The Best Spots for Tacos in St. Louis
Cinco de Mayo is as good of an excuse as any to celebrate one of Mexico's most time-honored culinary traditions: tacos. St. Louis has no shortage of great tacos, from classic carnitas and al pastor to Korean-inspired bulgogi tacos. Fittingly, there's even a pork steak taco. We've rounded up our favorite spots for tacos, from a trendy Baja-inspired chain to classic taquerias (including a few located just across the river).
Fort Taco
If you think delicious, high-quality tacos can't be served from a drive-thru window, Fort Taco will change your mind. The restaurant, which has multiple locations in the St. Louis area, specializes in traditional Mexican food served fast. Fort Taco's menu is small, featuring just enchiladas, tamales and puffy fried tacos, but everything is made in-house (including the tortillas). The signature "Puffer" tacos take their name from the crispy, golden-brown deep-fried shells and are available with either chile verde or chipotle salsas with beef or chicken. (Photo courtesy of Fort Taco)
Fort Taco, multiple locations, St. Louis, Missouri, forttaco.com
Kalbi Taco Shack
Kalbi Taco Shack offers something decidedly different than the neighboring taquerias on Cherokee Street. The restaurant, helmed by Hong Kong native Sue Wong-Shackelford, serves Asian cuisine with a Mexican cuisine. To that end, the menu includes burritos, rice bowls, sandwiches, quesadillas and tacos made with ingredients like teriyaki chicken, bulgogi beef and kimchi. Tacos are in the name, after all, and they shine, ranging from pan-seared cod to sweet and spicy jackfruit to bacon, egg and cheese. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Kalbi Taco Shack, 2301 Cherokee St., Cherokee Business District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.240.5544, kalbitacoshack.com
La Vallesana
Locals likely need no introduction to La Vallesana, a long-standing anchor of the Cherokee Street dining scene. Over the years, it's grown from a wee taco stand with hardly any seating to a newly renovated building complete with two dining rooms and two patios. For the uninitiated, La Vallesana – fondly nicknamed “the flavor corner” – offers dependably nourishing eats seven days a week along with refreshing drinks and a range of ice cream and paletas. Of note is its al pastor: Just one bite of the tender pork taco studded with fresh segments of grilled pineapple will have street-food enthusiasts coming back for more again and again. (Photo by Laura Ann Miller)
La Vallesana, 2801 Cherokee St., Cherokee Business District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.776.4223, neverialavallesana.com
Mi Tierra Tienda y Taqueria
Fairmont City, Illinois, might sound like a bit of a trek, but in reality, it's less than 15 minutes by car for one of the most profoundly authentic Mexican dining experiences available within range of the Gateway Arch. Arrive at the petite brick building and navigate through a grocery store jam-packed with as many tchotchkes as there are groceries to find a hole-in-the-wall dining room attached to an even smaller kitchen. A server – who may or may not speak English – will offer epic portions of delightfully numbing salsa and chips in addition to the restaurant's menu, which begins with tacos. From tender chicken and pork to more adventurous beef tongue and tripe, guests will find it's hard to go wrong. For something a bit different, try a hot and fresh gordita or sope topped with remarkably creamy Chihuahua cheese. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Mi Tierra Tienda y Taqueria, 3121 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City, Illinois, 618.271.8168, restaurantji.com/il/east-saint-louis/mi-tierra-mexican-store-
Mission Taco Joint
Now with four locations in the St. Louis area plus two in Kansas City, Mission Taco Joint sets itself apart from the competition by focusing on hand-crafted quality. The restaurant even makes its own masa, using local non-GMO corn, for its tortillas. The Baja-inspired menu features street tacos ranging from staples like spicy chorizo, carne asada and beer-battered fish to more inventive options including wood-fired portobello mushrooms, hot fried chicken and slow-roasted duck. Mission also frequently collaborates with other local restaurants, including a chicken döner-style taco made with Balkan Treat Box. (Photo by Jonathan Gayman)
Mission Taco Joint, multiple locations, missiontacojoint.com
Seoul Taco
With multiple restaurant in the St. Louis area, as well as outposts in Columbia, Missouri; Champaign, Illinois; and Chicago, Seoul Taco has become a destination for Korean-Mexican fare in the Midwest. The menu mashes up classic Mexican fare including burritos, quesadillas and, of course, tacos with traditional Korean ingredients like kimchi and gochujang. Try the truck’s classic taco, with Korean salad mix, green onion, housemade Seoul sauce and crushed sesame seeds with a lime wedge. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
Seoul Taco, multiple locations, seoultaco.com
Taco Buddha
