Where to Find Baltimore's Best Tacos

by Jennifer Waldera in Roundups

Everyone loves tacos, and it’s time to start sourcing where to grab some top notch tacos (and maybe a margarita or two…). Here are some of the preferred places around town where you can grab tasty tacos and sip a cerveza.

Papi’s Tacos
Papi’s celebrated their one year anniversary in March of this year, and we’re pretty sure their tasty tacos are one of the reasons this Charlie Gjerde-owned hotspot has been successful in a location that has proved to be a struggle for previous restaurants. Create your own street tacos on the handy checklists by choosing from three tortilla styles (corn, flour, crunchy corn shell), ten fillings (from pork and chicken to ground beef and short ribs – and even lobster and crab options!) and two styles (authentic or gringo). Get there between 4 and 7 PM for tons of happy hour specials. Choose to dine indoors at the bar or in the dining room, or outside where the people watching is prime. (1703 Aliceanna St.; 410-299-8480)

Tijuana Taco

Hands down, these are some of the best authentic tacos in Charm City. Our favorite is the al pastor, but none of the 13 options (which includes standards like beef and chicken as well as lesser found options like tripe and beef tongue) will disappoint. If you want to wash down your tacos with a cold cerveza, we recommend taking these tacos to go, since the spot does lack a liquor license. (3001 Baltimore St.; 410-545-0667)

La Tolteca

Canton recently welcomed this local family-owned chain to the previous location of Dark Horse on Boston Street. The wide open space houses tons of tables and a large bar which is fortunate since it has been packed every night since its mid-March opening. Get three beef or chicken soft tacos for $7.50, or for $10.29 pair your tacos with chile rellenos, enchiladas, burritos or chalupas from the combination menu. (2324 Boston St.; 410-617-0959)

Tortilleria Sinaloa

Tucked away just off Broadway in Fell’s Point, this simple eatery is routinely awarded “Best of” for the authentic south of the border cuisine. Go simple with a sausage, steak or chicken taco or get bold with beef tongue or barbecue varieties. There’s even a tilapia taco on the menu with an Old Bay butter sauce. While the super casual spot doesn’t carry booze, they do have menudo – a tripe-based soup believed to cure hangovers – on the menu. (1716 Eastern Ave.; 410-276-3741)

Fiesta Mexicana
Opened in 2007 by the Lopez family, originally from Mexico City, Fiesta Mexicana is just outside of the city in Rosedale. Only $2.35 each, authentic tacos are served with your choice (from seven types) of meat topped with cilantro, raw onions and lime. We’re also huge fans of their queso fundido with mix-ins like roasted poblano peppers, mushrooms and potatoes. Grab your favorite brew or bottled margarita (FM is BYO) and settle in to one of the cozy booths in the small space for an inexpensive but tasty Taco Tuesday (or any day, really). (8304 Philadelphia Rd.; 410-686-0134)

Nacho Mama’s
We won’t pretend that this Canton mainstay is authentic, but we will stand by the deliciousness coming out of the kitchen. Chorizo, BBQ pork, chicken and steak tacos (along with the specials of the week) come in large portions at this Elvis-loving Canton Square restaurant. And, really, is there anything better to wash down those tacos than their cult followed Hubcap Margarita? Get your straws ready, Baltimore. (2907 O’Donnell St.; 410-675-0898)

Woody’s Rum Bar
If you are looking for the spot with the best waterfront view to chow down on tacos, this is quite possibly the very best place to hit for taco time. With tons of options on the menu that range in cuisine, we have to get behind this place for the creative shout out to the vegetarians with the black bean falafel tacos. Their menu also sports chicken and fish tacos, and their mixed drinks are something to adore while watching the sunset from their elevated 2nd story level at the corner of Broadway and Thames. (821 S. Broadway; 410-563-6800)

Blue Agave
There is no type of taco you can’t get at this popular Federal Hill joint. Whether you’re a carnivore, pescatarian, or vegetarian, you will likely be delighted by the choices here. The same is true of the tequila selection. So fill your belly fast so you can dig into that large selection of tequila. (1032 Light St.; 410-576-3938)

Taco Fiesta
This unassuming spot in Harbor East serves up a ton of taco options from meats to fish and shrimp to potato. It seems they are nearly always offering specials on drinks or food, so taco day or otherwise, it might be the most affordable stop in Harbor East. (618 S. Exeter; 410-234-3782)

Holy Frijoles
It seems this joint has been in Hampden as long as the word “hon” has been indigenous to Baltimore. Get chicken, beef, chorizo, slow roasted pork, fish or a few vegetarian options wrapped up in your taco, and you can say you’ve been to one of the longest standing places in all of Hampden, hon. Make sure you wash it down with one of their authentic, or flavored, margaritas. (908 W. 36th St.; 410-235-2326)

Photo via Flickr