Cincinnati Taco Week Returns October 7-13!

The Best Tacos in Cincinnati, as Chosen by CityBeat Readers

By on Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 1:56 pm

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. When that Taco Tuesday feeling hits (whether it is actually Tuesday or not), you need to know where to go in Cincinnati to find the perfect tacos. From places where you can pair classic, mouthwatering tacos with refreshing margaritas to those with more out-of-the-box options, these are the taco spots in the Queen City our readers can't stop talking about.
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No. 10 Best Tacos: Taqueria Mercado 100 E. Eighth St., Downtown; 6507 Dixie Highway, Fairfield Must-Try Taco: Chorizo tacos (chorizo sausage on a steamed corn tortilla, topped with onions cilantro and lime).
Photo: Provided by Taqueria Mercado

No. 10 Best Tacos: Taqueria Mercado

100 E. Eighth St., Downtown; 6507 Dixie Highway, Fairfield
Must-Try Taco: Chorizo tacos (chorizo sausage on a steamed corn tortilla, topped with onions cilantro and lime).
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No. 9 Best Tacos: Texas Joe Tex-Mex Food Truck Must-Try Taco: The beef brisket taco: The beef is braised for 12 hours and is topped with black beans, corn salsa, repollo, agave nectar, cotija cheese and homemade tomatillo sauce.
Photo: facebook.com/TexasJoeTexMex

No. 9 Best Tacos: Texas Joe Tex-Mex Food Truck


Must-Try Taco: The beef brisket taco: The beef is braised for 12 hours and is topped with black beans, corn salsa, repollo, agave nectar, cotija cheese and homemade tomatillo sauce.
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No. 8 Best Tacos: Gomez Salsa 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills; 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Must-Try Taco: Try the chicken tacos Diablo Style: rice, pickled jalapeños, habanero hot sauce, Kowabunga salsa, lettuce and cheese.
Photo: Lindsay McCarty

No. 8 Best Tacos: Gomez Salsa

2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills; 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
Must-Try Taco: Try the chicken tacos Diablo Style: rice, pickled jalapeños, habanero hot sauce, Kowabunga salsa, lettuce and cheese.
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No. 7 Best Tacos: La Mexicana Restaurant 642 Monmouth St., Newport Must-Try Taco:If you’re looking to branch out your taco order, La Mexicana offers a variety of unique proteins, including beef tripe (edible stomach lining), beef tongue and sesos, which is veal brain. All tacos are served in soft corn tortillas with onion and cilantro. You can add cheese for a little extra.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 7 Best Tacos: La Mexicana Restaurant

642 Monmouth St., Newport
Must-Try Taco:If you’re looking to branch out your taco order, La Mexicana offers a variety of unique proteins, including beef tripe (edible stomach lining), beef tongue and sesos, which is veal brain. All tacos are served in soft corn tortillas with onion and cilantro. You can add cheese for a little extra.
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No. 6 Best Tacos: Tortilleria Garcia 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason Must-Try Taco: The carne asada (grilled steak) is one of Tortilleria Garcia’s most popular orders. It comes on a flour tortilla with your choice of toppings, including cheese, tomato, cilantro, guacamole and more.
Photo: Paige Deglow

No. 6 Best Tacos: Tortilleria Garcia

5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason
Must-Try Taco: The carne asada (grilled steak) is one of Tortilleria Garcia’s most popular orders. It comes on a flour tortilla with your choice of toppings, including cheese, tomato, cilantro, guacamole and more.
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No. 5 Best Tacos: Bakersfield 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Must-Try Taco: The Huitlacoche taco features corn truffle, roasted poblano, corn, onion, cotija cheese and cilantro.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 5 Best Tacos: Bakersfield

1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Must-Try Taco: The Huitlacoche taco features corn truffle, roasted poblano, corn, onion, cotija cheese and cilantro.
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No. 4 Best Tacos: OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez 302 W. 12th St., Covington Must-Try Taco: Birria Taco: A spicy beef stew on a grilled corn tortilla with cilantro and onion radish. Comes with a lime wedge and roja and verde salsas on the side.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger and Mary LeBus

No. 4 Best Tacos: OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez

302 W. 12th St., Covington
Must-Try Taco: Birria Taco: A spicy beef stew on a grilled corn tortilla with cilantro and onion radish. Comes with a lime wedge and roja and verde salsas on the side.
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No. 3 Best Tacos: Condado Tacos 195 E. Freedom Way, The Banks; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 7961 Kenwood Road, Kenwood; 7877 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township; 5070 Deerfield Blvd., Deerfield Township Must-Try Taco: Dado Supreme: A double-flour shell with bacon refried beans, ground beef, lettuce, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions, smoked cheddar, cilantro-lime aioli and Dirty Sauce.
Photo: Provided by Condado Tacos

No. 3 Best Tacos: Condado Tacos

195 E. Freedom Way, The Banks; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 7961 Kenwood Road, Kenwood; 7877 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township; 5070 Deerfield Blvd., Deerfield Township
Must-Try Taco: Dado Supreme: A double-flour shell with bacon refried beans, ground beef, lettuce, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions, smoked cheddar, cilantro-lime aioli and Dirty Sauce.
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No. 2 Best Tacos: Mazunte 5207 Madison Road, Madisonville; 611 Main St., Downtown Must-Try Taco: Order the Mixed Tacos so you can try a combination of Mazunte’s tacos. Pick three among chicken, chorizo, dorados (rolled and fried crispy with braised chicken), fish, pork, steak or veggies.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 2 Best Tacos: Mazunte

5207 Madison Road, Madisonville; 611 Main St., Downtown
Must-Try Taco: Order the Mixed Tacos so you can try a combination of Mazunte’s tacos. Pick three among chicken, chorizo, dorados (rolled and fried crispy with braised chicken), fish, pork, steak or veggies.
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No. 1 Best Tacos: Agave & Rye 635 Madison Ave., Covington; 3825 Edwards Road, Norwood; 7125 Fountain View Drive, Liberty Township; 339 Main St., Hamilton (coming soon) Must-Try Taco: For a little more traditional take, try The Alderman — carne asada, street corn salad, cotija cheese and spicy chile de arbol salsa. If you want the Agave & Rye experience, pick a taco with mac and cheese, like The Bomb — carne asada, chopped bourbon-poached shrimp, mac and cheese, A&R Spicy Chili & BBQ Jam and tobacco onions.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 1 Best Tacos: Agave & Rye

635 Madison Ave., Covington; 3825 Edwards Road, Norwood; 7125 Fountain View Drive, Liberty Township; 339 Main St., Hamilton (coming soon)
Must-Try Taco: For a little more traditional take, try The Alderman — carne asada, street corn salad, cotija cheese and spicy chile de arbol salsa. If you want the Agave & Rye experience, pick a taco with mac and cheese, like The Bomb — carne asada, chopped bourbon-poached shrimp, mac and cheese, A&R Spicy Chili & BBQ Jam and tobacco onions.
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