On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Loading...
I don't understand why anyone would give this place less than 4 stars. Maybe it's because I went right after it opened on a Sunday morning when the staff is energetic and the food is fresh, but this was amazing.
The corn tortillas are the BEST and their beans tasted so authentic! The tacos were super stuffed full of filling and piping hot. The potatoes were perfectly cooked and the salsa had tons of flavor (although short on heat). Oh and the coffee was even pretty darn good! In addition, we found the servers to be polite and patient and we only had to wait about 10 minutes (even though it was right after opening).
Definitely swing by here when you're craving some delicious breakfast taco action. And did I mention 6 tacos, an orange juice and a coffee for just $15?
Decent.
Sorry guys, but how can they claim to have the best taco in America? Give me a break. Even taco trucks in LA are better than the tacos I had here.
I'm not trying to slam the place because I definitely enjoyed my meal there, but if you're going to have a banner outside that says "BEST TACO IN AMERICA" then you better be ready to provide some serious eats.
I had a few breakfast tacos and tried some of my girlfriends beef tacos. Like I said, I enjoyed them and I'd recommend trying the place out, but it is far from "the best" of anything.
Callin it like I see it! Sorry!
Don't believe the hype. You can make better breakfast tacos at home. I LOVE breakfast tacos and had been lead here by multiple reviews and comments and the awards. I expected something unique or flavorful or whatever.
Bland. Boring.
I do not recommend.
The saying small but mighty really comes to life in this taco joint easy to find off San Pedro which runs through the heart of the city this tiny taco house can get very packed especially on sunday mornings so get there early before the line is out the door the eggs are superb and tortillas are fresh and hot but don't expect to sit and chat on a weekend this is a get in get out taco place and on a rare cold day count this cozy place to warm your spirits with a big bowl of soup (caldo) the staff is friendly and prompt and the owner stalks around some times greeting the customers. All in all though you maybe be crowded it just means your closer to your taco and that can be a very good thing.
Here it is - the BEST TACO IN AMERICA, as so many news sources would like you to believe. Don't get me wrong - I'm happy that a local San Antonio spot is getting mainstream recognition and prospering because of it, but with dozens of awards to their name, they either have a vastly superior product, or the happy recipient of attention from exaggerating editors. I intended to find out.
To build up to the best taco in the history of the universe (to paraphrase the growing general opinion), I think it's necessary to break down the elements of the taco to their ingredients. Compositions vary significantly, but to me, the typical taco consists of a fried tortilla shell, meat, and a smattering of lettuce and tomato to provide a bit of contrast to the former ingredients. Everything else is optional. Now, event though there are only four ingredients in a barebones taco, there are still plenty of pitfalls to which Mexican restaurants can fall victim. Here's some mistakes I've seen at other restaurants:
-Tortillas that aren't fresh (not necessarily created in-house, but procured locally)
-Bland meat
-Poor meat-vegetation ratio
-Vegetation that's past its prime
The latter two are easily-corrected problems, but many get tripped up with the seasoning of the meat and the freshness of the tortilla. Taco Taco has plenty of fresh tortillas, and they're of the soft, almost bread-like quality that I've seen at a few other places, notably Picante Grill a couple of miles down the road. With regards to the fry job on said tortillas, I was not impressed as the puffy tacos I received were falling apart before they made the twenty foot journey from the grill to my table. I suppose it's my own fault for not ordering a traditional hard shell taco, but it also says something about the juiciness of the chicken which filled my taco in a very good way. My eating companion who stuck to the hard shell did not appear to be suffering from the same problems as me. The meat was well-seasoned, thus solidifying Taco Taco's understanding of all core concepts of a good taco.
The rice and beans of a traditional Mexican plate is not something I particularly look forward to because even when done correctly they're pretty ordinary. Happily, the rice was light and fluffy with an addition of carrot that I've seen at other restaurants. Paloma Blanca comes to mind, again a couple miles down the road from Taco Taco. The beans were as ordinary as ever.
Traditional Mexican food is not something that requires a lot of culinary skill or money to accomplish, which is why I've seen components of this restaurant during my visits to other Mexican joints, though the fact that Taco Taco manages to do so many of things right under one roof is not without merit. I doubt Food Network and Bon Appetit actually went to the trouble of sampling every taco in America and arrived at Taco Taco's as the best taco - what probably happened is they picked a handful of spots that have a strong local following and narrowed it down from there. Taco Taco does have a very large collection of local fans, with the readers of the San Antonio Express News rating them the best breakfast tacos every year since 2001, not to mention another half dozen fan favorite awards. If I was Taco Taco, I would be more proud of those awards than what the Food Network thinks.
