7 of the Best Tacos in the US and Canada

Tacos are perhaps the only other sought after food item that can be likened to the almighty hamburger. Fast food franchises have made the hamburger what it is today and there’s good reason for that. They are delicious of course. Tacos for some come in at a close second, but for some the taco is the be-all end-all of dining out.

Where are some of the best Tacos in Canada and the US?

First off, there are plenty of great tacos in Canada and the US. If we had to list all of them, one-hundred slots wouldn’t be enough. So, we’re merely highlighting 7 of the best in this list, so forgive us if we miss your favorite locations, but worry not, dear readers, here at Guilty Eats, we value your opinion, so at the end I’ll ask and will want to know some of your favorite places across both beautiful countries.

Believe it or not, many still wonder if Taco Bell is in fact the only place to enjoy a taco. To that I say, heck no, dear readers. There are a bunch of other places across the beautiful United States of America and the provinces and territories of Canada, and we found 7 of them and have them for you here today—tacos that are worth your time and a wee bit of traveling expenses.

I mean, you don’t have to go to Mexico to have some of the best of them, and even with El Paso in the heart of Texas, there are some exceptional tacos in the rest of the States and even in the aforementioned country north of the border…Canada…a nation of which this writer—moi—is a resident, and I LOVE tacos, dear readers.

Keep in mind that a little while ago Taco Bell closed down all locations in the province in which I live—Quebec—and so I had to get a tad creative to find epic tacos, and trust me when I say—and maybe you have a little experience in the mater as well—but they just don’t taste the same when you make them at home…but by venturing out, I found a world of tacos that not only satisfied my craving for tacos, but these tacos were better than anything else I’d ever had…sorry taco Bell Chihuahueño.

So without wasting any more time…

7. Carne Asada Tacos Dorados at La Taqueria in San Francisco

This one is special indeed. Chef /owner Miguel Jara designed one heck of a taco that isn’t at all run-of-the-mill. The taco is not fried to reach that crispiness that we all love a taco tortilla to have; he grills it. To this he adds Monterey Jack cheese, thin strips of sirloin and even avocados, sour cream and a delicious garlic sauce.

6. Tacodeli in Austin, Texas

On the surface these would look like any other taco you can find, but the slow-cooked meats here are the key. We’re not talking about a simple meat sauté, which you’re likely to find anywhere, really. Those slowly cooked meats add something to the entire bite, and oh yeah…these go down pretty quickly…not just one bite but darn close.

They have many locations and seem to be growing only further…even outside of Texas, where they dominate with quite a few locations. Is a franchise span the size of something on a larger scale in their future? We’ll have to see about that, but judging on their taste, we shouldn’t count then out on that front.

5. El Habanero Mexican Grill in Montreal, Canada

Now if you want to feel like you walked in off the snowy street and as you walk through a door and dust the snow off your jacket and are transported to some taco shop in the heart of Mexico…maybe even Tijuana…then this is the place for you.

The atmosphere just screams Mexico and its delicious cuisine, and this restaurant hits all of those notes perfectly and the tacos…well, the tacos: The fact that this restaurant is on this list speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Indeed it does, and really these tacos speak for themselves. Trust me.

4. Ray’s Drive-Inn in San Antonio, Texas

Ever hear of the famous “Puffy Taco?” Well, this is pretty much where it’s made to perfection and where it was invented, folks. Often imitated, never duplicated, the puffy taco is at its best here.

You can get any of their taco fillings with the hard, soft or even the puffy taco, and really the actual puffy taco isn’t the only star here, as the ingredients are done right…even if you go for a hard shell, it’s just as good and better than most places out there.

3. Quesada Locations /Canada

Okay…so this was my very first answer to my taco dilemma when Taco Bell closed down in Quebec. I know I could have gone to a plethora of higher end restaurants in my city that made a mean taco—some of which I did eat at and are on this list by the way—but when you’re looking for an affordable taco in a pinch, there’s nothing like a decently priced place to go.

Enter Quesada. I’ve hit quite a few of their locations and they’re all good. They meet the standards of operation to a T and really the tacos and burritos are great.

But to stick to the tacos subject, think Subway…only Tex-Mex cuisine style. Make it your very own way…with an incredible amount of proteins to choose from, a hard or soft shell taco of course and sauces and veggies galore. In the end you end up with what you want and it’s good and better than most.

2. Veracruz All Natural in Austin Texas

You know we had to do it…food trucks have pretty much been all the craze in the culinary movements of the last two decades really. Feature films like Jon Favreau’s Chef show just how much of an impact a chef on wheels can have on foodies and on the entirety of the industry, and when it comes to Tex-Mex these good people are doing it right.

Beyond that, all of their items are on point and delicious, but it goes even farther beyond that. Have you ever been handed a piece of food, taken that first bite and suddenly have to intensely look at the person that made it as you take further bites?

Well, you’ll be biting into that thing, looking at the poor dude or dudess back there with an intent look that may seem a tad malicious, because in your mind, you’re thinking: “Great!! Yet another masterpiece morsel of food that I have to fight off temptation for.” And believe yours truly…the fight will be a hard one. These and anything offered at these locations on wheels will be hard to resist.

1. Don Taco in Montreal, Canada

There’s an old adage in mobster movies…and that’s ‘if you want something, you go to the Don’…and then you pay. Some can pay that price, some cannot. Now the reason I say this is because Don Taco in downtown Montreal is the place for simple Mexican cuisine done right…and if it’s delicious simple tacos you want, then take a plane, train or bus and get to Montreal, go see the Don and he’ll take care of you.

The price you must pay: A heavy stomach because you ate so many tacos, and a few extra hours on the treadmill in the following days. Pay it if you can. I know I have. All hail Don Taco.

And so…did we miss any, dear readers? If we did, tell us all about your favorite place to get a tasty taco?