Did someone say Taco Tuesday?
In honor of National Taco Day, we’d like to remind readers of The Desert Sun’s 2023 Desert Hot Springs taco tour, when our journalists taste tested the taco offerings in the valley’s northwestern hub.
Whether you crave carne asada, carnitas, SoCal’s beloved fish tacos or the popular Tijuana dish-turned-taco quesabirria, you will find these and more in Desert Hot Springs. We took extensive notes on each place we checked out, so without further ado, here are our findings.
El Matador Mexican Restaurant
Where: 13-450 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs
More info: elmatadorfood.com
Like mullets and romantic comedies, the great thing about El Matador is it offers two possible experiences in one. Taco lovers can opt for a sit-down meal in the simple-yet-stylishly-colorful dining room or keep things casual by ordering from the take-out window that fronts Palm Drive.
Pick the latter, though, and you might miss out on seeing the horse and cow figurines near the dining room entrance that add a dose of random quirk and silliness to the otherwise nondescript setting.
But while their presence shows this spot has a playful side, the tacos here all business.
We sampled the asada, carnitas and al pastor tacos on a recent stop, enjoying all three. The latter, however, was a standout with flavorful meat that had just enough spice and a slight crunch that was satisfying to bite into. In addition to the standard chopped onions and cilantro, El Matador serves its tacos with slices of fresh onion, cucumber and radish. The green sauce is creamy while the red brings plenty of heat.
While those staples are plenty good, those with a taste for Tijuana will likely see everything they need to know once they spot another popular offering on the menu: quesabirria tacos.
— Paul Albani-Burgio, breaking news/Palm Springs reporter
Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine
Where: 11-349 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs
More info: facebook.com
The first thing you’ll notice when you step into Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine is that you’re walking on water. The next: it’s got some good tacos.
Las Palmas is adorned in vibrant art and colors from floor to ceiling. The ground is decorated to look like the ocean, with sea creatures swimming around, the walls are bright orange or painted in murals, and the ceiling is a painted sky with seabirds waiting to snatch away your food when you’re not looking.
Its menu has lots of options — breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, specials like enchiladas, and even a children’s menu for your picky eater featuring quesadillas and chicken fingers.
But I was here for the tacos, and the quesabirria was my pick. Crisp and decadent, the taco was packed with a flavorful and savory filling. It balanced well with the rich and warm broth served on the side, only disappointing when there was no more taco left to dip.
— Ani Gasparyan, Cathedral City/Desert Hot Springs reporter
Delicias Mexican Cuisine
Where: 66-121 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs
More info: ilovedeliciasmexicancuisine.com
It seems like a lifetime ago that I stepped into the old Sidewinder Grill with then-Desert Sun reporter and columnist Darrell Smith for the “Darrell in the Desert” series, which profiled a day in the life of each of the nine Coachella Valley cities.
Darrell and I spent 12-hour days in each city over the course of a few weeks. To this day, it stands out to me as one of the most memorable collaborations with a reporter — the epitome of hyperlocal journalism by today’s standards.
The year I can’t recall exactly, but it was before the launch of The Desert Sun website, so we’re talking early 2000s. I could search for the newspaper, but would need a couple of hours to take out the plastic bins towering in my bedroom closet way down below two decades’ worth of newspapers and more recent memorabilia from my two daughters’ early years.
Those were good times, and the sense of community was strong inside those walls.
That sense of community is still strong in that building, where Delicias Mexican Cuisine now sits. The inside is now more colorful and vibrant, highlighted by the bright light coming though the many windows around the large dining room and the mural on the western-facing outdoor wall. The space is fresh and hip with a bar, lots of tables and a long leather bench along the northern wall where I sat.
The restaurant opened just months before the pandemic shut down indoor dining. Fortunately, it was sustained by catering to local cannabis businesses.
The owner brought out their Tamarindo chipotle shrimp taco for me to photograph, which I proceeded to do from various angles.
I got the taco to go and drove over to a local park. A gorgeous day.
The artful taco burst with flavors and textures from sweet to spicy. It was as tasty as it looks. I’ll admit I ate it with my ever-ready reusable fork I keep in my car. Is that taboo? This place could be anywhere in the Coachella Valley or greater So Cal, so all you locals out there, don’t sleep on this one.
— Taya Gray, photojournalist
South of the Border
Where: 11-719 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs
More info: southoftheborderrestaurant.com
South of the Border gives you authentic Mexican food in the middle of Desert Hot Springs.
Its cozy interior lends itself to a family dinner or a casual date night. And its menu is sure to have something of interest for everyone, with tacos, soups, salads, enchiladas, fajitas and more.
