The Fold: Best Taco in Ann Arbor

Welcome to The Fold, our search for the best taco in Ann Arbor.

This is a living tracker. We will update it as we publish each entry, revisit restaurants, and reconsider our rankings when a new taco forces the conversation forward.

Why Tacos

Ann Arbor has a burger problem. Everybody talks about burgers. We are already running B2A2 for that. But the taco scene in and around Ann Arbor is deeper, more varied, and less discussed than it deserves. There are taquerias on commercial strips in Scio Township, food trucks near campus, sit-down restaurants putting their own spin on street food. Nobody is mapping the full picture. That is what The Fold is for.

How We Evaluate Tacos

A great taco is a specific thing. It is not a great filling inside any wrapper. Every component matters, and they have to work together. Here is what we are looking at:

Tortilla quality — Is it house-made or shipped in? Does it have flavor on its own, or is it just a vehicle? Corn tortillas should smell like corn. Flour tortillas should have some chew and char.
The filling — Protein should be seasoned and cooked with intention. Al pastor should have caramelized edges. Carnitas should be tender without being mushy. Carne asada should taste like fire.
Salsa and sauce — The right salsa can make a good taco great. We are looking for heat with flavor, not heat for its own sake.
Value — Tacos are democratic food. A $6 taco had better be extraordinary. A $3 taco just needs to be good.
Authenticity vs. creativity — We are not scoring on a tradition scale. A Korean-fusion taco and a street-style taco can both be great. But whatever the intention, the execution needs to match the ambition.

We eat at least two tacos per visit. We go back at least once before publishing.

Current Contenders

Dos Hermanos Express

Our first entry is the al pastor taco at Dos Hermanos Express on Jackson Industrial Drive. House-made tortillas, serious meat, and a salsa verde that earns its place on the plate.

Read: The Fold: Dos Hermanos Express
Order: Al pastor taco (the one we keep coming back for)

MAIZ Mexican Cantina

Our second entry crosses into Ypsilanti for the baked avocado taco at MAIZ Mexican Cantina on East Cross Street. The carnitas ($3.75) are excellent, the elote is legit, and the hand-shaken margaritas are worth the trip on their own. But the baked avocado taco ($4.50) is the reason this place earned a spot on the list.

Read: The Fold: MAIZ Mexican Cantina
Order: Baked avocado taco (the one that put MAIZ on the board)

Chela's

Our third entry heads west on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road. Chela's brings birria tacos to The Fold: consomme-dipped tortillas, braised beef, and a verde salsa that regulars swear by. Birria is Friday and Saturday only. Plan accordingly.

Read: The Fold: Chela's
Order: Birria tacos (Friday and Saturday only — the reason to drive out there)

Tmaz Taqueria

Our fourth entry comes back to Ann Arbor proper. Tmaz Taqueria on Packard Street has the best al pastor in the series and it's open until 4 a.m. Tacos are $2.50 each when you buy two. The late-night taco gap in Ann Arbor is officially filled.

Read: The Fold: Tmaz Taqueria
Order: Al pastor taco (the best in the series, and at 2 a.m. if you need it)

Taqueria El Rey

Our fifth entry crosses the county line into Southwest Detroit. Taqueria El Rey on Vernor Highway has the best al pastor and barbacoa one-two punch in the series. The $11.50 whole chicken dinner is the best deal any entry in The Fold has produced. The 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor is worth it.

Read: The Fold: Taqueria El Rey
Order: Barbacoa taco (the best in the series) and the al pastor (top three)

What Comes Next

The Fold will cover taquerias, food trucks, sit-down restaurants, and anywhere in the greater Ann Arbor area serving tacos worth talking about. The scope is wide on purpose. A strip-mall taco stand and a Vernor Highway taqueria are playing different games, but they both have to answer the same question: is this a taco you would drive across town for?

Send us your picks. We will put them on the list.

Last updated: April 2026. This page is revised as new entries in The Fold are published.