Breakfast tacos are a primary food group in Austin for us Austinites – who doesn’t love waking up to a warm tortilla filled with fluffy eggs, melted cheese, and chorizo or bacon? YUM!
SEE ALSO: 45 Top Things To Do In Austin
This is my guide to the 12 best breakfast tacos in Austin and check out my guide to the best tacos in Austin! If you’re not craving breakfast tacos, then check out my guide to the Best Breakfasts In Austin Worth Waking Up For.
Table of Contents
1. Veracruz All Natural
Hands down my favorite breakfast taco in Austin is the migas taco at Veracruz with eggs, tortilla chips, Monterey jack cheese, cilantro, tomato, onion, and avocado (you can also ask for the other variation with poblano strips). The El Sancho with chorizo, egg, and cheese is really good too. The La Reyna is a veggie taco with egg whites, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, cilantro, onion, Monterey jack cheese, and avocado.
Order the chips and guacamole to snack on while you wait. You can choose from in-house homemade corn tortillas or locally made flour tortillas. Everything at Veracruz is made with all-natural and fresh ingredients!
Price: $3 – $4
Hours: opens at 7am
Multiple locations, veracruzallnatural.com
2. Vaquero Taquero
Vaquero Taquero serves five different breakfast tacos on corn or flour tortilla – choose between chorizo, black beans, bacon, nopales (cactus), or Machaca (shredded Mexican dried beef). I personally love their al pastor tacos and quesadilla al pastor even more because the cheese gets crispy on the griddle.
Vaquero Tequero originally started out as a food truck but they recently shut down the food truck to focus on their brick and mortar taqueria location. It’s located near UT campus so it’s a great breakfast option if you’re a student! The breakfast options include machacado and eggs, queso fresco, potatoes with tomatoes, and bacon/egg/Oaxacan cheese.
Price: $3 – $4
Hours: opens at 7am
104 E 31st St, vaquerotaquero.com
3. El Primo
El Primo has the cheapest tacos in Austin at just $2.25 each – bacon, sausage, chorizo, bean, or migas on corn or flour tortillas. You’ll find this taco trailer parked in the parking lot in front of a gas station. If you’re really hungry, they also have breakfast burritos. Grab a coffee from Once Over Coffee while you wait.
Price: $2.25, cash only
Hours: opens at 8am
2011 S 1st St, elprimoatx.com
4. Cisco’s Restaurant
Cisco’s has been serving Austin breakfast tacos since 1950. Classic breakfast tacos like sausage, chorizo, and ham start at $3 while beef fajita tacos are at $6. If I’m really hungry, I’ll order the migas breakfast plate ($10) or huevos rancheros ($9).
Fun fact: Cisco’s gained historic landmark status in 2019 by the Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission and City Council. Rudy “Cisco” Cisneros moved into the building in 1955 to open his bakery and restaurant, and it became a meeting place for prominent Texas politicians like former President Lyndon Johnson and former Gov. John Connally.
It has been said that many of the deals made in Texas government occurred in the back room of Cisco’s over coffee, biscuits, or a Mexican breakfast of migas or huevos rancheros.
Price: $3 – $6.50
Hours: opens at 7am
1511 E 6th St, ciscosaustin.com
RELATED: Best Coffee Shops In Austin
5. Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon
I love the chimichurri steak tacos at Fresa’s (comes with beans, rice, and a whole jalapeño) with a frozen prickly pear margarita but Fresa’s does have breakfast tacos in the morning. If you’re in a rush, go to their North Lamar location for the drive-through.
Fresa’s, an Austin original, offers a modern take on the classic Mexican chicken al carbon. First opened in 2012, Fresa’s now includes two locations that are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fresa’s menu features wood-grilled meals, tacos, sides and salads that offer something for everyone at the table. Fresa’s is helmed by award-winning chefs Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki, with locations at 915 N Lamar St and 1703 S 1st St
COVID-19 UPDATE: The full menu is available to-go, including items unique to the South First location such as Wood-Grilled Skirt Steak & Aji-Glazed Gulf Prawns as well as the La Gringa Quesadilla. There is also now an option to order the new Boozy Margarita Kit ($35), featuring their Classic Margarita Mix along with Espolon Blanco tequila and a homemade non-alcoholic triple sec. Guests can order online at fresaschicken.com or by calling 512-992-2946. Patrons can park in a curbside service parking space that will be designated with signs, stay in their car, and follow the directions on the signage to place or pick-up their order.
Price: $2.80 – $3.50
Hours: opens at 8am – 11am
915 North Lamar Blvd or 1703 South First, fresaschicken.com
SEE ALSO: Best Brunch Spots In Austin
6. Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ
Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ serves a small breakfast menu from 7:30-11am sharp with three tacos in South Austin. Potato, egg, and cheese for $2.50, ultimate bean and cheese with a choice of smoked brisket or pulled pork for $7.5, or The Real Deal Holyfield with a fried egg, potatoes, refried beans, bacon, and choice of brisket or pulled pork for $9. Slathered on a generous amount of tomato serrano salsa.
