Eating Your Way Through Greenville’s Taco Trail: 7 Must-Try Places

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Once upon a time, an order of tacos was fairly predictable. You got a hard corn tortilla shell with some seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, a sprinkle of nondescript cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, and maybe a few other bits and pieces.

But today’s taco tapestry is so diverse and creative that you could eat one every day for a month or two and never repeat the same filling.

Since Greenville’s culinary tapestry is also diverse and creative, finding the best tacos in town has become a tasty challenge. To this end, the city established the Greenville Taco Trail.

The taquerias below are consistent in quality and selection, and they have a fun factor that elevates the taco experience. You can find them all on the Taco Trail.

The 7 Best Greenville Taco Trail Stops

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Papi’s Tacos

300 River Street Suite 123 Greenville, SC 29601 // +1 (864) 373-7274

21 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601 // +1 (864) 373-9024

If you don’t get the scoop on Papi’s turning out some of the best tacos in Greenville from a friend, you might come upon it while strolling Greenville’s River Walk. And if you’re tempted to keep on strolling because Papi’s looks like a food truck minus wheels don’t. There’s some seriously scrumptious cooking happening inside.

Papi’s Tacos is the classic story of the American dream come true. Jorge Barrales, Sr., AKA “Papi,” was born and raised in Mexico.

Wanting a better life for his family, he worked hard until they were able to join relatives in Greenville. And then Papi and his family worked even harder.

Papi began as a dishwasher in the mid-1990s and worked his way up. By the time Table 301, a group of Greenville restaurants, opened The Lazy Goat in 2007, Papi was an integral member of the kitchen team.

Table 301 owner Carl Sobocinski, Papi’s long-time mentor, put Papi in charge of a taqueria occupying an unused space underneath one of his restaurants, the Lazy Goat. In August 2013, Papi’s Tacos opened with its basic menu of authentic tacos, tortas, and trimmings.

Sitting in the sunshine at a table by the river, my husband and I enjoyed our first Papi’s Tacos. The Refried Bean and Cactus Tacos were a wonderful surprise since neither of us had ever tasted cactus before.

Bean spread, cactus salad, lettuce, pico de gallo, and queso combined for a killer combo of flavors and textures.

The chicken chorizo tacos were also exceptionally good. We especially enjoyed the house-made salsa verde, which had a pleasant kick and outstanding flavor.

Try Papi’s Birria Taco, filled with braised beef, melted cheese, cilantro, and onions. Or if you’re looking for a meatless option, Papi’s has a veggie taco. Boost the flavor with some house-made guacamole and salsa, and you’re good to go.

Papi and his son, Jorge Barrales Jr., recently opened a second downtown location on Augusta Street. The restaurant offers the same quality and authenticity as the river-front location, with the addition of an extended menu, a full bar, and more space to relax and enjoy Papi’s delightful offerings.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Willy Taco

217 Laurens Road, Greenville, SC 29607 // +1 (864) 412-8700

Willy Taco was born in Spartanburg, the brainchild of six taco-loving entrepreneurs who like to have fun but take their taco business seriously. Their best recipe must be the one for success because they now own and operate four Willy Taco locations in South Carolina’s Upstate, including Greenville.

The 6,500-square-foot Greenville location seats 200, almost twice as many as the flagship restaurant in Spartanburg.

This lively casual dining spot has an energetic, family-friendly vibe that encourages conversation and laughter. The patio is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your fur baby along.

Willy Taco offers freshness and flavor in its standard fare, as well as in the creative chef-driven twists on tacos, tortas, and other favorites.

The full bar offers more than 80 tequilas and mezcals, a selection of domestic and craft beer, as well as an assortment of interesting Margaritas and other cocktails.

The Lunch Combo, featuring any two tacos served with a side of black beans and rice, is great value for a scrumptious midday meal. All the tacos are outstanding, but Southern Tide, Willy’s most popular taco, is my absolute favorite.

The tortilla is laden with crispy Shrimp, applewood-smoked bacon, pimento cheese, shaved lettuce, chipotle ranch, and pico. This flavor bomb is messy to eat but worth every napkin.

Not only are Willy Tacos creative in their fillings, but some have smile-inducing names. Mother Clucker, chipotle pulled chicken, grilled peppers and onions, queso blanco, guacamole, chopped bacon, shaved lettuce, and pico is one I must try if I can ever tear myself away from the Southern Tide.

