The 17 Best Places to Get Tacos in Cincinnati

When you think of food that Cincinnati is known for, you might instinctively think of Skyline Chili, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and LaRosa’s pizza. And while locals do love these foods, there’s one lesser-known dish that Cincinnatians undeniably love: tacos.

That’s right. Here in Cincinnati we love tacos. And, lucky for us, there are tons of great places to enjoy some around the city. 

In this post, we share the 17 best places where you can get tacos in the Queen City.

Map of Taco Places

The map below shows the locations of every taco place mentioned in this post.

The Best Places to Get Tacos in Cincinnati

Taqueria San Marcos

Taqueria San Marcos is arguably the most unassuming taco spot on this list, which is fine with the people who know about it because it’s the best kept secret in Cincinnati. Located in Norwood, Taqueria San Marcos serves some of the best authentic tacos that you can find anywhere in the city. 

On the inside, this spot feels like an old 1950s diner. It’s laid back, cozy, and inviting. On top of that, service is consistently great and their prices are fair. If authenticity is what you’re after, you’d be crazy not to try this place.

Location: 5201 Carthage Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212

Website: Taqueria San Marcos

Casa Figueroa

If you’re into taco places with large murals on the sides of the building, then boy do I have a spot for you: Casa Figueroa. Located in the heart of Pleasant Ridge, Casa Fig specializes in tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and other latin-themed dishes. Along with the authentic cuisine, the restaurant has an impressive cocktail menu that nicely complements the food.

Visit Casa Fig for the Mexican folk artwork, wall-sized murals and decor, and stay for the food and drinks.

Location: 6112 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45213

Website: Casa Fig

Taqueria Mercado

Another excellent place to stop for some tacos and margaritas is Taqueria Mercado. Located Downtown, this spot is often crowded around lunch and dinner time for good reason: they’ve got some seriously delicious tacos. Our personal favorite is the barbacoa taco, but be sure to try the fried pork and shredded chicken as well if you get the chance.

Along with their amazing dishes, the service is fast, friendly and efficient. The interior is also spacious so it’s usually not a problem getting a seat even when it’s busy.

Location: 100 E 8th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Website: Taqueria Mercado

Nada

Next up on our list is Nada, one of the most aesthetically pleasing taco spots on the list. Located in the heart of downtown, Nada offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is one of the most popular places to grab tacos in the city.

Their menu has an impressive variety of meats that you can add to your tacos including grilled mahi, carne asada, baja fish, pork belly, and more. Along with their variety of dishes, they offer several different margaritas and cocktails, which nicely complement the tacos.

Location: 600 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Website: Nada

Mazunte

One of the most popular places to grab some tacos outside of the Downtown area is Mazunte. Situated between Oakley and Madisonville, this is a spot that is almost always packed during dinnertime on any night of the week.

The restaurant itself is laid back and cozy, with indoor and outdoor seating. The prices are reasonable, the portions are large, and the food itself is incredible. 

Location: 5207 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Website: Mazunte

Django Western Taco

If you’re looking to grab a taco in the hip neighborhood of Northside, then look no further than Django Western Taco. 

Django offers a variety of tacos for $4-5 each, which you can enjoy in a simple, laid-back atmosphere. Service is consistently great and the flavors are consistently high quality.

Location: 4172 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223

Website: Django Western Taco

Condado

If you’re looking for a place to get tacos down by The Banks, Condado is the most popular place to do so. Situated across the street from the Reds stadium, Condado offers tacos in a Tex-Mex style restaurant with plenty of seating and a unique interior. The walls are covered in huge murals and various art, which give off a unique vibe.

Condado is unique because they allow you to either order pre-built tacos or build your own from the ground up, allowing you to choose exactly which meats, cheeses, and salsas to add to the mix. Prices range from $3 – 5 per taco.

They’re also open until 2AM every night of the week, so if you happen to be near the riverfront after hours and you’re craving a taco, you know exactly where to go.

Location: 195 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Website: Condado

Bakersfield

Next up on our list is Bakersfield. Located in the heart of OTR, Bakersfield is known for three things: tacos, whiskey, and tequila.

Because of its convenient location and its delicious tacos, this spot is almost always packed and usually requires you to wait to get a seat. However, most people find that the wait is worth it because their dishes are just that good.

Location: 1213 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Website: Bakersfield

Drunken Tacos

One of the best places to grab some tacos on the University of Cincinnati campus is Drunken Tacos. The tacos are great, the service is fast, the prices are low, and the interior is cozy and inviting.

This is a popular place to grab a bite to eat before a UC football or basketball game, so be prepared to wait if you attempt to check it out on game day.

Location: 200 W McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45219

Website: Drunken Tacos

La Mexicana

If you’re looking for a place to get some tacos just across the Ohio River in the town of Newport, you need to check out La Mexicana.

Without a doubt, this spot offers some of the most authentic tacos and other latin-inspired dishes that you can find anywhere in or around the Queen City. The prices are fair, the portions are generous, and you’re virtually guaranteed to come back to visit this spot after you try it once.

Location: 642 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071

Website: La Mexicana

Gomez Salsa

Next up on our list of the best places to get tacos in Cincinnati is Gomez Salsa. Located in the heart of Walnut Hills, Gomez is known for serving tacos in “turtle” shells which they describe on their site as:

We take a burrito sized tortilla, stuff it with all the goodies – rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies, cheese, or anything else you’d like – then we seal it all up with an extra cheesy, tostada crunch!”

These tacos are truly delicious. Be sure to grab a cocktail or a margarita as well to go with your dish when you visit.

Location: 2437 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Website: Gomez Salsa

Frida 602

Located across the Ohio River in Covington, Kentucky sits Frida 602, another excellent spot to grab some tacos and drinks.

The beautiful interior of Frida 602 is matched by the beautiful presentation of their dishes. You can tell that the staff takes pride in serving great tacos and other latin-inspired cuisine, and one visit to this spot will certainly make you want to come back for more.

Location: 602 Main St, Covington, KY 41011

Website: Frida 602

Veracruz

If you’re looking for a great family-run taco joint in Price Hill, then you’ve got to try out Veracruz. This spacious restaurant offers plenty of seating, quick service, and even an outdoor patio that you can sit at and enjoy when the weather is nice.

Our personal favorites here are the chicken and barbacoa tacos, but you really can’t go wrong with any item on the menu.

Location: 3108 Price Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205

Website: Veracruz

Tortilleria Garcia

Arguably the best place to grab some tacos on the northern outskirts of Cincinnati is Tortilleria Garcia. Located in the heart of Springdale, this taco spot serves up some of the most authentic Mexican dishes you can find anywhere in the city.

Be sure to stop by on Tuesdays when they offer tacos for a mind-boggling $2 each. 

Location: 11774 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45246

Website: Tortilleria Garcia

Gutierrez Deli

Next up on the list is a taco spot that people absolutely rave about after trying it once: Gutierrez Deli. Situated in the Northern Kentucky town of Covington, Gutierrez has an incredibly simple menu, but they serve some of the most authentic tacos and quesadillas you can find anywhere.

On top of their fantastic food, service is always friendly and efficient, and the prices are more than fair. Simply put, there’s a lot to love about this place.

Location: 1131 Lee St, Covington, KY 41011

Website: Gutierrez Deli

Lalo