There are very few questions to which my answer is a guaranteed “Yes”, but one of them is definitely “Do you wanna get tacos tonight?” Over the past few years, I’ve been able to make it to several taco places around Nashville, so I wanted to give you a run-down of all my favorites.
1. Local Taco
Picture from The Tennessean
This is one of my personal favorites, although a lot of people would say they’re “nothing special.” My favorite thing about the tacos here, is precisely the fact that they are very simple. Rather than mixing a bunch of unexpected flavors and spices, most of these tacos are very simple. For example, the Southern Fried Chicken taco comes with just a piece of fried chicken, lettuce and tomato. There are definitely tacos on the menu that have a bit more spice and flavor to them, but the beauty lies in the fact that there are tacos for all tastebuds on the menu. My absolute favorite thing on the menu, though, is the Cuban corn off the cob, with cotija cheese and salsa! I’ve definitely ordered Local Taco on DoorDash, without getting a single taco before. The corn is that good.
2. The Little Donkey
Picture from Style Blue Print
Despite being a huge taco-lover, I didn’t know about this place until a friend of mine (also a fellow taco-lover) introduced me to this Germantown restaurant. I have to admit, a big part of my love for The Little Donkey comes from their corn, which reminds me of the corn from Local Taco! Cotija cheese truly is amazing. These tacos are definitely more flavorful than those in Local Taco! My two favorites are the steak and the chicken tacos, both of which were overflowing with filling when they came. I definitely had to eat some of the meat before I could even think about wrapping up the taco.
3. Mas Tacos
Photo from Star Chefs
Everyone’s favorite hole-in-the-wall! Not only is Mas Tacos home to what are probably the best tacos in Nashville, but the atmosphere itself is amazing. The casual dining environment makes it a go-to for me and my friends.
4. Bakersfield
Photo from Bakerfield Taco
Hidden downtown on 3rd Avenue South, just two blocks from Broadway, Bakersfield is definitely a slightly more ‘high-end’ taco place. The tacos here are delicious (as all tacos are), but the ‘X factor’ about Bakersfield is the queso. Unlike most queso’s found everywhere else in Nashville, it’s not just a cheese-y cream sauce. Instead, it seems more like real cheese that’s been melted on a cast-iron skillet. DO NOT underestimate how full you’ll be after this ‘appetizer’. I barely touched my two taco’s after this queso!
Photo from Bakersfield Taco
5. Bar Taco
Known as one of the go-to places for college group dinners, Bar Taco is definitely worth visiting. Located on 12th South, it’s tucked in between some of the best restaurants and cafés in Nashville. While the tacos themselves are not my favorite (I don’t think asian-style meat should go into a taco!), the atmosphere, the location and the other appetizers still make it a great place to get dinner with friends!