Tacos are a genre of food where more is more. Why have one type of taco when you can have two? There are things like mixed grills or ratatouille that celebrate varieties of meat and vegetables respectively, but tacos are more often than not a sociable type food. They even come on a platter with a load of likeminded and occasionally spicy friends. Which is why we’ve put this guide together: it’s our celebration of all the great taco spots in Aurora.
Tziri Tacos
$ | (630) 692-3915 | WEBSITE
Authentic family-run spots are the beating heart of America’s simultaneously sprawling and intimate food landscape. Warm greetings, homemade chips with every order, and late afternoon sunlight on freshly chopped cilantro will bring a satisfied smile to the face of any true taco enthusiast. But let’s not overlook the undisputed champion of all Mexican street food: the humble taco.
There’s only one place you should be heading for Aurora’s most celebrated tortilla-wrapped treasures, and that destination is the counter at Tziri Tacos.
Fiesta Taco
$ | (630) 346-0011 | WEBSITE
You might associate Fiesta Taco with a bustling food truck scene and famously flavorful tacos, but it’s also one of the best spots in Aurora to get a big bite of the good stuff. Here they let the Al Pastor do all the talking, because when it’s as juicy and delicious as this one is, it doesn’t need any other frills. Topped with a little bit of guacamole packed with tomatoes and onions, this ridiculously satisfying taco doesn’t need anything else. Apart from Fiesta Taco’s chicken tacos, of course.
Primos Tacos
$$ | (630) 849-0485 | WEBSITE
Tacos: good. Burritos: even better. The marinated onions add a spicy kick that elevates the entire experience, but Primos Tacos’ Arrachera and Pastor taco plates are amongst the best. Always flavorful and, most importantly, always generous, the general rule of tacos here is that they should always exist like a happy hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Just like Primos Tacos’. With a side of rice and beans, you’ve got the perfect combination of authentic, affordable, fresh and welcoming.
Tacos 3 Carnales
$ | (630) 301-0374 | WEBSITE
We have a slideshow of memories in our brain that always appear when we can’t sleep. It’s typically a medley of flashbacks of our most cringe moments over the years, to TikTok songs we’ve heard too many times, and always, without fail, the time we tripped up in our primary school assembly. But sometimes, on a good day, we see images of those steak tacos from Tacos 3 Carnales. To call these flavorful would be a huge understatement. It feels more like a love letter to carnitas.
Freshly grilled tortillas, with juicy fillings and a literal pool of that green sauce, it’s spicy, it’s tangy, and it’s the closest you’ll get to a taco revelation.
El Taco Ranchero Food Truck
$ | (331) 270-7186 | WEBSITE
If there was ever a good reason to keep a stash of cash in your glove compartment, it’s El Taco Ranchero’s birria tacos. What you’re dealing with here is basically a crispy, juicy masterpiece for people who stan hard Mexican street food. A Ranchero signature, these tacos are certified proof that the best thing you can do with perfectly cooked tortillas is to fill them with flavorful meats, then dip them in refreshing salsa, and price them at $4.50 each.
That way inherently greedy taco lovers like ourselves can always justify pulling over for another order. Genius.
Coco’s Tacos
$$ | (630) 540-8279 | WEBSITE
The average catering bill for an Aurora backyard party is $450. We know this because it is physically impossible to eat one of Coco’s al pastor tacos without developing an intense curiosity for the source of the vibrant, citrus-marinated pork you’re consuming. Except this merry expedition down a catering inquiry is driven on by an infatuation for a perfectly charred and tender little mouthful of food.
Highly-satisfying yet gloriously simple, Coco’s have effectively looked at authentic Mexican street food and thought ‘how do we make it socially acceptable to package this with rice and beans and deliver it to the good people of Aurora’. The answer? Cater it. We salute them.
Mobile Cocos Tacos LLC
$$ | (630) 540-8279 | WEBSITE
An essential part of the foods-that-are-90%-meat category that you may have overlooked is the steak taco and while we suggest bringing that up in your next therapy session—who overlooks steak tacos?!—we’re here to fix the bigger problem. Which is not having tried these life altering tacos that are, surely, not just the best tacos in Aurora but in the whole of Illinois.
They’re packed full for $4.50 or so and served with spectacularly delicious tasting-and-textured combinations like perfectly seasoned carne asada, and fresh cilantro with onions, or lime and house-made salsa.
Taqueria y restaurante Don Chuy
$ | (630) 456-5481 | WEBSITE
To anyone who dreams of finding authentic Mexican flavors in the Midwest, this one’s for you. The tacos de asada at this Aurora gem are the main reason you should come here. Their standout enchiladas feature perfectly seasoned grilled chicken, fragrant rice and beans, except there really is no need to look further, go with the traditional preparation. P.S. they also have freshly made fruit waters that you should get involved with.
Tacos Diablos Truck
$ | (630) 674-5176 | WEBSITE
Tortilla, carne, tortilla, carne, tortilla, carne. All those mouth-watering taco feels. If you’ve not had the pleasure of eating this Mexican street classic before, then we would like to formally introduce you. Tacos Diablos Truck meet Certified Taco Fan. Certified Taco Fan meet Tacos Diablos Truck. We have a feeling you’re going to get on.
A medley of tender carne asada, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and sour cream on soft corn tortillas, our personal highlight of eating these tacos is getting our first bite through that perfectly seasoned meat. For an added $1.50, you can—and should—add the spicy red hot sauce. It’ll provide an extra kick to those delicious flavors and a solid hit of heat to break through all of that creamy sour cream.
Los Pancho’s Restaurant
$ | (630) 820-9391 | WEBSITE
First thing’s first, Los Pancho’s salsa is fantastic. Spicy with a layer of hidden flavor underneath. But let’s not beat around the bush here. Los Pancho’s make authentic tacos. AUTHENTIC TACOS. Of course, tacos should always be made authentic. But when it happens it’s very exciting and, it turns out, also very delicious. Their mixed fajitas are giant tacos, after all. Only they come with a zesty margarita to sip on as well. Take note, Aurora.
El FestÍn Restaurant
$ | (630) 896-8727 | WEBSITE
The human race has found a myriad of beautiful and creative ways to mainline corn. It’s what separates us from animals, they say. Our tortilla-loving cat tends to disagree. But arguably the greatest method us clever little taco fanatics have found is stuffing it. Stuffing it so that we can consume it faster, hotter, and dip crisp chips into fresh salsa and say profound things like ‘IT’S LIKE WE’RE IN MEXICO CITY, RIGHT?’.
Yes, al pastor is the mood and artfully jabbing El Festín’s quality Mexican meats with warm tortillas is the method. If you leave without feeling like you’re a walking block of barbacoa, you’re doing it wrong.