Best Tacos on Washington Avenue: 9 Houston Picks, 5 a.m. to 3 a.m.

The best tacos on Washington Avenue in Houston come from a short run of taquerias between Sawyer Yards and Loop 610: El Tiempo Taqueria and Tacodeli for breakfast tacos, Tio Trompo and Polanquito on Shepherd Drive for al pastor, and Velvet Taco for a late-night taco. If you only try one, make it the taco árabe at Tio Trompo, 316 Shepherd Dr, a pork trompo taco on pita bread.

Here's the line to send the group chat: on Washington Avenue, the taco day runs about 22 hours. El Tiempo Taqueria opens at 5 a.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays Velvet Taco doesn't close until 3 a.m.

How do we define Washington Avenue?

For this guide, Washington Avenue means the avenue inside Loop 610, from the edge of downtown west to the West Loop, plus the blocks immediately on either side. That takes in the Sawyer Yards and First Ward blocks at the east end, the Rice Military neighborhood (Washington Avenue to Buffalo Bayou, Shepherd Drive to Westcott Street), and the short stretch of Shepherd Drive between Memorial Drive and Washington. North of Interstate 10 is the Heights, which we left out, along with anything west of Loop 610.

How we chose

Every pick serves tacos as a main reason to go, and every one was confirmed operating in November 2026 on its own official website. We wanted range: a 5 a.m. taqueria in an old meat market, an Austin breakfast-taco shop, a trompo specialist, a Cuban-Mexican counter, a Mexico City café, a late-night creative taco bar and three sit-down dining rooms.

We also looked hard for a taco truck. Trucks do park along the avenue, but we couldn't confirm one with its own official website or social page and posted hours, so none made the list. For trucks, start with our taco trucks in Houston guide.

Hours change, so treat every schedule below as typical and check the official site before you go. We left prices out on purpose.

The quick list

• Earliest taco: El Tiempo Taqueria, typically open from 5 a.m.
• Best breakfast taco to bring a crowd for: Tacodeli, with its Salsa Doña.
• Al pastor off the spit: Tio Trompo.
• Cuban taco: El Rey Taqueria, with plantains and black beans.
• Mexico City lunch: Polanquito.
• After midnight: Velvet Taco, until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
• Tacos with a show: Sin Yolanda, a Guadalajara cantina.
• Tex-Mex night out: El Tiempo Cantina.
• Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos: Pacific Coast Tacos, near Memorial Park.

Taquerias for breakfast and lunch

1. El Tiempo Taqueria, Rice Military

5526 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 · taqueria and market · typically opens 5 a.m.

El Tiempo Taqueria is a counter taqueria and Mexican market on the west half of Washington Avenue, and it's the earliest taco on the strip. The insider story is the building: El Tiempo Taqueria says it took over from a Matamoros Meat Market that had served the neighborhood for about 20 years before the taqueria opened in 2004. The restaurant credits its roots to the Laurenzo family's restaurant legacy.

What to order: breakfast tacos on your choice of flour or corn tortillas, then grab something from the market on the way out.

Why go: you can eat a proper taco here before most of Houston is awake. The official site lists different closing times on different pages (as early as 4 p.m.), so call (713) 862-7792 if you're going in the afternoon.

2. Tacodeli, Sawyer Yards

1902 Washington Ave, Suite D, Houston, TX 77007 · taqueria · typically open daily 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tacodeli has served tacos since 1999 and started in Austin, and its Washington Avenue shop sits in the East Washington buildings at Sawyer Yards. The founder's childhood in Mexico City shaped the menu, according to Tacodeli. Breakfast tacos are typically served until 11 a.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends.

What to order: the Otto (organic refried black beans, double bacon, avocado and jack cheese) or a migas taco, with Salsa Doña on everything. Tacodeli calls Doña its signature salsa: spicy, creamy, jalapeño and garlic.

