José R. Ralat may have the best job in Texas and possibly in the entire country. He’s the taco editor for Texas Monthly so he gets paid to travel and taste tacos.
HOUSTON — How would you like to get paid to travel around Texas and eat tacos? Sounds like a dream job, huh?
Meet José R. Ralat, the taco editor for Texas Monthly who actually has that dream job. He recently traveled across the Lone Star State where he sampled more than 1,200 tacos to find the top 50 in Texas. From big cities to small towns, upscale restaurants to taco trucks, Ralat traveled some 14,000 miles, and here’s the list he came up with.
Ralat visited more than 400 spots over six months to find the best.
“I have been doing this for 15 years. I have a lot of spreadsheets and maps,” he said. “I ate more than 1,200 tacos.”
According to Ralat, you’ll have to fill up the gas tank and head south to the border town of Mission where Ana Liz Taqueria serves up the best tacos in Texas. Ana Liz Pulido won the prestigious 2024 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef. Born in Reynosa, Mexico just across the border from Mission, Pulido opened her taqueria in 2021.
H-Town is well-represented on the top 50 list, including two spots in the top 10: Ralat ranked Azteca Taco House in the Aldine area at No. 3.
“I went back four times and wanted to keep going back,” Ralat said.
Papalo Taqueria in Finn Hall in downtown Houston came in at No. 7.
“It’s a dream come true,” owner Nicholas Vera said.
Vera said he was still in disbelief. His beef taco wasn’t selected, but his zanahoria taco was. It’s a carrot taco inspired by his mother.
“She always had enchiladas with salsa de pipian and I thought about how I could honor her with some food,” Vera said.
Vera makes everything from scratch, including the tortillas and the queso fresco.
The other Houston spots highlighted are Cochinita & Co., The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation and Tres Chiles.
San Antonio had more taco spots in the top 50 with 10, including the 8th best tacos at Stixs & Stone, according to Ralat.
An impressive eight restaurants and taquerias in Austin made the cut with Nixta Taqueria ranked No. 10.
Dallas also had five spots on Ralat’s list with two in the top 10.
Click here to see the full list of the 50 best tacos, according to Texas Monthly.