Taquiza keeps things simple: handmade tortillas, really good tacos, and blue corn chips I could eat my body weight in.
This Taquiza Miami North Beach review is about a casual taco spot that focuses on doing a few things extremely well. It’s a casual, walk-in taco shop in North Beach where the tortillas are made in-house, the flavors are bold, and the food comes out fast enough that you can easily stop here between beach time and whatever you’re doing next.
It’s simple. It’s casual. And the food is genuinely excellent.
Taquiza is located in North Beach, a little outside the main South Beach area. If you want the flexibility to explore different neighborhoods around Miami, renting a car can make getting around much easier. I’ve found some really good rental car deals here.
Taquiza is located in North Beach and operates exactly how a good taco spot should.
You walk in, order at the counter, grab a table, eat your tacos, and go on with your day. It’s indoors, walk-in friendly, and perfect for a quick lunch after the beach. We’ve gone with just the two of us and also with friends, and it works either way. This isn’t a long sit-down dinner. It’s quick tacos done right.
And the craftsmanship shows up immediately in the tortillas. Taquiza makes their masa in-house, which means the tortillas actually taste like something instead of just holding the fillings together. That alone makes a huge difference.
The restaurant was even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, which makes sense once you taste the food. The focus here is clearly on authenticity and quality ingredients — no shortcuts.
Because Taquiza makes their masa in-house, the tortillas have real flavor and structure. They’re soft but sturdy enough to hold everything together without falling apart halfway through your taco.
And once you start ordering, it’s hard to stop.
Do not skip these.
The heirloom blue corn chips are hand-torn and fried so they’re crispy on the outside but slightly soft in the center. They’re thick enough to scoop up guacamole without snapping in half — which, honestly, is the bare minimum requirement for a tortilla chip but somehow still rare.
They also have real corn flavor. Paired with the guacamole? Chef’s kiss. I could genuinely eat my body weight in these chips.
The carnitas are slow-braised pork cooked with orange and cinnamon.
It’s savory with a little depth of sweetness, juicy without being greasy, and packed with flavor. If you like traditional carnitas tacos, this is a very solid choice.
Pastor is the grilled achiote-rubbed pork topped with pineapple.
This is the classic taco option here. It’s slightly smoky, slightly sweet, and really balanced. If it’s your first time at Taquiza, you can’t go wrong starting here.
The barbacoa is braised brisket cooked with chiles and warm spices.
It’s rich, hearty, and deeply flavorful. If you like slow-cooked meats and stronger seasoning, this one delivers.
One of the things I always notice here is the mix of locals and visitors. That’s usually a good sign.
No one is super dressed up. It’s beach casual — cover-ups, flip flops, shorts — and you can walk in straight from the beach without feeling out of place.
The restaurant itself isn’t loud or flashy either. There are no neon signs or party music, and you won’t see giant margarita towers being carried around the dining room. People are here for tacos. And that’s exactly why it works.
The focus stays on the food: the homemade masa, the quality of the meat, and the fact that the tortillas actually taste like something instead of disappearing into the background.
If I’m in Miami Beach and craving tacos, this is where I’m going.
If you’re planning more food stops while exploring the city, you might also want to check out my guide to where to eat in South Beach Miami for other restaurants worth adding to your list.
Tacos are typically around $5–$6 each, which is pretty reasonable for Miami Beach.
They make them fast, so you’re not waiting forever. It’s very much an order, eat, and go type of place.
We walked there or used Uber, so I can’t personally speak to the parking situation. Since it’s North Beach, street parking is likely your main option if you’re driving.
If you’re planning to explore more of Miami beyond North Beach, renting a car can make things easier. I usually compare prices through Discover Cars to see rental options in one place, especially if I want the flexibility to explore different neighborhoods.
The restaurant is also kid-friendly — as long as your kids actually like authentic Mexican tacos. This isn’t a plain cheese taco situation. The flavors are bold and traditional.
If you're planning your food stops around Miami, you might also want to see my full review of Café Bastille Downtown Miami for one of my favorite brunch spots near the cruise port but they also have a location in South Beach.
If you want loud margaritas and party tacos, this isn’t it. If you want handmade tortillas, quality meat, and blue corn chips you’ll still be thinking about later — go here. Taquiza is casual, quick, and really good.
And it’s one of those places I would absolutely go out of my way for.
If you’re planning a longer Miami trip and mapping out where to eat, you can also check out my Miami 3 Day Itinerary for more restaurant stops and things to do around the city.
Haywood Smokehouse is the BBQ spot that ruins you for every other BBQ spot. Lean brisket so tender it doesn’t need the fat, fried pork ribs you won’t find anywhere else, and don’t sleep on the banana pudding for dessert.
Save this before your next Waynesville or Dillsboro trip 🍖🔥
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
