Best Breakfast Tacos in Austin: 17 Spots to Get Your Fix

Let’s face it. Tacos make everything better. While these folded tortillas loaded with delicious fillings are synonymous with Mexican cuisine, they also transcend culture. Whether you’re in LA, Mexico City, or Austin, people love their tacos.

So where are the best places to get these hand-held morsels in the capital city of Texas? No matter if you’re craving hard-shell tacos with Tex-Mex flair or street-style versions with regional authenticity, we’re spilling the beans on where to get the best breakfast tacos in Austin.

Austin‘s Top Breakfast Taco Spots

Who says you have to wait until Tuesday to get your taco on? (Certainly no Austinite ever.) Consider this your must-try guide for the top tacos in Austin.

El Primo

2011 S. 1st St., Austin, TX 78704

A South Austin favorite, the El Primo and Burrito Factory truck is where to get authentic Mexican food from breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs to a plethora of other tacos ranging from veggie and carne asada to al pastor, barbacoa, and lengua (tongue). Of course, don’t forget the burritos and tortas.

Papalote Taco House

Multiple locations

For all-day breakfast tacos and at least a dozen other different versions (available in corn tortillas or flour tortillas), you can’t go wrong with Papalote Taco House. Choose classics like carnitas topped with pickled onions or chorizo with refried beans, cabbage, queso fresco, and cream. Wash it all down with homemade agua frescas.

Pueblo Viejo

Multiple locations

Ask locals for the best breakfast tacos in town, and there’s a good chance they’ll steer you in the direction of Pueblo Viejo. Along with these morning morsels of scrambled eggs, chorizo, potatoes, and the like, you can find DIY and specialty tacos with your choice of protein.

Veracruz All Natural

Multiple locations

Tacos, smoothies, and juices, oh my. Owned by two sisters — Reyna and Maritza Vasquez — from Veracruz, Mexico, Veracruz All Natural is where to go for tacos ranging from chicken mole to grilled tilapia and vegan veggie. Quesadillas, tortas, aquas frescas, natural fruit juices, and smoothies round out the offerings.

Tyson’s Tacos

4905 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

Want tacos all day every day? Well, amigo, your dreams have come true. Whether your taco craving comes calling at noon or 3 o’clock in the morning, head over to Tyson’s Tacos, which is open 24 hours. (Sorry, Taco Bell. You didn’t stand a chance.) This self-proclaimed “weirdly Austin” eatery is where to get everything from brunch and breakfast tacos to lunch and dinner tacos, brisket flautas, and migas (translation: a Tex-Mex concoction of tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, and lots of cheese).

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

11500 Manchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748

Tacos, Tex-Mex, and BBQ? Yes, please. This popular family-owned taco trailer offers a new-school spin on old-school classics. Featuring high-quality ingredients like grass-fed natural Angus beef and Berkridge Berkshire pork, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is where to get your Tex (think sliced brisket and pulled pork sandwiches) and Mex (hello, pulled pollo and beer-beef fajita tacos). Try the Real Deal Holyfield brisket tacos — a mix of smoked meat, fried eggs, potatoes, beans, and bacon — for the perfect blend of Tex Mex flavor.

Las Trancas Taco Stand

1210 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702 

When you’re in the mood for some straight-up good tacos without any fuss, Las Trancas Taco Stand doesn’t disappoint. Expect perfectly fried taco shells wrapped in foil and served on styrofoam plates with a little container of salsa on the side. Doesn’t get more old-school than that.

Torchy’s Tacos

Multiple locations

Another favorite for just about any type of taco you can imagine, Torchy’s Tacos is so popular they have locations in four different states with 15 in Austin alone. The menu spans breakfast tacos, “damn good tacos,” and plenty of non-taco eats including the can’t-miss queso. It’s some of the best in town (or any town).

Maria’s Taco Xpress

2529 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704

Since its doors first opened more than two decades ago, Maria’s Taco Express has become an Austin institution. Sure, the palm-size street tacos and full-sized plates (huevos rancheros, fajitas, nachos) keep customers happy. But the free weekly live music and fun, eclectic vibe is hard to resist for locals, visitors, and celebs alike. (Hey, is that Johnny Depp having a margarita?)

