Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week Returns September 18-24, 2023

Best Taco Tuesday: Staff Pick

Taylor Speed

Tortilleria Garcia is the ever-expanding edible empire of Omar Garcia, who currently operates restaurants in Springdale and College Hill with a forthcoming third spot in Mason, slated to open this spring. The menu consists of straightforward Mexican classics like tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken, in addition to tacos, but what makes Tortilleria Garcia stand out are the excellent, excellent tortillas. Garcia grew up on a family farm in Michoacan, Mexico and learned how to make corn tortillas the old-fashioned way from his mother and grandmother. Garcia has committed to honoring his culinary history and his restaurants uncompromisingly follow the family recipe for fresh tortillas, never using flour or preservatives. Every Tuesday, tacos — which come wrapped in two of the aforementioned delicious corn tortillas — are just $1 each, all day. Fillings include carnitas, pollo, carne or al pastor (vegetarians can request beans) and you can top them with your choice of cilantro, onion, tomato, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and/or salsa, plus guacamole for an upcharge. Limes come on the side. They are so good and worth way more than a dollar. You can also buy packages of fresh corn tortillas to go and make your own tacos at home. Garcia sells meat by the pound and rotisserie chicken (whole or in parts), or a “family pack” with meat, a pint each of two sides, a pack of tortillas and homemade salsa. Tortilleria Garcia, 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale, tortilleriagarcia.us.