Puget Sound's top tacos al pastor revealed
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Tacos from Taqueria El Huarache (top), El Mezcalito (right) and El Moose took the top al pastor spots. Photos: Courtesy of Jabil Kairuz
Eastside resident Jabil Kairuz set out this summer to find the best tacos al pastor in Puget Sound, eating 121 tacos, spending $521 and logging 720 miles in an effort to crown the region's champs on Reddit.
Why it matters: Kairuz's Western Washington taco odyssey is part of a growing wave of passionate amateurs who are reshaping the way people discover food — one map, spreadsheet and social media post at a time.
How it works: Kairuz researched and then ranked 87 taco contenders on meat, tortilla, toppings, value and price during the two-month project that wrapped with an Aug. 20 Reddit post.
- His criteria: well-seasoned, juicy pork with heat and "plenty of smoky, charred bits."
- Toasted tortillas with a "deep roasted corn flavor."
- A balanced ratio of finely chopped onions, cilantro and sweet, juicy pineapple throughout the taco.
The fine print: Some popular spots fell in Kairuz's rankings because he considers pineapple essential — and docked any taqueria that skipped it.
The bottom line: El Mezcalito in Queen Anne and El Moose in Ballard were his favorites based on the tacos alone, while Taqueria El Huarache in Silverdale came in best for overall experience, value and service.
- He praised Taqueria El Huarache's tongue-searing mango habanero salsa, spit-roasted meat and the best service he's had in Washington.
- "Taqueria El Huarache is the place I look forward to revisiting the most purely for the inviting atmosphere," he said.
What they're saying: Kairuz's Reddit rankings were met with hundreds of comments and nearly 2,000 upvotes as of Wednesday afternoon, with Redditors thanking him for his service and shouting out their own favorites.
- "As a PNW native, I am a fan of Taco Time ("TT") but I would never pretend it belongs on this list," one commenter noted.
- "Doing gods work," another Redditor wrote. "Do gyoza next!"
By the numbers: Before moving to the Seattle area, the 29-year-old had ranked burgers, pizza and barbecue spots for friends and was encouraged to do the same here.
- Last year, he posted his Seattle best burger list on Reddit, expecting maybe 100 views, he tells Axios.
- It drew more than 700 comments and nearly 5,000 votes.
One restaurant told him it sold five times more burgers than usual in the weeks that followed.
Catch up quick: Tacos have become some of Seattle's trendiest bites, with lines stretching two blocks at popular spots, says Seattle Times food writer Tan Vinh, who once ate 500 tacos for his own definitive list.
- Local taco love has as much to do with food economics for vendors and diners as social media personalities spreading the word, says Vinh.
- "Food costs so much in Seattle, with high labor costs and a high minimum wage, that a lot of dishes don't make sense economically," Vinh told Axios. "But tacos still do. You can get two or three for $10, and it's a hearty lunch."
The bottom line: Seattle may never rival Mexico City, but its taco game is getting real, and local aficionados like Kairuz are here to help.