The Ultimate Texas Tacopedia
Your guide to the many types of tacos around the state, where to find them, and how to enjoy them!
Articles by José R. Ralat
The Austin Taco Trail
Specialized taquerias and modernist Mexican restaurants offer more choices than ever before.
The San Antonio Taco Trail
This Tex-Mex wonderland of a city has some of the best taquerias in the state.
The El Paso Taco Trail
A roundup of the city's best offerings, from beefy burritos to modernist cuisine.
The Houston Taco Trail
There's a taste of everything in this city, from upscale Mexican cuisine to trucks specializing in globally inspired delights.
The Rio Grande Valley Taco Trail
Where to find the region's specialties, from mammoth breakfast tacos to old-school barbacoa.
The Dallas–Fort Worth Taco Trail
These taquerias, trucks, and restaurants show why this region is one of the best in the state for tacos.
Taqueria Spotlight: Maskaras Mexican Grill
The Dallas restaurant is a shrine to the owner’s love of lucha libre and his native Guadalajara.
Taqueria Spotlight: Elemi
This gem of a restaurant in El Paso keeps tortilla traditions alive.
Taqueria Spotlight: The Jerk Shack
Nicole Blaque stands out in San Antonio with her one-of-a-kind Jamaican tacos.
Taqueria Spotlight: Revolver Taco Lounge
Dallas's Regino “Gino” Rojas stands out in Texas for his wildly creative food and his willingness to take risks (who says you can’t open a new restaurant concept during a pandemic?).
Taqueria Spotlight: Carnitas Lonja
San Antonio's Alejandro Paredes helped changed the scene by focusing on one kind of taco.
On the Taco Trail: Cuantos Tacos
The Austin trailer is one of the few Texas trucks that sell legitimate Mexico City–style street tacos.
I’m Not Ashamed of My Stutter
Stuttering is finally in the spotlight, thanks to Joe Biden’s campaign and the announcement of a groundbreaking new University of Texas research center. But it’s always been part of my life.
Taco News Roundup: Dallas’s Taco Scene Is Booming
Plus, we raise our eyebrows at Ina Garten's enchilada recipe.
The Fajita Burger at Ninfa’s Is One of the Best in Texas—and It Came to a Chef in a Dream
Chef Alex Padilla skipped lunch one day, then nodded off. The result is an enormous, one-of-a-kind Tex-Mex burger.
Are Japanese Tacos the Next Big Thing in Texas?
Two new Dallas concepts expertly combine Asian and Mexican flavors and methods, and a new concept from the chefs at Mixtli, in San Antonio, will soon do the same.
Taco News Roundup: Pumpkin Spice Margaritas May Be the Scariest Thing This Halloween
Taco Cabana has gone too far.
Tex-Mexplainer: Pan de Muerto Is a Cross-cultural Taste of History
Ancient, colonial, and contemporary traditions are woven together in Dia de Los Muertos—and baked into the holiday's signature bread.
Gather Your Friends and Try a Two-Foot-Long Machete Quesadilla at These Four Austin Trailers
The Mexico City dish remains rare in Texas, but it's starting to take off in Austin.
Taco News Roundup: San Antonio Celebrates Its First Taco Week
Plus: an absurd device that promises to make eating a burrito easier, and Taco Bell's jalapeño pinot noir.
How to Get Your Taco Fix Safely During the Pandemic
Nine tips for sampling the state's taco scene without jeopardizing your health or anyone else’s.
Taco News Roundup: Get Your Texas Taco Merch, From Stickers to a Bun B T-Shirt
Plus: a cheesy dish that's half pizza, half quesadilla.
This Fort Worth Dessert Shop Has Perfected the Paleta
Alma’s Paleteria stands out for its emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients.
Tex-Mexplainer: The History Behind Mexico’s Most Patriotic Meal, Chile en Nogada
Plus, our recipe for the celebratory dish.
