SIP ON THIS

This next one’s bursting with flavor. The Tacos Chilangos at Cascada

in Placerville have all the staples of a good taco: juicy meat, a hint of spice, and flavorful accompaniments. Here, sautéed steak and chorizo with onions, jalapeños, mushrooms, tomatoes, and jack cheese are piled into corn tortillas. One bite of these and you’re in taco heaven. cascadainplacerville.com 

We love a tried-and-true taco. We also love those with a twist. So, when we House’s Spicy Sriracha Shrimp

Tacos, you know we’re making a beeline for them. Grilled Srirachaglazed prawns are complemented by a summery, sweet mango salsa, pickled red onions, lettuce, and a piquant roasted green chili sauce. Get in my belly, already! folsomtaphouse.com

saw Crisped Corned Beef Tacos on the menu at Goose Port Public House

in Roseville, we had to put them to the test. Contrary to what you might think, these tacos are anything but dry and exude flavor—especially when paired with Cotija cheese, salsa, and lime. Taco ’bout tasty! gooseport.com  We’ll never say no to shrimp tacos. And when they’re Folsom Tap

Folsom’s Rock-N-Fire might be famed for their pizzas, burgers, and wings, but did you know they serve tacos, too? The Carnitas Tacos—which boast delicately tender braised pork that’s seasoned to perfection, Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, and pico de gallo on soft corn tortillas—are particularly praiseworthy. Understated, yet undeniably tasty, these are worth a try. rocknfirerestaurants.com

Sip on This Must-Try Mezcals

BY MEGAN WISKUS

Tequila’s smoky cousin mezcal is having a moment. Try the agavebased spirit from the comfort of your crib by buying one of these STYLE-tested, and approved, bottles.

Casamigos Mezcal Espadin

$59 at Whole Foods Market, 270 Palladio Parkway, Folsom, 916-984-8500; 1001 Galleria Boulevard, Roseville, 916-781-5300, wholefoodsmarket.com Balanced and elegant with delicate notes of smoke, which lead to a long, silky finish.

Wahaka Mezcal Espadin

$39.99 at Bourbon Wine & Spirits, 5005 Foothills Boulevard, Suite 2A, Roseville, 916-742-4993, bourbonwineandspirits.com Made with 100% certified organic espadin agave; equal parts smoky, earthy, and sweet.

Se Busca Joven Mezcal

$44.99 at Rocklin Bottle Shop, 5060 Rocklin Road, Suite A, Rocklin, 916-824-2726, rocklinbottleshop.com Cooked agave and mesquite on the nose, this young mezcal opens with a palate of nuts, fruit, and green vegetables and lands in a sweet, weighted finish with a mellow but spicy kick.

Mezcal Vago Elote by Aquilino Garcia Lopez

$64.98 at Fork Lift, 3333 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, 530-672-9090, forkliftgrocery.com Toasted, nutty aroma with flavors of roasted corn and a rich, silky mouthfeel.

Pescado Tacos at Bar 101 in

Roseville; they shouldn’t be this good. Crispy beer-battered cod is topped with pico de gallo, cabbage, jack cheese, and a delightful house-made sauce on corn tortillas. Throw in a squeeze of fresh lime and you’re somewhere coastal, sipping on a margarita, and digging your toes in the sand. bar101roseville.com

La Rosa Blanca in Folsom stays true to its roots and serves up Mexican fare without the bells and whistles. Modest yet flavorful, their Tacos de Papa are a house specialty and a simple, satisfying treat. The crispy tacos are filled with a combination of seasoned potatoes and smoky chorizo and served with rice and beans. Sounds filling? That’s because it is. 916-673-9085

There’s no wrong order at Nixtaco in Roseville (even their vegan tacos are topnotch), but the Pork Belly Taco is our current go-to. Made from slow-roasted belly that’s chilled, sliced, then seared to order, they’re glazed with a chipotle, star anise, and coriander-infused honey glaze and served with grilled cheese, refried beans, peanut chipotle aioli, and scallions on a scratch-made tortilla (with corn ground in-house). If variety is the spice of life, Nixtaco reigns supreme. nixta.co

You really can’t go wrong with the Tacos Americanos at Zócalo.

Crispy tacos cradle succulent braised chicken, lettuce, serrano salsa, crema, pico de gallo, Jack and Cotija cheese, and their homemade hot sauce. Once you start shoveling one of these babies into your mouth you’ll be hooked. zocalotogo.com  There’s something fishy about the

MORE MUY BUENO TACOS

Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, Placerville,

pacosmexicancuisine.com ORDER THIS: Tacos del Norte Corn tortillas dipped in California pepper salsa, grilled, and stuffed with your choice of meat; topped with pico de gallo, Cotija cheese, and sour cream.

Santa Maria Taqueria, Meat &

Groceries, Placerville, facebook. com/santamariataqueriaaypapa ORDER THIS: Chorizo Street Tacos Choose from original red or spicy green chorizo on a corn tortilla topped with onions, cilantro, and green and red salsa.

Chando’s Cantina, El Dorado Hills, chandoscantina.com

ORDER THIS:

Ensenada Shrimp Tacos Beer-battered, deep-fried shrimp, fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, and tangy sauce; served on handmade tortillas.

La Calle, Folsom, facebook.com/ lacallefolsom ORDER THIS: Birria Tacos Stewed beef with melted Jack cheese, onions, and cilantro; served with an au jus for dipping.

El Favorito Taqueria, El Dorado

Hills, 916-790-8835 ORDER THIS: Super Taco Your choice of meat, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes on a soft corn tortilla.

Roundhouse Deli, Roseville,

theroundhousedeli.com ORDER THIS: Tri-Tip Tacos Tri-tip, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and homemade salsa.

El Burrito Taqueria, Roseville,

elburritotaq.com ORDER THIS: Crispy Tacos Your choice of meat, melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.