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19 Bay Area Spots Where You Can Find Crispy, Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

Don’t forget the cup of consommé on the side

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It’s been well over a year now since the taco sensation known as quesabirria first landed in the Bay Area, and within the blink of an eye, it seemed like every taqueria or taco truck with equipped with a plancha and their mother’s birria recipe started serving the Tijuana-style tacos: tortillas dipped in red-tinted consommé and set to crisp on the flat-top, then covered with slow-cooked beef birria and shredded cheese — the whole thing folded in half and served with a tub of additional consommé for dipping or sipping. When done well, the tacos make for a luxurious bite — crispy, juicy, incredibly rich.

Despite the trend (and the deluge of informal pop-ups you’ll find on Instagram), it still takes a bit of hunting to track down a good version in the Bay. Here are 19 great taquerias and taco trucks to get you started, from wine country down to San Mateo, with a particularly high concentration of high-quality quesabirria in the East Bay.

As of publication time, some of these restaurants offer seated, outdoor dining. However, their inclusion should not be taken as endorsement for sit-down dining, as there are still safety concerns. Studies indicate that COVID-19 infection rates are lower for outside activities, but the level of risk involved with outdoor dining is contingent on restaurants and their patrons following strict social distancing, face covering, and other safety guidelines.

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Jalapeno Mexican Grill

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Arguably the most popular quesabirria purveyor in Sonoma County, this food truck also sells birria ramen and pizzadillas. Check Instagram for its current schedule, but the truck makes regular stops in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.

Cielito Lindo

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Perhaps the only spot where you can routinely snag quesabirria on the west side of the city, Cielito Lindo brings some much-needed regional variety to the neighborhood, serving pambazos and a wide variety of tortas in addition to its headlining quesabirria — a notably crisp and juicy version.

This new Hayes Valley pop-up, located inside the space formerly occupied by Barcino, mostly serves Mayan-Yucatecan — lots of achiote-marinated meats and bean-stuffed, tostada-like panuchos — but the quesabirria has been one of the most popular items from the jump, served, as all their tacos are, on handmade blue corn tortillas.

Tacos El Patron - SF

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Easily the most popular quesabirria spot in San Francisco proper, Tacos El Patrón didn’t open with the intention of being known primarily for its cheesy birria tacos. But the quesabirria craze hit the Bay Area just weeks after the Mission taqueria made its debut, and for a long time it was one of the only places in the city where enthusiasts could get their fix. The rest, as they say, is history. But it’s worth noting that the quesabirria here are especially large and filling, the rich consommé is included for free, and the restaurant’s other tacos — all served on handmade tortillas — are also well worth ordering. Diners in the far East Bay should check out the original Pleasant Hill location, which offers the same menu.

El Fuego

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One of the city’s buzziest new food trucks, El Fuego specializes in birria — both as a soft taco and in the crispy, cheesy quesabirria format. Other hard-to-find offerings include mulitas (with the meat encased between two tortillas, like a “sandwich”) and “keto”-style tacos, with crispy cheese taking the place of the tortilla. Check the truck’s Instagram page for its most up-to-date schedule, and walk up or order online.

Estilo Chilanga

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This family-run, Mexico City-focused pop-up has been one of the stars of Richmond’s quesabirria scene since 2019, attracting a big following for its cheesy tacos, consommé, and related items like birria-men (consommé with instant noodles). The quesabirria tacos here are a little more compact (and proportionately less expensive), and the consommé itself is some of the richest and most flavorful around — well worth drinking on its own. Head taquera Laura Rivera is also known for her fat, well-blistered gorditas and for making what is perhaps the Bay Area’s tastiest pambazo. 

Side view of Estilo Chilanga’s quesabirria Luke Tsai

El Garage

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A true pioneer of the East Bay’s thriving quesabirria scene, El Garage has finally settled into its own Richmond storefront, dishing out its wildly popular cheesy, red-tinged beef birria tacos Friday through Sunday. The biggest thing that sets El Garage’s version apart from the crowd: just how tender, flavorful, and juicy the birria itself is. Make sure you get a side of consommé for sipping or double- and triple-dipping, to complete the experience. Order in advance online for pickup, though the taqueria accepts walk-up orders as well if you’re willing to wait a bit for your food.

