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23 hidden Tampa Bay taco spots you should’ve tried by now

By Brandalynn Nuñez Cepeda

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.

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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

Mayra’s Tacos at Cinco Soccer

5305 Henry Ave., Tampa
Sheltered in a shack behind a soccer field and certainly the most secluded place on this list, the Michocán native prides herself on the no-frills menu with an affordable price tag. Four for $10 tacos can be enjoyed with a smooth cerveza from the Cinco clubhouse a few steps away. Don't skip the torta either.
Photo via 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
A few steps away from street corner produce markets, this hole-in-the-wall would be easily lost if it wasn't already a hometown favorite. Affordability is common with small shops like these, but $5 for a steak quesadilla? It doesn’t get better than that.
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