Cincinnati CityBeat is your free source for Cincinnati and Ohio news, arts and culture coverage, restaurant reviews, music, things to do, photos, and more.
Cincinnati Taco Week returns this Oct. 14-20, bringing $2 tacos to 24 participating restaurants across the city.
Each restaurant will be offering their own unique tacos, ranging from Drunken Taco’s Buffalo chicken tacos to Frida’s brussels sprouts tacos and even brisket and pulled pork tacos from Lucius Q.
Cincinnati Taco Week passports will be available at participating restaurants to guide taco lovers on their week-long edible conquest. Passports will be stamped by each restaurant for each order of tacos. Guests must order a minimum of three tacos, unless noted otherwise by the restaurant.
Feeling thirsty? Order a specialty El Jimador cocktail and you can receive an additional stamp.
If you get three or more stamps, you can enter to win $250 in gift cards from restaurants who participated in Cincinnati Taco Week. Enter to win at cincytacoweek.com.
Lalo
709 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Honey Chipotle Chicken Taco: Chicken, pickled carrots, red cabbage, cucumbers; topped with a honey-chipotle sauce.
Barbacoa Taco: Slow-cooked braised beef topped with fresh pico de gallo, pickled red onion; and cilantro.
Sesame Ginger Tofu Taco: Marinated in our house ginger marinade then grilled. Topped with pickled carrots, cucumber, red cabbage; and Sriracha aioli.
Photo: ProvidedTortilleria Garcia
Multiple locations including: 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Barbacoa Taco: Traditional steamed and seasoned beef cheek served on a corn tortilla with cilantro and onion.
Photo: ProvidedAgave and Rye
635 Madison Ave., Covington
The Pumpkin Eater: rustic sweet potato hash; mushroom and corn ragout; tangy romesco; and pepitas seeds.
The Becky: honey lime chicken; garlic rice; queso; tomato; chicharrones; and a spicy chipotle crema.
The Cheeseburger Cheeseburger: seasoned ground beef; mustard; house ketchup; lettuce; tomato; aged white cheddar; garlic aioli; and dill pickle.
Photo: ProvidedLucius Q
1131 Broadway St., Over-the-Rhine
BBQ Taco: Choice of pork shoulder or meatless Veggie Q smoked then topped with smoked tomato corn salsa and finished with pickled red onions and Cotija cheese on a flour tortilla.
Pulled Pork Taco: Choice of pulled pork or meatless Veggie Q taco, topped with queso corn and slaw on a flour tortilla.
Brisket Taco: Choice of brisket burnt end or meatless Veggie Q taco with chimichurri and pickled onions on a flour tortilla.
Photo: ProvidedTaqueria El Monarca
11449 Princeton Pike, Springdale
Al Pastor Del Trompo: Marinated pork with pineapple that is served with onion and cilantro.
Chorizo Taco: Marinated Mexican sausage served with onion and cilantro.
Pollo Taco: Marinated chicken served with onion and cilantro.
Photo: ProvidedFrida
602 Main St., Covington
Brussels Sprouts Taco: Caramelized brussels sprouts with a smoked peanut salsa and peanuts on fresh corn tortilla then garnished with pickled red onion, sliced radish and cilantro.
Photo: ProvidedVeracruz Mexican Grill
3108 Price Ave., East Price Hill
Authentic Barbacoa Taco: Marinated beef on a soft corn taco with lime, onion and cilantro. Served with fried chips and homemade salsa. (Steak tacos also available for this promotion)
Chicken Taco: Freshly grilled chicken on a soft taco with lime, onion and cilantro. Served with chips and salsa.
Photo: ProvidedTostados Grill
3500 Eastern Ave., Columbia-Tusculum
Pork Carnita: Marinated pulled pork, pico de gallo and Cotija cheese served on a corn tortilla.
Grilled Chicken: Seasoned chicken, pico de gallo and Cotija cheese served on a corn tortilla.
Grilled Shrimp: Seasoned shrimp, pico de gallo and Cotija cheese served on a corn tortilla.
Photo: ProvidedThe Pelicans Reef
7261 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township
Baja-Style Beer Battered Cod Tacos: lightly-fried cod; shredded lettuce; tomato; guacamole; queso-fresco cheese; poblano-sour cream; and charred tomato salsa.
Photo: Provided Photo: Provided by Pelican's ReefSlatts Pub
4858 Cooper Road, Blue Ash
Best In The City Taco: Flour tortillas with your choice of blackened tilapia, slow-cooked carnitas or slow-cooked chicken, stuffed with curry-cabbage slaw and topped with pico de gallo and spicy aioli.
Photo: ProvidedB&A Street Kitchen
1500 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Tacos Barbacoa Mixta: Slow-cooked beef cheeks and pork shoulder topped with onion, cilantro, cotija cheese and a slice of lime.
Photo: ProvidedEl Vaquero
1061 Reading Road, Mason
Pastor Taco: Marinated pork in special sauce that is cooked with pineapple then topped with cilantro and onions.
Tacos De Tinga: Shredded chicken cooked with onions and chipotle peppers then topped with lettuce, tomato and feta cheese.
Tacos De Carne Asada: Grilled sirloin steak that is topped with cilantro and onions.
Photo: ProvidedMiami Style Tacos
8439 U.S. 42, Union, Kentucky
Mojo Chicken Taco: tomato salsa fresca and spiced sour cream.
Veggie Taco: corn; pineapple salsa; fresh herbs; and spring mix lettuce.
Photo: ProvidedSammys Craft Burgers and Beers
4767 Creek Road, Blue Ash
Carnitas Pork Tacos: Homemade roasted green tomatillo sauce, with cotija cheese, red onions and cilantro served on a corn tortilla.
Photo: ProvidedLos Potrillos
316 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
Taco Paisa: Grilled steak that is served with cilantro, onions and salsa verde.
Al Pastor: Marinated pork shoulder and pineapple with cilantro, onions and salsa verde.
Photo: ProvidedLa Jaiba Seafood Taquiera
11941 Montgomery Road, Landen
Carne Asada Taco: Marinated steak served on a corn tortilla garnished with cilantro and onions.
Chicken Taco: Marinated chicken on a corn tortilla that is garnished with cilantro and onions.
Al Pastor Taco: Marinated pork with chunks of pineapple and onions that is garnished with cilantro, onions, lime and salsa.
Photo: ProvidedJtaps Grill & Bar
6441 Glenway Ave., Cheviot
Cajun Tilapia Taco: Grilled cajun tilapia that is topped with house pico de gallo and lettuce served on a flour tortilla.
Tradition Carnita Taco: Orange marinated pork shoulder that is topped with cilantro, diced onion and house green sauce on a corn tortilla
Photo: ProvidedHorchata
11144 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
Pastor Taco: Marinated pork, pineapple topping, cilantro, onion and served in a soft corn tortilla.
Carnitas Taco: Pulled pork and pico de gallo that is served in soft corn tortilla.
Veggie Taco: Zucchini prepared with a queso fresco topping and served in soft corn tortilla.
Photo: ProvidedCocos Mexican Restaurant
3320 Tylersville Road, Hamilton
Pastor: Marinated pork with a special red sauce, cooked with pineapple that is topped with cilantro and onions.
Carnitas: Roasted pork with a special mango and pineapple sauce that is topped with cilantro and onions.
Campechanos: A sirloin steak and chorizo mix that is topped with cilantro and onion
Photo: Provided