The Best Street Tacos in Atlanta
Where are the Best Street Tacos in Atlanta? With a thriving Mexican immigrant and Mexican-American population, along with plenty of west coast transplants to our fair city, there’s so many options that we had no trouble picking some favorites. But what makes a street taco a STREET taco? It’s not as complicated as you’d think – street tacos are another way of describing a more authentic, Mexican taco, one that uses cilantro, salsa and onions instead of lettuce, tomato and cheese. Plus, the meat isn’t the ground beef your mom made – they focus on slow cooked, delicious proteins like carnitas (pork), carne asada (steak), al pastor (shawarma style shaved beef) and more. We’ve put together a list of our 10 favorites below, but we know there are so many more we could add. Let us know on social!
Carnitas Michoacan
4166 Buford Hwy Suite N6
Atlanta, GA 30345
(404) 464-8128
One of two taco places in Plaza Fiesta (and one of three along Buford Highway) that we are highlighting on this list, Carnitas Michoacan may have the best carnitas taco on this entire list. They focus on authentic Mexican recipes and techniques, and have deliciously textured corn tortillas served with every taco. We’ve written about it before, but we love the Taco Surtido, which puts every element of the pig – organs, head and more – into one mouthwatering bite.
Chando’s
Multiple Locations, Check Website for Details
Speaking of authentic street tacos that use often-disregarded parts of an animal, this Sacramento based taco restaurant (that opened its first non California location in Buckhead) is on point with their tacos. They have nearly every Mexican spice and flavoring for their proteins that you can think of, including Asada, Adobada, Birria, Cochinita style, along with those rare proteins we mentioned like intestine (Tripa), tongue (Lengua) and head (Cabeza). Check out Chando’s today!
El Rey Del Taco
5288 Buford Hwy,
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 986-0032
One of ATL’s favorite late night spots for good reason – El Rey Del Taco has some of the best land and sea options for street tacos in the A. With everything from al pastor to tripa to buche (pork stomach), there’s lots of options for the adventurous spirit. And for those looking for a non-meat item, the mushroom taco stands as tall as the rest.
El Tesoro
1374 Arkwright Pl SE,
Atlanta, GA 30317
(470) 440-5502
This popular Edgewood taco spot has one of the best backyard patios in the entire City – but it’s the tacos that keep folks coming. Their goal is to make the best tacos from all of the regions of Mexico, including Tinga de pollo (pulled chicken), chorizo y papas (pork chorizo and potato), pescado (fish) and frontera, which includes a veggie medley, peppers and esquite corn. But our favorite might be their brunch – they make micas tacos with eggs, corn, chips, cheese and pico, along with a frijalero with eggs, beans, cheese and pico, and a ranchero with egg, sausage, onion and cilantro.
Supremo Taco
701 B Memorial Dr SE,
Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 965-1446
One of the newest places on the street taco scene, this tiny taco stand has just a couple of tables and chairs for seating, so odds are you’ll be standing in the lot off Memorial Drive while munching on your taco. Luckily the tacos are so good, you’ll finish them before you know it and it won’t really matter where you’re standing. We loved their two non-meat options – the black bean and mushroom tacos – along with a mouthwatering mole poblano taco.
La Pastorcita
3304 Buford Hwy NE,
Atlanta, GA 30329
(678) 705-8162
Another one of Buford Highway’s best, La Pastorcita is famous for their freshly made tacos. They’ve got the street taco standards, of course – steak, chicken, barbacoa, lingua, al pastor, shrimp, fish and chorizo – all served on delicious freshly steamed tortillas. We can’t help but add a little queso fresco to every order and a Jalisco to wash it all down.
Little Rey
1878 Piedmont Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30324
(770) 796-0207
Little Rey is Ford Fry’s second foray into Tex Mex following his very successful Superica, and he adopts a more authentic street taco style at this popular Piedmont Road spot. They focus specifically on pollo al carbon – perfectly grilled chicken. It’s definitely the best taco option here, but don’t sleep on grilled Steak tacos, grilled pork tacos, Carnitas tacos, Diablo (spicy shrimp) tacos, Oaxaca (cheese, peppers and mushrooms) tacos, multiple breakfast tacos and more.
Siete Tacos and Tequilas
68 North Marietta Pkwy NW,
Marietta, GA 30060
(678) 809-5050
This Marietta street taco spot has only opened relatively recently, but they’re making incredible, freshly made tacos daily – including an incredible beef Birria taco. In addition to solid standard like Carne Asada tacos and Shrimp tacos, they have some creative options including a Guava Glazed Pork taco and Sweet Potato Tacos that are all worth a try when you’re in Northwest Atlanta.
Taco Cantina Smyrna
2517 Spring Rd SE #101,
Smyrna, GA 30080
(678) 424-1826
This Smyrna taco spot has been one of the area’s favorite places for street tacos and with good reason – Chef Adolfo Gonzalez has worked with some of Atlanta’s most renowned chefs, including Pano Karatassos and Kevin Rathbun. Taco Cantina brings together Chef Gonzalez’s culinary experience with his cultural heritage for incredible taco options. It’s evident on the menu with options like Asian Beef tacos and Fried Chicken tacos, along with classics like Fish tacos and Spicy Shrimp tacos.
