Best Trash Taco:  Taco Cabana

Rating: A+

The ground beef is at the perfect level of saltiness, and the tender and well-grilled tortilla is wrapped in foil, keeping this trashy taco perfectly soft without getting soggy, while the meat is succulent and downright juicy. This is everything a trash taco should be. The tomato and lettuce taste fresh, and the cheese is melty from the hot, meaty filler. We were amazed by this taco, and are still kind of craving one. Plus, it's less than $2 per taco.


Hard Shell Taco

Jack in the Box

Rating: C

Is this meat? This can't possibly be meat. It almost has the texture of beans. There is a cult of Jack in the Box taco worshippers. Apparently Americans eat 554 million of these tacos a year. Maybe because four of them will set you back only $2.38, a fairly good deal if you down them right away and don't stop to think about the ramifications of such poor eating habits.

Taco Bell

Rating: C

Again with that lettuce on the verge. Though the meat has a better texture than Jack in the Box's, there is something about the shell that just seems inedible. It's like if you got the Taco Bell taco box set from Kroger and tried to eat the taco shells without heating them first, basically. That and the meat turns the outer edge soggy.

Best Hard Shell: Taco Cabana

Rating: B+

The shell wasn't entirely crunchy, but this hard taco was a whole hell of a lot better than its competition, with the same salty beef crumbles as Taco Cabana's soft taco offering. The soft taco is obviously the better option here, but if you're jonesing for the hard shell, this is probably your best bet in town.


Wildcard/Mex Tacos: It's a Tie, actually

El Rey's Ropa Vieja Taco

Rating: A+

El Rey does a handful of tacos really well, and relatively cheap ($2.85/taco), from al pastor, with big chunks of fatty pork, to the dense carnita (pictured). But it's the ropa vieja that won our hearts, with spicy, seasoned meat offset by fresh purple cabbage and cilantro for a glorious and addiction-worthy drive-thru taco. This is the must-order taco when it comes to fast-food spots on Washington, hands down; just be prepared for a less than stellar wait time.



Gerardo's Drive-In's Barbacoa Taco

Rating: A+

At this unassuming eatery and convenience store, barbacoa is the specialty, and it's definitely worth the trip for lunch. A perfectly griddled tortilla — your choice of corn or flour — and a selection of prepared salsas that are creamy, spicy and dreamier than most in town make this well-executed street-style taco one of the best you'll find in the Loop. Plus, three tacos will only set you back a little more than $7 (tax included), which is pretty incredible. Take them to go or eat them at a table while catching some fútbol on the television.

Best Overall: Taco Cabana's Soft Taco

While it was a tough decision between the top three tacos, Taco Cabana was actually the most impressive and pretty surprising, considering that the fast-food chain never really gets that much cred. The flavor and quality of this meat came across as leaps and bounds above the local fast-food competition, and the tortilla seems to defy the fact that this is fast food at all, retaining an authentic, taqueria-like quality. It's on the cheaper side at $1.89, and the location at 3905 Kirby is verified fast, efficient and good for drive-thru. Enjoy those cheap eats, and find the overall rankings below.

Overall Rankings:

1. Taco Cabana soft taco
2. Gerardo's barbacoa
3. El Rey ropa vieja
4. Taco Cabana hard shell
5. El Rey carnita and El Rey al pastor taco
6. Jack in The Box hard shell
7. Taco Bell hardshell
8. W Grill steak soft taco
9. Taco Bell soft taco
10. Whataburger chicken fajita taco