Tacos are one of the few foods that I could eat every night of the week without getting sick of them. Why? Because no two tacos are the same. One of my goals this semester is to branch out from the same few places I eat every week and find some new favorite dining spots. I figured there was no better way to start than finding my favorite New Orleans taco.
Turns out, it’s impossible to pick just one place. Of course, everyone’s perfect taco will be a little different, but two places really stand out from the rest: Rum House and Barracuda. You’ve probably already heard of — if not been to — Magazine Street’s delicious Rum House. It’s definitely a favorite of many Tulane students and I’ve recently discovered that it’s worth the hype.
My favorite thing about Rum Houses tacos is the variety. It was hard to pick just a few from the long list of unique tacos; one taco even has french fries on it! There’s no doubt I’ll have to go back to try the rest of their amazing creations. However, I chose extremely well because their Duck Duck Goose taco is probably my favorite taco ever, and I’m not just talking in New Orleans! Something about the sweet sauce and crunchy texture makes it absolutely amazing.
My newfound love for Rum House goes further than just one taco, though. The atmosphere is lively and family-friendly, with a good amount of outdoor seating that is perfect for a warm day on bustling Magazine Street. Their menu also stretches far beyond just tacos, so even though I highly suggest trying them, there are plenty of other meals to choose from.
Rum House Tip: Get there early to beat the lines, especially during the weekends. My friends and I went for an early Saturday dinner at 5 o’clock and didn’t have to wait at all!
Another New Orleans taco place that also blew me away was Barracuda, and it definitely rivals Rum House in amazing flavors and the perfect environment. I truly don’t believe there’s anything you can order off their menu that will disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first bite of these tacos; the richness of the flavors in the meat is really what makes them shine in my mind.
The restaurant is completely made up of outdoor picnic bench seating and is perfect to enjoy with a big group of friends on a nice day. Their chips and salsa are also phenomenal, even after I polish off all the chips I’m tempted to keep eating the salsa by the spoonful. I also recommend upgrading at least one of your tacos to “deluxe” for $1, which adds even more flavors to the mix.
Barracuda Tip: I strongly recommend going during happy hour (Tuesday-Friday 3-6:30), because they give amazing deals on food and drinks!
Although Barracuda and Rum House are the best in my mind, there are a few places I like to go when I’m looking for a more casual, and less expensive taco experience. I’ve heard mixed reviews about Juan’s Flying Burrito: you either love it or hate it. Personally, I really enjoyed the tacos I had, and it was the perfect between-class excursion for me.
I also recommend heading over to Chilangos Bar & Grill on Taco Tuesday for amazing deals. Although their tacos are pretty simple, they’re still really tasty… and even better when you find out they are only $1 each on Tuesdays! Another perk is that it’s walking distance from campus, right over on S. Carrollton.
Cover Photo: Renee Bunszel
About Renee Bunszel
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
