Takeout Tacoma: Your best bets for to-go food in the South End

If you like tacos, the South End is your heaven.

The neighborhood’s Mexican restaurants, of which there are many, serve some of the best in town, from al pastor on a spit to memorable lamb barbacoa. Beyond those handheld must-haves, they also sling birria in the shape of a pizza, homemade tamales, a mean caldo de res, enchiladas in myriad styles and specialties from the southwestern state of Guerrero.

Because of the density of options in this cuisine, we have limited the options here to a curated few. For the record, we did not overlook El Super Taco Bus IV, a bus that sells tacos, but instead decided to feature two noteworthy newcomers: Taqueria Mis Tesoros and La Oveja Negra. The former quietly took over the old Mitapeap Cambodian restaurant, and the latter sits on the corner of a plaza with a pot store and, on the other side of the lot, a Taco Bell. Don’t go there. Go to La Oveja.

Elsewhere you’ll find a fast-casual spot from a Pacific Grill-trained chef focused on healthy eating, a Thai spot worth investigating and another focused on Laotian dishes, two longstanding Chinese restaurants, and a Vietnamese spot with great chicken wings.

We begin near the south end of our Lincoln District takeout guide and run east before hitting Waller and west to Interstate-5. To give Parkland its due, we have omitted a few restaurants that could sneak into this guide, such as Citron European Bistro, Bar Bistro and My 4 Sons BBQ.

Near that southern edge, we have skipped Little Jerry’s because the in-person experience is a major draw, and Tibbitt’s At Fern Hill because the chef-owner has largely eschewed takeout in the past year.

As with previous guides, no corporate chains and third-party delivery: It’s always best to order directly from the restaurant.

Looking for a great meal elsewhere in town? See our other neighborhood takeout guides: North End, West End, South Tacoma, Dome/McKinley/Museum District, Hilltop, Lincoln District, Downtown and the Stadium District.

La Oveja Negra Eatery

▪ 806 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-830-5843, laovejanegratacoma.com

▪ Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: Mexican staples, with lamb barbacoa a specialty

In a neighborhood with plenty of good Mexican food, La Oveja stands out as great. Note the lamb decor, a signal of the house favorite protein. Order the tender meat by the pound ($16) in two styles — pansita with a deep broth of chile guajillo or the eight-hour barbacoa — or ask for it in a taco, mulita, torta ($3-$7.29) or enchiladas with housemade sauces ($12.99). Tacos are classic street-style with cilantro and onion, while a gordita ($3.89), brimming with refried beans, pico de gallo, cheese and sour cream, is a meal unto itself. Other highlights: the sopas, including siete mares (seafood, $16.99), menudo (beef belly, $13.99) and savory consommé conjured from the lamb drippings spooned over soft chickpeas and rice. The latter is a true steal at only $3 for a 16-ounce cup or $6 for 32 ounces.

Antojitos Michalisco

▪ 918 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-301-1453, facebook.com

▪ Monday-Saturday 1-7 p.m., Sunday noon-7 p.m.

▪ How to order: in-person (though online menu viewable)

▪ Best for: Mexican snacks

Where else will you find three scoops of ice cream — in flavors like chamoy, mango, queso and Mauiwaui — for $6.75? Milkshakes, mangonados and other frozen fruit drinks run $7.75 to $9.45 for a whopping 24 ounces. Antojitos abound in the form of Hot Cheetos elotes or esquites ($5.50-$6.75); Tostilocos with jicama, peanuts, tamarind candies and of course Tajin ($8.50); nachos with beef, nacho cheese, pico de gallo and jalapenos. On the fruity side, try the fresa con crema, a sort of yogurt parfait with strawberries, whipped cream, granola and coconut ($8.75). Due to the variety of the menu and the customization, it’s best to order in-person and let your day be brightened by the “endless flavors.”

Los Tamales

▪ 1018 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-301-0849, facebook.com/Lostamalestacoma

▪ Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: tamales, birria and Mexican mainstays

Adjacent to a tortilleria and a Mexican market, Los Tamales specializes in its namesake in six varieties ($1.99 each, $8.99 for two with rice and beans), from pork or beef with a roja salsa to cheesy rajas or simple sweet corn. Feed the whole family with the $22 per dozen deal. Beyond tamales, the restaurant churns out everything from tacos to tostadas, chilaquiles to plates of flautas, camarones, carne asada and carnitas. You’ll also find the breakout hit barbacoa birria as standard folded tortillas ($3.99) and as “pizzacoa,” a pizza box filled with quesadilla-esque slices and two orders of consommé ($16.99, $26.99 large).

