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Taco Trail Guide
The Best Tacos in Kansas City, Kansas
A Taco Trail Insider's Guide
Kansas City, Kansas is home to 67 taquerias. Here is how to find your favorite birria, al pastor, carnitas and asada.
Overview
Best Birria, Al Pastor & Carnitas in KCK
Looking for the best tacos Kansas City, Kansas has to offer? You have plenty to choose from. KCK has 67 taquerias, and the Red Machine visits four of them on every KCK Taco Trail tour.
This guide covers the big four styles we taste on the trail: birria, al pastor, carnitas and asada. You will learn what makes each one great, what to look for and how to order. We also share the simple way our riders judge a taco, from the tortilla to the salsa, so you can score your own favorites anywhere in town.
We do not rank shops here. Taste is personal, and the best tacos Kansas City, Kansas serves are the ones you judge for yourself. That is exactly what riders do on every tour.
Birria: Rich, Slow and Made for Dipping
Birria is meat stewed low and slow with dried chiles and spices. Many taquerias serve it with a cup of consomé, the cooking broth, for dipping.
Look for a deep red color, tender meat and a tortilla that holds up to a good dunk.
Al Pastor: Marinated Pork With a Kick
Al pastor is pork marinated in chiles and spices. It is often cooked on a vertical spit and topped with onion, cilantro and pineapple.
Great al pastor has crispy edges, a little char and a balance of sweet and heat.
Carnitas: Tender Pork, Crispy Edges
Carnitas is pork cooked slowly until it falls apart, then crisped up. It is simple, and that is why it is easy to compare.
Judge it on texture: soft inside, golden outside. A squeeze of lime and a bright salsa finish it off.
Asada: Grilled Beef, Done Right
Carne asada is seasoned, grilled beef, chopped and piled on warm tortillas.
Look for good grill flavor and juicy meat. Try it with salsa verde and see how it changes.
How to Judge a Taco
Start with the tortilla. Is it warm and fresh? Then the meat: flavor, texture and seasoning. Finish with the salsa and toppings. Do they lift the taco or hide it?
Take a bite plain before you add anything. It is the fairest way to compare one taquería with the next.
Taste Them All on One Tour
Want to compare without the planning? The KCK Taco Trail visits four taquerias in one evening, one taco at each stop. Seats are $39.99 per rider, the bus boards at 5:30 PM in the Hilton Garden Inn lobby, and the Best of the Best theme puts carnitas, al pastor, asada and birria on one tour.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
How many taquerias are in Kansas City, Kansas?
KCK is home to 67 taquerias.
Which tour covers all four styles?
The Best of the Best theme mixes carnitas, al pastor, asada and birria. The next one is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Why don't you name the taquerias?
Stops change with each weekly theme. Ride the tour and find your own favorite.
We Drive, You Ride
Taste Them All on One Tour
Four taquerias, four tacos and a ride between each stop for $39.99.
Prefer to talk? Call (816) 226-7957