TOP 5: BEST TACOS IN KANSAS CITY

Tacos al Pastor & Rajas at El Camino Real

About three years ago, I came across a great article on Forbes: America’s Taco Capital Isn’t Where You Think. So naturally, considering myself a taco connoisseur and lover, I clicked on it. Guess what? The Taco Capital is right around the corner from where I am at.

For context, I hail from the Taco Capital of the World, Mexico City. It’s been 13 years since I left home for beautiful Kansas City and of course I miss my friends, the home I grew up in, speaking Spanish all the time, the traffic and smog and chaos, but there is only one thing I miss every single day of my life, the food.

Obviously, tacos are just one of thousands of dishes/eats in Mexican cuisine but today we’re just focusing on them because we all love them and if you don’t, we can’t be friends.

Before I go ahead and present to you MY Top 5 of taquerias in Kansas City, know that I know we can potentially not agree on our lists or the spots mentioned but that’s okay. Just another reason to share yours with me so I can try your spots too!

#5 Pinches Tacos, Westport. (4059 Broadway Blvd. KCMO 64111)

Pinches Tacos is one of Kansas City’s newest taquerias. It opened last year and besides its prime location and convenient hours for those who have been out partying late or the ones who get the munchies at midnight, this joint has a great selection of meats for your tacos, which are prepared by experienced Jalisco, Mexico hands. The chef (and I) recommend you try their birria or quesabirria tacos, that’s one of their specialties.

#4 Tacos El Gallo, Southwest Blvd. (806 Southwest Blvd. KCMO 64108)

I discovered El Gallo when I moved to the Crossroads District four years ago and I needed to find the best and closest taqueria. Located on a busy Mexican strip mall and across the street from La Bodega and Royal Liquor, this place not only has great food but also serves as a little bodega itself and offers currency exchange and money sending services, which makes it feel even more Mexican for some reason. Their entire menu is bomb but they have the BEST tacos de carnitas in the city. They follow the Michoacán recipe and you can get both crispy and soft bites at once. Also, they have an amazing avocado sauce that you have to order separately because they normally don’t keep it out.

#3 Tortillería San Antonio, KCK (830 Kansas Ave. KCK 66105)

San Antonio is my go-to taco spot when I am a little hungover after a late night out. This place will become your favorite spot because it will not only fill your belly but it’ll also make you feel better, literally. The cool thing about this spot is that this Mexican mini market is mainly a tortillería. They supply a lot of restaurants and homes with fresh tortillas on the daily, and they are to die for. While waiting on your order, you can check out the entire machinery producing the tortillas that you will enjoy minutes later. They have amazing salsas and a pretty big menu but I DO recommend you try the barbacoa tacos, those are my favorite. If you’re feeling extra hungry, get the barbacoa quesadilla. Yum.

#2 Tacos La Nueva, 39th Street (3906 Waddell Ave. KCMO 6411)

La Nueva recently opened this location and I could not be any happier because I had been to their Overland Park restaurant and loved it but it was too far of a drive for me. Anyway, one of the best things about this spot is that they are open late and that their seasoning and flavors follow the recipes of Arandas, Jalisco in Mexico. Their tortillas are delicious and so are their salsas. My favorite tacos here are the chorizo ones, they are so juicy and full of flavor but you can’t go wrong with the pastor or asada ones either. Prices are very descent and staff is friendly, you will never have to wait more than 5 minutes to get your food!

#1 El Camino Real, KCK (903 N 7th St. Tfwy. KCK 66101)

The best of the best in my opinion. This little restaurant next to 7th St. Casino in downtown KCK makes me feel like I’m back home. The minute I walk in I am transported to Mexico City. The first thing you see is the trompo al pastor, which is the vertical rotisserie where they slow cook the marinated pork meat. This is one of very few places that prepares pastor the traditional way. So yeah, you have to have tacos al pastor when you go there because they are made the right way and the meat is full of flavored and thinly sliced. However, you absolutely have to try the rajas tacos. These are vegetarian. Rajas have grilled bell peppers and onions with melted cheese on them. Absolutely fantastic!

Take it or leave it but these five spots are in my opinion where you will find the BEST tacos in Kansas City. And like I mentioned earlier, if you have any spots that I didn’t mention and think I should try, please let me know because I am ALL about them tacos.