Road trips are always a fun way to get out and explore your surroundings but as more appetite-teasing restaurants around the country are featured on television, more and more people are taking food-related or “foodie” road trips.
Texas is famous for its Tex-Mex style of cooking including foods such as tacos, enchiladas, and fajitas. We’re taking a foodie road trip through Texas with the Texas Taco Tour. Devour the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Lone Star State starting and ending in Austin. Our list of tasty taco shops takes you all over Texas for a delicious tour of tacos stuffed with barbacoa, carnitas, and even potatoes. Hop in the car, turn on your favorite road trip playlist, and get hungry for a tasty adventure!
Juan In a Million – Austin
Begin your tour in Austin at the most authentic Tex-Mex cuisine in Texas at Juan In A Million. Famous for their breakfast taco, the Don Juan, it’s packed with bacon, potato, egg, and cheese in a fresh homemade tortilla. What better way to start the day?
Ray’s Drive Inn – San Antonio
Brought to San Antonio from California by Arturo Lopez in the late 1960’s Ray’s is the place to get this tasty taco via drive-in. The puffy taco is a hard-shelled flour tortilla filled with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and choice of filling including fish gorditas, chalupas, avocado, beans, or carne guisada. Really hungry? Add to your plate enchiladas, brisket with barbecue sauce, fajitas, or the steak ranchero served with ranchero salsa.
Bob’s Taco Station – Rosenberg
Bob’s Taco Station, began with just a few small tables at a local gas station. Bob’s Tacos expanded into a full-sized restaurant that serves breakfast tacos, tamales, and barbacoa tacos.
The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation – Houston
Continue the tour to Houston where you’ll find the Home of the Fajita created over 40 years ago by Ninfa Laurenzo. The original consisted of a handmade flour tortilla stuffed with seasoned grilled beef creating a nationwide phenomenon.
Fuego Tortilla Grill – College Station
Fun, flavorful combinations will have you hungry for one of everything on the menu. Good thing there’s additional locations in San Marcos and Waco. Most popular tacos include the Southern Comfort tacos with fried chicken, chipotle cream corn, potato, grilled onions and country gravy or the Dr. Pepper Cowboy complete with brisket, grilled onion, Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce, chipotle cream corn, and jack cheese in a flour tortilla.
The Proudest Monkey – Bryan
Opened in 2012 by Aaron and Stephanie Curs, the restaurant’s name is from Aaron’s favorite song by Dave Matthews. This taco shop goes beyond tacos with burgers, fries, shakes, and craft beers. Its unique menu of tacos includes the Cuban with sliced ham, pulled pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard; the Lean Machine with chipotle chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, and chipotle mayo; the Pablo Pescado with tilapia, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, and cilantro lime aioli.
Reata Restaurant in Sundance Square – Fort Worth
Fort Worth, also known as Cowtown, is the perfect spot for Reata who embraces the flavors of cowboy cooking. Their smoked pork tacos with pickled slaw and jalapeno mayo are a must. To end your meal, enjoy desert tacos with caramelized bananas and chocolate gravy.
Urban Taco – Dallas
Step into this restaurant and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the colors and culture of Mexico City, with a dash of Acapulco flavor. The Tacos Al Pastor are the favored taco at this spot with rotisserie spit chile rubbed pork, roasted pineapple, guajillo piquin salsa, onions, and cilantro.
Fuel City – Dallas
When you see a car wash, it’s not too often you think tacos but that’s exactly what you’ll find at this tasty taco shop. Whether it’s 3 PM or 3 AM you can get tacos on your time at this 24-hour restaurant. Try the breakfast tacos with eggs, chorizo, bacon, sausage, or potato. Grab lunch while you’re there with spicy pork, chicken, beef fajita, or barbacoa tacos.
Casa Mañana – Wichita Falls
Near the panhandle Plains of Texas, you’ll find the infamous “red taco” at Casa Manana, established in 1947. The red taco is a hit with locals and tourists alike. Don’t dare ask for the recipe, it’s top secret.
While in Wichita Falls, take time to explore the “Gateway to Texas” by visiting the Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum or cool off at the Castaway Cove Waterpark. A wide variety of hotel accommodations are available giving you time to rest up for the remainder of your Taco Tour.
CBD Provisions – Dallas
Heading back down to Dallas on the way back to Austin, stop into CBD Provisions inside the Dallas Joule Hotel for locally sourced eats including the Berkshire Pig Head Carnitas served with tomatillo salsa, radishes, and warm tortillas. Herbivores will enjoy tasty vegetarian options as well, such as fried brussels sprouts with burnt honey vinaigrette and buttermilk biscuits with a creamed collard dip.
TacoDeli – Austin
Conclude your amazing taco tour with tacos as eclectic as Austin itself. Employees in this brightly colored building serve up specialty tacos like the Delibelly with braised pork belly, honey-tomatillo serrano salsa, fresh avocado, cilantro, and onion. Breakfast tacos are also a hit with the usual favorites and the El Popeye with sautéed spinach, scrambled eggs, and queso fresco.