Taqueria Mis Tesoros

▪ 1314 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-302-4266, facebook.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: southwestern Mexican specialties

Tacos abound here, with your choice of a baker’s dozen proteins ($1.25-$3.20 each); accompany them with an order of rice and smoky black beans. You would be remiss, though, to not explore the menu of this year-old restaurant in the former home of the Cambodian Mitapeap. From the state of Guerrero, the aporreadillo ($14) — essentially steak and eggs, but laced with the sneaky spice of guajillo chiles — will satisfy for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The enchiladas costeñas ($15), a Oaxacan recipe, arrive with tortillas loosely rolled in a spicy red chili salsa, topped with shredded lettuce, queso fresco and bone-in roasted chicken. On cold days, the blood-red caldo de res will zing your soul back to reality. View the menu with photos on Facebook.

Garden’s Gourmet Salads

▪ 1623 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-433-3735, gardensgourmet.com

▪ Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

▪ How to order: online or by phone

▪ Best for: salads, wraps, bowls and meal prep

In a sea of indulgence, chef Nyesha Jones answers with a menu of health-conscious but filling salads ($6.95 half, $12.95 whole), most with a foundation of power greens and all with one included protein. Add extra or switch it up for an additional $2.25-$2.75. The Aztec boasts shrimp with quinoa, black beans, bell peppers, roasted corn and avocado lime dressing; the Temple features red cabbage, edamame, mandarins, chicken breast and a sesame dressing; and the Infinite roasted sweet potatoes, pepitas, salmon and champagne vinaigrette. Customers with allergies or dietary restrictions will appreciate the clear labeling: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free. Try any combo as a wrap, or create your own. Meal prep for nine or 12 salads will kickstart the new you.

@ Thai Restaurant

▪ 1623 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-503-7659, atthairestaurant.com

▪ Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday noon-9 p.m.

▪ How to order: online or by phone

▪ Best for: salads, wraps, bowls and meal prep

In the same plaza as Garden’s Gourmet, this unassuming spot surprises in its attention to true Thai flavors. Start with an order of vegetarian spring rolls ($6), fried and served with plum sauce, and go for the full-sized order of tom kha soup, a broth rich on the coconut but teeming with real lemongrass stalks that tastes even better reheated the next day. Mains are priced equally depending on the protein ($11 for chicken, pork, tofu or vegetables to $15 for a seafood mix); try the ginger broccoli, big on real ginger, and one of seven curries. Look also to the Spicy Jungle Fire Lamb ($14), the to-go box full of tender meat with bamboo shoots, makrut lime leaves and sprigs of young green peppercorns — a rare but welcome sight.

Tacos Guaymas

▪ 1148 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-537-2525, tacosguaymas.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

▪ How to order: online or in-person

▪ Best for: tacos, burritos and more quick Mexican

With five locations in Washington state, this taqueria focuses on, yes, tacos. Choose among 14 proteins, including the less-oft seen picadillo (beef and potatoes), beef cheek and buche, or pork stomach ($2.55-$3.50, or $8.50 for two with rice and beans). You can choose tortillas or, if watching those carbs, a lettuce wrap or salad base ($6.99-$7.99). Burritos ($7.99-$11.25) include both regular and “wet” styles, the latter drenched in spicy sauce. In addition to homemade tortilla soup ($8.50), find comfort in breakfast burritos ($5.99 with your choice of pork product), chilaquiles and huevos ($8.95-$9.95). Vegetarians will find plenty to love here, too, from veggie tacos with guacamole to the Super Veggie burrito for only $6.99.

