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    Gerardo's Drive-In

    4.1 (61 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    Javier A.

    What an absolute throwback to my days in Laredo where we always picked up some barbacoa and hung out with grandma. This place makes barbacoa exactly how it should be made and they stick to it. The owner Janie is so attentive to people as they walk in and she was kind enough to chat with this traveler for a while during the breakfast/lunch rush. Everyone I come back to visit this is where I stop. Plus, the barbacoa and menudo is delicious.

    Lengua y cachete
    Lauren M.

    If you claim to be a taco lover, which is hard not to be in Houston, and you don't like barbacoa, then you're a poser. Barbacoa tacos check off all the boxes when it comes to taco descriptions: tasty, juicy, & goes well with lime and guac hot creamy salsa with onions and cilantro on corn Tortilla. All other taco meats that don't taste good in that combo are sub par (except cochinita pibil cause it goes well with pickled red onions instead). The barbacoa here feels like it has history. Not just because of the establishments tenure in its location, but because the meat looks like it can tell you what it's been through. Its the abuelo of all barbacoas. When you pull up to order your meat, you can get it in 1/2 or full lbs, mix or all lengua or all cachete. Get both but don't mix until you get home cause eating lengua barbacoa is a different mouth experience compared to eating cachete barbacoa. You've probably had the democrat from torchys but let me tell you...if you like the Democrat because it doesn't require too much commitment out of your taste buds, then you are going to be surprised with Gerardo style barbacoa. Unlike the Democrat, this doesn't need salt. It's greasy in the best way because it wants you to add the acid from the lime and the spice level from their guac/green or red salsa. Be careful, they are pica!!! When you walk in, say hi to the ladies greeting you at the register then make an immediate right and follow your nose. The place smells of heavenly moist beefy air. The people are nice and all seem like they cheer for you as you walk away with a bag full of greasy, tender and luscious meats ready for a Tortilla boat straight to your mouth. Hands down the best barbacoa I've had in Houston. I will eat this in a breakfast taco or eat it with a bowl of rice and kimchi. It's so freaking good. Probably had one spot that was better in San Antonio but if you need to have a taco party, make it barbacoa themed next time and come here.

    Barbacoa, carnitas, and potato egg tacos
    Holly H.

    The barbacoa was packed with flavor and super juicy. And those flour tortillas.. oh my The carnitas were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Delicious!! They have a green and an orange salsa to go with your tacos. Both were good. Will definitely be back and next time buying a pound of flour tortillas to take home!

    Menudo chícharrones tamales  y barbacoa
    Yasmeen R.

    Staff is very nice! There was a line when we arrived but it moved pretty quickly. Chicharrones had too much fat for my taste, and the barbacoa didn't have enough fat lol I personally do like fat in my barbacoa but if you don't then you'll love this one, it had none at all. We got the mix barbacoa cachete y lengua, lengua was definitely more delicious. Menudo was tasty but I've had better. Tamales, solo alcanzamos de pollo, los de puerco se acabaron. Eran como las 10AM en domingo, they were well proportioned, not too much of either meat or masa. Green salsa was good didn't get to try the red one. Tortillas, we got maiz and they were good nice and soft.

    the outside of the store
    Chris C.

    This is a great place for anyone wanting to feed a large family for breakfast or lunch. So I arrived around 8 am and was greeted once inside the establishment. There was a line inside, but it went quickly and before I knew it I was at the ordering section. I ordered two pounds of barbecoa and some carnitas also on the way to pay they have ice chests full of fresh tortillas. Don't forget the salsa! Paid and it was not as bad as I'd initially thought on the way out there is a lady telling people to have a wonderful day which I think is a great way to gain more attention to your business. It was a great experience and good food I'll definitely go back to try something different.

    Ken L.

    OMG. The holy grail of Barbacoa can be found right here, folks. The proportionately fatty, meaty and juiciness of said carcass HEAVENLY couples with the brightly colored, dynamic salsas. I just couldn't wipe that silly grin off my face with each bite, shocked in disbelief of how life could be so good at that moment in time. It's only available on Friday, Saturday and Sundays so keep that in mind. I propose that a bottle of Mandarin Orange Jarritos Mexican soda accompany those hella sweet tacos. What are YOU waiting for? Come get some, it is the best I've ever had in Houston (the Capital of Barbacoa).

    Bethany W.

