Taco ’bout a deal: The 12 best Cedar Rapids spots for Taco Tuesday

Bring on the tacos! Since it’s always good to be prepared for Taco Tuesday, we came up with a list of a dozen locally owned restaurants in and around Cedar Rapids that serve up tasty tacos (and more!).

Check out our list of delectable spots all around the Cedar Rapids area to check out on Taco Tuesday (or any day of the week … who are we to judge?!) and perhaps you’ll find a new favorite. 

The Taco Depot

2665 Edgewood Pkwy SW #104, Cedar Rapids

3801 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

35 Miller Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of The Taco Depot via Facebook.

With three locations scattered across Cedar Rapids, The Taco Depot is easy to get to. It’s the area’s first taqueria that also offers a full bar. They have a nice selection of street-style tacos that are very yummy and reasonably priced. Just $1 Ramirez tacos (meat + onion + cilantro) on Taco Tuesdays. They do offer a challenge of most tacos eaten in one sitting (current record stands at around 28 tacos!) if you are feeling up to taking that on. If not, we promise you’ll enjoy your meal no matter how many tacos you eat. 

CaFé Tacuba Bar & Grill

1006 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of CaFé Tacuba via Facebook.

CaFé Tacuba is perhaps the newest spot on the Cedar Rapids taco food scene. And they are doing it right. On Taco Tuesday, for $10, you can get 10 tacos along with a small queso for a carryout deal. What’s not to love about great taste and a great deal? You can also dine in and CaFé Tacuba actually serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has a surprising selection of coffees and teas to enjoy (along with a full bar for later in the day). The restaurateurs promise to captivate your tastebuds with their authentic Mexican flavors.  

Casa las Glorias

2245 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of CASA LAS GLORIAS MEXICAN GRILL via Facebook.

Casa Las Glorias (or just Casa if you are a regular) is a big hit on Taco Tuesday. Hard shell tacos are just $1 a piece so come ready to fill up. But whether you visit on Taco Tuesday or another day of the week,  you shouldn’t pass up their margs and queso either. Also known for their friendly owners and staff, Casa is a true favorite in the area for a tasty and budget friendly Mexican meal.  

Mezcal Tequila Cocina

5070 Lindale Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of Mezcal Tequila Cocina via Facebook.

Mezcal is another spot that rolls out the $1 taco special all day long for Taco Tuesday. They have chimichurri steak, adobo chicken, and slow-roasted carnitas to choose from. Plus you can wash it all down with their $6 house margaritas, served on tap! This Latin-inspired restaurant and bar has garnered a following for its open-scratch kitchen concept that offers up interesting takes on classic dishes like tacos, fajitas, pork chops and even steak. 

Mextizo

1140 Blairs Ferry Rd., Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of Mextizo via Facebook.

Mextizo comes highly recommended as well for a Taco Tuesday favorite spot. This Mexican restaurant also serves up 10 tacos (plus a side of queso) for $10 as its carry-out Taco Tuesday special. If you’re dining in, tacos are just $1 a piece all day long. Their outdoor patio is a prime spot to sip on one of their signature drinks (we hear their Palomas are delicious) or sample any number of popular dishes from their robust menu. 

Villas Patio

5200 Fountains Dr. NE, Suite 100, Cedar Rapids

433 7th Ave., Marion

Photo courtesy of Villa’s Patio via Facebook.

Villas Patio has a loyal following (since they’ve been around since 2004) at both their Marion and Cedar Rapids locations, making it a popular spot on Taco Tuesday or any day of the week. Both spots feature outdoor seating as well which is a welcome option. They offer various specials throughout the week, including $1 tacos on Tuesdays and a fajita special on Sundays. Customers also love their ceviche, grande burritos, and quesadillas. 

Eva’s Mexican Restaurant

835 7th Ave., Marion

Photo courtesy of Eva’s Mexican Restaurant via Facebook.

Another great spot to grab some authentic Mexican food in Marion is Eva’s. They offer a different $10.99 special Monday through Friday (chimichangas, taco salads, street tacos, and more!), or you can create your own combo platter featuring some of your favorites. And they often offer specials on their margaritas as well. You’ll likely have to visit more than once to make your way through the seven-page menu!

Taco Gato

209 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of Taco Gato via Facebook.

You’ll definitely find a different vibe at Taco Gato in downtown Cedar Rapids. They have an amazing and unique menu and their restaurant atmosphere sets this adorable, friendly space apart. They offer Tex-Mex Tuesday specials (barbacoa beef walking taco sounds so good right about now) and you can sometimes find interesting specials like paella popping up on the menu. They also have a tequila club if that sounds like a club you’d like to join or you can grab a “meowgarita.”

La Cantina

5400 Edgewood Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids

3217 7th Ave., Marion

Photo courtesy of La Cantina Bar N Grill via Facebook.

La Canita gets the number one vote from this list compiler. Their salsa is just so good … cilantro-y with just the right kick. They have a great taco box to go, along with several other specials throughout the week (happy hour and Fajita Friday just to name a few). Plus, they just added some delicious dessert options to their menu, including churro cheesecake bites, mini chocoflan, mini fresaflan, and mini tres leches cake. And they get bonus points for having two locations as well, including an outdoor patio at their Cedar Rapids restaurant.

Lacayo

1202 3rd St. SE, Suite 102, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of Lacayo via Facebook.

Formerly Caucho, Lacayo brings more of the Latin American and Iberian Peninsula influence to the Cedar Rapids area. Still known for its fresh, made-from-scratch inventive menu, this is a great spot to sample delicious tacos or any number of other delectable dishes (don’t skip the queso fundido and the chorizo deviled eggs). Plus, they offer a great selection of non-alcoholic versions of classic and seasonal cocktails. 

La Reyna

1100 3rd St. SE Booth 32, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of La Reyna Iowa via Facebook.

Ok, so technically you won’t be able to pop by this spot on a Tuesday (check their hours!), but this little food stand inside NewBo City Market is a great spot to grab some Hispanic food while you are out and about in the NewBo neighborhood. La Reyna‘s freshly made tortilla chips and guacamole are delicious. They offer lots of grab-and-go salsas and chips from their booth as well. They’ve been family-owned and operated since 1991. Plus, they have a mobile taco truck that you might find out and about at events throughout the community all summer long. 

Lucita’s Diner

1100 1st St. SW, Cedar Rapids

Photo courtesy of Lucita’s Diner via Facebook.

This eatery is a little less well-known by many in the area but is another great spot to enjoy a meal out for Taco Tuesday. Lucita’s is a Mexican restaurant with a small town diner feel. You might try a few other customer favorites including pollo ranchero, homemade tamales, and their taco salad. If you’re lucky, their homemade margarita pie will be on the menu as well. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.