Merced area has one of the top taco spots in US, Yelp says. Who made the list?
From tender carne asada to crispy carnitas and cheesy birria that drips with flavor, the Merced area has no shortage of spots serving up flavorful Mexican food.
According to Yelp reviewers, a local favorite is among the best taco destinations in the country.
One Merced County food truck landed a spot on Yelp’s list of the country’s Top 100 Taco Spots 2025.
“California leads the US in the highest number of top taco places on the list, with 45 of the 100 favorite spots,” Yelp said in its report.
Here’s which Merced-area spot made the list:
Merced-area food truck is among top spots for tacos in US
La Jalisciense, 12845 Highway 33 in Santa Nella, landed in the top 25 on Yelp’s 2025 list of best taco spots in the United States, ranking at No. 24.
The popular food truck in Santa Nella has built a loyal following for its tacos, burritos and other Mexican food favorites, with an overall 4.9-star rating on Yelp.
Menu items include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, nachos and sopes, with meat options including asada, al pastor, lengua, birria and carnitas.
Yelp reviewers praised both the flavor and quality of the food, calling La Jalisciense “a definite must-try.”
“Highly recommend this place,” Yelp user Berit D. wrote in a five-star review. “It was probably one of the best Mexican food places we’ve ever had. We’ll definitely be going back if we are in the area again.”
Another Yelp reviewer called the food truck “an absolute gem” for travelers.
According to DoorDash, menu prices range from about $3.45 for a taco topped with onion, cilantro and salsa to roughly $17.25 for a protein bowl with a double helping of meat and toppings.
“My friend recommended this place and said they have the best tacos around,” Yelp user Tina T. wrote. “The prices are pretty good. I was highly impressed.”
“Everything was delicious and it looks like it’s been made with much care and love,” the Yelp reviewer added. “I’m definitely coming back anytime I drive by!”
Where are top 10 taco spots in the US?
Nearly half of Yelp’s top 100 taco spots in the country are located in California.
“Home to a whopping 45 top spots this year, California is taco country,” Yelp said. “California is setting trends for all kinds of tacos — including street-food styles that are popular in Mexico.”
Yelp said the Golden State’s wide variety of taco styles, from traditional street tacos to Baja-inspired seafood creations, make California stand out.
California also dominated Yelp’s top 10 taco destinations in the country, claiming half of the spots on the list.
Here are the eateries that ranked among the nation’s top 10 taco destinations:
- Birrieria Familia Castro in North Hollywood
- Birria-Landia in Brooklyn, New York
- Paprika ATX in Austin, Texas
- Roundhouse Deli in Roseville
- Holbox in Los Angeles
- Jalapeños Sonora Grill in Glendale, Arizona
- Taqueria El San Luis in Savannah, Georgia
- Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos in Juneau, Alaska
- Niko’s Tacos in Roseville
- Mariscos El Chito in Los Angeles
How did Yelp rank the top taco spots?
Yelp said it created its list of the top 100 taco spots in the country by analyzing food businesses with a high number of reviews mentioning the word “tacos.”
The rankings were based on several factors, including the total number of reviews, overall ratings and customer feedback related to tacos.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Merced area has one of the top taco spots in US, Yelp says. Who made the list?."
