Tacoma taco guide: Here are the highest-rated spots for tacos by neighborhood
There are a lot of places to find tacos in Tacoma. The cuisine is in the name of the city, after all.
We found the highest-rated taco joints on Yelp and divided them up by neighborhood. The list includes taco trucks, sit-down restaurants, regional chains and restaurants where tacos make up only a percentage of the menu.
While these are the highest-rated tacos on Yelp, we want to hear what you think.
Tell us your favorite taco spots in each neighborhood in the poll below
North End
Cactus Restaurant Proctor
- 2506 N. Proctor St., Tacoma
- 253-458-9900
- https://www.cactusrestaurants.com/location/locations-proctor
This regional chain has locations throughout Washington and offers plates with two tacos, rice and beans. Tacos include carnitas (pork), camarones (shrimp), baja fish, smoked brisket and spicy jackfruit.
La Perla Taqueria 2
- 3124 N. 26th St., Tacoma
- 206-688-0928
- https://laperlataqueriawa.com/
This taco truck has two locations in Tacoma — one on North 26th Street and the other on South Hosmer Street. It offers single tacos and taco plates, with protein choices like chicken, birria (slow-cooked beef), pork, lengua (beef tongue) and tripas (beef intestines).
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Brewers Row
- 3205 N. 26th St., Tacoma
- 253- 327-1757
- https://brewersrowtacoma.com/
This sit-down restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering classic tacos along with more unique items, like the papas dulce taco with roasted sweet potato, fresno chilis and kale. There’s also a variety of salsas like chipotle tomato and habanero carrot.
New Tacoma/downtown
La Isabella
- 1126 Commerce St., Tacoma
- 253-625-7362
- https://www.laisabellamezcal.com/
This slightly more upscale Mexican restaurant in downtown Tacoma offers multiple street tacos, including tacos de chicarron en salsa verde, which is pork belly stewed in tomatillo salsa, topped with pickled onions and queso fresco. La Isabella also has taco plates with fillings like steak and potatoes in a house-made salsa, roasted poblano peppers in a creamy sauce and shredded chicken in a chipotle tomato sauce.
Red Star Taco Bar
- 454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
- 253-545-9795
- https://www.redstartacobar.com/tacoma
This regional chain has three locations in Washington. The Tacoma location has a lively atmosphere and offers over a dozen tacos with both classic and unique fillings, such as bang bang cauliflower, buffalo chicken and Korean BBQ beef. There’s also a rotating taco of the month. February’s taco has marinated flank steak, fries and chimichurri sauce.
Matador Tacoma
- 721 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
- 253-627-7100
- https://www.matadorrestaurants.com/locations/tacoma
This restaurant and bar chain in downtown Tacoma offers quesabirra (cheese and beef tacos with consumé), street tacos with vegan options like Beyond picadillo, and specialty tacos like mango steak, coconut shrimp and rib-eye tacos.
Northeast Tacoma
La Vecindad De Seattle
- 6210 29th St. NE, Tacoma
- 253-235-5489
- https://vecindaddeseattle.com/
La Vecindad de Seattle prides itself on traditional 1950s Mexican cuisine with a modern flare. The restaurant offers a variety of tacos, including quesabirria (cheese and beef tacos with consumé), street tacos and surf and turf.
Taquerias Sinaloa
- 1940 Marine View Dr., Tacoma
- 206-280-6937
- https://www.facebook.com/p/Taquerias-Sinaloa-100054375976677/
This Mexican food truck offers a waterfront view, plus a selection of cheap eats. The menu includes classic tacos and tacos dorados, which are pan fried until crunchy. The truck accepts cash, Cash App or Zelle, no credit cards.
Eastside
Xantolo Taqueria
- 6329 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
- 253-349-0696
- https://www.facebook.com/p/Xantolo-Taqueria-100089905411099/
This Mexican food truck offers tacos with classic fillings like grilled steak, chicken, chorizo and lengua (beef tongue), taco plates with rice and beans, hard shell tacos and birria (slow-cooked beef) tacos.
Taqueria Doña Chole
- 6405 E. McKinley Ave., Tacoma
- 253-733-8142
- https://taqueriadonacholerestaurantwa.com/
This food truck offers handmade tortillas and a variety of inexpensive tacos, with fillings like steak, chicken, shrimp, lengua (beef tongue) and veggies topped with cilantro, onion and salsa. The menu includes quesabirria (cheese and beef tacos with consumé) and taco plates with rice and beans.
I Love Tacos
- 716 E. 64th St., Tacoma
- 253-592-0402
- https://www.instagram.com/ilovetacos253/?hl=en
This food truck has multiple locations throughout Pierce County. It offers classic tacos like chicken, steak and tripas (beef intestines), along with quesabirria (cheese and beef tacos with consumé) and keto tacos, which have a cheese shell. Tacos are only $1.99 on Taco Tuesdays.
