Make that two: El Patron and Taco Spot in running for top spot in latest reader poll

You don’t have to go across the border to enjoy delicious, mouth-watering tacos. All you have to do is to venture forth in Worcester.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Best Taco Spot in Central Massachusetts reader poll has pared the original field of 16. Now we’re down to dos.

So who will it?

Will the honors go to El Patron Mexican Restaurant in the Canal District or the Taco Spot on Grafton Hill? Those are the two finalists.

While it’s way too early to say, “Yo quiero El Patron” or “Yo quiero Taco Spot” to declare victory, it’s time for you to cast your vote.

The original field of 16 was narrowed to eight, then four and now two. The list of 16 was based on reader nominations.

Voting in the final round ends at 6 p.m. Saturday. Winner to be announced Monday morning.

A look at the finalists

El Patron, 192 Harding St., Worcester, reached the finals by ousting Pepe's Taqueria, capturing 52% of the 1,996 votes.

The Cazares family is a well-established dynasty when it comes to traditional Mexican cuisine and family recipes.

The matriarch of the Cazares family, Maria Cazares, brought El Patron Mexican Restaurant in the Canal District in 2014. Her daughter and son, Mirna Cazares and Eddie Cazares, run the business at 192 Harding St. To go from the final four to one of two finalists, El Patron bet out Pepe’s Taqueria, which is run by Jerry Cazares and José Cazares, the brothers of Mirna and Eddie and the sons of Maria.

Taco Spot, 264 Grafton St., Worcester, snared one of the spots in the finals by eliminating Brick Mexican, capturing 66% of the 1,230 votes.

Roughly three-month shy of its third anniversary, the Taco Spot is arguably the best thing to come out of COVID-19.

“We’ve been making tacos for five years. We started during COVID as a hobby for friends and family,” said Stephanie Ortiz, who owns the business with her husband, Alex. “Culturally, we love tacos. My husband’s Puerto Rican and I’m Salvadorian and we love to go everywhere to try tacos. So we made our own twist to it. And now we share it with everyone, our version of tacos.”

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