Quesabirria Tacos Near Me
There’s a reason quesabirria tacos took over social media feeds a few years ago and never left. A corn tortilla gets dipped in the red, chile spiked fat from a pot of birria, then crisped on a hot griddle with melted cheese and tender shredded beef. It comes out crunchy, gooey, and stained orange, with a cup of rich consomé on the side for dunking.
Today, a quick search for quesabirria tacos near me turns up food trucks, strip mall taquerias, and sit down restaurants across the country. But not every version is worth the drive. Some are greasy and bland, and some skimp on the meat or the consomé.
This guide helps you find the good ones. You’ll learn what quesabirria is, how to judge it, and where to find standout versions in major cities.
What Are Quesabirria Tacos?
Birria is a slow cooked stew from Jalisco, Mexico. It was traditionally made with goat, marinated in a sauce of dried chiles, garlic, and spices like cumin, cloves, and cinnamon, then cooked for hours until tender. Today, beef birria is very common, especially in the United States.
Quesabirria tacos combine three things:
- Birria meat: Shredded, slow cooked beef or goat
- Melted cheese: Usually Oaxaca or Monterey Jack
- Crispy tortillas: Dipped in the birria fat and griddled until crunchy
They’re served with consomé, the rich broth left from cooking the meat, often topped with onion and cilantro. You dip the taco into the consomé before each bite.
The style grew popular in Tijuana and spread north through Los Angeles taquerias and food trucks before going nationwide.
Quesabirria vs. Other Birria Dishes
Birria comes in many forms, and many menus offer several of them side by side.
| Dish | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Quesabirria tacos | Crispy, cheesy birria tacos with consomé |
| Birria tacos | Birria in tortillas, sometimes without cheese |
| Birria de chivo | Traditional goat birria, often served as a stew |
| Birria en consomé | A bowl of birria meat in broth |
| Mulitas | Two tortillas with meat and cheese sandwiched between |
| Birria ramen | Instant ramen noodles in birria consomé |
| Birria pizza | A pizza style dish with birria and cheese |
The Best Quesabirria Tacos Near Me: 12 Standout Spots
If you’re searching for the best quesabirria tacos near me in a major city, start here. These spots stood out based on what customers say about their quesabirria, birria tacos, and consomé. Hours and menus change, especially at food trucks, so check before you go.
Los Angeles
1. Birria El Abuelo (2017 Firestone Blvd, Florence) Customers praise its cheesy, flavorful quesabirria tacos and crispy tacos dorados de birria, with prices that stay reasonable.
2. Birrieria Familia Castro (6102 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood) A family owned spot where diners rave about the quesabirria, made with small corn tortillas folded into taco shape around richly flavored beef.
3. Tacos y Birria La Unica (2840 E Olympic Blvd, East LA, and 5871 Venice Blvd, Mid City) A popular birria stop with beef birria tacos with cheese and creative extras like birria nachos.
Chicago
4. QuesaBirria Jalisco (1314 W 18th St, Pilsen) A Pilsen favorite where the shells come out crisp and orange from the consomé, with more of that rich broth served on the side.
5. Birrieria Zaragoza (4800 N Broadway, Uptown) Known for homemade everything, from juicy meat to freshly pressed corn tortillas and a savory, rich broth.
Houston
6. Space City Tacos (415 Milam St, Downtown) Customers love the quesabirria tacos with rice and frijoles a la charra.
7. Birria Los Primos (2008 S Wayside Dr and 1010 Prairie St) Diners call the quesabirria filling and delicious, with a very flavorful consomé.
New York City
8. Birria-Landia (Lower East Side cart and 491 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn) Many New Yorkers call it the best birria in the city. Get the consomé for dipping, and try the mulitas if you love cheese.
9. Birria LES (127 Rivington St, Lower East Side) Customers describe the birria tacos as perfectly seasoned and so juicy they don’t even need the consomé.
San Diego
10. Ed Fernandez Restaurant Birrieria (2265 Flower Ave, Otay Mesa West) With thousands of glowing reviews, diners call these some of the best birria tacos they’ve ever had, with tender meat and crisp edged tortillas.
Phoenix
11. Tacos Los Vales (310 S 4th St, Downtown) Customers rave about the soft beef in the quesabirria tacos and say not to skip the consomé.
12. Los Kikis Birrieria y Taqueria (3201 E Oak St) Diners say the quesabirria tacos aren’t greasy and the consomé is full of flavor.
