Complete Guide to Birria Tacos in Greater Milwaukee

Milwaukee has quietly become one of the Midwest's best cities for birria tacos. Since 2020, when the California-born "red tacos" trend arrived via food trucks, the metro area has developed a thriving birria scene spanning from South Side taquerias to suburban food parks. This guide covers more than 25 spots—brick-and-mortar restaurants, food trucks, and pop-ups—across Milwaukee proper, the North Shore, West Allis, Waukesha County, and surrounding suburbs.

The South Side remains the heart of Milwaukee's Mexican food culture, particularly along Burnham Street, National Avenue, and the 5th-11th Street corridor. But excellent birria has spread outward, with Romero's Taco Truck operating five locations and BelAir Cantina bringing creative preparations to Brookfield and Oak Creek. Whether you're after authentic goat birria from Jalisco or fusion creations like birria ramen and pizza birria, Milwaukee delivers.

The award winners every family should visit first

Three establishments have earned the most recognition from local critics and national platforms. Chucho's Red Tacos won Milwaukee Magazine's 2025 Readers' Choice Award for Best Food Truck and is widely credited with popularizing birria in Milwaukee when it launched in September 2020. Owners Jesus and Thaime Nañez serve beef, chicken, and even vegan hibiscus birria at their main location (4511 S. 6th Street) and a second spot inside Ope! Brewery in West Allis. Their signature quesitaco—a hybrid of quesadilla and taco with melted cheese—has developed a cult following. Hours are 11 AM–9 PM daily at the Milwaukee location.

Chucho's Red Tacos

Lazo's Taco Shack (641 N. James Lovell Street, near downtown) earned Yelp's designation as the "Best Taco Spot in Wisconsin" in 2024, specifically for their birria. Run by Jose Lazo, a retired Milwaukee police officer and Marine veteran, along with his daughter Jozelyn, this family operation uses lamb in their birria—a traditional preparation featuring warming spices like cinnamon and bay leaf. Wednesday is the day to go: four birria tacos for $14.50. Reviewers consistently praise their housemade horchata as the best in the city.

Urban Milwaukee declared El Tlaxcalteca (1300 W. Burnham Street) "perhaps the best place in town to order birria." Located inside the El Rey Food Mart plaza, this colorful restaurant offers the city's most extensive birria menu: traditional tacos, quesabirria, birria ramen, birria nachos, and two showstopping items you won't find elsewhere. The pizzabirria ($22–26.50) is a two-foot handmade tortilla quesadilla, while the machete ($28.50) is a massive oval-shaped fresh masa creation. Open daily 9 AM–9:45 PM.

South Side Milwaukee

The South Side neighborhood between Burnham Street and National Avenue contains the highest density of authentic Mexican restaurants in Wisconsin. Beyond the award winners, several spots deserve attention.

Taqueria El Cabrito (1100 S. 11th Street) is the go-to for traditionalists. "El Cabrito" means "the young goat," and this 24-year-old establishment specializes in authentic goat birria (birria de chivo) at $10.75—the traditional Jalisco preparation that predates the trendy beef versions. The owners hail from Jalisco, Mexico, the birthplace of birria. Opening at 7 AM daily makes this an excellent hangover cure destination. On Taco Tuesdays, all 13 taco varieties drop to $2 each.

Catrina Cafe (606 S. 5th Street) opened in December 2023 inside Snifters tapas bar, bringing birria to a brunch-focused concept with beautiful Day of the Dead murals. Their quesabirria pairs perfectly with the housemade bloody Marys and micheladas. Hours run 8 AM–4 PM Monday through Tuesday and 8 AM–9 PM Wednesday through Sunday, with happy hour starting at 2 PM. A patio opens spring 2025.

Carnitas Mi Pueblo (831 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive) has been a fixture since 2000, reopening under its current name in January 2024. They open at 6 AM—the earliest birria option in the city—and are expanding to a second location at 8412 W. Morgan Avenue.

For an upscale experience, Tavo's Signature Cuisine (5814 W. Bluemound Road) offers gourmet Mexican in a tiny space with just 4–5 tables. Chef Gustavo "Mr. Tavo" Camacho serves birria quesadillas with consommé using meticulously trimmed, high-quality meat. Walk-ins only; closed Mondays.

Food trucks bring birria across the metro

Milwaukee's food truck scene offers families flexible options throughout the metro area. Birrieria La Tia Juana, launched in March 2023, parks at 39th and Burnham and has quickly developed a devoted following. Owners Karla Martinez and Christian Lara moved from Tijuana, Mexico—the actual birthplace of the birria taco—and their oversized tortillas (the size of small plates) reflect authentic Tijuana style. They're typically open 9 AM–7 PM or until sold out. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for location updates.

Romero's Taco Truck offers the widest geographic coverage with five locations spanning the metro:

• West Allis: 10840 W. Rogers Street, (414) 630-7310

• Wauwatosa: 6700 W. State Street, (414) 731-4649

• New Berlin: 15525 W. National Avenue, (414) 877-4966

• Greenfield (full restaurant): 4171 S. 76th Street, (414) 316-9277

• Fond du Lac: 794 S. Main Street, (920) 952-1343

Owned by Alex and Carmelo Romero, who started during the pandemic in May 2020, their birria ramen and quesabirrias are the most popular items. All recipes represent diverse Mexican regional cuisines. Check romerostacotruck.com or their Facebook for daily updates.

Mexi-Cali Grill parks regularly at 92nd and Capitol Drive and bills itself as the "Home of the Birria Tacos." Originally launched in 2017 as Taqueria La Guacamaya, owners Carilyn and Luis Ortega rebranded in 2021 to spotlight their birria. They're opening a permanent location at the Eleven25 food court (1125 N. 9th Street) in the Brewery District in 2025.

