The 10 best tacos in Las Vegas

There’s a reason this Tijuana chain has populated Las Vegas with multiple branches, often with lines out the door. They do Mexican street tacos and they do them right. The adobada—marinated pork—roasts on a spit, sucking in all the flavors of its marinade. As the taco master hacks the meat off the spit to grill it, ask him to grill some pineapple along with it, which gives the taco a complimentary sweetness. The tortillas get some crispness on the grill and avocado crema brings it all together. It’s so simple and oh-so delicious.

There is something distinctly Vegas about having one of the best taco trucks in the city located right in the center of Chinatown, in the parking lot of a tire shop… next to a strip club. The taco dorado is a fried potato taco that somehow keeps the potato center soft and the outer shell crispy. Topped with lettuce, cotija cheese and salsa, it’s an “I dare you to just eat one” type of taco.

Celebrity chef José Andrés is known for both experimenting with his cuisine and making delicious traditional versions of classic dishes. China Poblano, one of his restaurants, serves Mexican and Chinese food but, interestingly enough, the two styles remain distinct, never overwhelming the same dish. The hongos tacos are Andrés's take on the Mexican street food. Hongos are sautéed mushrooms, meaty and full of flavor. They are complemented by rajas or roasted poblano chile strips. The taco is then topped off with guacamole. As with his native Spanish cuisine, Andrés is interested in coaxing out as much flavor as he can from this taco.

The international taco tour makes its way over to Vietnam with this take on the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, the banh mi. This funky taco joint at the District in Green Valley replaces the traditional French roll of the banh mi with a tortilla. Pork belly is a fatty and salty protein, a perfect dance partner for the acidic Vietnamese slaw—daikon, carrots and cilantro—that tops it.

Part taco shop, part nightclub, this hot spot just off the Strip has a smooth vibe and great food. While serving a variety of excellent tacos, the crunchy might be one of the most delicious options on the menu. Shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and hot sauce cover the filling. The interior shines with either ground beef or chicken plus mashed potatoes. Yes, it’s better than most family taco nights many of us remember.

The man is known simply as Carlos. He has his own scratch Mexican kitchen inside of a gas station in the suburbs. There will be times when the wait to try his food will be upwards of 40 minutes. In a gas station! Everything he makes is fresh and so damn good. Carne asada is perfectly grilled, marinated and spiced. It’s got those rough edges, that char you need for it to be perfect. Served on corn tortillas and topped with pico de gallo (and maybe guacamole), this dish proves that, often, the simplest food is the very best food.

Early mornings become much more bearable with fantastic breakfast tacos. At this packed Henderson eatery, the combination of scrambled eggs, potatoes, roasted poblano peppers, crema and salsa arbol on top of corn tortillas elevates a simple dish to something absolutely exquisite.

This Downtown mainstay made its name with dishes like the gyro tacos—taking items that are familiar and turning them upside down. The taco shell is perfectly toasted pita bread. Inside sit classic Greek ingredients: lamb cooked down with za’atar, which gives the whole thing a homey, spicy flavor. It’s topped with creamy tzatziki, feta cheese and diced tomatoes.

It’s a scene at Nobu Caesars Palace, but what else would you expect from the legendary night spot? While the restaurant is best known for helping popularize sushi in America and serving entrées like black cod miso, the tacos here are no joke. These one (or two) bite wonders have a perfectly crunchy wonton shell, can be filled with a variety of delicious options and come two to an order. Opt for the salmon—refreshing with a good kick coming from the shaved jalapeno topping it—or the beef taco (Imported wagyu gives it the upscale treatment).

Truly one of the city’s culinary gems, this cozy restaurant is run by a husband and wife team that specializes in the food of Puebla, Mexico. That means huge flavors and the best mole sauce you’ll ever try. They also happen to make top notch tacos. Cochinita is slow-roasted pork marinated in achiote, which gives the meat a vibrant color and flavor. Orange juice and spices complete this magical mix. The tacos are served with pickled onions, habanero peppers and lime. Clearly, they are not to be missed.