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A platter of five meat tacos arranged around fajita-style onions with ramekins of radish, pico de gallo, and lime.

18 the Tastiest Taco Destinations in New Orleans

Every day can be taco Tuesday at these winning spots

by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated Apr 19, 2023, 10:38am CDT

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by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated Apr 19, 2023, 10:38am CDT

Pacos Tacos

The taco is a perfect flavor delivery system. Encased in a corn or flour tortilla, stuffed with anything imaginable, and then dressed with spicy salsa, crisp onions, and refreshing cilantro, what’s not to like? New Orleans’s taco scene is currently thriving, with many chefs aiming for purist perfection and others stretching the dish’s definition, using the format to deliver all kinds of ingredient mash-ups. Here, Eater presents a wide-ranging line-up of some of New Orleans’s best corn and flour tacos, from bougie hotspots to longtime taco trucks.

If you’re looking for breakfast tacos specifically, see here.

Did we miss your favorite spot for tacos in New Orleans? Let us know.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Mawi NOLA

For the best Honduran-style tacos in town, look no further than Metairie’s Mawi NOLA, which also happens to supply their tortillas to many, if not most, of the restaurants in the area. Or try the birria tacos, as Mawi may have been one of the first local spots to serve them, served with a savory, fatty beef broth. Sometimes special breakfast tacos are on the menu.

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5050 W Esplanade Ave c, Metairie, LA 70006

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mawi Tortillas (@mawinola)

Also featured in:

Where to Find Delicious Breakfast Tacos and Burritos in New Orleans

Pacos Tacos of Metairie

This Metairie gem on Veterans makes no bones about it: If you don’t have a trompo, it’s not real deal al pastor. And Pacos Tacos does indeed have a trompo, a vertical rotating spit of seasoned meat which yields glistening ribbons of al pastor pork for tacos. Tacos come in all flavors and there’s margaritas and breakfast burritos too. Dine in or take out from 11 a.m. daily, open til 10 p.m. Friday and Saturdays.

4726 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70006

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La Patrona

Meat, cilantro, onions, fresh tortillas, salsa verde, and a squeeze of lime — simplicity shines with the tacos at this second restaurant from Edwin Alonzo and Veronica Cardona (their first, La Mansión, was a funky favorite on Dublin Street). Try the asado de puerco, a lesser-seen option, and favorites like the cochinita pibil and carnitas. 5 for $11 makes for a good deal.

575 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by La Patrona (@lapatronanola)

Also featured in:

Where to Satisfy a Craving for Mexican Food in and Around New Orleans

El Taco Loco

El Loco — now in a new location near Camellia Grill — is the real deal: deeply savory meats including lengua and tinga, and at last — super burritos that, even with add-on guacamole, come in well-priced. A pair of savory conchitas pibil (slow-roasted pork) tacos is a great idea — love that house salsa. Nachos, wings, margaritas, and beer. And yes, Jarritos sodas.

634 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

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Also featured in:

Where to Satisfy a Craving for Mexican Food in and Around New Orleans

Panchita's

Cozy, traditional, fresh — that about sums up Panchita’s Mexican Restaurant on Carrollton Uptown, just steps from Lebanon’s Cafe. This family-friendly homey spot offers Veracruz-style specialties marked by fresh tomato sauce with olives and capers, without the heat of chiles. Try the al pastor and asada tacos and anything with mole. Rock bottom prices.

Open in Google Maps

1434 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

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Also featured in:

Where to Satisfy a Craving for Mexican Food in and Around New Orleans

Loya's Mexican Restaurant

Loya’s is one of the best new Mexican restaurants in town —the family-run spot in Gert Town has excellent food, festive decor, and warm hospitality. Fiery salsa, freshly blended and served warm, and a huge menu hits the mark with tortas, chile relleno, tamales, and of course, tacos — the birria, lengua, and shrimp are all delicious.

Open in Google Maps

3102 Fern St, New Orleans, LA 70125

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Loya’s Mexican Restaurant (@loyasmexicanrestaurant)

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Vals

When he designed the menu at Vals, chef/partner Fredo Nogueira didn’t try to reinvent the taco. He distilled the best of Mexican street food into a compact lineup that includes a Baja-style fish taco, crisped beef belly, and a juicy green mole taco, each piled onto toothsome discs of corn. The garage-turned-taqueria on Freret is from the smart folks behind Cure and Cane and Table — so yes, the drinks are outstanding. Tons of covered outdoor space too so come rain or shine.

