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A hand holding a taco.
Naco Taco serves tacos stuffed with everything from cochinita pibil to smoked tofu.
Naco Taco/Facebook

15 of Boston’s Top Tacos

Rich birria tacos, fried zucchini tacos, breakfast tacos, grasshopper tacos, and more

by Stephanie Carter Updated
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Naco Taco serves tacos stuffed with everything from cochinita pibil to smoked tofu.
| Naco Taco/Facebook
by Stephanie Carter Updated

Though Taco Tuesday has become a hit in recent years, there’s really no bad day to tuck into a bunch of tacos. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night, the Boston area offers hearty breakfast tacos with egg, sausage, potatoes, and cheese; classic Mexican fillings like carnitas, al pastor, fried fish, or even grasshoppers; trendy birria; and cheffy offerings like octopus chorizo.

While the taco field is vast, this list highlights just a few standout options right now. (For a broader view of Mexican dishes, visit Eater Boston’s list of top Mexican restaurants.)

For all the latest Boston dining intel, subscribe to Eater Boston’s newsletter.

This map was originally published on April 26, 2018; it is updated periodically, and the date of the most recent update appears above.

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Fish Tacos at La Victoria Taqueria

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Tender tilapia steals the show in the fried fish tacos at Veracruz-born Alex Barrientos’s fast-paced taqueria. The crispy fish is then laced with chipotle mayo and bright salsa verde, and topped with crunchy cabbage and radishes. Note that La Victoria is temporarily closed on Sundays.

12 Medford St, Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 859-5503
(781) 859-5503

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Grasshopper Tacos at Tu y Yo

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Somerville’s hit, authentic Oaxacan taqueria brings some of Mexico’s most fun ingredients to Boston. Enigmatic flavors of inky huitlacoche, nopales in green mole, chopped pork tenderloin in peanut sauce, and an appetizer portion of tiny, crunchy tacos de chapulines stuffed with grasshoppers and chiles.

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 623-5411
(617) 623-5411

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Cochinita Pibil Tacos at La Brasa

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Chef and owner Daniel Bojorquez grew up in Hermosillo, Mexico, and while his cuisine at the greenery covered La Brasa isn’t strictly Mexican, the cochinita pibil taco brings the best of the Yucatan to Boston. Tender pork brightened with achiote and citrus are tucked into made-to-order corn tortillas and served along with refried black beans, fresh radish, tangy pickled onion, and spicy habanero. Also keep an eye out for taco specials, which can include adobo-blanketed pork or smoked trout sprinkled with diced red onions.

124 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 764-1412
(617) 764-1412

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Shrimp Tacos at Rincón Mexicano

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Lots of people visit Rincon for the meaty birria tacos that arrive at the table with rich jus ladled into little cazuelas de barro, but the seafood dishes at this tiny, family-run Somerville taqueria might be the unsung heros, with fried fish or fried shrimp tucked into soft tortillas and dressed with chipotle mayo and cilantro pesto. A recently added bar pours Mexican cocktails and imported beers. (Note that the $1 taco deal on Tuesdays is available for dine-in guests only.)

99 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 776-1200
(617) 776-1200

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Birria Tacos at Taquería Jalisco

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Warm and cheesy with a rich jus on the side, the slow-cooked, adobo-rich birria tacos at this tiny, old-school Mexican spot tick all the comfort food boxes. Lengua tacos are another crowd favorite here.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 567-6367
(617) 567-6367
Three birria tacos with a side of pickled red onions and a wedge of lime at Taqueria Jalisco.
Birria tacos come with pickled onions at Taqueria Jalisco.
Taqueria Jalisco/Boston

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Beef Cheek Taco at Taqueria El Amigo

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This bustling taco stand makes pilgrimages out of visits to Waltham. The beef cheek stands out among a glowing list of tacos. Note that this tiny spot has limited seating, so prepare to take tacos on the go if you can’t wait around for one of the few, coveted seats.

196 Willow St, Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 642-7410
(781) 642-7410

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Breakfast Tacos at Vincent's

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Vincent’s Texas-style breakfast tacos anchor the brunch menu with fillings like chorizo, crispy potatoes, and eggs; smoked brisket, beans, eggs, and cheddar; and more. Keeping with the Texas theme, kolaches also join the menu in sweet and savory versions.

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 314-7297
(617) 314-7297

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Octopus Chorizo Taco at Mex Taqueria & Bar

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This bright new spot pops with color as an outdoor patio buzzes on warmer evenings. Both a massive tequila menu and an octopus chorizo taco provide many reasons to return often. The crispy, spicy octopus chorizo is topped with crispy potatoes, chipotle aioli, fresh white onion, and cilantro.

500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-2503
(617) 945-2503

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Smoked Tofu Taco at Naco Taco

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This color-soaked taqueria and taco truck doesn’t cling to only the traditional fillings when it comes to tacos. In addition to a steak, cotija cheese, and chimichurri taco; al pastor; and more that diners have come to expect, Naco Taco struts to the other side of the food spectrum with a satisfying, vegetarian smoked tofu taco with salsa arriera, refried beans, and cotija crema. Plus, the cafe grinds and presses fresh corn tortillas in-house.

