Birria Tacos
Blogs Food & Drinks

The Best Birria Tacos for First-Time Visitors to New Mexico

Birria tacos are the heart of Mexican cuisine that is taking the culinary world by storm. This delicious spicy and savory dish has become a must-try among taco lovers around the world, and certainly, a must-try in New Mexico. As a first-time visitor to New Mexico, learning about the top places to enjoy birria tacos will make your visit even more memorable. Here’s where we take you through the most appetizing birria taco places in New Mexico to highlight flavors, authenticity, and culinary creativity.

Birria Tacos

What Makes Birria Tacos Special?

Birria tacos are a type of taco composed of juicy, braised meat often goat or beef-filled in the thick consommé. Served in a crispy tortilla shell and served with consommé for dipping. A blend of spices, smokiness, and delicious juiciness so flavorful that you can almost taste them in your memories.

Why Try Birria Tacos in New Mexico?

New Mexico is a mix of Mexican and Southwestern flavors and offers a unique twist on the classic birria tacos. From hole-in-the-wall taco shops to upscale Mexican restaurants, New Mexico’s tacos deliver an authentic experience frozen in time and bursting with local character. Let’s see where the best birria tacos in New Mexico are.

1. El Cotorro Taqueria & Heladeria (Albuquerque)

This taqueria focused on modern Mexican cuisine is a Nob Hill favorite in Albuquerque and is best known for its consistent beef tacos. These fantastic crispy and soft tacos are loaded with fresh onions and cilantro, served with a full cup of consommé.

2. Los Dos Molinos (Albuquerque)

At Los Dos Molinos, the restaurant offers New Mexican dishes which offer rich beef birria tacos cooked low and slow; this mix of juicy cuts is cooked in flavorful broth. Locals and visitors from out of state who come here to seek authentic, tasty New Mexican food are also more than welcome.

3. Tia Sophia’s (Santa Fe)

Tender beef in homemade tortillas is covered with consommé sourced from local vendors for Tia Sophia’s birria tacos. The New Mexican touch of unique local chiles elevates the comforting classic into a taco that dips back into tradition with every bite, just like those rich bowls of birria.

4. Birrieria Y Tacos Alex Tijuana Style (Rio Rancho)

For traditional birria, head over to Birrieria Y Tacos Alex. They serve authentic Tijuana-style birria tacos which consist of beef birria that has been seasoned with several spices and is accompanied with consommé. What makes this place different from the rest is its focus on quality and real taste that brings the essence of every foodie’s favorite place in Tijuana straight to New Mexico.

5. El Chile Toreado (Santa Fe)

In Santa Fe, the El Chile Toreado food truck serves up in-your-face flavors with its tasty birria tacos filled to the bursting point of melting cheese and plenty of beef tucked amongst onions, cilantro, and radish. Ideal for street food fanatics


Also Read: Best Milkshakes for a Sunset Beach Picnic in South Carolina


Maximizing Your Birria Taco Experience

If you are planning to devour birria tacos in New Mexico, it is advisable to observe the following tips:

  • Dip them in Consommé: Birria tacos are pretty flavorful on their own, but giving it a dip in the consommé makes it quite delectable and adds flavor to every bite of the taco.
  • Use Caution: New Mexico is known for chiles, but tacos can already be pretty spicy. Begin with mild salsa, and slowly build up for some heat.
  • Pair with Local Beverages: While still enjoying the birria tacos you can take the opportunity to sample local drinks preferably, horchata, which is a traditional rice milk flavored with cinnamon, or Mexican cola to balance the richness.
  • Experiment with Lime: A splash of lime or fresh lime squeezed on the taco, adds a pop of tanginess to the flavor of the birria tacos while cutting the flavor of the meat and the broth.

Spotting Authentic Birria Tacos

Birria Tacos

The cuisine of New Mexico is characterized by how its hearty components and distinct strands come together to produce distinctive populations; it is also said to be true to its roots. So that you do not miss out on the real birria tacos, make sure to look for these details:

  • Slow-Cooked Meat: Real birria meat must have intense and complex flavors that are developed over long periods of cooking. The meat should be rich and tender while having a balanced flavor of chiles and spices.
  • Rich Consommé: You want this consommé to be dark and full of flavors whilst the oily surface of the consommé looks appealing. The consommé must be flavorful, not very spicy but pungent enough to go well with the birria meat.
  • Crisp Tortillas: Tacos should be made of slightly oily but crisp tortillas cooked over a grill or fried with a thin layer of broth on top which enhances both the color and flavor.
  • Fresh Garnishes: True tacos are always served with fresh onions, cilantro, lime, and sometimes radishes to add more flavor without overwhelming the dish itself.

Hopefully, with these tips in mind, you can identify a true birria taco when headed out on your New Mexico journey.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*