If your personal motto is to live every day like it’s Taco Tuesday, you’re in luck. There are plenty of taco restaurants in Orlando ranging from hole-in-the-wall casual spots to date night-worthy destinations topped with ambiance. If you want to win some serious bonus points with your taco-loving other half, here’s where to take him or her for a delectable dream date.
Updated April 2022 by Dani Meyering
Black Rooster Taqueria
Every taco love affair has to begin somewhere, and for me, that place was Black Rooster Taqueria in the Mills 50 District. Here, the tacos are dressed simply (cilantro, onions, salsas, shaved radishes and the like) because the flavorful meat and homemade tortillas are so amazing you really don’t need all the extras. The restaurant is helmed by husband and wife duo John and Juliana Calloway.
Inside, Day of the Dead décor contributes to the vibrant and artsy interior, while the open kitchen and steady stream of patterns contribute to the lively atmosphere. Favorite tacos include the crispy fish, chicken tinga and signature grilled Black Rooster. Several vegetarian options are also available. Whatever you do, make sure to order the made to order fresh guacamole. Just a heads up, the restaurant closes daily for a few hours between lunch and dinner, so get your fix before 2pm or after 5pm.
Bonus: Black Rooster is located next door to The Guesthouse and the two combined make for an amazing double date.
Hunger Street Tacos
Every aspect of Hunger Street Tacos is a celebration of Mexican culture, from the authentic Mexico City street food fare to the colorful murals lining the walls (painted by Lapiztola, a group of four artists) and the passionate brothers, Joseph and David Creech who own the business. Taco lovers owe thanks to Joseph’s wife, Seydi, whose taco craving led to the formation of a catering business and eventually the restaurant in Winter Park. Pay homage to the restaurant’s roots by ordering the taco that started it all, the signature Suadero taco.
While the tacos are fantastic, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not branching out to order more than just tacos. Dishes like the indulgent marrow and mushroom sope and squash blossom quesadilla shine a spotlight on the talented chefs and act as a wonderful introduction to authentic Mexico City cuisine. This is a yummy place to take the vegan or vegetarian in your life, too.
FYI: Parking is available behind the restaurant and across the street in the church parking lot. All seating is outdoors under a covered patio.
MX Cleat
A quick favorite on Orlando’s taco scene, MX Taco is a small but mighty taco joint in The Milk District. Each taco on the menu, which is formatted as a map, points to a specific region of Mexico, providing you with a visual representation of where your chosen taco(s) originate from. Corn tortillas are stuffed with savory, juicy braised meats full of flavor. Tacos are priced at $3 – $3.50 each. Grab some extra napkins; this is not the spot to go to if you’re worried about looking sexy while you eat your tacos.
To complete your meal, pair your tacos with a side order of elote and creamy, perfectly salted guac. Aguas Frescas are also available in several fresh flavors, watermelon being a personal favorite.
If you want to continue the night, hop across the street for a post-taco feast brew at Sideward Brewing.
Ocoee Taco Company
Colorful details and a warm, inviting staff will make you feel right at home at Ocoee Taco Company. This hole in the wall taco joint in Ocoee quickly reaches capacity at dinner hours when families and couples from near and far stream in to pick up to-go orders or nosh on budget-friendly eats.
Tacos are around $2 each and there are a variety of meats to choose from, like carnitas, asada, pollo and more. Order at least three to fill up, with your favorite Jarritos flavored beverage of course. To make it a complete date, head over to Toll Road Brewing Company for a craft brew before walking down W Oakland Ave for a sunset smooch at Bill Breeze Park, located on the shores of Starke Lake.
Kings Mezcaleria
Happy hour: Tuesday – Friday 4:00pm -6:00pm with small plates and drink specials
Anything restaurateurs Jason and Sue Chin create is guaranteed to be a hit and Reyes Mezcaleria is no exception. You’ll find this stunning restaurant serving upscale Mexican cuisine in the heart of the North Quarter District. You can certainly get your fill ordering an assortment of tacos (there are six options on the menu), but make sure to save some room for appetizers and dessert. Start with something hearty like the sharable ceviche (made with citrus cured local light caught fish, Serrano chiles and olives) or elote. Don’t skip a cocktail; Reyes has a large selection of mezcal and tequila and plenty of craft cocktails to imbibe.
bartaco
Happy Hour (High Tide): Weekdays 3:00pm – 6:30pm with beer and cocktail specials
The hearty trays of tacos at bartaco make for pretty Instagram photos (guilty) and thankfully the tacos taste delicious. Thanks to their small size (each taco is about 3 bites each) you can shamelessly order a whole tray of tacos for yourself. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on Dr. Phillips, but the lush outdoor patio and bright interior exude beachfront vibes that will transport you to your own personal taco paradise.
