If you've been sleeping on Austin's taco scene, Texas Monthly just gave you two very good reasons to wake up. The iconic Texas food authority dropped its latest list of the best new tacos in the Lone Star State, and our city claimed not one but two spots on the lineup. Honestly? We're not even surprised.
Austin has quietly been having a moment when it comes to next-level taqueria culture. Beyond the breakfast taco legacy we've always claimed, a new generation of taqueros is pushing the craft forward — think house-made tortillas, hyper-local ingredients, and concepts that blur the line between street food and serious culinary vision.
Texas Monthly's taco credentials are basically sacred in this state. When their editors and contributors go on the hunt for standout spots, it's not a casual Yelp scroll — it's a real pilgrimage. Landing on their radar means a taqueria is doing something genuinely distinctive, not just riding the wave of Austin's foodie reputation.
For the local creators and food content folks who've already been posting these spots to their feeds, this is the validation you already knew was coming. And for everyone else, consider this your sign to get in the car and go. Lines will form. They should.
We're keeping an eye on both taquerias as they navigate the spotlight that comes with this kind of recognition. A Texas Monthly co-sign has a way of changing a small operation's trajectory fast — for better or for the kind of overwhelming-weekend-rush worse that tests a kitchen's soul.
Whether you're a longtime Austin local or someone still building your personal taco map of the city, these two spots deserve a spot on your must-visit list before the rest of the country catches on. Go now, brag later.