Why go: it's the easy order for an office or a team breakfast, and the patio is pet-friendly, so it also suits our dog-friendly patios crowd. After tacos, walk the studios in our Washington Avenue Arts District guide.

3. Tio Trompo, Shepherd Drive

316 Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007 · trompo taqueria

Tio Trompo is built around the trompo, the vertical spit of marinated pork. Its own site tells the story you'll want to repeat: trompo tacos were created by Middle Eastern immigrants who settled in Puebla, Mexico, after World War I, who brought shawarma-style seasoning and cooking to the Mexican tortilla.

What to order: the taco árabe (white trompo pork on pita bread), a taco al pastor (red trompo pork) and a taco oriental (white trompo pork on a tortilla) side by side. Breakfast tacos and a family taco kit with a pound of meat are on the menu too.

Why go: three versions of the same spit in one order is the best taco lesson on Washington Avenue. Tio Trompo doesn't post its hours online, so call (832) 804-6364 before you make the trip.

4. El Rey Taqueria, Shepherd Drive

910 Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007 · Cuban and Mexican · open from early morning to late evening; call for current hours

El Rey Taqueria is a Cuban and Mexican counter just south of Washington Avenue, and it's where Havana meets the taco. The menu runs from breakfast tacos to tortas, rotisserie chicken and ropa vieja.

What to order: the Cuban taco, which El Rey fills with fajita meat, black beans, plantains and sour cream.

Why go: it opens early and stays open late, so it fits almost any slot in a taco day. Published hours for El Rey differ from source to source, so call (713) 802-9145 before a very early or very late visit.

5. Polanquito, Rice Military

404 Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007 · Mexico City café · typically Tue–Thu 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fri–Sat 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Mon

Polanquito is a family-owned café inspired by Polanco, the stylish Mexico City district, and it cooks interior Mexican food rather than Tex-Mex.

What to order: tacos al pastor or carnitas, or the fried fish or shrimp taco. In the morning, try the huevo a la mexicana or potato and chorizo taco. Look for chile en nogada, which Polanquito lists as a September special.

Why go: it's the calm, sit-down taco lunch on the strip. Happy hour typically runs Tuesday to Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., with draft beer and margarita specials, per Polanquito.

Late nights and sit-down dinners

6. Velvet Taco, Washington Avenue

4819 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 · creative tacos · typically Sun–Wed 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thu to midnight, Fri–Sat to 3 a.m.

Velvet Taco is the after-bar taco on Washington Avenue. It's a chain, and it doesn't pretend to be traditional: the tacos mix global flavors, and a new Weekly Taco Feature (the "WTF") rotates in every week.

What to order: the spicy tikka chicken taco (crisp tenders, tikka sauce, basmati rice and raita crema on a flour tortilla), which Velvet Taco marks as a fan favorite. The wild card is the chicken and waffle taco, served on a house-made waffle tortilla.

Why go: it's open until 3 a.m. on weekends. For more after-midnight options, see our late-night food in Houston guide, and for a drink first, our bars on Washington Avenue.

7. Sin Yolanda, Washington Avenue

4901 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 · Guadalajara cantina · typically Thu 4 p.m. to midnight, Fri–Sat 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., closed Mon–Wed

Sin Yolanda is a contemporary cantina from Guadalajara, with locations in Mexico and Texas, and its Houston outpost is a place to sing, toast and share the table, in its own words. Expect live music and singalong nights, and check its agenda page before you go.

What to order: the Mayan pork (cochinita) tacos with pickled red onion, or the al pastor tacos in hibiscus sauce. Then order the dessert people photograph: the buñuelo frío, a buñuelo shaped like a taco and filled with vanilla ice cream, cajeta and toasted marshmallow.

Why go: it's tacos as a night out, with signature cocktails like La Sandy (mezcal with watermelon juice). Sunday opens at 11 a.m. for brunch.

8. El Tiempo Cantina, Washington Avenue

5602 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 · Tex-Mex cantina · typically Mon–Thu 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

El Tiempo Cantina is the big Tex-Mex dining room at the west end of the strip. Its chicken fajitas are marinated with what it calls the Laurenzo family's original pechuga gravy recipe.