Food - 5/5
Service - 3/5
Price - 4/5
Atmosphere - 4/5
Best Dish: Barbacoa Taco
Simply the best barbacoa meat you will ever taste. The chips are stale, the plates are not great, but when you take a bite into the barbacoa, none of that will even matter. FYI, the barbacoa taco is only available on Saturdays and Sundays.
We love Taco Taco on Saturday mornings. It has one some national awards but the best part of the meal is their tortillas. Big, fluffy tortillas stuffed with awesome ingredients. Get there early as you will stand outside waiting for a seat.
We went only after Bon Appetit rated it "Best Taco in America" last year (although I've passed it many times). It's good and definitely holds its own when it comes to great tacos. What sets it apart:
1. The meat - it's high quality, seasoned and cooked perfectly (so many taco joints have greasy meat that you can't tell if it's even real meat or what type it is)
2. Portions - the tacos are stuffed with enough love and goodness to make two tacos. So, if you wanted to save money or eat less, get one taco and order an extra tortilla
3 Authentic - especially since I think I remember reading a Greek immigrant owns the joint
4. Selection - any taco or Texas/Mexican dish is here. Get the chilaquiles and carne guisada.
I saw this place on the Food Network as the best tacos in America. I've gone to South Beach Bar and Grill in San Diego, which was rated number 2 and I wanted to give the #1 King a shot. The food was good. I tried the norteno and it was really good. I thought it put a good spin on tacos.
The thing that I guess I had a problem with was the owner of the joint. I've gone to places where they didn't allow photography in the restaurants due to copyright but this place was pretty over the top. I didn't see any signs outside saying no photography and I like taking pictures of food places to add to my yelp reviews. Anyhow, the owner caught me taking a picture with my camera and asked me not to take any because it was prohibited. That's totally cool, I'm ok with that but afterwards, the guy seriously made it seem like I was a criminal in his own restaurant. All he had to do was ask that I delete the picture and let me enjoy but he kept looking over. A person in my party left to go fill up gas in the car at the station next door as we paid and the owner walked outside to get the license plate number of the car. Seriously? I get and respect people's wishes if they don't want anything in their store to be documented. I've had other restaurant owners politely ask me to not shoot around and I've happily obliged to that. I can understand. The only thing is that the owner here totally made the experience uncomfortable and made it seem like we were criminals. All he had to do was ask politely or ask that the picture to be deleted and let us enjoy the food.
It totally made it uncomfortable and ruined the whole experience. The food here is good, don't get me wrong but the owner really dogged out on making me as the customer feel welcomed when all he could have done was politely and it would have all been over with. Anyways, the picture is deleted so you won't see anything from me again.
This was pretty dissappointing considering Food Network declared them the "Best tacos in America." The breakfast tacos that I had were understuffed and cold. I asked for corn tortillas and they gave me flour. In general the tacos were mediocre. Service was slow. I still prefer Las Palapas.
Good food, less than stellar service.
Our drinks were forgotten about and never refilled. My tortillas were served at the END of my meal instead of WITH my meal which made for an uneventful chorizo mexicano.
Overall, I'd go back if I were in the area but I don't think I'll make the effort to go back just for that restaurant.
The waitstaff must pull out all the stops when the food critics go out there. I'm a little bitter that I didn't get the best tacos in the US.
This place is ridiculously overrated,without even getting into the cramped space, long wait & mediocre service.
If you'd never had a breakfast taco & went to Taco Taco, I could see how this place could blow your mind. But only because it's the place that introduces you to the beauty of eggs & potatoes on a tortilla. I've had many a breakfast tacos and these just aren't that good. They're dry, the potatoes aren't very well spiced and the staff seemed to frown on different combinations of toppings.
Taco Taco's food is GOOD, but frankly I think the hype is a little ridiculous. Let's get real -- San Antonio has tasty tacos like ships have rats. I'm not standing in line (outdoors) for a taco in what is for all intents and purposes the Taco Capitol of the universe.
There is a reason why this small hole-in-the-wall restaurant plays up the reputation Food Network bestowed upon it as "The Best Tacos In America" simply because, well, it produces the best tacos in America. Homemade tortillas, savory salsa, and decent lunch-plate prices. But we all know the best kept secret here are the breakfast tacos. People will go out of their way in the rush-hour morning-traffic just to grab one. And who can blame them? Just typing about it makes me want one right now.