    Stop No. 2 on our #10Tacos24Hours tour of Houston. We grabbed two cachete tacos (beef cheek), one tub of salsa verde, and a Joya grapefruit soda to share and it came out to $4.33. Everyone here was super nice and about half the people working spoke English. There was even a nice old woman who noticed we were sharing and brought us an extra plate and offered to open the soda for us. Now, onto the real meat of the review (heh). This place is also a butcher shop, so you can order by the pound, which I would do for next time since it's easy to get everything for a family dinner. We ordered the tacos from the butcher side and paid at the counter by the door. The cachete was incredible!! It was so tender and flavorful and it didn't have any bay leaves, like they do accidentally at other places. This may be the best barbacoa I've ever had. I read that they go through something like 120 cow heads a weekend, so the barbacoa is definitely where it's at here. The salsa verde was really good as well, and not too spicy. I'll definitely be back soon to try the lengua.

    Rex C.

    Northside classic right here. Northside throwback. Best barbacoa in town! I have been coming here for 20 years! Hidden gem in northside. The absolute best Barbacoa in Houston! Northside holding it down for the 99 and the 2000! A lot of local Mexican restaurants buy their barbacoa here at resale it. For instance today I saw the owners of chilosos off 19th buying pounds of barbacoa and I said I thought the barbacoa you all sell tasted to similar to Gerados. The food is so good prepared fresh. Don't let the outside scare you away. Northside has some of the best food and this is one of my faves. The lines move fast. The green and orange sauces are hot and great! Don't get lost in the sauce.

    Barbacoa tacos with hot and green sauxe
    Kelly C.

    Taste: 1.5 stars Great flavor but nothing out of the ordinary Atmosphere: 1/2 star Rough and remote location Value: 1 star Cheap, $9 for 3 barbacoa tacos, two sauces, coke Service: 1 star Very nice, Spanish speaking, Let us in even after they closed! Real barbacoa!!! Barbacoa taco:Not fatty, super fresh with onions and cilantro! Fresh and tender:) people are very nice and right next to Edison bar. Hot sauce is hot!!! Green sauce has lots of flavor and is a little spicy:) would def unit key try both!

    Meaty goodness
    Jamie A.

    Growing up my dad use to bring home a whole cow head wrapped in butcher paper, place it in the center of the table, and we would all just dig in. When you don't want the hassle, but you want the real deal then go to Gerardo's. Luckily my grandmother lived just less than a mile away, so I have been coming to Gerardo's for years. I love the meat and spice smell that hits you when you walk in the door. The lines can be long on the weekends and it's helpful if you know a little Spanish. In addition to barbacoa they sell tacos, menudo, tamales, pan dulce, salsas, tortillas, assorted groceries, and just about everything you need for an awesome meal. I usually order cachete (cheek meat) and lengua (tongue) by the pound, take it home, and eat it with two over easy eggs, tortillas, and lots of salsa. I also tend to get a pound of carnitas because who doesn't love fried chunks of pork. Yeah, it's kind of a dive, and yes the parking lot is totally in need of repairs, but their food is authentic. Thank you Gerardo's for serving up the best barbacoa in Houston.

    Barbacoa tacos

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    Tacos Tierra Caliente

    Tacos Tierra Caliente

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $
    22 years in business
    Family-owned & operated

    Visited Tacos Tierra Caliente while in Houston. Timing is funny sometimes. I had just been chatting…read morewith Gretel about breakfast tacos the day we landed in Houston -- and breakfast tacos are one of my favourite things about visiting Texas. We pulled up to this food truck and, while placing our order, I instantly had the feeling that this crew knew exactly what they were doing. That impression proved to be spot on as soon as I took my first bite. The tacos were fresh, flavorful, and packed with the kind of simple, honest ingredients that make great breakfast tacos so satisfying. No gimmicks, no unnecessary fuss -- just well-executed food that delivers exactly what you're hoping for. The service was efficient, the operation ran smoothly, and it was easy to see why there was a steady stream of customers. Overall, an excellent breakfast taco stop and exactly the kind of local experience I look for when I'm in Houston. Saluti.

