Morning GLory
Morning Glory
I do enjoy them, but to be honest, breakfast tacos are almost never great. At best, these are good but very welcome on a slower, foggier weekend morning. Though a guilty, easily greatly caloric morning pleasure, these really aren’t the breakfast of champions, unless you’re aiming for champion-size sumo proportions. And breakfast tacos don’t get the recognition that the more familiar ones – pastor, carne asada, etc. – receive, nor do these deserve it. These are generally not as interesting nor tasty. More care is usually put into the daytime tacos by the taqueros. But, sometimes nothing is better on a lazy weekend morning, or very early in the morning as the night has wound done. For this kind of weekend food, often for those with a mild hangover or worse, a drive-thru is a big benefit for which a couple recommendable spots can oblige so that Taco Cabana and Chacho’s can be avoided.
Breakfast tacos, for me: moist scrambled eggs and most often a protein or potatoes wrapped in a study-enough flour tortilla – recently made in house by experienced hands, ideally – and aided by a flavorful salsa that complements and ties together the components. Flour tortillas are the standard, as the staffer at Hugo Ortega’s latest venture Urbe confirmed assertively when I asked which type of tortilla works best for the tacos I was ordering. But corn tortillas are becoming a more familiar as an option at more than a few places now. The universe of breakfast tacos is expanding. Tortillas made in house might be ideal if there is a skilled tortilla-maker on site, but there are high quality tortillerias in town, and with it, and the volume most places do, tortillas are always fresh-tasting.
Breakfast tacos are an American thing, as far as I can tell and originally a Texas thing, though the breakfast burrito and similar items are probably from points further west. These seemingly don’t exist in Mexico other than for barbacoa – that egg-less, heart-endangering, usually weekend pleasure – for which I received some more recent confirmation from current and former residents. Scrambled eggs stuck into a tortilla with salsa seems like such a natural thing, but this combination hasn’t been around forever. Breakfast tacos might have had their start in San Antonio, and Texas Monthly claimed to have found an ad from a paper there in the 1950s mentioning those. I began to notice them in Houston in the 1990s, though maybe these existed before then. I don’t remember them in my earlier time in Austin, though.
To note, I’ve mostly included places where it’s easy to get them, not the places serving breakfast as part of a large morning ensemble meant most for dining in. Some of these can be good, but not terribly convenient nor quick, and that’s usually part of the attraction of breakfast tacos.
The restaurants are listed in order of preference.
Updated on October 10, 2024.
The Best
Tacos A Go Go – You’ll have to wait at least a short while for these cooked-to-order morning sensations that are necessarily customized, two items from a choice of a dozen quality options – bacon, sausage, refried beans, etc. – to complement the scrambled eggs, which means shredded cheese can be added for no additional cost, usually a significant benefit. The number of possible creations are generally welcome, but can require some additional thinking during those much slower weekend mornings. Along with tacos with the expected fillings, for a little more there are eggs with lamb barbacoa, a really tasty pork guisada, carne guisada, and smoked brisket. A variety of delicious, mostly piquant salsas can complement any creation, which are available on either flour or corn tortillas, and also whole wheat, for some reason. Wrapped just in aluminum foil, these tacos travel well, too. Midtown, Heights, Garden Oaks, Downtown, Greenway Plaza
The Little Taco Shop – The made-to-order morning tacos at this bright storefront eatery that opened in mid-2024 are anchored by excellent, noticeably rich flour tortillas available in several “egg-and versions” including thick chopped bacon and barbacoa, though the best are the unique carne asada featuring moist, tender quality beef. Flavorful, spicy salsas on the side aid with everything. Upper Kirby District
Tio Trompo – A tiny counter-service spot on Shepherd just past St. Thomas High School, this specializes in pastor-filled tacos cooked on the trompo, but does an excellent job with made-to-order, two-item breakfast tacos and the messier, more authentically Mexican beef barbacoa, which is served daily in case your cholesterol is too low. Well-wrapped in paper and aluminum foil, the former travel quite well. The latter are still quite tasty, if always a bit fatty and invariably sloppy. Washington Corridor
