The best tacos in metro Phoenix

October 19, 2024
by RJ Hamster

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Fri Oct 18 2024

Kara Edgerson | Manager of Digital Operations

Hey readers,

As this election season heats up, we’ve been committed to keeping you updated on Arizona politics. We’ve covered everything from the Kari Lake-Ruben Gallego debate to multiple visits from former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris as they try to capture swing voters in this presidential battleground state.

Now, I want to mix it up with something we all love: tacos.

This week, we spoke with Endia Fontanez, the food and dining reporter for The Arizona Republic, about our latest Top Taco contest and the winner may not come as a surprise to some of you.

Here’s what she had to say:

Top Taco 2024: Meet the chef making the best tacos in metro Phoenix, plus 2 runners up

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‘People love his tacos’

This is the second year you have helped lead our Top Taco efforts at the Republic. And we have a repeat winner: Estero Beach Tacos was crowned the Top Taco champ, with over 30% of the votes. You mentioned how Owner Jorge Picos told you that he was “shocked” about the results. Tell us more about his initial reaction when you contacted him? What does this win mean to him and does he plan to expand his business?

Estero Beach Tacos is a small food trailer that only pops up at farmers markets on weekends, due to Picos having a full-time corporate job during the week. So part of the initial shock for him was that people love his tacos enough to vote for him ahead of some of the more longstanding brick-and-mortar establishments. He told me that last year’s win was a major boost for his business, which may have helped contribute to the repeat win. Hopefully, this year’s win will bring him even more visibility.

‘Familiar faces and interpersonal relationships’ matter most

You also mentioned the runners up: Pelon’s Food Truck came in second place and PoNy’s Miches came in third. Can you walk our readers through what makes each winner different? And what does these results say about taco lovers in Phoenix?

Like Estero Beach Tacos, both Pelon’s Food Truck and PoNy’s Miches are not necessarily the “big names” in Phoenix. And in my opinion, that’s exactly why they won. PoNy’s Miches recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location, after operating as a food truck for several years. With such an abundance of options for tacos in Phoenix, people seek out familiar faces and interpersonal relationships rather than more upscale, “sit-down” establishments.

What’s next for Top Taco?

We can only expect that you have plans to continue this contest, correct? What can you tell us about what’s next for Top Taco 2025?

I’m super excited for Top Taco to become a regular contest at The Republic. Even though I cover food, there are still a ton of great restaurants in Phoenix that I don’t know about, and Top Taco has introduced me to some seriously great and underrated new taco destinations.

Meet the winners of Top Taco 2024

The people have spoken and the winner of Top Taco 2024 is ‘shocked’. Meet the man behind the grill, and the second and third place taco makers.

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The best tacos in metro Phoenix

The best tacos in metro Phoenix

Your Week with AZCentral

Kara Edgerson | Manager of Digital Operations

‘People love his tacos’

‘Familiar faces and interpersonal relationships’ matter most

What’s next for Top Taco?

Meet the winners of Top Taco 2024

Ruben, Kate Gallego’s divorce records unsealed. Here’s what is in them

Why more Arizona Democrats are switching parties than Republicans

Opinion: What to know about the 69 judges on the ballot

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The best tacos in metro Phoenix

The best tacos in metro Phoenix

Your Week with AZCentral

Kara Edgerson | Manager of Digital Operations

‘People love his tacos’

‘Familiar faces and interpersonal relationships’ matter most

What’s next for Top Taco?

Meet the winners of Top Taco 2024

Ruben, Kate Gallego’s divorce records unsealed. Here’s what is in them

Why more Arizona Democrats are switching parties than Republicans

Opinion: What to know about the 69 judges on the ballot

Opinion: Kamala Harris couldn’t get a word in on Fox News

Abortion doulas help women navigate pain, politics

Sign up for the news you want

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