There are tacos, and then there are tacos — the kind that make you pull off the highway, park the car, and wonder why you haven’t been coming here your whole life. That’s exactly what happened to me the first time I stumbled into the Laredo Taco Company location in Mesquite, tucked inside a Stripes convenience store off Galloway Avenue. Yes, you read that right — a convenience store. But stick with me, because this place is the real deal, and it deserves every bit of the devoted following it has quietly built across North Texas.
Laredo Taco Company has deep roots in Texas taqueria culture, and the Mesquite outpost carries that tradition with genuine pride. The moment you walk in, the smell alone does the convincing — warm corn tortillas, sizzling carne guisada, and freshly chopped cilantro fill the air in a way that feels less like fast food and more like someone’s abuela is running the kitchen. The operation is efficient and friendly, but there’s nothing rushed about the flavors.
The menu is a love letter to classic Tex-Mex breakfast and lunch staples. The barbacoa taco is the undisputed star — tender, slow-cooked beef cheek piled generously onto a soft corn tortilla, finished with a squeeze of lime and a scattering of white onion and cilantro. It is simple, honest, and deeply satisfying. The carne guisada is equally remarkable: slow-simmered beef in a rich, earthy gravy that pairs perfectly with a warm flour tortilla on the side. Order a couple of each and settle in — you’re going to want to take your time here.
Weekend mornings are when Laredo Taco Company really shines. The breakfast tacos arrive fresh and generous — scrambled eggs with chorizo, potato and egg, bean and cheese — all wrapped in tortillas made to order. Pair any of them with a large Mexican coffee or a creamy horchata and you have a morning ritual worth building your weekend around. Locals know to get here early on Saturdays; the barbacoa goes fast, and for good reason.
What makes this spot so special isn’t just the food — it’s the authenticity. There’s no gimmick here, no trendy branding or inflated prices. It’s a working-class Texas taqueria that respects tradition and delivers on flavor every single time. The staff is warm and quick, the prices are genuinely affordable, and the portions are the kind that send you back to your car feeling well taken care of.
If you’re passing through Mesquite — or if you live here and somehow haven’t made this a regular stop — do yourself the favor. Laredo Taco Company on Galloway Avenue is the kind of find that makes you feel like you’re in on something good. And once you’ve had the barbacoa, you’ll understand exactly why Texans take their tacos so seriously.
