Tacos. You love them. I love them. So here’s a list of 14 tacos to add to your must-try list.
No, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all great tacos in Charlotte because so many tacos, so little time.
(1) Honey Soy Glazed Salmon Taco – Cabo Fish Taco
Where: 3201 N. Davidson St. (NoDa) or 11611 N. Community House Road (Ballantyne)
Taco: Honey Soy Glazed Salmon Taco – grilled salmon tossed with Honey Soy Glaze, stuffed with mixed greens, guacamole, tomato and mixed cheese, finished with Honey Wasabi Sauce ($12.95 for two + side).
Come Hungry: Cabo’s tacos are overflowing with goodness and will leave you absolutely stuffed.
Fun Fact: Don’t want two of the same specialty tacos? No problem. Feel free to mix or match.
(2) Paco’s Taco – Paco’s Tacos & Tequila
Where: 6401 Morrison Blvd. #8A (SouthPark)
Taco: Paco’s Taco – 10-hour slow roasted chili rubbed beef brisket with caramelized onions, queso fresco and chipotle barbecue sauce. Available with or without cabbage. Slightly spicy ($12 for two tacos + rice and beans).
Watch Out: Those chips and salsa are dangerously good, and you very well may fill up before the tacos arrive. Regardless, ask for the green salsa.
Related Agenda guide: 5 best Mexican restaurants in Charlotte
(3) Barbacoa Taco – Taqueria Mexico
Where: 7001 South Blvd. (Starmount)
Taco: Barbacoa de Res y Chivo – barbacoa beef with cilantro and onions ($2 each).
What a Deal: All tacos are served a la carte and priced $2 or less. I’ll be going back soon for the Ecuadorian lunch special for $7.99.
Don’t Judge a Book: The outside of Taqueria Mexico is quite unassuming, but you know better than to let that stop you. The inside is a delight with string lights and colorful decorative furniture.
(4) Tacos Al Carbon – Azteca Family Mexican Restaurant
Where: 116 E. Woodlawn Road (Yorkmount/Collingwood), 7340 Smith Corners Blvd. (Northlake), 9709 E. Independence Blvd. (Matthews), 1863 W. Franklin Blvd. (Gastonia).
Taco: Tacos Al Carbon – tender beef or skirt steak, flame-broiled, sliced and folded in soft corn tortillas with salsa Mexicana, fresh cilantro and Mexican cheese ($16.50).
Treats for All: Every meal at Azteca ends with a little fried tortilla triangle topped with whipped cream, cinnamon, honey (I think) and strawberry. THE BEST.
Must order margarita from Azteca if you’re looking to party
(5) Curtido Fish Taco – Sabor Latin Street Grill
Where: Too many locations to list.
Taco: Curtido Fish Taco – seared tilapia, curtido slaw, tomato and cilantro on a corn tortilla with a lime wedge ($3.75 each).
Taco Tuesday: Get $1 Tacos Autenticos every Tuesday at Sabor (and weekdays from 3 -5 p.m.). Here’s a full list of Charlotte Taco Tuesday deals.
But What is Curtido: It’s a traditional Salvadoran condiment of fermented cabbage relish.
(6) Chicken Taco – Anita’s Mexican Grill
Where: 2904 Yorkmont Road (in a BP gas station parking lot between a dry cleaner and a Subway).
Combo: Order the taco as part of their popular “Speedy Gonzalez Combo” that gets you a taco, enchilada, rice, beans, chips and salsa for around $5.
No plates: All dishes are served inside styrofoam. If you’re dining in, it’s styrofoam with the top cut off.
Agenda related story: 5 quick takeaways from my first visit to Anita’s Mexican Grill
(7) Tacos de Carne Asada – Three Amigos
Where: 2917 A Central Ave. (Plaza Midwood)
Taco: Tacos de Carne Asada – marinated steak diced and served on corn tortillas (I got flour instead) with onion, cilantro and fresh-squeezed lime ($9.95 for two + side).
Did You Know: Dalton Espaillat owns both Three Amigos and Sabor Latin Street Grill. Quite a powerhouse in then Queen City.
(8) Carnitas Tacos – 1900 Mexican Grill
Where: 5110 Park Road (SouthPark) or 1523 Elizabeth Ave. (Midtown)
Taco: Carnitas – Michoacan style pork, cilantro, pickled red onion, corn tortilla (I got flour again, SORRY) ($11 for 3 tacos + rice and beans).
Taco Tuesday: Get tacos for $2.50 each (and $6 margaritas) all day every Tuesday at 1900.
Try This Too: They also serve a delicious burrito, which happens to weigh 1.3 pounds.
(9) Spicy Pork Taco – Taqueria Rosita
Where: 243-285 E. Woodlawn Road (Collingwood – it’s a truck in the parking lot of a Citgo)
Taco: Spicy Pork – served with cilantro and onions I believe they are $2.50 each, as I paid $7.50 for three (no prices on the menu.)
Cash Only: Be prepared! This truck only accepts cash.
Mysterious: This place is basically nonexistent online, but it does have a Google listing and a solid 4.6 star rating.
(10) Long Duck Dong – RuRu’s Tacos + Tequila
Where: 715 Providence Road (Eastover)
Taco: Long Duck Dong – Korean style sweet and spicy steak, pickled cabbage, sesame seeds, cilantro. ($4.29 each)
Who: Pretty sure this one is named after a character in Sixteen Candles. Have fun dissecting the menu item names! I’m terrible at it.
Make Plans Now: Get $2 select tacos on Tuesdays and half-off tequila on Thursdays.
Agenda related guide: We scientifically weighed 10 different burritos – here’s the #1 heaviest burrito in Charlotte
Agenda related guide: 19 best weekly specials in Charlotte — including $5 margaritas from RuRu’s
(11) Asada Taco – Tacos El Nevado
Where: 4715 Central Ave. (Winterfield) or 4640 South Blvd. (Collingwood)
Taco: Asada – grilled steak with cilantro and onions ($2 each).
Major Plus: Tacos are $2 all the time, so every day is Taco Tuesday at Tacos El Nevado.
(12) Pollo Taco – Fonda Mexicana El Paraiso
Where: 6105 South Blvd. (Starmount)
Taco: Pollo – chicken served with cilantro and onion ($2 each).
Lunch Special: Get three tacos (asada, pollo, chorizo or carnitas) plus rice and beans for just $7.49. Highly recommend. The rice and beans are super good.
You Don’t Have to Go Home: But you can’t stay here. This spot has no tables – just a few chairs so you can sit in one while you wait.
(13) Fish Taco – Bakersfield
Where: 1301 East Blvd. (Dilworth)
Taco: Fish – crispy mahi, Tabasco lime sauce, citrus slaw, cilantro ($4 each).
Presentation on Point: As someone who appreciates a pretty plate, it’s hard not to order a bunch of tacos when they come out looking like this.
Wash It Down With: The Pineapple Margarita (el Jimador Blanco, Licor 43, pineapple, agave nectar, fresh lime) but make it spicy for $1 more.
(14) Pollo Taco – Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant
Where: 5111 Central Ave. (Winterfield)
Taco: Pollo – chicken with cilantro and onions ($2.25 each).
Secret Recipe: They serve pollo asado (flame-grilled chicken) made with a super secret recipe passed down from the owners of the previous tenants. It’s tasty.
Sweet Sip: Don’t forget to order a glass of their house-made horchata.
[Note: Have other favorite tacos that you think should be added to the list? Drop us a note and your taco review for consideration, charlotte@axios.com]
