When people think of where to get top-tier Mexican tacos in the United States, they often think of L.A or Austin. But would you have guessed there are also some incredible tacos in Boston? Mexican food in Boston often gets a bad rep. If you agree with this sentiment, then you’ve been looking in the wrong places!
After trying nearly every Mexican restaurant in the city, I’ve compiled a list of where to get the 15 best tacos in Boston. I include authentic Mexican street food tacos, drool-worthy birria tacos, and trendy taco bars. I also include top dishes to try at each place (just in case you’re still hungry).
Last Updated: December 2nd, 2023
El Pelon
First on the list is a small, counter-service Mexican spot in Fenway. El Pelon’s top-selling taco is the caramelos tacos. Each taco comes with thick cuts of steak, melted Jack cheese, hot sauce, and pico de gallo. The chunky guacamole on top is very refreshing against the heat from the hot sauce. The tacos are so stuffed and heavy that they require two tortillas to hold them up!
The price is steep at over $10 per order of two tacos, but the portions are very generous. Their El Guapo burrito is also very popular. The burrito comes with grilled steak, plantains, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
El Pelon’s ambiance feels homey and cozy. There are three tables for small groups, a row of counter seating, and plenty of Mexican artwork lining the walls.
92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215 / Website
Tenoch Mexican
Next on the Boston tacos list is another casual eatery serving high-quality street tacos. Tenoch opened its first location in 2012 by brothers from Mexico and currently has a location in Boston’s North End, Medford, & Somerville.
Their tacos are made in a classic Mexican street style. A small, soft corn tortilla is topped with crunchy white onions, cilantro, your choice of protein, and a creamy guacamolito sauce. Protein options are plentiful, including carne asada (steak), carnitas (shredded pork), chicharron (pork rinds), campechano (carnitas & chorizo), etc. The meats are tender and the tacos have a well-balanced flavor. Depending on the meat you choose, prices range from $3.75-$4.20.
I always order the taco asada con queso, which comes with steak and melted Oaxaca cheese.
Other than tacos, Tenoch sells Mexican street food including tortas, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and platters. Their best-seller is the torta, which is a pressed Mexican sandwich. Read more about it in my best Boston sandwich list!
3 Lewis St, Boston, MA 02109 / Website
Further Reading: Best 17+ Cheap Eats Boston
Taqueria Jalisco
Located in East Boston, Taqueria Jalisco is a no-frills Mexican eatery that’s popular among locals. Again, the tacos here are simple street style. They top a corn tortilla with your choice of protein and crunchy onions. For ~$13.99 you can get a combo of three tacos and a side of rice and beans.
Taqueria Jalisco is most famous for their birria tacos. For those who are unfamiliar with birria tacos, they have cheese and stewed, braised meat in a lightly fried tortilla shell. The meat has traditionally been goat, but beef is more popular in the U.S. Restaurants often serve consommé on the side for dipping. Consommé is a fatty, spicy, and slightly sweet broth made of beef stock, softened dried chiles, adobo sauce, and carrots.
At Jalisco, you can get 3 birria tacos, radish, onions, and a cup of consommé on the side for $14.99. The meat is tender and the broth adds extra juiciness. The fat-dipped and fried tortilla shells add a crunchy textural element!
291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128 / Facebook
Rincon Mexicano
Next on the list of Boston’s best birria tacos is Rincon Mexicano! They’re really generous with the fillings here. They stuff so much birria beef and cheese into each taco that it literally bursts out of the sides.
They also have a really good Taco Tuesday deal for $1.00 tacos.
I’ll admit, the restaurant is pretty low-key and out of the way. However, it’s worth the trip for their incredible birria tacos, authentic Mexican breakfast, and bocadillos. It’s been featured in Boston Magazine’s best 15 Mexican restaurants in Boston!
99 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 / Website
Orale
This is my last must-try spot for birria tacos in Boston. Just like the other restaurants, the tacos come in a set of three and have consommé on the side. The birria tacos here are extra cheesy. It adds so much extra flavor and richness to the tacos!
You can get other birria entrees, too. They use birria beef in your choice of a quesadilla, torta sandwich, and even ramen! The birria ramen comes with both ramen noodles and birria beef in the consommé.
It doesn’t look much from the outside, but the inside of Orale is colorful with its painted skull artwork on the walls and colorful banners (AKA papel picado) hung throughout the restaurant.
847 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 / Website
Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
Next on the Boston tacos list are sit-down restaurants. Lolita Cocina is a trendy restaurant and tequila bar located in Boston’s Seaport district. The interior is dimly lit and has exquisite Gothic-style decor. The environment is fun and vibrant! Once you arrive, they serve you an alcoholic “palette cleanser” and tortilla chips with dips. (Note: They don’t mention it, but the chips are $4.00!).
Onto the tacos: don’t expect any cheap, street-style tacos here. Each order comes with two tacos on a house-made flour tortilla. Filling options include spicy brussels, blackened mahi-mahi, chicken especial, crispy rock shrimp, steak, and pork al pastor.
