No place does tacos better than Austin, TX. At least, in my opinion. I pretty much each tacos every day while I am in town. There is so much variety, you really can eat tacos for at least one meal a day and not get bored.
I first discovered the pure joy that comes from a breakfast taco at Houndstooth Coffee when I popped in for a cold brew. The tasty concoction of black beans, avocado and cheese came neatly wrapped in foil with an orange sticker. I snapped a pic as I needed to know where that taco came from as I was certain I would need to investigate further. A breakfast taco without any eggs is perfection to me. I truly believe everyone should make it a point to stop into Taco Deli within the first few hours of landing at Austin-Bergstrom in order to ensure the right tone is set for the rest of your stay.
That unexpected breakfast led me to Taco Deli. Breakfast has never been a fun meal for me as I don’t like eggs, bacon and sausage aren’t appealing to vegetarians, I rarely get a craving for pancakes and prefer waffles to topped with ice cream. Breakfast tacos with beans, cheese and avocado led me to discover all sorts of delicious creations and you can even make your own. All the breakfast and lunch tacos are made especially tasty when a bit of their Dona sauce is added. Another thing I love about this place is that the ingredients are fresh, everything is sourced locally and the food is inspired both by life in Mexico City and Austin.
When I told my friends of my excitement over the discovery of Austin-style tacos, they promptly joined in the fun and helped me to explore the options. Our first stop was Taco Flats. We went to the location on Burnet which is within walking distance to their house. It was here that the tacos met the cocktail. I highly recommend the Moscow Macho - Tito’s, ginger beer, lime and habanero shrub. Taco Flats is great for a group of people as they have a Pick 3 option for appetizers so it is just made for sharing. Their queso is on point so it should be your plus one to the Pick 3. Appies are great, but you do need to leave room for the tacos. The grilled Panela is my fave of their taco offerings.
Next up on the guided tour was Torchy’s. My assessment on this place was meh. They blow it out of the water when compared to say Taco Bell or DelTaco. Perhaps my expectations were high after two strong introductions or it could be that there were fewer vegetarian options. They are worthy of mention and I believe their strength is in their guacamole and queso dips over their tacos, but I wouldn’t make them a must stop on a yummy taco tour.
I flew solo on my visit to the Peached Tortilla at the suggestion of my foodie friend who was hosting me. She knows me so well. Order the cauliflower taco. You will thank me. She was spot on and I am so grateful. If ever there could be a life-changing taco, this is the place to find it. Cauliflower, arugula, peanuts, toasted coconut, kewpie with watermelon relish. Their queso is great, but the best part lies in the seasoned tortilla crisps served with for dipping. Washing it down with the Margarita del Peached is highly recommended. In addition to the tacos, there are several other delicious Asian-inspired menu items.