South End
Taqueria La Michoacana
- 1301 S. 38th St., Tacoma
- 253-232-3528
- https://taquerialamichoacanawa.smartonlineorder.com/
This taco joint advertises “authentic Mexican food that reminds you of your tia’s cooking.” Classic taco fillings include chicken, shrimp, fish, lengua (beef tongue) and chorizo, and you can add toppings like rajas (roasted poblano peppers) and nopales (prickly pear cactus). There are also super tacos, which include cheese, beans, queso and birria (slow-cooked beef).
Taqueria La Fondita
- 3739 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma
- 253-785-8340
- https://taquerialafonditawa.com/
This taco truck offers cheap tacos and taco plates with classic fillings like chorizo, chicken, lengua (beef tongue) and adobada (pork marinated in adobo), along with birria (slow-cooked beef) tacos and taco plates.
Taqueria El Grande
- 7202 Park Ave. S., Tacoma
- 253-472-5905
- https://taqueria-el-grande.grubbio.com/
This casual sit-down restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes birria (slow-cooked beef) tacos and street tacos with classic fillings like chicken, chorizo, lengua (beef tongue), along with taco plates that come with rice and beans.
South Tacoma
The Church Cantina
- 5240 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma
- 253-292-0544
- https://www.facebook.com/thechurchcantina#
This bar and restaurant serves Cuban-inspired eats in a gothic-horror themed space, with decor like large spiderwebs and glowing skulls. The large menu includes tacos with fillings like ancho BBQ chicken, steak, pork and chili coconut shrimp with mango salsa.
Ricos Tacos
- 5015 Center St., Tacoma
- 253-202-8197
- https://ricos-tacos.menu-world.com/
This taco truck offers inexpensive tacos with classic fillings like pork, chicken, grilled steak, fish and lengua (beef tongue), along with taco party platters topped with radish, carrot, peppers and onions.
La Ilusion Al Carbon
- 5013 S. 56th St., Tacoma
- 253-267-0677
- https://lailusionalcarbonwa.com/
This casual sit-down Mexican restaurant offers classic street tacos, taco plates, quesabirria (cheese and beef tacos with consumé), and a variety of salsas with different spice levels.
Central/6th Ave
Balcon Express
- 3102 6th Ave., Tacoma
- 253-212-3054
- https://balconexpresstacomawa.com/
This casual Salvadoran restaurant offers taco plates and classic street tacos like pork, chicken and steak, as well as mixed meat tacos with steak, chorizo and pineapple. The veggie taco is particularly loaded, with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, rice, beans, tomatoes, cilantro, lettuce, sour cream, cheese and salsa.
Taqueria El Nopalito
- 4409 6th Ave., Tacoma
- 253-370-8526
- http://www.ordertaqueriaelnopalito.com/
This taco truck offers cheap street tacos with classic fillings like steak, chorizo, pork, chicken, lengua (beef tongue) and tripa (beef intestines). The menu includes taco plates with rice and beans and quesabirria (cheese and beef tacos with consumé).
Taqueria Hermanos Cardona
- 4401 S. 19th St., Tacoma
- 206-613-9320
- https://www.facebook.com/p/Taqueria-hermanos-cardona-100063525700034/
This food truck has two locations, one on South 19th Street and one at 610 N. Mildred St. The menu includes inexpensive street tacos with classic fillings like chicken, steak, pork and adobada (pork marinated in adobo).
West End
Taqueria El Sabor
- 1636 S. Mildred St., Tacoma
- 253-565-0501
- https://taqueriaselsabor.com/
This regional chain has other locations in Kent and Shoreline. The casual sit-down restaurant offers inexpensive tacos with fillings like chicken, steak and cabeza (beef cheek). The street tacos include onion, cilantro and salsa, while the fish tacos are topped with onions, cabbage, cheese, tomato and ranch dressing.
Taco Street
- 5101 Yacht Club Road, Tacoma
- 253-212-9468
- https://www.tacostreetfood.com/
This popular taco joint inside the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston has taco plates that come with rice and beans, with protein options like chicken, shrimp, veggies, steak and chile colorado (red chili). Both corn and flour tortillas are available, and toppings include pineapple, mushrooms and pickled jalapeños.
Aceituno’s Mexican Food
- 5916 N. 26th St., Tacoma
- 253-503-1284
- https://www.facebook.com/p/Aceitunos-Tacoma-61569216033121/
This fast casual chain includes a drive-thru and offers street tacos, rolled tacos and crispy tacos. Fillings include chicken, grilled fish, steak, veggies and pork. The chain is also known for ‘The Taco Box,’ which comes with 20 tacos, rice, beans and chips and salsa.
