Foodie News

It's National Taco Day: Where to find Houston's best tacos

Let's be real: Every day in Houston is taco day. It just so happens that on Oct. 4, the country catches up by celebrating National Taco Day.

Since we at CultureMap are loathe to instigate a riot by trying to rank the best taco shops and taquerias around town (there's just too many!), we've decided to share our personal favorites. From exotic meats to vegetarian fare, it turns out tacos should be their own delicious food group.

Since we at CultureMap are loathe to instigate a riot by trying to rank the best taco shops and taquerias around town (there's just too many!), we've decided to share our personal favorites.

Breakfast tacos from El Ultimo

"Bacon, beans and eggs from this bingity-bangity, festively painted bus that stops at the corner of Long Point and Antoine. Crispy bacon, real refried beans (with lard) and fresh eggs wrapped in a large handmade corn tortilla. Oh! And topped with spicy salsa made by the wife of one of the venders." -Barbara Kuntz, photo editor

Fish tacos from Ruggles Green

"Ruggles Green fish tacos absolutely effin' rule. Gotta get them grilled, not fried, to maintain a perfect level of "lightness" that's so pivotal to the fish taco experience." -Tyler Rudick, staff writer

Crispy tacos from Molina's Cantina

"Every once in a while I crave the kind of tacos that I grew up with: crunchy shells, ground beef, piles of shredded yellow cheese. These have all of the above and despite a plate that's covered in grease, they never seem to get soggy. They are miracle tacos." -Sarah Rufca, associate editor

Fried avocado taco at H-Town StrEATs

"It's a great combo of crunch (fried avocado) and spice (they top it off with sriracha), and they put a cabbage slaw on top that balances the two flavors really well. It's on a fresh corn tortilla which just ties the whole thing together. The batter they use to fry the avocado is key too — it's really crunchy." -Emily Goetz, marketing coordinator

Anything from 100% Taquito

"I love 100% because it's authentic and cheap." -Anna Domning, office manager

Brisket tacos at Otto's BBQ

"I know this is a little different, but I find myself eating them pretty often. They are piled full of lean chopped brisket with avocado and a little onion, just right." -Chad Miller, chief sales officer

Vegetarian taco from Tacos Tierra Caliente

"It's not listed on the menu plastered on the side of this ramshackle truck near West Alabama Ice House, but it'll please even the meatiest eater. Melted white cheese forms the base on the flour tortilla, topped by pico, lettuce and a hefty serving of always-perfect avocado — served with a squeeze of lime and a drizzle each of red and green salsa, and at $2.00 each, this taco really can't be beat." -Whitney Radley, staff writer

Cuban taco at El Rey Taqueria

"You can't complain about fusion cuisine when the result is something as pure awesome as this. The combination of fajita chicken, black beans, mushy plantains and sour cream is totally unique and as delicious as it is messy." -Sarah Rufca, associate editor

Fish tacos from Berryhill Baja Grill

"It's the original and just so good … I grew up on these." -Meredith Riddle, senior account executive

Fried avocado taco from Radical Eats

"Because every veggie taco should have something fried. And the taco is vegan and gluten-free, and though it does taste a tad gluten-free-ish, it's still darn good." -Joel Luks, listings editor

Snapper taco at El Gran Malo

"The fish tacos at El Gran Malo have freshly seared snapper that's really flavorful." -Emily Goetz, marketing coordinator

Verde Taco at Tacos A Go-Go

"Deliciousness: The mixed veggies are fresh and crisp, zucchini piled atop a scoop of black beans and drizzled with an unidentifiable spicy cream sauce, all on a double-layer of perfect corn tortillas. They're a great deal at $1.99 each, but make it a plate (two tacos plus rice and beans) for just $6.69 — you won't regret it." -Whitney Radley, staff writer

LCC Tacos at Last Concert Cafe

"I just tried the crispy tacos here and they were awesome. This is my new go-to place for tacos." -Meredith Riddle, senior account executive

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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