One mile, or about 2,000 steps. In this relatively short distance, you can take a culinary journey through six different Mexican states—and even El Salvador. Highlights on this rich outing include a diverse history, tasty bites and a colorful vibe.
For people who may be new here: Wells Avenue, located just east of Virginia Street, is an active, lively, historic neighborhood that, since its inception in the early 1900s, has been home to a largely blue-collar population. Now mostly Hispanic and Latino, this thriving street offers locals and tourists alike a great selection of amenities, including shopping, countless services and especially food. On any given weekend, as you walk past the beauty salons, repair shops, law offices and car washes, you can’t help but notice the smells—savory, spicy and delectable. Smoke rises from the grills and wafts out of lonchera (food truck) windows, trailing off seemingly to the horizon. Clusters of people stand around clutching tickets and awaiting paper plates overloaded with tacos.
Following this “Taco Trail” will transport the hungry and curious to places like Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Baja California, Yucatán and the Federal District of Mexico City. Each is a beautiful locale known for its art, music, culture and food. The diaspora in this neighborhood hails from all across Mexico and Central America, and the delicious result is tacos served in distinct styles including asador (grilled), al vapor (steamed), fried as tacos dorados, filled with stewed meats (guisados), shepherd style (al pastor) and tacos pescados, which include different kinds of fish or seafood.
Here are 14 taco spots to try. Some are bricks-and-mortar restaurants with regular hours, but I recommend strolling Wells Avenue on a Saturday, when the full range of trucks and pop-ups are open too. ¡Vámonos!
1. Fuego Street Tacos
Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane
fuegostreettacos.com
At the far southern end, where Wells Avenue branches off of Virginia Street, we find our first stop at Fuego Street Tacos in the Reno Public Market. The menu highlights primarily Baja-style street tacos, and options include several different meats and even a surf-and-turf version made from asada and shrimp. The big taco energy is real here.
2. Tacos Mazatlán
1790 S. Wells Ave.
instagram.com/tacos_mazatlanrenonv
3. Mariscos de Islitas
1700 S. Wells Ave.
Taking a detour to more seafood-centric versions, we arrive in Sinaloa and Nayarit—or at the Tacos Mazatlán truck and Mariscos de Islitas, respectively. These two spots focus on the “fruits of the ocean,” and it shows. Beyond the shrimp and seafood tacos, brothers Alejandro and Julio Mayorquin at the Mazatlán truck are known citywide for their ceviche and aguachile preparations. One bite of the fresh, hot tortillas; tasty, citrus-tinged fillings; and red-hot salsas takes you straight to coastal Mexico.
4. La Condesa Eatery
1642 S. Wells Ave.
lacondesaeatery.com
For more discerning, fine-dining taco lovers, look no further than La Condesa. This sit-down restaurant’s versions feature prime Black Angus ribeye steak or exotic mushrooms prepared “al pastor” Should you desire to “taco a walk on the wild side,” La Condesa features a “gobernador” taco filled with beautifully grilled shrimp, a melty Manchego cheese blend and habanero aioli. ¡Delicioso!
5. Tacos de Canasta
1510 S. Wells Ave.
facebook.com/p/Tacos-de-canasta-100068229134402
Getting into the “meat” of the trail: There are four shops at basically the same intersection of Wells and Capitol Hill avenues, led by Tacos de Canasta, one of the most popular loncheras on Wells (if the constant lines are any indication). Ruth Gonzales, the shy but always-smiling owner, and her family proudly serve a tightly focused menu of tortas, burritos and their specialty “tacos al vapor”—tacos steamed with traditional fillings of chicharron (fried pork belly), papas con chorizo or frijoles (beans). Served three to an order and wonderfully matched to three different kinds of homemade salsas, this taco plate is vibrant, punchy and filling. ¡Exquisito!
6. Los Cuatros Vientos
1495 S. Wells Ave.
On the adjacent corner, the Los Cuatros Vientos lonchera offers taco fans a wide variety of meats and fillings—including carnitas (simmered pork), lengua (beef tongue) and even flor de calabacitas (squash blossoms) when in season. But they are perhaps known best for their traditional Guadalajara-style tacos overstuffed with rich birria, which is traditionally made from stewed goat—but in a nod to U.S. tastes is now more often braised beef—and topped with cilantro and onion. Finally, it’s paired with a sidecar of consommé for dipping. ¡Que Rico!
