Cover Photo: Jeswin Thomas / Unsplash
Photo: Jeswin Thomas / Unsplash
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If you are a taco lover, craving for tacos, thinking about tacos or are curious about trying tacos, this list will be just what you need!
These Mexican street food favourites have definitely taken over the world and caught our attention. Tacos are the ideal snacks and can totally fill you up as a full meal too. These incredibly satiating bites are meant to be eaten with your hands, and yes, you should get a little bit messy when biting into a juicy taco. If thoughts of meaty fillings (beef, chicken, pork or fish) embraced in a gorgeous soft tortilla with bright garnishes are floating through your mind, then scroll through this list to figure out where to place your next order!
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1. La Chinesca
Chef Bruce Ricketts does not disappoint. Feast on the crispy chicken, carnitas (pork confit and roasted pineapple), campechano (short rib, Mexican chorizo, Swiss cheese), lamb barbacoa, or huachinango tacos (beer-battered fish, xo crema, salsa fresca, cilantro). Don’t forget an order of the crowd-favourite tuna tostadas, and ask about their off-menu specials, too.
Tatler Tip: La Chinesca offers an array of 100 per cent plant-based items too, featured in the Sin Carne menu.
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2. Lágrima
Lágrima makes some of the best tacos in the Metro! Order their mushroom, carnitas, shrimp, or pollo al pastor tacos and treat yourself to a much-deserved meal. They serve up different kinds of tacos too, prepared in different ways: street taco, gringa (with cheese), crunchy taco, or street tostada. You can choose your filling and the type of taco to customise your meal.
Tatler Tip: Lágrima is back in Salcedo Village! Drop by their new branch for your next late night eats, as they are open from 11am to 12 midnight.
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3. Cochi Loco Manila
Found at SM Aura Premier as well as the weekly Salcedo Saturday Market, Cochi Loco Manila has been serving up authentic Mexican food since 2019—tacos included. Choose between reliable picks like carne asada, carnitas, Baka (beer-battered fish), and al pastor, or try out the deep-fried, rolled-up taquitos for a change of pace.
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4. Drive By Taco Shop
They keep it simple and straightforward. Choose between the soft taco or fried tostada, and eat your way through their selection of fillings including the popular Cubano-style ground beef, crunchy chicharones, lengua, white adobo-style pulled pork butt, and more. More adventurous eaters can also try the sesos or beef brain battered in red horse, while fans of birria will be delighted to know they offer a signature Drive-by birria with oxtail and shortribs.
Tatler Tip: Up for a graze? Request for your tacos or tostadas to be served as three bite-size pieces instead.
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5. Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew
Sink your teeth into their shredded beef barbacoa taco with chimichurri sauce or try out the deep-fried chicken tacos, the chiquittos. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try the salted egg shrimp taco, or order up a street taco kit with an array of fillings to assemble your own. Keep an eye out for their limited-time specials too, including these summer smoked salmon tacos.
6. El Chupacabra
This beloved Poblacion watering hole now has taquerias in Quezon City, Pampanga, and Baguio, too! Enjoy their simple but delicious street tacos, filled with the best-selling carne asada, classic carnitas, or the San Francisco-style pork sisig, a Chupacabra house special.
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7. Tadeo
Helmed by chef Jorge Mendez of the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Mōdan, Tadeo marries Filipino and Mexican comfort food in every bite. Order the sisig, tilapia rebosado, and pork adobada tacos, or better yet, indulge it the taco fiesta platter to graze across seven different taco offerings. Still hungry? Try the sinigang, inasal, or binagoongan burrito for more Fil-Mex goodness.
8. La Guada Mas
Dine at La Guada Mas and treat yourself to classic Mexican favourites like tacos, burritos, and deliciously sloppy birria, or opt for their heftier offerings like smoked meats and burgers for a serious feast. Looking for more of a graze? Try out their nachos, elote, and other share plates and sides. Be on the lookout for their Happy Hour specials too, or come early Fridays to Sundays to try exclusive breakfast dishes.
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9. Taquería Franco
For tacos like you’ve never had them before, head to Taquería Franco: a casual, playful haunt in Salcedo Village where chef Miko Calo puts a French spin on tacos. Each taco and tostada starts with a buckwheat tortilla, inspired by the French galette. From there, Calo lets her imagination run wild—expect foie gras tacos, duck confit tacos, lamb bourguignon birria, and eggs and caviar tostada among many other brilliant creations.
Tatler Tip: Be sure to check out their drinks list as well, which boasts a selection of excellent signature cocktails, such as the Sangre de Franco with mezcal, tequila, Cholula, orange, pomegranate, lime, and tatjin salt.
Credits
Words: Additional Reporting by Lauren Golangco
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About
Isabel loves to learn, and see things from different perspectives. Connecting with people and engaging in new experiences to broaden her horizons is what inspires this storyteller, keeping her constantly curious, and excited for what's to come. An absolute love for all things F&B ignited a hunger to devour content from this world and keeps her jumping into tasty adventures around the globe. From the beauty of simple bites, to nuanced fine dining tasting menus, street food, and the art of entertaining, the multi-faceted nature of the dining experience is something she can't get enough of. A good cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a dash of witty conversation is a quick way to win her over. This editor loves travelling, food, music, skincare, fitness, and is only friends with people who love dogs. Guilty pleasure?: Binge-watching TV shows and movies she has already seen.
Work
Concept creation is the name of the game and branding takes centre stage in Isabel's day-to-day schedule. From producing shoots, conceptualising bespoke projects for our partners, relationship management, to cooking up features and events for Tatler Dining, this editor is a tried and tested foodie at heart. She mainly writes content for Tatler Dining, engaging in captivating discussions with restaurateurs, chefs, producers, and food enthusiasts to tell must-know stories. Aside from that Isabel manages Tatler Dining's flagship events like Off Menu, or Cocktail Festival and puts together the Tatler Dining Guide, our annual listing of the best eats around town.
Follow her on Instagram @isabelvmf.
