Best Tacos in Nashville (2026 Updated Guide)

Looking for the best tacos in Nashville? Nashville's taco scene has everything from authentic Mexican street tacos and birria to creative tacos, margaritas, and late-night spots.

I'm working my way through Nashville's taco restaurants and giving the places I personally visit a Sam Score based on my overall experience. This guide will continue to change as I try more of them.

At Eat With Sam K, every restaurant I personally review is paid for with my own money. I don't accept paid reviews or change my opinions in exchange for free food.

Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.

⭐ Chilangos Tacos

Neighborhood: Downtown (Assembly Food Hall)

Sam Score: 8.7/10

Best For: Quick tacos downtown

Price: $$

Chilangos Tacos is a counter on Level 2 North of Assembly Food Hall, the Nashville outpost of a Dallas-based taco brand serving tacos, quesadillas, and nachos.

Good atmosphere, quick service, and plenty of seating make it an easy stop if you're already downtown near Broadway. Read Sam's full review →

💬 Sam Says: "A quick, genuinely good taco counter inside the food hall, my highest-scoring taco review so far."

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Chilangos Tacos review →

⭐ Ladybird Taco

Neighborhood: 12 South

Sam Score: 7.6/10

Best For: Breakfast & lunch tacos

Price: $$

Ladybird Taco specializes in Texas-inspired breakfast and lunch tacos with freshly made tortillas.

It's particularly convenient when you want something quick in the morning or around lunchtime rather than a traditional sit-down Mexican restaurant. Read Sam's full review →

💬 Sam Says: "A quick, freshly-made breakfast taco stop that's become a go-to 12 South morning order."

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Ladybird Taco review →

More Nashville Tacos Worth Knowing

I'm still working my way through Nashville's taco scene, so the restaurants below haven't all received an official Sam Score yet.

Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I visit them.

🌽 Maiz de la Vida

Maiz de la Vida has become one of Nashville's most talked-about destinations for Mexican food, with a focus on fresh masa and handmade tortillas. Rather than treating the tortilla as an afterthought, it's a major part of the experience here.

Best For: Handmade tortillas, authentic Mexican flavor

🌮 Taqueria San Luis

If you're searching for a more traditional taco experience without the upscale atmosphere, Taqueria San Luis is one to know. Grab a few different tacos so you can try multiple meats and figure out your favorite.

Best For: Street tacos, great value

🔥 Mas Tacos Por Favor

Mas Tacos Por Favor has been part of Nashville's food scene for years and helped establish itself as one of the city's best-known casual taco destinations. The East Nashville restaurant serves tacos alongside soups, sides, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.

Best For: Nashville taco institution, affordable

💎 Tacos y Mariscos Lindo México

For those willing to explore beyond Nashville's trendier restaurant districts, Tacos y Mariscos Lindo México offers another side of the city's Mexican food scene, tacos and seafood together.

Best For: Tacos and Mexican seafood, hidden gem

🌮 El Tapatio

El Tapatio is another Nashville option for straightforward Mexican food and tacos without the trendy restaurant atmosphere, a good reminder that some of the city's most interesting food isn't necessarily located around Broadway, The Gulch, or 12 South.

Best For: No-frills Mexican food

🍳 Tempo

Tempo brings a Texas influence to Nashville and is particularly known for breakfast tacos, coffee, and a casual neighborhood atmosphere, a good alternative to Nashville's usual brunch restaurants.

Best For: Breakfast tacos and coffee

🌶️ Redheaded Stranger

Redheaded Stranger brings a Southwestern/New Mexican influence to East Nashville. This isn't necessarily where I'd send someone specifically looking for traditional Mexican street tacos, it's a good choice if you want something creative and different.

Best For: Creative, Southwestern-inspired tacos

🍹 Bakersfield

Bakersfield is a good option when tacos are only one part of the night, its combination of tacos, tequila, margaritas, queso, and a lively atmosphere makes it particularly well suited to groups and casual nights out.

