For an entire year my boyfriend and I celebrated “Grati-Tuesday”. A weekly holiday that consisted of listing reasons we were grateful before cheers-ing beers and eating tacos. Occasionally we cooked them at home but for the most part we ate at restaurants around town. I LOVE TACOS and I feel I have very high ground to stand on when judging the best tacos in Laguna Beach.
As I started outlining this post, I thought of making a comprehensive list and including EVERYWHERE; even the not-so-satisfying places. But to maintain a nice girl reputation, I’m compiling only my favorite taco spots (albeit with some personal opinions). Get ready to drool!
Carmelita’s Kitchen
For a long time Carmelita’s was the golden child. Their chips came with perfectly blended salsa AND freakin’ delicious black bean dip. They had amazing happy hour specials and the juicy carnitas taco was my weakness. They had a basic but delicious margarita that washed it all down delightfully.
So why am I referring to them in the past tense? Because they fell out of my good graces when they stopped bringing the black bean dip and started charging for it AND nearly doubled the price of their tacos. We just slowly went less and less out of bitterness and, maybe, a little pettiness. But I put Carmelita’s on this list because the tacos really are good!
Rasta Taco
Honestly, it took a few tries before the tacos here won me over. The ambiance of their patio is a little blah so we usually get our food to go and eat on the beach. What I love about Rasta Taco is the Caribbean infused flavors. They’re subtle at first but come out with each bite. TIP: Order the Jamaica juice (and don’t pronounce it wrong like I did the first time. It’s pronounced ha-my-ka). Oh another tip: Get a photo in front of their mural while waiting for your food.
Laguna Beach Beer Company
This one might surprise you! Yep, the brewery in the canyon has amazing tacos! They’re simple but flavorful and satisfying. On Tuesday they have taco specials and trivia so that’s a win/win. There’s just something so relaxing about sitting outdoors under their umbrellas with the pretty canyon hillside as your view. Oh and the cold beer obviously.
Coyote Grill
Maybe the most legit happy hour in town, and the locals know it so get here early! They have a great selection of happy hour options and the crunchy beef taco has my heart. Sit in the bar section for a lively environment and get their cold house margarita with tahin instead of regular salt. My one and only complaint is that their salsa seems like something pre-made from a tub and the ratio of onions is too overwhelming.
Oak
Anybody who knows me or follows my Instagram already knows Oak is in the #1 spot for the best tacos in Laguna Beach! Of alllllll the savory food on their menu, I always come back to the tacos. Order the taco cart which comes with one of each: smoked bacon, grilled shrimp, skirt steak, and roasted mushroom. They come with two different salsas and all the flavor combos are absolutely mind blowing! SIDENOTE: They serve them on flour tortillas which doesn’t make sense to me. Ask for corn tortillas instead!
Now you know where to find me on Tuesday’s.
Love this post? Check out my other Laguna Beach guides for more to do around town.
