Best Tacos in Springfield and Beyond

Cesar’s Old Mexico

Cesar's Pork

2627 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-881-8252 
Toppings: Cesar’s pork, onion, cilantro and a guacamole side
Order it with: an adobada sope
What we love: A simple food executed perfectly is the centerpiece in this taco. All the protein options at this spot are delicious, but the slow-cooked Cesar’s pork is that juicy, tender, mouthwatering taco filler that will hit the spot every time and with every bite.

Don Toño

Carnitas taco

1314 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-773-0892
Toppings: carnitas, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, salsa
Order it with: elotes on the cob
What we love: Here’s a hot tip you can use when you order the carnitas taco from Don Toño: Ask for fried onions instead of fresh onions for your topping. Trust us.

La Paloma Mexican Grill

Al Pastor

3014 E. Sunshine St., 417-719-4484; 1425 W. Battlefield Road, 417-889-2985 
Toppings: al pastor pork, grilled onions and pineapple, cilantro, onion, salsa verde
Order it with: cheesecake chimi
What we love: These flavorful tacos come with some of the toppings in ramekins on the side, so you can construct your perfect taco. We go hard with the cilantro for the freshest bites.

Team Taco

Globetrotter

1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield
Toppings: smoked pork belly, salsa verde, cotija cheese, cilantro, onion
Order it with: chips and queso
What we love: The best way to describe a Team Taco taco is “small but mighty” because the corn tortillas are stacked with layers of flavor so indulgent they make you feel borderline sinful. And what’s better than pork belly for some light gluttony?

Golden Girl Rum Club

Pastor Taco

137 Park Central West, Springfield, 417-425-5162
Toppings: al pastor pork, pineapple, cilantro, pickled onion
Order it with: a Saturn cocktail
What we love: The pork is delish, but it’s the long, slow burn of spicy fresh pineapple slices that take the taco over the edge. Tip for vegetarians: Order it with jackfruit.

Arandas Tacos

Tacos de Papa

2410 W. 76 Country Blvd., Suite A, Branson, 417-334-4949
Toppings: chorizo, lettuce, tomato, cotija cheese, cilantro
Order it with: mangos con chamoy
What we love: Here, the tortillas for the fried shells are homemade, and there’s a good salsa bar featuring additional zesty toppings like radishes. Take all of that and eat it with a taco that’s packed with well-seasoned pork chorizo, and you have a recipe for a very satisfying taco fest.

Tacos El Gordo

Trio of Tacos

1510 N. National Ave., Springfield, 417-402-9307
Toppings: three types of pork, cilantro and a lime
Order it with: a cheese pupusa
What we love: We recommend you order three tacos here, each with a different pork filling. Trompo has seasoned pork cooked on a vertical broiler, Chicharones has fried pork skin in salsa verde, and Guisado de Puerco Rojo has slow-cooked pork in rojo sauce.

Civil Kitchen

Banh Mi Tacos

107 Park Central East, Springfield, 417-501-8456
Toppings: pork belly, pickled carrots, fruit pico de gallo, cilantro, sriracha mayo, greens
Order it with: flash fried kale
What we love: There’s a Vietnamese flair to these flavorful tacos that turns one of our all-time favorite sandwiches into a taco. The best part is the way it combines fresh toppings and indulgent protein.

New Pork Additions to the Southwest Missouri Taco Menu

Traditional Tacos from Flaming Margaritas
With these simple-but-tasty tacos, you pick your choice of meat. (Chorizo is a good choice!) It’s topped with onion, cilantro, avocado salsa, queso fresco, radish slices and lime. You get rice and charro beans on the side.
Find it in: Branson

Al Pastor Tacos from Tacos El Champu
These pastor tacos are so colorful and bright! They come with big chunks of fresh pineapple plus a bright orange (and pretty spicy!) sauce on top of the well-seasoned pork.
Find it in: Springfield

