The best tacos in the desert 🌵

Are you looking for the best tacos in the desert? To know me is to dine with me. I’m a man of simple tastes. Notoriously, though, I take my tacos very seriously. So fueled by my endless enthusiasm for this simple-yet-mouthwatering Mexican culinary indulgence, I’ve dragged Midori to many famed taco establishments along our route. It’s my delight to share my hot take on what we’ve discovered so far.

Given that most of this experiment took place under COVID-related dining restrictions, where we mostly ordered takeout, our evaluations below are all about the food and devoid of any commentary about ambiance or service. Let’s be real though. It’s always really just about the taco

1. Tin Roof Tacos (Boise, ID)

The Good:

• Amazing variety of choices, to the point of overwhelm. Stick to the simplest tacos and you can’t go wrong. For example, the Tin Roof taco with shredded pork!
• We’ve never been to a taco joint that garnishes their tacos with such variety. Especially at a price point of around $2.50 per taco, this is hard to beat.
• For fellow beer aficionados who appreciate the golden combination of good tacos and great beer, Tin Roof Tacos keeps an awesome selection of domestic and local microbrews on tap, all under $5.

The Bad:

• If we’re being honest, we weren’t expecting much from tacos in Boise, ID. Tin Roof Tacos overwhelmingly impressed. And yet, the quality of the meat (especially the chicken and fish) was just okay.
• While the garnishes were great, the flavor of some of the tacos became overcomplicated and overwhelming with all the toppings. Lesson learned: keep great tacos simple.
• Boise, we love you. You are a great, great city and oh-so underrated. But seafood, barring river trout, just may not be your strong suit (yet). Fish tacos at Tin Roof Tacos were not great.

Rating:  (3 out of 5) This is your go-to place in Boise for fun tacos and great beer.

2. Chubasco Tacos (Phoenix, AZ)

The Good:

• The owners! Two brothers in Phoenix making tacos the only way they know how… the way they ate them growing up. They’re so personable and the passion with which they grill is obvious.
• Hard to beat value here. Each taco is about $1 to $2 dollars but is not lacking one bit in flavor. Every choice is a good one and, if you’re lucky, the brothers will treat you to a special taco from their childhood with grilled potatoes and plenty of flavor.

The Bad:

• Location and timing. Given that Chubasco is a taco ‘truck’, make sure you plan to meet them where they’ll be! Doesn’t make it easy to act on a taco craving quickly, but the search is worth it.
• No drinks! Hardly an issue, though, given that the truck typically pulls up right next to a local bar or brewery. A perfect beverage pairing is a few steps away.

Rating: ½ (4.5 out of 5) It’s simple. It’s delicious. It’s everything we love about a taco truck.

3. Taco Chelo (Phoenix, AZ)

The Good:

• The BEST flavors if you pick right. Don’t miss the Sonoran Taco if you’re up for a really unique flavor mix between carne asada, cabbage, and a special Sonoran salsa.
• Both the flour and corn tortillas at Taco Chelo are lightly grilled to perfection. You know that satisfying sensation of holding a soft taco with a perfectly grilled temperature? You’ll find that at Taco Chelo.
• Accompanying salsas served with every taco are worth trying. They compliment and highlight the taco flavor instead of overwhelming.

The Bad:

• The prices here are steep, especially by Phoenix standards. Expect to pay about $4 per taco and plan to eat more than you think. They’re small, delicious, and will leave you wanting more.
• Most of the tacos are pretty salty. If that’s not your thing, bring plenty of water because you’ll be tantalized by flavor but utterly parched afterwards.
• Taco Chelo can get really crowded, slowing down service without having a great place to wait on your order (except for sitting at a table). During a pandemic, this was a little strange to see.

Rating:  (4 out of 5) Unique, flavorful tacos you must try when in Phoenix. Accompany with a cold beer from neighboring Greenwood Brewing!

4. Tacos Chukis (Seattle, WA)

Okay, we realize that Seattle is far from being ‘in the desert’. But we had to include it on the list given the incredible origin story of the Chukis founder biking from Seattle to his ancestral home city of Tijuana. Along the 1,200 mile journey, he dreamt up the concept behind Tacos Chukis en route… no doubt inspired by the deserts he rode through along the way!

The Good:

• We’re extremely biased here. Tacos Chukis has been a hometown favorite for years. But the preparation of their meat is the absolute freshest we’ve experienced.
• The tacos are so simple. This speaks volumes about their confidence in their ingredients and preparation. Tacos Chukis doesn’t hide behind garnish and sauce like so many joints do.
• The menu is simple and designed to impress. When in doubt, just go with the house taco (Taco Chukis) and brace yourself for a flavor explosion of tender Adobada pork combined with brilliantly placed grilled pineapple. You. Will. Love. It.

The Bad:

• Hard to ignore price, but it is Seattle. In a metropolitan area where everything is a little more expensive, these tacos are no exception. They clock in about $3 per taco (plus tax!)
• Location(s). Good news is that all locations are easily accessible when in Seattle. South Lake Union and Cap Hill are the best locations. Bad news: Seattle traffic can be hard to bear.

Rating: ½ (4.5 out of 5) Our Seattle favorite remains a recommendation we wouldn’t hesitate to make.

The Verdict

Chubasco Tacos takes the cake on value. Tacos Chukis wins on consistency (even across locations) and quality.

If you’re in Phoenix, don’t miss out on the ‘hunt’ to figure out where in the city Chubasco Tacos is parked that day. Treat yourself to mouth-watering value that’s sure to leave you hungry for more. If you’re feeling social (and in this pandemic, who isn’t), strike up a conversation with the brother-duo who started Chubasco Tacos and hear their story.

When in Seattle, head over to either the original Capitol Hill location or the new, hip SLU location and experience what a 1,200 mile bike-ride inspired taco tastes like. You will be impressed, satiated, or both — the ultimate win-win!

Looking for other Boise, Idaho guides?

• Downtown Boise’s Local Food Scene
• Who Boise is seriously underrated

That’s our roundup of the best tacos in the desert (in our opinion). Have any to recommend? Let us know and we will try it out!