    If you like the quesadillas at Taconazo, you'll like them here. My buddy took me here after a…read moreRockets game. We wanted Taconazo, but we didn't have any cash on us. Luckily, this spot takes both card and cash! I got the small beef quesadilla, and it was loaded with cheese. The small quesadilla was $5.50, and it was pretty decently sized for a small. They have salsa set out at the counter, so you can pack as much as you like. The red salsa was smoky and SPICY. Very tasty if you like spice I see a lot of great reviews about this place. I would like to try their other tacos and give a more detailed review. I will be back! but for sure the quesadilla was a hit for me

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    Tacos Tierra Caliente
    Food Truck
    Food Truck
    Menu

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    Menu
    Tacos Frontera

    Tacos Frontera

    4.6
    (221 reviews)
    17.3 mi

    The closest you'll get to "real" TJ-style tacos and burritos outside of Baja or San Diego! We're…read morefrom San Diego, so we know good carne asada and Tacos Frontera is where it's at in Houston! Definitely a taste of home outside of San Diego and Tijuana. Finding authentic TJ flavor in Texas (not Tex-Mex) was a welcome surprise! Our carne asada was grilled al carbón and you could taste the char! Juicy carne full of flavor, thin but strong and tasty tortillas (they really held everything together well), perfect chunky guac (not too fancy or full of fillers--IYKYK), and a variety of delicious salsas and hot sauces! An added bonus was the complimentary chicharrones! I'll take those over tortilla chips any day! The dining room isn't very big, but it's clean and has good a/c....there's an outdoor patio as well. Service was fast and friendly. Tacos and burritos were hefty and full of flavor. Ample parking. So glad that my family from San Diego (who I know get real Mexican taco shop cravings) can get a taste of home right in their Houston backyard!

    Been here a couple times and it always hits the spot. This is also one of my family favorites. It…read moregets busy but it's worth the wait. Limited indoor seating, and since it gets busy we usually order to go. When I did dine in it was nice experience, feels authentic like eating a local spot in Mexico. You have the Mexican cokes available, the style of tacos has a big scoop of guac which makes them a bit unique compared to other spots that charge extra for guac. Their tacos are big too! Not the mini small taco tortillas you get in a food truck. These are big tacos so getting 2 is enough for me. I've tried their Asado tacos and their quesadillas and their quesabirrias all 10/10.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Quesabirria
    Quesabirria
    Clean, bright dining room w open kitchen so you can watch the magic happen.

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    Clean, bright dining room w open kitchen so you can watch the magic happen.
    El Taconazo

    El Taconazo

    4.5
    (381 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $

    CASH ONLY!! Best…read moreTacos in Houston. Taconazo is the pride and staple of Northside. Always a long line but it so worth it. Barbacoa and pastor is easily the best I've ever had. Horchata is not too shabby either. Doesn't taste grainy. Speedy service. Reasonable price. Keep in mind the "Platos/ Plato Regular, etc." are plates of carne. Ideal for taking home.

    Alert: Cash Only…read more I've passed this taco truck countless times and almost always seen a line stretching from the window. There's even a security guard on site, which only adds to the impression that this place is fire. So when I happened to drive by on a 100-degree afternoon and found no line, I took it as a sign to finally give it a try. The small parking lot adjacent to the truck was nearly empty, except for a few other patrons who probably had the same idea. Ordering was simple and to the point. The menu keeps things straightforward: a selection of meats served as tacos or plates with a handful of sides. I ordered two barbacoa tacos with salsa verde. Less than two minutes after placing my order, they were in my hands. Fast service on a scorching day is always appreciated. With no seating available, I retreated to the comfort of my car to eat. Based on the amount of grease packed into these tacos, I would recommend doing the same. Eating them while standing could end with your shirt becoming an unintended side dish. One thing to note: don't count on a generous napkin supply. I realized after returning to my car that none were included. Consider keeping a few emergency fast-food napkins in your glove compartment. Those leftover Taco Bell napkins may finally fulfill their destiny. The barbacoa was flavorful, the salsa verde complemented it well, and overall, the tacos were overall tasty. That said, I left somewhat underwhelmed considering the crowds I routinely see gathered here during lunch and dinner hours. Perhaps I'm missing the standout item that keeps customers lining up daily. Even so, if you happen to have cash in your pocket and find yourself craving authentic tacos, this truck is certainly worth a stop.

    Photos
    El Taconazo
    Al Pastor Especial (con queso)
    Al Pastor Especial (con queso)
    El Taconazo

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    Tacos La Sultana

    Tacos La Sultana

    4.2
    (45 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Food was great. The smoky flavor of the trompo is top tier! We also ordered bistek quesadilla and…read moreit was really cheesy and delicious. There was a line but it moved really fast. We ate in the seating area and they had some salsa which was good.

