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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