Best tacos in Tacoma? Here’s what readers of The News Tribune had to say

Tacoma has quite a few places to get tacos, whether it’s a beloved taco truck in a gas station parking lot or a lively sit-down restaurant.

The News Tribune recently asked our readers to vote for their favorite taco spot in each neighborhood, and here are the winners.

North End

Brewer’s Row

• 3205 N. 26th St, Tacoma
• 253- 327-1757
• https://brewersrowtacoma.com/
• Open 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

This sit-down restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a big menu that includes some inventive tacos, along with coffee and beer. A plate of three tacos goes for $12.75, while a taco plate with rice and beans goes for $14.85. Taco fillings include pollo (cilantro lime-marinated chicken), chorizo verde (house-made chorizo with cilantro, serrano, poblano and jalapeño peppers), and papas dulce (roasted sweet potatoes, fresno chilis and kale). There’s also a variety of salsas to choose from, including avocado crema, chipotle tomato and habanero carrot.

New Tacoma/downtown

Tie between Matador Tacoma and Red Star Taco Bar

Matador Tacoma

• 721 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
• 253-627-7100
• https://www.matadorrestaurants.com/locations/tacoma
• Open 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

This restaurant and bar chain in downtown Tacoma offers a selection of taco plates with classic fillings, along with specialty and seasonal tacos. Plates come with two tacos on corn or flour tortillas, rice and beans, ranging from $16 to $18.50 for fillings like grilled chicken and marinated carne asada, and going up to $21.50 for specialty tacos. Those include Mango Steak tacos with grilled carne asada, mango-pineapple salsa, serrano slaw, guajillo-chile sauce and Tajín, and Ribeye tacos with grilled ribeye, French-fried onions, chimichurri mayo, avocado, grilled red pepper and cotija cheese.

Red Star Taco Bar

• 454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
• 253-545-9795
• https://www.redstartacobar.com/tacoma
• Open 11 a.m. - midnight Thursday through Tuesday, 4 p.m. - midnight Wednesday

This regional chain with three locations in Washington offers a lively atmosphere and a choice of over a dozen classic and unique tacos. Tacos range from $4.50 to $6 each, depending on the filling. The sizable tacos include the Catfish with crushed tortilla chip encrusted white fish, cajun remoulade, cabbage and pickles, the Fried Cauliflower with sesame aioli, asian slaw and bang bang sauce, and the Agave Shrimp and Elote with agave roja (agave nectar and spices), corn, Tajín mayo, cabbage, cotija cheese and cilantro. Taco plates with any two tacos, rice and beans go for $14.50.

Northeast Tacoma

Taqueria Sinaloa

• 5916 29th St. NE, Tacoma
• 206-280-6937
• https://www.facebook.com/p/Taquerias-Sinaloa-100054375976677/
• Open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday 

This taco truck can be a little hard to find, but it’s likely worth it. When you search the truck on Google, two addresses appear, and the correct one is on 29th Street Northeast. It used to be parked on Marine View Drive. Most tacos are $4.50 each, but lengua (beef tongue) tacos are $6 and fish tacos are $7.50. They’re sizable enough that two tacos could constitute a meal. Other fillings include asada (steak), adobada (spiced pork) and pollo (chicken). Tacos come with sliced cucumbers, lime, and pickled carrots and nopales (prickly pear cactus). Note that the truck doesn’t take cards — only cash or apps like Zelle, Cash App and Venmo are accepted. The truck also provides a small covered seating area.

Eastside Tacoma

Xantolo Taqueria

• 6329 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
• 253-349-0696
• https://www.facebook.com/p/Xantolo-Taqueria-100089905411099/
• Open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday

This taco truck parked next to a Shell gas station serves street tacos for $3.99 each and offers taco plates with rice and refried beans starting at $15.99. Taco fillings include birria (shredded beef), steak, chicken and lengua (beef tongue). Tacos are topped with onion and lots of cilantro and come with red and green hot sauce, radish, lime, and blistered onion and jalapeño.

South End

Three-way tie between Taqueria La Michoacana, Taqueria La Fondita and Taqueria El Grande

Taqueria La Michoacana

• 1301 S. 38th St., Tacoma
• 253-232-3528
• https://taquerialamichoacanawa.smartonlineorder.com/
• Open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. every day 

This casual sit-down restaurant advertises “authentic Mexican food that reminds you of your tia’s cooking.” Most tacos go for $3.50 each, while fish, shrimp and tripa (beef small intestines) tacos are an extra 99 cents. Pulpo (octopus) tacos are $5.99 each. You can add toppings like rajas (roasted poblano peppers) and nopales (prickly pear cactus). Super tacos, which include cheese, beans, queso and birria, go for $4.99 each. The restaurant offers a quesabirria taco plate for $19.99.

Taqueria La Fondita

• 3739 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma
• 253-785-8340
• https://taquerialafonditawa.com/
• Open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. every day 

This taco truck, parked in an empty lot on the corner of Tacoma Avenue South and South 38th Street, serves a variety of combo taco plates that come with your choice of tacos and a drink. Plates with three tacos are $8, four tacos are $9 and five tacos are $10. You’ll have to pay extra, though, for fillings like tripa (beef small intestines), lengua (beef tongue) and asada (steak).

Taqueria El Grande

• 7202 Park Ave. S., Tacoma
• 253-472-5905
• https://taqueria-el-grande.grubbio.com/
• Open 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

This casual sit-down restaurant offers a large menu, plus breakfast all day. Tacos go for $2.99 each with classic fillings like asada (steak), adobada (marinated pork) and birria (shredded beef). Taqueria El Grande also offers different types of birria items, like a classic taco birria plate for $10.99 or quesabirria for $12.99, which is a loaded quesadilla with birria, cheese, refried beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole with a side of consume. There’s also a salsa bar in the back with different salsas and other veggie toppings.

South Tacoma

The Church Cantina

• 5240 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma
• 253-292-0544
• https://www.facebook.com/thechurchcantina#
• Open 12 p.m. - 2 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday

This gothic horror-themed restaurant and bar serves a selection of Cuban-inspired eats, with plenty of vegan options. The tacos are hefty and come in pairs, ranging from $10 to $14 depending on the fillings. All tacos come with cabbage slaw, cotija cheese, cilantro and salsa, with fillings like ancho BBQ chicken, steak, pork, and chili coconut shrimp with mango salsa.

Central Tacoma/6th Ave

Balcon Express

• 3102 6th Ave, Tacoma
• 253-212-3054
• https://balconexpresstacomawa.com/
• Open 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and Saturdays, 12 p.m. - 8 a.m. Friday, closed Sunday

This casual Salvadoran restaurant on Sixth Ave serves a variety of pupusas and street tacos. Single tacos range from $3 to $3.75 depending on the filling, which include steak, chicken, pork and chorizo. There’s also a “mix” taco with steak, chorizo and pineapple, and a Veggie taco with grilled onions, bell peppers and mushrooms, beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cheese and salsa.

West End

Taqueria El Sabor

• 1636 S. Mildred St., Tacoma
• 253-565-0501
• https://taqueriaselsabor.com/
• Open 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day 

This regional chain, with locations in Kent and Shoreline, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serves a variety of tacos. Street tacos go for $2.82 each, with extra charges for asada (steak), birria (shredded beef), lengua (beef tongue) and tripa (beef small intestines). Other fillings include cabeza (beef cheek), carnitas (fried pork) and pollo (chicken). Fish tacos are $3.34 a piece, and come with fried cod, onions, cabbage, cheese, tomato and ranch dressing. Boiled onion and jalapeño are also available upon request.