The Birria Taco Power Rankings

Philly has more Mexican restaurants than greased-up light poles after an Eagles win. But only a select few have unbelievably tender, slow-cooked meat topped with deliciously salty, stretchy cheese, all packed into pan-fried corn tortillas. And don’t even get us started on the consomme, which we would gleefully slurp sans tacos if it were socially acceptable. The next time your birria craving hits, start with this list of the best birria tacos in town.

Juana Tamale

In a city where it seems like everyone is doing birria everything, it really means something to be the leader of the pack. After our extensive search, there is no question that East Passyunk’s Juana Tamale makes the best birria tacos. The housemade tortillas are stuffed with an unforgettable stew of spicy, savory, tender beef and salty Oaxaca cheese. Then, they’re fried until crisp, and served with a velvety consomme of onions, chiles, and adobo sauce. It’s a huge bonus that the restaurant feels like it was designed by Punk Rock Barbie, but if neon purple graffiti isn’t your thing, the tacos still will be.

La Catrachita

Sure, La Catrachita on Columbus Blvd. makes a few things besides birria. But like Rihanna once said, “baby, this (birria) is what you came for.” The thick-cut beef is incredibly flavorful thanks to its bath of peppers, onions, and cilantro, and it’s all pan-fried with so much queso Oaxaca that you end up with a side dish of chewy cheese crust. The tortillas are the perfect mid-point between crispy and chewy, even after soaking in that savory consomme. They also make a cheesy birria ramen using the consomme for broth if you prefer to eat with silverware.

Taqueria Morales

Taqueria Morales is like the Superman of South Philly Mexican restaurants. The quaint corner spot quietly serves great tortas and tacos, but when it rips open its shirt and tosses its glasses, it makes juicy, over-stuffed birria tacos in a crispy tortilla cape. The consomme is also noticeably thicker and richer than most others on this list. These tacos don’t come with cheese, but you can (and should) add it on for the ultimate queso-pulling experience.

El Chingon

This plant-filled all-day Mexican cafe in Passyunk Square is perfect for grabbing coffee and conchas before work or sharing a bunch of tacos and tostadas for a casual date night. But an unmissable item to add to your order is the adobo-forward braised-beef birria, either wrapped in tortillas or in one of their signature cemitas, piled high on their warm, housemade buns. Both come with a bowl of the velvety onion consomme. You’re gonna need extra napkins.

Mi Pueblito Tacos

When we stumble upon a taco truck as good as Mi Pueblito, it’s tempting to only tell those close friends who know our phone passcodes about it. But when this family-run Jalisco-style truck popped up on Front and Dickinson, selling incredibly savory beef birria jam-packed into tacos with consomme, we knew we had to share it with the world (it’s our job). Since Mi Pueblito is only open Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, plan accordingly, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes since you’ll almost certainly be standing in line.

Mr. Tacos Birria

This casual, takeout-only taqueria near Mifflin Square Park is open daily from 10am-5am (yes, you read that right), so it’s one of the few places in the city that can indulge your late-night or early-morning taco cravings. The birria tacos are top-tier (as they should be—it's right in the name). They’re crispy, the meat is well-seasoned, and the consomme has just the right amount of spice. So the next time you're up at 3am for some reason, skip your sad bowl of cereal and grab these beauties instead.

El Mictlan

Don’t let the grimacing cartoon Aztec king of the underworld fool you— South Philly’s El Mictlan is warm and friendly, even if the restaurant’s namesake is not. The Mexican dishes are more stunning than the casual BYOB environment might suggest, and in addition to the well-done guacamole and empanadas, the quesabirria tacos are unforgettable. The birria and melted mozzarella cheese is packed into housemade corn tortillas, then pan-seared until it has a gorgeous, crispy, golden-brown exterior.

La Llorona Cantina

With a mezcal and tequila list as long as the line around the Rocky statue, and a kitchen that stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, this South Philly cantina is the place to be for a celebratory round of margaritas and birria tacos. Unlike most on this list, these are not topped with cheese, but the fragrant meat and herbal, oniony consomme more than makes up for it. Grab an order of the limey Mexican street corn, too.

Asadero Los Tios

We’ve long been on a hunt for our favorite Mexican food in the Northeast, and in Asadero Los Tios, we’ve finally found it. The menu is quite lengthy, and everything is pretty darn good, but it's the birria tacos that we get every time. They're double-wrapped, crispy fried, and packed to the edge with juicy, tender beef. Come with friends and share a couple orders in the backyard garden, along with the housemade strawberry, passionfruit, or pineapple agua fresca.

Sor Ynez

The beef in Sor Ynez’s birria is cut a bit thicker than typical, giving each taco a heftier, heartier bite. But the flavor is on point, and it’s all balanced beautifully by just enough cheese to keep its little white corn tortilla jacket shut. The Kensington restaurant is one of our favorites for a long, leisurely hang on the enormous patio with infused-tequila cocktails, but those birria bad boys will be gone in seconds.