The 7 Best Tacos in Milwaukee: A Local’s Guide

We’ve repeatedly been asked by visitors and locals alike to create a tour that shows off the best tacos in Milwaukee, alongside the city’s finest chips, salsa, margaritas, and churros. We rose to the challenge, visiting every authentic Mexican restaurant in the city.  Where are our favorite tacos in Milwaukee?

Top Authentic Taco Spots on Milwaukee’s South Side and Beyond

1. Guadalajara Restaurant
Opened in 1987 by Genoveva and Felipe Losada after they moved to Milwaukee 25 years ago from their hometown of Guadalaraja, Mexico. This cozy, family restaurant has our favorite sopes in all of Milwaukee! Sopes are thick tortillas made with fried masa, the perfect combination of texture and flavor! We love to top ours with refried beans and chicken. Yum.

Get Directions: 901 S 10th St, Milwaukee

2. Cielito Lindo
Everyone knows the sweet Mexican love song titled, Cielito Lindo. The restaurant, Cielito Lindo captures the essence of the song in their love of preparing delicious authentic Mexican food. Whether you are looking for a traditional Mexican breakfast dish or a few tacos after an evening out in Milwaukee, this the place to go!

Get Directions: 733 S 2nd St, Milwaukee

3. La Canoa
This festive cantina specializes in Mexican seafood dishes. You know you’re somewhere special the minute you are seated at your table because each table includes not only traditional salsas but also their famous seafood salsa!

Get Directions: 1520 W Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee

4. Tsumani Restaurant
Their location is tiny, seating a mere 20 or so diners, but offers big tastes with some of the most authentic food Mexican cuisine. This is the spot that locals in in Milwaukee’s Latino community visit when they are hungry.

Get Directions: 2001 W Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee

5. Las 7-estrellas
This food truck turned restaurant is home to our favorite quesadillas in Milwaukee. Las 7 Estrellas homemade corn tortillas crisp up perfectly – stuff with cheese and the meat of your choice to create this Mexican favorite.

Get Directions: 112 E Dakota St, Milwaukee

6. Taqueria Buenavista
Looking for a Mexican restaurant that has it all? Look no further! Taqueria Buenavista’s extensive menu includes everyone’s favorites plus more!

Get Directions: 6000 W Burnham St, Milwaukee

7. El Senorial
El Senorial is the best place in Milwaukee to pretend you’re in Mexico and escape from the mid-winter blues! An evening at El Senorial doesn’t just include a great meal but also a fantastic performance by the restaurant’s roaming mariachi band!

Get Directions: 1901 S 31st St, Milwaukee

What About the Best Margaritas in Milwaukee?

A plate of tacos without a margarita? That’s crazy! Of course, all of our favorite restaurants serve great margaritas! Whether you like them on the rocks, frozen, strawberry flavored or the traditional lime they have got you covered!

Is there a Tequila made in Milwaukee?“

Actually, there is no “Milwaukee-made” tequila! Tequila is a protected name and can only be produced in certain states of Mexico. Some of our favorite Milwaukee distilleries (which we feature on our Craft Breweries & Cocktails tour) make similar agave spirits, but they cannot legally be called tequila.

Made from the blue agave plant, the spirit is made primarily in areas surrounding the city of Tequila, and in the Mexican state of Jalisco. This is similar to Chianti wine, which can only be called that for wine made with grapes in Chianti Italy, or with Champagne, which can only be produced in Champagne France. 

Where to Find the Best Churros in Milwaukee

No authentic meal is complete without dessert. For the best churros in the city, we recommend:

• Taqueria Mr. Churro: A small bakery with delicious treats at amazing price points.
  • Get Directions: 2333 W National Ave, Milwaukee

• La Flor de Trigo: Known for scratch-made traditional recipes.
  • Get Directions: 1321 W Lincoln Ave Milwaukee

Take a Tacos & Tequila Tour In Milwaukee

If you want to get serious about finding the best tacos in Milwaukee, simply reserve seats on the Tacos & Tequila Tour. Departing from the United Community Center (UCC) most Saturday nights, we’ll stop at 4 hidden gems in Milwaukee’s Latino community. During the 3-hour tour you’ll sample some of the best in the city with a local Milwaukeean ready to take you to some of our favorites. The per person price includes transportation, food, drinks, dessert and trivia about Milwaukee’s tacos scene that you’ve never before known. It’s become a popular tour to celebrate birthdays and Bachelorettes too, and therefore available as a private tour for groups of 15 or more any date of choice.

Now that you are an expert on our city’s thriving taco scene, learn more about some of the other iconic Milwaukee foods that we love.