Authentico Taco from Cesar’s Old Mexico
These tiny, street-style tacos are such a treat. You pick the protein (we recommend Cesar’s pork), and then they are topped simply with onion, guacamole and cilantro.
Find it in: Springfield

Pork Carnitas Street Tacos from Catrinas Modern Mexican
We like the street tacos option at Catrinas because they’re served in soft corn tortillas and then topped with the simple good stuff we love: onions and cilantro. You pick the protein, and the carnitas are an excellent choice.
Find it in: Springfield

Chubby Cactus Taco Truck

Mini Quesadilla

@chubbycactus on Facebook
Toppings: barbacoa, mozzarella, onions, cilantro, red chili oil
Order it with: avocado sauce
What we love: This traveling truck’s flavor game is insane, especially in the not-really-a-taco-but-close-enough fried dipped mini quesadilla. Each cheese-heavy “taco” is dipped into hot chili oil and fried on the flat top for maximum crunch and spicy kick.

Tacos El Champu

Birria D’Res

519 N. 21st St., Ozark; 2322 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
Toppings: birria, cilantro, salsa verde, avocado
Order it with: a handmade gordita
What we love: These teensy tacos are beautifully crispy and crunchy. Here’s a tasty tip: Ask for some mango-habanero salsa too, so you heat things up! 

El Lago Mexican Restaurant

Taco de la Calle

18942 Missouri Highway Business 13, Branson West, 417-272-8910
Toppings: steak, onion, lime, cilantro
Order it with: chips and salsa
What we love: This one wins us over for being a simple steak taco, done well. Sometimes you just don’t want the wild tacos, right? Plus, one of the 417 crew swears the chips and salsa are the best.

SPLIT Social Kitchen

Prison Tacos

431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 172, Springfield, 417-771-5059
Toppings: beef, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, sour cream, Fritos
Order it with: street corn
What we love: SPLIT always seems like they’re having fun, and these tacos are just one example. Served in a Fritos or Doritos bag, they’re walking tacos taken up a notch.

New Beef Additions to the Southwest Missouri Taco Menu

Tacos Arandas from Brothers Tacos
These steak tacos are packed with tender meat, then simply (yet indulgently!) topped with grilled onions and melty cheese dip.
Find it in: Ozark and Nixa

B.A. Baracus from Team Taco
The braised beef brisket that fills this little street-style taco is oh-so tender and juicy. It’s served in a corn tortilla. On top, you’ll find cotija cheese, cilantro and chopped onions.
Find it in: Springfield

Texas Tacos from Don Pedro Grill
These tacos start with one of our favorite things: hand-made flour tortillas. (So good!) Then they are stuffed with shredded beef and topped with onions and cilantro. You get ranchero beans on the side to round out your meal.
Find it in: Republic

Tacos Especiales from Sénor Julian
The carne asada inside these tacos is to-die-for: flavorful, tender, well-seasoned. It’s served on corn tortillas and cilantro, grilled onions, a sprinkle of queso fresco and a slice of fresh avocado. Every bite is divine.
Find it in: Springfield

Birria Tacos from Papi’s Cocina & Cantina
What is it about birria that is so dang mouthwatering? The beef is supremely tender, and the flavorful consomme on the side is the perfect dipping sauce. The version at Papi’s Cocina & Cantina is served with a bit of fresh cilantro, slices of crispy radish and lime wedges for squeezing.
Find it in: Republic

Cantina Laredo

Pollo Asado

1001 Branson Landing, Branson, 417-334-6062
Toppings: grilled chicken, mango-pineapple pico, avocado, poblano sauce, jack cheese
Order it with: a chocolate brownie
What we love: The fruity pico adds a hint of sweetness, but it makes this taco taste oh-so-bright. And we’ll take avocado on every taco from now on, please.

