We are blessed to live in a place where tacos are bountiful and seem to be on every menu, no matter where you go to eat. What makes a taco great can cause a heated debate, but we have scoured all the menus we could get our hands on and taste tested countless hand-held treats to find the best tacos our neighborhood has to offer. Whether you are looking for the flavors of street tacos, the kind you would find on every street corner in Mexico, or something more non-traditional or gourmet, these are some of the best tacos in Scottsdale.

6 of the Best Tacos in Scottsdale

El Hefe

4425 N. Saddlebag Trl. | Scottsdale | 480.945.6200

El Hefe offers up a fun and youthful environment; the perfect place to gather with friends and catch up on life and all the exciting adventures you have all had. Grab some drinks and take in the music and the prime people watching. The menu is just as exciting as their nightlife with creative takes on traditional items.

What to Order: If you are looking for something truly interesting and out of the ordinary, look no further than the Fried Avocado Taco. The avocado is battered with a hint of chile and lime and then dressed with Napa cabbage, orange aioli and pickled onions with queso fresco. The interior of the fried avocado has a velvety texture that pairs well with the crisp cabbage and the tartness of the pickled onions marry with the citrus of the aioli creating a high energy party in your mouth.

La Hacienda

7575 E. Princess Drive | Scottsdale | 480.585.4848

La Hacienda prides itself on taking classic Mexican dishes and lightening them with new techniques. They use fresh, indigenous ingredients to ensure the quality and authenticity to the flavors of the Valley. The location is adorned with inviting Spanish framework like wood-beamed ceiling and flagstone walkways with the intermittent modern ornament. Enjoy your dinner on the warm patio near any one of their four fire pits.

What to Order: In the interest of keeping things light, opt for the Tacos de Langosta, their lobster tacos. You’ll be served 3 petite tacos filled with fresh Maine lobster, black beans and a chile de Arbol sauce. The chile de Arbol is a small but potent pepper that packs a lot of heat in a tiny package. That heat matched with the buttery richness of the lobster creates and intense flavor profile perfect for the adventurous diner.

SOL Mexican Cocina

15323 N. Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale | 480.245.6708

Sol Mexican Cocina’s cuisine focuses more on the flavors and character of Baja, Mexico. The flavors of Baja are more ocean driven and rely heavily on freshness and foods that can be made over a driftwood campfire. This leads to creative recipes and from-scratch creations. The spice and heat in these dishes aren’t so much of a quick fire, but a slow steady burn. Ask anyone who has visited about the bean dip that arrives at your table with fresh chips and wait for the rave reviews.

What to Order: When you are looking for a lighter taco that is free of meat yet still hearty, it can be a challenge, but not at SOL. They have a Sweet Potato & Black Bean Taco that is served with caramelized onion, poblano, Mexican cheese and chipotle sauce. The slight sweetness of the sweet potato is cut and balanced by the combination of the black beans and sweet heat of the chipotle sauce.

The Mission

3815 N. Brown Ave. | Scottsdale | 480.636.5005

The Mission’s mission is all about elevating the experience of Mexican fare, and they do it so well. The restaurant is sexy and definitely has a high-end feel from the dark wood and low lighting of the bar area to the glow of the Himalayan salt block wall. The light lull of the modern Latin music continues to set the mood. The menu options are equally exalted with rich ingredients and exquisite and unexpected accouterments.

What to order: For an out of the box taco experience, you’ll love the Roasted Organic Butternut Squash Taco. The squash is an unexpected focus and the spicy black bean sofrito raises all of the combined flavors to new heights. The chosen spices, cumin and coriander, lift the subtle sweetness of the squash and the sofrito changes the character and leaves you wanting more.

Wadaa Street Tacos

7345 E. Shoeman Ln. | Scottsdale | 480.758.4859

While you may think that street vendors are only for those folks that have been out at the clubs all night and need a little pick me up before catching that Uber home. Wadaa Street Tacos inhabits a tiny space, open to the street in Old Town, but drunk dining on their tacos would be wasted on your palate. These tacos deserve your full attention and all of your senses. The smell from the stand will draw you in and then being able to see them being made helps to get you salivating and fully appreciate all of the traditional flavors.

What to Order: The menu here is really basic, but done very well. Go for the steak taco for a true street taco experience. The meat is rich, buttery and perfectly seasoned. You have your choice of corn or flour tortillas and a ton of toppings.

Do you have a favorite spot in Scottsdale to get your taco on? Let us know so we can check them out!

This article, written by Taryn Jeffries, originally appeared in the November 2015 issue of So Scottsdale Magazine.

© Taryn Jeffries 2015