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

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Also featured in:

Taqueria Guerrero Mexico Inc

This Mid-City staple came on the heels of the post-Katrina taco trucks and remains one of the few genuine articles in town. As unpretentious as the decor, tacos here are without gimmicks and served street style with few ingredients centered around well-flavored meat, cilantro and onions. Barbacoa remains a best bet. Warning: the spicy salsa verde is addictive.

208 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Also featured in:

Barracuda

This unassuming hut with a big outdoor space on Tchoupitoulas Street is a gem, ideal for take out or patio seating. Try the mushroom taco for sure, and ask for extra salsa macha. The margarita garden is open for weather-protected outdoor dining and delicious fresh fruit drinks daily, lucky since it’s taken Uptown by storm. There’s also a Barracuda across the river in Algiers.

3984 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

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Also featured in:

Taqueria El Paraíso Food Truck

The love for Taqueria El Paraíso is simple: good food, fast service, and affordable prices. It’s also conveniently centrally located downtown, and offers an extensive array of taco fillings, including lengua, tripe, and cachete.

Open in Google Maps

2131 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Tacos & Beer

A convivial spot for tacos and margaritas on the Avenue, Tacos and Beer frrom Gilbert Valencia and family offers family meals to-go — 12 tacos, cheese dip and salsa for $20, with a nice choice of fillings. The carne asada has a nice crust to it, or try the barbacoa, shredded beef in red sauce. Fish tacos are available a la carte, offered battered or broiled.

1622 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Also featured in:

Pagoda Café

When they said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they were probably taking about the breakfast tacos at Pagoda. The tacos are served with refried beans, potatoes, egg, and cheese on a flour tortilla with a side of “Villa Arcos” hot sauce (very hot sauce). Corn tortillas available on request, plus diners can add bacon or turkey bacon, or substitute a tofu scramble for the eggs.

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

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Also featured in:

Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

Juan’s is beyond chill, a snappy taco joint with great margaritas and four locations around town and one in Pensacola. Family-friendly, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options, Juan’s brings local flavors into the mix with a Creole take on specialty dishes. Try the pulled pork and slaw or the blackened seasonal fish both on flour tortillas. The hard sell spicy chorizo tacos are addicting.

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

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Also featured in:

Johnny Sánchez

Step inside Johnny Sanchez on Poydras and it’s clear this isn’t your usual taco joint. Eye-popping art, modern lighting, and a sleek sophisticated vibe sets expectations high — and with good reason. Partner/chefs Johnny Sanchez and Miles Landrem deliver the goods, from tacos stuffed with albondigas, Aaron’s grandmother’s recipe, to crispy P&J oysters and fried cauliflower. Tacos are definitely on the pricier side here.

930 Poydras St Suite 101, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Tacos at Johnny Sánchez

Also featured in:

Espíritu

Tucked away on a side street in the Warehouse District, Espiritu Mezcaleria and Cocina is worth discovering on a few fronts. The restaurant offers modern, regional Mexican cuisine including tasty tacos, from crispy shrimp to Baja fish and a veggie forward sweet potato, best enjoyed with a trio of the housemade salsas. Then there’s the cocktail options — the restaurant’s co-owner Jason Mitzen is a master Mezcalier — and the bar is modeled after a Mexico City mezcaleria.

Open in Google Maps

520 Capdeville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Cauliflower taco

Also featured in:

Where to Satisfy a Craving for Mexican Food in and Around New Orleans

Taqueria Sanchez

Craving Mexican on the West Bank? Taqueria Sanchez is the spot to go, a tiny, bright roadhouse that greets diners as they hit Gretna. Try the carne asada tacos, a standout on the vast, affordable menu.

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46 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA 70053

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Also featured in:

Galaxie

Housed in a restored gas station on St. Claude Avenue, Galaxie offers bar area seating and a huge outdoor space. Choose from six taco options — the al pastor, fried fish, and veggie with white beans are particularly good, ranging between $3 and $5 per taco (birria tacos are sometimes on special). The kitchen takes it one step beyond house-made tortillas with its own masa machine used to grind corn from Oaxaca, a notable upgrade in both flavor and texture to the tacos and quesadillas.