Taco News Roundup: The World May Be Burning, but at Least Taco Cabana Has Six New Margarita Flavors
Plus: a new Mexican sushi option in San Antonio, Lubbock's best breakfast tacos, and tacos versus pumpkin spice.
The Dirty Reason Why a San Antonio Tortilla Company Has “Sanitary” in its Name
For decades, many Texans accepted racist stereotypes that Mexican food was unsafe. Businesses had to emphasize their cleanliness to survive.
Tex-Mexplainer: Nixtamalization Is the 3,500-Year-Old Secret to Great Tortillas
More and more Texas chefs are reconnecting with their roots by making artisan tortillas from scratch.
Taco News Roundup: Birria Bao, Carnitas Pizza, and the “One-Chip Challenge”
Plus: actor Danny Trejo urges struggling restaurant owners to “stay strong.”
This Restaurant Reimagines El Paso’s Favorite Taco
The flautas ahogadas at Tacoholics are bathed in salsa verde, drizzled with a zippy crema, and sprinkled with queso asadero.
How to Pair Wine and Tacos: Advice From a Sommelier
It’s time to think beyond beer and margaritas, says Suerte wine director Celia Pellegrini.
Find a Taste of the Tropics at This East Texas Taqueria
One of the nation’s only Mexican-Chamorro fusion restaurants, C Rojo’s serves tacos brimming with mangoes, pineapples, and even coconut.
Taco News Roundup: Ghost Kitchens and Birthday Taco Platters
Plus: a bizarre Trump campaign ad accuses Democrats of "taking away tacos."
Tex-Mexplainer: Huitlacoche Is Misunderstood, But It Should Be Prized
The truffle of Mexico, this culinary delicacy—sometimes called "black gold"—is treasured by taqueros and chefs.
This San Antonio Bakery Will Ship Pastries to Your Door—Wherever You Live in Texas
Three words: tequila almond croissant.
This Dallas Restaurant Makes the Best Double-decker Taco in Texas
Taco y Vino’s homage to the Taco Bell classic, in which a crispy shell is wrapped in a soft tortilla, is comfort food at its finest.
Whataburger’s New Pico de Gallo Burger Is Slightly Above Average
And sometimes that’s all you want in a burger.
This Cajun Tex-Mex Taco Truck Is a True Taste of Houston
At EaDeaux's Cajun Cocina, the tacos come filled with gumbo, etouffee, or boudin.
A Former Barbecue Pitmaster Pivots to Tortillas, and They Are Glorious
Infused with beef tallow, Michael Wyont's tortillas are the result of his barbecue pedigree and his Mexican American heritage.
Edoko Omakase Sets the Standard for Japanese-Style Tacos in Texas
Japanese tacos might seem like a recent invention, but they're actually part of a long and rich international history.
Taco News Roundup: Texas Taquerias Are Reopening Their Dining Rooms
Plus: Torchy's removes the Republican and Democrat tacos from its menu.
Licon Dairy Has Made Cheese for Sixty Years Along El Paso’s Mission Trail
This San Elizario family business, which specializes in queso asadero, started in a home kitchen and now has fans around the country.
Where to Find Great Birria de Res in Texas
From Dallas to San Antonio, Southern California’s hottest taco trend is hitting Texas.
Behold the Drumstick Taco
It's a a smoky, mesquite-grilled, seasoning-speckled chicken leg wrapped in a corn tortilla.
Taco News Roundup: How Taquerias Are Supporting Black Communities
Plus, Torchy's expands to Louisiana and a stroke survivor chooses tacos for his first meal outside the hospital.
Corn on the Cob Is a Cook’s Canvas at This Dallas Snack Shop
On National Elote Day, we’re craving the Middle Eastern-inspired za’atar street corn at Locura.
Dallas’s Taco Stop Is Therapeutic
The owner of this walk-up taqueria is a former psychologist, and it shows.
San Antonio Colonial Tortilla Factory Keeps the Ancient Craft of Tortilla-Making Alive
Nixtamalization is the long, slow, difficult way to make tortillas—and it's helped this business grow a loyal following.