If you love Mexican food, then you’ll know that tacos have always been the taco talk of the Mexican food-loving town. It’s a crowd-favorite staple bursting with flavors, whether in crunchy or soft form and can be packed with all the best ingredients you can think of.
Here we round up some of Metro Manila’s best Mexican restaurants to get your taco fix!
Image: The Smoking Joint
A meat-lovers’ paradise, The Smoking Joint’s main pride and joy is their uber-meaty selection of perfectly smoked meats, flavored with their secret rub recipe, which extends to their simple yet yummy taco menu. You can enjoy a Pulled Pork Taco (P99), Sisig Taco (P99), and even Duck Taco (P120), all made with soft tortillas. Each order includes two of these bite-sized, flavorful wonders. Don’t forget to visit on #TacoTuesdays!
 |
 |
Image: La Chinesca
The famed Mexican joint that’s been making taco waves prides itself with its exquisite gourmet taco menu. Their best-sellers include the Carnitas (P120), made with pork confit and roasted pineapple, the Wagyu (P200), packed with beef cheek and salsa, and Carne Asada (P135), featuring hanging tender. BTW, you can’t leave without trying the hit Tuna Tostada (P260), an open-faced crispy offering of fresh tuna, chipotle mayo, and salsa fresca.
 |
 |
Image: Silantro
The long lines at Silantro say it all! This popular Fil-Mex cantina is king in providing deliciousness at an affordable price, especially with their Lucha Tacos! You can pick from soft or hard shell tacos and which meat you’d like to dig in to – lamb, lengua, fish, beef, chicken, or pork. Each taco comes in Lingero (P85), Medio (P105), and Complete (125), which gives you either single, double, or a triple choice of meats, respectively.
 |
 |
Image: Vengo
It’s in the name – Taco Vengo is here to serve up some unconventional taco twists. Some soft taco favorites include the Slow Cooked Lamb (P145) and the Honey Soy Chicken (P130). Pescetarians will appreciate the Salmon Belly (P145) with sriracha aioli, and vegans can go for the Asian Slaw Tofu (P130) made with kimchi slaw. They’ve even got a Vengo Cheesesteak Fried Cheese Taco (P175) that’s made from a cheese and bacon shell!
Image: Pancake House
Of course, how could we forget the favorite classic taco of many generations? The go-to, well-loved Best Taco in Town (P120) is from Pancake House, which has kept its distinct recipe of a crunchy shell, juicy ground beef, and crisp fresh veggies solid throughout the years. You can never go wrong with this family favorite!
 |
 |
Image: El Chupacabra
A famous spot for Poblacion crawlers is El Chupacabra, a Mexican street taco joint that’s as authentic as it is delish! These soft, open-faced delights are easy to binge on, with flavors bursting with every bite. Try their best-selling Carne Asada (P115), made with grilled steak, or the San Francisco-Style Pork Sisig (P140). Vegetarians can also feast on the Soyrizo Con Papas P135, a vegan-friendly chorizo with potatoes. Fish-lovers, we also recommend the Baja California Fish Taco (P145) for some crispy perfection.
Image: Gringo
The taco selection at Gringo is wide enough for any kind of taco preference. Care for a crispy taco? Have a Chili Con Carne Taco (P88). Maybe a soft street taco? Try the Spicy Tuna (P125) or the Latin Salpicao P105)! What about a baked taquito? The Buffalo Chicken (P265) has you covered. Warning: The choices may overwhelm you!
Not only is Cobalabamba a tongue-twister, but this Mexican resto’s also a sure crowd-pleaser. Among their menu star is their taco selection, each served with shredded lettuce and frijoles (Mexican beans side dish). They’ve got Lengua Tacos (P175) for adventurous eaters who love ox tongue, or even Lechon Tacos (P150), packed with sinfully fried pork belly. Seafood options are also available, like the Grilled Shrimp Tacos (P195) which is served with crab fat aioli, and the Crispy Fish (P150), complemented by spicy sriracha aioli.
Image: Lagrima
Lagrima lets you customize your taco fix with your choice of taco filling and how you want to devour it – either in soft Street Taco form (P130), Gringas, which is grilled with cheese, (P140), or Crunchy Taco (P160). Now, pick your poison – care for some Buche (braised pork)? What about Papas (grilled sweet potato), Pollo Asado (grilled chicken), or Chorizo (pork chorizo)?
 |
 |
Image: Agave
You’ve probably passed by this hip joint at night, booming with music and tables of people enjoying cocktails. But hey, Agave Mexican Cantina’s got some good ‘ol tacos, too! Dig into the hefty Agave Taco Salad, which is your fave taco fillings served in a crispy tortilla bowl. Choose from Grilled Chicken (P295), Taco Beef (P275), or Grilled Shrimp (P325). They also have Fish Tacos, where you can choose between crispy deep-fried Cream Dory (P165) or Grilled Tilapia (P195).
