A list of our favorite local taco shops in Asheville
From taco food trucks to hole-in-the-wall spots, you’ll find it all on this guide to the best tacos in Asheville. We tried to highlight a variety of spots, from our favorite place to take our kids for tacos (White Duck RAD) to our the best place for breakfast tacos (Taco Billy!)
As you’ll see in our guide to Asheville’s taco shops below, we include a lot of information on our deep dives!! You’ll find the address, details on the menu, parking information and even what we like to order.
Map of the Best Tacos in Asheville
The Best Places to Get Tacos in Asheville
1. Taco Billy A Favorite
Starting out our Best Tacos in Asheville list strong with Taco Billy!! It’s a favorite of ours, both in the taco category and in the food category in general.
Taco Billy is located in West Asheville just across from Hole Doughnuts, and yes you should visit both.
Everything is bursting with flavor at Taco Billy. So many of their taco fillings are stewed in the traditional manner, melding and bringing out so much flavor (a technique learned in Mexico by the owners.) All of Taco Billy’s ingredients are fresh and sourced locally where possible. And their menu can’t be topped!
They open bright and early, serving up their all-day breakfast tacos with freshly brewed PennyCup coffee. And then at 11 you can grab something from their lunch + dinner menu. It’s always a crowd-pleaser for our family and a definite recommendation from us!!
About Taco Billy
Taco Billy’s menu: Taco Billy has breakfast tacos available all day and lunch/dinner tacos available after 11am. You can either build your own taco or select from one of their many menu items. Each taco on the menu comes on a suggested tortilla, but you can switch it out to your favorite (choose from flour, corn or plantain.) You can also swap out pretty much everything else– meat type, toppings, etc. If you are vegan, they have No Evil Foods veggie chorizo on the menu. Salsa, guacamole and queso are also on the menu, as well as a kid’s quesadilla.
Location: 201 Haywood Rd // West Asheville
Availability: open daily
What to order at Taco Billy:
- If you love a classic taco, don’t miss the Granberry (ground beef, toppings on your choice of tortilla.)
- Another favorite of ours is the morita (Morita Chili-Stewed Pork and Potatoes, Tangy Slaw, Cilantro and Jalapeno Ranch), though honestly everything is always great there!
- They also have a solid breakfast menu– try Billy Joel (bacon, egg + cheese) and the Migas!!
- An unexpected breakfast taco that we love is their Support Group taco (cumin-roasted sweet potatoes, spinach, black bean hummus, avocado, coconut crema.) It comes on a plantain tortilla, and though it’s pretty sweet there is something magical about it with the sweet potatoes and hummus.
- The Billy the Kid Quesadilla is also great and comes with either chicken, beef or refried beans.
- We also always grab at least the Chips and Guacamole, though typically add Chips and Salsa too. Both are a family favorite!
Dietary Options: Taco Billy has a few vegan-friendly options! The sweet-potato based Support Group taco is great, especially on the plantain tortilla. They also have No Evil Foods veggie chorizo on the menu that you can swap out for ($1.25) or even build your own taco around it. For our gluten-free friends, their menu indicates all menu items are GF except Lunch Lady, San Cris and the Yard Bird tacos if ordered on a corn or plantain tortilla. Of course, check with them to see if anything has changed before ordering, but that sounds pretty promising!
Dessert: Try their Chocobilly Cookie!! It’s a nutella-filled chocolate shortbread cookie sandwich and always a hit with our family.
Beverages: Taco Billy has a fun drink menu! You’ll find Agua Fresca (watermelon, hibiscus, limeade), Topo Chico, Mexican Coke + Fanta + Sprite, various Yerba Mate flavors, Coke products, PennyCup coffee, tea and Kombucha. They also have beer and frozen margaritas!
Online Ordering: Easy online ordering through Toast! You can schedule up to four days in advance.
Parking: Not the best parking but they have a few spaces right out front.
What we love about Taco Billy: All-day breakfast tacos!! The Migas is such a great way to start a morning, especially when paired with a cup of PennyCup coffee. We also love all of the fun pre-built tacos, though we always have a hard time choosing!