Willy also offers meatless options such as Crispy Avocado, tempura battered avocado, Asian slaw, radish, shaved cabbage, and toasted sesame seeds.

Or chow down on Cauliflower Power, featuring Agave charred cauliflower, black bean hummus, guacamole, chile lime aioli, pepitas, and pickled red onion.

Everything from the pico to the chipotle ranch is house-made, so you know you’re enjoying unique offerings you can’t find anywhere else.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: White Duck Taco Shop

Hampton Station: 1320 Hampton Avenue #12b, Greenville, SC 29601 // +1 (864) 609-4150

Original Location: 301 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607 // +1 (864) 840-7955

White Duck Took flight in Asheville, North Carolina, where three taquerias currently roost. But the regional chain’s wings span also encompasses three more towns in North Carolina, as well as shops in South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Greenville has two White Duck Taco Shops. The original, located on Airport Road next to the Greenville Humane Society, has a full bar, a spacious indoor dining room, and plenty of outdoor seating.

The Hampton Station shop is located 1.5 miles from downtown Greenville and is the one my husband and I frequent.

Hampton Station is a glowing example of how Greenville continues to repurpose historic buildings from its former life as a thriving mill town.

Once a cotton warehouse, Hampton Station now houses a microbrewery, coffee roaster, meadery, ax-throwing facility, and other popular White Duck neighbors,

White Duck exudes a vibe of airiness with a high ceiling, wooden beams, and bright lighting. White ducks on the tabletops and duck footprints on the floor send a clear message that this is a fun place.

The two huge garage doors hold the promise of opening onto an area with plentiful outdoor seating when weather permits.

The menu temps the tastebuds to become international travelers with tacos filled with Lamb Gyro, Thai Peanut Chicken, Mole Roasted Duck, Chicken Tikka Masala, and more.

Among our favorites are the Bangkok Shrimp with marinated cucumbers and a mild curry-flavored sauce, and the Korean Bulgogi, which is on the spicy side with kimchi and a slightly sweet sauce

White Duck offers vegetarian options and a children’s menu. Tacos may vary depending on location and season, so look for the surprises.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Cucho’s Taco Grille

3111 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29609 // +1 (864) 568-5133

One of the first things you’ll see upon entering Cucho’s is a colorful mural of a clown that sets the tone for a fun experience to go along with your tacos.

Brick walls with plenty of natural light streaming in through large windows are enough to brighten the most somber mood. The upbeat music intensifies your smile, and you haven’t even taken your first bite.

Erik Guzman Sr., and his son, Erik Guzman Jr., based their restaurant concept on serving up traditional Mexican recipes along with contemporary cuisine.

Erik Jr. grew up in the restaurant business. His father encouraged him to develop an appreciation for creative, flavorful food and for making dining a part of a total restaurant experience.

My Steak Korean Taco was a delight, with crunchy cabbage and a kicked-up chipotle sauce that gave the tender Asian-marinated beef a pleasant punch of flavor. The sprinkle of sesame seeds on top added an extra layer of texture to the mix.

My husband’s Cochinita Taco was layered with black beans spread on the bottom, followed by slow-cooked pulled pork topped with pickled red onions and cilantro. The flavor/texture combination was outstanding.

On my next visit, I will try the crispy Coconut Shrimp Taco. All of Cucho’s sauces are house-made. I especially like the Spicy Lime Ranch Salsa that heats you up and cools you down at the same time.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Comal864

1112 Woodside Avenue, Greenville, SC 29611 // +1 (864) 214-1862

When Brownsville, Texas, native Dayna Lee opened Comal864 as a food truck/pop-up kitchen in July 2021, she brought Rio Grande Valley-inspired cuisine to Greenville.

Dayna’s clientele was so receptive to her fabulous food that she soon moved to a permanent brick-and-mortar location.

Dayna, a James Beard Semifinalist, calls the tasty results of her cooking style “Bordertown food”. A fine example of her culinary talent is the Taco: Birria Quesitacos, which translates into shredded marinated beef in a corn tortilla with melty cheese, onion, and cilantro served with a cup of consommé for dipping.

Comal864 is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re a morning person, you’ll love the Greenville Breakfast Taco, a flour tortilla filled with two scrambled eggs, potatoes, beans, cheese, and chorizo.

Then, come back later in the day for a Chorizo Taco with salsa verde. Dayna makes her own chorizo, so you know it’s going to be special.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Asada 

903 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29609 // +1 (864) 770-3450

Asada is a casual eatery where you can learn about and enjoy Latin American Fusion Cuisine. Co-owners Roberto Cortez and his wife Gina created their own colorful cooking profile, which they call “Asada Style”.

