety of tacos, some of which you won't find elsewhere.
Keep it traditional with tacos like the
Fish Taco, Pulled Pork Taco, Chorizo Taco, or Beef Tongue Taco. Make it
interesting with something like the Philly Cheese Steak Taco with ribeye steak,
onions, red and green peppers, and house-made queso. The Blackened Shrimp Taco
is also a winner with blackened Gulf shrimp, onion, cilantro, red cabbage, and
grilled pineapple salsa.
7. Panchita's Mexican Criolla Cuisine
1434 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 281-4127
orderpanchitasmexicancriollacuisine.com
You have got to check out the taco salads at Panchita's! They are served inside an impressive fried tortilla bowl and can have grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp on a big bed of lettuce and veggies.
Those who prefer all the meat will want to
look at the Molcajete, which is a sizzling bowl of steak, chicken, shrimp, bacon, onion,
and melted cheese that is served with rice, beans, pico de gallo, and homemade
tortillas. Panchita's is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. so you can
certainly find time to pay them a visit.
8. Tacos & Beer
1622 St. Charles Ave., (504) 304-8722
facebook.com/tacosneworleans
This upbeat restaurant sits on a hopping stretch of St. Charles Avenue, so you can easily access it by driving, walking, or even riding the streetcar. You can tell by the name that the tacos are off the chain. The Street Taco is a Mexican street-style taco with your choice of meat, onion, and cilantro. You should definitely add the grilled portobello mushrooms to it.
The meat and veggie options are spectacular.
You'll probably end up getting tacos with a few different meats. Your options
are: grilled chicken, carne asada, chorizo, carnitas, al pastor, birria,
saudero, lengua, tinga, carne molida, shrimp, and mushroom.
9. Chilangos
2633 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (504) 469-5599
chilangosnola.com
Chilangos has been serving expertly-made Mexican fare since 2007. This large menu features all kinds of platters, flautas, tortas, fajitas, and more, but there are several tacos to choose from as well. The Tacos Birria Chilangos comes with four brisket tacos grilled with cheese and topped with savory sauce.
For less than $10, you can choose the meat
in your five tacos. The selections include: asada, pastor, chicken, carnitas,
birria, chicharron, lengua, tripe, and beef cheek. For something totally
unique, try the Torta Hawaiana with ham, pineapple, cheese, lettuce, pico, and
avocado.
10. El Patron Mexican Grill & Cantina
516 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, (504) 301-3161
facebook.com/ElPatronNOLA
El Patron is a Mexican Grill & Cantina located not too far from NOLA in neighboring Gretna. Their menu offers a wide variety of options, including eight different tacos to choose from. For a tropical twist, try the Caribbean Tacos with grilled chicken and pineapple.
For the ultimate taco experience, order the Al Patron Tacos, a mix of carnitas, pastor, steak, chicken, and shrimp tacos. All orders of tacos come with a side of rice and charro beans. Remember to ask for their tomatillo sauce to add an extra kick to your tacos!
Where to Get Tacos in New Orleans
Crunchy shell, soft shell, lots of meat, veggies only, very
traditional, truly innovative; there's no wrong way to enjoy tacos. It's best
to order some freshly-made chips and hot salsa to go along with them. Or you
can get a nice, cold margarita to wash it down.
Do you know of better tacos than these restaurants have to
offer? Let us know where to go!
