San Antonio’s taquerías are once again in the Texas spotlight. On January 7, Texas Monthly Taco Editor José R. Ralat unveiled his coveted list of the “23 Best Taco Spots” in Alamo City, his first major update to the area’s taco trail since he launched the “Ultimate Texas Tacopedia” in 2020.

The list reflects how much the restaurant scene has changed since the pandemic. Although the picks include classics like Maria’s Cafe and Henry’s Puffy Taco Express, many of the spots listed were not in existence when he published his earlier list.

Unlike the 2020 taco trail, the 2026 honor roll does not contain surprises like The Jerk Shack. Instead, it focuses on the wealth of taco styles at Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants.

“The River City is the cradle of Tex-Mex, and its myriad tacos — and residents’ obsession with them — reflect that fact,” writes Ralat in the introduction. “First and foremost, there are breakfast tacos, which are so beloved they routinely create squabbles between San Antonians and Austinites. Then there are barbacoa tacos, a dish so widely enjoyed that there’s an annual Barbacoa & Big Red Festival. Finally, puffy tacos, a local specialty, are the mascot of its minor league baseball team, the San Antonio Missions.”

The unranked roundup of top taco spots follows Ralat’s definitive October 2024 “50 Best Tacos in Texas,” which named specific dishes. San Antonio cleaned up on that list with 10 slots, only two of which did not reappear on the January bucket list. One of the top 50, San Taco, has since closed.

Texas Monthly’s full list of the 23 Best Taco Spots includes:

• Anacacho
• Burnt Bean Co.
• Carnitas Don Raúl
• Casa Tarasca
• Con Huevos Tacos
• Eddies Taco House
• El Pastor Es Mi Señor
• El Remedio
• Garcia’s Mexican Food
• Henry’s Puffy Taco Express
• La Capital del Sabor
• Los Weyes de la Asada
• Maria’s Cafe
• Mariscos del Puerto
• Naco
• San Peter Taquería
• Ray’s Drive Inn
• Ro-Ho Pork & Bread
• Rosas Kitchen
• Taquitos West Ave.
• The Original Donut Shop
• Tommy’s Restaurant
• Viola’s Ventanas