National Taco Day is back. Annually observed on Oct. 4, the food holiday is arguably one of the most popular around. Here’s a round-up of the Tampa Bay establishments offering special deals and events for Taco Day, plus our favorite places in town to chow down on the beloved menu item at regular price. As CL Music Editor Ray Roa put it, we’ve noticed that this holiday is mostly only important to us plebes who don’t make the tacos, but still — we’re fully committed to ensuring you know where the best ones reside.
Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar
International Plaza, 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. #203, Tampa
Choose between four kinds of tacos: hongos (vegan mushroom, tequila, jalapeño, garlic), The Korean (hoisin barbecue beef, kimchi, cilantro, spicy peanuts), chorizo (spicy sausage, cotija cheese, cilantro, onion, verde) or The Brooklyn (pulled pork, smoked bacon, chorizo, pork belly, cilantro, onion, salsa brava).
Photo courtesy of Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila BarChicken & Taco Loco
408 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
A year-round haunt for fans of Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican fare. The open-air taco stand with a varied menu also recently rolled out three new vegetarian tacos: cactus, squash blossom and mushroom. Go loco.
Photo by Chris FasickTaco Dirty
2221 W. Platt St., Tampa
A new taco spot in Hyde Park from the minds behind Ciccio Restaurant Group. Taco Dirty hasn’t announced plans for the holiday, but its Taco Tuesday special — $2 tacos, $3 beers and $4 margs — is pretty great.
Photo via Taco Dirtybartaco
Thursday, Oct. 4
Hyde Park Village, 1601 W. Snow Ave., Tampa
Enter the Taco Takeover Search for the chance to be featured in this upscale street food chain’s Instagram story on Taco Day. As many as three runners up will also take home a bartaco party pack for 10, valued at $140.
Photo by Manny VargasFuzzy’s Taco Shop
Thursday, Oct. 4
2874 Providence Lake Blvd., Brandon
From open to close, breakfast and Baja-style tacos are $1. Best part? Patrons of Tampa’s Temple Terrace location can get in on the solid discount, too.
Photo courtesy of Fuzzy’s Taco ShopCapital Tacos
Thursday, Oct. 4
Various locations, Tampa Bay
Buy one taco at any location for this Tex-Mex taco joint, then get a second on the house. But you must come dressed in Tampa Bay Lightning gear.
Photo courtesy of Capital TacosLa Fiesta
1202 S. 22nd St., Tampa
The wholly authentic Port of Tampa grocery store took home Best No-Frills Taco Shop from this year’s Best of the Bay awards, so why the hell would it run a Taco Day promo? Tacos, tortas and the Saturday menudo are the truth — and everything’s featured on the cheap.
Photo by Meaghan HabudaBite Squad
Thursday, Oct. 4
This on-demand restaurant delivery service is set to take $5 off taco orders of $20 or more. Use promo code TACOTIME while checking out.
Photo courtesy of Bite SquadTijuana Flats
Thursday, Oct. 4
Various locations, Tampa Bay
Tijuana Tuesdaze returns later in the week for Taco Day revelers. Stop by the Tex-Mex chain to score two tacos, chips and a drink for $5.99.
Photo courtesy of Tijuana FlatsNueva Cantina
1625 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg
OK, so it’s kinda Taco Day everyday here. But have you tried the steak and eggs fajitas… with hash browns?
Photo by Mike DupreTaco Bus
Various locations, Tampa Bay
Taco Bus is one of the originals, and while many worthy competitors have popped up over the years, the restaurant-on-wheels will always hold a place in the bean-clogged hearts of taco lovers. The Bus is already looking forward to its Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 29, so you’re on your own for Taco Day.
Photo by James OstrandCalifornia Tacos to Go
1450 Skipper Road, Tampa
We recommend the original Skipper Road outpost, but that’s only because we like our taco joints with grit. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (ewww, Guy Fieri) in the past, Cali Tacos is famous for its fish taco and pico.
Photo via FacebookChipotle Mexican Grill
Various locations, Tampa Bay
Local outposts for the fast-casual chain don’t have anything special planned for Taco Day. But go on Oct. 7, to ring in the holiday a little later while spreading do-goodery. To help Chipotle’s 152 participating locations in Florida donate 33 percent of every sale to Special Olympics Florida, all you gotta do is mention the cause at checkout.