Chico's Taqueria

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Quesabirria is a relatively new offering for this taco catering business turned standalone restaurant, but it’s quickly become one of the go-to spots on the Peninsula for these Tijuana-style tacos — and it serves quesabirria-adjacent items too, like birria ramen and birria “pizza.” Call in to order; there’s also outdoor seating on the patio.

Tacos El Rulas

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The menu at this new Mexico City-inspired Berkeley taco truck is a mishmash of every current taco trend — mulitas, “pizza birria,” and handmade tortillas. It’s also jumped on the quesabirria freight train, serving a juicy version made with the family birria recipe.

View of the Tacos El Rulas food truck at night Luke Tsai

Taco Addiction

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One of the first taco trucks to bring quesabirria to wine country, Taco Addiction has been slinging the cheesy beef birria tacos since the beginning of the pandemic and also serves related items like birria ramen and birria “pizzadillas.” Check Instagram for the truck’s menu and its weekly schedule.

La Santa Torta

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As notable for its charitable work as it is for its delicious tacos, this was one of the first taco trucks to really popularize beef birria tacos in the Bay Area, before the term “quesabirria” even made it into the lexicon in these parts — at La Santa Torta they’ve always been promoted as “red tacos,” made with Jalisco-style beef birria. It’s a solid version, a little less wet than some of the others around town, so that side of consommé is essential. It was also one of the first trucks to offer birria ramen: meat and instant noodles served in a big cup of consommé. Check Instagram for the trucks’ daily schedule, but this Jack London location is fairly consistent — and soon, they’ll have a standalone restaurant in West Oakland too.

A paper plate with two quesabirria tacos Ls Santa Torta

Taco & Co.

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This new kiosk in the Durant outdoor food court brings mulitas, super tacos, handmade tortillas, and, yes, an appropriately meat, cheesy version of quesabirria. Come on Tuesdays when the birria tacos are marked down to just $2.50 apiece.

Aguachiles El Tamarindo

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In its early days, Aguachiles El Tamarindo was best known as a seafood specialist — Fruitvale’s go-to spot for fiery camarones a la diabla, fried fish tacos, smoked marlin, and gorgeous (and gargantuan) seafood towers. You can still all that, but the truck has also jumped on the quesabirria hype train, selling a respectably juicy, cheesy, and quite photogenic version.

La Grana Fish

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The wildly popular taco truck is now open at its new digs, outside the Aloha Club bar in the heart of the Fruitvale district. Its claim to fame was as one of the first spots in Oakland to offer quesabirria tacos, but also its menu packed with other crowdpleasers: seafood items like ceviches and aguachiles, loaded baked potatoes, and giant, quesadilla-like “pizza mulas,” which you can also get stuffed with birria if you like. The truck is currently open Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Call in, walk up, or get delivery via DoorDash. If you order food, the Aloha Club patio is also open for outdoor seating.

Quesabirria and michelada from La Grana Fish Karina

La Frontera Mexican Restaurant

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A relative newcomer in Oakland’s heavily Latino Fruitvale neighborhood, La Frontera opened just weeks before the start of shelter in place, in the former Taqueria Morelia/Talk of the Town spot. Here, quesabirria is treated as a verb as much as it is a noun, as the restaurant has a whole section of its menu dedicated to applying the quesabirria treatment — the melted cheese, the consommé, the crispy tortillas — to a range of proteins. So, yes, there’s quesabirria, but also “QuesaPollo,” “QuesaCamaron,” and even a “VeggieQuesa.” Call in or order online; there’s also outdoor seating available.

Taqueria El Mezcal

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The over-sized quesabirria at this East Bay mini-chain of taquerias is served more like a quesadilla or a mulita than the typical version: Instead of folding the taco in the typical manner, a second tortilla gets stacked, sandwich-like, on top of all of the meat and melted cheese. The birria is a weekend-only offering here, as it is at the taqueria’s other locations in Hayward and San Pablo.

Habibi’s Birria

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Maybe the newest contender in the East Bay quesabirria wars, this Hayward newcomer specializes in “MexiTerranean” food, which means you can order a gyro plate in addition to your extra-cheesy quesabirria and your birria ramen. It’s a takeout counter adjacent to a gas station convenience store, so don’t expect any frills.

Sol y Luna Cocina Mexicana

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This new taqueria from the proprietors of Ann’s Sunshine Cafe next door has quickly become a neighborhood favorite for its fried fish tacos, handmade tortillas, and super-sized quesabirria — a massive version, more quesadilla than taco, that’s served cut up into thick wedges.

