Eating on the Cheap: $2 goat birria tacos at El Chivo de Oro

Tacos are cheap enough as it is, but $2 and $1? Nice.

For $1, you can get cabeza tacos on freshly made corn tortillas at El Chivo de Oro. Although those tacos are already superb and worth a trip on their own, make sure to try a $2 goat birria taco.

While the Jalisco specialty is traditionally made with goat or mutton, most Tucson restaurants use beef instead. At El Chivo de Oro, which translates to the Goat of Gold, they use goat.

When visiting El Chivo de Oro, make sure to bring cash as they are cash only. Walk up to the window, where someone outside next to the window will take your order and bring a tray of onion and cilantro with molcajete bowls of salsas to your table.

The goat birria taco’s tender braised meat features a faint hint of pleasant gaminess, balanced by the mild chiles and spices. The connective tissue has broken down to pure succulence, barely held by the warm fluffy tortillas. Eat them fast before the tortillas get soggy.

If you can handle intense spice, then dive right in to the red chile de árbol salsa. The cilantro-rich green salsa helps brighten up the rich meat as well — feel free to enjoy both salsas on your tacos.

Bonus: you can get $1 Sonoran hot dogs on Thursdays.

Visit El Chivo de Oro on Facebook or find them parked at 457 W. Irvington Rd.