297 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-1548
(617) 945-1548

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Shrimp Tacos at Pátzcuaro Taqueria & Bar

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This bright Mexican taqueria excels at shrimp tacos and birria tacos (which come with multiple salsas on the side). Creative drinks like a dragonfruit margarita and a “smoky casa” cocktail with mezcal and ancho reyes.

398-400 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458
(857) 297-2079
(857) 297-2079

Carnitas Taco at Lone Star Taco Bar

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Hit taco bar Lone Star pulls the best flavors from many regions of the taco world — Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Oaxaca. The tender pork in the carnitas taco comes topped bright salsa verde and queso fresco. Other standout tacos include the gooey chorizo fundido, as well as a couple variations on the fish taco. Lone Star also a Allston location.

479 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 782-8226
(617) 782-8226

Galbi Short Rib Taco at Coreanos

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Korean-Mexican fusion first found its footing in Los Angeles, where the popular cuisine gained a following for combining American-style Mexican food with Korean hits. In a Boston neighborhood flooded with great Korean food, this tidy cafe stands out by putting it on a taco. Here, fillings like kimchi and fried tofu, bulgogi beef, soy garlic chicken, and spicy pork all find their way into flour tortillas with garnishes like cilantro, jalapeños, and sesame seeds, but the standout version is the galbi short rib taco.

172 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 208-8822
(617) 208-8822
Tacos at Coreanos
Tacos at Coreanos
Coreanos/Official Site

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Steak Tacos at Lolita Cocina

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This dark, romantic taqueria serves a grilled steak taco with habanero butter, relish, and shoestring potatoes in a nod to steak frites. Meanwhile, pollo asada is bright with chipotle-lime cabbage, salsa, and salty cotija cheese. Note that the Back Bay location is currently closed.

253 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 369-0931
(617) 369-0931
View this profile on Instagram

Lolita (@lolitateqbars) • Instagram photos and videos

Zucchini Taco at Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar

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This South Boston oyster bar and taqueria mash-up isn’t one to shy away from offbeat combinations. A vegetarian taco with fried zucchini, jalapeño hummus, cucumber picadillo, and harissa aioli holds its own next to meat-filled tacos on the menu.

412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 917-5626
(617) 917-5626
Tacos at Loco Taqueria
Tacos at Loco Taqueria
Loco Taqueria [Official Photo]

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Tacos al Pastor at Chilacates Amory St

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Chilacates first debuted in Jamaica Plain in 2015 and now has locations sprinkled across Greater Boston where diners dig into tacos cradling tender, slow-cooked meats. The original Chilacates on Amory Street stuffs juicy, smoky pork into a fresh corn tortilla and piles it with onions, cilantro, radish, and bits of charred pineapple. Meanwhile, the papas con chorizo taco combines flavorful chorizo with comforting potato to soak up some of the spices.

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-6000
(617) 522-6000

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Fish Tacos at La Victoria Taqueria

12 Medford St, Arlington, MA 02474

Tender tilapia steals the show in the fried fish tacos at Veracruz-born Alex Barrientos’s fast-paced taqueria. The crispy fish is then laced with chipotle mayo and bright salsa verde, and topped with crunchy cabbage and radishes. Note that La Victoria is temporarily closed on Sundays.

12 Medford St, Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 859-5503
(781) 859-5503

Grasshopper Tacos at Tu y Yo

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144

Somerville’s hit, authentic Oaxacan taqueria brings some of Mexico’s most fun ingredients to Boston. Enigmatic flavors of inky huitlacoche, nopales in green mole, chopped pork tenderloin in peanut sauce, and an appetizer portion of tiny, crunchy tacos de chapulines stuffed with grasshoppers and chiles.

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 623-5411
(617) 623-5411

Cochinita Pibil Tacos at La Brasa

124 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Chef and owner Daniel Bojorquez grew up in Hermosillo, Mexico, and while his cuisine at the greenery covered La Brasa isn’t strictly Mexican, the cochinita pibil taco brings the best of the Yucatan to Boston. Tender pork brightened with achiote and citrus are tucked into made-to-order corn tortillas and served along with refried black beans, fresh radish, tangy pickled onion, and spicy habanero. Also keep an eye out for taco specials, which can include adobo-blanketed pork or smoked trout sprinkled with diced red onions.

124 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 764-1412
(617) 764-1412

Shrimp Tacos at Rincón Mexicano

99 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Lots of people visit Rincon for the meaty birria tacos that arrive at the table with rich jus ladled into little cazuelas de barro, but the seafood dishes at this tiny, family-run Somerville taqueria might be the unsung heros, with fried fish or fried shrimp tucked into soft tortillas and dressed with chipotle mayo and cilantro pesto. A recently added bar pours Mexican cocktails and imported beers. (Note that the $1 taco deal on Tuesdays is available for dine-in guests only.)

