You don’t need to throw an extravagant fiesta on Cinco de Mayo in order to savor a selection of Mexico’s finest cuisine. America loves pizza, pasta and burgers, but tacos are the only food with its own day of the week. They are the perfect canvas for culinary creation, and no one ever has filed bankruptcy after a trip to a taqueria. Spokane is ripe with national chains and corner taco stands who are putting meat in tortillas, but there are a few standouts adding a little love to their salsa. Here’s a list of the places you don’t want to skip.

Cochinito Taquieria—WINNER

10 N. Post St. 

More than a year ago, Chef Travis Dickinson mentioned to me he was moving forward with his plans to open a taqueria. I couldn’t imagine a plate of tacos showing up at my table that enveloped the level of execution and presentation I entrusted at his former restaurant, Clover. Cochinito is a strange experience: casual counter-service in a family friendly atmosphere—but fine-dining level food and cocktails. Where else can you get miso and sake marinated black cod taco with black trumpet soy puree and fried ginger? 

Borrachos Tacos & Tequileria

211 N. Division St.

If you’ve spent time in Spokane’s most popular walkabout district of downtown, you’ve probably popped in Borrachos for one of their in-house infused tequilas, but you should kick yourself if that trip didn’t include at least one of their street tacos. A cold cerveza and Mexican food is one of the best combinations in existence and there is no better place to indulge in both without breaking your pocket book. Do people still have pocket books? 

De Leon Foods

2718 E. 57th Ave.

Planning to make tacos? De Leon’s has the perfect model. Buy all the authentic Mexican ingredients you could foreseeable need in their market, then make a pit stop at their deli to taste how the professionals do it. Dress up your carne asada over at the salsa bar or grab a fresh bag of the tortillas they make in-house daily. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the hatch pepper festival they throw every August. 

Tacos El Sol

3422 N. Division St.

Tacos El Sol might have started as Downtown Spokane’s premier taco truck, but they now have a brick and mortar abode for us to worship their tacos. Since the word “Sun” is in their name, there is no guilt in waking up early for a trip up division for Spokane’s best lengua. Cow tongue might sound over-the-top to some, but complex marinated spices and rich chewy texture makes for the perfect street taco.

Choo Choo Tortas

10621 E. Sprague Ave.

As a resident of Spokane Valley, I’m constantly trying to defend our beloved restaurants against some of the bigger inner-city spots. Choo Choo stands for itself with some of the best tortas and tacos in town. These campechano tacos are my favorite on the menu with carne asada, spicy chorizo sausage and marinated nopales (cactus). Make sure to swing by their entire wall of hot sauces.