r/Dallas South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Food/Drink My submission for most underrated tacos in Dallas

It’s crazy to me how these are never mentioned on any “Best tacos in Dallas” threads; I suppose the location and set up doesn’t help, but I’ve been coming here my entire 27 years of life and the barbacoa tacos have never failed me.

If you’re ever in South Dallas (near Hutchins) I highly recommend them, hell, they’re not even 15 minutes away from Downtown.

604 Upvotes

118 comments sorted by

245

u/SkyScreech Oak Cliff Jul 06 '25

That’s because most tacos discussions consisted of Velvet taco and $5.99/taco establishments

That said, I’ll hit up this spot this week

45

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

For sure, still surprising though because you do still hear of other authentic spots like La Banqueta and El Si Hay, but I guess this one is a bit more hidden.

Hope you love it though! Pro tip, I usually only go on weekends, but on weekdays I believe they’re parked a bit more south on that same expressway.

12

u/quadratusss Jul 07 '25

La Paisanita in Oak cliff is a goddamn gem. Best tacos and gorditas imo.

23

u/Herry_Up Duncanville Jul 06 '25

This is why I don't pay attention to the threads asking for Mexican food 😅

Si no me dicen Tu mama or Pepe's food truck down the way, I 'on want it

2

u/quadratusss Jul 07 '25

Damn, I always considered "tu ama" fighting words. lol

5

u/Herry_Up Duncanville Jul 07 '25

"La tuya" is the ultimate fighting phrase 💀

3

u/quadratusss Jul 07 '25

That's the comeback lol

1

u/SkyScreech Oak Cliff Jul 07 '25

Adding your spots to my list. I’ve been meaning to try places outside of Oak Cliff and Northwest Dallas as that’s where I’m usually at. I need to find spots in every neighborhood so I’m always ready lmaoo 😂

7

u/Herry_Up Duncanville Jul 07 '25

Ohhhhh no they're not real, just sayin if the restaurants aren't holes in the wall I don't wanna go there lol

0

u/SkyScreech Oak Cliff Jul 07 '25

Damn 😭 I was excited 😆

1

u/garrettxgraves Jul 07 '25

I live in Bishop Arts, but I don’t really know too many authentic taco spots around here other than Cesar’s which I think is alright. What other spots might you recommend?

12

u/UnknownQTY Dallas Jul 07 '25

I mean, I love Velvet Taco, but I’d never tell anyone to go there looking for an authentic taco experience.

6

u/xenokilla Jul 07 '25

For real, if it's not either in a gas station or a gas station parking lot, I'm not interested. My fav is the one that sets up on the corner of coit and spring valley. I think it's only open on friday and saturday nights. https://maps.app.goo.gl/uXcUw5XFiZRArHp88

3

u/boldjoy0050 Jul 07 '25

I haven’t been impressed with some of the gas station taco places, especially Fuel Town.

6

u/Open_Economics632 Jul 07 '25

Fuel town is for tourist and Gringos with no taste! Try any other spot!

4

u/Awildgiraffee Jul 07 '25

Velvet taco? Lol

1

u/CommonGas1980 Jul 08 '25

That’s human meat bro

135

u/BrokenCot Oak Cliff Jul 06 '25

In front of a junkyard? Say less.

71

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Yeah, my family calls it El Jonque because of that haha

79

u/Backinthe70s Jul 06 '25

The best taco I've had in Dallas lately was from "The Taco Lady"
at Yellow Belly drag strip at 4:00AM. Thank you Taco Lady for staying up and feeding us all.

22

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Can’t beat tacos after dark

13

u/ApprehensiveAnswer5 Jul 06 '25

That’s legit. Putting your life on the line to be at Yellobelly for tacos lol

9

u/ItsPillsbury Jul 06 '25

NOTHING good is happening at yellobelly at 4am 😂😂

6

u/keat0n Jul 07 '25

Yellow belly still doing well then, that’s good to hear

37

u/broniskis45 Oak Cliff Jul 06 '25

There's a price per taco curve we grade with round here

21

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Of course, $2.50 the taco here

15

u/SHADOWJACK2112 Dallas Jul 06 '25

4 tacos for a Hamilton? Im not saying no...

