Tacovore - Eugene

Tacovore is arguably the best taqueria in the Northwest. You can call it trendy, gourmet, innovative, or fresh—whatever you prefer—but it truly is second to none! One reviewer even referred to it as the best Mexican/Latin taqueria in Eugene, Oregon. However, General Manager Amy has stated that they prefer to be recognized as a Pacific Northwest taqueria. After hearing numerous rave reviews about Tacovore as a must-visit spot in Eugene for Mexican cuisine, I prioritized it on my list, especially after learning that they smoke their own meats. With an on-site smokehouse and owner Steve Mertz's vision for this unique taqueria, Tacovore offers creative recipes and a vibrant atmosphere that makes dining there an experience in itself, not just a place to enjoy great food. The friendly and professional staff made my first visit memorable, ensuring I would be eager to return for this review. While I could delve into all the praises regarding the complex flavors and fresh ingredients, and attempt to evoke a mouthwatering desire in my readers, let me highlight the smoked carne asada taco and the mole chicken carnitas. These dishes alone would earn Tacovore the title of best taqueria in town—even if all their other ingredients weren't up to par with the smoked meats. But rest assured, everything served here is of the highest quality, making Tacovore potentially the best taqueria I've ever had the pleasure to visit and review. Yes, there may be a bit of a wait during peak hours, but it’s absolutely worth it.

My daughter and i stopped in right before the lunch rush. The place has great atmosphere and the staff is friendly and fun. I had a fish taco and a shrimp taco and they were incredible! The fish was cornmeal crusted and was delicious, the tortillas are handmade and fresh! The shrimp tacos were to die for with a great marinade on the shrimp and cooked to perfection! I will definitely be coming back!

I love this place $3-$4 a taco, ..50 cents off tacos and a dollar off beer during happy hour!? There's a nice variety from chicken, pork, ground beef, steak, or seafood! Daily specials. The pork tacos (carnitas or ones for specials) are SO good! Definitely all you want in a taco. The toppings are all super fresh and tasty too! The shells are delicious, both the soft shells and the hard, and I'm absolutely partial to soft! They have quite a few different sauces to tickle all levels of your Scoville scale fancy. Both red, green, and orange habenero if you dare. They have a few different sides but I enjoy filling up on about four tacos and one of their fine draft beers. The service is awesome, I just ate their by myself and they all treated me like a friend! If you like tacos, go eat here! ..if you love tacos.. what are you waiting for!?! Go here!

I've been eager to try Tacovore for some time now, but every time we visited, it was packed with long lines and little parking. We finally decided to go during a quieter Sunday afternoon, and we were able to get in and place our orders quickly. The food arrived fast, and it was excellent! I especially loved the salsa bar—my favorite is the pineapple jalapeño. What really made our experience special was the gluten-free friendly kitchen and menu, as our youngest child has Celiac disease and often struggles to find places to eat. He also enjoyed the food and had plenty of options to choose from. I can confidently say that we will be returning!

During our visit to Eugene for grad school exploration, we had just a few days to try out different restaurants in the area. We decided to check out this place based on a recommendation from our shuttle driver at the Inn at the 5th, and we found it so incredible that we ended up returning! The margaritas were fantastic, and the carnitas were my favorite dish, though I also really enjoyed the ceviche!