Mazorca Tacos at Zócalo Food Park (636 S. 6th Street) distinguishes itself with handcrafted corn tortillas made fresh to order. Co-founded by first-generation Mexican-American owner Jesus Gonzalez, their birria tacos come with pickled red onions in a Yucatán-influenced style. The vintage 1950s trailer and the food park's bocce court and full bar make this an ideal family destination. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday.

Suburbs options

Families in Wauwatosa should start at Mex Avenue (11200 W. Burleigh Street), a newer fast-casual restaurant in the Mayfair collection area. Their quesabirria taco plate runs $14.75 and birria ramen is $12.00. Open 10 AM–9 PM daily. Also watch for a second Mex Avenue opening at Crossroads Collective (2238 N. Farwell Avenue) on the East Side.

Waukesha County residents have Taco Jalisco (801 W. Moreland Boulevard, Waukesha) for budget-friendly authenticity—single quesabirria tacos at $3.50 or a dinner with three tacos, rice, and beans for $13.99. Add consommé for $2. Hours are 10 AM–9 PM weekdays and 9 AM–9 PM weekends.

For upscale birria with creative twists, BelAir Cantina in Brookfield (250 High Street at The Corners) offers Milwaukee-born fusion. Their birria rolls—wonton-wrapped birria with consommé and sriracha crema—run $10.80. The quesabirria includes unexpected ingredients like BBQ sauce and Frito chips. A second location serves Oak Creek. Weekend brunch starts at 10 AM.

Oak Creek families should also try Cocina Caliente (1000 E. Rawson Avenue), where the birria chimichanga has earned enthusiastic reviews for tender, juicy meat.

Taqueria y Chimichangas Ashley (2535 S. 108th Street, West Allis) offers birria as a filling option across their menu—tacos, burritos, tortas, and chimichangas—with three birria tacos served alongside refried beans, Mexican rice, and consommé.

Recent openings and what's coming next

Daily Taco + Cantina opened in November 2024 in Thiensville (105 W. Freistadt Road), bringing birria to the far northern suburbs. From the owners of the cheel in Thiensville (Barkha and Jesse Daily), this Guadalajara-focused concept offers both lamb and Wagyu beef birria at $14.50 for three tacos, a burrito, or a bowl. The lamb version uses a traditional marinade with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

El Coqueto is expected to open in late 2025 near Kosciuszko Park in the former Taqueria la Salsa space, led by Diana Villegas Coronel, with birria and quesabirria on the menu.

The Eleven25 food court in Milwaukee's Brewery District will add permanent locations for both Mexi-Cali Grill and El Tapatio in 2025, consolidating food truck favorites under one roof.

How to track food trucks and catch pop-ups

Follow these social media accounts for real-time location updates:

• @chuchosredtacos on Instagram (16,000 followers)

• @mazorcamke on Instagram (4,500 followers)

• Birrieria La Tia Juana on Facebook and Instagram

• Romero's Taco Truck on Facebook

Zócalo Food Park (636 S. 6th Street) operates as Milwaukee's first permanent food truck park with rotating vendors. Check zocalofoodpark.com for the current lineup. Open Tuesday through Sunday with heated huts in winter.

West Allis Food Truck Fridays run eight summer Fridays at the West Allis Farmers Market (6501 W. National Avenue), 5–8 PM, featuring 18+ rotating trucks. Free admission with craft beer from Ope! Brewing.

Milwaukee Taco Fest is the premier annual event, held each September at Henry Maier Festival Park. The 2024 edition marked the 10th anniversary, with Chucho's, Birrieria La Tia Juana, Mexi-Cali Grill, and Romero's among the vendors. Tickets range from $25 (general) to $125 (Super VIP). The 11th annual fest is expected in September 2025.

Quick reference by category

Best overall birria tacos: El Tlaxcalteca, Chucho's Red Tacos, Lazo's Taco Shack

Traditional goat birria (birria de chivo): Taqueria El Cabrito, La Guelaguetza

Birria ramen: El Tlaxcalteca, Chucho's Red Tacos, Birrieria La Tia Juana, Romero's Taco Truck

Creative/innovative: El Tlaxcalteca (pizzabirria, machete), BelAir Cantina (birria rolls), Tavo's Signature Cuisine

Budget-friendly: Taco Jalisco in Waukesha ($3.50 tacos), Taqueria El Cabrito ($2 Taco Tuesday)

Best for families with kids: Zócalo Food Park (playground nearby, casual atmosphere), BelAir Cantina Brookfield (kid-friendly setting), Mex Avenue (fast-casual counter service)

Late night: Señor Gorditos (1801 E. North Avenue) serves birria tacos, quesadillas, and nachos for the after-hours crowd

Brunch with birria: Catrina Cafe, Daily Taco + Cantina

Widest suburban coverage: Romero's Taco Truck (5 locations)

Conclusion

Milwaukee's birria scene has matured from a pandemic-era trend into a permanent fixture of the city's food landscape. The South Side remains essential—no birria tour is complete without El Tlaxcalteca's machete or Taqueria El Cabrito's authentic goat preparation—but the spread of quality options to Wauwatosa, Waukesha, and beyond means families across the metro area can find excellent birria close to home.

For first-timers, start with Chucho's Red Tacos for the quintessential Milwaukee birria experience, then work outward based on geography and preference. The consommé—that rich, spiced dipping broth—is non-negotiable: it transforms good tacos into transcendent ones. And with new spots like Daily Taco + Cantina extending the trend northward and permanent food court locations coming to the Brewery District, Milwaukee's birria options continue to grow.