The Hot List: Top Tacos from Placerville to Roseville
They’re small(ish), they’re messy, and they’re downright delicious. We’re talking everyone’s favorite food: tacos. Forget Taco Tuesdays, we’ll take tacos any day of the week—especially if they’re one of the following.
Order This: Tacos del Norte
Corn tortillas dipped in California pepper salsa, grilled, and stuffed with your choice of meat; topped with pico de gallo, Cotija cheese, and sour cream.
Santa Maria Taqueria, Meat & Groceries, Placerville, facebook.com/santamariataqueriaaypapa
Order This: Chorizo Street Tacos
Choose from original red or spicy green chorizo on a corn tortilla topped with onions, cilantro, and green and red salsa.
Chando’s Cantina, El Dorado Hills, chandoscantina.com
Order This: Ensenada Shrimp Tacos
Beer-battered, deep-fried shrimp, fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, and tangy sauce; served on handmade tortillas.
La Calle, Folsom, facebook.com/lacallefolsom
Order This: Birria Tacos
Stewed beef with melted Jack cheese, onions, and cilantro; served with an au jus for dipping.
El Favorito Taqueria, El Dorado Hills, 916-790-8835
Order This: Super Taco
Your choice of meat, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes on a soft corn tortilla.
Roundhouse Deli, Roseville, theroundhousedeli.com
Order This: Tri-Tip Tacos
Tri-tip, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and homemade salsa.
El Burrito Taqueria, Roseville, elburritotaq.com
Order This: Crispy Tacos
Tacos De Rajas from Mezcalito; Photo by Ray Burgess
The Tacos de Rajas at Mezcalito (locations in Rocklin and Folsom) are a fun, and tasty, twist on a traditional meaty taco. With a combination of cactus (nopal), roasted poblano peppers, caramelized onions, pico de gallo, grilled queso fresco, and sour cream, these veggie-filled vessels are then topped with Mezcalito’s signature guajillo salsa. If that hasn’t made your mouth water, we don’t know what will! mezcalitocuisine.com
Tacos Sinaloenses from Mexquite; Photo by Ray Burgess
Mashed potatoes on a taco, anyone? If you answered “yes, please” then try the Tacos Sinaloenses at Mexquite in Folsom. Crispy corn tortillas are filled with mash and their classic shredded chicken or beef; topped with a zigzag of sour cream, queso fresco, lettuce, and marinated red onions; and served with Mexican rice and refried beans. Sounds—and tastes—like comfort food to me. mexquite.com
Tacos Chilangos from Cascada; Photo by Dante Fontana
This next one’s bursting with flavor. The Tacos Chilangos at Cascada in Placerville have all the staples of a good taco: juicy meat, a hint of spice, and flavorful accompaniments. Here, sautéed steak and chorizo with onions, jalapeños, mushrooms, tomatoes, and jack cheese are piled into corn tortillas. One bite of these and you’re in taco heaven. cascadainplacerville.com
Spicy Sriracha Shrimp Tacos from Folsom Tap House; Courtesy of Folsom Tap House
We’ll never say no to shrimp tacos. And when they’re Folsom Tap House’s Spicy Sriracha Shrimp Tacos, you know we’re making a beeline for them. Grilled Sriracha-glazed prawns are complemented by a summery, sweet mango salsa, pickled red onions, lettuce, and a piquant roasted green chili sauce. Get in my belly, already! folsomtaphouse.com
Crisped Corned Beef Tacos from Goose Port Public House; Photo by Dante Fontana
We love a tried-and-true taco. We also love those with a twist. So, when we saw Crisped Corned Beef Tacos on the menu at Goose Port Public House in Roseville, we had to put them to the test. Contrary to what you might think, these tacos are anything but dry and exude flavor—especially when paired with Cotija cheese, salsa, and lime. Taco ’bout tasty! gooseport.com
Carnitas Tacos from Rock-N-Fire; Photo by Ray Burgess
Folsom’s Rock-N-Fire might be famed for their pizzas, burgers, and wings, but did you know they serve tacos, too? The Carnitas Tacos—which boast delicately tender braised pork that’s seasoned to perfection, Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, and pico de gallo on soft corn tortillas—are particularly praiseworthy. Understated, yet undeniably tasty, these are worth a try. rocknfirerestaurants.com
