La Superior is a supermarket, carnicería (butcher shop), Mexican bakery, and, tucked into the far corner, a taqueria. Fillings include chorizo, chicken tinga, suadero (braised beef brisket), and pork carnitas. The pork al pastor tacos are a true star here, and for a slight upcharge a braised lamb taco is also available. All tacos are served street-style with onions, lime wedges, sauces, and a blistered jalapeno.

Consistently one of the most highly-rated taquerias in Durham is Super Taqueria. The menu is filled with popular options like suadero, pollo asado, and chicken tinga, as well as cabeza, lengua, and tripe. The uber-popular carnitas are a particular standout. Like many other taquerias the fillings can also be enjoyed as burritos, quesadillas, and more, and the chile relleno has garnered many a social media mention.

Located on the side corner of the carniceria of the same name, Don Becerra Taqueria (aka Taqueria La Becerrita), offers a menu similar to its other North Roxboro Street neighbors, with a few notable exceptions. The nopales (a type of cactus) tacos come in a spicy and wonderfully tangy green sauce and the chicharron tacos highlight perfectly tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork skin.

This women-led taco truck brings southern Mexican cuisine to Durham’s DIY district. An extensive menu of tacos features options like shrimp, fish, al pastor, and campechanos (a mix of beef, chicharron, and sausage). Unlike some of Durham’s other popular taco joints, Los Canarios also has some vegetarian options, like the tacos vegetales or the tacos champiñónes, the later of which is stuffed with griddled mushrooms in a creamy sauce.

Located in the Durham Food Hall, Ex-Voto is a collaboration between Marshall Davis and Angela Salamanca (of Raleigh’s Centro and Gallo Pelón). Their signature dish is a take on the Taco Bell Crunchwrap and is so popular that it’s practically all they sell now. Is a Crunchwrap a taco? Try the chicken, chorizo, short rib barbacoa, or rajas version and decide for yourself.

Located in East Durham, the Durham Green Flea Market has been a vital social and economic hub for the city’s Latino community for more than a decade. Shoppers can find all kinds of goods, from boots to jewelry to clothing to furniture, along with plenty of food. At any given time there are six or more different food vendors offering all manner of tacos, tortas, sopas, and more, making La Pulga (the Flea) the perfect spot for a taco crawl followed by some shopping. Look for al pastor, carnitas, birria, and a myriad of other taco options at any of the rotating or permanent vendors.

“Look for the giant cow” is how many locals will explain how to find La Vaquita. This counter-service taco stand in the Tuscaloosa-Lakewood neighborhood is consistently one of the highest-rated spots in Durham. It has all the taco basics — carnitas, lengua, al pastor, asado, pollo, and more. The Tacos Dorados are four corn tortillas filled with chicken and mayonnaise then deep fried and served with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, crema, rice, and beans.

Nuvotaco bills itself as a “modern Mexican eatery,” and its taco offerings fit that bill. Meat options include rotisserie chicken, pork butt, garlic beef, crispy chicken livers, and duck. Seafood lovers can choose from shrimp (grilled or fried), fish of the day, or calamari. Vegetarians and vegans are well served with a grilled veggie taco or vegan chorizo taco, and virtually all tacos are gluten-free.

Mez offers a dressed-up version of classic Mexican street-style tacos. The steak tacos come with guacamole, a tomato-chipotle salsa, caramelized onions, and queso fresco. Mez’s beef barbacoa tacos are served “Philly style,” with a house made queso dip, plancha roasted peppers and onions, chipotle aioli, and cilantro. Vegan’s will appreciate the mushroom “carne” asado tacos, a nice play on a meatless offering that goes beyond just roasted veggies stuffed into a tortilla. These tacos come with marinated seared Portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, crispy-spicy-sweet brussels sprout leaves, pepitas, and chimichurri.