Anglea’s Restaurant

▪ 7511 Portland Ave. E, Tacoma, 253-531-9329, angleasrestaurant.com

▪ Daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: fried chicken and jo-jos, cinnamon rolls

As a diner, Anglea’s menu dabbles in patty melts, triple-decker burgers and Monte Cristos ($13.85 with side). Being in the Northwest, of course there are fish and chips ($13.99), but you’ll want to focus on the main event: fried chicken and jos. Choose either a leg and thigh or wing and breast, and orders of two, three or four pieces ($9.95-$12.65); all-breast combos start at $12.95. Now about those cinnamon rolls ($4.99 each) — plain or with raisins, or indulge further in the caramel pecan rolls ($5.50 each). Call ahead for bulk orders of this gooey goodness.

Hong Kong Restaurant

▪ 8843 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-531-2533, hongkongtacoma.com

▪ Monday-Thursday 3-8 p.m., Friday 3-9 p.m., Saturday 12-9 p.m., Sunday noon-8 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: Chinese mainstays

Roll up to this longtime destination on Pacific Avenue for, first and foremost, homemade pork egg rolls ($2.35) that will change your mind about the fried things forever. Pot stickers ($11.50) and crab rangoon ($8.95 for eight) also surpass expectations. Seven soups ($7.50-$11.95), from hot and sour to Chinese greens, serve at least two, while combo meals pack several house favorites into one bundled price — egg roll, almond fried chicken, sweet and sour chicken, pork fried rice, for example ($14.50). The Szechuan dishes here aren’t particularly spicy, but for many diners that’s a win. Other favorites include the almond chicken, Mongolian beef and roasted Cantonese duck ($13.95-$18.50). The restaurant remains takeout-only, curbside pickup available. Boil a pot of water to steep the complimentary tea in every order.

Ming Palace

▪ 8736 S. Hosmer St., Tacoma, 253-548-2419, mingpalacewa.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ Best for: dim sum, Chinese mainstays

Though Tacoma will soon have another dim sum destination, Ming Palace has been the only local source since it opened in 2017. The restaurant had cut dim sum service for takeout early in the pandemic, but now it offers a limited amount Tuesday through Friday (phone orders only). Order from the regular menu easily online: pot stickers ($8.45 for six), salt and pepper squid ($13.45), seafood sizzling rice soup ($14.45), seven kinds of hot pot ($14.45-$16.45). With 10 styles each of fried rice and noodles, including a spicy Singapore rice noodle, and four dozen mains — chicken, beef, pork, duck, seafood, vegetable — find your favorite. Hate decisions? Try a family meal of four starters and three ($63.99) or five mains ($93.99).

i5 Pho / Go Boba

▪ 8611 S. Hosmer St., Tacoma, 253-212-0487, i5pho.com

▪ Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8:45 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-1:45 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight, Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

▪ How to order: online or by phone

▪ Best for: Vietnamese classics with a twist

This noodle house, with a view of Interstate 5 as the name suggests, is worthy of a stop off the highway. Don’t sleep on the house special fish sauce chicken wings (starting at $8.75 for six) — bonus if it’s a Wednesday because they are buy-one-get-one. Try the banh mi dip ($9), a Viet spin on the roast beef au jus, or stick with a classic for just $5.95. Broth simmers away in the kitchen awaiting bowls of pho ($8.75), and on Sundays indulge in lobster ($20, pre-order by Saturday night). A short-but-sweet menu of vermicelli and rice plates rounds out the eats, and to top it off, the owners recently launched the Go Boba brand for its drinks, available canned ($4.75-$5.50).

Sweet Rice

▪ 8425 S. Hosmer St., Tacoma, 253-507-5618, sweetricewa.com

▪ Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

▪ How to order: online or by phone

▪ Best for: Thai with focus on Lao dishes

A fast-casual Thai-Lao restaurant from Auburn opened a Tacoma location in late 2020. Focus on the Lao dishes for a taste of street-style foods. The spicy sausage is just that — sausage links — but they are fragrant with lemongrass and makrut lime leaf; the crispy pork riblets make a fun appetizer the whole family can get behind; and the pad lao resembles pad Thai but stir-fried in a darker, sneakily spicy sauce. Lao borders northern Thailand, home to Issan cuisine (as exemplified at Loak Toung Thai in central Tacoma), so notice the overlap with dishes like nam khao (crispy rice with lettuce wraps) and papaya salad. If you don’t love funky, fermented flavors, stick with the peanut-speckled Thai style.

This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 5:00 AM.