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

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Also featured in:

Taqueira La Coyota (Multiple Locations)

One of the city’s best taco trucks is Taqueria la Coyota, which has been selling tortas, tacos, gorditas, pupusas, burritos, and quesadillas near the New Orleans-Arabi city line on Claiborne Avenue for years, long known for quality and affordability. There’s another truck on Chef Menteur Highway, and a newer one that sets up on St. Claude Avenue.

6021 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

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Mawi NOLA

5050 W Esplanade Ave c, Metairie, LA 70006

For the best Honduran-style tacos in town, look no further than Metairie’s Mawi NOLA, which also happens to supply their tortillas to many, if not most, of the restaurants in the area. Or try the birria tacos, as Mawi may have been one of the first local spots to serve them, served with a savory, fatty beef broth. Sometimes special breakfast tacos are on the menu.

Open in Google Maps

5050 W Esplanade Ave c, Metairie, LA 70006

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mawi Tortillas (@mawinola)

Pacos Tacos of Metairie

4726 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70006

This Metairie gem on Veterans makes no bones about it: If you don’t have a trompo, it’s not real deal al pastor. And Pacos Tacos does indeed have a trompo, a vertical rotating spit of seasoned meat which yields glistening ribbons of al pastor pork for tacos. Tacos come in all flavors and there’s margaritas and breakfast burritos too. Dine in or take out from 11 a.m. daily, open til 10 p.m. Friday and Saturdays.

4726 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70006

Visit Website

La Patrona

575 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Meat, cilantro, onions, fresh tortillas, salsa verde, and a squeeze of lime — simplicity shines with the tacos at this second restaurant from Edwin Alonzo and Veronica Cardona (their first, La Mansión, was a funky favorite on Dublin Street). Try the asado de puerco, a lesser-seen option, and favorites like the cochinita pibil and carnitas. 5 for $11 makes for a good deal.

575 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by La Patrona (@lapatronanola)

El Taco Loco

634 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

El Loco — now in a new location near Camellia Grill — is the real deal: deeply savory meats including lengua and tinga, and at last — super burritos that, even with add-on guacamole, come in well-priced. A pair of savory conchitas pibil (slow-roasted pork) tacos is a great idea — love that house salsa. Nachos, wings, margaritas, and beer. And yes, Jarritos sodas.

634 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Visit Website

Panchita's

1434 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Cozy, traditional, fresh — that about sums up Panchita’s Mexican Restaurant on Carrollton Uptown, just steps from Lebanon’s Cafe. This family-friendly homey spot offers Veracruz-style specialties marked by fresh tomato sauce with olives and capers, without the heat of chiles. Try the al pastor and asada tacos and anything with mole. Rock bottom prices.

Open in Google Maps

1434 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Visit Website

Loya's Mexican Restaurant

3102 Fern St, New Orleans, LA 70125

Loya’s is one of the best new Mexican restaurants in town —the family-run spot in Gert Town has excellent food, festive decor, and warm hospitality. Fiery salsa, freshly blended and served warm, and a huge menu hits the mark with tortas, chile relleno, tamales, and of course, tacos — the birria, lengua, and shrimp are all delicious.

Open in Google Maps

3102 Fern St, New Orleans, LA 70125

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Loya’s Mexican Restaurant (@loyasmexicanrestaurant)

Vals

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

When he designed the menu at Vals, chef/partner Fredo Nogueira didn’t try to reinvent the taco. He distilled the best of Mexican street food into a compact lineup that includes a Baja-style fish taco, crisped beef belly, and a juicy green mole taco, each piled onto toothsome discs of corn. The garage-turned-taqueria on Freret is from the smart folks behind Cure and Cane and Table — so yes, the drinks are outstanding. Tons of covered outdoor space too so come rain or shine.

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Visit Website

Taqueria Guerrero Mexico Inc

208 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

This Mid-City staple came on the heels of the post-Katrina taco trucks and remains one of the few genuine articles in town. As unpretentious as the decor, tacos here are without gimmicks and served street style with few ingredients centered around well-flavored meat, cilantro and onions. Barbacoa remains a best bet. Warning: the spicy salsa verde is addictive.