What to order: the large flour tacos al carbon, or fajitas by the pound so you can build your own tacos at the table.

Why go: it's the group dinner pick. Weekend brunch typically runs until 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more Tex-Mex on the avenue, see our Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants on Washington Avenue.

9. Pacific Coast Tacos, west Washington Avenue

6329 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 · Baja-inspired tacos

Pacific Coast Tacos sits at the quieter west end of the avenue, a short drive from Memorial Park. It describes its food as Baja-inspired Pacific Rim fusion, drawing on the West Coast, Mexico and South America, with influences from Thailand, Korea, Vietnam and Hawaii.

What to order: the fish and shrimp tacos, which are the point of a Baja menu. Breakfast tacos are on the menu too.

Why go: it's the post-run taco after a loop at Memorial Park. The location's hours vary between pages on its site, so check its online ordering page or call (281) 888-4885 before you go.

Save this: a 22-hour Washington Avenue taco crawl

Screenshot it. One long Saturday, east and west along the avenue. Use a rideshare for the evening stops.

1. 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., El Tiempo Taqueria: breakfast tacos while the avenue is still asleep.
2. 9 a.m., Tacodeli: an Otto with Salsa Doña, then a walk through Sawyer Yards.
3. Noon, Tio Trompo: the árabe, al pastor and oriental taco side by side.
4. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Polanquito: a taco and a happy-hour margarita.
5. 4 p.m., El Rey Taqueria: the Cuban taco as an afternoon snack.
6. 7 p.m., El Tiempo Cantina: tacos al carbon for the table.
7. 9 p.m., Sin Yolanda: cochinita tacos and the taco-shaped buñuelo for dessert.
8. 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., Velvet Taco: the week's WTF to close the night.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• Check hours on the official site the day you go. Polanquito closes Mondays, Sin Yolanda closes Monday to Wednesday, and Tio Trompo doesn't post hours online.
• Going early? El Tiempo Taqueria (typically 5 a.m.) and Tacodeli (typically 6:30 a.m.) are the early openers; El Rey also opens early, but call to confirm the time.
• Going late? Velvet Taco (until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday) and Sin Yolanda (until 2 a.m. Friday to Sunday) are your weekend options.
• Bringing the dog? Tacodeli's Washington patio is pet-friendly.
• Want more breakfast tacos? See our best breakfast tacos in Houston, and for the whole city, our best tacos in Houston.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the best tacos on Washington Avenue in Houston?

Our top picks are Tio Trompo (316 Shepherd Dr) for trompo al pastor, El Tiempo Taqueria (5526 Washington Ave) and Tacodeli (1902 Washington Ave) for breakfast tacos, and Velvet Taco (4819 Washington Ave) for late nights. All four are in the Washington Avenue and Rice Military area.

What taco place on Washington Avenue opens earliest?

El Tiempo Taqueria at 5526 Washington Ave typically opens at 5 a.m., and Tacodeli at 1902 Washington Ave typically opens at 6:30 a.m. Check the official sites before you go.

Where can I get tacos late at night on Washington Avenue?

Velvet Taco at 4819 Washington Ave is typically open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sin Yolanda at 4901 Washington Ave typically stays open until 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

What is a taco árabe?

A taco árabe is spit-roasted pork served on pita bread instead of a tortilla. Tio Trompo on Shepherd Drive says trompo tacos were created by Middle Eastern immigrants who settled in Puebla, Mexico, after World War I.

Are there taco trucks on Washington Avenue?

Trucks do park along Washington Avenue, but we couldn’t confirm one with an official website or posted hours, so none are on this list. See Houston.com’s taco trucks in Houston guide for verified trucks.

Which Washington Avenue taco spots are dog-friendly?

Tacodeli at 1902 Washington Ave lists a pet-friendly patio. Check other restaurants’ policies directly before bringing a dog.