Indulge in pillowy corn and flour tortillas, complex roasted and spicy salsas, and mesquite-grilled meats.
If you had to spend a year away from Tucson, what would you miss the most?
While “friends, family, and Eegee’s” might be a popular response, the right answer is tacos. Explore elsewhere in the U.S. and you’ll likely have a hard time finding Mexican food outside the realm of Tex-Mex’s lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, sour cream, and hard shell.
We’re fortunate to have a never-ending variety of pillowy corn and flour tortillas, complex roasted and spicy salsas, and mesquite-grilled meats. It’s not just Tucson’s proximity to the Mexican border that helps — our neighbor Hermosillo is the home of our beloved Sonoran hot dog. Additionally, the prominence of cattle ranching and mesquite trees resulted in the style of mesquite-grilled carne asada we’re so fond of today.
Perhaps someday we’ll have tacos on every corner, but in the meantime, most quality tacos are condensed along the western perimeter of Tucson. While it’s nigh impossible to get tired of tacos, it takes too much time and driving to try a different taco each day.
Our solution? Take a taco tour. Go taco hopping. Whatever you want to call it. Grab a group of friends and order a batch of tacos so each person can eat a single taco, then move on to the next nearby taco joint.
Here’s a map of some of our favorites grouped geographically to minimize driving (and in some cases walking). We capped each group to six taquerias, but just order more tacos if you’re still hungry.
South 12th Avenue Taco Tour
Original Taco Tour Post (the map is here): Tour de Taco’ Part I: South 12th Avenue (Interactive Map)
Tacos de Cabeza, 5245 S. 12th Ave.
Tacos de Cabeza (Credit: Shana Rose)
BK Tacos, 5118 S. 12 Ave.
Carne asada tacos at BK Tacos on 12th Avenue (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit bktacos.com.
Taco Fish, 4841 S. 12th Ave.
Taco Gordo at Taco Fish (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit tacofishtucson.com.
Taqueria Porfis, 3553 S. 12th Ave. Ste. 117
Combination plate at Taqueria Porfis (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Tacos Apson, 3501 S. 12th Ave.
Taco Rasurado and Taco Hass at Tacos Apson (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Tacos Apson on Facebook.
For additional details on South 12th Avenue’s taco scene, read ‘Tour de Taco’ Part I: South 12th Avenue (Interactive Map).
South Taco Tour
Original Taco Tour Post: Tucson Tour de Taco Part II: West 22nd Street & South Sixth Avenue
Maico Restaurant Mexican Food, 835 E. 22nd St.
Cabeza Taco at Maico (Credit: Adam Lehrman)
Keep up with Maico Restaurant Mexican Food on Facebook.
Birrieria Guadalajara, 304 E. 22nd St.
Birria tacos at Birrieria Guadalajara (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Birrieria Guadalajara on Facebook.
Taqueria Pico de Gallo, 2618 S. Sixth Ave.
Tacos at Taqueria Pico de Gallo (Credit: Taylor Noel Photography)
Carnitas La Yoca, 3530 S. 6th Ave.
Assorted tacos at Carnitas La Yoca (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Carnitas La Yoca on Facebook.
For additional details on West 22nd Street & South Sixth Avenue’s taco scene, read Tucson Tour de Taco Part II: West 22nd Street & South Sixth Avenue (Interactive Map).
West Tucson Taco Tour
Original Taco Tour Post: Taco Tour Part III: West Tucson (Interactive Map)
Seis Kitchen, 130 S. Avenida del Convento. Ste. 100
Crispy Avocado Taco Grande Platter and strawberry limón agua fresca at Seis Kitchen and Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit seiskitchen.com.
La Fresita West, 1450 W. St Mary’s Rd.
Assorted tacos at La Fresita West (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with La Fresita West on Facebook.
Taqueria Juanito’s, 708 W. Grant Rd.
Carne asada plate at Taqueria Juanitos (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Taqueria Juanito’s on Facebook.
Aqui Con El Nene, 4415 N. Flowing Wells Rd.
Taco Yaqui at Aqui con el Nene (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Aqui Con El Nene on Facebook.
For additional details on west Tucson’s taco scene, read Taco Tour Part III: West Tucson (Interactive Map).
Downtown Tucson Taco Tour
Original Taco Tour Post: Taco Tour Part IV: Downtown Tucson (Interactive Map)
Anita Street Market, 849 N. Anita Ave.
Birria, Machaca, and Cabeza Tacos at Anita Street Market (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Anita Street Market on Facebook.
Street Taco and Beer Co., 58 W. Congress St.
(Image courtesy of Street Taco and Beer Co. on Facebook)
Keep up with Street Taco and Beer Co. on Facebook.
Penca, 50 E. Broadway Blvd.
Nopales Tacos at Penca (Credit: Claire Kaufman)
For more information, visit pencarestaurante.com.
Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar, 220 N. Fourth Ave.
Tacos at Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar (Credit: Melissa Stihl)
For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com.
La Indita, 622 N. Fourth Ave.
For more information, visit lainditarestauranttucson.com.
BOCA Tacos y Tequila, 533 N. Fourth Ave.
Elote, Cow Tongue Special, and Rib Eye Taco at BOCA Tacos y Tequila (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit bocatacos.com.
For additional details on downtown Tucson’s taco scene, read Taco Tour Part IV: Downtown Tucson (Interactive Map).
Central Tucson Taco Tour
Original Taco Tour Post: Tucson Taco Tour Part V: Central Tucson
The Quesadillas, 2418 N. Craycroft Rd.
Steak and rib eye tacos at the Quesadillas (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit queso520.com.
Karamelo King, 3752 E. Grant Rd.
Tacos at Karamelo King (Credit: Melissa Stihl)
La Botana Tacos + Patio + Amigos, 3200 N. First Ave.
Chicharron tacos at La Botana Tacos + Patio + Amigos (Credit: Jackie Tran)
For more information, visit labotanagrill.com.
For additional details on central Tucson’s taco scene, read Tucson Taco Tour Part V: Central Tucson.
East Tucson Taco Tour
Carnitas Estilo Michoacán Los Gordos, 4545 E. 22nd St.
Carnitas taco at Carnitas Estilo Michoacán Los Gordos (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Carnitas Estilo Michoacán Los Gordos on Instagram.
Carniceria Los Vaqueros, 2023 S. Craycroft Rd.
Tacos de carne asada, chicharron de puerco, cabeza, and pollo asado at Carniceria Los Vaqueros (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Keep up with Carniceria Los Vaqueros on Facebook.
Taqueria y Raspados Jason, 6039 E. 22nd St.
Keep up with Taqueria y Raspados Jason on Facebook.
Toro Loco, 7940 E. Broadway Blvd.
Fried Chicken Taco, Hot Habanero Taco, Fried Avocado Taco, and Pork Pastor Taco at Toro Loco (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Read our July 2019 article Toro Loco to open Friday, Aug. 2 with craft tacos, french fry-stuffed burros.
For more information, visit torolocotacos.com.
Salsa Verde, 210 N. Pantano Rd.
Lorenza at Salsa Verde (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Read our August 2018 article “Salsa Verde” restaurant a new east Tucson favorite for Mexican comfort food.
Keep up with Salsa Verde on Facebook.
Have some favorite tacos not on this list? Let us know in the comments.
