You can never go wrong with the decision to eat tacos; it is like a warm blanket hugging all the delicious, perfectly seasoned fillings inside. The best taco restaurants have a mix of both- authentic and modern combinations that are brimming with creativity.

A variety of restaurants

With different ingredients and toppings such as spicy chorizo, Tinga de Pollo, cotija cheese, chicken tinga, black bean, fiery red habanero, flour tortillas, and ground beef are some of the most delicious and flavorful dishes of Mexican cuisine.

With many incredible tacos such as the Fish Taco, the Pork Belly Taco, and the Calamari Taco, They are sure to leave you with a mind-blowing experience of the food of Mexico.

Atlanta restaurants have a load of variety where one can enjoy the meat and vegetable-filled flour or corn tortillas and tacos.

Of course, we cannot skip out on the multicultural tacos that are so easily dismissed. Are variations of Korean, American, and Southern tacos. Much like the city, the tacos in Atlanta are incredibly diverse.

Street Tacos in Atlanta

An easy way to describe street tacos is that it is simply a more authentic replication of traditional Mexican food. These are the kinds of tacos that use salsa, cilantro, and onions rather than tomato, cheese, and lettuce.

In addition, they tend to focus on the meat more than using simple ground beef; they use delicious, slow-cooked proteins such as carne asada (which is steak), carnitas (which is pork), al pastor (which is a shawarma-style shaved beef), and many more.

Where Will You Find the Best Tacos

Atlanta has a large majority of Mexican-American and Mexican immigrant populations.

Many people would say that the tacos in Atlanta are not particularly the highlight of the town. This is true to some extent; Atlanta has only a handful of actual street taco places and barely any taco trucks as well. 

But what we do have is an outrageous amount of taquerias serving awesome tacos that very closely resemble traditional tacos and regional specialties that are extremely hard to find outside of Mexico. You just need to look in the right places.

From the famous ‘Prison tacos’ at El Progreso to the tacos served at counters in a gas station or a grocery store to the food courts found in Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway.

What comes with the lack of street tacos in Atlanta is made up for by the gas station tacos. The mini-taquerias in the back of the gas stations is Atlanta’s version of street tacos.

Best Tacos in Atlanta Restaurants

So all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the wonderfully delicious Tex-Mex dish that we all love.

Here are the restaurants and spots for some real-deal tacos in Atlanta!

1) Little Rey

About

This place with their main focus is on Pollo al Carbon, which is grilled chicken. They have adopted a style that closely resembles authentic street tacos.

One of their highlights is the salsa bar. With options such as salsa verde and peppery tomatillo salsa, you can have a taste of the entire array. Even during Covid-19, the salsa bar is available for takeout! It comes in individual containers.

With extremely fast, friendly, and efficient service, Little Rey has stolen the hearts of most Atlantans. They have nailed the trendy, hipster vibe that creates a fun and lively atmosphere, making your experience even more enjoyable.

Information

• Offers delivery
• Offers takeout
• No reservations
• Vegan and vegetarian options are available
• Outdoor seating
• Dogs allowed
• Parking available

Must-try items

• Chicken al Carbon- Pollo al Carbon, which is usually grilled over charcoal, is wood-roasted at Little Rey for that same smoky flavor. It features a house-made flour tortilla, and it comes with smoked onions as well. You can add on any of their five salsas of your choice.
• Chorizo– This breakfast taco is filled with eggs, twice-fried beans, chorizo, cheese, and migas (corn chips) and served on their house-made flour tortillas.
• Grilled steak Tacos
• Carnitas tacos
• Grilled pork tacos
• Diablo (spicy shrimp tacos)
• Carne asada taco
• Oaxaca, which comes with peppers, cheese, and mushrooms

About the business owner

Ford Fry ventured twice into Tex Mex. Little Rey is his second restaurant after Superica, which is very successful.

2. El Tesoro

About

This joint is a fusion of a Mexican taqueria and a coffee shop. From freshly made tacos, tamales, and soups to mulitas, this joint makes everything from scratch daily. Their menu includes traditional Mexican food, as well as the off-beat tacos that are more street-style.

Their mission is to recreate tacos from all regions of Mexico.

This joint seems to have been around for several years. Their tacos are all topped with onions and cilantro and have many different filling options such as beef, chicken, scrambled eggs, salchichon (which is Mexican sausage), or pork. For a more unusual taste, you can even choose to add chapulines, which are crickets that have been dry-roasted.

