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The 12 Best Tacos in Dallas

These are big claims to make, but someone's gotta do it.
Image: taco from la salsa verde
That's no taco — that's art. (From La Salsa Verde.) Aaren Prody
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We know what you're thinking: How can a pillar of the culinary soul of Dallas — tacos — be reduced to a short list of the best?

The truth? It can't.

But another truth is that there are so many places to eat these handhelds that it's impossible not to miss one. Or two. Or three.

Luckily, this list isn't the end-all be-all. It's a round-up of the best tacos we've enjoyed in Dallas. Did we miss one? Let us know (respectfully) and we'll gladly report back to update this list if we see fit.

As to not start an actual fight, here are our favorites, in alphabetical order. Yes, we're as soft as warm tortillas over here.

Jazzy's Tacos Pop-Up

Weekly location changes
We think about Jazzy's Tacos. We drool. This pop-up taco spot is on the move weekly, and you never know where they'll be next. Well, you will with the pinned post on their Instagram, but we've spotted them in Oak Cliff, Addison, Fort Worth and Carrollton, which means they're likely coming to a storefront near you. The menu is small because they're a pop-up, but they're maximizing every inch of grill space with quesa and street-style tacos, ramen, pizzadillas, tortas and regular quesadillas. Everything they make is overflowing with meat and cheese, and it won't matter where the next pop-up is, you'll be there.

La Excelencia Comida Mexicana

4605 Maple Ave.
When we see this little pink and orange color-blocked building a few turns off the tollway, Honey, we're home. The smells when you walk in will make you levitate. They serve made-to-order dishes, which are served with fresh salsa made daily and a variety of sauces to experiment with. Caution: these are hot. Try your español when ordering, so as long as you know the basics, you'll be fine.

La Salsa Verde Taqueria

2950 W. Northwest Highway
Check the comments of any online video claiming to have the best tacos in Dallas, and someone is going up to bat for this taqueria. La Salsa Verde Taqueria is a Dallas micro-chain (how's that for a niche) known for its tacos de cabeza, or tacos stuffed with meat from a cow's head (and a good amount of cheek). It has locations across the metro, but one of the best is near the airport off Webb Chapel. Cabeza is an obvious order here, and we enjoyed the birria so much we almost asked for a straw for the consomme.

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Tacos ahogados from Las Maskaras Mexican Grille.
Lauren Drewes Daniels

Maskaras Mexican Grille

2423 W. Kiest Blvd.
Texas Monthly said that these were one of the 50 Best Tacos in Texas, so absolutely, they're serving some of the best tacos in Dallas. Maskaras is all about a love for tacos and Mexican wrestling, and it's brought to life with the memorabilia and masks decorating the interior walls. Staples like the tacos ahogados (drowned tacos) from owner Rodolfo Jiménez's home state of Jalisco keep the line long and steady, but the different styles of tacos, burritos and tortas are all solid as well.

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Wagyu Suadero tacos from Molino Oloyo.
Aaren Prody

Molino Olōyō

1318 W. Davis St. (but soon a brick-and-mortar)
Another Texas Monthly selection for the Top 50 Tacos in Texas is the wagyu suadero taco from Molino Olōyō. Chef Olivia Lopez is a James Beard semi-finalist who has been bringing recipes from her childhood in Colima to life through tacos and tasting menus around Dallas. You can find the suadero taco at the Wayward Coffee pop-ups on the weekends, but confirm where they'll be next on Instagram.

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The endiablada from Ramiro's Tacos is one of the best things on their menu.
Aaren Prody

Ramiro's Tacos

11115 Elam Road
This Friday-only gem serves stellar pastor tacos and horchata that nearly brought us to our knees. Ramiro's Tacos is at Premier Park Fields in Balch Springs most of the time, but they do the occasional pop-ups around the neighborhood. The endiablada, a taco overflowing with pastor, a little suadero, cheese and chile toreado (grilled jalapeños) is one of the best things they serve. But that horchata? Don't forget to order the horchata.

Rayo's Taqueria

11411 E. NW Highway
This humble spot off Northwest Highway serves a variety of handhelds and plates (including oatmeal if you can believe it), but does not compromise on flavor. The LED is only on for a fraction of the time, and there is a SpongeBob painting on the glass outside. It's perfect. And don't even get us started on their breakfast burritos.

Revolver Taco Lounge

2646 Elm St.
Revolver Taco Lounge is another Texas Monthly pick that made the number four pick of the 50 Best Tacos in Texas. Owner Regino Rojas has pushed the boundaries of the taco scene in Dallas for over 10 years and offers creative tacos like one filled with duck breast and ruby red trout. The taco that sealed their top-five spot is the pulpo al pastor, which is a bold creation where Rojas takes a whole large Mediterranean octopus tentacle, grills it al pastor-style, and serves it with grilled pineapple, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño salsa verde rolled up in an extra-large corn tortilla.

Rosi Taqueria

225 W Illinois Ave.
No social media. No website. Just tacos and vibes under the Chevron gas station lights. This food truck makes fresh tortillas by hand to order, and they're exactly what we'd expect a maiz cloud to feel like. Packed into them are fajitas, a few different cuts of beef, and other fillings, including nopales (cactus). They're open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., and closed Wednesday and Sunday. Depending on the day, be prepared to wait in a line and get there at a decent hour in case they sell out.

Tacos La Banqueta Puro DF

1305 N Carroll Ave.
East Dallas is a haven for low-key taquerias, and Tacos La Banqueta Puro DF is one of 'em. They do tacos, quesadillas, alambre, tortas, plus a whole section dedicated to gringas. They have a few different locations, but the one off Carroll Avenue (and the one in Arlington, but that's not Dallas) are the two best. The tacos with corn tortillas are priced at a generous $2.70, which is a steal. Add $0.30 if you want them on flour. Remember, while the red salsa is usually hotter than the green, they swap them here.

Taqueria El Si Hay

601 W Davis St.
I mean, duh? Right. This resident taqueria has been an Oak Cliff staple for over 25 years. People will stand in the rain before this tiny, bite-sized restaurant just for one of their styrofoam containers full of grease and flavor. It's simple. Tacos and drinks, and an elote cart off to the side. Everything they serve is $3 and under, and cash only, so hit an ATM before you go. Get there early so you don't get there right as the last cup of elote is sold before your eyes.
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Taqueria Los Pinos was one of our many favorite local taquerias.
Aaren Prody

Taqueria Los Pinos #2

837 E. Irving Blvd.
This vibrant little taqueria may be a bit discreet, but it's no match for our sleuthing skills. We know a gem when we see it. If it can be created with meat, cheese and a tortilla or the corn or flour variety, they have it here. The Chata plates are a great value at $13.99, which includes two tacos, two gorditas, rice and beans. It's all made-to-order, so it comes out piping hot. They also serve breakfast, which looks just as stellar as their lunch and dinner items. Also, the 10-for-$18 is a steal for your next taco Tuesday.