Who has the best tacos in the Triangle? Vote now for the winning restaurant
Update: Learn who won here.
In just about every part of the Triangle, you can find a good taco — but where can you find the best of the best?
The News & Observer is on the hunt to find out based on your recommendations.
Considering the long list of food trucks, fast-casual spots and food halls around the area, it should be no surprise that we received nearly 50 nominations for the best taco spot.
Then we put it to a vote. Here’s how we did it:
- The first round — live until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 14 — will determine the Top 25.
The second round — live from about 2 p.m. April 14 until 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 — will determine the Top 12.
The third round — live from 2 p.m. Friday, April 18 until 2 p.m. Monday, April 21 — will determine the Top 8.
The fourth round — live from about 2 p.m. April 21 until 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 — will determine the Top 4.
The fifth round — live from about 2 p.m. April 23 until 2 p.m. Friday, April 25 — will determine the Top 2.
The final round will determine the winner. It will be live from about 2 p.m. April 25 until 2 p.m. Monday, April 28.
A few notes:
This is not a scientific poll or survey — it’s just for fun! If you have more than one favorite (or want to vote for your all-time favorite spot more than once), you are welcome to refresh this webpage and submit another vote.
We are only considering local favorites, so chain restaurants that have more than 25 locations are excluded.
If you’ve reached your free article limit from The News & Observer, you will have to subscribe to cast votes.
Top 2
Gringo A Go Go
Chido Taco
Top 4
Chido Taco
Hollywood Taco Shop
La Buena Vida
Gringo A Go Go
Top 8
Hollywood Taco Shop
G’s Tacos
Gringo A Go Go
Chido Taco
Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill
Taco Bamba
La Buena Vida
Gym Tacos
Top 12
- Hollywood Taco Shop
- Chido Taco
- Gringo A Go Go
- G’s Tacos
- Que Chula
- Taco Bamba
- Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill
- La Buena Vida
- NuvoTaco
- Gym Tacos
- El Toro Loco Taqueria
- TaTaco
Top 25
Chido Tacos
Hollywood Taco Shop
La Buena Vida
Gringo A Go Go
Que Chula
Taco Bamba
G’s Tacos
Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill
Tacos Number Juan
TaTaco
13 Tacos and Taps
Esmeralda Grill
Gym Tacos
Chubby’s Tacos
Fonda Lupita
Bronco Tacos
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Mezcalito
Taqueria El Toro
Little Rey
Centro Mexican Restaurant
a’Verde
Bulkogi
El Toro Loco Taqueria
NuvoTaco
Top 47
13 Tacos and Taps
Location: 10511 Shadowlawn Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614
a’Verde
Location: 2300 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27518
Bronco Tacos
Location: 3434 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612
Bulkogi
Location: Boxyard RTP, 900 Park Offices Dr Suite 240, Durham, NC 27703
Centro Mexican Restaurant
Location: 106 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Chido Taco
Location: 555 Fayetteville St Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27601
Location: 2330 Bale St #100, Raleigh, NC 27608
Location: 151 SE Cary Pkwy, Cary, NC 27511
Chubby’s Tacos
Location: Multiple
El Jefecito
Location: Varies
El Restaurante Ixtapa
Location: 162 Exchange Park Ln, Hillsborough, NC 27278
El Rey del Taco
Location: 908 Hodges St, Raleigh, NC 27608
Other food truck locations vary (streetfoodfinder.com/elreytaco)
El Toro Loco Taqueria Raleigh
Location: 314 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Esmeralda Grill
Location: 748 E Chatham St STE J, Cary, NC 27511
Ex-Voto
Location: Durham Food Hall, 530 Foster St SUITE G, Durham, NC 27701
Fiesta Grill
Fonda Lupita
Location: 905 W Main St Suite 21A, Durham, NC 27701
G’s Tacos
Location: 102 Barnes St, Carrboro, NC 27510
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Location: 7713 Lead Mine Rd #39, Raleigh, NC 27615
Location: 1849 S Main St, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Location: 525 New Waverly Pl #104, Cary, NC 27518
Gringo A Go Go
Location: 100 N Person St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Gym Tacos
Location: Multiple
Hollywood Taco Shop
Location: Varies
Jose and Sons
Location: 4112 Pleasant Valley Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612
Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill
Location: 504 Meadowmont Village Cir, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
KoKyu
Location: 245 E, NC-54 Ste 105, Durham, NC 27713
La Buena Vida
Location: 4516 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Location: 1388 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27511
La Mala
La Santa
Little Rey
Location: 1101 E Whitaker Mill Rd Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27604
Lobos Tacos Y Pupusas
Location: 6908 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612
Los Cuates
Location: 4524 Old Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Location: 3505 Capital Blvd,Raleigh, NC 27604
Mamacita
Location: Multiple
Mexico Lindo Y Querido
Location: 2103 N Roxboro St, Durham, NC 27704
Mezcalito
Location: Multiple
Namu
Location: 5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
NuvoTaco
Location: 2512 University Dr, Durham, NC 27707
Que Chula
Location: 140 W Franklin St #110, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Salt & Lime Cabo Grill
Location: 4800 Grove Barton Road Raleigh, NC 27613
Location: 6006 Falls of Neuse Rd Raleigh, NC 27609
Street Tacos Cantina
Location: 6325 Falls of Neuse Rd #71, Raleigh, NC 27615
Super Taqueria
Location: 2842 N Roxboro St, Durham, NC 27704
Taco Bamba
Location: 3518 Wade Ave, Raleigh, NC 27607
Tacos Number Juan
Location: 910 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713
Taqueria El Toro
Location: 3600 Junction Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27603
Taqueria Esmeralda
Location: 413 State Rd 3015, Morrisville, NC 27560
Taqueria la Esquina
Location: 10500 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC 27560
Location: 3400 N Main St, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Taqueria La Vaquita
Location: 2700 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707
TaTaco
Location: 620 Foster St Suite B, Durham, NC 27701
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This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Who has the best tacos in the Triangle? Vote now for the winning restaurant."
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