America’s Taco Capital Isn’t Where You Think

Quick: Name a U.S. city with an incredible taco scene. Chances are you landed on somewhere like Los Angeles or San Antonio, famous for raising the humble taco stop to destination-worthy status, but it’s unlikely you thought of Kansas City, Kansas. Unless you live there, in which case this is a no-brainer for you, you probably didn’t realize that KCK is the true taco capital of the United States. Home to more than 50 taco spots, many of them family businesses, the “Heart of America” is a diverse city with no ethnic majority and a population that is more than 25% Latino- or Hispanic-identifying, most of which can be traced to Mexican origin. Unlike other U.S. cities, Kansas City’s Mexican population comes from nearly all of Mexico’s cultural regions, which means KCK doesn’t specialize in carnitas, mole or sopes, but is home to masters of all Mexican dishes. If you can find it in Mexico, there’s a family in Kansas City serving it today. With dozens of taquerias, restaurants and markets to choose from in one small city, it could be overwhelming to tackle this taco wonderland without a little direction, so here’s your quick-start guide on where to begin in Kansas City, Kansas, America’s true taco capital.

The Taco Trail

The first step in devouring the taco scene here is register with the KCK Taco Trail. Fortunately, the city has done most of the initial intel for you, identifying more than 50 can’t-miss taco vendors and dropping them into a single site you can use to track your progress and, most notably, locate all the tacos near you on a map. It’s not an app, so no download needed, but you can bookmark the page on your phone and it functions the same, completely personalized to your individual use. If tacos alone aren’t enough incentive to keep you going, push for the prizes. At various levels of check-ins, you’ll become eligible for free gifts like taco decals, jars of salsa and tshirts. If you hit them all, you’ll get a championship flag and a permanent place on the Wall of Fame. (Note: Prizes are available only through October 31, 2021, but the trail continues indefinitely so you’ll always be able to access the site’s convenient features.)

Markets

The taco trail is a treat for food lovers of all fan levels, but serious foodies will find the most excitement at Kansas City’s market-restaurant combos, always featuring plenty of authentic ingredients for take-home shopping and often including fresh, colorful produce and meat and fish counters. At shops like Carnicería y Tortilleria San Antonio, you’ll even find a bakery selling stacks of its fresh tortillas for your perfect taco Tuesday at home, but don’t forget to sit down and enjoy a quick meal from the lengthy menu before heading out. Here, you’ll eat at tables in the center of the shop, but other market restaurants like Supermart El Torito separate their restaurants and offer entry either from the street or from within the market. This one has table service, but you can also order plates to-go from the counter.

Family Recipes

Railroad work brought many Mexican families to Kansas City in the early 20^th century, so many have now been in KCK for generations, but they haven’t lost their family recipes. Some of the most unmissable stops on the Taco Trail are owned and operated by these families, who sometimes specialize in a single perfect recipe. At El Pollo Rey, chicken is king (as the name would suggest to anyone with even a loose grasp of Spanish), and the entire menu consists of whole chicken or half chicken, both with tortillas, sides of rice and beans, and toppings like salsa, red onions and lime to construct your own tacos. Okay, you can also get buffalo wings with tortillas, but that’s where the options stop. Chickens are charred throughout the day with a simple family recipe, but once they’re gone, they’re gone, so call ahead if you’re thinking of popping in close to closing time, and expect a line if you’re stopping by during lunch. It’s worth the wait.

Crowd Pleasers

When you’re dining with a group, especially a family with kids, you may want to steer more toward a traditional-style restaurant with a large menu, like El Toro Loco. The endless menu here caters to all tastes and familiarity levels, so there’s no need to worry about what Unadventurous Grandma or the Fussy Little One will eat, and the ambiance is similar to any classic restaurant, but with much more vibrant flair. (Pro Tip: There’s a bar hour with a daily happy hour for sampling the margarita menu, too.) If you need to please a variety of palates but aren’t looking for sit-down service, try a spot like La Fuente, where you’ll find solid street food sold at a fast-food-style counter with an attached dining room. Here you can score familiar tacos, burritos, quesadillas and snacks with customizable ingredients. Don’t forget a horchata to drink and an order of churros for dessert!

Sauce, Sauce, Sauce

While not on the Taco Trail, Spicin Foods is a local manufacturer of sauces and salsas with an international reach, creating more than 1,800 different small-batch bottles for restaurants and retailers in more than 24 countries, including plenty of brands that you may have in your home (though they can’t always tell you, which!). While in town, stop by for a tour of the facility, ask about its test kitchen and recipe lab, and sample some of the goods in the dangerously delicious shop. If you discover any new favorites, pick up a few bottles to take home or, if you just can’t choose, snag a mystery bag of recently developed formulas for crazy low prices and let fate decide. This is your chance to bring some of Kansas City’s taco heritage home with you, so don’t miss it.