What's In Store?
This walking taco tour takes you through East Austin’s tastiest taquerías, from Michelin-approved trucks to long-loved neighborhood faves. Along the way, you’ll savor everything from mole-drenched tacos and juicy barbacoa to smoky birria consume, creamy horchata, and garden-grown garnishes that bring the flavor full circle.
But this isn’t just about what’s on the plate. You’ll stroll past iconic murals, explore a vibrant community garden, and hear the stories behind each taco stop… because every tortilla has a story to tell.
Taco ’bout a perfect day in Austin. Come hungry, wear stretchy pants, and let’s walk, talk, and taste our way through Austin’s most beloved food-following, one unforgettable taco at a time.
Posted on Road15416049554Verified A perfect way to spend a Saturday! Couldn‘t recommend this tour enough! Codi was an incredible tour guide and all the stops were top notch. As an Austin resident, it was a great way to try some of our top spots in East Austin without dealing with the lines. Or it’s a perfect experience for family and out of town visitors! Don’t let the price discourage you, fully worth it. I will be raving about this for months!Posted on GoPlaces642739Verified Excellent tour and delicious food! Highly recommend taking the Locals Know Barbecue tour! The guide is wonderful and the food is amazing. Definitely a five star experience!Posted on mayleenakalima17Verified Awesome Food Tour!! We had a fun experience doing this tour! Our guide, Rachel, was the best and took us to some tasty BBQ spots! We will be doing this tour again in the future!!Posted on Brandy YVerified Must do, Top BBQ Food tour! Must do, Top BBQ Food tour! Codi was our guide and she did an amazing job! She works for the magazine and is super knowledgeable, professional and down to earth. This tour costs more than others, but that’s for a good reason! Other tours didn’t offer the best stops or the portion sizes that this one does. Hands down this worth it! I shared pictures of everything we ate, minus the delicious sour dough chocolate chip cookie at the end! Codi had to go boxes ready for us and a cooler to keep them in. We ended up taking home more food than we could in person. Highly recommend.Posted on Stacey TVerified Great way to check out some gems! Whether you are locals or from out of town, this is a great way to hit some of the great food Austin has to offer without the lines. Thanks to our great host Codi!Posted on Jesse DVerified Locals Know! Such a fun experience! Codi was super informative and entertaining, the perfect host! At each stop, we got to try what the spot is known for and perhaps something that sets them apart. It was a great experience and worth every penny saving you from waiting in line at all these amazing stops!Posted on Alex AVerified Awesome Tour Awesome tour of many of the best Barbecue spots in Austin, Rachel and Cody did a fantastic job! Highest recommendation.Posted on Barbara GVerified Great Austin food experience for visitors and locals I went on this tour on a recent Saturday and had such a great time! I live in the Austin area, and it was very fun to play tourist at home. Austin EastSide Magazine organized a great sampling of varied BBQ from East Side BBQ food trucks and restaurants. Of course, we did the obligatory sampling of the Holy Trinity of BBQ – brisket, ribs, and sausage. What was especially interesting was tasting other BBQ styles, including pastrami (yes, pastrami – it’s brisket), Egyptian lamb chops, and Louisiana pulled duck. Such a great variety, and the right amount of food. It was wonderful to have Codi as a tour guide and driver familiar with the places we visited, as well as skip-the-line access. This tour is a wonderful way to enjoy different styles and influences on Texas BBQ, whether you’re a visitor or a local, and I highly recommend it!!Posted on Scenic67716234241Verified Great tour The tour was a great experience, well planned, and definitely left full and happy. Living here, we don’t actually eat barbecue much, so it’s a great way to try some of the best places without waiting in any lines.Posted on Cruiser20586540862Verified The only way to hit 4 spots in one day! Whether you're visiting or a local, this is THE way to do Austin BBQ. Skip the lines and book the tour. Highly recommended!
✓ Tour Times: Fri. & Sat., 1:30pm
✓ Location: Central East Austin
✓ Tour Length: ~2.5 hrs (~1 mile)
✓ Guests: 3-14 tour-goers
✓ Stops: 4 Nationally Recognized Taquerias & 3 Murals
✓ Includes: Local Food & Culture, Restaurant Gratuities, & NA Drinks
✓ Optional Drink Package: $35
✓ Corp & Private Tours: Available Mondays – Sundays (email for details)
Where Are We Headed?
Stop 1:
Don’t let Austin’s humble food truck scene fool you. This taco truck has made Bon Appétit’s “Best Tacos in the Country” list and continues to be a local legend. This East Austin staple slings scratch-made tortillas stuffed with bold, soulful flavors like their signature mole taco (complex, rich, and a little bit magic) and the wildly popular shrimp taco with creamy chipotle sauce. With lines that start early and flavors that linger long after, this stop is proof that sometimes abuelita really does know best.
Stop 2:
Famed as a Michelin Guide Recommended, La Santa Barbacha is holy ground for barbacoa lovers. Chef Ana Torrealba slow-cooks her beef to juicy perfection and pairs it with hand-pressed colorful tortillas, fresh cilantro, and house salsas that hit all the right notes. And the pineapple mint agua fresca… it’s the chill to your chile. This isn’t just a taco truck, it’s a spiritual experience you did not know you needed.
Stop 3:
A neighborhood favorite for nearly two decades, Eater Austin calls this tacquera one of the city’s “Essential Taco Joints.” Known for its vibrant patio and laid-back vibes, this stop brings us signature al pastor tacos with charred pineapple and salsas that deserve their own trophy case.
Stop 4 & 5:
We’ll slow things down with a stroll through Este’s garden where fragrant herbs and edible flowers are harvested daily for their coastal Mexican menu. Named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, Este is where the sea meets the soil in East Austin. While we breathe in the scent of epazote and mint, we’ll also stop for pics at a few of the most iconic murals nearby—color, culture, and fresh food all in one short stint.
Stop 6:
Featured in Texas Monthly and beloved by locals for its modern Tex-Mex, this cantina delivers the goods with crispy-queso birria tacos dunked in smoky consomé and tortillas that soak it all in. Add in their roasted salsa and a killer patio, and you’ve got yourself a birria baptism. This place walks the line between comfort and culinary craft so well.
Bonus: The chips and roasted salsa are practically a love language, and we’re fluent.
And for dessert…
Just when you think you’re stuffed, we’ll surprise you with one last sweet bite—a crispy, cinnamon-dusted treat that ends the tour on a high. (No spoilers, but let’s just say churros might be involved in the making of this dessert but they’re not how it ends.)
Savor Rich History & Bask in Backstories
This isn’t just a taco tour—it’s a stroll through the sabor and soul of East Austin. As you crunch, dip, and sip your way through each stop, you’ll also take in the vibrant culture, deep-rooted history, and creative spirit that make this neighborhood unforgettable. From family-run taquerías to trailblazing chefs rewriting the taco canon, every bite has a backstory.
Along the way, you’ll pass murals that speak louder than words, gardens that nourish more than menus, and streets that have seen generations of flavor. Come hungry for tacos, leave full of Austin’s amore.
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