For lunch, choose from the Tex menu or the Mex menu like sliced brisket versus smoked brisket, chopped brisket, or cerveza beef fajita. You can also get cuts of meat like brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, pork ribs, beef ribs, and sausage by the pound. I recommend ordering queso to snack on while you wait.
Valentina’s is the only food trailer in Austin that blends good ol’ Texas BBQ and Tex Mex, and they serve grass-fed natural Angus beef from Harley Ranch (gluten-free, no artificial ingredients, and raised humanely with sustainable ranching practices) and Berkridge Berkshire pork products.
Price: $2.5 – $9
Hours: opens at 7:30 – 11am sharp, closed Tuesday’s
11500 Manchaca Rd, valentinastexmexbbq.com
7. Rosita’s Al Pastor
Rosita’s on East Riverside has been highly recommended to me for their handmade tortillas filled with fluffy eggs and non-greasy chorizo and topped with fresh salsa. The breakfast tacos range from 1.75 for the al pastor taco to $2.99 for tripa tacos, and the breakfast plates like huevos rancheros start at $5.99 at this taqueria.
I’m going to try it out when I get back in town! Have you been?
Price: $1.75 – $2.99
Hours: opens at 8am, closed on Wednesdays
1911 E Riverside Dr, rositasalpastor.com
8. Joann’s Fine Foods
The migas tacos at Joann’s Fine Foods inside the Austin Motel are the most expensive at $12 for two ($10 without chorizo) but they are really good.
Joann’s is opened by MMH (McGuire Moorman Hospitality) who own Perla’s, Clark’s Oyster Bar, By George, and June’s on South Congress.
Joann’s Fine Foods is now open at the Austin Motel, the first-ever partnership between Austin powerhouses McGuire Moorman Hospitality and hotelier Liz Lambert’s Bunkhouse Group. Tex Mex classics meet Palm Springs diner fare at the newest restaurant from Larry McGuire, Tom Moorman and team, located in the heart of South Congress Avenue’s famed strip of restaurants, live music venues and shops at Bunkhouse’s recently refreshed Austin Motel.
Inspired by California diners and the hearty Tex Mex fare of Austin, Joann’s features an extensive all-day menu of tacos made with house-made flour and corn tortillas, hearty sandwiches and salads, grilled meats and seafood from a pecan-burning grill, as well as updated takes on Mexican favorites like house-made tamales with green chorizo and picadillo enchiladas with ranchero sauce and green cabbage slaw. Drinks include daily juices with optional boozy add-ins; roja, verde and rosado sangritas; playful cocktails emphasizing mezcal and tequila and an extensive beer and wine list.
Joann’s melds 1970s diner vibes with the Austin Motel’s quintessential Texas spirit throughout its interior and outdoor dining spaces. An open kitchen with counter seating welcomes guests, featuring a backsplash of quilted stainless steel and subway tiles in bold turquoise, orange and green hues. Original terrazzo flooring adds retro appeal to the interior, along with beaded curtains and booths upholstered in desert-inspired shades of sage and brick. A skylight with stained glass panels lead to an outdoor patio with more bar seating and a custom designed water feature — an ideal spot for a sunset cocktail.
COVID-19 UPDATE: In an effort to keep people at home we’ve rolled out Door to Door Delivery to Austin’s 78701-78705 area codes. A flat rate $6 fee to get all your favorites with wine & beer dropped at your doorstep!
Price: $10 ($12 wiith chorizo)
Hours: 8am – 11am
1224 S Congress Ave, joannsaustin.com
9. Tacodeli
Tacodeli is the king of all breakfast tacos in Austin and you can find them at most coffee shops in the morning. Tacodeli breakfast tacos don’t just have the ordinary scrambled eggs and meat, but you can get belly smoked ham and sirloin steak. You can choose from flour, corn, wheat, or no tortilla.
You can also build your own breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, vegan nut chorizo, or housemade sausage. I like that Tacodeli uses pasture-raised eggs from Vital Farms that are certified humane, antibiotic, and hormone-free.
Roberto Espinosa was born and raised in Mexico City. His exposure to interior Mexico City street tacos, time working as an apprentice chef in the Yucatan, travel in Central Mexico, and many of Mexico’s coastal regions have all had a profound influence on his approach to food. In 1999, Tacodeli opened its doors for the first time at the original location of Barton Skyway and Spyglass in Austin, Texas. Eric Wilkerson joined Tacodeli soon thereafter as a Partner and Owner. Today, Tacodeli operates restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Plano.
