Best Tacos & Margaritas in the Treasure Valley

With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, we're sharing our favorite tacos around the Treasure Valley. There is something for every taco lover on this list that breaks down Boise’s best.   Most Unique: Funky Taco Photo credit to HappyCow. This downtown Boise restaurant offers tacos with a unique emphasis on Asian, Indian, Mexican, and Americana ethnicities and styles of food. It prides itself on locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients and has a selection of seasonal tacos to highlight the current harvest. Menu highlights include the Thaico, a Thai curry chicken taco with Asian slaw and toasted sesame aioli, and Piggy Stardust, a slow-roasted Yucatan-style pork taco with lime crema and shaved cabbage. They offer delicious options for vegans and vegetarians as well. In terms of drinks, the Funky Taco offers multiple signature “Funktails” and beer options.   Best Street Taco: Calle 75 Photo credit to Calle 75. Calle 75 offers authentic Mexican street food created using locally sourced ingredients. Previously a taco truck, Calle 75 has opened up two locations in the last few years, one in the Village in Meridian and one in downtown Boise. They make authentic corn tortillas daily in-house, making a noticeable difference in the taste of their tacos. The menu features classic street tacos including Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, and Carnitas. They offer a variety of unique margaritas including hibiscus flower, tamarind, and habanero margaritas.   Overall Favorite: Amano Photo credit to the Boise Dev. Located in Caldwell, Amano has a unique menu influenced by SoCal, Michoacan, and Oaxacan style Mexican food. Owner and Chef Salvador Alamilla was born and raised in Mexico, where he grew up learning his culinary skills from traditional Mexican cuisine. Using ancestral cooking methods, Amano prepares food with authentic ingredients for an immersive cultural experience. Served alongside this flavorful food is a beverage list featuring over 40 different Mezcals and Tequilas, craft and Mexican beer, and Sunnyslope region wines. This year, Amano made the New York Times America’s Best Restaurants list, an extremely competitive list featuring only 50 restaurants across the United States!    Best Deal: Parilla on Taco Tuesday Photo credit to the Idaho Statesman. Parilla Grill is a unique Restaurant-Cantina dedicated to quality food at a great value. With locations in Hyde Park and Downtown, Parilla is the perfect lunch or to-go spot. On Tuesdays, they offer an amazing deal on tacos, with $1 classic chicken and beef tacos. Parilla has a fun and energetic atmosphere with a wide selection of margaritas (try the Jalapeno one for a little spice!) and plenty of TVs with sports games playing.   Best Fish Taco: Reef Photo credit to Reef. With an atmosphere inspired by a tropical vacation, Reef offers island-inspired eats, tropical drinks, and live music. The restaurant has a rooftop deck and a tiki-themed full service bar, perfect for an escape from reality without leaving town. This restaurant offers a variety of dishes, from Jerk chicken, sushi, and Polynesian food. Reef’s fish taco is a delicious combination of grilled Mahi Mahi, queso fresco, crisp cabbage, and mango cumin vinaigrette that is sure to hit the spot!   Best for Vegetarian: Coa de Jima Photo credit to Coa de Jima. Coa De Jima, located in downtown Boise, offers innovative Latin cuisine, one-of-a-kind hand-crafted cocktails, and art-filled walls to celebrate Latin culture like never before. Head Chef Enrique Martinez and owner Nikolai Castro created Coa de Jima with the mission to serve upscale authentic Mexican food with an exotic twist. There is a variety of vegetarian options available here, from roasted mushroom tacos to chilaquiles and burritos. Coa de Jima has a delicious margarita and a wide selection of tequila and mezcal.   Honorable Mentions: Tin Roof Tacos. A classic Boise staple, Tin Roof Taco serves up Texas street-style tacos. This locally owned restaurant is beloved by Boiseans, and you will often find a line out the door on a summer evening (don’t worry, their service is super fast!). They offer a variety of tacos at super affordable prices and all ingredients, including the tortillas, are made from scratch. We recommend the fried chicken taco and the Baja shrimp taco!    The Matador. Situated on historic 8th St in energetic downtown Boise, the Matador has been a part of the city's restaurant and happy hour scene since 2010. Matador offers Mexican-inspired food and tequila with an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. There is also plenty of outdoor seating for the summer months. Currently, Matador has a must-try strawberry basil seasonal margarita.

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