Their drinks are no less in comparison to the tacos! They have an array of espresso-based drinks and coffee. More options include Mexican hot chocolate, tea, and Agua Fescas. They also offer non-dairy milk for anyone who is vegan or has allergies!

The food always tastes fresh and is steaming hot when it’s brought out to your table. This is a cool, little spot with quick and friendly service, and not to mention.

Information

• Offers delivery
• Offers takeout
• No reservations
• Vegan options available
• Outdoor seating
• Dogs allowed
• Parking available
• Wheelchair accessible

Must-try items

• Chicken Tinga- The juicy tinga is generously sauced and is one of the best. It may be a little more towards the expensive side, but paying a little more for their homemade tortilla is absolutely worth it.
• Frijolero- Filled with refried black beans and served on their flour tortilla, this combination of tacos is unbelievably good. Pro tip: add avocados
• Tinga de Pollo, which is pulled chicken
• Chorizo y Papas, which is pork chorizo and potato
• Pescado, which is fish tacos
• Frontera, which features a combination of vegetables like peppers and corn
• Their bunch – they serve micas tacos with corn, pico, eggs, chips, and cheese s well as a frijalero which comes with eggs, cheese, beans, and pico, along with a ranchero with egg, onion, sausage and cilantro.
• Birria tacos– they usually are a Thursday special

About the Business Owner

Alan R. is the managing partner who takes care of daily operations and keeps dreaming higher and higher.

3. Original El Taco

About

This family-friendly Mexican restaurant is one of the few places.

The staff is extremely friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. All their food has the perfect amount of seasoning and large portions.

It is one of the few places that has an adventurous menu where you can find items like chicken liver tacos.

Information

• Offers delivery
• Offers takeout
• No reservations
• Vegan & vegetarian options available
• Outdoor seating
• Parking available
• Wheelchair accessible

Must-try items

• Fried chicken taco
• Pork carnitas taco
• Lime-salted chips along with fresh guacamole and queso
• Roasted Chicken taco
• Home-made Chorizo taco
• Smoked chicken
• Baja fish tacos

About the business owner

Alejandro Carbajal-Luna is the executive chef

4. Taqueria Del Sol

About

This restaurant is one of the first taco restaurants in Atlanta that has been globally recognized. They took a traditional street taco and added their own twist to it while maintaining the original flavors.

Their tacos use a flour tortilla, and with a creative take to it, it includes a lot of Southern flavors.

Information

• Offers delivery
• Offers takeout
• No reservations
• Vegan & vegetarian options available
• Outdoor seating
• Parking available
• Wheelchair accessible (not all locations)

Must-try items

• Fried chicken tacos- This taco is a mixture of Southern and Mexican flavors. It comes with lettuce, tomatoes, and crispy chicken strips that are dressed with mayonnaise, which is made more flavorful with roasted jalapeños, and lime.
• Fish and nutty shrimp tacos
• Shrimp/corn chowder
• Memphis, which is a chopped smoked pork taco topped with jalapeño coleslaw and drizzled with tequila BBQ sauce

About the business owner

Chef Eddie Hernandez’s Taqueria Del Sol has opened multiple chains- three in Atlanta and two in Nashville

5. El Rey Del Taco

About

This restaurant near the Buford highway has a festive ambiance that is always decorated for the seasonal holiday, making the joint lively and a memorable experience. They have great food along with a great atmosphere. Their service is amiable, fast and accurate.

El Rel Del Taco literally means “The king of tacos,” and the restaurant is rightfully named so with its expansive menu full of the best tacos in Atlanta. From sizzled meats to over thirty seafood dishes, tacos are not all they specialize in. They have some of the most delicious land and seafood options in Atlanta restaurants.

This family restaurant is the equivalent of a warm dinner with your family and friends, perfect for a get-together.

Tip: Ask for their hand-made Tortillas; they may cost a little more, but they’re definitely worth it.

Information

• Offers delivery
• No reservations
• Vegan & vegetarian options
• Outdoor seating
• Parking available
• Wheelchair accessible

Must-try items

• Chivo Barbacoa tacos– It is filled with a goat that has been cooked slowly and is topped with a ladle-full of smoky Salsa Roja
• Al pastor
• Tripa
• Buche, which is a pork stomach
• Mushroom taco- for a plant-based option
• Chivo, which is goat
• Cabeza, which is beef cheek
• Carnitas, which is slow-cooked pork

Business Owner

Martin Macias comes from a family who have been in the restaurant business for years. They were the first ones to build and run a Mexican restaurant with some of the best tacos in Atlanta.