99 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 776-1200
(617) 776-1200

Birria Tacos at Taquería Jalisco

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

Warm and cheesy with a rich jus on the side, the slow-cooked, adobo-rich birria tacos at this tiny, old-school Mexican spot tick all the comfort food boxes. Lengua tacos are another crowd favorite here.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 567-6367
(617) 567-6367
Three birria tacos with a side of pickled red onions and a wedge of lime at Taqueria Jalisco.
Birria tacos come with pickled onions at Taqueria Jalisco.
Taqueria Jalisco/Boston

Beef Cheek Taco at Taqueria El Amigo

196 Willow St, Waltham, MA 02453

This bustling taco stand makes pilgrimages out of visits to Waltham. The beef cheek stands out among a glowing list of tacos. Note that this tiny spot has limited seating, so prepare to take tacos on the go if you can’t wait around for one of the few, coveted seats.

196 Willow St, Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 642-7410
(781) 642-7410

Breakfast Tacos at Vincent's

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141

Vincent’s Texas-style breakfast tacos anchor the brunch menu with fillings like chorizo, crispy potatoes, and eggs; smoked brisket, beans, eggs, and cheddar; and more. Keeping with the Texas theme, kolaches also join the menu in sweet and savory versions.

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 314-7297
(617) 314-7297

Octopus Chorizo Taco at Mex Taqueria & Bar

500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139

This bright new spot pops with color as an outdoor patio buzzes on warmer evenings. Both a massive tequila menu and an octopus chorizo taco provide many reasons to return often. The crispy, spicy octopus chorizo is topped with crispy potatoes, chipotle aioli, fresh white onion, and cilantro.

500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-2503
(617) 945-2503

Smoked Tofu Taco at Naco Taco

297 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

This color-soaked taqueria and taco truck doesn’t cling to only the traditional fillings when it comes to tacos. In addition to a steak, cotija cheese, and chimichurri taco; al pastor; and more that diners have come to expect, Naco Taco struts to the other side of the food spectrum with a satisfying, vegetarian smoked tofu taco with salsa arriera, refried beans, and cotija crema. Plus, the cafe grinds and presses fresh corn tortillas in-house.

297 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-1548
(617) 945-1548

Shrimp Tacos at Pátzcuaro Taqueria & Bar

398-400 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458

This bright Mexican taqueria excels at shrimp tacos and birria tacos (which come with multiple salsas on the side). Creative drinks like a dragonfruit margarita and a “smoky casa” cocktail with mezcal and ancho reyes.

398-400 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458
(857) 297-2079
(857) 297-2079

Carnitas Taco at Lone Star Taco Bar

479 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134

Hit taco bar Lone Star pulls the best flavors from many regions of the taco world — Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Oaxaca. The tender pork in the carnitas taco comes topped bright salsa verde and queso fresco. Other standout tacos include the gooey chorizo fundido, as well as a couple variations on the fish taco. Lone Star also a Allston location.

479 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 782-8226
(617) 782-8226

Galbi Short Rib Taco at Coreanos

172 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

Korean-Mexican fusion first found its footing in Los Angeles, where the popular cuisine gained a following for combining American-style Mexican food with Korean hits. In a Boston neighborhood flooded with great Korean food, this tidy cafe stands out by putting it on a taco. Here, fillings like kimchi and fried tofu, bulgogi beef, soy garlic chicken, and spicy pork all find their way into flour tortillas with garnishes like cilantro, jalapeños, and sesame seeds, but the standout version is the galbi short rib taco.

172 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 208-8822
(617) 208-8822
Tacos at Coreanos
Tacos at Coreanos
Coreanos/Official Site

Steak Tacos at Lolita Cocina

253 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

This dark, romantic taqueria serves a grilled steak taco with habanero butter, relish, and shoestring potatoes in a nod to steak frites. Meanwhile, pollo asada is bright with chipotle-lime cabbage, salsa, and salty cotija cheese. Note that the Back Bay location is currently closed.

253 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 369-0931
(617) 369-0931
View this profile on Instagram

Lolita (@lolitateqbars) • Instagram photos and videos

Zucchini Taco at Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar

412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

This South Boston oyster bar and taqueria mash-up isn’t one to shy away from offbeat combinations. A vegetarian taco with fried zucchini, jalapeño hummus, cucumber picadillo, and harissa aioli holds its own next to meat-filled tacos on the menu.

412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 917-5626
(617) 917-5626
Tacos at Loco Taqueria
Tacos at Loco Taqueria
Loco Taqueria [Official Photo]

Tacos al Pastor at Chilacates Amory St

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130

Chilacates first debuted in Jamaica Plain in 2015 and now has locations sprinkled across Greater Boston where diners dig into tacos cradling tender, slow-cooked meats. The original Chilacates on Amory Street stuffs juicy, smoky pork into a fresh corn tortilla and piles it with onions, cilantro, radish, and bits of charred pineapple. Meanwhile, the papas con chorizo taco combines flavorful chorizo with comforting potato to soak up some of the spices.

224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-6000
(617) 522-6000

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