Award: Best tacos in Asheville! Yes, I went there. Here’s why– it’s always our first recommendation for tacos in Asheville. When friends come in town Taco Billy is a no-brainer to us. It’s a classic Asheville restaurant and menu with exceptional food and that only-in-Asheville local feel.
2. Taco Temple A Favorite
Located on Charlotte Street just north of downtown, Taco Temple is a fixture in the community. The simplicity and real flavor make their tacos worth having again and again. And their corn tortillas are ground fresh and grilled to order!
About Taco Temple
Taco Temple’s menu: Taco Temple’s menu boasts four breakfast tacos and over ten lunch and dinner tacos. They offer everything from rotisserie chicken, to fish and shrimp to a veggie taco option on your choice of freshly-made corn or flour tortilla. In addition to tacos, you’ll find tortas (Mexican sandwiches) and a salad. Order at the window and they’ll call your name when it’s ready! There’s typically a line but they move fast, so don’t worry! You can also order online and pick up at the drive-through.
Location: 132 Charlotte St. // North Asheville
Availability: closed Sundays
What to order at Taco Temple:
- Whatever you do, make sure to try a corn tortilla!
- We love their Al Pastor taco and torta (topped with pineapple!) The Santa Barbara (ancho chile-brown sugar rubbed steak) is also great, as is their Toluca taco filled with house-made chorizo.
- We always opt for chips and salsa, chips and guacamole (and sometimes chips and queso … #wheninasheville…)
- Their Mexican vegetable tray (cucumbers, carrots, jicama & lime-dusted flour chicharrones) is a fun add when we are feeding a group.
- For breakfast, we love to get their Coyo Taco (bacon, eggs, cheese, salsa), Tepito Taco (chorizo, eggs, cheese, salsa) and their temple tots (dusted with chile-lime sal.) So good!!
Dietary Options: Taco Temple’s avocado taco and avocado torta are both vegan, and both great! They also have a vegan taco on their breakfast menu (available until 12) with a sweet potato hash base. Check with them on their gluten-free items! They don’t explicitly mention it on the menu but I’m sure most of the menu is GF!
Dessert: Churro tots!! And they are exactly as they sound– bite-sized cinnamon sugar churros.
Beverages: Another taco restaurant with a fun drink menu! You’ll find bottled Mexican Coke, Horchata, Topo Chico, and hibiscus lemonade in addition to fountain drinks and tea. They also have beer, wine and mixed drinks available. For breakfast you can pair your tacos with locally-roasted High Noon coffee or a cup or Mexican hot chocolate.
Online Ordering: Easy online ordering through Square. They have a drive-through where you can grab and go. You can’t order in advance online, though, so keep that in mind.
Parking: There are a few spots right out front. Next door is the old Fuddruckers building with a huge parking lot but… don’t park there! They tow.
What we love about Taco Temple: Everything! It’s such a neighborhood staple and has a true local feel. It also has really great food and the staff is always friendly.
Award: Two awards for Taco Temple because they are on the of the best! First up: Best Spot for Quick Tacos! They make them fast but they make them good. There will probably be a line when you go, but it moves fast and you’ll be up in no time! And that line you see– it’s full of locals! This brings us to our next award: Best Taco Spot to Feel Like a Local!
3. White Duck Taco Shop A Favorite
White Duck Taco isn’t as ‘authentic’ as the other spots mentioned, but that’s what makes it so great!
They have over 15 different types of tacos ranging from Korean Bulgogi to Chicken BLT to a classic ground beef taco. All of the ingredients are always fresh and their presentation is beautiful.
Their tacos are even more enjoyable when dining al fresco at their ample picnic tables by the river at their RAD location. The outdoor space is great for hanging out and enjoying with kids. White Duck Taco has locations in downtown Asheville and South Asheville.
About White Duck Tacos
White Duck Taco’s Menu: You’ll find tons of fun tacos at White Duck! And not regular tacos… cool tacos. You know, Bangkok Shrimp, Buffalo Chicken, and Banh Mi Tofu Tacos. They also have ‘regular’ tacos, but their fun flavors are what keeps it a top Asheville taco spot. Apart from tacos you’ll find cheese + chicken quesadillas, soups, chips and queso and a few desserts.
