Food & Drink

The best tacos in NC can be found in Raleigh, says Yelp. Here’s where

The North Raleigh restaurant 13 Tacos & Taps serves North Carolina’s most popular tacos, according to Yelp.
The North Raleigh restaurant 13 Tacos & Taps serves North Carolina’s most popular tacos, according to Yelp. jleonard@newsobserver.com

The tacos of a North Raleigh restaurant have been named the best in North Carolina, according to a new report.

In a survey of the best taco shops in every state, Yelp found North Carolina’s top spot in Raleigh.

The tortilla-centric gastropub 13 Tacos & Taps was the best reviewed taco restaurant in North Carolina, according to the online review site Yelp. To create the rankings, Yelp analyzed the average rating for restaurants and the number of reviews.

13 Tacos & Taps owner/chef David Peraza-Arce makes a salad in the North Raleigh restaurant on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
13 Tacos & Taps owner/chef David Peraza-Arce makes a salad in the North Raleigh restaurant on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Juli Leonard jleonard@newsobserver.com

For the brick -and-mortar version of their popular food truck, married couple David and Marilyn Peraza-Arce combined the Triangle’s love for tacos and craft beer. They launched their truck 13th Taco in 2016 and the restaurant 13 Tacos & Taps three years later.

On Yelp, 13 Tacos & Taps has more than 306 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 stars.

The shrimp & grits taco at 13 Tacos & Taps in North Raleigh is made up of Gulf shrimp with a chorizo and chili pepper sauce, stone-ground NC grits, Oaxaca cheese and green onions wrapped in a corn tortilla.
The shrimp & grits taco at 13 Tacos & Taps in North Raleigh is made up of Gulf shrimp with a chorizo and chili pepper sauce, stone-ground NC grits, Oaxaca cheese and green onions wrapped in a corn tortilla. Juli Leonard jleonard@newsobserver.com

Greg Cox, former dining critic for The News & Observer, reviewed 13 Tacos & Taps in 2019, awarding the restaurant three and a half stars.

The restaurant, located in the Falls River Town Center off Durant Road, is popular for its style of creative taco fusion, taking its name from the 12 tacos always on its menu, plus a 13th spot reserved for specials. Some of the dishes include shrimp and grits tacos, chicken and waffles, filet mignon and peppers and the trendy birria.

The chicken & waffles taco at 13 Tacos & Taps in North Raleigh is made up of double dipped chicken, smoky maple syrup, pico de gallo and queso fresco atop a waffle and flour tortilla.
The chicken & waffles taco at 13 Tacos & Taps in North Raleigh is made up of double dipped chicken, smoky maple syrup, pico de gallo and queso fresco atop a waffle and flour tortilla. Juli Leonard jleonard@newsobserver.com

13 Tacos & Taps

10511 Shadowlawn Dr., Raleigh.

919-900-7023

13tacosandtaps.com

The North Raleigh restaurant 13 Tacos & Taps serves North Carolina’s most popular tacos, according to Yelp.
The North Raleigh restaurant 13 Tacos & Taps serves North Carolina’s most popular tacos, according to Yelp. Juli Leonard jleonard@newsobserver.com
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Drew Jackson
The News & Observer
Drew Jackson writes about restaurants and dining for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun, covering the food scene in the Triangle and North Carolina.
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