Over the last few years I’ve been on a mission to eat at every Taqueria in Tacoma. I’m always keeping an eye out for a new taco truck, a spot in a strip mall I haven’t been to yet or just revisiting an old favorite. Since every taqueria makes tacos with tortillas, meats, onions, cilantro and salsas, I’m highlighting specialty and regional cooking, seeking out dishes that no else does, and only including the exceptional! Since new places are popping up please subscribe and I’ll you updated, part two of this taco tour will be following very soon! Thanks for reading!
Taquería La Fondita - 3739 Tacoma Ave South
The best tacos in Tacoma come out of a truck parked in a PC repair parking lot besides busy South 38th Street in the Lincoln district. The Carnitas is the star of the show here, tender perfectly seasoned slow-cooked pork, cooked again on the flat top grill for that fatty-salty-crispy bite. Topped with the standard onions, cilantro, and salsa roja but ask them nicely for the bottle of salsa verde. What ever you do please don’t get them to-go! Eat them right there blazing hot with cars zooming past. ¡Perfecto!
Vuelve a la Vida - 5312 Pacific Ave
“Return to life” is the name of this classic Tacoma mariscos joint that implies it will bring you back to life after a night of partying. More of a sit down restaurant than a taqueria, it’s a great place to have a cold beer or two and pretend that you’re in Baja for awhile. Many people in Tacoma will tell you that Vuelva is one of their favorite restaurants in town, it’s certainly one of mine. With it’s open kitchen you most likely see a woman making tortillas by hand, I like to sit with a good view of what’s going on the kitchen to see all the delicious looking plates of food being put up for the server to grab. Don’t sleep on the “tostada de camarones” (shrimp ceviche tostada) or if dining with friends sharing an order of the half-pound of the shrimp ceviche, yeah they make it with bay shrimp and with plenty of ketchup but hey who cares, it’s fucking delicious! The tacos here are made on thick hand made tortillas, not your standard “two-bite sized” and served with beans on them with your choice of meat, so three tacos is a meal here. A Tacoma icon.
Taqueria La Grande - 7202 South Park Ave.
This converted gas station in South Tacoma is a fantastic Taqueria, I always feel like I’m cheating on La Fondita when I come here but sometimes you need to eat inside in Western Washington. Perfect two bite tacos, well seasoned meats and a nice crisp on the Carnitas, which along with the Asada are my go-to order here. One of the best reasons to eat here is the salsa bar stocked up with a selection of different salsas, limes, radishes and pickled carrots. Totally Legit.
El Zócalo Tortas y Bakery - 701 S. 38th St.
This is your spot if you’re craving a hangover slaying Torta. Named for the main town square in Mexico City, you can order up other “DF” style grub like Huaraches (oblong fried masa cake loaded with beans, meat, lettuce, crema, queso etc.) and Pambazos (A chorizo and potato torta with red chile sauce cooked into the bread). The Tortas here are HUGE, big enough to share or to save the second half for “later”, Check out one of the most popular tortas the “Cubana” which has nothing to do with the famous Cuban sandwich. This Cubana is loaded up with breaded steak, ham, pork thigh, hot dog, sausage, egg, tomatoes, onions, avocado, jalapeños, mayo and is ABSOLUTELY FILTHY. With a panadería located inside it makes for the perfect crime for getting some pan dulces to-go.
Taqueria Los Parrados - 5604 Portland Ave E.
Cash only. The tacos are $4 each. There’s no sign on the business. And they are completely and totally out of fucks, but it only adds to the charm of Los Parados! The only Taqueria in Tacoma where al pastor is cooked on the “trompo”, a style of cooking brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants, thin layers of marinated pork cooked as it rotates, glistening fat rolling down self basing the meat and is shaved off on to tortillas when ordered. This is closest you are gonna get to Mexico City al pastor with out leaving city limits. Highly recommend, but don’t be cute here, because they aren’t having it.
Taqueria Doña Chole - 4540 Pacific Ave.
A new comer on the Tacoma taco scene these new guys are doing up some delicious new things with Tacos in a truck in a tire shop parking lot on Pac Ave. The smoked Pork chop taco is delicious as it sounds with grilled sweet and salty cubed “ham chops” drenched with a spicy salsa roja and standard onions and cilantro. The Malibu taco is their best seller, the tortilla has white cheese and shredded pork grilled into into it and is smothered in a deep red rich “Al pastor salsa”, both tacos are totally unique and fantastically delicious. Speaking of unique menu items for a taco truck, I have to come back for the Hamburguesa, a beef burger topped with American cheese, Mozzarella, Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup and Shrimp! I asked if this was gonna be their permanent home and they said that they hope so, but go soon and show them some love Tacoma!
Didn’t see your favorite Taqueria on this list?! Maybe it will be on part two of this Tacoma taco tour! COMING SOON!
Taqueria La Grande is in the South End, not South Tacoma. :)
I really needed this Stu! T-minus 25 min to tacos!