The shredded chicken tacos are a simple take on a fan favorite dish — the tortilla is filled with soft shredded chicken, lettuce, cheese and a sliced tomato, and you can ask for a side of salsas to customize how much flavor you’d like to pack in.
It’s the perfect pick for days when you just want a straightforward, classic taco.
— Ani Gasparyan, Cathedral City/Desert Hot Springs reporter
Rancho Grande Market
Where: 13-313 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs
More info: ranchograndemarket.com
As the staff at Rancho Grande start making my tacos, I’m suddenly transported 2,500 miles away.
When I close my eyes, I am in eastern North Carolina’s Skylight Inn, home of the world’s greatest barbecue.
What took me from SoCal tacos to wood-cooked barbecue? The familiar sound of rhythmic chopping of pork, a pleasantly smoky smell in the air — and the identical urge to find a picnic table and start eating as soon as possible.
No, they aren’t cutting up a whole hog like the folks at Skylight, but it is a healthy fist-sized chunk of carnitas. Next come flat strips of steak for my two carne asada tacos.
The shells are filled to bursting and topped with onions — cilantro wasn’t offered, but next time I’ll ask — and the staff puts salsa and lime wedges in the bag. All for $9.
This is strictly takeout, the counter being at the back of a busy grocer. And I’m certainly not going to wait to drive home for this lunch. After some quick sleuthing on Google’s aerial and street views, I drive to Guy J. Tedesco Park and find a shaded bench.
The three tacos are so imposing, I taste each meat by itself first. The carnitas is nicely salted but not strongly seasoned, and the carne asada has a nice char. The beef benefits from the tang added by a healthy squeeze of lime, and the kick of salsa roja helps the carnitas.
I close my eyes again, listen to the birds, feel the breeze … and keep eating.
Really, I decide later, I should have gotten two tacos; heck, they’re so big that I could’ve gotten by with one. I should take the third one home, right? Right.
And yet.
I don’t bite into the shell, but I keep picking at the carne asada until, eventually, I have to force myself to close the Styrofoam box and head to the car.
— Eric Hartley, news editor
Taqueria El Guero
Where: 13-156 Palm Drive, #3, Desert Hot Springs
More info: taqueria-el-guero.restaurants-world.com
With its tiny strip-mall storefront amid ice cream and donut shops, a diner and a Stater Bros., Taqueria el Guero could go unnoticed. But it’s worth a stop.
It’s a homey spot with friendly staff, booths along two sides and large pictures of the entrees on the wall behind the register.
To the right of the register are cases of sodas, ice cream and other desserts. I order carne asada, chorizo and al pastor tacos, plus a soda, and find a booth.
A staffer delivers the tacos, served on paper squares with a real plate underneath, topped with cilantro and onion and, on the side, radish slices and a dark salsa roja.
It’s an excellent salsa and nicely complements the beef, which is a bit bland.
The pork choices don’t need any salsa, though. The al pastor is finely chopped, with a good smoke flavor that complements the cilantro and onion. The chorizo is well cooked and tender, nicely but not overly spiced.
I reflect as I eat in a restaurant I’d likely never have found if not for this story. There’s something to be said for special outings or restaurant weeks. But there’s also a lot to be said for a good lunch, made by friendly folks, in a comfortable spot on an ordinary Monday.
— Eric Hartley, news editor
Carnicería Mi Ranchito
Where: 66-396 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs
More info: yelp.com/biz/carniceria-mi-ranchito-desert-hot-springs
The best tacos in the U.S. are sometimes whipped up behind the meat displays of a Mexican grocery store, and that’s certainly the case with Carnicería Mi Ranchito.
With no frills — visitors can take their tacos to go or pull up a folding chair at a single table — this meat market on Pierson Boulevard offers tacos with carne asada, barbacoa, pastor, chicharrón and pollo, as well as a special taco de borrego, or lamb taco. The spot also offers tortas, or Mexican sandwiches.
While every option was tempting, I went with the carne asada and al pastor options on my first visit, receiving two gorgeous tacos with cilantro, diced onion and lime (but you could probably go for three, or even four, of the small tacos if you’re hungry).
The carne asada was rich with flavor, the kind of beef your average bowl at Chipotle could only dream of having. If you’re a fan of spicy salsa, don’t miss their dark red one — it’ll add some kick to the juicy flavors of your carne asada or pastor.
While it may not have the happy hour specials or a fancy patio conducive to spending hours on end there, Carnicería Mi Ranchito takes its tacos seriously — and should be on the list for any taco connoisseur making their way through Desert Hot Springs.
— Tom Coulter, mid-valley reporter
National Taco Day 2025 deals
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: National Taco Day 2025 is here. Celebrate at these 7 Desert Hot Springs taco spots
Reporting by Ani Gasparyan, Paul Albani-Burgio, Taya Gray, Eric Hartley and Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
