Who doesn’t love tacos? Tacos are a popular Mexican dish that has been around and enjoyed for centuries! No introduction is needed.
Mexican food is known for its bold flavors and seasonings; tacos are no exception. One of the reasons tacos are loved by many is that they are versatile and can be customized to suit individual tastes and preferences. Tacos have many proteins and toppings you can choose from to make any taco the perfect taco for you.
What makes a taco “The Best”?
Many will argue that Carne Asada tacos are better than Al Pastor tacos; others will say that Mexico City tacos are better than Mexican border states like Tijuana, Ensenada, and Monterrey. But when Mexicans put their state pride aside, it is agreed that the best tacos are the most authentic! No matter how different tacos may be throughout the Mexican states, there are essential ingredients that all tacos must have, and they are corn tortillas, protein, and salsa.
Mexican tacos VS American tacos
Mexican Tacos:
Mexican tacos are mainly prepared with corn tortillas. Mexico is such a diverse country that in some states, like Monterrey, flour tortillas are preferred over corn tortillas! But for the most part, corn tortillas are the go-to. An authentic taco is made with corn tortillas, protein, and salsa! But those are only the taco essentials.
Depending on the protein, some tacos will get extra toppings, such as finely chopped cilantro, chopped onion, grilled onions, or avocado. Crema (Mexican sour cream), cabbage, and pico de gallo are only added to Baja-style (Baja California) fish or shrimp tacos!
American Tacos:
Where American-style tacos lose their Mexican authenticity is mainly in the toppings. Cheese, sour cream, tomato, and non-spicy salsas are something you will not find in Mexican-style tacos. Are American tacos good? Yes! Are they the best? No.
American tacos are made mainly with hard taco shells, flour, and corn tortillas. Toppings include lettuce, tomato, sour cream, chives, guacamole, rice, beans, grilled corn, black olives, sweet-grilled onions, bell pepper, salsa, and shredded cheese. These tacos can be delicious but are far from the Mexican image of a taco.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…
Listed Here are some of The Best Tacos in Las Vegas!
664 TJ Birrieria
664 TJ Birrieria specializes in making Birria! Menudo! And Seafood with a touch from Tijuana Baja, CA. Their expertise is from Mexico!
Their Tijuana-style beef birria is served in tacos, the quesabirria with cheese, toasted tortillas, bowls, and tostadas. All orders come with a side serving of consomé birria(birria Au Jus)!
Meats offered: Birria de res (beef birria) and birria de chivo (goat birria).
Address: 3061 S Las Vegas Blvd #1a, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (702) 916-4444
Hours:
Sunday – Thursday from 10 am – 10 pm
Friday – Sunday from 10 am – 2 am
Website: yelp.com
El Compa: Birria Tatemada
El Compa: Birria Tatemada brings the original Chivo(goat) & Res(beef) Birria direct from Guadalajara to Las Vegas! El Compa has some of the best birria tacos in Las Vegas! Tortillas are freshly made, and with every birria order, you get unlimited tortillas, just like in Mexico. This taqueria will make you feel at home or in Mexico!
Meats offered: Birria de res (beef birria), birria de chivo (goat birria), and carnitas (pork). The Carnitas option is only available at the Birria El Compa La Cruda location.
Locations:
- El Compa Birria Tatemada
Address: 3700 E Charleston Blvd # 150, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: (702) 576-5801
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- Birria El Compa La Cruda
Address: 3111 S Valley View Blvd M 101, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 913-7918
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Hours: Both locations are open daily from 9 am – 6 pm
Website: birriaelcompa.com
Casa Del Sabor
Casa Del Sabor has one of the most authentic flavors in the valley! Their menu is vast, including an assortment of different tacos, burritos, alambres, mulitas, quesadillas, tortas, gringas, huaraches, tacos rancheros, sincronizada, nachos, and fries! The tacos The restaurant also offers a delicious fried plantain dish for dessert and aguas frescas.
Meats offered: Carne asada, al pastor (pork), tongue, tripe, buche (pork belly), chorizo (pork sausage), chicken, cabeza (beef head), and birria.
