Where to Get Down for Taco Tuesday

Tacos are great every day of the week, but for some reason, they taste even better on Tuesdays, when you can score them at a discount. Here’s a list of our favorite places to chow down on this united-in-taco-eating day. 

HOLÉ MOLÉ
Voted Best Taco Tuesday of 2017! While there’s asada, chicken, carnitas, al pastor and shrimp, it’s the fish you want. “Not only are the fish pieces individually hand-dipped in batter, then fried into crispy cocoons any British chip shop would envy, but Holé Molé also complements them with a self-serve trough filled with hot-from-the-fryer, spice-dusted, deep-fried yellow chiles that are free for the taking.” 14430 Newport Ave., Tustin, (714) 505-2502; www.holemole.com.

EL CANTARITO
An oldie but a goodie, this tiny Mexican outpost in the heart of old town Placentia offers one of the best old-school deals, with $1 tacos and free chips and salsa. Come Tuesday, El Cantarito is packed with local gente, famished college students and gracious-living residents looking for their Mexi fix. Choices include the classics, asada, chorizo, carnitas, birria, al pastor and pollo. 120 W. Santa Fe Ave., Placentia, (714) 528-6090.

TACO MESA
Treat yo’self to $1.75 al pastor, carnitas, chile verde (pork), veggie, shredded beef, chicken and Baja-style fish tacos all day long. Chef Ivan Calderon, co-founder of Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa eateries, is passionate about promoting “healthy and authentic” Mexican cuisine; he offers non-GMO tortillas and uses organic greens, sustainable meats and wild-caught fish, taking his tacos to the next level. Various locations; www.tacomesa.com.

LOLA GASPAR
When chef Luis Perez fires up the outdoor grill, the aroma of charred meat and burning mesquite fills Lola Gaspar’s patio. He uses El Metate tortillas to envelop fillings such as tiger prawn and chorizo in salsa borracha, succulent carnitas, and jerk-spiced fish—all of which are great. But what you should be ordering is whatever Perez has cooking on the open fire, especially the trompo. The delicious desmadre starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and continues until they run out—¡provecho! 211 W. Second St., Santa Ana, (714) 972-1172; lolagaspar.com.

ALL THE LONCHERAS IN SANTA ANA
Every day in Santa Ana is taco Tuesday! Our go-to loncheras include Alebrije’s, creator of the legendary Cuernavaca-forged taco acorazado; Los Reyes Del Elote, which offers the usual carne staples and offals; and Tacos Ruben, with its tacos dorados de papa—crispy potato tacos covered in a comforting, savory tomato broth. Multiple locations throughout Santa Ana.