Behold: the Best Tacos in Every State, According to Yelp

Did you know Yelp is about to hit its 20th anniversary?

Since October 2004, the platform has become a go-to source of user-generated ratings and reviews of local businesses, and any restaurateur can tell you that, for better or for worse, online reviews contribute greatly to their success. That’s why it’s always great to see Yelp celebrating the best of the best, uplifting newcomers to the restaurant space as well as confirming that some tried-and-true spots still have their luster. Ahead of National Taco Day on October 4, Yelp has released its list of the Best Taco in Every State for 2024, and the collection is a delicious blend of old and new.

So, what makes a great taco?

Tacos are like sandwiches: a million delicious variations exist, but they all share the same basic form factor. A taco is an assemblage of fillings inside a shell — flour or corn, soft or crispy — and everything else is up to the chef. Though there are many conversations to be had about traditional tacos, so-called authentic tacos, and the nebulous term “fusion tacos,” Yelp’s ranking of the best taco in every state represents a wide array of styles and approaches. 

“As long as the business served tacos, they were considered,” a Yelp spokesperson told Food & Wine. “This list includes everything from traditional Mexico City-style tacos to innovative tacos that buck tradition, and spotlights the diversity of taco spots nationwide.”

How Yelp chose the best taco in every state — plus the District of Columbia

Because Yelp contains a virtually limitless supply of user-generated content, delving into what makes one restaurant the “best” can be a little tricky. Thousands of taco joints nationwide have the same average rating, so it’s not simply a matter of plucking the places that have the highest volume of five-star reviews. That’s where Yelp’s data science team comes in.

While the methodology applied to lists like this is not entirely revealed, Yelp did confirm to Food & Wine that the data science team weighs many factors beyond favorable review volume (though that is of course taken into account). Among other things, the group uses a predetermined set of keywords related to positive experience and good food to assess individual reviews for how often those keywords are mentioned. 

“It’s a bit like a secret recipe that goes beyond just the number of reviews and ratings, and ensures our lists reflect the businesses that communities are loving right now,” said a Yelp spokesperson. 

Yelp promotes great taco spots annually around National Taco Day, and this list is the latest effort to highlight standout businesses. But just because a restaurant you love isn’t on this list doesn’t mean it isn’t exceptional — and if there’s a place you’re passionate about, you should consider giving it a shoutout online.  

The best tacos in the U.S.

So, what’s on Yelp’s list this year? A little bit of everything. 

Looking over the list, it’s clear how much each state puts their own local signature on tacos. For instance, the listing for Alaska, Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos, is described by its owner as “Locally owned and operated by a former commercial fisherman,” serving tacos filled with wild Alaskan halibut, rockfish, and salmon. Meanwhile, a little closer to the U.S.–Mexico border, in Riverside, California, Birrieria Little Tijuana specializes in quesabirria beef tacos with a cup of consomé on the side for dipping. 

It’s also evident just how popular Mexican or Mexican-inspired food is, no matter where in the United States you live. In Montana, for example, Jalisco Cantina runs a buzz-worthy business in the resort town of Whitefish, population ~9,000. Yelp reviewers particularly enjoy the Aguacate Taco, featuring masa-fried avocado, red cabbage, jalapeño mayo, salsa Mexicana, cotija cheese, fresno hot sauce, and cilantro. 

And finally, if Yelp’s list teaches us anything, it’s that tacos might be found where you least expect them. Just ask residents of Indianapolis, who know that their taco cravings can be satisfied at a spot called Chris’ Ice Cream — a shop specializing equally in frozen treats and Mexican-style eats. One reviewer says the tacos here were “prepared quickly and with love and tasted divine.”

For your own taste of the divine, see which taco spots are near you. And read on for the full list below:

• Deckhand Dave's Fish Tacos, Juneau, AK
• Antojitos Izcalli, Tuscaloosa, AL
• La Tapatia Taqueria & Birria, Little Rock, AK
• Just Tacos and More, Phoenix, AZ
• Birrieria Little Tijuana, Riverside, CA
• Tacos Aya Yay, Lafayette, CO
• Los Garcia Mexican Fusion, Waterbury, CT
• Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine, Washington, D.C.
• Stop N Go Taco, Rehoboth Beach, DE
• Tacos Jalisco, Key Largo, FL
• Tacos Del Chavo, Kennesaw, GA
• Shaka Tacoz, Captain Cook, HI
• Flame The Taqueria, Johnston, IA
• Bronco Tacos, Boise, ID
• El Tragón Taqueria, Chicago, IL
• Chris' Ice Cream, Indianapolis, IN
• Taco Naco KC, Overland Park, KS
• Cravings Byanca, Crestwood, KY
• Birria & Barbacoa de chivo Los Compadre's, Baton Rouge, LA
• Taqueria El Amigo, Waltham, MA
• DMV Taqueria, Columbia, MD
• Bird & Co, Portland, ME
• Que Pasa Taqueria, Sterling Heights, MI
• Bravis, Shakopee, MN
• El Jarocho Mexican Store And Taqueria, Valley Park, MO
• Chukis Deli Mexicano, Olive Branch, MS
• Jalisco Cantina, Whitefish, MT
• 13 Tacos & Taps, Raleigh, NC
• Tacos Trompo, Fargo, ND
• Mula Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria, Omaha, NE
• California Burritos, Nashua, NH
• El Alebrije Mexican Food, Wildwood Crest, NJ
• El Chile Toreado, Santa Fe, NM
• Aroma Latin American Cocina, Henderson, NV
• Los Tacos No. 1, New York, NY
• Los Agavez Taqueria, Columbus, OH
• Taco Nation, Oklahoma City, OK
• La Pachanga Mexican Food, Aloha, OR
• Comalli Taqueria, West Reading, PA
• Casa Azul Taqueria, Providence, RI
• Tacos Nayarit, Columbia, SC
• El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant, Rapid City, SD
• Maciel's Tortas and Tacos, Memphis, TN
• Cuantos Tacos, Austin, TX
• Holy Taco, Orem, UT
• La Tingeria, Falls Church, VA
• Mojo Cafe, Ludlow, VT
• Xochi, Issaquah, WA
• Lazo's Taco Shack, Milwaukee, WI
• Maria's Taqueria, Shepherdstown, WV
• Streetfood at the Stagecoach, Wilson, WY