The 11 Best Tacos in San Antonio

Where can one find the best tacos in San Antonio? The answer to this question might be the boldest claim to make within the San Antonio food scene, but it’s one that we absolutely have to weigh in on. San Antonio is full of tacos. A lot of them are “okay”, “good”, or even “pretty dang good”, but at Female Foodie, we don’t settle for anything less than the best.

So, what makes a great taco? We’ve found that the best tacos in San Antonio are often very simple, featuring just a few ingredients such as high-quality meats, homemade tortillas, and fresh veggies and seasonings. And of course, they’re always downright delicious. From traditional Mexican street tacos to creative Tex-Mex originals, San Antonio has every right to declare themselves the taco capital of the country. Please enjoy our guide to the very best tacos in San Antonio! 

11. Tacos and Chelas Mexican Kitchen

Tacos and Chelas is relatively new to the San Antonio food scene, but once we tasted what they have to offer, we knew we had to include them. Not only do they tackle traditional street tacos in an incredible way, but they also put a modern and much-needed spin on traditional Tex-Mex with their asada fries and creamy shrimp tacos. These two menu items have flavors that are recognizable, but deliveries that are inventive and a fun break from the ordinary, even though the “ordinary” in this town is amazing. The Costra (Cheese Lover’s Delight) is another must-order. Crispy melted cheese filled with your choice of meat (go with carnitas here), topped with diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, red and green salsa, and served with mini tortillas. Service can be slow at Tacos and Chelas, but the food here is well worth the wait.

10. Henry’s Puffy Tacos

Henry’s Puffy Tacos is absolutely legendary in San Antonio because no one does puffy tacos better. These puffy tacos have a deep-fried, crisp exterior, a slightly chewy interior, and are filled with your choice of deliciousness. Female Foodie favorites are the Picadillo and chicken fajita puffy tacos. Once you get your order, waste no time in noshing, as the juicy meat will eventually work its way through the crunch of the taco and leave you scrambling to get it all in. The charro beans are house-made and a great side dish if you’re looking for one. Over the years, Henry’s has expanded its offerings into quite an impressive list of cantina items, but there’s no doubt you’re here for the puffy tacos—some of the best tacos in San Antonio.

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9.The Original Donut Shop

This restaurant mashup has been a neighborhood staple since the 50s, and they’re still hand-rolling their made-to-order tortillas after all these years. Tacos on the left and donuts on the right, the Original Donut Shop is a bit of a novelty because there aren’t too many restaurants that serve both tacos and donuts, but we’re here to tell you that they do them both and they do them very well. The breakfast tacos are definitely a favorite, but be sure to try the chilaquiles and crispy chicken tacos while you’re at it. And honestly, when you’re chasing a taco with a delicious raspberry-filled donut, life can’t get much better. They have a drive-through, so if you have kids in tow or are just too tired, The Original Donut Shop has your back.

8. Tacos El Regio

Tacos El Regio is a must-add to our best tacos in San Antonio guide for multiple reasons: 1. phenomenal tacos and 2. they’re open late! This is the perfect place to get your taco fix when you’re out enjoying the Alamo City’s nightlife scene but suddenly realize you’re hungry. The asada tacos (mini or regular) are the best and the tostadas are a great additional item if you’re hungry for more. Say yes to cilantro, queso fresco, avocado, and onions, give that lime a squeeze, and chow down on some of the best tacos in San Antonio. Tacos El Regio has locations on St. Mary’s downtown and on Nacogdoches, and they’re only open at night.

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7. Chela’s Tacos

We first came across Chela’s Tacos years ago when they were just a food truck near UTSA. Now, they’re two brick-and-mortars strong and still crushing the taco game. Our favorites will always be their namesake tacos, specifically the chicken cilantro and the La Costra varieties. Because anytime cheese is melted and crusted over into a tortilla, then laid inside a fluffy, fresh, secondary tortilla and loaded with even more goodness, we are here. for. it. Chela’s fresh ingredient approach also allows the food to be less greasy than other spots, which is a huge bonus. They’re closed Mondays, but you still have six other days of the week to get your hands on some of the best tacos in San Antonio.