Los Originales Tacos de Birria

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Better known by its nickname, “OG Tacos,” Los Originales is, indeed, one of the early innovators of the Bay Area quesabirria scene, selling them — at first as an unlicensed street cart — as early as the fall of 2018. Its version is notable for its extra-flavorful birria and its double layer of extra-crunchy La Finca tortillas, which helps the tacos maintain their structural integrity. This is a quesabirria taco that works especially well for consommé dipping. Check Instagram for the latest schedule, but Los Originales puts in regular appearances at the Epidemic Ales taproom in Concord (Tuesdays and Fridays) and at the Antioch flea market (on Saturdays). You can pre-order in advance.

Jalapeno Mexican Grill

Arguably the most popular quesabirria purveyor in Sonoma County, this food truck also sells birria ramen and pizzadillas. Check Instagram for its current schedule, but the truck makes regular stops in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.

Cielito Lindo

Perhaps the only spot where you can routinely snag quesabirria on the west side of the city, Cielito Lindo brings some much-needed regional variety to the neighborhood, serving pambazos and a wide variety of tortas in addition to its headlining quesabirria — a notably crisp and juicy version.

Akna

This new Hayes Valley pop-up, located inside the space formerly occupied by Barcino, mostly serves Mayan-Yucatecan — lots of achiote-marinated meats and bean-stuffed, tostada-like panuchos — but the quesabirria has been one of the most popular items from the jump, served, as all their tacos are, on handmade blue corn tortillas.

Tacos El Patron - SF

Easily the most popular quesabirria spot in San Francisco proper, Tacos El Patrón didn’t open with the intention of being known primarily for its cheesy birria tacos. But the quesabirria craze hit the Bay Area just weeks after the Mission taqueria made its debut, and for a long time it was one of the only places in the city where enthusiasts could get their fix. The rest, as they say, is history. But it’s worth noting that the quesabirria here are especially large and filling, the rich consommé is included for free, and the restaurant’s other tacos — all served on handmade tortillas — are also well worth ordering. Diners in the far East Bay should check out the original Pleasant Hill location, which offers the same menu.

El Fuego

One of the city’s buzziest new food trucks, El Fuego specializes in birria — both as a soft taco and in the crispy, cheesy quesabirria format. Other hard-to-find offerings include mulitas (with the meat encased between two tortillas, like a “sandwich”) and “keto”-style tacos, with crispy cheese taking the place of the tortilla. Check the truck’s Instagram page for its most up-to-date schedule, and walk up or order online.

Estilo Chilanga

This family-run, Mexico City-focused pop-up has been one of the stars of Richmond’s quesabirria scene since 2019, attracting a big following for its cheesy tacos, consommé, and related items like birria-men (consommé with instant noodles). The quesabirria tacos here are a little more compact (and proportionately less expensive), and the consommé itself is some of the richest and most flavorful around — well worth drinking on its own. Head taquera Laura Rivera is also known for her fat, well-blistered gorditas and for making what is perhaps the Bay Area’s tastiest pambazo. 

Side view of Estilo Chilanga’s quesabirria Luke Tsai

El Garage

A true pioneer of the East Bay’s thriving quesabirria scene, El Garage has finally settled into its own Richmond storefront, dishing out its wildly popular cheesy, red-tinged beef birria tacos Friday through Sunday. The biggest thing that sets El Garage’s version apart from the crowd: just how tender, flavorful, and juicy the birria itself is. Make sure you get a side of consommé for sipping or double- and triple-dipping, to complete the experience. Order in advance online for pickup, though the taqueria accepts walk-up orders as well if you’re willing to wait a bit for your food.

Chico's Taqueria

Quesabirria is a relatively new offering for this taco catering business turned standalone restaurant, but it’s quickly become one of the go-to spots on the Peninsula for these Tijuana-style tacos — and it serves quesabirria-adjacent items too, like birria ramen and birria “pizza.” Call in to order; there’s also outdoor seating on the patio.

Tacos El Rulas

The menu at this new Mexico City-inspired Berkeley taco truck is a mishmash of every current taco trend — mulitas, “pizza birria,” and handmade tortillas. It’s also jumped on the quesabirria freight train, serving a juicy version made with the family birria recipe.

View of the Tacos El Rulas food truck at night Luke Tsai

Taco Addiction

One of the first taco trucks to bring quesabirria to wine country, Taco Addiction has been slinging the cheesy beef birria tacos since the beginning of the pandemic and also serves related items like birria ramen and birria “pizzadillas.” Check Instagram for the truck’s menu and its weekly schedule.