La Carreta – This low-volume spot set unassumingly on 20th Street in the Heights for nearly fifty years serves up some terrific straightforward breakfast tacos that are more than the sum of its parts led by tasty house-made flour tortillas and a different, watery salsa with a subtle spicy flavor that seems to improve everything. Made to order and travels well. Heights
Urbe – Opened in the summer of 2021, this attractive and inviting outpost featuring street food from top toque Hugo Ortega and team (Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi) in Uptown Park is necessarily more ambitious, wide-ranging and accomplished than just about any taco purveyor around. Tacos here include more items, and likely of higher quality, than elsewhere and are available with either flour or corn tortillas; the former should be the choice, of course. Uptown Park
The Pit Room – Heartier-than-most house-made flour tortillas anchors these very big and bold versions with eggs that are cooked upon order and slathered with a very healthy amount of well creamed refried beans. The brisket tacos are a wonder, and everything works well. The tacos were once too moist to travel well and are much better made these days. The accompanying salsas are milder and less interesting than elsewhere, but a minor quibble as these tacos are quite tasty. Montrose
Taco 7 – Available in the biggest array of breakfast combinations around - including a choice among four different types of cheese - it can be a little confusing for a first-timer to order, but the staff is helpful, and tacos are hefty and very enjoyable. And, convenience of conveniences especially on those slower weekend mornings, it has a drive-thru. Spring Branch
La Chingada – Assembled to order with a fair number of fillings stuffed inside house-made flour tortillas for a plump, satisfying result that’s wrapped in aluminum foil to go and served with a trio of commendable salsas: a fiery orange, a piquant serrano-based whipped green, and a fairly mild tomatillo one. A fine value at around $3 each, the breakfast tacos are served daily, and that includes the barbacoa at this friendly, slightly funky spot not far west of I-45 and close to the Heights. Near Northside
Laredo Taqueria – Four locations, including the seemingly-always-line-out-the-door original on Washington. Available with either flour or corn tortillas, and $3 each for the standard two-item versions – mostly egg and something else, of course, but barbacoa daily – that are straightforward and satisfying, especially with aid from the spicy viscous green salsa or the piquant, thin red one. From a steam table that is replenished more often than most anywhere else, a smear of refried beans provides a base on the tortilla of choice, with the flour tortillas noticeably fresh and flavorful and the fluffy scrambled eggs plentiful; the proteins are used much more judiciously than elsewhere, but you will get pleasantly stuffed for less than $10 here. Washington Corridor and Near Northside (3)
Cantina Barba – Cooked to order, and solid and sensibly-sized, these are served all day and with the option for corn tortillas. And, it is open until 2 AM, in case taste matters that late. Near Northside
The Taco Stand – Far from a taco stand, this slick operations on Shepherd in the Heights – a sibling of The Burger Joint next door – offers plump and usually delectable breakfast tacos that can be had in fresh flour tortillas, or corn for about thirty cents less. Tortillas are made in house, though the flour ones are vegan; no tasty manteca de cerdo in the mix. These tacos aren’t the cheapest around, but worth it, and these are nicely available until 11 each morning, and with a drive-thru, which is at least as nice. It’s better to arrive before then because the breakfast versions are much tastier than the later-day ones. Also, the viscous Taqueria Arandas-style green salsa significantly aids any of the morning offerings. Heights
Bueno Enough
El Rey – Wrapped in paper then aluminum foil, these plump tacos are available in enough varieties to satisfy most including a Cuban version with black beans providing the protein. The drive-thrus are an important consider. Like The Taco Stand, just go for breakfast not for the afternoon tacos. Washington Corridor, Heights, Spring Branch, Katy
La Mexicana – A solid choice featuring items dished from steam trays piled into large flour tortillas toasted on the plancha; not helped by two of the lamest salsas to be found, especially a slightly sweet green one, but these are served all day. Montrose
Henderson and Kane – Low-volume with service that’s always slow, but the breakfast tacos are well-done, made to order featuring pretty tasty flour tortillas made in house and thick slices of bacon that is much higher quality than you’ll find in most other versions around, and the it offers the chance to enjoy beef brisket in the AM. For this, and all the morning tacos, skip the forgettable green salsa and pour on the piquant and flavorful reddish one. Sixth Ward
