TAQUERIA TIJUANA

Hoppen Hierarchy: ★★★★

Streets tacos & other Mexican dishes

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout

Standout Dishes: Adobada Gordita; Asada Taco; Cachete Taco; Adobada Torta; Lengua Taco

Taqueria Tijuana is a classic example of a “two-order” restaurant. You make an original order you assume will fulfill your taco cravings. But as you consume the final bites, you realize you’re not ready for this meal to be over. This food is so delicious, you convince yourself you have room for a little more, regardless of whether you’re still hungry or not.

Such is the power of the flavors coming out of the kitchen at Taqueria Tijuana. The proteins are so distinct and delicious and there are so many to try, it’s near impossible to convince yourself not to go back for a few more bites.

A critical component of the incredible taco scene in South Omaha, Taqueria Tijuana is located at the corner of 17th and Q, and it feels like a party from the moment you enter the building. The walls are painted with bright, vibrant colors and various piñatas hang from the ceiling; the place just seems fun.

But it’s not until you sit down and begin to peruse the menu that the real party begins.

Your options here are essentially broken down into two components: the protein and the delivery device. This gives you seemingly endless options and an inevitable fear of ordering FOMO (another reason for that second order).

Taqueria Tijuana Menu Items

As the name suggests, Taqueria Tijuana is known best for its Tacos, which are similar in size and nature to traditional Mexican street tacos. Meant to be eaten on the go, these tacos are smaller (about 3-4 bites), constructed with two corn tortillas, and stuffed with meat, cilantro, and onions (lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese need not apply).

The tortillas serve their purpose brilliantly; soft and pliable, they don’t rip or tear and add a pleasant chewiness. Taqueria Tijuana also adds fresh guacamole for a fatty, creamy element.

It’s easy to fill up on five or six tacos, but there’s plenty more to explore on Taqueria Tijuana’s menu. Take, for instance, the Gordita, a sandwich constructed from grilled homemade masa dough. These tortillas have a bit more cornmeal for some extra strength and bite, and they’re served with lettuce, crema, and queso fresco. The kicker, though, is the melted cheese on the bottom layer, which brings a gooey fattiness.

The Torta essentially takes all the delicious elements of a taco and puts them between two pieces of a crusty roll that is pleasantly soft on the interior. The Sope, a fried masa “bowl” that’s is stuffed with meat, crema, lettuce, and queso fresco, gets a nice fatty finish from the deep fry without becoming oily. The restaurant also offers burritos and quesadillas.

Taqueria Tijuana Meats

The proteins are where Taqueria Tijuana really shines. Each is bursting with flavor, yet distinctively unique from the rest.

Adobada (marinated pork): marinated in a thick chili mixture, this pork has a charred, crisp exterior while remaining succulent inside. Rich, buttery, and with a subtle sweetness, it’s brilliant.
Cachete (beef cheek): Fatty and luscious, this meat is somewhat similar in flavor to brisket. With a rich beefy-ness, it has wonderful mouthfeel.
Asada (grilled steak): Peppery, tender, and juicy, this grilled steak is among the best of its kind in Omaha.

Lengua (beef tongue): The idea of eating tongue might turn off some diners, but it shouldn’t. This delicious meat is soft and springy, similar to traditional beef steaks, and it’s rich and bursting with umami.
Birria (stew meat): Slowed cooked in a stew until its practically falling apart, birria meat is usually a bit sweet, spicy, and a little sour. It’s surprisingly mild, however, at Taqueria Tijuana, and is among the least flavorful of the proteins.
Buche (pork stomach): With a bit of toothsome chewiness and offal-forward flavor, this protein might not be for everyone. But when combined with the creaminess of the guac and the sharp bite of white onions, it’s actually quite pleasant in a taco.

And while the flavors of each item can stand on their own, they’re only enhanced with Taqueria Tijuana’s provided hot sauces. The green adds a herbaceous fresh note, while the orange provides some habanero-forward heat.

What’s special about Taqueria Tijuana is it allows diners to craft unique meals on each visit. Each protein is distinctively unique, and it will be represented in a different manner based on which form you order it in.

The sheer amount of customization ensures that you’ll never have the same meal twice at Taqueria Tijuana (unless, of course, you want to). And the prices are extremely reasonable; each taco is under $3, gorditas and sopes under $5, and tortas and burritos run about $8. You can easily get a filling, delicious meal for $15 or less.

Of course, that depends what your second order consists of. And based off my experiences, you’re going to want a second order.