The best way to absorb the entire list is to pick up a copy of the November 2024 issue of Texas Monthly with its heavy matte cover stock for a touch of grit. This issue, adorned with a cover-girl-status conejito pibil taco from Elemi, can likely be found at the magazine rack at your grocery store. The top 50 taco layout is consumable and inspiring.
Thankfully, for Dallasites, there are plenty of great tacos nearby. We knew this, but we always love the affirmation.
The top 10 tacos are ranked; the remaining 40 are listed by city. Two of the top 10 are in Dallas. (For the taco curious, No. 1 is Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission. The prized taco there is the chile relleno.)
Revolver Taco Lounge is a family-run business.
EMayne
Maskaras Mexican Grill on Kiest Boulevard (also in our Top 100 Restaurants) in Oak Cliff landed at No. 9 on the list with its Tacos Ahogados GDL. This colorful restaurant is decked in lucha libre (wrestling) memorabilia. Ralat writes about "gems such as tacos ahogados: carnitas-filled corn tortillas folded and deep fried before being submersed in a mild salsa."
Others on the list — but not ranked in the top 10 — include El Come Taco in Old East Dallas, another on our Top 100, for the cabeza a la casa. When you go (and you should) be sure to check out the adjoining speakeasy, La Viuda Negra, tucked behind a bridal shop next door.
The pop-up Molino Oloyo is also on the list for its wagyu suadero that, as Ralat writes, "alternates between sweetness, tanginess and spice."
Resident Taqueria's (also on our Top 100) caramelized cauliflower is noted for its "strips of kale winding through the [cauliflower] florets, topped with pepitas and an herbaceous epazote aioli and served on a fresh airy flour tortilla." (We recently chatted with chef Andrew Savoie about the dining industry and his favorite local chef.)
Fort Worth's Don Artemios made the list for its nopalitos fritos taco made with thin strips of cactus deep-fried and mixed with bacon. It captured Ralat's heart and stomach.
Zavala's Barbecue's Sloppy Juan is an everyman's taco, and it makes our hearts happy that it made the top 50. Here, a mix of brisket trimmings and pulled pork is wrapped in a flour tortilla — nothing like what Mom used to make. But at only $7, it's a steal at this stellar barbecue spot (that also happens to be on our Top 100).
Vaquero's Texas Bar-B-Que in Grapevine made the list for its Thursday night special: tlaquepaque, a corn tortilla packed with barbacoa. We're excited about the brick-and-mortar Vaquero's is working on, even though it's in Allen. Follow their Taco Night Instagram account for the scoop.
