Calling all TACO LOVERS! This one’s for you. I am a big taco snob. I love tacos (fish tacos are my favorite) and I’m always trying to find new places to try. I’ve had my fair share of so-so tacos, amazing tacos, and "sandpaper dry" tacos. Here are a few of the best taco joints I’ve personally tried in the NH/ME seacoast area that is near & dear to my heart...
Price: $
122 Lafayette Rd, North Hampton, NH 03862
This family-owned taco joint is brand new in the area and it is AMAZING!! The flavor explosion that you get when biting into their tacos and burritos is unreal. You can thank their secret sauce for that deliciousness! This secret sauce is creamy, savory, and is just so tasty. I especially love their Carne Asada... it’s flavorful & tender and goes extremely well with their secret sauce. You get 2 tacos per order which comes with HAND-MADE tortillas (also delicious btw), cilantro, onions, secret sauce, and meat of your choice. If cilantro or onions aren’t your go-to, then you can definitely order without them. They offer 4 meat choices: cochinita, carnitas, carne asada, and shrimp. All of the meats I’ve tried (I’ve tried all except for cochinita) were delicious and well seasoned. Also, don’t forget to try their hand-made salsa! There are two salsa options: mild and hot. I’ve tried both and honestly, both are so addicting I can’t seem to pick which one I like best lol. Asides from the food mentioned above, they also serve salads, quesadillas, and breakfast burritos. This is definitely a must-try when you’re in the area and looking for a quick taco fill. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Price: $
319 Vaughan St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Ahhh good ol’ Barrio! This has been my go-to taco spot since it opened in Portsmouth. Their tacos are 100% fully customizable to your liking. If you don’t want to make your own tacos, they have a delicious selection to choose from. My personal favorites from “el jefe’s selecciones” are Bomba de Tocino and El Jefe Loco. Mmmmm my mouth is salivating thinking about these tacos. Bomba de Tocino comes with thick-cut bacon, chihuahua (a type of cheese, NOT dog lol), lettuce, pico de gallo, jalapeno, cilantro lime aioli, and a bomb shell (flour soft+corn hard+queso+crumbled bacon) -- in short, it’s cheesy, bacony goodness that you won’t regret. El Jefe Loco is in a stoner shell (flour+corn hard+chorizo+queso) and comes with pico de gallo, smoked cheddar, chipotle honey bbq, salsa roja, corn salsa, fresco, and spice-rubbed chicken. The flavors in this taco blend so nicely, you’re definitely in for a flavor punch. Also, their tacos are huge, so you definitely get the bang for your buck! I can only eat two and would still feel like I ate way too much. They also have great queso and MARGARITAS. You can get a glass or pitcher of margarita… whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. My friends and I love to spend our Saturday nights here eating tacos and ordering pitchers of margs. They have so many flavors to choose from, but my personal favorite is the mango margarita with a sugar rim! Barrio caters to every palate- vegan, vegetarian, meat-eaters… there’s always something for everyone. Make sure to stop by and give this place a try if you’re in the Portsmouth area!
Price: $$
36 Walker St, Kittery, ME 03904
Loco Coco’s has been a longtime favorite of mine! This is a local Mexican food joint that has been in the seacoast area for years. They have many selections of tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and more!! One of my favorites is the California Burrito Bowl. It comes with steak, french fries, jack/cheddar cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado sauce & sour cream. These fresh ingredients come together nicely and create a perfect summer meal! The Baja Fish Tacos is also one of my go-to's! The fried pollock is crusted in panko and topped with coleslaw, pickled onion, and zesty sauce. It’s simple, yet undeniably tasty!! I also like their Baja Shrimp Tacos - it has the same ingredients like the fish tacos, but the shrimp takes it to another element of deliciousness! Add this place to your list of taco joints to try if you haven’t already!
Price: $
30 Portsmouth Avenue, Exeter, NH 03833
356 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH 03842
1517 Post Road Wells, ME 04090
Another must-try local taco/burrito joint is Las Olas! They have the same set up as Chipotle in which you can choose what goes on your tacos or burritos at the counter. Their selection of meat and toppings however are definitely better than Chipotle. They also have a variety of delicious, home-made sauce and salsas to choose from that will leave your taste buds addicted and wanting more! Their protein selection includes beans, chicken, ancho beef, chorizo, pork, steak, vegetarian. You can always guarantee fresh and good food from Las Olas!! If you’re looking for a quick and delicious taco/burrito pick me up, this is another place to go.
Honorable Mentions:
Price: $
494 Amherst St, Nashua, NH 03063
Inn n Out Burrito is a new addition to the Nashua area (1 hour away from Seacoast). The set up is a typical “Chipotle set up” where you pick and choose at the counter. However, this place has a meat trompo of Al Pastor!!! For those of you who don’t know what Al Pastor is, it is pork marinated in chilis, spices, and pineapple.
I had the Al Pastor tacos topped with cilantro, radish, salsa, and lime-- and boy let me tell ya… it was so fingerlickin’ GOOD. I have had better ones in New York City, BUT this comes close to it! They have hand-made tortillas that make the tacos taste even better! They also have other things on their menu that I look forward to trying (ex: pupusas, street corn, michelada). If you need a quick taco (or burrito) lunch, certainly check this place out!