Best Tacos in Greenville

There are a handful of Greenville institutions and Taco Casa is proudly on the list. Decades before Greenville had the culinary scene that it has today, picking a place to dine out was simple enough as you went to Stax's for breakfast, The Clock if you wanted a burger, and Taco Casa if you wanted a taco. The tacos are simple, cheap, and always paid for in cash because they do things today just as they have always done at the same location on Pleasantburg Drive since the 1980s. Taco Casa's historical value makes it impossible to leave them off this list.

The Cribbs family has been doing great things for Spartanburg with its uber-successful brand that includes Cribbs Kitchen and The Kennedy. Their taco joint, Willy Taco took the town by storm and, thankfully, was popular enough to warrant a Greenville location. These tacos-with-an-edge are brought to you by servers wearing shirts where the Willy Taco brand is merged with the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Guns N' Roses, and other such bands and carry names like Mother Clucker and Tuna Cobra Kai. With 10 tacos on the menu, plus quesadillas, burrito bowls, and even a Torta burger, there is a little something for everyone in this innovative taco experience.

Taqueria Don Chile combines the authenticity of Los Meras Tortas with the mobility of Automatic Taco. Billed as one of the truest representations of Mexican street cuisine by anyone who has ever lived in or visited the country, a visit to Taqueria Don Chile is a true adventure in eating. Their web presence is limited to a sporadically updated Facebook page, hours are ever-changing and hard to find, and, to be honest, you are rolling the dice on whether you might actually get a taco every time out. Once you get your hands on one, however, none of this matters as Taqueria Don Chile's cuisine is a true gem on the Greenville food scene.

At one time, Hampton Station was a dilapidated building on the wrong side of the literal tracks but, thankfully, there were those with the vision to bring it to life as a virtual oasis just outside of Downtown Greenville. Birds Fly South Ale Project brought crowds with their award-winning beers right out of the gate but we needed food of comparable quality to complement the libations. Asheville's White Duck Taco with their first Greenville location, providing another huge reason to visit Hampton Station. Their tacos use the highest quality ingredients and are insanely creative has the menu has a tendency to change as you dine. Like a beer list on the walls of a taproom, one delicious option may disappear while you wait, only to be replaced by something even more satisfying, making for an incredibly fun and memorable experience.

Whether you like your tacos classic or with a twist, Chucho's has you covered. Authentic Mexican street tacos feature your favorite pastor, chorizo, and Asada fillings on a corn tortilla with cilantro and onion. "Chucho's Tacos", on the other hand, up the ante with the likes of shrimp, fish, pork, or even Korean steak all wrapped up in a flour tortilla. Burritos, quesadillas, and bowls are also on the menu, as is the Patrick's Cheeseburger, a holdover menu item paying homage to the neighborhood favorite establishment that occupied this building for longer than most people can remember. It all comes together for a delicious dining experience no matter which path you choose.

Ask anyone who has ever been to Las Meras Tortas and the answer is often the same. "It reminds me of what I ate in Mexico", "I haven't had one that good since Mexico", and so on and so forth as the comparison is seemingly reflexive. This is authentic Mexican street food like nothing else Greenville has to offer. Serving up everything from classic tacos to tortas (a Mexican sub) and everything in between, this is as much a cultural experience as it is a culinary one. Their sauce bar is the stuff of legend and the service is top-notch to boot.

What was once one of Greenville's best mobile eateries, Automatic Taco made the logical transition to a brick and mortar establishment with the opening of The Commons a few years ago. Their chorizo - locally sourced from Colfax Creek Farm - is the stuff of legend, as are their Brussel sprouts, a menu staple from Day One. This would be a destination in and of itself but neighbors like The Community Tap Trailside, Methodical Coffee, The Bake Room, and so many others make a visit to Automatic Taco an experience you just plain need in your life. As a bonus, you can wear out the kids at Unity Park before and/or after your visit.

When Woodside Bistro moved out of its original spot on Woodside Ave. to the newly renovated Woodside Mill, one could not help to wonder what might become of the cozy little kitchen down the street from The Village of West Greenville. Thankfully, Comal 864 came to town with their Rio Grande Valley-inspired cooking that previously operated as a food truck/pop-up kitchen. Here you will find tacos for breakfast as well as tacos, quesadillas, and Birria quesitacos for lunch and dinner. There is even a Birria grilled cheese served on Texas toast which makes my mouth water merely typing these words. Between Woodside Bistro and now Comal 864, one cannot help if there is but a little magic in the room at this off the beaten path location.

Located in a "blink and you will miss it" little building on Pleasantburg Dr near Cherrydale, Taqueria Mixtepec is serving up some of the Upstate's finest tacos and other Mexican cuisine. The tortillas are made in-house, the pastor, or marinated pork, is the stuff of legend, and authentic favorites like beef tongue are all on the menu. All of this can be had in a super casual setting with wildly affordable prices ($5 burritos and quesadillas? Count me in!) Bigger appetites will want to try the Tlayudas, which are big corn tortillas topped with refried beans, shredded cabbage, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, and AND your choice of meat for a meal you will not soon forget.

For creativity, variety, and unparalleled quality look no further than Asada. Their brand of Mission Style Tacos are inspired by owners Gina and Roberto's time in San Francisco but with an endless supply of other ethnic influences sprinkled in. Their classic tacos, quesadillas, and burritos feature the usual suspects in terms of ingredients â€" melted queso, pico de gallo, sour cream, and the like â€" presented in the highest quality you will find anywhere. Dig a little deeper and you will find things like the Japanese-inspired Chicken Karaage taco and the Nicaraguan Style Churrasco keeping your palate on its toes with a whole world of influences at play.