Let’s start here. Todo Bueno probably one of my favorite spots in SLO Public Market and their tacos are *weird* but GIVE THEM A SHOT! Just let them make them they way they want no matter how strange it sounds and they are super good. StaXXX in Morro Bay make tacos kinda on the secret menu and depending on ingredients at hand, can come a variety of ways. Always delicious, though. Kinda white-people sort, but yummy. La Tap #1 in Oceano continues to decline, while Suprema Meat Market in Atascadero seems to be stepping up their game.

Route 101 Grill Atascadero is the former Burrito Express and I don’t think one LICK has changed. Always consistent. Downtown SLO got Birria y Tacos Sinaloa and they are stupid expensive and completely forgettable. Both HWY 41 joints changed hands recently, and Malu’s Kitchen took the old diner and makes some pretty decent tacos. More on Marina’s across the street later. La Chata Templeton is probably #2 or #3 in THE COUNTY. Not really feeling like doing a positive ranking today, but might get motivated at the end.

Food Mix Morro Bay kinda dry and uninteresting, Aliyah’s Kitchen always a great alternative in NoCo but with La Chata across the street: kinda tough call. You DO realize Aliyah’s is who took over the old Panolivo in Paso. Hanna’s Street Tacos has had a truck in Los Osos for years, and recently opened a huge brick & mortar in the old Round Table in Arroyo Grande. It’s good! But hat’s off in this random grouping to a little hole on West Main called El Matador. One of the better of literally THOUSANDS within a few blocks.

Up in Cambria, you’ve got three options: Medusa’s (average-to-slightly-better), Boni’s ( complete meh), and Las Cambritas–a full sit-down cantina with full bar. I was pleasantly surprised. In the Santa Maria Mall food court, Taqueria Robles cranks out beautiful tortillas in a sneeze-guard-style gringo assembly line a’la Acapulco and Chili Peppers. The meat is absolute dog food tho. Pretty much like Acapulco and Chili Peppers–now that I think about it. But those tortillas are GORGEOUS. You’re WAY better off to head a bit west and get lost on Blosser somewhere: like Mercado y Carniceria La Mia, for example. There’s even a little bar inside for eating. Of course, no taco list involving Santa Barbara Co would be complete without an Angeles de Puebla mention. I’m just not going to say anything about this place, okay? If you love al pastor and haven’t been here you’re a fuckin moron, that’s all.

Moreno’s pretty much anchors the Pismo Beach trifecta for me (yes I have a huge soft spot in my heart for El Mirador, but let’s be honest……. you don’t go there for the food). With Tito’s and the world-domination of El Guero looming across the street, it’s a wonder this little family joint can hang on. My favorite part is watching white people waddle in and out after seeing the menu. If you know which corner I’m talking about, you understand. But it remains, and I highly recommend. Speaking of El Guero, they are taking over the short-lived Maya location in MB, formerly Milanes Cuban and his Thai wife. That makes what, 6? 7? El Gueros’s???? These people got some pangas we don’t know about? Along the lines of empty restaurants, Burritos Express in the old El Tizon/Taco Bell spot on Santa Rosa sits sadly empty while bro & dolly pack in the dretch next door–even though this is HANDS DOWN the best taco in SLO. A stalwart in SM which deserves mention–maybe for longevity alone–is 805 Tacos on Main. Probably one of the more gringo-friendly spots in the *area* and nicely done stuff. Brand new to this list, however, is Panaderia y Restaurant Mana up on Broadway. Better meat than several surrounding outlets and LOOK AT THOSE TORTILLAS. The fresh chips with soupy beans/sweet potato or something? on them is the extra touch.

Back to Atascadero, and it seems (to this taco-lifer) the quality of tacos at Marina’s has improved, even though I have heard rumors NOTHING changed but the name. This is that one way out on 41, of course, which wouldn’t even have gotten a mention from the tacos I’ve had there before. But these are not bad! Pretty much typical Atascadero tacos–they literally ALL taste the same. Big surprise in that town was Ale’s Mexican Grill, which I took to be a straight-up corn-fed breakfast diner but OMG go in and order the al pastor!!!! Across the river 50 miles south, getting SERIOUSLY lost on West Main, there’s a tiny place super easy to miss crammed into a back building between 805 Tacos and a tire shop called Rosticeria y Tortilleria Dani. They roast chickens and make tortillas, in case you hadn’t translated that yet. And, of course, serve tacos. The fat, yeasty, warm, fresh tortillas are a flavor addition difficult to explain until you experience it. FIND THIS PLACE. Down around the corner is another rosticeria, where they do a bit more seasoning (Sinaloan) on the pollo in front of the big supermarket. There’s quite a few La Favoritas, and they seem pretty consistent.

SM/Orcutt: Angeles de Puebla
SM: Oh god don’t make me DO this: Mana, Dani, El Matador, Mi Oaxaca
Nip: La Placita is it and no, I’m never going to that thing on 166 so just stop
Oceano: La Tap #2 (actually grover, but edging)
AG: I think I’m gonna have to go with Hanna’s and get outa here with your fruitiland BS, man! It’s just not good.
Grover City: Taqueria Guerrero #2 hands down
Pismo: Moreno’s Taqueria and let’s be clear: Papi’s is fusion.
Shell: No and it’s never going to be Zorro’s so stop already.
Avila: No
SLO: Burritos Express, Chicho’s, Tonita’s believe-it-or-not: I don’t hate that place!
Atascadero: Papi’s1, Super Fiesta, Suprema, Ale’s
Templeton: La Chata
Paso: La Reyna but here’s the deal: Dona Mari has opened in the 3 Amigos; Burritos Express in the old Senor Taco on Creston; Something else has replaced Jalisco further down Creston, several trucks navigate Spring St; I think Martinez got replaced? Plus Ailyah’s Kitchen, right? I haven’t been to most of them, so *change* could be afoot. But no, it’s not Finca so go away. And Los Robles is dogfood. Orale does in a pinch, and don’t forget about Tortilla Town! but will always be La Reyna until instructed otherwise.
Cambria: Medusa (but just for relevance: this taco wouldn’t even slide into the Top-20 of a major grouping)
Cayucos: The supermarket Thurs-Sun NO it’s not the gas station anymore
Morro Bay: Morro Deli at the Sinclair Station [EDIT] CLOSED, so that leaves Food Mix, which is not terribly sad, but a little.
LO: The Mexican Market

If you wanted to do an absolute Bucket List Taco Tour of the central coast:

1. Angeles de Puebla
2. La Tapatia #2
3. Cayucos Supermarket
4. La Chata
5. Lilly’s
6. Papi’s 1
7. Restaurant Mana
8. Taqueria Guerrero
9. Burritos Express
10. I’ll have an epiphany for this spot, I know I will–just can’t do it right now.