The only problem is the parking. Parking lot is smaller than the inside this diner-esque restaurant, and I've seen one too many traffic accidents as people blindly back out of the lot into the busy intersection of Hildebrand & McCullough (my advice is to always park behind it -- at the service station next door, or along the backstreet Ridgewood Ct)
Taco Taco, how i miss you. And your huge breakfast tacos. I don't really like cheesiness in my tacos, but Taco Taco makes their cheesy level perfect. There is nothing like waking yourself up with their egg, cheese, avocado, bean, and steak (when I used to eat meat..cough) wrapped in the warm softness that is tortilla. Mmmmm.
*Weekend mornings (and when I say morning I mean college kid morning from 11AM-1PM) are crowded in this itty bitty cafe.
So good they named it twice! Well, whether they were making a point or got the idea while drinking and watching that old Little Caesars commercial, the tacos are truly good. If you're from out of town, this would be a neat "San Antonio" experience for you if you have the time. A note on time: for you home-gamers out there, this place was enjoyed by the locals until it was reviewed by Texas Monthly, the Food Network, etc. which explains why lately you can expect a wait at most times of the day and why you might need to park creatively (try E Ridgewood just behind the restaurant). But the tacos are good and they won't mind sharing so salud!
Some good standards are the Fiesta taco, Migas taco, shredded chicken taco, bean, egg & cheese taco, and the Taco Norteno which has steadily increased in price with its recent media coverage. Yes, the coffee is old-school, there might be a line, sodas come by the can, and you might have to remind your busy waitress to bring chips. But suck it up, it's a taco diner and it's really good. If you're pressed for time, get there early (or on a weekday) or bypass the line by calling in a to-go order. Also, groups larger than four are not an efficient idea.
As a patron of 6+ years, my suggestion to really enjoy this place is to stick to the tacos. I mean, that is the name of the place...
The tacos are good but not great - this place is seriously overrated. If you want the best breakfast tacos in town, try Lisa's Mexican Restaurant - the tortillas are thicker, the food is better, and you rarely have to wait in line.
P.S. I really HATE that Taco Taco serves it's fresh salsa in Styrofoam cups! Can you say "nonbiodegradable"?? As I already suggested to them on their website, why don't they just refill those tins cups they leave on the table w/ fresh salsa for every customer!! GRRR.
Best Taco joint in SA. Expand! Wait a second, don't. Worth waiting if u have to. I'm not the type that likes to wait.
I've definitely had better Mexican food and tacos for sure.
Granted the tortillas are devine! They are akin to Taco Cabana tacos, except larger.
I will definitely get breakfast if I'm ever in there again, especially since they are only open until 2 p.m. and breakfast is served the whole time. My party of six agreed that most of the items needed salt/seasoning, especially the salsa and lunch items.
The breakfast items ordered looked great. But, I'll pit Trudy's migas against anyones in the world!
Our waitress was super sweet and very patient with us first-timers. If you go to the restroom--you might want to wait until you find a port-a-potty. It will probably be the same type of cleanliness and about 100 degrees cooler!
Seating is a challenge.
This place is exactly what it should be: an awesome taco joint. Fresh tortillas, great breakfast tacos, killer carne guisada. I dig on this place man. I felt pretty touristy pulling up here when I only came here cuz I saw it on the food network. But it has a very cool vibe. It is so freakin cheap, they could easily double thier prices and stay busy. Some of the best tortillas I have ever had. Best tacos in America? Hmmm...that's surely a matter of opinion, but I sure liked 'em!
Best tacos in San Antonio. We live around the corner and eat there every weekend. The tortillas are wonderful. Beware, you will have to wait outside but it is worth it.
Try the barbacoa and the chorizo and egg. You can also call in your order for pick up which is a lot easier.
ok... i'm debating to put 4 or 5 stars behind this name. This place is pretty awesome. The only down side is they close pretty early. (well I guess it's a breakfast taco place). BUt none the less. :) Awesome!!! HA HA This place was on the food channel none the less. -.-The servicing size is texas size. THey come in a timely manner and it's... CHEAP... I think one taco was enough for me. I forget. I just remember feeling good when I went there. :) Try their main taco called El... I forget what it was called. El... something. The server should know.
Good taco hole in the wall. Mediocre salsa.
I rated this place so low mainly because I had such high expectations. It's won awards in so many places (best taco in america? srsly?) and honestly, I just didn't see it. It was packed so either other people were first timers as well or some people really like it. I went with three other friends and we all ordered different things. They ordered various types of breakfast tacos and I ordered their "special," the Norteno. I was going to get it with a bacon egg and cheese breakfast taco (my favorite combo) but the lady told me not to get anything else because the Norteno was big.