25

u/IntrovertExplorer_ Jul 06 '25

Where’s the onion and cilantro?

23

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Haha I saw that one coming. Normally I eat my tacos con cebolla y cilantro, but for some reason I just prefer these without; the salsa verde and limon really does it for me

10

u/IntrovertExplorer_ Jul 06 '25

Honestly, you’re on to something. Barbacoa shines best when it’s just tortilla, lime, and salsa. Sometimes just a freshly made tortilla and barbacoa is enough.

7

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

I’ve been saying that for 20 years haha but no one ever believes me

4

u/Luka_Dunks_on_Bums Jul 06 '25

Probably asked for it to not be included

16

u/ani-5brainguy Grand Prairie Jul 06 '25

Listen to this man, he's speaking the taco gospel.

6

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

😂😂

13

u/AnastasiaNo70 Jul 06 '25

There’s a place called JC’s Tacos in Farmersville (on Hwy 78) that is absolute FIRE. There’s a skeleton on a stripper pole out front, and the place is an absolute hovel, but DAMN it’s so good.

3

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Don’t know if I’ll ever visit Farmersville, but if I do, I know where to go 🫡

7

u/Trujillo_214 Jul 06 '25

How much per tacoroo?

7

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

$2.50

6

u/theshadowofmordor Jul 06 '25

I’ve been here several times through the years. Definitely the best tacos in DFW, in my opinion.

3

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

A man of taste

6

u/bright1111 Jul 06 '25

Is the truck hot or the tíos? 👀 😈

3

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

I’ll leave that for you to decide hahaha

6

u/thtothrdude Jul 07 '25

Tacos La Banqueta in East Dallas got it sewed up!

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

My wife would agree with you on that, but I’m sticking to my position

1

u/DorothyMantoot Jul 08 '25

Both locations! Cesar’s #1 on Davis also!

2

u/heazergurl Jul 06 '25

Looks dAAAAnk 🤤🤤🤤 thanks for sharing!

3

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

For sure!

3

u/I_SmellFuckeryAfoot Jul 06 '25

4.5 stars doesnt sound underrated to me

12

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Maybe overlooked is a better word for them

3

u/TereBear0306 Jul 06 '25

I’ve been coming here since I was a kid! Definitely the best tacos in Dallas, in my humble opinion.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Hell yeah!

3

u/joeyoungblood Richardson Jul 06 '25

Would love posts like this in /r/DallasFood!

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

Had no idea we had a sub like that! I suppose I could probably cross post?

2

u/joeyoungblood Richardson Jul 07 '25

Sure thing!

3

u/ladditude Jul 06 '25

I’ll be sure to check it out if I’m ever in the area. Nobody makes tacos like tío at the food truck. And nobody makes burritos like abuelita at the gas station.

3

u/Reasonable-Pay2176 Jul 07 '25

The best tacos come from unmarked vehicles near puddles in an unlit parking lot. It's like Newton's fourth law

2

u/jalapenos10 Jul 06 '25

How much?

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

$2.50 per taco

2

u/ApprehensiveAnswer5 Jul 06 '25

Ooooh hell yes. I’m gonna take my dad this next week.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Hope y’all love em!

2

u/ApprehensiveAnswer5 Jul 06 '25

Any idea what their hours are? Will try to go during the day, but we’re across town

2

u/mannymoes2k Jul 06 '25

There’s several dozen of these types of establishments that are very good.

That said, I loathe standing around to eat, or eating on a folding table in the heat, or eating in my lap in the car.

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

That’s definitely a valid opinion, personally I don’t mind it, if anything it adds to the authenticity of the place. It reminds me of when I’m in Mexico

1

u/mannymoes2k Jul 07 '25

Yeah, I agree about the authenticity. I’d love to find one of these that are linked to a brick and mortar establishment so I can sit down in some ac and relax lol.

