How to Order Tacos Like a Local
Corn or flour? Which meat? How many? A friendly, no-pressure guide to ordering authentic street tacos like you have done it a hundred times.
Walking up to an authentic taco stand for the first time can feel a little intimidating, especially if the menu is full of words you did not grow up with. Good news: ordering like a local is easy once you know a few basics. Here is everything you need to feel like a regular at Juanito's Tacos.
Step one: pick your meat
The meat is the heart of the taco, so this is the fun part. Here is a quick plain-language guide to the classics you will see on our board:
- Al pastor: marinated pork with a little sweetness and spice. A crowd favorite and a great first taco.
- Asada: grilled steak, savory and satisfying. You cannot go wrong here.
- Pollo: seasoned chicken, lighter but still full of flavor.
- Carnitas: slow-cooked pork that is tender and rich.
- Lengua: beef tongue. If that surprises you, know that it is prized for a reason. It is soft, mild and delicious, and ordering it is a real local move.
Not sure? Order a couple of different meats across your tacos and find your favorite. Mixing and matching is completely normal and encouraged.
Step two: street taco or super taco
This is the big fork in the road. A street taco is the meat with cilantro and onion, clean and classic. A super taco piles on lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion and sour cream. We wrote a whole guide on the difference between a taco and a super taco if you want the full breakdown. Locals often go street style to taste the meat, but there is no wrong answer.
Step three: corn or flour
For an authentic street taco, corn tortillas are the traditional choice, and they are what most regulars reach for. Corn brings a subtle flavor that flour does not, and it holds up beautifully to a juicy filling. Flour is softer and a bit more neutral, and it shines in a burrito. If you want the real street experience, go corn. Corn tortillas are also the pick many gluten-conscious guests prefer, which we cover in our vegetarian and gluten-free guide.
Step four: know how many to order
Portion sizes trip a lot of first-timers up. As a rough guide, most people are satisfied with three to four street tacos, or two to three super tacos since they are more filling. Our taco plates are built around exactly those numbers, so you are set either way. Bigger appetite? Add a quesadilla or some nachos to round it out.
A few small habits that mark a regular
- Hit it with lime. A squeeze of fresh lime wakes up almost any taco. Locals do it without thinking.
- Go easy on the salsa the first time. Taste before you drown it. You can always add more heat.
- Eat it the right way. Tilt your head, not the taco, and eat from one end to the other. It is a two-hand job and that is part of the fun.
- Call ahead when you can. Regulars phone in their order so it is hot and ready when they arrive.
You are ready. Come order.
That is really all there is to it. Pick a meat, choose street or super, go corn, and grab a lime. Do that and you will order like you have been coming for years. We are on North Cunningham Avenue in Urbana, open every day from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Browse the full menu, find your closest location details, and come put your new skills to work.