So, the food came, and yes the Norteno was big. Not only was it nothing to write home about, but I actually thought it was bad. It was a large flour tortilla (didn't taste especially tasty like I expect freshly made tortillas to) filled with regular old refried beans, semi-tough beef fajita steak, some avocado slices, and some cheese, then folded in half and put on the grill. It was grilled too much, black in some places, and the whole thing on one side was crispy as a chip. It was uninspired, and I felt like I could have made something better in my sleep (I am not a good cook). I had a bite of the other tacos and although their smaller tortillas were better than my big one (probably because they didn't burn them) they were nothing special either. There are SOOOO many other taco places in SA/Texas/America (hell, even Taco Cabana) that make better tacos so I REALLY don't understand how this place won the award.
The only benefit of the doubt I'll give is when I was reading reviews of the place before we went, I noticed that most of the good reviews were awhile back and then people started complaining about owner or management change, or some kind of other change, and the reviews were not as good after that. So maybe that's the reason, but whatever the case, I don't plan on ever going back.
We were in San Antonio this past weekend for a friends wedding and upon arriving at our hotel, perused the "San Antonio" magazine in our room.
Hubby found a great review about a popular place called "Taco Taco" that had received rave reviews from Bon Appetit magazine as well as the Food Network. I'm usually quite skeptical about reviews in magazine (I much more trust my fellow yelpers!), but I have to say ... this place did NOT disappoint.
Located in a small building without any distinguishing characteristics, the line forms along the side of the building. At first we were thinking - "this better be worth waiting for" ... but after being seated quickly (I recommend going as a group of 2 cuz the wait is shorter) we were NOT disappointed!!
The tacos were tremendous (in fact we went back the next day on our way to Austin), the service was stellar ... and the salsa rocks. OH and the prices can't be beat. Seriously -- $11 for four tacos and 2 coffees?
Can someone PLEASE open a breakfast taco place in Portland?
One crowded room. Cheap delicious food. Giant glasses of iced tea. A couple of tacos filled me up, but there are larger meals for those with a big appetite.
I went to Taco Taco at least once a month while going to Trinity University.
You won't wait long for a table or your food to come. There is a small parking lot on the side of the building.
This place is definitely over-rated. The tacos were good but not amazing. We waited outside for about 10 minutes but were then seated (as expected, it was packed). Our waitress was friendly and pretty cool, actually. All five of us ordered the taco norteno...it was ok but I got the chicken and got a few rubbery/fatty pieces. Ew...
The salsa was kinda tasteless...we added salt to it and it tasted much better. The waitress brought over a "special" salsa that apparently the waitresses make. That was much tastier. We also got a few other tacos that no one seemed wowed by. the flour tortillas on the tacos were good.
What we did REALLY enjoy, however, were the sopapillas. DELICIOUS! I'm from New Mexico so I'm used to soft, pillowy sop's but these were crispier. I'm happy to say that the taste didn't suffer at all. They were amazing. All in all, what we liked best was the waitress and the sopapillas. Sadly, what we liked least were the tacos.
I was lucky enough to go to school at Trinity University, which is only a few blocks away. I discovered this place pretty early on in my career there as it has obtained legendary status with the student body. Its great for a hearty breakfast after a night of college debauchery. Though the norteno gets most of the attention from the national media, for me the chilaquiles (scrambled eggs with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, tortilla strips and cheese, known as migas in other parts of the country) are where its at, but everyone pretty much has their own favorites.
The place is small, kinda dirty, and about as unpretentious as it gets. Since its gotten its recent national attention, weekends can get pretty crazy, but thats part of the fun. Luckily, i don't see this place changing because of their recent exposure. The wait staff consists of super nice older ladies that just want to make you happy. Chips and salsa are free, coffee gets free refills. This is about as perfect as things get for breakfast tacos. Believe the hype, this place is the real deal.
I definitely dont like mexican food,but this place is pretty good,and the people I went with were impressed.Not liking mexican I got 2 tacos and a quesadilla.The bread was all made right then,so the taco shells and quesadilla bread was awesomeThe salsa was really good too,i put it on my quesadillas.I took a star cause they only had coke to drink,I hate coke.And of course the line to get in,but it was worth it!
Ah, what can one say about Taco Taco?
Its a Trinity University staple. The service is fast, the foods cheap and good! To be honest, the place looks rather shoddy, but thats part of the eclectic charm. Besides, the crowd never lies. I have never once been there and seen it empty. Thats truly a testament to the quality.
The best part? Fresh hand made tortillas and salsa! This stuff is a god-send for poor university student. The place has a sort of frenetic energy that just keeps people coming back. Highly, highly recommended!
Definitely get the Chilaquiles tacos. They're basically migas with a cooler name.
