Sometimes the best street tacos require a bit of a scavenger hunt. Throughout this list you’ll find plenty of hole-in-the-wall spots with solid menus featuring traditional Mexican eats.

Rene’s Mexican Kitchen 4414 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, 813-500-2510 This area of Nebraska Avenue has foodie spots on every corner, but Rene’s stands on its own. The joint takes a more creative take on Mexican grub with dulce de leche made of goats milk and oyster mushroom tacos. If there’s an OG king of Tampa street tacos, it’s Chef Rene. Pro tip: chef’s crew is masterful will call ahead orders if you don’t have time to sip on a soda in the parking lot across from Southern Brewing. Photo via Rene’s Mexican Kitchen/Facebook
Cinco Soccer American football is cool and all, but East Tampa is home to a veritable mecca to real football. Cinco Soccer has five turf pitches for five-a-side soccer (or “futsal”), and the club house boasts a gigantic, four-TV screen, plus FIFA gaming stations, an outside TV and the cheapest beer west of the casino. Show up on a day when Mayra’s taco stand or any of the other food vendors are open, and you’re talking about a full-day and night of footie on TV. 5305 E Henry Ave., Tampa Credit: @cinco.soccer/Instagram
Ranchero Tacos 4901 N Florida Ave, Tampa, 813-495-2635 This joint was CL’s Best of the Bay’s 2021 “Best Seminole Heights Restaurant,” and for good reason – tortillas are fresh and pressed to order and carnitas are juicy and crispy. Also, don’t sleep on the weekend-only tamales. Photo via Ranchero Tacos/Facebook
Esther’s Cafe 3001 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, 813-232-6217 Search for the flags that say “Tacos,” so you can find this hidden gem. Oddly placed taquerias are always solid. Photo via Google Maps
Taco De Oro Multiple locations Next to a Mobil car wash, this cart is eye-catching thanks to its Mexican flag color paint job and a friendly taco character slapped on the side. You can’t go wrong with $2 tacos. Photo via Tacos De Oro/Website
Tacos 4G Inc 4349 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-374-8059 Another strip mall spot to savor, multi-color flags along the sidewalk of Waters Avenue advertise the tacos and burritos, ensuring it can’t be missed. Cheap lunch and made to order tacos are the real winners here. Photo via Google Maps
Antojitos Mexicanos 6118 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, 813-310-7542 Quick bites like empanadas and chiccarones (fried pork skin) can be picked up alongside the classic street taco, if you can find the well-secluded taco truck located South of Gandy. Photo via Antojitos Mexicanos/Facebook
Casa Mexicana Bar and Grill 3642 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa, 813-443-0962 Serving the people of Tampa for multiple decades, the spiced dishes here are as explosive as the fireworks shop it sits next to. Photo via Google Maps
Chile Verde 2801 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, 727-800-2679 Its gas station layout is truly fitting, because you’ll want to fill up on these beloved St. Pete street tacos to fuel you for the rest of the day. Photo via Google Maps
Taqueria Emanuel 2800 N MacDill Ave E, Tampa, 813-453-5954 Enjoy the eats at this family-owned spot in the heart of West Tampa. You can sip on a marg while dining in on MacDill Avenue or munch on barbacoa tacos wherever you want thanks to a food truck you can order for any special occasion. Photo via Google Maps
Jimmy’s Tacos 1604 N 17th St., Ybor City, 813-242-0242 The historic Ybor district is a homegrown eatery haven. The bright yellow signage on Jimmy’s place guarantees it won’t blend in with its street corner location, and its past life as the long-shuttered Mema’s Alaskan Tacos mean good vibes all night long. Photo via Jimmy’s Tacos/Google
Pinch A Taco 13502 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, 813-735-6268 Pregame your slot at Tampa Karaoke VIP located across the block with some carne asada specialties. Photo via Pinch A Taco/Facebook
Taquitos Mexican 9617 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, 727-256-1617 Hidden amongst the beige buildings of this Pinellas plaza is this authentic eatery with larger-than-life dishes, like the loaded carne asada fries and quesabirria tacos. Photo via Google Maps
Taqueria Margarita 4001 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, 813-466-2484 On the outskirts of grassy fields a few streets down from Raymond James Stadium is a food truck taqueria whose menu scores more touchdowns than the Bucs. There are no dollops of sour cream or chunky guacamole to distract from the goodness of the warm soft meat-topped homemade tortillas. Only a few grilled onions and a judicious sprinkling of fresh cilantro accent the meat. Plus, of course, a spritz of fresh lime for extra zip. Photo via Google Maps
Hector’s Mexican Food 3121 E Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3646 The food trailer in East Tampa is a hideaway for all things traditional, the 24-hour spot helping you get your late night fix of sopes and Argentinian pupusas. Photo via Hector’s Mexican Food/Google
El Huarache Veloz 7100 49th St N, Pinellas Park, 727-525-6028 A strip mall in Pinellas Park is where this restaurant makes its home. Big plates of hearty authentic eats await inside its doors or at the carryout window. Photo via Google Maps
La Fiesta Mexican Store 1202 S 22nd St., Tampa, 813-241-2477 Tucked deep within the working class, waterfront Palmetto Beach neighborhood, this convenience store and restaurant hybrid’s tiny dining room offers big plates and inexpensive helping of street tacos while you shop for your Latin goods. Photo via Photo via Google Maps
Mangonadas Mexican Kitchen 6823 N Habana Ave., Tampa Don’t worry folks, your GPS did not take you to Chevron. Behind the gas station is an eatery with the trendiest of menu items, the namesake “Mangonada”— a frozen mango drink with swirls of chamoy, to be sipped through a tamarind straw—is a must have for every patron. But truly, don’t leave this spot without a least tacos, which mostly all run under $4. Photo via Mangonadas Mexican Kitchen/Facebook
Taquería El Nopal 8307 N Dale Mabry Hwy., 813-679-8609 Next to a PNC Bank and shaded by the trees is this food truck with an abundance of taco options packed with traditional flavors. Photo via Photo via Google Maps
Señor Taco 6447 Park Blvd. N no. 2, Pinellas Park, 727-289-7080 Housed in a bright blue building is this gem of a taco shop, ready to serve homemade tacos, burritos, and fajitas. Photo via Google Maps
Tacos el Borracho 2602 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-505-4430 Sometimes (read: all the time) you need tacos while filling up the tank. This one is covered corner to corner with Christmas lights to make sure you don’t miss out on the carnitas on your night drive home. Photo via Tacos el Borracho/Facebook
Taco Baby 235 Main St., Dunedin Quite literally the tiniest taqueria in town, the ATM-turned taco shack pumps out big flavors. Photo via Taco BabyFacebook
Los Compares 5305 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, 813-850-1380 Be on the lookout for little red food truck slinging burritos, ceviche and street tacos. Thankfully, this one is stationed on Armenia, so you don’t have to hunt it down on Taco Tuesday. Photo via Google Maps

Magazine journalism student with an affinity for music writing. Brandalynn has previously written for Glitter Magazine and was the editor-in-chief/contributor of USF's Her Campus chapter.