The Vision is beginning a new series to introduce our community to some of our favorite spots around Nashville. If you’re looking for something to do on a Saturday, show our Nashville neighbors some love and pay theseplaces a visit! This week, we asked our editors, “What is the best restaurant for tacos in Nashville?”
Sarah Maninger (Editor-in-Chief): Chuy's
Moving to Nashville in the middle of the pandemic wasn’t easy but discovering there was a Chuy’s in town made the experience a whole lot better. I grew up going to Chuy’s while visiting family Texas, and there was never a problem their chips and guac couldn’t fix. The tacos at Chuy’s are some of my favorites in town, and they aren’t shy about piling on the chips. Chuy’s is a great way to get out and explore midtown while still having a chill experience. Not to mention, the portion sizes will leave you with plenty of leftovers. Feel like trying something other than tacos? The chicken fajitas are my go-to! Being from LA, my standards for tacos are pretty high but Chuy’s provides that dose of nostalgia we all need in college.
David Pang (Managing Editor): Mas Tacos Por Favor
The best spot for tacos in Nashville has to be Mas Tacos Por Favor in East Nashville. It is a bit of a drive, but it is so worth it. The physical location doesn’t look like much, but what it lacks in aesthetic, it makes up for in taste. This traditional Mexican spot offers daily specials and some amazing beverages to cool you down, but, of course, the main event is the tacos. The fried avocado tacos make for a delicious vegetarian option. And the fish tacos, lightly battered to perfection, shine like gold. Looking for something less adventurous? I highly recommend the chicken tacos. The pulled chicken may seem simple and bland to the eye, but don’t let looks deceive you. They’re packed with flavor; squeeze some lime on top for the perfect finish. After your first time, this taco stand will make you say, “Mas Tacos, Por Favor!”
Chandler Maynard (Video Editor): Bartaco
Bartaco is a bougie take on street tacos. And let me tell you, it has hands down the best tacos around. Its tacos are small enough that you can try everything without feeling so full afterwards that you’ll explode. It also has a secret taco it switches out every month or so, which makes for an exciting experience. Bartaco’s fresh and delicious guacamole, salsa roja and salsa verde are all made in-house. One of my favorites is the Tuna Tatako, which comes on Bibb lettuce. But my all-time personal favorite is the duck birria. Holy duck, it’s so amazing. And, of course, you can't go to Bartaco without ending with some churros with chocolate sauce. If you've never been, you've never lived, and it's within walking distance from campus! Try it and tell me what your fav taco was — I'd love to know.
Sophie Slusher (Lead Copy Editor): Otto’s Bar
One of my personal favorite spots for tacos in Nashville is Otto’s Bar on Charlotte Pike. Their weekly Taco Tuesdays feature $2 tacos — great for a cheap meal on a student’s budget. I recommend the Street Tacos, which come with a protein of choice, cheese, pico de gallo and crema sauce. They’re surprisingly delicious and perfect for grabbing an easy, inexpensive bite while you hang out with friends. There’s even a vegan meat substitute for those who ask. The chips and guacamole are perfect to share while sitting on the patio, which features shining string lights, ample seating and plenty of greenery. The drinks at Otto’s are also great; they’re usually on some kind of special or discount. The staff are kind, the ambiance is warm and inviting and the tacos are delicious. What more could you want?
AJ Wuest (Sports Editor): Taco Bell
Taco Bell is not only my favorite taco spot in Nashville, but it is likely my favorite restaurant of all time. No matter what you order, your taste buds are left pleasantly swimming in a mixture of delicious queso and sauces. Right now, my go-to order is the grilled cheese burrito box, but I always order an additional crunch wrap to top it all off. It is truly impossible to go wrong with a delicious large Baja Blast to regroup and rejuvenate after a hard day’s work. After going to the gym and getting in a killer lift, the protein contained within the meats — whether it is steak, chicken or ground beef — always gets the amino acids dancing with excitement in my muscles. Taco Bell makes you a bigger, better and stronger individual. So next time you hear the ding of that bell, take a big ol’ bite of that Dorito shell! Yo quiero Taco Bell!
Connor Daryani (Senior News Writer): Ladybird Taco
Coming from Texas, I regularly take up the challenge of finding ways to make all three of my daily meals consist of tacos. Upon moving to Nashville, I quickly realized how much more of an undertaking this would amount to here than in Dallas, where you can find a breakfast taco shop on nearly every street corner. My discovery of Ladybird Taco naturally came as a huge relief. Get the No. 1 and the No. 3, both of which are loaded with Ladybird’s delicious thick-cut bacon. Drenched in one of Ladybird’s three delicious hot sauces — mild, medium and hot — these tacos are bound to satisfy even the biggest of taco snobs, such as myself. Despite it selling Crema Coffee, one of Nashville’s best local roasteries, I find Ladybird’s iced coffee hugely underwhelming; make sure to order a hot americano or macchiato if you’re in need of a daily caffeine fix like myself.
Isaac Wetzel (Lead Photographer): San Antonio Taco Co.
In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like a SATCO Saturday. Just under one mile from campus sits the San Antonio Taco Company, offering the best bang for your buck in town. My personal favorite are the fish tacos, but the main attraction is its queso. Whether you’re feeling a ten-taco-party-for-one or a friends’ night out, you won’t be disappointed.