La Santa Torta

As notable for its charitable work as it is for its delicious tacos, this was one of the first taco trucks to really popularize beef birria tacos in the Bay Area, before the term “quesabirria” even made it into the lexicon in these parts — at La Santa Torta they’ve always been promoted as “red tacos,” made with Jalisco-style beef birria. It’s a solid version, a little less wet than some of the others around town, so that side of consommé is essential. It was also one of the first trucks to offer birria ramen: meat and instant noodles served in a big cup of consommé. Check Instagram for the trucks’ daily schedule, but this Jack London location is fairly consistent — and soon, they’ll have a standalone restaurant in West Oakland too.

A paper plate with two quesabirria tacos Ls Santa Torta

Taco & Co.

This new kiosk in the Durant outdoor food court brings mulitas, super tacos, handmade tortillas, and, yes, an appropriately meat, cheesy version of quesabirria. Come on Tuesdays when the birria tacos are marked down to just $2.50 apiece.

Aguachiles El Tamarindo

In its early days, Aguachiles El Tamarindo was best known as a seafood specialist — Fruitvale’s go-to spot for fiery camarones a la diabla, fried fish tacos, smoked marlin, and gorgeous (and gargantuan) seafood towers. You can still all that, but the truck has also jumped on the quesabirria hype train, selling a respectably juicy, cheesy, and quite photogenic version.

La Grana Fish

The wildly popular taco truck is now open at its new digs, outside the Aloha Club bar in the heart of the Fruitvale district. Its claim to fame was as one of the first spots in Oakland to offer quesabirria tacos, but also its menu packed with other crowdpleasers: seafood items like ceviches and aguachiles, loaded baked potatoes, and giant, quesadilla-like “pizza mulas,” which you can also get stuffed with birria if you like. The truck is currently open Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Call in, walk up, or get delivery via DoorDash. If you order food, the Aloha Club patio is also open for outdoor seating.

Quesabirria and michelada from La Grana Fish Karina

La Frontera Mexican Restaurant

A relative newcomer in Oakland’s heavily Latino Fruitvale neighborhood, La Frontera opened just weeks before the start of shelter in place, in the former Taqueria Morelia/Talk of the Town spot. Here, quesabirria is treated as a verb as much as it is a noun, as the restaurant has a whole section of its menu dedicated to applying the quesabirria treatment — the melted cheese, the consommé, the crispy tortillas — to a range of proteins. So, yes, there’s quesabirria, but also “QuesaPollo,” “QuesaCamaron,” and even a “VeggieQuesa.” Call in or order online; there’s also outdoor seating available.

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Taqueria El Mezcal

The over-sized quesabirria at this East Bay mini-chain of taquerias is served more like a quesadilla or a mulita than the typical version: Instead of folding the taco in the typical manner, a second tortilla gets stacked, sandwich-like, on top of all of the meat and melted cheese. The birria is a weekend-only offering here, as it is at the taqueria’s other locations in Hayward and San Pablo.

Habibi’s Birria

Maybe the newest contender in the East Bay quesabirria wars, this Hayward newcomer specializes in “MexiTerranean” food, which means you can order a gyro plate in addition to your extra-cheesy quesabirria and your birria ramen. It’s a takeout counter adjacent to a gas station convenience store, so don’t expect any frills.

Sol y Luna Cocina Mexicana

This new taqueria from the proprietors of Ann’s Sunshine Cafe next door has quickly become a neighborhood favorite for its fried fish tacos, handmade tortillas, and super-sized quesabirria — a massive version, more quesadilla than taco, that’s served cut up into thick wedges.

Los Originales Tacos de Birria

Better known by its nickname, “OG Tacos,” Los Originales is, indeed, one of the early innovators of the Bay Area quesabirria scene, selling them — at first as an unlicensed street cart — as early as the fall of 2018. Its version is notable for its extra-flavorful birria and its double layer of extra-crunchy La Finca tortillas, which helps the tacos maintain their structural integrity. This is a quesabirria taco that works especially well for consommé dipping. Check Instagram for the latest schedule, but Los Originales puts in regular appearances at the Epidemic Ales taproom in Concord (Tuesdays and Fridays) and at the Antioch flea market (on Saturdays). You can pre-order in advance.

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