Knoxville’s tastiest tacos and more — your quick, friendly guide.
Your belly is rumbling. Your brain says “tacos now.” Good news: Knoxville has the goods. From Downtown to South Knox, you can grab bold, bright Mexican flavors fast. Let’s find your next bite.
Quick Answer (So You Can Eat Sooner)
You can find Mexican food in Knoxville, TN in Downtown (Gay St. & Market Square), South Knoxville (Sevierville Pike), North Knoxville & Old City (N. Broadway & Central St.), and West Knoxville/Bearden (Kingston Pike). Try Chivo Taqueria, Soccer Taco, SoKno Taco Cantina, Taqueria La Herradura, Good Golly Tamale, and La Bonita markets.
Downtown Bites: Walk, Eat, Smile
Chivo Taqueria — fun tacos, big tequila list. 314 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN. Great for date night or friends. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Good Golly Tamale (Old City) — hand-rolled tamales, easy and comfy. 112 S Central St, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
South Knoxville: Tacos After Trails
SoKno Taco Cantina — SoCal-style tacos; close to Ijams & biking trails. 3701 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
North Knoxville & Old City: Hidden Gems
Taqueria La Herradura (North Broadway) — tasty tacos from a family team. 2625 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Good Golly Tamale — yes, tamales count as a win here too. 112 S Central St, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
La Bonita (tienda & carnicería with tacos/pupusas) — 4678 Old Broadway St and 4101 Bruhin Rd, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
West Knoxville / Bearden: Big Groups, Big Plates
Taqueria La Herradura (West location) — easy stop for tacos along Kingston Pike. 7063 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
El Mezcal (Farragut/Bearden area) — long-time local spot for combo-plate comfort. 11110 Kingston Pike (Farragut) and 118 N Forest Park Blvd (Bearden). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Markets, Bakeries & Food Trucks: Taste of Home
La Bonita — grab fresh masa, meats, and quick tacos to go. Two Knoxville shops listed above. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Taqueria La Herradura — check socials/ordering pages for daily setup. North Broadway base and West spot on Kingston Pike. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Plan Your Taco Tour (Simple Tips)
Downtown first: Park near Market Square, snack at Soccer Taco, then stroll to Chivo. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Trail + Taco: Hike Ijams, then SoKno Taco for a crunchy reward. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Tamale day: Old City errand? Make Good Golly your lunch stop. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
Kingston Pike cruise: Hungry crew? West spots like La Herradura (West) and El Mezcal are easy wins. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
Before You Go
Menus and hours can change. Peek at the restaurant’s site or social first. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Weekends get busy. If you can, arrive a little early for easier seating. (Your tummy will thank you.)
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