Photo courtesy of Chipotle Mexican GrillRubio’s Coastal Grill
Thursday, Oct. 4
1824 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa
You need the coupon, but Rubio’s supplies customers with an original fish taco on the house after they purchase any beverage. The dine-in freebie is available during regular business hours.
Photo courtesy of Rubio’s Coastal GrillNational Taco Day
Thursday, Oct. 4: All day
Photo via Cathy SalustriCasita Taqueria
2663 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
The Best of the Bay-winning taqueria is a regular go-to for a reason (house-made corn tortillas, ahem). Besides, why wouldn’t you listen to the readers of the greatest alt-weekly in town? Observe the holiday at either location in St. Pete.
Photo by Ryan BalloggChronic Tacos
10420 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Fast-casual tacos are the name of the game inside this Mexican grill franchise. Using the standard build-your-own format, diners select a mix of fillings and toppings to celebrate the Taco Day of their dreams.
Photo courtesy of Chronic Tacos#TacoRun with Vamos! Gourmet Food Truck
Thursday, Oct. 4
6986 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Vamos! Gourmet Food Truck parks in front of St. Pete Running Company to sling a celebratory special: two tacos for $6. SPRC provides the free craft beer and margaritas.
Photo via FacebookIslands Cantina
233 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa
Hard? Soft? However you like it, the menu is 25 percent tacos every damn day.
Photo via FacebookBesito Mexican
Thursday, Oct. 4
WestShore Plaza, 205 Westshore Plaza, Tampa
Have a threesome… of tacos. A trio of tacos, for $8, throughout the holiday’s run.
Photo via FacebookMiguelitos Taqueria Y Tequilas, Tampa
A pricer find for specialty and street-style tacos, but fresh ingredients guarantee the younger sibling of Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill doesn’t skimp on flavor. The cool vibe is a draw in itself.
Photo via FacebookAcapulco Taqueria
1001 N. Macdill Ave., Tampa
Billed as the most authentic in Tampa, the tacos churning out of Acapulco are not to be missed. Really, really.
Photo via FacebookXtreme Tacos
7venth Sun Brewery, 6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
A new brick and mortar is still in the works for Xtreme Tacos, which is also home to the Best Burritos That Need Their Own Blankets and Birth Certificates, according to CL’s Best of the Bay. But for now, patrons can hit up the beloved spot’s food truck.
Photo by Alexandria JonesChile Verde
2801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg
This is the Mexican eatery and grocer your Facebook friends are talking about. Chile Verde debuted late last year with breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s open as early as 6 a.m. and closes at a respectable 10 p.m., meaning you can work this stop into a bang-bang any time of the day.
Photo by Meaghan HabudaTacoSon
7521 N. 56th St., Tampa
The Tampa location is near Temple Terrace, so don’t speed on the way there (small town cops, nothing better to do), but do take your time when you arrive at this taqueria owned by folks from Sonora, Mexico. Authentic and super-affordable, plus there’s breakfast. Like so many of the top Bay area taco shops, TacoSon has no time to josh around when it comes to Taco Day discounts.
Photo via FacebookTaco Bell
Various locations, Tampa Bay
So much no. So much yes. Corporate, but who cares? Don’t act like you never run for the border to score a late-night taste of the chain’s delicious fast-food garbage. Taco Bell is going global with Taco Day festivities in more than 20 countries for the first time. But locally, you can share that usual gift set of four hard-shell tacos with someone special in exchange for a Lincoln.
Photo courtesy of Taco BellThe VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant
10625 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island
VIP ain’t no high-class, tableside-guac type of place. What it is, though, is a damn fine destination for tacos — at a fantastic price.
Photo via FacebookLolis Mexican Cravings
8005 Benjamin Road, Tampa.
We don’t know who Loli is, but the taqueria makes what are truly some of the best Mexican eats around. Super-fresh ingredients, nearly a dozen options to pick when it comes to fillings, and fair pricing. The fish taco is the most expensive at $3.49, plus tax.
Photo via FacebookMekenita Cantina
6707 N Florida Ave., Tampa
Check out this recently opened Seminole Heights restaurant. Mekenita Cantina’s six taco plates are accompanied by Mexican and cotija cheeses, shredded lime cabbage, red onions, cilantro, sour cream and a side of petite house salad. Bonus: Our food critic gave this place a rare four stars.
Photo by Meaghan Habuda
