America might run on Dunkin’, but Austin sure as sh*t runs on breakfast tacos. They’re this city’s lifeblood. Nothing would ever get done here without them. Portable, convenient, and filling, breakfast tacos are in many ways the perfect food. And Austin does them better than anyone (also see our guide to the best tacos in town).
When you’re desperately hungry (or hungover), the best breakfast tacos are the ones closest to your house. But we set out to find the actual best breakfast tacos in the city—the ones worth driving across town to eat. The project involved elaborate spreadsheets, many gallons of gas, serious debates about the merits of red versus green salsa, and close encounters with hungry grackles. These are the best in Austin, organized by neighborhood.