It's possible that no other food has had quite the chokehold on the entire internet than the birria taco. You know the one, you’ve seen it on Tikok—a crisp tortilla embraces a bed of slow-cooked beef with a scattering of sweet yellow onion and cilantro encased in cheese, served up with a cup of broth and chunk of lime. Utterly drool-worthy.
If somehow you haven't seen these before you'll be glad we’ve got the goods on where to find them right here cause once you do, you'll be hooked from the pictures alone. Without further ado, here's where to find birria tacos in Brisbane.
Mexicali
3/142 Oxford Street, Bulimba
Hailing from the Goldie, Mexicali is not only an expert at whipping up a Baja-style crispy fish taco fresh from Queensland’s ocean, but also the unbelievably delicious birria taco. Their Instagram serves as a showcase for their taco creations, but the birria shots speak for themselves and are downright pornographic. Pair them with a serving or three of the elote and you’re beyond sorted.
Barbecue Mafia
33 Birubi Street, Coorparoo
Barbecue Mafia deserves a WWE-style entrance. A heavy hitter in its own right, their main schtick is Southern-style barbecue but of COURSE, their delicious low and slow-cooked meats slide right on into Mexican cuisine. We would honestly advise against looking at their Instagram if you’re hungry because it’s that mouthwatering. Their birria tacos are both parts tender brisket and cheesy goodness. Post on your story at your own risk—every man and his dog is about to swipe up.
La Carmela
25 Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace
Image credit: La Carmela | Facebook
It’s a fiesta of flavours at La Carmela, Caxton Street’s answer to Paddington’s Mexican hankering. La Carmela makes its presence known from streets away with wafting scents and full-wall murals. Their food stands out too, with a menu offering up the likes of tacos with slow-cooked marinated beef filling, queso fresco and consomé as well as of course, traditional birria. Enjoy these plates in their high-ceilinged, Mexican paraphernalia-littered interior or take it out to the garden bar where you can relax with a Corona. Don’t forget the lime.
SoCal Tacos
Various Locations
The best way to track down the SoCal Tacos food truck is follow them on the gram. This roving (and raved-about) taco truck can be spotted all over Brisbane and despite the slight difficulty of tracking them down, the true task comes when trying to choose what to order. The pollo ssado, carnitas and Baja fish are all beyond bangers, but the real star is the birria tacos. Meat slow-cooked to tender perfection, melted cheese, crisp onions, and fresh cilantro, all nestled within a warm, golden tortilla.
La Patrona
11 Florence Street, Teneriffe
The vibrant flavours and warm hospitality bring the spirit of Mexico to life at La Patrona—you’ll find a long list of dishes from Mexico’s Baijo region, including street food and family-style shared dishes. The street food our eyes make a beeline for, the birria tacos, are drool-worthy in their own right. After you’ve finished slurping your consomè, sip your way through one of their classic margaritas or order up a Michelada (a beer with lime, chilli and salt) or paloma.
Cartel Del Taco
90 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne
Image credit: Cartel Del Taco | Facebook
Cartel Del Taco holds a special place in this writer's heart (and on her fave restaurants list). Their collection of shiny awards speaks for themselves, having recently taken home ‘Best Taco in the State’ and ‘Best Margarita in Queensland’. When it comes to birria tacos, not only are the Mexican ex-pats in-charge whipping them up authentically, but expertly pairing them with the best marg you’ll ever have and a consomè that Abuela would be proud of.
La Bodega
1/53 Lytton Road, East Brisbane
East Brisbane got buzzing when La Bodega, sporting its terracotta colours, opened its doors in late 2023. They're all about that laid-back Mexican vibe straight from Los Angeles, taking cues from the city's food truck scene. What’s on offer? Well, you guessed it—tacos take centre stage among their easygoing menu options. And, much to our delight, they’ve spent a good chunk of time perfecting their birria taco. And perfect it is, cilantro keeps the super savoury affair fresh and zesty, the tortilla is crisp on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. Just go ahead and order four or five.
If you prefer the regular kind of tacos, here’s where to get Brisbane’s best.
Image credit: Mexicali | Ranyhyn Laine