Tacos are the most important meal of the day. Or, so your abuela and that foodie influencer you follow say. Whether you need to impress at a lunch meeting, or just need the endorphin hit of your teeth sinking into a warm, handmade tortilla to power through the afternoon, these are the places to go when midday consumption is your priority.
Taqueria los perez
$ | (951) 201-9612 | WEBSITE
At Taqueria los perez, the early bird gets the carnitas. Although the restaurant serves until evening, come before the lunch rush hits. The wipe-clean tables, simple plastic chairs, and self-service salsa bar with its array of colorful salsas give it an authentic taqueria feel. And the food is flavorful, nap-inducing stuff. If you don’t fancy going all in on a full order, we’re big fans of the fresh, soft tortilla with juicy carne asada and crispy-edged carnitas too.
PUPUSERIA Y TAQUERIA LA SALVADOREÑA
$ | (918) 951-9352 | WEBSITE
In a city filled with excellent taco options, this Salvadoran spot on Tulsa’s food scene is one that will have you planning your next visit before you’ve even finished your meal. A lively little place that’s often buzzing with energy, this is the destination for authentic pupusas and birria tacos. Just about everything from their fresh salsa bar that includes their vibrant, house-made salsas is a winner.
If you’re torn between the ceviche or another shrimp burrito, get both, and save room for their ranchero music and lively atmosphere.
Pacheco’s Taqueria
$ | (918) 810-1513 | WEBSITE
Someone’s craving authentic tacos, someone’s just finished a long shift—whatever the reason for stopping by, Pacheco’s Taqueria fits the bill. The friendly staff, warm atmosphere, and mouthwatering aromas are all giveaways that this is somewhere for a very satisfying meal. Juicy al pastor is piled onto freshly pressed corn tortillas, and a torta soaks up flavorful juices ready for dunking in house-made salsas. The prices are reasonable but for that 50-cent card fee, it’s a small gripe.
Catrina Fresh Mex
$ | (918) 236-3676 | WEBSITE
Don’t be put off by the fact that Catrina Fresh Mex is Tulsa’s most colorful, best-decorated, and most-photographed taco spot. It’s also—alongside its massive Anaheim burrito—its best. Portions are huge without being overwhelming, which is why you should get your plate loaded up with as much as you can handle. The fact that your order will be greeted with smiles and a warm welcome shouldn’t deter you from being indulgent. There’s no guilt here.
And seeing that perfectly grilled tortilla on the chicken quesadilla is the reason you came.
Taqueria el tamauliTACO
This small taqueria, tucked away in Tulsa, makes excellent tacos. Put your usual taco order to one side and survey the menu full of freshly made specialties like cabeza tacos, quesabirrias, and taco a la plancha. If you’re after a more substantial meal, the tamaulipapas and roast beef dish are the way to go.
Snacks El Coco Loco
Snacks El Coco Loco is best-known for its stunning oceanfront location that has Tulsa visitors booking months in advance like it’s a Coachella ticket drop. But the equally lovely weekday mornings, quiet from sunrise until lunch, are a much more serene affair. Like the resort activities, relaxation at Snacks El Coco Loco is equal parts adventurous and peaceful.
Eco-friendly cabanas (if said cabanas came with yoga decks and hammocks) overlooking quiet beaches with good waves and amazing sunsets are the perfect example.
Zasa’s Pizza and Wings – Mother Road Market
$ | (918) 240-1970 | WEBSITE
Zasa’s Pizza and Wings is a Tulsa spot that specialises in the kind of cheesesteaks that will leave you rolling out the door and mumbling about heaven being in Mother Road Market. The thing to get here is the pizza. Groups of friends and families with young children pile in at the food hall to snack on wings, dunk fluffy crust with a crunch in delicious toppings, and fight over the cheesesteaks. It’s satisfying, communal stuff, perfect for casual food hall dining.
Tacos Mi Rey
$ | (918) 605-9264 | WEBSITE
At Tacos Mi Rey—a popular taco truck in Tulsa with covered seating beloved by locals and road-trippers—smiles are exchanged over huge plates of birria tacos with cascading waterfalls of green and red sauce. Quick meals are all but abandoned as a torta asada hits the table. It’s a busy, happy place where everything is amazing but the birria tacos are the things to get. It’s flavorful, quality stuff—much like the service which features a lot (a.k.a.
the right amount) of friendly and accommodating staff.
Taqueria Azteca
$ | (918) 210-8655 | WEBSITE
Pulling up to Taqueria Azteca, a late-night food truck with outdoor seating under a large shade canopy, is a foolproof end to the evening. The Tulsa spot serves tacos and burritos nightly, which is just as well because after devouring that first pastor taco, you’ll want it with alarming regularity. The lengua taco—a combination of tender meat, fresh cilantro, onion, and that spicy green sauce—is how we’d ideally like to finish every day.
Mother Road Market
$ | (918) 984-9009 | WEBSITE
Although Mother Road Market is primarily a lunch destination, the lively Tulsa spot is a favourite for families and food explorers in dire need of diverse flavors like Korean bimbimbap, jerk chicken wings, and Tonkotsu Ramen. The vibe is vibrant food stalls and ice cream cones on the back patio, but in a reasonably priced way for most dishes. The vendor offerings are reliably satisfying, though a customized health smoothie from Railhead Coffee can go a long way, too.
That said, the souvenir prices might also see you reconsider that extra purchase.
Ted’s Café Escondido
$ | (918) 301-8337 | WEBSITE
Ted’s Café Escondido has been serving Tulsa since it opened, and if you’re looking for a warm welcome, quick service, and chips so thin you’ll need to pace yourself, then this is the spot. The food is all about flavor. They serve some truly great chimichangas, which includes the unique, much-loved, salsa-fermented queso. The atmosphere is lively, the wait staff keeps drinks full, and the flour tortillas are a highlight.
While seating can get busy, they go out of their way to make you feel at home.