Birria tacos have exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming a viral food sensation across social media. But what exactly are these meaty, cheesy tacos all about? Here’s a deep dive into the components that make up authentic birria tacos.
The Meat
The star of birria tacos is undoubtedly the meat. Birria tacos are traditionally made with beef, specifically beef brisket or chuck roast. The meat is slowly braised for hours until ultra tender and full of flavor from a seasoned chile-based broth known as birria. This slow cooking process gives the meat its signature soft, pull-apart texture.
While beef is traditional, birria tacos can also be made with goat or lamb meat. Goat (chivo or cabrito) birria is common in the Mexican state of Jalisco, while lamb birria originates from the state of Michoacán.
No matter what meat is used, it must be cooked slowly in a seasoned broth to infuse it with maximum flavor. The broth typically contains dried chiles, spices like cumin and oregano, garlic, onion, and orange juice or vinegar to provide tanginess.
The Tortillas
Birria tacos are served on small corn tortillas. The tortillas are ideally double layered so they don’t become soggy from the juicy meat and can contain all the fantastic flavors. Traditionally, the tortillas are lightly fried in the remaining birria broth to make them pliable, add a crispy edge, and infuse them with meaty flavor.
You can use store-bought corn tortillas for birria tacos. However, taking the extra step to fry fresh tortillas in the leftover broth yields next-level results and is worth the effort.
The Cheese
Ooey, gooey melted cheese is imperative for birria tacos. The most common cheese choice is mozzarella, Mexican queso Oaxaca, or a combination of the two. These stringy, melty cheeses provide the satisfying pull apart strands when layered in the tacos.
Other cheese options can include Monterey jack, cheddar, cotija, or queso fresco. The key is to use a cheese that fully melts and provides plenty of cheesy coverage in each taco.
The Salsa
A flavorful salsa is essential as a topping for birria tacos. There are many salsa options that pair well. Some popular choices include:
- Salsa verde – made from tomatillos and green chiles
- Salsa roja – made from tomatoes, chiles, and spices
- Pico de gallo – freshly chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and chile peppers
- Guacamole – ripe avocados, onion, lime juice, cilantro, and salt
The salsa adds freshness and acidity to balance the rich, fatty meat and cheese. A dollop of salsa in each taco adds flavor, texture, and moisture.
The Garnishes
No taco is complete without garnishes and birria tacos are no exception. Some popular garnishes include:
- Chopped white onion
- Cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Crumbled cotija cheese
- Diced avocado
These garnishes provide pops of color and bursts of bright, fresh flavor. They help cut through the meaty richness and add textural interest.
The Consomé
One of the hallmarks of birria tacos is that they’re typically served with a side of consomé for dipping. The consomé is simply the leftover flavorful broth from cooking the meat.
By serving birria tacos with ramekins of the broth, you can dip the tacos to moisten them and add an extra punch of seasoning. The meaty, spicy consomé takes the tacos to the next level.
How to Assemble Birria Tacos
Now that we’ve covered the components, let’s discuss how to properly assemble birria tacos:
- Warm the tortillas in the birria broth or lightly fry them.
- Add a layer of hot, shredded birria meat onto each tortilla.
- Top the meat with shredded melting cheese like mozzarella or Oaxaca.
- Place the cheesy tacos open faced on a tray and broil until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and top with desired salsa and garnishes.
- Fold or roll the tacos closed.
- Serve immediately with ramekins of consomé for dipping.
Proper layering and broiling ensures the cheese melts beautifully over the meat so you get hot, cheesy bites in each taco.
Birria Tacos FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about birria tacos:
What cut of meat is best for birria?
Beef brisket or chuck roast work best as they become tender after slow cooking.
Do you need special tortillas for birria tacos?
No, you can use regular store-bought corn tortillas. Frying them in the broth makes them extra flavorful.
Can you make birria tacos without consomé?
Yes, but serving them with consomé for dipping is highly recommended. The broth takes them to the next level.
How long does birria meat take to cook?
Birria meat needs to cook low and slow for 2-3 hours until very tender.
How do you keep birria tacos from getting soggy?
Use two tortillas per taco, fry the tortillas to make them sturdier, and don’t overfill them with brothy meat.
