East Austin EASTside Austin Austin culinary tours Locals Know ATX Taco Tours

Austin Taco Tour • East Austin Food Tour • Locals Know ATX

Austin Taco Tour: Walk. Talk. Taste Like a Local.

A guided Austin taco tour through locally loved East Austin taquerias, colorful murals, community spaces and neighborhood stories—part food tour, part local Austin experience.

See the Tour

$85 starting price

2.5 hrs tour length

< 1 mile easy walking route

3–14 small group size

What’s In Store?

An East Austin food tour built around great tacos.

This walking taco tour takes you through East Austin’s tastiest taquerías, from Michelin-recognized trucks to long-loved neighborhood favorites.

Along the way, you’ll taste bold regional flavors while exploring the murals, community spaces and stories that make East Austin unforgettable.

4 taco stops 3 murals Local guide NA drinks included Full-meal tastings

Austin taco tour in East Austin with Locals Know ATX Food Tours

Locals Know ATX Taco Tour

Choose your date and reserve your spot.

Starting at $85

Why Locals Know ATX

No tourist traps. No wasted meals.

Great food, real local knowledge and no wasted stops.

Eat with locals

Visit places that have become part of the neighborhood, not a generic “best of” list.

Walk the Eastside

Murals, gardens and neighborhood stories connect the food stops into one Austin experience.

Leave full

Generous tastings are selected to add up to a satisfying meal for most guests.

Let’s Eat

Everything included in your Taco Tour.

Come hungry. We handle the route, restaurant timing and storytelling so you can focus on eating.

Tour Details

Friday + Saturday at 11:30 AM
Central East Austin
About 2.5 hours
About one mile of walking
3–14 guests
Private + corporate tours available Monday–Sunday

Food + Experience

Four nationally recognized taquerias
Three East Austin mural stops
Community garden + neighborhood stories
Restaurant gratuities included
Non-alcoholic drinks included
Optional $35 drink package

Where Are We Headed?

Six stops, a few iconic East Austin moments, and a whole lot of flavor.

Bold flavors from an East Austin taco-truck legend

Don’t let Austin's humble food truck scene fool you. This taco truck has made Bon Appétit’s “Best Tacos in the Country” list and continues to be a local legend. This East Austin staple slings scratch-made tortillas stuffed with bold, soulful flavors like their signature mole taco—complex, rich, and a little bit magic—and the wildly popular shrimp taco with creamy chipotle sauce. With lines that start early and flavors that linger long after, this stop is proof that sometimes abuelita really does know best.

Michelin Guide-recommended barbacoa

Famed as a Michelin Guide Recommended stop, La Santa Barbacha is holy ground for barbacoa lovers. Chef Ana Torrealba slow-cooks her beef to juicy perfection and pairs it with hand-pressed colorful tortillas, fresh cilantro, and house salsas that hit all the right notes. And the pineapple mint agua fresca... it’s the chill to your chile. This isn’t just a taco truck, it's a spiritual experience you did not know you needed.

Al pastor at a long-loved neighborhood favorite

A neighborhood favorite for nearly two decades, Eater Austin calls this taqueria one of the city’s “Essential Taco Joints.” Known for its vibrant patio and laid-back vibes, this stop brings us signature al pastor tacos with charred pineapple and salsas that deserve their own trophy case.

4–5

Este’s garden + iconic East Austin murals

We’ll slow things down with a stroll through Este’s garden where fragrant herbs and edible flowers are harvested daily for their coastal Mexican menu. Named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, Este is where the sea meets the soil in East Austin. While we breathe in the scent of epazote and mint, we’ll also stop for pics at a few of the most iconic murals nearby—color, culture, and fresh food all in one short stint.

Crispy queso-birria + smoky consomé

Featured in Texas Monthly and beloved by locals for its modern Tex-Mex, this cantina delivers the goods with crispy-queso birria tacos dunked in smoky consomé and tortillas that soak it all in. Add in their roasted salsa and a killer patio, and you’ve got yourself a birria baptism. This place walks the line between comfort and culinary craft so well.

Bonus: The chips and roasted salsa are practically a love language, and we’re fluent.

And for dessert...

Just when you think you're stuffed, we’ll surprise you with one last sweet bite—a crispy, cinnamon-dusted treat that ends the tour on a high. No spoilers, but let’s just say churros might be involved in the making of this dessert, but they're not how it ends.

Tacos, chips and guacamole on an Austin food tour in East Austin

Savor Rich History & Bask in Backstories

This isn’t just a taco tour—it’s a stroll through the sabor and soul of East Austin.

As you crunch, dip, and sip your way through each stop, you’ll also take in the vibrant culture, deep-rooted history, and creative spirit that make this neighborhood unforgettable. From family-run taquerías to trailblazing chefs rewriting the taco canon, every bite has a backstory.

Along the way, you’ll pass murals that speak louder than words, gardens that nourish more than menus, and streets that have seen generations of flavor. Come hungry for tacos, leave full of Austin’s amore.

Private, corporate + group Taco Tours.

