If you’re in the mood for some tacos, these places are your best bet
Tacos can come filled with so many different types of ingredients, it almost seems there are never ending ways to create them! Tacos are also one of the best ways to try out new flavor combinations, who knows, you might discover you like something entirely new! Whether you prefer the classic meat, cheese, and salsa, or prefer something a little more complicated like avocados, chicken, peppers, and beans--there are plenty of great places in Cincinnati to get your taco fix. We’ve put together a list of some of the best in the city, although there are many more great places to try out tacos so let us know if we left out your favorite.
If you have a taco-loving friend who gets a kick out of trying new taco spots, why not gift them with a GiftYa virtual gift card to a new taco joint? It’s the easiest way to send a gift card and it goes right to their phone where it stays until they’re ready to redeem it. And now, bring on the tacos!
600 Walnut St. Downtown
No discussion about where to grab tacos in Cincinnati would be complete without first mentioning Nada, which is a fun place to try new taco flavors and sample all kinds of delicious drinks. Get your taco-loving friends and head over where you can start by sharing their starters, like queso loaded or tortilla soup. Then, it’s taco time.
You get three tacos with each order, and they can be either hard or soft. Choose a couple for the table, that way everyone gets to try them out! Local favorites include the taco pastor with chile marinated pork, or the grilled mahi and corn relish. You can go wrong adding some grilled street corn or black beans and rice as well!
“Good, fresh take on Mexican. The habanero salsa is delicious. I think my favorite taco was the Ahi tuna tacos. Phenomenal!” -Yelp Review
bakersfieldtacos.com | 1213 Vine St. | Over-the-Rhine
Bakersfield is a fantastic mix of delicious tacos and other Mexican street food, coupled with some of the best tequilas and whiskeys around. If you’re looking for a vibrant atmosphere to meet up with friends or to enjoy some tacos at happy hour, this is your place.
It’s always a good idea to start off with some aperitivos like short rib queso, or even one of their mixed greens salads before you move onto the larger platters. Tacos here are well known as being out of this world, but if you’d prefer to try something else, tostadas and taquitos are also available to order and share. If you go, consider getting the hongos (mushrooms) tostada or the
Pollo diablo tacos!
“Bakersfield will forever be my go-to Mexican restaurant downtown! You really can't go wrong with anything on their menu and it's all reasonably priced!” -Yelp Review
gomezsalsa.com | 2437 Gilbert Ave. | Walnut Hills
Gomez Salsa is famous for bringing hand chopped salsa in all its freshness to the locals of Cincinnati, and hasn’t looked back since! It’s a great place to try their signature Turtle, which is basically a burrito with all your favorite ingredients, that’s wrapped in a cheesy tostada shell for maximum crunch! Everyone who tries one seems to swear they’ll never go back to a regular burrito again.
But if it’s tacos you’d prefer, you’ve also come to the right place! Feel free to customize your taco orders just the way you like them. You can choose between shell type, and additional goodies such as rice, beans, guacamole, fresh salsa, and your choice of meat or cheese. It’s really a great place to explore all kinds of flavor options, you might never have the same combo twice!
“Awesome bar and grill!! Great food and service with unbelievably low cost for the genuine gourmet type food. I can eat this food everyday it's just that good!!” -Yelp Review
Look out for the spice on these hearty tacos! Image courtesy of Django Western Tacos.
djangonorthside.com | 4172 Hamilton Ave. | Northside
The chefs at this Tex-Mex restaurant really know how to make a taco that you crave! Whether you’re in the mood for a classic carne asada taco or are feeling a little adventurous and want to try the jackfruit carnita taco, this place has got you covered. Django is a great place to stop in after work, or even on the weekends when you are just craving the savory taste of guacamole, salsa, and cotija cheese, all folded in a corn tortilla.
Make sure to save room for their popular dessert, churros, which are perfect for sharing with the table. If you can’t seem to make it here in the evenings, why not try checking out their brunch instead? All your favorite taco ingredients make for some delicious brunch offerings as well!
Buy a GiftYa To Django Western Tacos >
“I have eaten here for brunch (good) and dinner (great). Definitely try the fried chicken taco and carne asada taco. The guac and chips are tasty and unique with pistachio.” -Yelp Review
Try something a little out of the ordinary, who knows, you might end up loving it! Image courtesy of Frida 602.
fridaonmain.com | 602 Main St. | Covington, KY
One of the best things about tacos is how they can come in all kinds of variety, and fit well with almost any combination of flavors. The tacos and cuisine at Frida 602 have a fun Latin twist to them, and make for some pretty delicious meals.
You’ll want to try the beef empanadas or the ceviche to start, and then follow that with your choice of burritos, tacos, or sandwiches. Some of the local favorites are the grilled chicken taco and the cubano sandwich, complete with locally sourced sourdough bread. All you need to do is add a pitcher of their house margaritas, and you’re all set for an amazing time in the historic Mainstrasse!
“My favorite taco is the brussel sprout taco and my favorite salad is the arugula. This place is very yummy and always a fun place to go.” -Yelp Review
Take advantage of the tried and true recipes you can get at this taco place. Image courtesy of Mazunte Taqueria.
mazuntetacos.com | 5207 Madison Rd. | Oakley
Not all tacos are created the same, and this can also be said for the restaurants that sell tacos as well. If you’re looking for fresh, authentic creations that draw on recipes handed down for generations in Mexico, then this is the taqueria for you! You won’t find any bland taco creations here, instead your tastebuds will enjoy steak, chicken, and chorizo tacos that are topped with avocados, red salsa, and the perfect amount of cheese.
You should also consider trying their specialties such as the pozole (traditional Mexican soup), the blue corn quesadilla, or the ever popular tamales. No matter what you decide to order, you’re going to enjoy your experience at one of the best taquerias in the area.
Buy a GiftYa To Mazunte Taqueria >
“The steak, pork and chicken tacos I got were all topped with various salsa and cheeses along with house sauces they put on each taco. Highly recommend coming here if you're cravings tacos.” -Yelp Review
At Condado, building the perfect taco is all up to you. Image courtesy of Condado Tacos.
condadotacos.com | 195 E Freedom Way | Downtown
Although everyone has their own favorite taco ingredients, we can still agree that it’s having the choice to pick your toppings that made Condado Tacos stand out from the crowd. This place offers patrons the choice to completely customize all of their options, and allows them to put on toppings such as shrimp ceviche, roasted portobellos, pickled red onions, pineapple salsa, and even chipotle honey sauce onto their tacos!
There are so many ways to make your own taco, you’ll definitely want to visit often. In case you’re in a hurry, they also have some interesting taco suggestions that are ready to order such as a surf n’ turf or even a breakfast taco complete with scrambled eggs!
“Love the menu set up of build-your-own or select a pre-made taco. The prices are ridiculously reasonable, even if you get extras!” -Yelp Review
5201 Carthage Ave. Norwood
This is a no-frills taqueria where the focus is on the food! Expect your tacos--or burritos, chimichangas, and fajitas--to be just like anything you could get while visiting Mexico. To say this place is authentic Mexican cuisine would be an understatement, you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!
If you go, consider the popular chicken taco and be sure to ask for any sauces on the side, because some of them can be very hot!
“Overall this place is THE place for tacos. I don't go a month without eating here and taking some to go for later!” -Yelp Review
Tacos are a fun, go-to food that can be in many ways, and with all kinds of flavors. Cincinnati loves their tacos, and thankfully the city is home to some pretty amazing taco shops to frequent! Where is your favorite place to grab tacos? Let us know in the comments!