Tacodeli

Multiple locations

Is it a taqueria or a deli? Why choose when you can indulge in delish Mexican eats at  Tacodeli. Since opening in Austin in 1999, Tacodeli has been feeding the masses with food that’s local, fresh, and responsible. Expect dozens of taco options — including the famous The Otto drizzled in Dona sauce — that focus on organic produce, quality meats, sustainable salmon, and certified pork.

Rosita’s Al Pastor

1911 E. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78741

Rosita’s Al Pastor is a no-frills Austinite haven for affordable Mexican food. Think plenty of tacos (including the popular al pastor) and other classics like gorditas, tortas, chalupas, enchiladas, veggie options, and daily lunch combos.

Granny’s Tacos

1401 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78702

Proving that you don’t need a website or an Instagram account to bring in the crowds, Granny’s Tacos food truck is the kind of place you’d want to support even if the food sucked. (Thankfully it doesn’t.) Housed in a former ambulance vehicle, Granny’s Tacos is where to fill up on breakfast tacos and a few other favorites like burritos and quesadillas.

Tamale House East

1707 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702

Serving Austin since 1958, this Eastside favorite is known for migas tacos, and, of course, its namesake tamales. For old-school Mexican eats, Tamale House East is the real deal.

Trill Taqueria

3307 Oak Springs Dr., Austin, TX 78702

Serving fantastically creative and good tacos in a cute and modern food trailer, Trill Taqueria will take your taco taste buds to whole other level. Focused on locally sourced ingredients, the constantly evolving menu is where you’ll find creative tacos filled with ingredients such as fried chicken, foraged mushrooms, and lamb and boar chorizo.

Vaquero Taco

104 E. 31st St. Austin, TX, 78705

While the food truck is no longer in operation, the good news is that you can still get your grub on at the brick-and-mortar location of Vaquero Taquero. Choose from a variety of tacos (chicken tinga, al pastor, and vegetarian nopales, just to name a few) and quesadillas with your choice of house-made corn or flour tortilla.

Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon

Multiple locations

Along with being a local favorite for wood-grilled meats served by the pound, Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon is also where Austinites go for tasty tacos — think La Fresa with pulled achiote chicken, El Rey with slow-cooked beef brisket, and La Mari with adobo shrimp and avocado.

Joe’s Bakery & Coffeeshop

2305 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78702

With its retro diner vibe and long history in Austin, Joe’s Bakery & Coffeeshop has become a go-to spot for baked goods (hello, Mexican pan dulce), coffee, and yes, tacos. The family-owned business has been up and running since 1962 and the served-all-day breakfast taco menu keeps customers coming back for more.

Mi Madre

2201 Manor Rd

Located in the vibrant Cherrywood district just north of east Austin, Mi Madre is one of the best spots in the city for authentic breakfast tacos. Make sure to try the machacado — a taco featuring eggs, pico de gallo, and delicious marinated beef. The Crispy Meat Taco and Breakfast Rito are also great choices.

Taco Joint

2807 San Jacinto Blvd

Looking for tacos that are stuffed to the brim with all the fixinigs from jack cheese and black beans to poblano and serrano chiles? Head over to Taco Joint where you’ll find huge tacos heaped with delicious fresh ingredients.

Dai Due Taqueria

111 Congress Ave

Dai Due, famous for it’s delicious and high-quality meats bring a new spin to the traditional breakfast taco. Located at Fareground, you’ll find a taco menu featuring hand-crafted ingredients and out-of-this-world flavor. Tortillas are made from locally-sourced heritage corn, which is ground daily into masa. Try the Antelope Picadillo Crispy Taco or the Wild Boar al Pastor.

Juan In A Million

2300 E Cesar Chavez St

With rave reviews from The New York Times, Eater, and the Travel Channel, Juan in a Million is one of Austin’s best taco joints. This taco hot spot blends hospitality with great food, making you feel like a cherished member of the family every time you stop in. Try the Don Juan — a taco that can feed four people — and follow in the footsteps of Adam Richman from Man vs. Food while you try to beat the record of nine Don Juan tacos for men and five for women.

It’s Time to Get Your Fill of the Best Austin Breakfast Tacos

Whether you feel like hard-shell taco dorados loaded with queso, egg whites, and jalapenos or soft-shell tortillas topped with cilantro, onion, and guacamole, Austin is no doubt a taco town. Now that you know where to find the best tacos in this capital city, the only question is: Flour or corn?