The Best Taco In California Is ...

CALIFORNIA — Among its taco trucks and street vendors, drive-throughs on nearly every corner and sit-down restaurants, California has some of the best Mexican food cuisine out there. But when it comes to the best taco in the Golden State, there's only one place for that, at least according to a new list out from The Daily Meal. The website details “The Best Taco In Every State” and the eateries where they are served — from mahi mahi tacos at Coconut’s in Maui, Hawaii to baked chicken tacos topped with green chiles from The Shed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Foodies rest assured, The Daily Meal did its homework:

“In order to find the best taco in every state, we started with the top-ranked tacos from this year’s listing of the Best Tacos in America. We then consulted with our contingent of city editors from across the country, checked local rankings, and researched review sites to see which ones got the highest marks from in-the-know locals. We then judged each contender on quality of ingredients, skill in preparation, level of local renown, and authenticity; most of these tacos fit within the framework of the classic Mexican street taco, but we provided some leeway to allow for different styles (like Baja-style fish tacos) and for culinary creativity.”

So where can the best taco in California be found? According to The Daily Meal’s list, one needs to head to San Francisco’s Mission District to experience it. Once at La Taqueria, 2889 Mission St. in San Francisco, order the Carnitas Taco.

“When it comes to leaders of a culinary genre, there are few restaurants in America with greater gravitas for their respective focus than San Francisco’s La Taqueria has for tacos. That gives it, and its tacos (carnitas among them, quite arguably the best), quite a heavy reputation to live up to. La Taqueria, just one of the Mission’s many casual Mexican joints, does Mexican the way they should be done: fresh. As if the amazing rice-free burritos weren’t enough (you’d never notice its absence), there are the tacos. To prepare the carnitas, chef/owner Miguel Jara slow-cooks chunks of pork shoulder in cauldrons of bubbling lard until tender, then roasts it until it’s crispy. When it's tucked into a double layer of corn tortillas and topped with your choice of pinto beans, onions, pico de gallo, cheese, crema, or guacamole (or none of the above), there just might be no better taco in America.”

While locals seem to agree on the carnitas tacos, La Taqueira also gets rave reviews for most all its menu items, including its carne asada.

"Definitely ranks as my favorite taco location in the United States," said one customer in a Facebook review.

Said another: "Will eat here till I die, OF HAPPINESS!!"

Check out The Daily Meal's full list of "The Best Tacos In Every State."

Now you’re all set for Taco Tuesday! (Don’t forget to tell us in the comments about your favorite taco in California.)

Image via adoproducciones/Pixabay