Asada fuses a mix of international flavors with Latin American culture. The core menu takes its inspiration from the “Mission District” of San Francisco.

Mission Style refers to the multicultural, vibrant Latino neighborhood in San Francisco, which introduced Latin food and art to the United States. But constant experimentation consistently yields distinctive specials and new combinations.

Try one or more of Asada’s Mission-Style Tacos. Each begins with a gluten-free corn tortilla, melted queso blanco, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

What occupies the middle is up to you. Try grilled chicken or steak, slow-roasted pork, or fish. Then, you can graduate to specialties such as Tacos de Camarones Mole, Asian-inspired salt and pepper shrimp tossed in Mexican mole sauce served on handmade pasilla chile corn tortillas.

Asada is as much an art gallery as it is a taqueria. Roberto is a talented visual artist, and Asada’s walls showcase his artwork.

Roberto and Gina donate 15% of the sale of every piece of Roberto’s art to the Cancer Society of Greenville, a local non-profit organization that helps local cancer patients and their families.

You’ll always eat well, and if you choose to purchase some art, you’ll also do good.

Greenville Taco Trail Stop: Automatic Taco and Tequila Bar

147 Welborn Street, Greenville, SC 29601 // (864) 203-5704

Automatic Taco is another brick-and-mortar taqueria that started out as a food truck. But since 2019, Chef Nick Thomas and his wife, Chrissy, have been serving tacos and other creative delights from their comfy, casual space in the Commons – another repurposed mill-era warehouse – next to Greenville’s Unity Park.

Take the time to explore Unity Park with its welcoming green spaces, play areas, and fresh air. The park has a dark history, but the present and future shine bright.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, head for The Commons and step up to Automatic Taco’s counter. Check out the offerings on the blackboard and place your order. Then grab a seat and prepare to be impressed. This is one of the best restaurants on the Greenville taco trail.

Ease into a Nashville Hot Chicken Taco with crema, black pepper paste, and house-made pickles, which you can order as extra hot, hot, medium, or mild. Or opt for the Crispy FishTaco with watermelon pico, poblano and aioli.

If you’re ready to be a bit more adventurous, order the Green Curry Shrimp – my favorite – with mango, crema, pickled onion, and fried avocado.

Vegetarian options include the scrumptious-sounding Veggie Taco with black beans, potato, tomato, auto sauce, cheese, peppers, pickled onion, and kimchi, as well as the Chile Relleno with salsa roja, pickled onion, cheese, and crema.

Foodies Also Ask: Frequently Asked Questions

What are some innovative taco fillings unique to Greenville?

Greenville taco spots often experiment with non-traditional fillings that reflect local tastes and ingredients. 

For example, you might find tacos filled with locally sourced trout, pimento cheese, or even South Carolina’s own pulled pork with apple coleslaw, providing a Southern twist to this Mexican staple.

Where can I find vegetarian or vegan taco options in Greenville?

Many Greenville eateries cater to vegetarian and vegan diets with creative taco options. The Papi’s Tacos, for example, offers a range of plant-based tacos, including their popular ‘Veggie Taco’ made from scratch. Another spot, Automatic Taco and Tequila Bar, features a Veggie taco with vegan-friendly toppings and a Chile Releno.

How do local ingredients influence the Greenville Taco Trail?

Greenville’s proximity to fresh agricultural produce and local farms influences its taco scene significantly. 

Many taco restaurants pride themselves on using ingredients sourced from nearby farms, such as fresh vegetables, herbs, and even locally raised meats. 

This farm-to-taco approach not only supports local agriculture but also ensures high-quality, fresh flavors in every bite.

Visiting other destinations in South Carolina? Check out our other delicious guides:

• Seven Lowcountry Summerville SC Restaurants
• 8 Must-Try Downtown Charleston Restaurants
• 6 Best Things To Do In Florence SC
• 9 Must-Try Florence SC Restaurants

The Greenville Taco Trail Wrap-Up

The simple taco has come a long way from its wholesome Mexican roots, and Greenville, with its flourishing food scene, is an ideal town for discovering the multitude of possibilities for filling a tortilla.

The best taquerias are owned by families with Central American roots or folks whose hearts are in the food of the region. They know how to combine authenticity with creativity to produce magical results. When you use the Greenville Taco Trail as your guide, you’re sure to find the best tacos in Greenville.