Location: White Duck Taco has a few locations around town! The flagship White Duck is just north of River Arts District on the French Broad (388 Riverside Dr.) They also have a downtown Asheville location (12 Biltmore Ave), a South Asheville location (16 Miami Cir) and one in Hendersonville.
Availability: All locations are open daily. Check before you go, of course!
What to order at White Duck Tacos: They have such a fun menu and you can’t go wrong! Though it’s not a traditional taco flavor, the Lamb Gyro taco is topped with tzatziki sauce and feta and is always exceptional! We also love the unexpected Korean Beef Bulgogi taco. Grab a few different taco flavors, a side of chips and queso, a fountain drink, tea or beer and you’ll be set! We always order a quesadilla for the kids, too.
Dietary Options: Bahn Mi Tofu tacos and Black Beans tacos for our vegan friends!
Dessert: White Duck has a Mexican Chocolate Pot de Crème and a Coconut Macaroon Pie with salted caramel.
Beverages: Fountain drinks, fresh brewed tea, beer, wine and margaritas
Online Ordering: White Duck Tacos does not currently offer online ordering in Asheville.
Parking: It depends on the location!
- Their RAD location (our favorite, BTW) has a ton of parking available and lots of indoor + outdoor seating available. It’s such a great place to bring the family on a warm day.
- Downtown parking is tricky. There’s street parking out front but it would depend on the time of day and your luck.
- The South AVL (Arden) White Duck Taco has a pretty good size parking lot, though not nearly as big as the RAD one.
What we love about White Duck Tacos: We love the funky taco flavors inspired by global cuisine in addition to the traditional tacos that White Duck Taco Shop offers. From bulgogi to gyro to chicken BLT, everything is so unique, so on point and so FRESH.
Award: Best taco variety in Asheville!
4. Grey Eagle Taqueria A Favorite
The most fun taco spot on our list!
Grey Eagle Taqueria is actually located inside the Grey Eagle Music Hall. The music hall features great acts pretty much every night of the week. See their calendar here.
You’ll find a variety of musical acts, yoga and even dance lessons. Most of their shows are all ages. They list it for each event on their calendar so make sure to check it out first before you make plans. A few of the shows are seated but the majority are standing room only.
As far as food goes, you’ll find some awesome tacos and other fun menu items like nachos and empanadas.
Grey Eagle has tables inside and a patio outside with ample seating. It’s such a great place to grab lunch on a nice day or dinner before a show. They even host some patio events with first come first serve seating.
About Grey Eagle Taqueria
Quick details: A great taqueria located inside the Grey Eagle Music Hall. You’ll find traditional tacos, a daily empanada special, Mexican street corn, salads, churros and nachos on the menu and tons of fun shows / events at the music hall.
Location: 185 Clingman Dr | River Arts District
Availability: Open for lunch and dinner daily (including for shows!)
What to order at Grey Eagle Taqueria: I’m a big fan of their empanada of the day, as well as their specialty carnitas turntable tacos.
Dietary Options: You’ll find gluten free and vegan options clearly marked on the menu. They have awesome GF rice bowls and a vegan + gluten free quinoa avocado salad. I also love their GF+ V black bean and sweet potato taco.
Dessert: Churros!!
Beverages: Beer, liquor and wine are available at the bar
Online Ordering: Yes! You can order online here.
Parking: There are a few parking spaces on the side of the building but these are pretty much only available during lunch. There is a ton of free parking nearby, though (Clingman and Haywood, specifically.)
What we love about Grey Eagle Taqueria: It’s such a uniquely Asheville spot! Their food is always fresh and delicious, and the shows are always enjoyable. It’s not the largest music venue but I think that’s what makes it so great. It’s intimate, doesn’t get overly crowded and has great service.
Award: The best taco shop for a date night out. You are guaranteed a great time (and great food) at Grey Eagle. Check out their calendar and make a plan!
5. Mamacita’s Taqueria
And now to Taco Temple’s sister restaurant! Mamacita’s is located in downtown Asheville and is such a hidden gem find mixed in amongst the other great restaurants on Biltmore Ave.
