National Taco Day: Here's where Caller-Times staffers get their breakfast tacos
Every Oct. 4, food lovers get to celebrate one of the tastiest dishes of them all — tacos.
If you're not from South Texas, chances are the idea of eating a taco first thing in the morning for breakfast might seem jarring.
I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, so I know a good breakfast taco when I eat one.
When I was a child, my grandfather used to bring home barbacoa tacos every Sunday after church from the Santa Rosa Restaurant on South Staples Street. Sometimes, if I was lucky, he'd bring home some pumpkin empanadas too.
Then when I got my first car when I was 16, I'd swing by Taqueria La Tapatia on the corner of Kostoryz and Gollihar. Getting two tacos and an iced coffee was my daily routine throughout high school.
Now, at 31, my husband and I love getting tacos from our favorite breakfast spot.
But I know people can be very particular when it comes to food, especially breakfast tacos.
Do you like it greasy? Is the bacon in strips or broken in pieces to be mixed in? Are the tortillas fluffy? Is salsa extra? Where can I find good chorizo?
I asked my fellow staff members where they like to get their breakfast tacos so we could share recommendations. While a couple said they prefer breakfast burritos (they're on thin ice with me) and others said they don't care for breakfast tacos (they're dead to me), I was able to compile eight different spots for you to check out.
Acapulco Taqueria
1133 Airline Road
Located across from Ollie's Bargain Outlet on Airline Road, Acapulco Taqueria serves breakfast all day.
Planner Clay Carpenter said this Mexican restaurant is his go-to place for tasty breakfast tacos. "They're fresh, the tortillas are pretty good and they're pretty substantial," he said. "Plus, they're close to my house."
Website: acapulcoairline.com
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Clay's taco of choice: Egg, potato, bacon, bean and cheese
Casa Vieja Jalisco Mexican Restaurant & Bar
6202 Yorktown Blvd.
Breaking news reporter Ashlee Burns said she enjoys Casa Vieja on the city's Southside for her taco fix (or for carne guisada).
She loves the Mexican restaurant because it is "very clean and the tacos are pretty big."
Website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072365252606
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ashlee's taco of choice: Egg, potato and bean
El Potro Taqueria
1401 Rodd Field Road
For years, columnist and archivist Allison Ehrlich said she has been visiting El Potro on Rodd Field Road because the food is always delicious.
"It's never greasy and the bacon is always mixed in with the eggs," she said. "It's so good."
Website: elpotro.cc
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Allison's taco of choice: Egg and bacon
Nano's Taco Run
4722 Holly Road
Nano's has been a Corpus Christi staple for more than 30 years, and sports reporter Quinton Martinez said it's his favorite place to get breakfast tacos.
"They give you a lot of bacon and they're a good-size taco," he said.
Website: nanostacorun.com
Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
Quinton's taco of choice: Egg and bacon
Sabor Maya
202 Lang Road in Portland
In Portland is Sabor Maya, a Mexican restaurant Editor Mary Ann Cavazos Beckett said is "the taco place."
"They have the hottest salsa that will burn your taste buds off," she said. "They also have great lunch specials and their tortillas are always fluffy."
Website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072365252606
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mary Ann's taco of choice: Egg and bacon
Stripes
More than 70 convenience stores in the Corpus Christi area
With a Stripes shop around nearly every block in the Corpus Christi area, you realize why they're called convenience stores.
Sports reporter Rey Castillo said the breakfast from Laredo Tacos inside Stripes always hits the spot. "I like how they make it right in front of you," he said. "Plus, they give you stripped bacon over chopped bacon mixed in."
Website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072365252606
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Rey's taco of choice: Egg, bacon and cheese
Whataburger
More than 30 locations in the Corpus Christi area
Corpus Christi is the birthplace of Whataburger, so it makes sense that sports editor Len Hayward said the fast-food joint is his go-to spot.
"If I'm anywhere near a Whataburger when they're serving breakfast, I'm headed there," he said. "It's convenient and I'm not a food snob."
Website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072365252606
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Len's taco of choice: Egg, sausage and cheese
Last but not least, (my choice) Cancun Mexican Restaurant
6314 Yorktown Blvd.
Though there are two locations in Corpus Christi (the other on South Alameda Street), I am at this delicious restaurant weekly and employees know my order. Makes me a bit self-conscious, but the tasty tacos make up for it.
The staff is already friendly, and while the drive-thru lane might take a while, the breakfast tacos always hit the spot. Plus, they have the best lemonade in town.
Website: facebook.com/MexicanCancun
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
My taco of choice: Egg, potato and cheese
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: National Taco Day: Here are recommendations for breakfast taco spots
