6 best restaurants for tacos in Tokyo

Few things can get us up and out the door before 9am on a weekend, but breakfast at Los Tacos Azules is well worth the bright and early start. The tacos here are handmade with blue corn masa harina and have a distinct indigo hue to them. Behind the counter, chef and owner Marco Garcia dishes up a wholesome array of tacos, chicken tamales and other classic dishes from his home country of Mexico made with seasonal Japanese produce. 

Offerings range from the simple, single-filling avocado taco to carnitas en salsa tacos (our favourite), such that every morsel you tuck into is rich and flavourful but never greasy. The tacos, offered as single servings, are surprisingly filling, so be careful to leave room for the chilaquiles (a traditional Mexican breakfast of quartered and fried tortillas) with optional – but really essential – toppings of a soft-boiled egg and avocado.

This bright and casual open kitchen at Hiroo’s Eat Play Works complex is the first international outpost of a Michelin-starred modern Mexican restaurant in Brooklyn owned by Justin Bazdarich and Chris Walton. The menu here is slightly smaller than its New York counterpart, but you’ll still get Michelin-quality bites with signature dishes like the surprisingly moreish beet ‘chorizo’ taco with crispy potato and avocado. 

Kichijoji’s popular Tacos Shop has opened a second outlet closer to central Tokyo, just a few minutes away from Ikejiriohashi Station. Here you’ll find Mexican tacos being served until 2am, with traditional fillings like carnitas, suadero (beef) and shrimp as well as unique flavour combinations like ricotta cheese and passion fruit. Plus, there’s even a vegan-friendly option: maitake mushroom ‘chorizo’ wrapped inside a house-made tortilla.

Tacos start from ¥400 each, but the weekday lunch deal is also a bargain: from 11am-3pm, ¥1,200 gets you two tacos and your choice of salad or soup. A takeout taco box (¥1,000) is also available throughout the day.

Everyone loves a good taco truck and Shibuya’s La Cabina is as decent as they come. Parked in front of Oslo Brewing's Øl bar, this faithful taco truck is run by Mexican chef Haim Cifuentes, who dishes up old family recipes with dishes like sopa de tortilla, seasonal ceviche and of course, tacos. 

Ordering the tempura-inspired fish tacos here – as featured on Netflix's 'Taco Chronicles' – is a no-brainer, but first-timers should also try the classic carnitas (traditional Mexican shredded pork) and al pastor (grilled pork) topped with pineapple for a tropical kick. You can get two tacos for ¥850, three for ¥1,100 or four for ¥1,300.

Taco Fanatico is what you’d get if you put a Japanese spin on Tex-Mex. Is it authentic? No, but with its crowd-pleasing menu of jalapeno poppers, nacho fries and tacos with homemade tortillas, this buzzing street-side eatery never fails to deliver on a good night out. 

There are six types of tacos on the menu, including adobo marinated pork with pineapple (¥319), tempura shrimp (¥429) and lamb with harissa mayo (¥396), as well as a vegan one.  The range of tequilas on offer is even wider, with over 60 different labels to choose from. Trios of tequila tastings are available from ¥1,000 to ¥2,300, but on hot summer nights it's impossible to resist the fruity Senorita Frozen Margarita (¥990).

Not every taco needs to be washed down with tequila. This hideaway restaurant in Ebisu serves tacos as part of a multi-course dinner menu (7,050 per person) with an optional wine pairing (total 12,000). The palm-sized tacos here are small yet decadent, with a cross-cultural spin on modern Mexican cuisine – and we’re not talking about Tex-Mex. 

While the main dish at Kiyas is the carne asada platter (a build-your-own taco course), other star bites include decidedly non-traditional combinations like the foie gras taco with apple compote. 

It’s never easy to re-create the authentic flavours of a place on the other side of the world. Nonetheless, there’s a small yet passionate group of expats who’ve made it their mission to stay true to keep the (kitchen) flame burning with home-grown produce and multi-generational recipes. 

If you can't make a shopping trip to Mexico, reach out to Fiesta Farm – a family farm in Chiba growing crops like guajillo, ancho and arbol chiles. Alongside its fresh produce, the farm also sells batches of homemade tortillas (¥1500 for 20 tortillas) and Mexican chorizo to take your home taco parties to the next level. First time hosting? Check out the Nippon Viajero website for upcoming taco workshops alongside other Mexican cooking classes led by chef Vanessa Quintana.