For Nation's Finest Tacos, Check Out These Houston Joints

HOUSTON, TX — If you're searching for the perfect taco, then look no farther than the neighborhoods around Midtown Houston. The Bayou City can boast of three Mexican restaurants that serve the best tacos in the country, says The Daily Meal, a website for foodies, gourmets, and other fans of distinctive food and beverages.

The Daily Meal recently rated the top 75 tacos served in the U.S., and you won't find them in any fast-food chain. Making the list are Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and many places in between. Some of the finest taquerias in Texas made the list, including joints in Austin, Abilene, El Paso, San Antonio and Dallas.

One place in Houston cracked the Top 10: El Real Tex-Mex Café, which makes its home inside a former movie theater in the city's Montrose neighborhood. The cafe, at 1201 Westheimer Road, is praised by The Daily Meal for its Chicken Puffy Taco, ranked #4 on the list.

The website gives a mouth-watering description of the smoked chicken repast, which you can order with the San Antonio Puffy Taco Plate: "The deep-fried and puffed-up shell gets a smear of refried beans, then the smoked chicken ... is liberally applied. Lettuce and tomato come on top."

A few blocks away, at 1600 Westheimer Road, Hugo's restaurant serves up Tacos de Pescado Estilo Baja, ranked #62 by The Daily Meal. The Baja-style fish tacos are only served at lunch, says the website: "Beer-battered catfish filets are fried until golden brown, then tucked into fresh corn tortillas atop a pile of fresh shredded cabbage, chipotle mayo and pico de gallo."

North of Buffalo Bayou, the Laredo Taqueria serves tacos that "are all about the meat, and that’s all you’ll get," says The Daily Meal. The website ranks the sidewalk cafe's pork taco in red sauce at #33 on the list, praising it as "super-flavorful and tender." The Laredo Taqueria is at 915 Snover St.

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