My favorite is the steak taco (pictured above), which comes with grilled prime skirt steak, habanero butter, taqueria relish, and shoestring potatoes on top. The steak filling is the star of the show – it’s juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked at a perfect medium.
It’s quite pricey at $18 per order, but the flavor and quality are incredible.
While you’re at Lolita, make sure to try a variety of their other menu items. The habanero chicken rancho quesadillas and grilled street corn are big hits. It’s a tequila bar, so don’t skip on the drinks! I always get the strawberry frolita or mojito.
After the meal, you get a free giant cotton candy with pop rocks on top.
Want to find more cool restaurants in Boston? I have an article all about the top Boston fun restaurants and themed bars.
253 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 / Website
Loco Taqueria & Bar
Loco Taqueria in South Boston is another modern taco bar! Again, don’t expect anything super authentic. The restaurant has a lively ambiance, complete with (rather loud) music and people in their 20s at the bar. It’d be a great spot for a dinner with friends, but make a reservation in advance. Loco is often very busy!
Flavors include the classic crispy carnitas taco (my personal favorite), al pastor, shrimp, and fish & chips taco. They have one of the best fried fish tacos in Boston!
Looking to try something different? Loco Taqueria also has non-traditional taco fillings like broccoli, lamb kofta, and short ribs. Each taco is served on a 6-inch corn tortilla.
I recommend checking out Loco’s Taco Tuesday deal. Every Tuesday, the tacos are only $2.00 to $3.50 each. Otherwise, the price of each taco is $5.00 to $6.50. (a big difference!)
412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127 / Website
Chilacates Mexican Street Food
Chilacates is known for its authentic street food like quesadillas, elote, tacos, etc. They top corn tortillas with onions, radishes, cilantro, and your choice of protein. Protein options include carne asada, papas con chorizo, chicken tinga, veggies, pork en chile verde, lengua tongue, and carnitas.
My go-to here is the chicken tinga. The shredded chicken is juicy and coated in a fragrant chipotle-tomato sauce. My only con is the price is pretty steep for the size – it’s nearly $5.00 per taco.
You also can’t go wrong with their birria tacos. (Again, pricy. It’s $16 for 3 tacos and consommé.)
I also LOVE Chilacate’s eloté and quesadillas! The eloté (Mexican street corn) is sweet from the corn and salty from the mayo, chili powder, and cojita cheese. The quesadillas are packed with meat, making it a great deal.
The inside is a simple, counter-style service with some tables to sit at.
Dora Taqueria
Last on the tacos in Boston list is Dora in Dorchester. Each taco comes with cilantro, onions, radishes, cheese, and your choice of protein. They top it with guacamole taquero (a creamy, liquid-like version of guacamole). Get the al pastor tacos here!
Dora Taqueria is also known for its birria tacos, but I find them way too oily and messy.
112 Stoughton St, Dorchester, MA 02125 / Website
Chivo Taqueria
Last on the best tacos in Boston list is Chivo Taqueria. It’s a bit further out so it’s not TECHNICALLY Boston, but I still think it deserves a mention on this list.
The tacos are served with cilantro, onions, your choice of protein (I always go with steak), and optional guacamole for a surcharge. As you can see in the image above, they don’t skimp on the fillings.
9VMJ+J3 Cambridge, Massachusetts / chivoboston.com
Honorable Mentions: Best Tacos in Boston
Sombrero Chiquito –> This is an underrated Mexican restaurant near Boston’s Hynes Convention Center T station. Each taco is $4.00 and comes on a double flour tortilla with your choice of protein and toppings. I LOVED their braised pork protein. The pork was juicy, sweet, and flavorful.
For toppings, get their Mexican cheese, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo. It’s not authentic, but is very flavorful and juicy.
The inside is very simple and compact, with a few bar seats to sit at and brightly colored walls and Mexican decor. In the warmer weather, I recommend eating at one of their outdoor tables.
Los Amigos Taqueria –> Another notable mention on the top tacos in Boston list is Los Amigos in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner. Although they’re known for their burritos, their tacos are delicious and loaded with toppings. It’s also on the cheaper end at $4.00-$4.50 per taco.
Estefani’s –> Looking for more birria tacos Boston? Estafani’s in Lynn sells Central American food and is known for its birria tacos and pupusas.
Taqueria El Amigo –> I admit that a taco shop in Waltham is a stretch for the best tacos in Boston list, but Taqueria El Amigo is definitely worth the trip out. They were mentioned in Yelp’s list of the top 100 restaurants in the United States! The lively eatery sells authentic, street-style tacos.
Wrapping Up: Best Tacos in Boston
This concludes my best tacos in Boston guide! These are the best Mexican restaurants in Boston that I always return to.
After this Boston tacos list, read my:
- 15 Best Boston brunches
- 31 Best Desserts in Boston list
- Best Southern Food in Boston
- 25 Best Chinatown Restaurants Boston
Or, see what else the city has to offer:
- Little Italy in Boston Guide
- 21 Best Day Trips from Boston
- 27+ Fun Date Ideas Boston
- 39 Best Free Things to Do in Boston
- Best 25 Indoor Activities Boston
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