Great for team building, client entertainment, birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette weekends, conference groups and visiting family.

Request a Private Tour

Before You Book

Quick questions.

Where does the tour start?

In Central East Austin. Your booking confirmation includes the exact meeting point and arrival instructions.

How much walking is involved?

The tour is about one mile over roughly 2.5 hours, with frequent stops for food, art and stories.

How much food is included?

Come hungry. The tastings are selected to add up to a satisfying full meal for most guests.

Are drinks included?

Non-alcoholic drinks are included. An optional $35 drink package may be selected when available.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Some common needs may be accommodated with advance notice. Contact the tour team before booking for serious allergies or restrictive diets.

Do restaurants and dishes change?

Yes. Stops and menu items can shift with restaurant schedules, sellouts, special events and seasonal menus.

What if I’m late?

Please arrive 10 minutes early. The group follows restaurant timing and may not be able to delay the tour.

Do you offer private tours?

Yes. Private and corporate Taco Tours are available Monday through Sunday when scheduling allows.

Ready to taste East Austin?

Choose your date, come hungry and let a local show you where the good tacos are. Looking for more? Explore our Austin food tours, including our BBQ experiences.

    
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   M N 
 
 
 
 Verified Our favorite experience in town! BOOK THIS TOUR! Stop thinking about it and just do it. We ate from 5.. count that FIVE BBQ joints- each with something different that was each so yummy. Almost all the places included interesting and on theme sides. My husband couldn't stop raving about this tour. Our guide Codi was so friendly and had lots to history and inside stories to share about each of the places. I would do this again if we were in town! Mums- pastrami sandwich KG- the most amazing smoked lamb chop La BBQ- chipotle sausage, brisket Rollin Smoke- Carnitas taco Micklethwaith- pork rib
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   gqubed 
 
 
 
 Verified The Best Texas BBQ Experience The bbq is top notch, *so* delish! The true stories about how the top bbq pitmasters made it to where they are (the top of the Texas food chain) are rooted in historical and cultural significance. Our guide, Codi, shared her personal bbq journey and that of the entire Central Texas region. It’s the *best* way to experience Texas BBQ!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Explore22903655159 
 
 
 
 Verified Must do!!! This was such an awesome experience and so worth it!!! Codi and Glen were the best tour guides, so fun and sweet and really took the tour to the next level with their warm hospitality! They were very knowledgeable on the background of each location and had tons of interesting insight into each chef/restaurant and we really enjoyed getting to know them. You can tell they love what they do and it made our tour so special. Each meal was very unique, so we were never bored and it was the best way to try 5 incredible spots without having to wait in the very long lines that we would have otherwise have to wait in. This tour is perfect for both locals and visitors and has something for everyone! Very kid friendly too, as we had a toddler with us and they were so sweet to her. This was the perfect way to spend Father’s Day, we’ll definitely be recommending this tour to everyone!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Jocelyn W 
 
 
 
 Verified Great day of BBQ! Wonderful experience! We got to try 5 different BBQ joints, most of which are Michelin rated. We had a great day and our guide was super knowledgeable about all aspects of barbecue food and culture in Texas. Skipping the lines was great and we tasted so many things, would definitely do again if we are in Austin again.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Kenneth D 
 
 
 
 Verified Great BBQ Tour! Absolutely great barbecue tour! We came from out of state on a business trip and decided to try the Locals Know Barbecue Tour. Codi is awesome. She knows the local food and barbecue scene inside and out and is great to have as a tour guide. She also provides some real insights into the histories and of each place you visit. Well worth the price without a doubt. Highly recommend booking a trip.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Passport07782937032 
 
 
 
 Verified Codi is the best! Our gal Codi is the best!!!! She did a wonderful job and was insightful, knowledgeable, and a ton of fun! Had a lot of laughs! Great host!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Michael H 
 
 
 
 Verified Great Tacos and local walk Tour was fun and the tacos were great! Loved the last stop the most and cool to see some of the local art throughout Austin.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Lisa O 
 
 
 
 Verified Tasty taco discoveries in E. Austin We had a great time on the Taco Tour! The guide took us to some places we hadn't tried, and all of the tacos were delicious and unique. Hard to pick my favorite spot or taco but loved the quesadilla/taco at Santa Barbacha, the shrimp taco from Granny's, the churro donuts at El Chile. And our guide, Rachel, was full of great information about each location & the history of some of the dishes. Glad there was some walking involved - great way to explore the neighborhood while getting some movement between dishes. Highly recommended to locals and visitors alike!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Adam B 
 
 
 
 Verified Great tour, worth the money We had a fantastic time on this tour with Codi! We had a great variety of BBQ and what each place had to offer, not just brisket and ribs. Also I loved skipping the line at famous places that had long lines. I would do this again.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   677staceym 
 
 
 
 Verified A special treat...meat! What a treat to experience amazing meats Texas style. It was a great variety from pastrami, lamb, duck and more. Cori was very knowledgeable and did a fantastic job of getting us around town even when the marathon had traffic snarled. Our group also got to meet a pit master as well.