    This is a review for the trompo tacos only. I need to go back and try their other items. The trompo…read morehere looked great, so I had to try. I'm from Katy; this east part of Houston is very new to me. I don't know where to go for food here, but I for sure now know where to go for Trompo Tacos! The trompo here was bomb! I was in the city for a wine fest and needed tacos to tame my hunger from all the wine sipping. Tacos Las Sultana popped up, and the pictures of the trompo looked insane. After going, I can confirm the trompo looked even better than the pictures. Shout out to the chef cutting up fresh trompo I ordered some tacos de trompo to go, with avocado. The order of tacos came with a side of grilled onions and potatoes. I have never had roasted potatoes with my tacos; they were tasty and very buttery. Dude, the way they packaged their tacos... never have I seen tacos from a taco truck packaged so nicely. They wrap everything and even package their salsa. Very clean, very organized This place is over an hour away from me. After eating here I will gladly make the hour drive for this bomb trompo They have a parking lot and street parking available. They have limited seating available inside. They take cash and Venmo payment

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    Trompo
    Trompo
    From the window view. Beautiful
    From the window view. Beautiful
    Trompo

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    Trompo
    Carniceria Y Taqueria Aguascalientes

    Carniceria Y Taqueria Aguascalientes

    4.6
    (216 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $

    I always go out of my way to visit La fondita here and get the Gorditas. They are the best in my…read moreopinion. Also every weekend we go to the carniceria side to get carnitas and barbacoa. And we never forget to get the fresh tortillas they have in a cooler too.

    Loved this place! It's inside a market and it's super tight and crowded. FYI they only speak…read moreSpanish, no English at all. One of my friends took me here and we all got to try a lot of stuff. We ordered: Horchata (small for $3.49), Quesadillas with beef, Quesadillas with chicharron, Gorditas with beef, and Gorditas with chicharron. I don't like cinnamon but the horchata was addicting and it paired so well with the food. My friend got their Melon Agua Fresca and he said it was really refreshing as well. The gorditas were stuffed and they were so delicious, the cheese was melting and the bread was warm and not dry. The Quesadillas were my favorite. You put both the red sauce and the green sauce on it, a lot of lime juice, and it's perfect. I forgot to order cilantro on mine but they do give you it at no extra cost. The prices are so cheap and you get so much food. Everything is around $3 and it will fill you up. Each of us totaled out to be about $10-15 per person and we were stuffed. I would definitely come back here over and over again! My friend said the only bad thing about this place is when you order to go, they won't give you a lot (no lime, no hot sauces, less meat, etc.) so definitely get dine-in.

    Photos
    Carniceria Y Taqueria Aguascalientes
    Salsa
    Salsa
    Agua piña

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    Agua piña
    The Taco Stand

    The Taco Stand

    3.6
    (436 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Fantastic flavors all around. The chicken was well seasoned, and the fish was grilled nicely. It's…read moreimpressive how much flavor they get from simple ingredients -- the cilantro added a really nice freshness. The chips and queso are a must every time -- fresh chips with that cheesy queso, what a hit! The churros were also great and paired perfectly with the chocolate sauce. Overall, this is definitely becoming a regular spot.

    I have seen these spots popping up, and I was eager to finally give them a try. I'm a big Burger…read moreJoint fan, and knowing that the Taco Stand has the same owner I was optimistic This spot located in the Greater Heights is relatively new. There's a parking lot, but we went on the weekend, and while the interior didn't look overly full, it was somewhat difficult to find a parking spot. The restaurant itself is clean. Everything is pretty much green and white. There's covered patio seating. You order from a window and there's a large menu printed nearby The menu offers all sorts of tacos, meats, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, quesabirras, sides, and even kids meals. You can get beer, margaritas, and non-alcoholic drinks. There's also a breakfast menu The food was good, and it didn't take too long to come out. My main issue was the service. The individual taking orders seemed to have a bit of an attitude and just seemed "over it." Furthermore, we mentioned having a queso coupon and when we were given the total I placed my card on the reader and I was told that I did it too fast and the queso wasn't taken off. The odd thing was, we walked away and realized that they didn't add the queso and the coupon was for free queso so they could have just rung up an additional queso. This individual had the vibe of eye rolling everything, and it honestly left a bad taste in my mouth Some tips: You can order online to avoid any wait. Just go up to the pick-up window when it's supposed to be ready for a painless interaction There's a little bar area where you can get pre-packaged (to-go) salsas, pickled onions, limes, etc etc etc. the salsas are tomatillo, habanero, and jalapeño (I believe) You can order margaritas to go, which we did! Cheers!!

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    The Taco Stand
    The Taco Stand

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    Gerardo's Drive-In - tacos - Updated August 2026

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