It’s a quick, casual Chipotle-style restaurant and is always fresh and delicious!
It’s right next to The Orange Peel and is a fun option to grab before a show. It’s also great for kids because it’s pretty quick and there aren’t any waiters involved. Not always the case in downtown Asheville!
And, of course, the food is absolutely delicious! They have a fun menu full of the best Mexican street food around. I know this a tacos list, but you should also definitely try a burrito!!
About Mamacita’s Taqueria
Mamacita’s Taqueria Menu: Fast, casual, and awesome Mexican street food! Mamacita’s has all the staples: burritos, tacos, salads, nachos and four scratch-made salsas to choose from! They have so many fun burrito options but their chile-rubbed steak burrito is our favorite! Order at the front and they assemble it for you Chipotle-style (but better…)
Location: 77 Biltmore Ave // Downtown Asheville
Availability: Open daily for lunch and dinner
What to order at Mamacita’s Taqueria: If you are on the hunt for a great taco, try the pulled porked carnitas, Baja fish and steak tacos. The citrus chicken taco is pretty great, too! Apart from tacos, they have some great burritos! Mamacita’s loads their burritos up and they are always fresh and delicious. We love the chile-rubbed steak and pulled pork carnitas burritos. And, of course, their nachos with steak is always a hit! PS we prefer the flour tortillas when taking tacos to go.
Dietary Options: Their Cauliflower Al Pastor taco and burrito are vegan as well as the avocado taco that comes with sweet potatoes.
Dessert: Churros!! 🙂
Beverages: Mexican sodas, Topo Chico, Horchata, tea, water and a full bar with a great local beer selection.
Online Ordering: Easy online ordering for pickup and delivery through Square.
Parking: Parking can be hit or miss in downtown Asheville, but there are a few lots and garages close by if you can’t find street parking. Luckily Mamacita’s is on the edge of downtown near Wicked Weed and The Orange Peel where parking is a bit easier than in the heart of downtown.
What we love about Mamacita’s Taqueria: Mamacita’s is such an unexpected gem in downtown Asheville where many restaurants are fancy and expensive. It’s wallet-friendly but brings the flavor you expect of any downtown Asheville restaurant. Also, everyone who works there is always so happy and friendly.
Award: Best bang for your buck tacos in Asheville! You can’t beat the value and the incredible taste!
6. Taqueria Muñoz Food Truck at Zillicoah Brewery
As of July 2023, the Taqueria Muñoz food truck is permanently closed
A great taco food truck at a brewery by the river!
It’s easy to love the Taqueria Muñoz food truck located at the Zillicoah Beer Company brewery in Woodfin. They have awesome and authentic tacos and a great outdoor area next to the French Broad River.
Though Zillicoah is open daily, it is 21+ every day but Sundays when they host a family day.
You can also find a brick and mortar Taqueria Muñoz in West Asheville, though we prefer the food truck due to the laidback atmosphere at the brewery. The West Asheville location is next to a Mexican food market.
About Taqueria Muñoz
Taqueria Muñoz menu: You’ll find tacos, tortas, quesadillas, sopas, tamales and burritos on the menu. Choose from steak, chicken, pastor, lamb or chorizo… or tongue … or cheek! Expect authentic Mexican food! The salsa is all homemade and can get really spicy, so watch out!
Location: 870 Riverside Drive | Woodfin and a brick and mortar shop in West Asheville (1438 Patton Ave)
Availability: open daily
What to order at Taqueria Muñoz: Try their pastor taco! I also really enjoy their chicken quesadillas and the steak tacos.
Dietary Options: GF is not specifically listed on the menu but they do have corn tortillas so it’s worth asking about. They make the corn tortillas on site.
Beverages: It’s first and foremost a brewery so you can expect great beer!
Online Ordering: You can’t order tacos online but you can order to-go beer from Zillicoah here.
Parking: Tons of parking available
What we love about Taqueria Muñoz: The tacos are so fresh and authentic. And you can’t beat the brewery vibe, outdoor space and river view.
Award: Most authentic tacos in Asheville.
