16 Top Spots for Tacos in VanPort
Tacos can be a savory, mouth-watering handheld that you gladly cock your head to one side in order to eat. It takes a bit of skill to get all of a taco in your mouth and not on your shirt. But it’s worth the effort. Lots of places serve tacos. But some are just OK…or mid, like the kids say. But these are the best ones:
1. Taquería Los Puñales
Portland – Central
Some of the best tacos I’ve had. They have 20 different types of tacos that are about 5 bucks each. I had Barbacoa Jalisco style, Buche and Adabado tacos. Chips & salsa ($5) and a Mango Agua Fresca drink ($5). The tacos are each fantastic with has it’s own distinct flavor. I really enjoyed the texture of the Jalisco style but the Adabado was my favorite. The mango drink was a perfect pairing. I like the chips but the salsa was just ok. I like their hot sauces better. But at $5 I will just have another taco instead. I should mention that they play EDM and it’s loud enough you have to speak up a bit to be heard. But I was able to resist the urge to jump up and salsa dance. Taquería Los Puñales is my new high watermark for tacos.
2. El Viejón Taquería
Vancouver – East
El Viejon is a quality Mexican food truck in a industrial park. Their ingredients are top-notch. They specialize in fish tacos but they have plenty of beef, pork and chicken as well. I’ve tried the carne asada, al pastor and quesabirria. I like the latter best. They have three salsa choices: Verde, rojo and habanero. The habanero is rather creamy and not super spicy. I like the rojo better. The truck is next door to Vice Beer and they have a relationship with them. You can sit inside the brewery. There’s also a nice outside patio. El Viejón is one of the more expensive tacos in VanPort but to be fair, their tacos have more meat than other places that charge less. I’ve tried their burrito. I like the tacos better.
3. Little Conejo
Vancouver – Downtown
Really good tacos. The tortillas are made fresh, and the meat is top quality. The decor and vibe are hip. $4.50+ per taco is steep but they’re packed with meat which makes it worth it. Keep in mind that the line at the counter gets long during peak hours.
INSIDER TIP: Sit at the bar and avoid the line. The bartender will take your food order as well. Street parking is catch-as-catch-can.
Speaking of the bar, as expected, they have a very good selection of tequila. Also they have liqueurs and mixers but mostly they just pour tequila neat. I haven’t found a margarita I’m fond of there yet.
4. El Coyote tacos
Vancouver – Downtown
El Coyote is a small eatery downtown Vancouver. They serve tacos, burritos, bowls and sides. Drinks are margaritas, bear, wine and soda. They have a small indoor dining area and picnic tables under an awning outside. Meat choices are carnitas, pork adobo pollo, carne asada. They also have a vegetarian taco. There’s two type of tacos: regular and specialty. I tried a few of each. The specialty are a lot more expensive. I think the regular ones are a better value. The meat they have is excellent quality and flavorful. El Coyote has some the best tacos in town. But they’re one of the most expensive too.
5. Birrieria PDX
Vancouver – East
Birrieria PDX is a cart in Oak Tree Station. They have some of the best tacos in VanPort. They’re meats are seasoned well and I like their sauces. Their habanero is spicy and flavorful. Combined together they make delicious tacos.
6. Santo Domingo Taqueria
Portland – NorthEast
Santo Domingo is a small eatery that serves excellent Mexican food including some of the best carnitas I’ve had at this writing. Their tacos are loaded with savory meat with a bit of tomato, onion, cilantro and guacamole. The texture and flavor of the carnitas in on point. The burritos are large for those with hungry appetites. Santo Domingo has indoor and outdoor seating. There’s three parking spots in the tiny lot in front. Otherwise there’s street parking.
7. Buen Apetito
Vancouver – Orchards
Buen Apetito is a really good Mexican cart with good prices. I tried three different tacos. Asada, carnitas and pastor. They were decent size and $2.75 each. I tried a bit of each one. I like the flavor of the asada and pastor better than the carnitas, but the texture of all three were very good. Once I added the red sauce, they all tasted fab. There’s also a coffee joint with a drive thru on the lot. Buen Apetito is a solid choice.
8. Los Bros Taco Shop
Vancouver – East
Los Bros is fast food but better than Baja Fresh and Muchas Gracias. Los Bros wins on price and quality. A carne asada taco at Muchas costs $4.69 and a whopping $5.99 at Baja. Los Bros is just $2.75! They have lots of protein choices for their tacos. I went with carne asada, al pastor, carnitas and shredded beef. The al pastor wins for the most flavor.
The machaca breakfast burrito is good. The sausage version is just ok. A huge win for me are their sauces. I’m a fan of the red. The green is for those that think ketchup is kind of spicy. It has zero heat. Another plus is that they’re open everyday at 6am…except Friday. You’d think Sunday, but hey! I’m happy to have a place open that early.
9. El Jefe Birria & Tacos
Vancouver – 3 Locations
El Jefe’s tacos are very good and higher quality than most other tacos at this price point ($2.75 currently). There’s several options for meat but their birria tacos have more flavor and are the clear winner.
10. Don Taco
Vancouver – West
The Carne asada and carnitas tacos are delicious. All have slight crispy edges on the meat which I really like. Don Taco has several salsa/ hot sauces to choose from. I like their red, which is their spiciest for the carne asada and carnitas. Their orange sauce has pineapple as an ingredient. It’s a great pairing with the al pastor. They have fresh-made tortillas which are wonderful. They also serve margaritas and other cocktails. The menu is extensive. There’s have plenty of parking.
11. La Catrina
Portland – Happy Valley
Really great taco truck. The asada and carnitas tacos are flavorful. They’re hot sauce has kick. Their service is a little slow. Be prepared to take some time. But it’s worth the wait.
12. La Cocina
Portland – North
Fab street style tacos. The carne asada meat is stellar quality. They have two sauces available a green- gringo, mild sauce….and a red/orange sauce that is legit! It’s spicy and flavorful.
13. Nuestra Cocina
Portland – Central
Delightful Mexican eatery with large roll-up doors that give the joint an outdoor cafe when weather permits,. Tacos are street size. Yummy but small. The chicken enchiladas look great. Chips and salsa cost $3.50. The habanero margarita is excellent.
14. Don Angel Taqueria
Vancouver – WestExcellent Mexican truck. I’ve tried four types of tacos: carne asada, carnitas, pastor, and birria. I like the carne asada and carnitas the best. The pastor burrito was good but I wish I would have chose asada. But the shining star are their breakfast burritos. I had a machaca with no potatoes. It’s the best I’ve had in the PNW. I’ve also tried the bacon breakfast burrito. I like the machaca much better. All in all an excellent truck to have in the neighborhood. It’s right next to a Dutch Bros. Decent amount of parking. PRO TIP: If you like spicy they have a red and creamy habanero sauces. Both are good but I think the habanero is more to my taste. I ordered a Mexican Coke in a bottle. I won’t do that again since it’s $4. My total bill came to $15 and some change.
15. Taqueria Don Jose
Vancouver- West
Taqueria Don Jose was a truck but now is a brick & mortar sit down restaurant. I’ve tried the carnitas, carne asada and Al pastor tacos. I liked the carnitas and Al pastor best.
The machaca breakfast burrito and the bacon breakfast burrito are very good too. Although I like Don Angel’s a bit better.
16. Super Taco Express
Vancouver – Hazel Dell
Super Taco is a no frills. They have a wide range of meats to choose from. Their al pastor is kind of lame, the carnitas is good but the winner is their carne asada. It’s quality beef and nicely seasoned. Their habanero sauce is on point. They have a few tables but most people just do take out. No website
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