Not’cho Ordinary Taco Truck

Buff Chicken

1530 E. Saint Louis St., Springfield, 417-399-1101
Toppings: blackened chicken, buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, ranch
Order it with: a beer from the Route 66 Food Truck Park bar
What we love: With a shell that’s made from a bacon and cheddar quesadilla, this taco is crazy-good before you even add filling. We love the hint of spice and the crunchy-creamy texture combo.

Catrina’s Mexican Kitchen

Chicken Tinga

2925 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 105, Springfield, 417-350-1006
Toppings: seasoned chicken, cilantro, red onion
Order it with: guacamole norteño with chicharones
What we love: These street-style tacos pack a punch within their tiny tortillas, since the chicken is flavored with tinga red chili spices.

J.O.B. Public House

Pancho & Lefty

319 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-831-1158
Toppings: grilled chicken, cabbage, guacamole, aioli, black bean salsa
Order it with: pizza balls
What we love: Right now, a limited menu of Grad School and J.O.B. favorites is being served at J.O.B.’s location—with a fresh new patio out back. The tacos are a taste of Grad School, and a pizza balls app is classic J.O.B.

Prima’s Mexican Kitchen

Chipotle Shrimp

Three 417-land locations
Toppings: shrimp, lettuce, tomato, queso blanco
Order it with: elotes bites 
What we love: The sweet little shrimpies in this taco are cooked in chipotle peppers for a smoky flavor that plays nicely with the creamy, indulgent queso blanco that comes on top.

Haruno Sushi Bar & Grill

Fish Tacos

3044 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-887-0077
Toppings: fried fish, cabbage, cilantro, onion, tomato, spicy seafood sauce, avocado sauce, wasabi sour cream
Order it with: mochi ice cream
What we love: It’s sauce central with this triple-sauced taco that has a delightful Japanese flair and plenty of fresh cabbage crunch.

Cafe Cusco

Ceviche Tacos

234 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-868-8088
Toppings: cured wahoo, aji verde sauce, pico de gallo, lettuce
Order it with: fried guacamole appetizer
What we love: The wahoo is cured in lime, garlic, red onion, cilantro, cucumber and yellow pepper. The result is an addictively good acidic zip in every bite!

Houlihan’s

So Cal Fish Taco

2431 N. Glenstone Ave., 417-862-7777
Toppings: North Atlantic cod, honey-cumin dressing, sour cream, chipotle mayo, napa cabbage
Order it with: grapefruit jalapeno cocktail
What we love: Maybe it’s the hint of sweetness in the dressing or the hint of heat in the mayo, but the flavor combos here are a fave.

El Purple Burrito

Fish Tacos

1700 S. Campbell Ave., Suite A, Springfield, 417-863-6688
Toppings: fried fish, cabbage, salsa, cheddar-jack cheese, tartar sauce
Order it with: a chili rellano
What we love: There’s just something about these tacos. They have more cheese than most fish tacos, and somehow that really, really works. Especially doused in that tangy homemade tartar sauce.

Iguana Roja

Mahi Tacos

107 W. Church St., Ozark, 417-485-8585
Toppings: mahi mahi, cilantro-lime crema, pico de gallo, slaw, cotija
Order it with: agave-adobo shrimp stack appetizer
What we love: These fresh bites always leave us wanting just one more bite after we’re finished. That fish! That tangy crema! They go together so dang well.

New Shrimp and Fish Additions to the Southwest Missouri Taco Menu

Camaron Taco from I Love Tacos Taqueria
Is it the tender grilled shrimp or the chipotle sauce that makes us swoon over this taco? It’s both, and they are accented with crispy slaw, fresh pico and avocado for the perfect bite.
Find it in: Springfield (food truck and restaurant locations)

Slammin Salmon Taco from Not’cho Ordinary Taco Truck
This is a funky one! It has balsamic-glazed salmon, strawberry-jalapeño salsa, feta cheese, sliced almonds and more for a flavorful bite.
Find it in: 14 Mill Market in Nixa