Taco Buddha originally opened in the fall of 2017, but the University City, Missouri, restaurant has been closed for the past few months after a fire. The owners took the opportunity to reinvigorate the taco joint, including a new chef, an updated menu and a few changes to the interior. Executive chef Jeff Friesen (formerly of Juniper, Farmhaus and Sugarfire Smoke House) oversees a menu that includes fan favorites like chicken tinga and green chile pork alongside new additions including mesquite-smoked brisket burnt ends and Thai street beef. You'll also find breakfast tacos on the weekends, plus Margaritas, Hatch green chile queso and fried avocado. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Taco Buddha, 7405 Pershing Ave., University City, Missouri, 314.502.9951, tacobuddha.com
Taco Circus
Christian Ethridge brings a taste of his native Austin to St. Louis at Taco Circus in Bevo. The fast-casual spot features a build-your-own menu: diners can pick a tortilla (soft flour, soft corn or crispy shells), filling (ground beef, chicken, veggie or beef fajitas and even pork steak) and topping (cilantro and onion or lettuce and tomato). Don't miss the breakfast tacos, which are served all day and include options like chorizo and egg, potato and egg, breakfast sausage and egg, bacon and egg, potato and cheese or migas. The tacos are cheap, but the ingredients are high-quality – meats are locally sourced, and items like chorizo, breakfast sausage and taco sauces are made in house. This summer, Taco Circus will close up shop in Bevo and move to a new (and much larger) location in Southwest Garden. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Taco Circus, 4258 Schiller Place, Bevo Mill, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.808.2050, tacocircus.com
Taqueria Durango
Avid Mexican-fare fans know that some of the best authentic cuisine in town tends to hide out in the county. Taqueria Durango is a prime example of one of these hidden gems. Buried just out of view off of Page Avenue in Overland, Missouri, the family-owned restaurant sits in a plaza next to an adjoining grocery store. Its claim to fame is the torta ahogada, a mammoth of a pork sandwich completely smothered in spicy red chile sauce. The plate alone is enough to merit a visit, but come for the tacos and you won't be disappointed. Meats are prepared with the utmost care and come served on your choice of tortilla – flour, corn or crispy. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Taqueria Durango, 10238 Page Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 314.429.1113, loc8nearme.com/missouri/st.-louis/taqueria-durango/4851772/
Taqueria El Bronco
It's no secret that Cherokee Street houses the highest concentration of tasty tacos in town, and Taqueria El Bronco follows suit. Eschewing modern trends throughout its evolution in the thriving neighborhood over the years, El Bronco keeps things simple. Tacos come a la carte at only a couple bucks a pop – choose from chicken fajita, flavorful carnitas and much more. Shrimp and fish are also available for a slight upcharge, and a vegetarian-friendly option features zucchini, tomatoes, onions and green peppers. Try any of these tacos topped with the red and green salsa served alongside your complimentary basket of chips. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Taqueria El Bronco, 2817 Cherokee St., Cherokee Business District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.762.0691, taqueriaelbronco.com
The Taco & Ice Cream Joint
On Cherokee Street, The Taco & Ice Cream Joint specializes in – you guessed it – tacos and ice cream. The concept comes from the family behind the storied El Morelia Super Mercado in Bridgeton, Missouri, and the fast-casual menu ranges from the authentic (rich beef barbacoa tacos) to the whimsical (lemon paletas crusted in Flamin' Hot Cheetos). Overall, more than a dozen different tacos are on offer, including carnitas, beef tongue, chorizo and shrimp, all of which can be customized with fresh toppings and sauces at the build-your-own salsa bar. Just be sure to save room for dessert, as all the paletas are made in house. Want to feel like a kid again? There's a housemade take on a Choco Taco for that. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
The Taco & Ice Cream Joint, 2738 Cherokee St., Cherokee Business District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.224.5799, facebook.com/tacoandicecreamjoint
Tienda El Ranchito
Across the street from Mi Tierra Tienda y Taqueria in Fairmont City, Illinois, travelers will find more Michoacán-style cuisine in much larger digs than its small but mighty neighbor. El Ranchito opened in 1995, retooled and expanded in 2011 and continues to grow. The restaurant recently introduced a new section to its combination grocery store and restaurant concept just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Tacos here come prepared as platters rather than a la carte, served with a side of refried beans and rice. Filling options include everything from chorizo (pork sausage) to barbacoa (here, that means steamed goat) on corn or flour tortillas. (Special housemade corn tortillas are available during weekends, too.) In addition to tacos, El Ranchito's large menu features a full bar and everything from Tex-Mex to seafood. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Tienda El Ranchito, 2565 N. 32nd St., Fairmont City, Illinois, 618.875.1521, tiendaelranchito.com
Heather Riske
Heather Riske is the digital director at Feast.
Mabel Suen
Mabel Suen is the St. Louis contributing editor for Feast.