Together, Roberto and Eric have built a team with a shared passion for community building, quality ingredients, and, of course, creative and exceptional food. Just as important is the desire for their team to enjoy life to its fullest. Every restaurant closes daily at 3pm to allow for employees to spend more time with family and pursue outside interests and ensures the teams are refreshed to provide a great experience for guests.
Tacodeli is a fast-casual neighborhood restaurant open daily for breakfast and lunch, offering a menu of more than 40 made-from-scratch tacos with fresh ingredients – many of which are organic and locally sourced. Favorite tacos include the Otto, the Jess Special, and the Cowboy.
Dressings, salsas and sauces are all made in-house with authentic Mexican flavors. Agua frescas and the dairy-free horchata are made with local produce and organic evaporated cane juice. Chips are made with organic masa are also a part of the carefully curated menu. Additionally, the menu is 100% gluten-free if tacos are ordered on corn tortillas.
Price: $2.65 – $3.65
Hours: 7am – 11am, and all day on the weekend
Multiple locations, tacodeli.com
10. El Chilito
You can get breakfast tacos all day at El Chilito but even better, you can get breakfast tacos PUFFY TACO STYLE. I love the puffy tacos at El Chilito – it’s like a thicker corn tortilla that is then deep-fried. Best eaten immediately.
The beef puffy taco with an agua fresa is my weekly go-to for a quick meal.
El Chilito was born as a fast-casual approach to El Chile, a contemporary take on modern Tex-Mex. Dubbed El Chile’s “little brother,” El Chilito, uses many of the same flavors, but in a more laid-back atmosphere and a lot of charm. Each of El Chilito’s three locations (Manor Road, East 7th Street, and South Manchaca-near Ben White) has its own personality, and offers a full espresso bar that complements our Tex-Mex and interior Mexican influences. The recipes are made from scratch every day.
COVID-19 UPDATE: All three El Chilito locations are offering a full menu and family-sized meals for contactless pickup and delivery daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Family Taco Night package: 2 pounds of your choice of filling, warm flour or corn tortillas, white rice, black beans, pico de gallo, onions and cilantro. Feeds 4-6 people. Comfort Food Care Packages: The Department of Family and Protective Services pairs a family in need with a generously donated meal. Volunteer’s safely pick up the family-sized meal from the El Chilito limited contact take-out and delivers directly to the family. Simply add the Comfort Care Donation Package to order before checkout and a Family Taco Night dinner kit will be delivered to a family in need the following day. Manor and 7th Street locations are also offering beer by the can or 6-pack, plus frozen sangria to-go.
Price: $3 – $3.50
Hours: opens at 7am during the weekdays and 8am on the weekends
Multiple locations, elchilito.com
11. Juan In A Million
How could I forget the Juan In A Million in East Austin on this breakfast taco list?! Juan In A Million has been serving their iconic breakfast tacos and plates since 1980. You can get breakfast tacos with eggs, bacon, chorizo, sausage, nopalitos, beans, barbacoa, and more for only $3.25 to $3.6.
But the real deal is their Don Juan El Taco Grande, a secret combination of potato, egg, bacon, and cheese tacos in a deliciously hot tortilla for only $6.25. This thing is MASSIVE.
Price: $3.25 – $3.50
Hours: opens at 7am 7 days a week
2300 E Cesar Chavez St, juaninamillion.com/menu
12. Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
Breakfast is served all day at Joe’s Bakery – it’s a no-frills Mexican restaurant in East Austin but it’s an OG spot for breakfast tacos. All breakfast tacos are $2.09 with the exception of the pork chop breakfast taco that is $3.99.
Price: $2.09
Hours: 6AM from Tuesday to Friday, and 6:30 on Saturday and Sunday
2305 E 7th St, joesbakery.com/menu
13. Taco-Mex
I just discovered this little walk-up window on Manor Rd in East Austin. At $1.75 for a breakfast taco, Taco-Mex is one of the cheapest breakfast tacos in Austin – they have the basic breakfast tacos like bacon, egg, and cheese, and carne asada to al pastor. I got the migas and it was soo good. I also ordered the barbacoa and a gordita. I’ll be back for more.
They don’t list their hours so try your luck!
Price: $1.75
Hours: –
2611 Manor Rd, tacomexorders.com/TacoMex/Texas/Austin.aspx
Other Popular Breakfast Tacos
These are some other popular spots for breakfast tacos that I think are just okay
- Pueblo Viejo – ask for the habanero salsa
- Taco Joint
- Tyson’s Tacos on Airport Blvd
- Mi Madre on the East Side
- Torchy’s Tacos
- Maria’s Taco Xpress
- Tamale House East – chipotle migas
- Dai Due Taqueria
RELATED: 24 Best Healthy Restaurants In Austin, Updated 2020
