5 Tacos in Fresno You Need to Try This Month

Hey there. It’s me, Mike Oz, again. Remember the last time I wrote something here and it was about Chevy’s and great Mexican food? Well, it seemed like some people only read the headline, didn’t really get the joke, and then wanted to throw an actual taco at my face.

Good news this time around, because the headline is exactly what you’re going to get: Five tacos in Fresno you need to try this month. Not three. Not six. Not four-and-a-half. (Who eats half a taco?!) I had a really fantastic taco in L.A. this week, but you know what? Not making the list because I promised you “in Fresno.” Well, I may sneak in Clovis, but that’s okay, right?

Are we set on the parameters here? Everybody got it? Ready to talk tacos? Now, come along. And if you’re hungry after reading this, be sure to come eat tacos with me this week at Tacos, Brews & Jams. (More on that later.)

1. Taqueria Jaliscience

Remember those great tacos I had in L.A.? You should, since I literally mentioned them eight sentences ago. That place is known for serving al pastor right off the spit with a chunk of pineapple in it. You might have seen them in a viral Facebook video. I’m here to tell you, people of Fresno, that our own Taqueria Jaliscience makes the same type of al pastor tacos and they’re just as good. Pineapple and everything. Only Jaliscience’s tortillas are a little bit better and their tacos come with a lot more meat. Point: Fresno.

Find Taqueria Jaliscience’s taco truck at 2737 S. East Ave. for lunch between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. They also have a taqueria on Central Ave. Follow their Facebook page here.

2. Tacos Boys

I love Tacos Boys for a number of reasons: the meat is so tender, the salsa is like a fire emoji in your mouth, and you can find their taco truck all over the place. They’re late-night faves in Westside Fresno out near the Foster Farms plant and they serve the food truck crowd at Enzo’s Table in Clovis. That’s diverse, y’all. It helps that their tacos are so damn good.

Follow Tacos Boys on Facebook to keep an eye on them, but you can usually find them at Enzo’s Table on Saturdays and Sunday. Plus at 54 E. California Ave. at night.

3. El Sabor De Michoacan

The best thing I can say about the El Sabor De Michoacan taco truck is that I’ve never been there when there wasn’t a crowd. This place is popular even though it’s sort of hidden – that should tell you all you need to know. It’s a taco truck that pops up at night on Marty Ave. next to Ashlan near Highway 99. The adobada tacos are fantastic, and their orange sauce is something you need in your life.

Find El Sabor De Michoacan at 3770 Marty Ave. It’s there nightly, except Mondays and Thursdays.

4. Karlita’s Carniceria y Taqueria

When I moved from southeast Fresno (a place full of tacos) to Clovis (which is not exactly taco heaven), I was thankful for Karlita’s. (Sidenote: Jason from Fresyes was my realtor, so fist-pound for that).

Anyhow, Karlita’s is a meat market-style taqueria near the Peacock Market at Tollhouse and Sunnyside. They cook up a full menu of hot food as part of their market and everything I’ve ever had is good.

Karlita’s Carniceria y Taqueria is at 233 Sunnyside Ave., in Clovis.

5. Tacos El Compadre

If you’ve ever seen a taco truck with Christmas lights all over it, that’s my friends at Tacos El Compadre. Most nights they set up at Clinton and Cedar, but this Thursday you can find them at the February installment of my Tacos, Brews & Jams event at Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. in downtown Fresno.

Each month, I highlight a different local truck and I’m thrilled to get Tacos El Compadre out there. It’s not just because the truck is visually appealing — the food is appealing to your appetite as well.

You can also get craft beer from Tioga-Sequoia, corn, churros and funnel cakes from Sanchez Corn, and shop Dear Danger Mobile Boutique and Believe Mobile Boutique. Local band Santa Mira performs live too.

TB&J is from 5-10 p.m. There’s no admission fee, and the event is open to all ages. You can even bring your dog if he/she likes tacos.

Mike Oz is a Fresno-based journalist, taco fanatic, and all-around chill dude. When he’s not covering baseball for Yahoo Sports, he organizes Tacos, Brews & Jams and Taco Truck Throwdown. He also hosts Ozmosis on New Rock 104.1, Sunday nights at 9 p.m. Follow @mikeoz on Twitter and Instagram or follow @TacosBrewsJams and @TacoTruckThrowdown for taco updates.