North Texas Daily

Katelyn Hoagland / Intern Writer

Before I moved to Denton, the word “taco” meant a flour tortilla filled with ground meat and shredded Kraft cheese. Now, my palate can appreciate wonders like cilantro, queso fresco, fresh onions, and sauces galore.

After a week of scoping out five stops around the campus in search of the best and, fortunately, cheapest tacos in Denton, I realized that this city has a lot to offer for National Taco Day. The best way to honor this special occasion is to hold those delicious tortillas close to your heart and mouth without breaking the bank.

Tortilleria La Sabrocita (5/5)

Jonathan Riecke, left, and Annavittoria Conner moments before they dig into their food from Tortilleria La Sabrocita. Photo by Byton Thompson – Senior Staff Photographer

Near the intersection of Dallas Drive and Johnson Street, this bright yellow taco gem is hard to miss.

After ordering, I sat in the backseat of my grandparents’ car, holding my taco together with a plastic to-go bag, reevaluating my previous choice to eat tacos exclusively from Taco Bell or my family for several years.

The barbecue beef taco was fresh and juicy and the lightly grilled tortilla didn’t fall apart as I continued on my journey; the cilantro and onions gave me the motivation to stay up past ten that night. The fresh ingredients left me smiling and made me wish that my mother could make a taco taste like home.

If your wallet can wave goodbye to a few extra bucks, the small burritos with a cup of hot sauce are a surefire way to fulfill your bean-and-cheese craving with no regrets—just love.

Taco Lady (2/5)

If you aren’t actively looking for Taco Lady, you’ll probably pass by without a second glance. It’s tucked behind a gas station, but don’t let that steer you away.

While each bite is a little greasy, the tacos are fairly authentic. The flour tortilla makes two tacos difficult to manage, but the carne asada with onions and cilantro offers tons of flavor without spending all of your pocket change.

This corner shop will be closing its doors in a week or two, so try its tacos while you still have the chance. The shop’s mobile units will still run for several weeks, but won’t carry the same ambiance as the small dining area filled with friendly chatter.

Fuzzy’s (2/5)

A crawfish taco and grilled taco from Fuzzy’s at 115 Industrial St. Photo by Edward Balusek – Visuals Editor

Just a few yards away from Mellow Mushroom, I caved in to my friends’ demands and ordered two tacos: one shredded chicken baja taco along with a potato, egg, and cheese breakfast taco.

After the first few bites of the baja taco, I was disappointed. The meat, while tender and warm, was flavorless. The sauce was admittedly delicious but didn’t fit in with the shredded chicken, ultimately drowning the rest of this baja in its garlic glory.

I was expecting this taco to change my life from all the raving reviews shoved my way. Instead, I came to one conclusion: this chain tends to generate a lot of hype but fails to deliver a reward. For today’s purposes, an easy taco formula—meat (or no meat) plus cheese, garlic sauce and a corn tortilla—might work for those of you with sensitive taste buds and thin wallets.

Rusty Taco (4/5)

An assortment of tacos from Rusty Taco located at 210 E. Hickory St. Photo by Dillon Jones – Staff Photographer

Just down Hickory Street, Rusty Taco provides light and fresh food with a variety that the other stops tend to lack. The patio is the perfect spot for your taco adventures, but be sure to remember those paper towels on your way to the table.

For a satisfactory National Taco Day, go with the grilled fish and brisket tacos. The crunchy cabbage and chipotle sauce complement the fish so well that the idea of eating at Fuzzy’s again made me laugh. The lightly-seasoned brisket is almost better than my uncle’s annual barbecue.

This chain goes the extra mile to make each taco worth its price. With carefully selected ingredients that cater to each item on the menu, Rusty’s satisfies almost every taco desire.

Mi Casita (3/5)

A potato, egg and cheese taco and carne asada taco from Mi Casita at 110 N. Caroll Blvd. – Photo by Byron Thompson – Senior Staff Photographer

Located on North Carroll Boulevard, this funky taco stop calls for attention, and rightfully so. I decided to dine inside, sitting in one of the large, comfy booths. Small sombreros line the walls, as well as newspaper clippings, mini Volkswagen models and beautiful art.

While I had to wait around ten minutes for my order to arrive, the first bite of the fish taco, sprinkled with queso fresco, made me fall in love with the place all over again. The beef taco is an improvement from anything you could order from Taco Bueno and Mi Casita’s salsa is worth every dip of a chip.

You have to pay a little more for the specialty tacos, but they’re worth the price. If you don’t have the time to enjoy the atmosphere, the drive thru works just as well. Just wait until you’ve parked to take that first bite.

Featured Image: Barbacoa, charizo and lengua (tougue) tacos at La Estrella located at 602 E. McKinney St. Photo by Dillon Jones – Staff Photographer