While primarily thought of as Mexican food, these simple delights definitely cross borders and have many different varieties. Whether or not you like hard or soft, corn or flour, regular or exotic meats, or vegan, I think tacos are universally loved by just about everyone across the globe. What is it about tacos that people love so much? I think it’s because of their simplicity and the fact that hand-held foods just make us feel happy. They don’t take a lot of time to prepare, which allows us more quality time with our friends and family, and no one judges you if you eat too many of them! Because they are savory, sweet drinks like margaritas tend to pair well with them too! We are truly blessed with the many great options to choose from in Indian River County.
If you are looking for the results of the “Show us your Tacos Photo Contest”, keep scrolling down to the bottom of this article!
Now let’s jump right in and check out all of the amazing taco joints I visited over the past few weeks while creating this article! Restaurants listed below are in no particular order.
Alley Tacos
Located in the Downtown Vero area in the alley behind The Irish American Club and Ono Luau might just be one of Vero’s best kept secrets when it comes to great tacos! They are only open on Friday nights and start serving at 7pm. With a large variety of meats, freshly made corn tortillas, and an array of toppings, these are some of the best traditional tacos in the area!
Alley Tacos (Irish American Club)
Address: 1314 20th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 569-1460
Blue Agave
My next stop is also in Downtown Vero and located right on 14th Ave. With a nice variety of authentic Mexican food on the menu, their tacos definitely stand out from the crowd. They offer several different varieties, including steak, shrimp, and vegetarian options. What do you wash down all that deliciousness with? Try one of their unique house infused margaritas! My favorite is the Mango Habanero!
Blue Agave
Address: 1979 14th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 999-3484
https://www.blueagaveverobeach.com/
El Sid Taqueria
As one of the newest taco joints on the block, El Sid Taqueria has been the “Taco” of the town since they first opened in August 2019. Owned and operated by CountySide Citrus, they hired Chef Timm McGraw to bring this concept to life. You can find their tacos at their Ocean Drive location or on the farm from their taco trailer. Featured above is their steak taco and it’s made with a corn tortilla and topped with seasoned steak, shaved cabbage, sliced radish, onions, cilantro, Cojita cheese, and served with a lime wedge.
El Sid Taqueria
Address: 3300 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 234-8299
https://www.elsid.com/
El Tapatio Mexican Grill
Vero has been lacking good Mexican food for quite a while, so when El Tapatio opened their doors and the word got out about how good it was, people came in droves (and still do) to eat here. The place is quite small, so grab takeout if you don’t want to wait for a table. Above are three Chorizo tacos served on corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, half a lime, and Mexican seasoned rice.
El Tapatio Mexican Grill
Address: 4165 9th Street SW #107, Vero Beach, FL 32968
Phone: (772) 213-8249
Inti International
Inti International is named after an ancient Incan Sun God and is a unique concept for Vero. The dishes offered here come from diverse backgrounds and cultures like Peruvian, Mexican and Latin American, thus the name “International”. Tacos are definitely considered international cuisine, and I tried traditional and “Gringo” style tacos during my visit. Both were fresh and delicious!
Inti International Restaurant
Address: 2199 7th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 257-6652
https://www.intivero.net/
Taco Dive Vero Beach
With a slogan like “Not your Average Hole in the Wall”, Taco Dive breaks all the rules when it comes to their style of tacos. While they do feature a few traditional, they are known for their unique offerings like a BLT, The Irish, and featured above, Cajun Shrimp style tacos. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, then I suggest you check these guys out!
Taco Dive
Address: 1901 14th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 999-3607
http://www.tacodive.com/
Tacos and Beach
Don’t let the location in the Shell gas station fool you, Owner Tito Moreno is creating authentic Mexican food that is beyond delicious! He’s using organic masa and making his corn tortillas from scratch, which to me makes all the difference in the world when it comes to flavor.
Tacos and Beach
Address: 1615 8th Ave, US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 492-6759
Tres Hermanos
When you ask the locals around town where you can find the most authentic tacos in the area, everyone always tells me to check out Tres Hermanos. It’s tucked away in the back of a Mexican grocery store on 14th Ave. and there’s nothing fancy about it, but you will be thanking me later after you’ve tried them!
Tres Hermanos
Address: 1690 14th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 978-0673
This concludes My Top “ATE” Taco Joints list in Indian River County. Do you have a favorite taco place that I didn’t include? Sound off in the comments below so I can go check it out!
Winners Announcement!!!
A special THANK YOU to everyone who participated and voted in our very first food photo contest! This contest would not have been possible without our sponsors, Blue Agave, Taco Dive Vero Beach, Inti International, Costa d’Este, Sailfish Brewing Company, and Whit’s Frozen Custard! Prizes are awarded to the Top 3 photos with the most votes!
Now on to the results!
In 3rd Place. . .
James Garcia! Tacos from Wes’ Backyard BBQ & Grill
In 2nd Place. . .
Joseph Semkow! Tacos from The Wave Kitchen & Bar at Costa d’Este!
and 1st Place goes to. . .
Sara Matulonis! Taco from El Sid Taqueria!
My vote is Cajun Shrimp from Vero’s Taco Dive although there are so many excellent places to try! Thanks Thomas, great reporting and photos too! Bob Craig
Thanks Bob, appreciate your support!
El Sid es numero uno!!!