With Mexican cuisine recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, you can already imagine the delight of this post “The 6 Tacos you must try in Mexico”.
Talking about Mexico is synonymous with tacos and vice versa, whether you visit the country or find a Mexican restaurant in the world, they always have tacos, although they are not always as tasty as the locals.
The seasoning of traditional Mexican cuisine has a long list of specialties that will have a special treat depending on the destination you visit and that is what invites you to tour Mexico on a gastronomic tour that is never forgotten.
Tacos, pozole, enchiladas, flautas, gorditas, tamales, quesadillas, chilaquiles, chiles rellenos, are something that you can taste and that, depending on where you do it, will have that particular flavor.
A tamale in Chiapas is not the same as a tamale in Sinaloa, neither is a taco of cochinita pibil from Campeche the same taco, but made in Mexico City. You have to go and try…
The importance of tacos in Mexico
The RAE defines taco as “corn tortilla rolled with some food inside, typical of Mexico”, so, except for other meanings of the word, officially the taco is Mexican.
There is no doubt that this famous dish is part of the identity of the Mexican people and as such, its preparation merits a whole protocol; for this is that there is the profession of taquero that, in Mexico, not everyone exercises.
Another minor detail regarding the taco is that it has its day on March 31, date recognized in Mexico as Taco Day; the origin of the celebration is a campaign of a television station held in 2007.
But so important is this dish that in the United States also has its own day, October 4, which is commemorated with very good discounts from shops that sell it.
One of the curiosities of this popular food is the one revealed by a study by Baruch Sanginés, a demographer and geographer of the UNAM, who in 2019 developed a map where he located all the taquerias of the country.
The study also confirmed that, with few exceptions, 95% of CDMX residents have a taco stand 400 meters from their home and that in Mexico there is one taqueria per thousand inhabitants.
A taquito, of any kind, is not denied to anyone.
What are the best tacos in Mexico?
It is very difficult to say, in tastes break genres, in addition that in Mexico there are countless types of tacos, impossible to deny that taco is the national food par excellence, so there is no single flavor, on the contrary, the list of tacos can be quite extensive, the important thing is a good corn tortilla, its spicy salsita and cilantro with well chopped onion.
Among the favorite tacos and the best sellers that compete for the first place in the ranking, we have:
Tacos al Pastor
It is said to have its origin in shawarma, an Arab dish brought to Mexico in the 19th century by Turkish immigrants and adapted to local cuisine.
Thus it was as the preparation step from using lamb meat to using pork, the Arabic bread is replaced by corn tortilla and spices added chili and achiote.
Today to eat some delicious tacos to the pastor you have to go to a taqueria since it is there where they are prepared in a top, as it should be.
It is made with pork marinated in chili sauce, which is roasted vertically in the famous top decorated with a pineapple and left to cook slowly for hours.
Then there is the magic of the taquero who is in charge of filleting the pieces of meat that will fall on the corn tortilla to be accompanied by a few touches of pineapple. Very tasty!
Tacos de Canasta
These rich taquitos are made with native nixtamalized corn tortillas, a fundamental requirement for a good taco de canasta.
The fillings can be potato, bean, adobo, pork rind, there is also mole, pipian, potato with chorizo, rajas with cream, etc.
Once you fill the tortillas with their stew, they are bathed in oil with their due protocol so that they turn out the delicacy that many of us will taste.
Without forgetting the green or red salsa, onion and cilantro to accompany.
Originally from the mining regions of Hidalgo and Guanajuato, this taco was a food that could be moved and kept “hot” wrapped in rags, and was easy for workers to eat.
Tacos de Barbacoa
One of the chosen, with a background in ancestral techniques of the Huasteca Potosina, beef barbecue tacos delight palates throughout Mexico.
What used to be a cooking in a well, is now in a pressure cooker, but the tasty is achieved because it is achieved…
The preparation requires beef suadero and a long list of vegetables, spices and chilies, a job that is not for everyone, although if you dare to do it, then tell us how it went.
Taco Árabe or Arabian Taco
They have their origin in Puebla, in the recipes brought by immigrants from the Middle East. Its preparation was initially lamb, but over time and for the cost of this, it is replaced by pork.
Arabian tacos are made with grilled pork and of course have their secrets in the preparation, with a detailed list of instructions so that the result does not disappoint, a delight that delights with its flavor.
Tacos Dorados
These tacos are originally from Sinaloa, they are a different type of taco, with a preparation that includes a folded tortilla, with some kind of filling that is then fried until it is golden or crispy.
It is served accompanied by green chili or red chili, cabbage or lettuce, cream, guacamole and some type of cheese.
This taquito has many ways to prepare it according to the destination, some options are golden bean tacos, beef or chicken tinga, cochinita pibil, barbecue, carnitas, chicharrón, cheese, picadillo, potato, etc.
The good news is, if you’re a vegetarian, there’s a nice golden taco for you…
Tacos de Suadero
Suadero tacos have no record of a specific origin, but they are highly demanded in Mexico City so it is said that is where he was born.
If you didn’t know, the suadero meat is the one that is located between the ribs and the skin of the beef, with a capita of fat and a meat, so it is far from being soft, but with a proper cooking, it achieves what many love, a rich taco suadero with a taste totally different to any part of the beef you can try.
With double corn tortilla, suadero pieces are accompanied by onion and cilantro, ready for you to choose the salsa and it was time to taste…
What do you want? Do not suffer anymore, walk those 400 meters that separate you and go for your taco…