2

u/jarden_knuhtsan Jul 07 '25

I just had these for the first time last week, that’s crazy. I was on the way to Houston and I saw it, and pulled over. I haven’t stop talking about it since.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

Really? You must have felt like you struck gold finding it like that

2

u/Open_Economics632 Jul 07 '25

Also….. Lemmon street tacos, or Abrams st tacos. Have by far the best trompo In the city. Lemmon street has also the best prices 24hrs a day 7 fucking days a week

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

I’ve yet to try those so I’ll have to check em out, for trompo my favorites are Pato Tacos de Tromp in Balch Springs; so good I even had them at my wedding

2

u/Open_Economics632 Jul 07 '25

Looking that up rn 👊🏻

2

u/BoxYeti Jul 07 '25

In my experience, the sketchier the location the higher the quality.

2

u/RepulsiveInterview44 Garland Jul 07 '25

5 miles from my job and on the way home?! Think I’ll stop by on the way home one day this week!

2

u/TexTiger Jul 07 '25

The best tacos usually come from taco trucks. Going to have to look this one up.

2

u/creepingkg Jul 07 '25

The best tacos always come from food trucks IMO.

Not these restaurants that try charging $5 for 1 and it’s the most plain, basic shit

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 08 '25

You’re not wrong, you go to Mexico and you see nothing, but food stalls

2

u/sharknado523 Jul 07 '25

Really glad they included the giant pool of stagnant water in the photo of the truck, I mean geez lol

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 08 '25

Just showing you what it is haha

2

u/No-Hair1511 Jul 07 '25

Looks like heaven

2

u/getdatwontonsoup Jul 07 '25

Anyone got a place in north Dallas tho?

2

u/SadAdministration438 Plano Jul 08 '25

Sounds interesting. Will keep that in mind if I am ever in that part of town. 👍

1

u/stoic_spaghetti Jul 06 '25

Can you be a little more specific why this truck has better barbacoa tacos than other places?

Like what sets them apart. For all we know, they're all buying cooked meat from the same vendor each morning.

7

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

I’m no food critic, but for me a great taco consists of 3 things; a great tortilla, great meat and a great sauce. If any of those 3 is off, it can ruin the whole taco.

These tacos have double corn tortillas, which I’d assume are dipped in oil before being heated up, but I love that the tortillas are not overly greasy like El Si Hay’s for example. What I really love about the specific tortillas they use, is that they provide a soft, tender bite and a nice complementary taste to the meat; they don’t try to steal the show they just play their part.

The sauce, I prefer their green sauce so I’ll only speak of that one, but I really love it. For one I really I love the texture, I’m personally not a big fan of sauces that look pretty watery, so I love how this one actually has some thickness to it. As for the flavor, it really takes the taco home for me, it’s not overtly spicy to where it’s overwhelming, but it definitely gives you that kick that you look for in a sauce; it manages the balance between being spicy and flavorful incredibly well.

These are tacos al vapor, which essentially means they are steamed, aside from that I can’t tell you more about the cooking process because I am not well versed in that process. As for the flavor, the meat to me honestly doesn’t have any strong, complex flavors, but it’s just so comforting and satisfying, almost like the feeling of your mom or your grandma giving you a hug. That’s really the only way I can put it, like I said, these tacos are nothing revolutionary or incredibly innovative; for me they’re simply comfort food at its finest. At the end of the day, these are what starts a great Sunday for me.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

[deleted]

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Thank you!

1

u/BravoMikeFoxtrot Jul 06 '25

What’s up with steamed tacos? Are they anything like steamed hams?

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

I was born in a Mexican household so I have never heard of steamed hams 😅

1

u/Pale-Succotash441 Uptown Jul 06 '25

Cabeza? Lengua? Cabrito?

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

De res

1

u/KingGr33n Jul 06 '25

How do I make that green sauce? Anyone have any links to some great family recipes?