Best For: Tacos and margaritas, groups

🇲🇽 Superica

Superica brings a polished Tex-Mex experience with tacos, fajitas, queso, margaritas, and other classics, a different experience from Nashville's smaller taquerias, but exactly what you want for a sit-down meal with drinks.

Best For: Tex-Mex, casual date night

Best Tacos in Nashville by Occasion

If you don't want to sort through the entire list, here's where I'd start depending on what you're looking for.

What Is My Favorite Taco Spot in Nashville?

Right now, Chilangos Tacos is my top personally-reviewed pick, with an 8.7 Sam Score, just ahead of Ladybird Taco (7.6).

That doesn't mean the ranking is permanent. I'm continuing to visit taco spots throughout Nashville, and whenever I review another one, I'll update this guide based on my actual experience.

The goal is eventually to have a complete ranking based entirely on restaurants I've personally visited rather than simply repeating the same Nashville restaurant lists you can find everywhere else.

Where to Find Authentic Tacos in Nashville

Some of Nashville's best Mexican food is found outside the neighborhoods tourists visit most often.

If authentic street-style tacos are your priority, don't limit your search to Broadway, The Gulch, or downtown Nashville.

Areas along Nolensville Pike and other parts of South Nashville are home to numerous Mexican and Latin American restaurants, markets, food trucks, and taquerias.

Exploring these neighborhoods can lead you to a completely different side of Nashville's food scene.

What Makes a Great Taco?

Tacos look simple, which makes the details even more important.

When I personally review Nashville taco spots, I'm looking at:

• 🌮 Tortilla: Freshness, texture, flavor, and whether it holds together.
• 🥩 Meat/Filling: Seasoning, tenderness, portion, and preparation.
• 🌶️ Salsa: Flavor, heat, freshness, and how well it complements the taco.
• 🧅 Toppings: Freshness and whether they improve rather than overpower the filling.
• 💰 Value: Taco size, quality, and price.
• ⭐ Overall Experience: Would I actually come back and order it again?

Restaurants I personally review receive a Sam Score out of 10.

What Tacos Should You Order First?

If you're visiting a taqueria for the first time, don't order four of the exact same taco.

Try several.

A good first order could be:

• 🥩 Carne Asada
• 🐷 Al Pastor
• 🧀 Birria
• 🌮 House Specialty

That lets you experience more of the menu and gives you a better idea of what the restaurant does best.

And don't ignore the salsa.

A great salsa can completely change a taco.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tacos in Nashville?

Of the taco spots I've personally reviewed so far, Chilangos Tacos is my highest rated at 8.7/10, followed by Ladybird Taco (7.6). Nashville also has several other styles worth trying: Maiz de la Vida is known for its focus on masa and handmade tortillas, while spots like Taqueria San Luis offer a more traditional street-taco experience.

Where can I find authentic Mexican tacos in Nashville?

South Nashville, particularly around the Nolensville Pike corridor, is one of the most interesting areas to explore for Mexican and Latin American food.

What are the best cheap tacos in Nashville?

Taqueria San Luis, Mas Tacos Por Favor, and other casual taquerias are good places to start if value is important.

Where can I get breakfast tacos in Nashville?

Tempo and Ladybird Taco are two Nashville options to consider for breakfast tacos. I've personally reviewed Ladybird Taco, so you can see exactly what I ordered and how I rated it.

Where can I get tacos and margaritas in Nashville?

Bakersfield and Superica offer more of a sit-down tacos-and-drinks experience than Nashville's traditional taquerias.

Are there good tacos near downtown Nashville?

Yes. Chilangos Tacos inside Assembly Food Hall is my top personal pick downtown, and there are other taco and Tex-Mex options around downtown and nearby neighborhoods, although I'd recommend exploring beyond downtown if tacos are the main reason for your meal.

The Sam Score

Every taco spot that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, tortilla, meat/filling, salsa, toppings, and value all factor in.

Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money.

As I visit more taco spots around Nashville, I'll continue updating this guide with new Sam Scores and rankings.

Last Updated: August 2026

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