La Guadalupana – The breakfast tacos at this quaint and popular café aren’t as good as they once were, and one of the other breakfast choices is a better option these days. Smaller-sized and utilizing commercial tortillas, the salsas are tasty and an order of the morning tacos can still usually satiate. Montrose
Brothers Taco House – A value provider as generous portions are scooped from the trays in the steam table beginning with a smear of refried beans into pretty good flour tortillas in an efficient fashion as the every-present line moves quickly. Its versions are solid if the salsas don’t add too much, with the barbacoa being one of the better choices here. EaDo
Sol Cafe Mejicano – Across from the police headquarters, these very no-frills versions – well-cooked scrambled eggs and another thing – are hefty and generally satisfying, cooked to order and with quality salsas for some necessary extra flavor. Downtown
Papalo Taqueria – This artisanal taqueria in Finn Hall in the heart of the office towers, with a weekend gig at the large farmers market, seemingly has to serve breakfast tacos during the week to help pay for the certainly considerable rent. Their heart doesn't seem to be in it, as these pre-made tacos aren't nearly as enjoyable nor interesting as their lunchtime and more truly Mexican preparations. Downtown
Chilosos – Though not nearly in the same league as the tacos from nearby La Carreta or La Chingada, this spot has been popular for years with Heights residents. The breakfast tacos are huge, and so a fine value. Otherwise, the straightforward tacos feature house-made flour tortillas that are little thicker and gummier and less tasty than typical – corn is an option, too – and salsas that are also less flavorful, even as the green one packs some heat. Made to order, the orders can be quite slow to fulfill on weekends and the setting is rather cramped and charmless as you wait. Now a second location up in the northwest. Heights, Cypress
Villa Arcos – This quaint East End stalwart is back in business, and still a value, dishing plump, straightforward breakfast tacos made to order on house-made flour tortillas. Corn is not an option here. For an additional 75-cents or so, and just $4.25, you can make it a heftier Super. The salsas come in little plastic bags, which makes these tacos even a little messier. East End
I do enjoy them, but to be honest, breakfast tacos are almost never great. At best, these are good but very welcome on a slower, foggier weekend morning. Though a guilty, easily greatly caloric morning pleasure, these really aren’t the breakfast of champions, unless you’re aiming for champion-size sumo proportions. And breakfast tacos don’t get the recognition that the more familiar ones – pastor, carne asada, etc. – receive, nor do these deserve it. These are generally not as interesting nor tasty. More care is usually put into the daytime tacos by the taqueros. But, sometimes nothing is better on a lazy weekend morning, or very early in the morning as the night has wound done. For this kind of weekend food, often for those with a mild hangover or worse, a drive-thru is a big benefit for which a couple recommendable spots can oblige so that Taco Cabana and Chacho’s can be avoided.
Breakfast tacos, for me: moist scrambled eggs and most often a protein or potatoes wrapped in a study-enough flour tortilla – recently made in house by experienced hands, ideally – and aided by a flavorful salsa that complements and ties together the components. Flour tortillas are the standard, as the staffer at Hugo Ortega’s latest venture Urbe confirmed assertively when I asked which type of tortilla works best for the tacos I was ordering. But corn tortillas are becoming a more familiar as an option at more than a few places now. The universe of breakfast tacos is expanding. Tortillas made in house might be ideal if there is a skilled tortilla-maker on site, but there are high quality tortillerias in town, and with it, and the volume most places do, tortillas are always fresh-tasting.
Breakfast tacos are an American thing, as far as I can tell and originally a Texas thing, though the breakfast burrito and similar items are probably from points further west. These seemingly don’t exist in Mexico other than for barbacoa – that egg-less, heart-endangering, usually weekend pleasure – for which I received some more recent confirmation from current and former residents. Scrambled eggs stuck into a tortilla with salsa seems like such a natural thing, but this combination hasn’t been around forever. Breakfast tacos might have had their start in San Antonio, and Texas Monthly claimed to have found an ad from a paper there in the 1950s mentioning those. I began to notice them in Houston in the 1990s, though maybe these existed before then. I don’t remember them in my earlier time in Austin, though.