208 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Barracuda

3984 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

This unassuming hut with a big outdoor space on Tchoupitoulas Street is a gem, ideal for take out or patio seating. Try the mushroom taco for sure, and ask for extra salsa macha. The margarita garden is open for weather-protected outdoor dining and delicious fresh fruit drinks daily, lucky since it’s taken Uptown by storm. There’s also a Barracuda across the river in Algiers.

3984 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Visit Website

Taqueria El Paraíso Food Truck

2131 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112

The love for Taqueria El Paraíso is simple: good food, fast service, and affordable prices. It’s also conveniently centrally located downtown, and offers an extensive array of taco fillings, including lengua, tripe, and cachete.

Open in Google Maps

2131 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Tacos & Beer

1622 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

A convivial spot for tacos and margaritas on the Avenue, Tacos and Beer frrom Gilbert Valencia and family offers family meals to-go — 12 tacos, cheese dip and salsa for $20, with a nice choice of fillings. The carne asada has a nice crust to it, or try the barbacoa, shredded beef in red sauce. Fish tacos are available a la carte, offered battered or broiled.

1622 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Pagoda Café

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

When they said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they were probably taking about the breakfast tacos at Pagoda. The tacos are served with refried beans, potatoes, egg, and cheese on a flour tortilla with a side of “Villa Arcos” hot sauce (very hot sauce). Corn tortillas available on request, plus diners can add bacon or turkey bacon, or substitute a tofu scramble for the eggs.

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Juan’s is beyond chill, a snappy taco joint with great margaritas and four locations around town and one in Pensacola. Family-friendly, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options, Juan’s brings local flavors into the mix with a Creole take on specialty dishes. Try the pulled pork and slaw or the blackened seasonal fish both on flour tortillas. The hard sell spicy chorizo tacos are addicting.

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Johnny Sánchez

930 Poydras St Suite 101, New Orleans, LA 70112

Step inside Johnny Sanchez on Poydras and it’s clear this isn’t your usual taco joint. Eye-popping art, modern lighting, and a sleek sophisticated vibe sets expectations high — and with good reason. Partner/chefs Johnny Sanchez and Miles Landrem deliver the goods, from tacos stuffed with albondigas, Aaron’s grandmother’s recipe, to crispy P&J oysters and fried cauliflower. Tacos are definitely on the pricier side here.

930 Poydras St Suite 101, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Tacos at Johnny Sánchez

Espíritu

520 Capdeville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Tucked away on a side street in the Warehouse District, Espiritu Mezcaleria and Cocina is worth discovering on a few fronts. The restaurant offers modern, regional Mexican cuisine including tasty tacos, from crispy shrimp to Baja fish and a veggie forward sweet potato, best enjoyed with a trio of the housemade salsas. Then there’s the cocktail options — the restaurant’s co-owner Jason Mitzen is a master Mezcalier — and the bar is modeled after a Mexico City mezcaleria.

Open in Google Maps

520 Capdeville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Cauliflower taco

Related Maps

Taqueria Sanchez

46 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA 70053

Craving Mexican on the West Bank? Taqueria Sanchez is the spot to go, a tiny, bright roadhouse that greets diners as they hit Gretna. Try the carne asada tacos, a standout on the vast, affordable menu.

Open in Google Maps

46 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA 70053

Visit Website

Galaxie

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

Housed in a restored gas station on St. Claude Avenue, Galaxie offers bar area seating and a huge outdoor space. Choose from six taco options — the al pastor, fried fish, and veggie with white beans are particularly good, ranging between $3 and $5 per taco (birria tacos are sometimes on special). The kitchen takes it one step beyond house-made tortillas with its own masa machine used to grind corn from Oaxaca, a notable upgrade in both flavor and texture to the tacos and quesadillas.

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

Visit Website

Taqueira La Coyota (Multiple Locations)

6021 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

One of the city’s best taco trucks is Taqueria la Coyota, which has been selling tortas, tacos, gorditas, pupusas, burritos, and quesadillas near the New Orleans-Arabi city line on Claiborne Avenue for years, long known for quality and affordability. There’s another truck on Chef Menteur Highway, and a newer one that sets up on St. Claude Avenue.

6021 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

Related Maps