I may not be a 'local', but I've been in Southwest Florida for 20 years. I've been to so many taco spots. Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Naples, and everywhere really. I used to do a lot of radio station events and would quite often hit up a local taco place wherever I was. Now that I have a desk job, my taco runs are destination based. And since my office is in Estero, I couldn't be happier, because Estero has the best tacos in Southwest Florida.
Before I tell you about today's trip, here's why I make that statement. Yelp reviews and Google reviews. The place has a 4.9 rating on Yelp, and a 4.8 rating on Google reviews. Based on the number of reviews, and those ratings the taco spot I'm referring to is the highest rated in all of Southwest Florida.
The highest rated tacos in Southwest Florida can be found in San Carlos Park in a plaza near Ace Hardware.
SCP is actually Fort Myers, but I always felt it was more Estero. I remember when El Local was just a food truck. They were pretty amazing then, and the store is no different. I brought Sheila with me so we were able to sample more than just tacos.
El Local is a perfect spot for great food. The ingredients were fresh, and the waiter could not have been friendlier. The tacos all came with cilantro, onion, and queso fresco. I'm not sure what was all in that burrito, but it was amazing. I can see what El Local is so highly rated. I left a $10 tip on a $30 bill with the $50 Bob and Pat Carpenter gave me for Christmas. (Thanks!) I needed the other $10 to pick up a hasp at Ace Hardware next door.
But does El Local have the best tacos in Southwest Florida?
The reviews say yes, but there's another highly rated place just down the road in a gas station. It's called Tacos On The Road and it's inside the Marathon Gas Station on Corkscrew in Estero. I wrote about them last fall, when they were the highest rated tacos in Southwest Florida. Now they are second behind El Local. But it's close enough that they are 1 and 1A. It may change again tomorrow.
My take? I would pick Tacos On The Road for tacos, El Local for better overall experience. El Local also has $1.50 tacos on Thursdays from 4p-close, that should factor into your decision. And that's not all. Another tasty taco spot is on 41 just south of Corkscrew in a gas station next to Wendy's. It's Dos Amigos Authentic Mexican Grill.
Estero Has The Best Tacos In Southwest Florida
If you're in Southwest Florida and want some amazing street tacos. They're here in Estero and San Carlos Park.
4 Florida Restaurants Made The List Of Top 100 Taco Spots In America
Tacos are a favorite food for many and if you're looking for the best of the best, 4 Florida restaurants made the list of the top 100 taco spots in America.
Tacos are a food I eat at least once a week. Taco Tuesday is a very real celebration in my house. Plus, it makes dinner that night very easy. I have a few favorite taco spots in Fort Myers (TaKote & Tres Amigos) for when I want to eat them out, but my list of places continues to grow. Not only for me, but tacos are a beloved culinary masterpiece that have captured the hearts and taste buds of people around the world. Everyone has their favorite place to go and their best way to eat them. I think one of the reasons they're so popular is because they're so versatile. Whether you enjoy a soft or crispy tortilla, beef, chicken, pork or fresh vegetables. And of course there's a variety of toppings from creamy guacamole, salsa, cheese or the street taco route of onions and cilantro.
Yelp put together a list of Top 100 Taco Spots in America
While there aren't any restaurants here in Southwest Florida that made the list, there are some that aren't too far away. To put the list together of the list of the best taco spots in America, Yelp considered a few different things including the number and ratings of reviews. All businesses on the list also have a passing health score.
You can see the full list here, below are are where the restaurants in Florida rank. let's look at some top Florida taco spots.
8. Tacos Jalisco- Key Largo
Tacos Jalisco is a food truck located at 100470 Overseas Hwy that has been serving up what some say are the best tacos in the Florida Keys. The shrimp and seafood tacos seem to be the favorites.
52. Wild Sassa- Homosassa
Wild Sassa is located at 5380 S Boulevard Dr and is the first ever, food trailer on the Homosassa River in Old Homosassa. One yelper said "We had the shrimp tacos and the tuna tacos. Both were perfection."
69. Border Grill Fresh-Max
Border Grill is located at 5695-A Vineland Rd. They are a family-owned Mexican restaurant featuring traditional plates from their hometown of Mexico City. One reviewer said "We had fajitas, a burrito, and tacos... Everything was delicious and served piping hot."
97. Tres Amigos Grill- Winter Garden
Tres Amigos is located at 1025 S Dillard St serving up fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, flame-grilled to perfection. They're known for their signature stuffed tacos and street tacos and every order is personalized.