To note, I’ve mostly included places where it’s easy to get them, not the places serving breakfast as part of a large morning ensemble meant most for dining in. Some of these can be good, but not terribly convenient nor quick, and that’s usually part of the attraction of breakfast tacos.
The restaurants are listed in order of preference.
Updated on October 10, 2024.
The Best
Tacos A Go Go – You’ll have to wait at least a short while for these cooked-to-order morning sensations that are necessarily customized, two items from a choice of a dozen quality options – bacon, sausage, refried beans, etc. – to complement the scrambled eggs, which means shredded cheese can be added for no additional cost, usually a significant benefit. The number of possible creations are generally welcome, but can require some additional thinking during those much slower weekend mornings. Along with tacos with the expected fillings, for a little more there are eggs with lamb barbacoa, a really tasty pork guisada, carne guisada, and smoked brisket. A variety of delicious, mostly piquant salsas can complement any creation, which are available on either flour or corn tortillas, and also whole wheat, for some reason. Wrapped just in aluminum foil, these tacos travel well, too. Midtown, Heights, Garden Oaks, Downtown, Greenway Plaza
The Little Taco Shop – The made-to-order morning tacos at this bright storefront eatery that opened in mid-2024 are anchored by excellent, noticeably rich flour tortillas available in several “egg-and versions” including thick chopped bacon and barbacoa, though the best are the unique carne asada featuring moist, tender quality beef. Flavorful, spicy salsas on the side aid with everything. Upper Kirby District
Tio Trompo – A tiny counter-service spot on Shepherd just past St. Thomas High School, this specializes in pastor-filled tacos cooked on the trompo, but does an excellent job with made-to-order, two-item breakfast tacos and the messier, more authentically Mexican beef barbacoa, which is served daily in case your cholesterol is too low. Well-wrapped in paper and aluminum foil, the former travel quite well. The latter are still quite tasty, if always a bit fatty and invariably sloppy. Washington Corridor
La Carreta – This low-volume spot set unassumingly on 20th Street in the Heights for nearly fifty years serves up some terrific straightforward breakfast tacos that are more than the sum of its parts led by tasty house-made flour tortillas and a different, watery salsa with a subtle spicy flavor that seems to improve everything. Made to order and travels well. Heights
Urbe – Opened in the summer of 2021, this attractive and inviting outpost featuring street food from top toque Hugo Ortega and team (Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi) in Uptown Park is necessarily more ambitious, wide-ranging and accomplished than just about any taco purveyor around. Tacos here include more items, and likely of higher quality, than elsewhere and are available with either flour or corn tortillas; the former should be the choice, of course. Uptown Park
The Pit Room – Heartier-than-most house-made flour tortillas anchors these very big and bold versions with eggs that are cooked upon order and slathered with a very healthy amount of well creamed refried beans. The brisket tacos are a wonder, and everything works well. The tacos were once too moist to travel well and are much better made these days. The accompanying salsas are milder and less interesting than elsewhere, but a minor quibble as these tacos are quite tasty. Montrose
Taco 7 – Available in the biggest array of breakfast combinations around - including a choice among four different types of cheese - it can be a little confusing for a first-timer to order, but the staff is helpful, and tacos are hefty and very enjoyable. And, convenience of conveniences especially on those slower weekend mornings, it has a drive-thru. Spring Branch
La Chingada – Assembled to order with a fair number of fillings stuffed inside house-made flour tortillas for a plump, satisfying result that’s wrapped in aluminum foil to go and served with a trio of commendable salsas: a fiery orange, a piquant serrano-based whipped green, and a fairly mild tomatillo one. A fine value at around $3 each, the breakfast tacos are served daily, and that includes the barbacoa at this friendly, slightly funky spot not far west of I-45 and close to the Heights. Near Northside