There are multiple taco varieties on the menu, but I recommend the Baja fish (made with tempura-battered cod), the glazed pork belly, and the savory roasted duck. Make sure to ask your server about the current “bartaco secret”, an off the taco special menu that rotates frequently.
The Whole Enchilada
Where can you sip a fresh margarita on a rooftop, make your Taco Tuesday dreams come true, and explore a hip walkable neighborhood? Answer: The Whole Enchilada in downtown Winter Garden. This local favorite on Plant Street is revered for its colorful and spacious rooftop bar. Tropical details and an upbeat playlist set the low-key party vibe upstairs, while bright foliage and neon signs in the downstairs dining room up the ante on the fast-casual concept. This is not the place to go for authentic tacos, but the food is tasty and the guacamole is a must. Ordering a margarita is a necessity; each is made with fresh sour mix and fruit and flavor varieties include mango, watermelon, prickly pear, and strawberry.
Blue agave
Social hour: Monday – Friday, except Tuesdays, 3:00pm – 6:00pm with food and drink specials
Agave Azul is far from a dedicated taqueria, offering an overwhelming borderline menu of Mexican cuisine aside from an equally large assortment of margaritas. There are multiple locations around the greater Orlando area, each with a lively, yet polished atmosphere and a bar where you could easily lose a whole afternoon as you share chips and salsa and one margarita turns into two, then three, and so on.
The restaurant’s signature taco offering is the platter of pork carnitas tacos. The Dos Equis-soaked pork is slow braised for 24 hours and the tacos come garnished with cilantro and onions atop three corn homemade tortillas. Frozen house margaritas come in an assortment of fruity flavors like strawberry, mango and raspberry, while the specialty margaritas are slightly more exotic. The Amor y Odio margarita is a feast for the senses made with 1800 Silver, blood orange liquer, blood orange puree, lime and a splash of grapefruit juice.
kitchen 214
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 4:00pm – 6:30pm with food and drink specials
Another Winter Park favorite, Kitchen 214 is tucked just off of Park Avenue. Serving a hearty menu of Tex-Mex fare, this is the ideal place to take any taco lover without sacrificing the atmosphere. The rich, trendy interior gives way to a bright covered outdoor patio ripe for people watching while you dine.
Must-try dishes include the melted cheese appetizer (add chorizo!) and the classic rotisserie chicken tacos topped with Poblano salsa, roasted corn and queso fresco. All your favorite margarita options are on the menu along with a few unique concoctions. The Pop Rocks Rita is a party in your mouth, comprised of Tierras organic tequila, agave, fresh lime and cranberry garnished with a Pop Rocks rim.
Tin & Taco – multiple locations
Taco Tuesday: Most locations offer a selection of simple tacos, 2 for $6.50
Owned by the owner of Gringos Locos, Robert Bair, Tin & Taco became a fast favorite when it opened its first location in downtown Orlando. Now, this local brand’s presence encompasses six locations, and still growing.
Cheese-crusted flour tortillas come stuffed with things like craft beer mac & cheese (the Mac Attack—I recommend swapping the ground beef for brisket) and traditional tacos get an upgrade with the addition of crushed Doritos (the Tacosaurus, my personal favorite). Besides a massive variety of taco options, you can place any of the filling combinations on other menu items like rice bowls, nachos, or crispy fries. Some locations even have brunch!
Taco Cheena
Beloved by many as one of the best places in Orlando to grab a very late night bite (Tako Cheena is open until 4am Friday & Saturday), Tako Cheena’s fusion tacos taste just as good during the daylight hours. Owner Edgardo Guzman serves up tasty Asian fusion tacos like the Thai peanut chicken (topped with cabbage, cilantro, scallions and crushed peanuts) and Chinese BBQ Char Siu pork belly (with crispy pork rings and ginger scallions). There are seven tacos to choose from.
If you feel like going on a taco scavenger hunt, take your date to one of Tako Cheena’s newer semi-secret locations at Stonewall Bar (if the Tako Cheena banner is out, the kitchen is open) and the Massey Cadillac dealership on John Young Parkway (open for lunch Monday-Saturday from 10am-3pm).
Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa
Mills 50 is the ideal area for a taco crawl, with Black Rooster Taqueria, Tako Cheena and Pig Floyd’s all within a quarter-mile of each other. Yet each maintains its own distinct offerings in the taco realm, with Pig Floyd’s claim to fame being lip-smacking good BBQ and global fusion tacos with Indian, Mexican and Korean flavor. For a taste of the BBQ, order a La Vaca Tahkaw, a taco stuffed with smoked and braised brisket, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheddar cheese, toasted black sesame seeds and drive-in sauce. Make sure to order a side of sweet plantains to share.
Related: Murals and Menus Around Orlando
More tacos in Orlando we love:
For more yummy eats, explore the Best Burgers in Orlandoand our Local’s Favorite Places for Pizza.
All photos by Stephanie Patterson unless otherwise noted