EDITED 5/04/2008: Just a tip for seating. If you want to go, go early or around 1pm. Nobody wants to wake up at 6 for tacos, and the lunch crowd tapers off around 1 ish.
I read about this place in Bon Appetit magazine as perhaps the best tacos in the country. We went here and had a bunch of tacos including The Norteno, Carne Guisada, Chicharron, and Chilaquiles. All were excellent, with the second-best tortillas I've ever had. In particular the Carne Guisada and Chilaquiles were amazingly good. The famous Norteno was not as amazing, and the Chicharron taco takes getting used to as I was mistakenly expecting them to be fried.
Believe the hype, and beware that they close at 2PM.
This place is everything I love about San Antonio. The food is cheap, tasty, and pretty authentic Mexican. Not the gimmicky/fakey mexican food with a way-too-expensive menu and drinks. This is a small, family run type place that's not that pretty inside but its the food that counts. They don't come and wait on your tables, they don't walk around offering you refills on your chips and drinks (which are pretty limited in variety), and the line is always at least 20-30 minutes long. When you finally get in and order, the food is fast and so awesomely tasty. Reminded me of the food mom used to make. If a real mexican thinks its authentic, you should at least try it.
The corn and flour tortillas are simply outstanding. The atmosphere is so local dive diner that it is worth stopping in and the prices won't impede you. The huevos rancheros were just ok, a bit too liquidy in their textureless mess with the sunny-side up option so I was not too impressed. It did taste better with two chilis cut up in chunks scattered over the concoction. The coffee is old-style american diner. The line moves quickly (queue up outside and they'll come to you) but you'll have a harder time if you are in a large group.
Amazing tacos! they really are one of the best, with the banner outside with recognition from Food Network and Bon Appetit magazine.
Inside, it's a diner-style setting; we came here for breakfast tacos. Our waitress was very kind and answered out questions about what each of different Spanish names of the tacos meant--we had one with dried beef and pico de gallo (Chilaquiles Taco), and another had pieces of tortilla chips (Machacado & Egg) in it too. (forgot the names already).
What makes these tacos so great, is the tortilla is freshly made every day. You can tell immediately b/c it's so soft and has a bit of thickness and satisfying chewiness to it. It pulls apart in an uneven and natural way. Wow I could eat tortillas all day if they made them like that everywhere! Their egg filling is so fluffy too, but not artificial or with gross butter taste like a lot of eggs.
I would definitely come here again the next time I'm in San Antonio. Also really good priced, our bill was for 4 tacos, hot tea, and OJ was about $12 for two ppl.
I am now a believer in good tacos! I was leery about a breakfast taco, we have breakfast burritos in CA more often. The tortillas taste like mom's homemade off the grill, filled with chorizo, eggs and potatoes. Their salsa is tasty too. I wondered how filling could a couple of tacos be? Pretty darned filling. Hope to find time to come here again before I have to return home. Best honest food I've found in San Antonio yet.
Where else can you feel so grossly full off of 2 tacos? Come early to get a table.
my stubborn streak had me avoiding breakfast tacos for one whole year...somehow the idea of hard shell taco from 'taco bell' for breakfast just didn't inspire me... i was so wrong. this is one time ignorance isn't blissful.
this is one place where breakfast is cheap and delicious. the tortilla, not hard shell taco was amazing. so... despite my stubborness, it is safe to say that i can change. thought it is just one slow painstaking process. btw, the service was great; the coffee and water refill kept on coming.
These are definitely the best breakfast tacos I ever had! The tortillas are PERFECT; they're warm and floury and just melt in your mouth. I got a potato, egg, and cheese and a bean and cheese taco and wow, I sort of wish I got more. All of the ingredients were fresh and I'm glad they didn't overload on the cheese. I loved the huge glass of iced tea I got, too. I have to go here again before I graduate! The only problem is that they're not open past 2 pm (or so I heard). Otherwise, this is taco heaven.
I took away a star only because they were out of half of their sodas, the special sauteed beans, the hours are only 7am to 2pm, and the line was long. The puffy tacos were a novelty for me, so me being a mexican food junkie, I loved them. I love the texture of the puffy taco, but I wish the meat had more seasoning. The service was good and I will definitely go back next time I'm in town.
I was visiting my sister at Trinity and she hadn't been to Taco Taco and wanted to go...so Saturday morning we headed down there...I love walking and we could walk there from campus. The tacos were amazing and the service was even more amazing!! You could pretty much have any breakfast taco you could imagine. The food was yummy...I can't even imagine how good they would have been if we were hungover. I think I'll have to pretend like I'm still in college and visit my sister again!
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: Italian
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
When i was a student at Trinity University in San…
I had some time off of school this weekend and we…
