The 10 best tacos in Charlotte

Charlotte’s taco scene is deeper than its reputation, and the best of it is on the east and south sides, in strip centers and on boulevards rather than in the trendy neighborhoods. This list ranks taquerias and Mexican restaurants by the tacos first, and the range runs from a $2.50 al pastor at a counter to a duck taco at a tequila bar. Hours are current as of this writing.

1. Tacos El Nevado

A family run restaurant on South Boulevard that started nearly 20 years ago as a food truck and is now one of the 30 best restaurants in Charlotte at any price. House made tortillas, choriqueso to start, then street tacos, asada and al pastor first, and a chicken quesadilla. A second location is on Central Avenue in Windsor Park, and the family’s newer Sabores de Oaxaca is a few blocks from it. No reservation, no dining room to speak of, no reason to go anywhere else first.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 4640 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28209

Why it made the list

• The consensus best taco in the city.
• House made tortillas and a choriqueso worth the trip alone.
• Open seven days, early to late.
• Cheap, fast and filling.

Directory listing: Tacos El Nevado

2. Tacos El Regio

A small Monterrey style taqueria in a strip center on East W.T. Harris Boulevard where pork spins on a vertical spit behind the counter and soccer is on the TV. The trompo taco, pork shaved from the spit with pineapple and onion, is the best al pastor in Charlotte, and the gringa puts the same pork with cheese on a flour tortilla. Guava and tamarind aguas frescas, lengua, chicharron and barbacoa. Open four days a week, which is the only catch.

Hours: Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; closed Monday to Wednesday

Address: 8829 E. W.T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227

Why it made the list

• Pork off a real trompo.
• The gringa.
• Enormous aguas frescas.
• A room that feels like Monterrey.

Directory listing: Tacos El Regio

3. Maíz, Agua, Sal (MAS)

A tortilleria and agave bar on Jay Street in Wesley Heights where corn tortillas are pressed and cooked on a machine in view of the dining room and the bar holds nearly 200 mostly agave spirits. Al pastor from the trompo, steamed tacos al vapor, pozole, mole and gorditas, plus a weekend brunch with hibiscus mimosas and churros. From the owners of Craft Tasting Room and Lincoln Street Kitchen.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 1018 Jay St, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28208

Why it made the list

• Tortillas made in front of you.
• The deepest agave bar in the city.
• Al pastor and tacos al vapor.
• A big, bright room for groups and brunch.

Directory listing: Maíz, Agua, Sal (MAS)

4. Azul Tacos & Beer

Counter service street tacos on Thrift Road in Wesley Heights, across from Pizza Baby and steps from MAS. Pollo, al pastor, asada, carnitas, lengua and quesabirria with consome, a salsa bar, a California burrito and Modelo on draft. Owner Hector runs the floor and the prices are the lowest on this list for the quality.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 2122 Thrift Rd, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208

Why it made the list

• Order every taco; you will not regret one.
• The salsa bar.
• Quick, cheap and casual.
• Aguas frescas you can mix.

Directory listing: Azul Tacos & Beer

5. Taqueria Los Altos

An east Charlotte taqueria on Monroe Road with a rustic room, big portions, free chips and a salsa de molcajete that carries a real warning. Al pastor, asada and pollo tacos from around $2.50, fresh guacamole, chimichangas and a quesabirria plate of three tacos with cheese, cilantro, onion and beef. Strong margaritas, neighborhood regulars and prices that have not caught up with the rest of the city.

Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 8625 Monroe Rd, Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28212

Why it made the list

• Tacos from $2.50.
• The quesabirria plate.
• Salsa de molcajete.
• An east side gem that rewards the drive.

Directory listing: Taqueria Los Altos

6. Tamales La Pasadita

No frills Mexican on The Plaza next door to Grey’s Diner, menu in Spanish, order at the counter and sit down. Tamales are the name, three with rice and beans for under $10 in pork, chicken, cheese and sweet versions, but the tacos, tortas, tostadas, huaraches and breakfast plates are why it is on this list. The sign says Taqueria Gaviota Latina; that is the place.

Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: 3112 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• The tamale special.
• Breakfast tacos and desayunos from 8 a.m.
• Huaraches and tortas you will not find at the trendy spots.
• Some of the best value in Charlotte.

Directory listing: Tamales La Pasadita

7. Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar

The Wesley Heights taqueria and bar from the Que Onda owners, with 15 specialty tacos, birria egg rolls, birria ramen, margarita flights and soft serve margaritas on a patio facing the skyline. Bang bang camarones to start, cuatro leches to finish, $2 tacos on Tuesdays and a $6 house margarita on Fridays. A second location is inside Duke Energy Plaza in Uptown.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 1500 W. Morehead St, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208

Why it made the list

• Fifteen tacos and the birria egg rolls.
• Soft serve margaritas.
• Taco Tuesday and Friday margarita specials.
• A patio with a skyline view.

Directory listing: Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar

8. Maria’s Mexican Restaurant

A cozy South Boulevard restaurant near Tyvola Road with free chips and salsa, a full vegan menu and a birria section that runs from quesabirria to birria pizza, birria ramen, a birria grilled cheese and a group sized tray. The quesabirria, dipped in the beef broth, is the order. Family run and open seven days.

Hours: Daily 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 5234 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217

Why it made the list

• Charlotte’s birria specialist.
• A real vegan menu, including tamales.
• The birria tray for a group.
• Open every day.

Directory listing: Maria’s Mexican Restaurant

9. Puerta

The Elizabeth restaurant from the Crunkleton and Rosemont team, with a menu drawn from regions across Mexico and a bar built on tequila and agave. Seven tacos, duck and shrimp among them, at $7 each or a $16 plate, a queso regulars call the city’s best, pork belly chicharron, hanger steak and churros. Weekend brunch, paloma pitchers, reservations recommended.

Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 10 p.m.; Friday noon to midnight; Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 1961 E. 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Why it made the list

• The upscale taco on the list, and worth it.
• A serious agave bar.
• The queso and the churros.
• From one of the city’s best hospitality groups.

Directory listing: Puerta

10. Sabores de Oaxaca

The 2026 opening from the Tacos El Nevado family, on Central Avenue in east Charlotte, and the only restaurant in the city devoted to Oaxacan cooking. Tamales in fillings well beyond the usual, enchiladas with mole, carnitas and barbacoa tacos, a steak torta, loaded street corn, champurrado and horchata, in a small room covered in alebrijes.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 3654 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• Oaxaca specifically, not Mexico generally.
• Mole and tamales that stand out.
• Carnitas and barbacoa tacos.
• The newest restaurant on the list, from a family with a track record.

Directory listing: Sabores de Oaxaca

Also worth knowing

Two more for a taco plate that is not quite a taqueria: Calle Sol in Plaza Midwood and SouthPark, and El Puro on South Boulevard, both already in the directory. If we missed your spot, tell us.