For six months, Texas Monthly’s taco editor José R. Ralat scoured the state visiting over 400 taquerias to find the top 50 best Texas tacos; Five Houston-area locations made his list with two reaching the top 10.
Azteca Taco House
Azteca Taco House’s costillas en salsa verde taco took the top spot among Houston establishments, with Ralat placing it third overall in the state. The Costillas en Salsa Verde contains bone-in pork ribs with green salsa. Azteca Tacos is located at 3801 Hopper Road in North Houston.
Papalo Taqueria
Located at 712 Main in the heart of downtown Houston, Papalo Taqueria’s Zanahoria Taco made the 7 overall spot on the list. According to Ralat, the Zanahoria is a corn tortilla taco with carrots, pepitas salsa, greens and queso fresco.
Tres Chiles
Located in northwest Houston, Tres Chile’s Barbacoa de Borrego Taco is the third Houston-area location to make the list being placed among the top 40 with only the top ten locations receiving numerical placement. Ralat said the Daracoa De Borrego contains lamb meat wrapped in maguey leaves that are roasted overnight.
The Original Ninfa’s
The Original Ninfa’s tacos al carbon also earned a spot in the top 40. The award specifically goes to the Ninfa’s located at 2704 Navigation Blvd near Magnolia. The tacos al carbon consists of smoked beef strips rolled in a flour tortilla.
Cochinita & Co.
Cochinita & Co is located in the East End at 5420 Lawndale and is the final of the five Houston-area restaurants to make the list. It made the list for its vegan tinga de hongos taco plate served with Lion’s mane & oyster Mushrooms, chipotle en adobo, caramelized onions, vegan avocado cream, cilantro, pickled red onions.
Ralat’s full list of all 50 tacos, along with a detailed description of the restaurant’s atmosphere and food offerings can be found on Texas Monthly’s website.