Pescado Tacos from Bar 101; Photo by Dante Fontana
There’s something fishy about the Pescado Tacos at Bar 101 in Roseville; they shouldn’t be this good. Crispy beer-battered cod is topped with pico de gallo, cabbage, jack cheese, and a delightful house-made sauce on corn tortillas. Throw in a squeeze of fresh lime and you’re somewhere coastal, sipping on a margarita, and digging your toes in the sand. bar101roseville.com
Pork Belly Taco from Nixtaco; Photo courtesy of Nixtaco
There’s no wrong order at Nixtaco in Roseville (even their vegan tacos are top-notch), but the Pork Belly Taco is our current go-to. Made from slow-roasted belly that’s chilled, sliced, then seared to order, they’re glazed with a chipotle, star anise, and coriander-infused honey glaze and served with grilled cheese, refried beans, peanut chipotle aioli, and scallions on a scratch-made tortilla (with corn ground in-house). If variety is the spice of life, Nixtaco reigns supreme. nixta.co
Tacos Americanos from Zócalo; Photo by Dante Fontana
You really can’t go wrong with the Tacos Americanos at Zócalo. Crispy tacos cradle succulent braised chicken, lettuce, serrano salsa, crema, pico de gallo, Jack and Cotija cheese, and their homemade hot sauce. Once you start shoveling one of these babies into your mouth you’ll be hooked. zocalotogo.com
Tacos De Papa from La Rosa Blanca; Photo by Ray Burgess
La Rosa Blanca in Folsom stays true to its roots and serves up Mexican fare without the bells and whistles. Modest yet flavorful, their Tacos de Papa are a house specialty and a simple, satisfying treat. The crispy tacos are filled with a combination of seasoned potatoes and smoky chorizo and served with rice and beans. Sounds filling? That’s because it is. 916-673-9085
Vietnamese Pork Tacos from Mas Taco Bar: Photo courtesy of Mas Taco Bar
Folsom’s Mas Taco Bar thinks the taco is the perfect vessel for global flavors. They’re not wrong. Just take one bite of their Vietnamese Pork Tacos and you’ll instantly be transported across seas and continents. Sweet, salty, fragrant seasoned pork is topped with onions, cilantro, Sriracha, and—the best part—peanuts. It’s a feast for the senses. mastacobar.com
Shrimp Tacos from Sutter Street Taqueria; Photo by Ray Burgess
If you ask the regulars for recommendations at Sutter Street Taqueria, they’ll tell you to try the shrimp—and with good reason. Their Shrimp Tacos (heck, their shrimp everything) are loaded with tender prawns and tossed in a light, savory sauce that brings a brightness to the flavor palate. Pro tip: Order two servings since they’ll be gone in no time. sutterstreettaqueria.com
More Muy Bueno Tacos
Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, Placerville, pacosmexicancuisine.comOrder This: Tacos del Norte
Corn tortillas dipped in California pepper salsa, grilled, and stuffed with your choice of meat; topped with pico de gallo, Cotija cheese, and sour cream.
Santa Maria Taqueria, Meat & Groceries, Placerville, facebook.com/santamariataqueriaaypapa
Order This: Chorizo Street Tacos
Choose from original red or spicy green chorizo on a corn tortilla topped with onions, cilantro, and green and red salsa.
Chando’s Cantina, El Dorado Hills, chandoscantina.com
Order This: Ensenada Shrimp Tacos
Beer-battered, deep-fried shrimp, fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, and tangy sauce; served on handmade tortillas.
La Calle, Folsom, facebook.com/lacallefolsom
Order This: Birria Tacos
Stewed beef with melted Jack cheese, onions, and cilantro; served with an au jus for dipping.
El Favorito Taqueria, El Dorado Hills, 916-790-8835
Order This: Super Taco
Your choice of meat, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes on a soft corn tortilla.
Roundhouse Deli, Roseville, theroundhousedeli.com
Order This: Tri-Tip Tacos
Tri-tip, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and homemade salsa.
El Burrito Taqueria, Roseville, elburritotaq.com
Order This: Crispy Tacos
Your choice of meat, melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.