7. Antojitos El Mundo Latino
1401 S. Wells Ave.
www.instagram.com/antojitos_mundolatino
A few feet farther, you find El Mundo Latino, where owner Rafael Mondragon proudly serves the tacos of Mexico City (colloquially known to many as “The D.F.”), featuring lengua, asada and the very D.F. specialty of tripas (intestines), which are boiled and then grilled until they’re crispy; it’s all served with a variety of fiery salsas; crisp, cool radishes; and lime wedges. ¡Maravilloso!
8. Speedy Burritos
1420 S. Wells Ave.
speedyburritosreno.com
A neighborhood fixture for more than 15 years, Speedy Burritos is a standalone, casual restaurant known more for its burritos, but it still offers a variety of tacos, which can be ordered grilled, served soft-shell or as “tacos dorados” with the shells fried to a deep golden brown, and filled with beef, pollo (chicken), carnitas or al pastor.
9. Anna’s Taqueria
271 Wonder St.
annastaqueriareno.com
“Make tacos not war” is the vibey, fun feeling at Anna’s Taqueria, where owner Marco Perez and his friendly staff serve craft tacos, fresh salsas (try the habanero) and bespoke cocktails to hungry crowds daily. Anna’s is well known for its creative and unique taco combinations and is considered by many to serve the best tacos in Reno. A daily menu of revolving proteins offers taco mavens choices like carne asada, al pastor, carnitas, pollo and chorizo, while a delicious veggie option of rajas, elote y queso (roasted peppers, corn, and Oaxacan cheese) can turn even the most diehard asada lover into a vegetarian. A menu of “especialidades” features options like “tacos diablo,” a spicy version featuring pork simmered in red chile sauce and topped with marinated red onion, and “tacos de cochinita,” a traditional specialty from the Yucatán region of slow-roasted pork marinated with citrus and annatto. ¡Exquisito!
10. Asi Es Mi Tierra
1020 S. Wells Ave.
asiesmitierrarestaurant.com
El Salvador is represented on the trail by Asi Es Mi Tierra,a sit-down restaurant offering pupusas, pollo encebollado (stewed chicken), tamales and other native specialties. But in the spirit of taco adventure, they also serve soft-shell versions with asada, pollo or chicharron. ¡Que Chivo!
11. Panaderia Las Palomas
814 S. Wells Ave.
facebook.com/p/Panaderia-Las-Palomas-100064312261187
One of the longest-tenured shops on the trail is Panaderia Las Palomas. For more than 16 years now, owner Maria Gonzales and her team have made tortillas, sweet bread and other bakery specialties in-house daily, while also serving a pan-Mexican menu of tacos, tortas and enchiladas. Filled with color and light, this type of taco-bakery combination is quite common in Mexican neighborhoods all across the Southwest, and Las Palomas does not disappoint. The fresh tortillas, savory beans and house-made salsas (try the smoky version made with chiles japones) are sure to impress even the most discriminating taco hounds.
12. Taco John’s
770 S. Wells Ave.
tacojohns.com
Just a few steps north is Taco John’s, a Mexican-inspired chain shop that began in the well-known taco hotbed of Cheyenne, Wyo. Founded in the 1960s, Taco Johns is probably best known for initially trademarking the phrase “Taco Tuesday,” and this venerable fast-food restaurant serves what they call “West-Mex” flavors in a fast-casual environment.
13. Tortas Ebenezer
555 S. Wells Ave.
As you get toward the end of the trail, one of the newer establishments to “taco a chance on” is Tortas Ebenezer. This standalone restaurant focuses on the flavors and styles of the D.F., and while co-owner Betty Sanchez and her team are widely known for exquisite and savory al pastor, they also serve asada, pollo and a taco “alambre,” which is a mixture of grilled steak, peppers and melted Oaxacan cheese. Hot, tasty and served quickly, tacos at Ebenezer are a great addition to the burgeoning Wells Avenue trail scene.
14. Tacos La Jerezana
275. S Wells Ave.
The final stop is also the farthest north. Situated in a gleaming black truck on the corner of Wells and Ryland Street, Tacos La Jerezana does one thing, and one thing only: birria. As the constant line shows, this truck offers one of the most notable versions of this delicious, stewed preparation in all of Reno, which it serves in tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The meat is rich, earthy and redolent of chiles and garlic. The tacos border on overstuffed, and the tantalizing side of warm, delicious consommé is good enough to drink (which I have on occasion). All trails should end like this. ¡Buen Provecho!