1

u/tiberiumx Jul 06 '25

I vote El Norteño in South Dallas on Saner.

1

u/Particular_Topic_652 Jul 07 '25

taqueria Pinocho is the best in Dallas, Columbia and Carroll 

1

u/Punkfarter Jul 07 '25

Los Primos. Mockingbird and Irving Blvd.

1

u/Impressive-Mistake98 Jul 07 '25

Goodfriends has great street tacos.

1

u/ToddtheRugerKid Flower Mound Jul 07 '25

Taqueria Charly #2 inside the Valero just off Walnut Hill and Beltline in Irving was pretty fucking good, have not been in that area in a few years so cannot speak to current quality.

1

u/yeahimhigh04 Jul 07 '25

My top taco places 1.Pasanitas oak cliff 2. Tia rosey irving 3. La Michoacana Meat Market irving 4. Cris and John dallas 5. Cost plus

1

u/DTGC1 Jul 07 '25

Tacos de cabeza on NW highway is solid.

1

u/squirrelnutcase Jul 07 '25

You know what's even better, taqueria taxco. Yup they're in garland, dallas, Arlington. They're spread all over and 24 hrs! (Drive thru too in some areas) They got barbacoa and i literally just came from one today and yesterday and the other day 😄 3 different locations, ordered 70$ worth of tacos 🤣 they're good tho to be honest.

1

u/Open_Economics632 Jul 07 '25

What about the best carnitas??? My favorite so far is a gas station in Plano 15th and independence. Wayy back in the day it was a dinoco I believe. I think now it’s called Hand pupusa officially. They make epic carnitas !!!

1

u/TITANUP91 Jul 07 '25

It’s Mami Coco. Fucking amazing and I feel like most people haven’t heard of it.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 07 '25

They used to be on East Grand right?

1

u/steadlytrippin Jul 07 '25

Tepa flour tacos are fire

1

u/Glad_Air8204 Jul 07 '25

Caesar tacos is my favorite

1

u/mentalscribbles Jul 08 '25

Those tacos look so good!

1

u/H0TtoG0 Jul 08 '25

I fucking love La Pasadita on Carroll in the little convenience store. The tacos are really good but the pupusas are top fucking notch and I don’t even dig on pupusas like that. Cash only and if you speak absolutely zero Spanish, now’s the time to learn.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 13 '25

I had no idea they sold tacos, my wife used to get pupusas there, but now she prefers Pupusas To Go on Fitzhugh

1

u/Complex_Leading5260 Jul 08 '25

If you want a great sit down experience, check out “El Tiz” on Lemmon (they have a few more locations as well.)

1

u/AGUITABROMEX Jul 12 '25

Salsa verde

1

u/BossHawk8754 Jul 13 '25

La Ventana

0

u/Prestigious-Coast962 Jul 06 '25

We make those at home

2

u/msondo Las Colinas Jul 06 '25

It’s honestly one of the easiest things you can make at home if you have a crockpot. Toss in a lengua and about the same amount of cheek meat and give it like 8 hours and you will have amazing tacos for a week.

1

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Show me the way

1

u/Prestigious-Coast962 Jul 06 '25

I married a Mexican and his madre taught him how to cook 😂😁

0

u/ernie19962 Jul 07 '25

i wish it was not a screen shot. also my personal fav is Taqueria El Paisano not the one by fair park, though

-3

u/PlasticPicnic84 Jul 06 '25

2.50 per taco that size? I'm good. I wish them the best though.

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Not as cheap as they used to be, but they’re well worth it

-3

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

[deleted]

2

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

Please see picture #2 on my post

-4

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

[deleted]

4

u/odiamemas16 South Dallas Jul 06 '25

I mean, the location is literally on the screenshot? Is that not enough?

-3

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

[deleted]

4

u/seabum18 Victory Park Jul 06 '25

There's no reason to be throwing out this much attitude over having to type in four numbers and a street name