Laredo Taqueria – Four locations, including the seemingly-always-line-out-the-door original on Washington. Available with either flour or corn tortillas, and $3 each for the standard two-item versions – mostly egg and something else, of course, but barbacoa daily – that are straightforward and satisfying, especially with aid from the spicy viscous green salsa or the piquant, thin red one. From a steam table that is replenished more often than most anywhere else, a smear of refried beans provides a base on the tortilla of choice, with the flour tortillas noticeably fresh and flavorful and the fluffy scrambled eggs plentiful; the proteins are used much more judiciously than elsewhere, but you will get pleasantly stuffed for less than $10 here. Washington Corridor and Near Northside (3)
Cantina Barba – Cooked to order, and solid and sensibly-sized, these are served all day and with the option for corn tortillas. And, it is open until 2 AM, in case taste matters that late. Near Northside
The Taco Stand – Far from a taco stand, this slick operations on Shepherd in the Heights – a sibling of The Burger Joint next door – offers plump and usually delectable breakfast tacos that can be had in fresh flour tortillas, or corn for about thirty cents less. Tortillas are made in house, though the flour ones are vegan; no tasty manteca de cerdo in the mix. These tacos aren’t the cheapest around, but worth it, and these are nicely available until 11 each morning, and with a drive-thru, which is at least as nice. It’s better to arrive before then because the breakfast versions are much tastier than the later-day ones. Also, the viscous Taqueria Arandas-style green salsa significantly aids any of the morning offerings. Heights
Bueno Enough
El Rey – Wrapped in paper then aluminum foil, these plump tacos are available in enough varieties to satisfy most including a Cuban version with black beans providing the protein. The drive-thrus are an important consider. Like The Taco Stand, just go for breakfast not for the afternoon tacos. Washington Corridor, Heights, Spring Branch, Katy
La Mexicana – A solid choice featuring items dished from steam trays piled into large flour tortillas toasted on the plancha; not helped by two of the lamest salsas to be found, especially a slightly sweet green one, but these are served all day. Montrose
Henderson and Kane – Low-volume with service that’s always slow, but the breakfast tacos are well-done, made to order featuring pretty tasty flour tortillas made in house and thick slices of bacon that is much higher quality than you’ll find in most other versions around, and the it offers the chance to enjoy beef brisket in the AM. For this, and all the morning tacos, skip the forgettable green salsa and pour on the piquant and flavorful reddish one. Sixth Ward
La Guadalupana – The breakfast tacos at this quaint and popular café aren’t as good as they once were, and one of the other breakfast choices is a better option these days. Smaller-sized and utilizing commercial tortillas, the salsas are tasty and an order of the morning tacos can still usually satiate. Montrose
Brothers Taco House – A value provider as generous portions are scooped from the trays in the steam table beginning with a smear of refried beans into pretty good flour tortillas in an efficient fashion as the every-present line moves quickly. Its versions are solid if the salsas don’t add too much, with the barbacoa being one of the better choices here. EaDo
Sol Cafe Mejicano – Across from the police headquarters, these very no-frills versions – well-cooked scrambled eggs and another thing – are hefty and generally satisfying, cooked to order and with quality salsas for some necessary extra flavor. Downtown
Papalo Taqueria – This artisanal taqueria in Finn Hall in the heart of the office towers, with a weekend gig at the large farmers market, seemingly has to serve breakfast tacos during the week to help pay for the certainly considerable rent. Their heart doesn't seem to be in it, as these pre-made tacos aren't nearly as enjoyable nor interesting as their lunchtime and more truly Mexican preparations. Downtown
Chilosos – Though not nearly in the same league as the tacos from nearby La Carreta or La Chingada, this spot has been popular for years with Heights residents. The breakfast tacos are huge, and so a fine value. Otherwise, the straightforward tacos feature house-made flour tortillas that are little thicker and gummier and less tasty than typical – corn is an option, too – and salsas that are also less flavorful, even as the green one packs some heat. Made to order, the orders can be quite slow to fulfill on weekends and the setting is rather cramped and charmless as you wait. Now a second location up in the northwest. Heights, Cypress
Villa Arcos – This quaint East End stalwart is back in business, and still a value, dishing plump, straightforward breakfast tacos made to order on house-made flour tortillas. Corn is not an option here. For an additional 75-cents or so, and just $4.25, you can make it a heftier Super. The salsas come in little plastic bags, which makes these tacos even a little messier. East End