Quick Comparison
| Spot | City | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| Birria El Abuelo | Los Angeles | Cheesy quesatacos, fair prices |
| Birrieria Familia Castro | North Hollywood | Family owned, rich flavor |
| Tacos y Birria La Unica | Los Angeles | Birria tacos and nachos |
| QuesaBirria Jalisco | Chicago | Crisp orange shells |
| Birrieria Zaragoza | Chicago | Homemade tortillas |
| Space City Tacos | Houston | Quesabirria with charro beans |
| Birria Los Primos | Houston | Flavorful consomé |
| Birria-Landia | New York | Cult favorite, mulitas |
| Birria LES | New York | Juicy, well seasoned tacos |
| Ed Fernandez Birrieria | San Diego | Huge local following |
| Tacos Los Vales | Phoenix | Tender beef, great consomé |
| Los Kikis | Phoenix | Not greasy, rich broth |
How to Spot Great Quesabirria Tacos
Once your quesabirria tacos near me search lands you at a taqueria, here’s what to look for:
- Crispy edges. The tortilla should be crunchy outside, not soggy.
- Real orange color. That deep red orange comes from dipping the tortilla in birria fat.
- Generous meat. The filling should be juicy and plentiful.
- Melted, stretchy cheese. Oaxaca cheese gives the best pull.
- Rich consomé. The broth should taste deeply savory with chile and spice, not watery.
- Fresh toppings. Diced onion, cilantro, lime, and salsa brighten each bite.
- Not too greasy. Some fat is normal, but tacos shouldn’t drip oil everywhere.
How to Eat Quesabirria Like a Pro
Once your quesabirria tacos near me search pays off, here’s how to enjoy them:
- Add onion and cilantro to the consomé.
- Squeeze lime into the broth for brightness.
- Dip each taco into the consomé before every bite.
- Add salsa to taste, but try it plain first.
- Sip the consomé once the tacos are gone. It’s too good to waste.
Search Tips for Better Results
If you’re looking for the best quesabirria tacos near me in your own city, try these tips:
- Search several terms. Try “birria tacos,” “birrieria,” “quesatacos,” and “tacos de birria.”
- Look for food trucks. Some of the best birria comes from trucks and pop ups.
- Check weekend hours. Many birrierias are busiest, and sometimes only open, on weekends.
- Read recent reviews. Look for mentions of consomé, crispy tortillas, and generous meat.
- Follow local food accounts. Social media often spots new birria spots first.
Searching for quesabirria tacos near me with terms like “birrieria” often turns up smaller, family run spots that don’t use the word quesabirria on their signs.
Making Quesabirria at Home
If your quesabirria tacos near me search doesn’t turn up anything close, homemade is a fun weekend project:
- Make the chile sauce. Toast and soak guajillo and ancho chiles, then blend with garlic, onion, tomato, vinegar, and spices.
- Marinate and cook the meat. Use beef chuck, short ribs, or goat. Cover with the sauce and broth, then simmer for 3 to 4 hours, or use a slow cooker or pressure cooker.
- Shred the meat and skim the red fat from the top of the broth.
- Dip the tortillas in the fat, then cook them on a hot griddle.
- Add cheese and meat, fold, and cook until crispy on both sides.
- Serve with consomé topped with onion and cilantro.
More Taco Inspiration
If you’re on a taco kick, check out our guide to the Best Tacos in Los Angeles, the city that helped make birria tacos famous. And if you love fast food twists, read about the limited edition Taco Bell Baja Blast Pie.
Final Thoughts
Quesabirria tacos are rich, crunchy, cheesy, and best enjoyed with a cup of steaming consomé. From Birria-Landia in New York to Ed Fernandez in San Diego, there are standout spots all over the country. The next time you search for the best quesabirria tacos near me, look for crispy orange tortillas, generous meat, and a deeply flavored broth, and don’t forget to dip.
Key Takeaways
- Quesabirria tacos are crispy, cheesy tacos filled with slow cooked birria and served with consomé for dipping.
- Birria comes from Jalisco, Mexico, and the quesabirria style became popular through Tijuana and Los Angeles before spreading nationwide.
- Standout spots include Birria El Abuelo and Birrieria Familia Castro in LA, QuesaBirria Jalisco in Chicago, Space City Tacos in Houston, Birria-Landia in New York, Ed Fernandez in San Diego, and Tacos Los Vales in Phoenix.
- Great quesabirria has crispy orange tortillas, generous juicy meat, melted cheese, and a rich consomé.
- Dip each taco in the consomé, add onion, cilantro, and lime, and sip the broth at the end.
- Search for “birrieria,” “birria tacos,” and “quesatacos,” and check food trucks and weekend hours.
- You can make quesabirria at home by slow cooking beef or goat in chile sauce and griddling tortillas in the fat.