Taqueria del Sol
One of Atlanta’s first taco restaurants to get nationally recognized for its craft, Taqueria del Sol is Chef Eddie Hernandez’s street taco vision come to life in three bustling Atlanta locations and two more in Nashville. Chef Eddie doesn’t serve a traditional “street taco”, but the same flavors are there. His tacos come in a flour tortilla, and he uses some of the flavors of the South for more creative takes. Try the Memphis, chopped smoked pork with and jalapeño coleslaw and tequila BBQ sauce, or the Fried Chicken – fried chicken strips with lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato – for something different and new from this classic ATL restaurant.
One of two taco places in Plaza Fiesta (and one of three along Buford Highway) that we are highlighting on this list, Carnitas Michoacan may have the best carnitas taco on this entire list. They focus on authentic Mexican recipes and techniques, and have deliciously textured corn tortillas served with every taco. We’ve written about it before, but we love the Taco Surtido, which puts every element of the pig – organs, head and more – into one mouthwatering bite.
Speaking of authentic street tacos that use often-disregarded parts of an animal, this Sacramento based taco restaurant (that opened its first non California location in Buckhead) is on point with their tacos. They have nearly every Mexican spice and flavoring for their proteins that you can think of, including Asada, Adobada, Birria, Cochinita style, along with those rare proteins we mentioned like intestine (Tripa), tongue (Lengua) and head (Cabeza). Check out Chando’s today!
One of ATL’s favorite late night spots for good reason – El Rey Del Taco has some of the best land and sea options for street tacos in the A. With everything from al pastor to tripa to buche (pork stomach), there’s lots of options for the adventurous spirit. And for those looking for a non-meat item, the mushroom taco stands as tall as the rest.
This popular Edgewood taco spot has one of the best backyard patios in the entire City – but it’s the tacos that keep folks coming. Their goal is to make the best tacos from all of the regions of Mexico, including Tinga de pollo (pulled chicken), chorizo y papas (pork chorizo and potato), pescado (fish) and frontera, which includes a veggie medley, peppers and esquite corn. But our favorite might be their brunch – they make micas tacos with eggs, corn, chips, cheese and pico, along with a frijalero with eggs, beans, cheese and pico, and a ranchero with egg, sausage, onion and cilantro.
One of the newest places on the street taco scene, this tiny taco stand has just a couple of tables and chairs for seating, so odds are you’ll be standing in the lot off Memorial Drive while munching on your taco. Luckily the tacos are so good, you’ll finish them before you know it and it won’t really matter where you’re standing. We loved their two non-meat options – the black bean and mushroom tacos – along with a mouthwatering mole poblano taco.
Another one of Buford Highway’s best, La Pastorcita is famous for their freshly made tacos. They’ve got the street taco standards, of course – steak, chicken, barbacoa, lingua, al pastor, shrimp, fish and chorizo – all served on delicious freshly steamed tortillas. We can’t help but add a little queso fresco to every order and a Jalisco to wash it all down.
Little Rey is Ford Fry’s second foray into Tex Mex following his very successful Superica, and he adopts a more authentic street taco style at this popular Piedmont Road spot. They focus specifically on pollo al carbon – perfectly grilled chicken. It’s definitely the best taco option here, but don’t sleep on grilled Steak tacos, grilled pork tacos, Carnitas tacos, Diablo (spicy shrimp) tacos, Oaxaca (cheese, peppers and mushrooms) tacos, multiple breakfast tacos and more.
This Marietta street taco spot has only opened relatively recently, but they’re making incredible, freshly made tacos daily – including an incredible beef Birria taco. In addition to solid standard like Carne Asada tacos and Shrimp tacos, they have some creative options including a Guava Glazed Pork taco and Sweet Potato Tacos that are all worth a try when you’re in Northwest Atlanta.
This Smyrna taco spot has been one of the area’s favorite places for street tacos and with good reason – Chef Adolfo Gonzalez has worked with some of Atlanta’s most renowned chefs, including Pano Karatassos and Kevin Rathbun. Taco Cantina brings together Chef Gonzalez’s culinary experience with his cultural heritage for incredible taco options. It’s evident on the menu with options like Asian Beef tacos and Fried Chicken tacos, along with classics like Fish tacos and Spicy Shrimp tacos.
One of Atlanta’s first taco restaurants to get nationally recognized for its craft, Taqueria del Sol is Chef Eddie Hernandez’s street taco vision come to life in three bustling Atlanta locations and two more in Nashville. Chef Eddie doesn’t serve a traditional “street taco”, but the same flavors are there. His tacos come in a flour tortilla, and he uses some of the flavors of the South for more creative takes. Try the Memphis, chopped smoked pork with and jalapeño coleslaw and tequila BBQ sauce, or the Fried Chicken – fried chicken strips with lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato – for something different and new from this classic ATL restaurant.