6. Garcia’s Mexican Food

At this westside neighborhood staple, you’ll most likely be greeted with a smile and a line out the door. The staff at Garcia’s Mexican Kitchen are friendly and knowledgable about the menu, which consists of traditional Mexican dishes, a good amount of Tex-Mex, and a long list of tacos. Must-try tacos here are the Puerco Con Chile, brisket, and bone-in pork chop tacos. These are not tacos you commonly come across, and that’s exactly why we love them. The rice here is also not to be missed, and you can get it all for breakfast and/or lunch Monday through Saturday.

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5. Tacos N Salsa

Our favorite spot for breakfast tacos, Tacos N Salsa, has fast service, a fresh salsa bar, and the best chilaquiles tacos in town. They now have two locations in San Antonio, making it even easier for you to get your breakfast taco fix. Must-order items are the chicken cilantro tacos, the street taco plate, and of course, the chilaquiles tacos. Tacos N Salsa has a few other great menu items that can round out your selection but the tacos are the obvious star here.

4. Taqueria Datapoint

Tucked away in an unassuming San Antonio strip mall, Taqueria Datapoint has a friendly, local vibe, and some of the best street tacos in San Antonio. Here you will find exactly zero frills, but incredible home-cooked food and limonada (see full write-up here) instead. The tacos at Taqueria Datapoint are simple, as all the best tacos are. Just pick how many you want and which fillings. We highly recommend sampling the tripa, lengua, barbacoa, carnitas, and pastor—because it would be impossible to pick just one. Don’t forget to incorporate the onions, avocado, and cilantro the tacos come with. One of the things we love most about this place is that it’s open from 6 a.m.-12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and even later on Friday and Saturday, so when that late-night taco craving inevitably happens, you’ll know exactly where to run.

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3. Cascabel Mexican Patio

Cascabel Mexican Patio is ranked so high on our guide to the best tacos in San Antonio because of the food they serve (duh), but if there was also a guide to the cutest Mexican restaurants in San Antonio, it would be number one. Its large, atmospheric patio and vintage San Antonio vibes give us all the heart eyes, but it’s the deliciousness of the tacos that keeps up coming back. The food is made from scratch and a little rustic—which we love—and their take on tacos is more traditional Mexican than Tex-Mex—which is showcased in their smoky, spicy, slow-braised meats and mole. We highly recommend the tacos with cochinita pibil, tinga, or puerco a la cascabel, and the Huaraches. While not your typical “taco”, the Huaraches is a beautiful array of meat, cabbage, cilantro, onions, green salsa, and sour cream piled high on a thick-enough-to-do-the-job corn tortilla. We suggest slicing it across a few times and picking up each section, then folding it over and devouring. Cascabel Mexican Patio is a place where we have zero hesitation trying something new and always get the limeade.

2. Pollos Asados Los Norteños

Mesquite chargrilled chicken, commonly found in the Mexican city of Monterrey (where a lot of the staff here is from), is the staple at Pollos Asados Los Norteños and it is the best you can find in the city. One of the best tacos in San Antonio is their chargrilled chicken taco, enveloped in a fresh corn tortilla, garnished with a layer of their sweet roasted onion and a squeeze of lime. It’s that simple. And it’s that good. This is also a great spot to take a group, order a whole chargrilled chicken plus sides, and get ready to assemble some of the best tacos in San Antonio.

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1. Taquitos West Ave

Taquitos West Ave serves the absolute best tacos in San Antonio and we can’t get enough! This well-known and well-loved taqueria has two fast-casual locations in town that are both equally delicious. Choose your meat (they’re all fantastic) to be placed on fresh, mini corn tortillas then topped with raw onions and cilantro. You’ll have the option to include grilled onions, sliced radishes, and cucumbers on the side. Say yes to all of the above. The staff will take your drink order at your table and bring you some of their house salsa to perfectly complement your plate of made-to-order tacos once you’ve ordered them at the counter. Taquitos West Ave’s salsa has the perfect spicy/vinegary bite to cut the richness of the asada, lengua, bistek, tripa, or our personal favorite, the pastor. The simplicity of the tacos here is nothing to scoff at. The quality of the ingredients is so high, that the flavors are able to shine through and come together in the most mouthwatering way. Bring all your out-of-town friends and family here if you want to show them why San Antonio tacos reign supreme.