Locations:
- Casa Del Sabor (Food Truck) – Las Vegas Blvd
Address: 530 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 640-8539
- Casa Del Sabor – Sahara
Address: 6840 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: (702) 399-0088
- Casa Del Sabor – Tropicana (Located in Las Vegas Cars Airport)
Address: 4935 Palo Verde Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: (702) 476-0364
Hours: All locations are Open 24/7
Website: casadelsaborlv.com
Tacos El Gordo
You won’t find more authentic Tijuana-style tacos in Las Vegas! Tacos El Gordo comes from Tijuana, B.C. They are a popular taco place in TJ (since 1972) and have become even more popular in San Diego (since 1998) and Las Vegas (since 2010).
Tacos El Gordo’s authentic Tijuana taco experience features handmade corn tortillas, top-grade meats, and the freshest ingredients used to make their guacamole and salsas from scratch daily. Tacos El Gordo offers nine signature tacos (meat options) as well as mulas, tostadas, sopes, quesadillas, and fries.
Meats offered: Adobada, asada, suadero (brisket), cabeza (beef head), buche (pork belly), lengua (cow tongue), tripe, and chorizo (pork sausage).
Locations:
- Tacos El Gordo – Charleston Blvd
Address: 1724 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: (702) 251-8226
- Tacos El Gordo – Losee Road
Address: 3260 Losee Road North, Las Vegas, NV 89030
Phone: (702) 641-8228
- Tacos El Gordo – Las Vegas Blvd
Address: 3041 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: (702) 331-1160
- Tacos El Gordo – Sunset Rd. Las Vegas
Address: 2560 W. Sunset Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: (702) 476-0684
Hours for all locations:
Sunday – Thursday from 10 am – 2 am
Friday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 am
Website: tacoselgordobc.com
Tacos El Pastor
Tacos el pastor is a restaurant with a secret and unique recipe for authentic Mexican food. Their biggest desire is to bring the highest quality yet accessible Authentic Mexican food to the famous Las Vegas Strip.
The restaurant originated in Northern Mexico, where its chef is from. The marination process is different, giving their tacos tremendous flavor and making the pork tender and juicy. The chef has been making pastors for the past 30 years, and you can taste his hard work and experience in every flavorful bite. They make fresh handmade tortillas right in front of you and have an open kitchen space so you can see the quality food they make daily.
Meats offered: Pastor (pork), asada, chorizo (sausage), chicken, Cabeza (beef head), carnitas (shredded pork), buche (pork belly), suadero (brisket), tripe (beef guts), and lengua (beef tongue).
Address: 3049 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (702) 916-4444
Hours:
Monday -Thursday from 10 am – 12 am
Friday – Sunday from 10 am – 4 am
Website: tacoselpastorvegas.com
Taco Y Taco Mexican Eatery
Taco y Taco takes tacos to another level! It is a taco shop with all the classic features but with an elevated, modern touch. The tacos are mouthwatering, and so is everything else on their menu!
The shop has a salsa bar that allows you to customize your tacos just as you like. The taco meats are fresh and made to order right before your eyes. Taco y Taco has a small cantina serving delicious drinks that pair perfectly with their authentic savory Mexican tacos!
Meats offered: Asada, al pastor, barbacoa (shredded beef), buche (pork belly), cabeza (beef head), carnitas (shredded pork), cesos (beef brain), chicharron (fried pork skin in green sauce), chorizo (pork sausage), cochinita pibil (tangy, slow roasted pork), lengua (beef tongue), chicken, suadero (beef shoulder), tripe, cactus, mushroom, soy meat, queso fresco, assorted vegetables, shrimp, and grilled fish.
Address: 9470 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: (702) 749-7091
Hours: Open daily from 11 am – 11 pm
Website: tacoytacolv.com
The Taco Stand
For an authentic taqueria (taco shop) experience, you can’t beat The Taco Stand. Inspired by the taco stands of Tijuana, B.C., this taco joint transports you to the taquerias in Baja California; the food and the environment make this an authentic experience.
The Taco Stand makes its tacos with handmade tortillas, high-grade meats, and the freshest ingredients. Besides tacos, they offer imported beer, refreshments, Mexican popsicles, and Rosarito-style made-to-order churros!
Meats offered: Carne asada, al pastor, chicken, camaron (spicy shrimp), grilled fish (mahi-mahi), fried fish (Baja style), nopal (cactus), mushroom, and Angus steak (Sonora taco).
Address: 3616 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 268-8762
Hours: Open daily from 11 am – 12 am
Website: letstaco.com
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