The 3 Best Taco Spots in Michigan, Voted By Michiganders

I asked my audience for the best tacos in Michigan. Three spots kept coming up over and over, so here they are, ranked by your votes. Short list, strong opinions.

1. El Especial, Flint

El Especial is a small, family-run Mexican restaurant at 4513 W Pasadena Ave. in Flint, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 8pm. Regulars go for the tacos, with chicken, beef, al pastor, and barbacoa all getting named in reviews, plus enchiladas, chimichangas, homemade tamales, and pork rinds. The strip-mall exterior hides a clean, colorfully decorated interior, and it holds a 4.6 rating across more than 800 reviews.

See El Especial in the Michigan-made directory

2. Taco Tienda, Madison Heights

Taco Tienda Mexicana blends a taqueria with a Mexican grocery at 31642 John R Rd. in Madison Heights. The menu centers on street tacos, including birria with consome for dipping, plus shrimp, steak, cecina, and al pastor, alongside burritos, tortas, tamales, and elote. The attached market is stocked with Mexican snacks, drinks, dried chiles, and pantry staples. Family run, hearty portions, house salsas.

See Taco Tienda in the Michigan-made directory

3. Oaxaca, Troy

Oaxaca is a casual Mexican restaurant at 1985 E Wattles Rd. in Troy, open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 8pm. The menu runs on tacos, with asada, carnitas, pastor, tinga, and lengua on handmade pressed corn tortillas, plus tortas like the milanesa, burritos, quesadillas, and guacamole. They cook with fresh skinless chicken breast, tender cuts of steak, and all-natural black beans, and they cater meetings and parties.

See Oaxaca in the Michigan-made directory

Only three made the cut this time because only three kept coming up. Think your taco spot got snubbed? Say so in the comments. If you run a Michigan taqueria, apply for a free spotlight. I tally new votes every week, so follow along and get your favorite counted.

Author: Dave