There’s a wide array of taco styles that isn’t reflected on the menu of a standard taco truck. We compiled a top taco list that spans the entire Bay Area. Whether you’re looking for a chorizo and octopus taco in the South Bay or a birria taco in San Francisco, we’ve got you covered.
Our Favorite Seafood Tacos
North Bay
El Molino Central is known for their beer-battered fish tacos topped with radish, salsa de árbol, and avocado-lime mayonnaise.
San Francisco
Hook Fish Co slings petrale sole, black cod, and halibut tacos. Splurge for the baja style.
East Bay
Cholita Linda is an Oakland restaurant specializing in Mexican street food. They also have locations in Alameda, SF, and Walnut Creek. Their baja fish tacos are one of our favorites across the bay thanks to their crispy batter and smoky salsa roja.
South Bay
Pre-Hispanic Mexican Cuisine is a San Jose food truck with a chorizo and octopus taco served on a layer of crispy cheese.
Our Favorite Steamed Tacos
East Bay
El Tacostao is an Oakland home-based restaurant that offers specific cuts of cabeza like cheek, lips, and brain.
Peninsula
Tacos Al Vapor Nueva Italia is a San Mateo restaurant with great cheek and tongue tacos. They also have non-steamed tacos filled with tripa, tilapia, and chicharron.
South Bay
Tacos El Guero is a San Jose food truck that specializes in steamed cabeza, ojo, and al pastor tacos. Pro tip: if you order al pastor, ask for a slice of pineapple on top.
Our Favorite Offal Tacos
San Francisco
La Taqueria in the Mission District is famous for their burritos, but their carne asada quesadillas are underrated. Make sure to ask to get your burritos dorados to get them crisped on the plancha.
Peninsula
The menu at El Paisa by Los Alegres in Redwood City features carne asada and al pastor tacos and burritos.
South Bay
Tacos Los 3 Reyes in San Jose boasts exceptional tripa, lengua, and buche. Wash it down with an agua fresca.
Our Favorite Al Pastor Taco
San Francisco
Al Pastor Papi posts up at Presidio on Wednesday and Saturday. You can also find them regularly at Off the Grid events. Don’t miss their crispy queso al pastor taco.
South Bay
Tacos El Chilanguito is a San Jose food truck that serves their al pastor in tortas and gringas — a quesadilla with pineapple slices.
Our Favorite Crispy Tacos
East Bay
Cenaduria Elvira is an Oakland home-based restaurant with incredible fried tacos. Choose between fillings of beans, potato, shredded meat, rajas, ricotta, or chicken.
San Francisco
Nick’s Crispy Tacos is a San Francisco institution that specializes in crisping tortillas. Order your tacos Nick’s Way to get a crispy tortilla loaded with cheese and guacamole. You can find them sold at any Underdogs location.
South Bay
El Papucho is a San Jose restaurant that offers Mexican specialties like flautas, pupusas, tamales, and churros. Their crispy tacos are available in chicken, pork, potato, or beef.
Our Favorite Fusion Tacos
San Francisco
Señor Sisig fuses Filipino and Mexican flavors into their sweet cured tocino tacos served on a corn tortilla slathered with a cilantro cream sauce.
East Bay
Belly is an Oakland taqueria with a menu influenced by the cuisine of Korea, Japan, and the American Southwest.
South Bay
Barya Kitchen excels at melding the flavors between Filipino and Mexican cuisine. Their pork belly taco has aromatic bell peppers, onions, and cilantro.
Our Favorite Birria Taco
East Bay
El Garage is a Richmond restaurant known for their unique exceptional birria served as a grilled cheese, burrito, or taco.
San Francisco
La Vaca Birria is a San Francisco restaurant known for their tender, flavorful birria. They don’t take shortcuts and they make everything from scratch.
South Bay
Con Sabor a Mexico is a San Jose restaurant that went viral for their giant birria taco. Try their birria scooped over fries, nachos, or instant ramen.
Our Favorite Vegetarian Taco
East Bay
Tacos Oscar is an Oakland restaurant with tacos de papa loaded with crispy potatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, and a mayo made from morita chiles.
San Francisco
Tacos La Venganza has a vegetarian menu offering vegetarian Mexican classics such as mushroom carnitas, beet chorizo, and almond queso fresco.
South Bay
El Halal Amigos is a San Jose taco spot that serves sweet potato & crispy kale tacos paired with a vegan chipotle mayo.