Variations
While traditional beef birria tacos are standard, there are some popular modern spins and variations to try:
- Goat birria – Made with tender, flavorful goat meat
- Lamb birria – Uses fall-off-the-bone tender lamb
- Vegan birria – Uses jackfruit, mushrooms, or soy protein crumbles
- Quesabirria – Birria served over cheese quesadillas
- Birria ramen – Birria broth with noodles and slices of meat
- Birria pizza – Birria meat and cheese baked over a pizza crust
The possibilities are endless! Birria meat makes a fantastic taco filling but can also elevate other dishes.
How Popular are Birria Tacos?
Originally from the state of Jalisco, birria tacos have skyrocketed from a local specialty to an international phenomenon. They’ve become a huge food trend that has taken over social media and given rise to “birria everything” – birria ramen, birria pizza, and more.
Several factors have contributed to their surge in popularity:
- Their photogenic look with dripping cheese pull apart strands.
- Their incredible savory, spicy flavor profile with lots of seasoning.
- Their indulgent, comfort food appeal.
- Their versatility to be adapted into various dishes and fusion recipes.
Food lovers just can’t seem to get enough of these meaty, cheesy tacos. Their popularity shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Where to Find the Best Birria Tacos
From food trucks to high end restaurants, you can find tasty birria tacos across North America. Here are some top spots to get your birria fix:
Los Angeles, California
With a large Mexican population, Los Angeles is birria taco heaven. Top spots include:
- Burritos La Palma – Classic Jalisco style birria
- Sonoratown Tacos – Trendy fusion birria tacos
- Birrieria Gonzalez – Goat birria specialist
San Diego, California
As another California foodie hub, San Diego offers delicious birria like:
- Tuetano Taqueria -Beef birria
- Tacos El Gordo – Tijuana-style birria
- Lola 55 – Gourmet birria tacos
Dallas, Texas
Texas does bold, meaty flavors well. Top Dallas spots are:
- Revolver Taco Lounge – Creative birria tacos
- Maskaras Mexican Tacos – Authentic birria
- Resident Taqueria – Trendy birria fusion
Chicago, Illinois
Even the Midwest has hopped on the birria train. Chicago favorites are:
- Birrieria Zaragoza – Classic Jalisco-style birria
- 5 Rabanitos – Goat and lamb birria
- Birria-Landia – Specializes in birria only
The best birria really comes from authentic Mexican restaurants and taco trucks. But many modern restaurants are also putting gourmet spins on classic birria that are worth trying.
Birria Tacos Nutrition
Like most tacos, birria tacos can be high in calories, fat, and sodium since they feature meat, cheese, tortillas, and flavorful salsas. Here is the nutrition breakdown for a typical serving of 2 birria tacos:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 500 |
| Total Fat | 35g |
| Saturated Fat | 15g |
| Protein | 25g |
| Carbohydrates | 30g |
| Fiber | 3g |
| Sodium | 1300mg |
Birria is a high fat, high protein meal. While delicious, it’s best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, especially for those concerned about heart health or sodium intake.
How to Make Birria Tacos at Home
Want to recreate these viral tacos at home? Here is a simple recipe and step-by-step guide:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast or brisket
- 3-4 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 1 dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded
- 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Beef broth or water
- Corn tortillas
- Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges for serving
Instructions:
- In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast guajillo, ancho, and chipotle chiles until fragrant, about 2 minutes per side. Remove stems and seeds. Place chiles in a blender with a bit of water and blend to make smooth.
- Add cumin, oregano, garlic, onion, bay leaves, salt, and pepper to a blender with the chile puree. Blend well until a thick paste forms.
- In a large pot, cook beef with enough water or broth to submerge. Add blended chile paste and bring to a simmer.
- Gently simmer beef for 2-3 hours until extremely tender, skimming fat as needed. Remove beef from liquid and shred.
- Cook tortillas in broth until softened. Fill with beef, cheese, salsa, cilantro, and onion. Serve with lime wedges and extra broth for dipping.
With this easy homemade recipe, you can enjoy insanely delicious birria tacos any time.
Conclusion
Birria tacos have become a cultural phenomenon, and for good reason – their incredible flavors make them downright addictive! Authentic birria combines chile-infused meat, melty cheese, and fresh garnishes for a truly unforgettable taco experience. While they may not be the most healthy option, they are an indulgent, comforting meal full of complex flavors. Hopefully this guide has provided all the info needed to understand what makes birria tacos so special.
