In Coconut Grove, you’ll find a good amount of taco joints, each serving up hand-crafted corn tortillas piled high with perfectly marinated meats and flavorful homemade salsas. In this roundup, we’ve handpicked the finest for you to relish.
Aida Mexican Food
Aida is the most upscale restaurant on our list—a haven for true Mexican food aficionados. The restaurant seamlessly fuses traditional Mexican flavors with South Florida’s coastal vibes, using only the finest locally sourced ingredients. Aida is renowned for its emphasis on fresh seafood inspired by coastal Mexican recipes and homemade sauces that will transport your taste buds to another dimension.
At first glance, you’ll notice that the menu is bursting with seafood options of all kinds. Your eyes might run wild, but anything you order will be unparalleled, no exaggeration. On the taco front, you’ll find unique options like the ode-to-the-Yucatan tuna pibil taco made with grade-A big eye tuna marinated in pibil sauce. For those looking to indulge, the tacos de langosta—lobster tacos served with Oaxacan smoked chili paste—are grand. Meat lovers can savor the exceptionally tender fried pork belly tacos, while vegetarians are not forgotten with flavorful options like the tempura heart of palms taco paired with a creamy avocado mousse. At $18+ for 2 tacos, it’s not the most wallet-friendly option, but it delivers an unparalleled culinary experience straight out of a taco connoisseur’s dreams. Plus, they’ve got some unbeatable Taco Tuesday specials that make it all the more tempting.
Aida Mexican Food is located at 3306 Mary St, Miami, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
Bartaco
Bartaco is a next-level Mexican restaurant with locations all over the country, yet we remain impartial to the Coconut Grove locale. The vibe here is rustic coastal chic—down-to-earth yet undeniably stylish. While the menu isn’t strictly traditional Mexican, with dishes like falafel, spicy cucumber salad, and housemade kimchi, these creative twists only draw bigger crowds.
The taco offerings are off the charts. Fan favorites include the melt-in-your-mouth glazed pork belly tacos with legit spicy arbol chili sauce and the tamarind-glazed roasted duck tacos with caramelized onions, delivering a perfect sweet and salty combo. Vegetarians won’t feel left out with the rave-worthy pistachio cauliflower taco, featuring pistachio chimichurri and creamy hummus. The menu is gluten-free (except for the desserts), and you can even opt for a lettuce shell instead of a tortilla. While tacos are the heart and soul of the place, don’t sleep on the other menu items. We highly recommend the sesame ribeye brown rice bowl, served with spicy kimchi—pair it with a local craft beer for the ultimate experience.
Bartaco is located at 3112 Commodore Plaza, Miami, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
El Taquito
El Taquito is the spot where locals gather from noon till the wee hours of the morning (2 a.m. to be exact). It’s the kind of place where you can strike up a conversation with a stranger and leave feeling like you’ve made a new friend. This hole-in-the-wall joint may not have seating, but that just adds to its charm. You’ll either be savoring your taco at the standing bar or grabbing it to go, and trust us, you won’t regret it.
The menu features the usual suspects like nachos, quesadillas, tortas, fajitas, burritos, flautas, or enchiladas. The tacos are where it’s at, though, with options ranging from $3.50-4. The unanimous favorite here is the al pastor, with its perfectly marinated pork and pineapple combo that hits all the right notes. But don’t sleep on the homemade chorizo and carnitas tacos, each topped with a healthy amount of fresh onion and cilantro. Wash it all down with an ice-cold Jarritos, and you’ll be living your best life. P.S. Taco Tuesday features 2 chicken or steak tacos for $6—unbeatable.
El Taquito is located at 3410 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
Koko
From the team behind Bakan in Wynwood comes Koko—a lush oasis that fulfills all your taco cravings and then some. The moment you step inside, you’re enveloped in the verdant surroundings that transport you to Mexican paradise. Plush chairs invite you to settle in, while a cacti garden adds some desert charm, taking you away from the 305 straight south of the border. Whether you choose to snag a seat by the kitchen to witness the art of handcrafted tortilla making or opt for the lively outdoor patio, Koko is the perfect spot for catch-ups with the besties or romantic date nights. And let’s talk about their tequila and mezcal collection—over 400 varieties strong, each paired perfectly with the menu items.
Now onto the provisions—everything here is woodfire, using cherry wood for an incredibly profound flavor. The tortillas are handmade daily using Oaxacan Criollo corn, and the chips are always wood-fired. Tacos come in threes, with the most popular option being the carnitas prensadas—pork-pressed carnitas topped with guacamole. If there’s one other thing you have to try aside from the tacos it’s the los insectos menu with enticing options of chicatana ants salsa or escamoles made with ant eggs and butter. Trust us on this one.
Koko is located at 2856 Tigertail Ave, Miami, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
