1. SANTA CRUZ EXPRESS #2* Foothill SLO
Far and away San Luis Obispo’s best Taco as of this writing. An unlikely location, and a sister-spot to something FAR down the list make for tough explanation, but no matter. With El Tizon gone, Santa Cruz easily takes first place. For reference though–and I think it’s important to put things in presepctive–in other areas of the Central Coast, this taco would *maybe* make the Top-10.
2. CHICHO’S (the one in Laguna)
Another unlikely location, but hey: it’s SLO. Are there any “likely” locations? Comfy little sit-down spot with lovely staff and a great taco.
3. TACO DE MEXICO San Luis Obispo
Probably the best of 5 or 6 “Tacos De” variants in the region. Pay attention to spelling and no, they are not all related. A couple of them are just abyssimal, but the one in SLO manages to crank out some rather edible hot, greasy, dripping, delicious old-skool stuff.
4. LOS MEXAS DELI (Corner Mkt)
Somewhat of an asterisk here, as these tacos come with BEANS and QUESO in them and I hear you gasp: McCONNELL!!! But go try them. They’re really good and I can’t put them down with the WPT–they just plain don’t deserve it.
5. SAN LUIS TAQUERIA San Luis Obispo
This could easily be the spot on this list I frequent THE MOST. It’s just so convenient and quick and easy and fun and they have pink hab (iykyk) and I just love this place. The tacos are good, too. Nothing mind-boggling, but solid.
6. TONITA’S San Luis Obispo
Kinda the forgotten stepchild in town. Nobody remembers Tonita’s until it is too late. A little over-stuffed with large brown meat chunks, salsa’s solid. Parking’s going to be the challenge.
7. EFREN’S DOWNTOWN San Luis Obispo
Somehow managing to pull off a taco I like better than any of their other locations. Can’t explain it but for some reason it just works better here.
8. PANCHO’S San Luis Obispo
An entirely solid taco which would slot in mid-pack in just about any town.
9. TAQUERIA EL GUERO SLO
Ridiculously over-stuffed on massive tortillas and salsas with the personality of ketchup.
10. TACOS DE ACAPULCO San Luis Obispo
If boredom and low standards had a store-front.
11. TAQUERIA SAN MIGUEL San Luis Obispo
Somehow even worse than the Los Osos location–which is saying a lot. Fine, dry meat on pasty tortillas.
12. LA BOTANA San Luis Obispo
I know this is the one everyone’s waiting for, and going from El Tizon to THIS is crushing, but here we are. Over-salted, dyed-red meat on cold tortillas at the best architecture in town.
13. EFREN’S #5 San Luis Obispo
Absolute dogfood. I mean… if your dog could get past the smell of the meat in this vast supermarket arena of fat, happy white people dipping their free chips in multiple cups of pico de gallo they will fill and then throw away.
14. TAQUERIA SANTA CRUZ EXPRESS Monterey St. SLO
Every. Single. Time. I go. I have a bad experience. The service is off-putish and vague, the meat dry and the salsa limp.
15. TACO RICO (the one at Trader Joe’s)
Al Pastor is special order and when it comes, you’re just, like: Oh, did you dump some sauce on carnitas??? 5″ tortillas.
16. TACO KING San Luis Obispo
Probably the bad score I have to defend THE MOST in town, as people just flat-out LOVE this place LOOK AT YOUR FOOD! SMELL IT! TASTE IT!!! Come’on, people: THINK about your food.
17. CHILI PEPPERS BROAD San Luis Obispo
Honestly, this place has adapted to the issues of serving tacos to white people probably the best of anything on this list and they’ve been there long enough to prove it. Wonderful people, and the assembly-line sour cream! extra cheese! no onions! pico de gallo! applications to-order create a cacophonous order you somewhat get used to.
18. TACO ROCO (the one on Orcutt Rd)
Literally inedible. There’s only a couple places I’ve left taco on my plate and KING and ROCO are the winners there. This isn’t food.
White People Taco Night:
CALIFORNIA TACOS (WPT) SLO Public Market
I need to re-visit this, as rumors of “street tacos” keep drifting my way. When I went they were massive things full of *stuff* white people like on combo plates.
LA ESQUINA TAQUERIA (WPT) San Luis Obispo
Again… the Old rule: Never get tacos where they serve margaritas.
LUNA RED (WPT) San Luis Obispo
There will be people who swear by these on Tuesdays (which tells you a LOT about what kind of people are recommending). Lord knows I love Luna, and the tacos aren’t *terrible*, but….
TODO BUENO (WPT) SLO Public Market
NOT a classic street taco but very interesting interpretations. And quite good.
Including these just so I don’t get DM’s:
CONDESA I have not been to yet and does not serve al pastor tacos
CORAZON CAFE does not serve al pastor tacos
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