Tacos de SalmÓn from El Paraiso Mexican Kitchen
We love El Paraiso’s take, which features tender grilled salmon. It’s topped with the sweet taste of mango salsa and served on a flour tortilla.
Find it in: Strafford and Springfield

Jicama Tacos from Mundos Latin Kitchen
Crispy rounds of jicama form the shell on these unique tacos, which are filled with your choice of coconut shrimp or coconut chicken. (We like the shrimp!) On top is a tasty and creamy chipotle sauce that is the perfect complement to the sweet shrimp.
Find it in: Ozark

Gulf Shrimp Tacos from Iguana Roja
At Iguana Roja, you get to pick your taco style (street or American) and your shell (soft or crunchy corn, or soft flour). We recommend picking gulf shrimp for your protein and springing for the slight upcharge to also add bacon. It’s a delightful combo. And there’s a bonus: If you also get chips and salsa, you’ll be served the tastiest seasoned chips around.
Find it in: Ozark

Los Cabos Mexican Grill

Fried Avocado

4109 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-823-9114
Toppings: fried avocado, pico de gallo, roasted corn, black beans, cabbage, cotija cheese, chipotle ranch, tomatillo avocado salsa
Order it with: sopapillas
What we love: The creamy avocado is a clever sub for typical taco proteins, but it’s that tomatillo avocado salsa that ties it all together.

The Press Coffee & Juice Bar

Street Taco

2710 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-771-5950
Toppings: Tofu, slaw, pico de gallo, cheese, lime, choice of sauce
Order it with: gyoza
What we love: You can customize the tacos at The Press, and we love opting for tofu and adding spicy goji sauce, sesame sauce and kimchi for some delightful Korean flavors. They’re sloppy and saucy and somehow also oh-so-fresh.

The Wheelhouse

Kimchi Falafel

1845 E. Sunshine Street; 1530 E. Saint Louis Street; Springfield
Toppings: falafel, kimchi, cotija cheese, onion, chipotle aioli
Order it with: chips and salsa
What we love: The Wheelhouse’s homemade kimchi brings the heat for a supremely spicy meal. Even the taco shells are something special in these messy tacos that are practically perfect in every way.

Tinga Tacos

Fu Yu Taco

308 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-831-8007
Toppings: seasoned tofu, mango habanero sauce, pickled onions and carrots, cabbage, cilantro
Order it with: cheesy corn
What we love: Despite the habanero in the sauce, there isn’t any heat. Instead it’s a delightful salty-sweet combo with some of the most flavorful tofu we’ve ever had.

First Watch

Farmstand Taco

2946 S. National Ave.; 3103 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Toppings: scrambled eggs, Cajun chicken, chorizo, cheese, avocado, pico de gallo
Order it with: million dollar bacon
What we love: In a taco with three proteins, the cool and creamy addition of fresh avocado slices is a smart move. We can’t get enough.

[MORE: Best Breakfasts in Springfield, MO and Beyond]

Tortilleria Perches

Machaca Tacos

1601 W. Sunshine St., Springfield
Toppings: machaca, eggs, pico de gallo
Order it with: homemade flan
What we love: Machaca (shredded beef) mixes with just a bit of eggs for a satisfying breakfast. They’re great as-is, but you can also ask for some salsa verde to jazz it up.

Early Bird Breakfast Pub

El Tacos

1717 E. Cherokee St., Springfield, 417-885-8088
Toppings: bacon, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, pico de gallo, queso
Order it with: a Breakfast Margarita
What we love: The addition of those carby fried potatoes is what we love about these tacos. It’s great for when you need some hair of the dog along with breakfast.

El Quetzal Restaurant

Breakfast Taco

129 S. Main St., Carthage, 417-358-7708 
Toppings: scrambled eggs, chorizo or potato, tomato, onion, jalapeno, shredded cheese
Order it with: a garnacha
What we love: Feed your carb craving with potato filling, or feed your protein craving with spicy chorizo. Better yet: Get one of each.