There’s really no wrong day for tacos, but National Taco Day gives us an especially good excuse to grab a few. From tacos served out of gas stations and food trucks to waterfront restaurants with margaritas, Annapolis has plenty of options when a taco craving hits.
In honor of National Taco Day on Tuesday, Oct. 6, we rounded up some local spots worth adding to your next Taco Tuesday lineup.
Taqueria El Cabrito (“Mexxon”)
Don’t let the gas station location fool you. Tucked inside the Exxon on Buschs Frontage Road, Taqueria El Cabrito — affectionately known by locals as “Mexxon” — has built a following for its tacos, burritos and other Mexican favorites. And if eating tacos inside an Exxon isn’t quite your thing, you’re in luck: El Cabrito recently opened a standalone restaurant nearby on Whitehall Road.
Vida Taco Bar
With locations in Annapolis and Severna Park, Vida puts its own spin on the taco. More than 10 varieties are available, with favorites including fried soft shell crab, Korean pork belly and scallop topped with roasted garlic chipotle aioli. Choose from lettuce, corn or flour shells, and don’t forget one of Vida’s signature margaritas to go with your meal.
Picante
Tucked away on West Street in downtown Annapolis, Picante makes a great stop for a taco date night. Taco plates come with three tacos, and you can stick with one variety or mix and match. Popular choices include the Baja shrimp tacos, made with beer-battered shrimp, and pescado tacos with adobo-seared mahi, avocado and chipotle aioli.
Señor Chile
This family-run Mexican restaurant offers everything from traditional street tacos to more creative combinations. The Tacos Michelin trio includes skirt steak with guacamole salsa, a bacon-wrapped, shrimp-stuffed jalapeño with jalapeño ranch, and pollo enchilado with habanero slaw. For something simpler, try the Mexican street tacos on soft corn tortillas topped with onions and cilantro. Most taco platters include three tacos, rice and beans, while individual tacos can also be ordered without sides.
Armada Dockside Cantina
This waterfront spot pairs an extensive selection of agave spirits and tequila with a menu full of Mexican-inspired favorites. You’ll find classics such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and fajitas alongside specialties including blue crab taquitos, oysters on the half shell and blue crab guacamole. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the bar, with select food and drink specials.
Taco Trucks
Antojitos Taco Truck: Situated on West Street, Antojitos serves tacos, tamales, burritos and more.
Señor Sombrero: Normally located in the parking lot of a Shell gas station on Solomons Island Road, Señor Sombrero serves burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and more.
Delicious Oaxaqueñas: Also typically parked along Solomons Island Road, this food truck offers tacos, quesadillas, and plates, with birria tacos among its popular choices.
Taqueria el Primo: Located on Forest Drive, Taqueria el Primo offers plenty of traditional options along with dishes you may not see everywhere, including cabeza tacos and birria pizza.
Whether your ideal taco comes from a food truck, a downtown restaurant or, yes, an Exxon station, there’s no shortage of places around Annapolis to find one. Use National Taco Day as your excuse to try somewhere new — and then keep the list handy, because Taco Tuesday comes around every week.
Your Ultimate Annapolis Guide to Pumpkin Patches