Discover 10 Restaurants With the Best Tacos Árabes in Puebla, Mexico

If you’re a fan of tacos al pastor and Lebanese shawarma, then you need to try tacos arabes (Arab tacos) in Puebla. For lack of a better term, it’s the “transitional dish” that evolved from Lebanese shawarma and into tacos al pastor, arguably the most popular type of taco in Mexico.

While Mexico City is considered the birthplace of tacos al pastor, tacos arabes are originally from Puebla. Like mole poblano, chiles en nogada, cemitas, and chalupas, it’s one of the most important Poblano regional dishes and something that you absolutely need to try when you visit Puebla.

You’ll find tacos arabes shops everywhere in Puebla City. I lived in the Azcarate neighborhood for a time so I was able to visit almost two dozen restaurants in and around the Historic Center. These ten are my favorites.

WHAT ARE TACOS ÁRABES?

Tacos arabes (Arab tacos) are the predecessor of tacos al pastor. It evolved from the Lebanese shawarma and refers to a dish made with slices of pork grilled on a vertical spit called a trompo. It’s traditionally served in pan arabe (pita bread) with lime juice, one or more salsas, and occasionally radish slices.

Tacos arabes became a part of Mexican cuisine thanks to the large number of Lebanese immigrants that settled in Puebla and other parts of Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They brought with them their shawarma-making tradition which ultimately evolved into tacos arabes.

Tacos arabes are essentially shawarmas made with pork instead of sliced roasted lamb. Lamb isn’t typically consumed in Mexico so early immigrants tried making it with beef instead. That didn’t work out so well either. It wasn’t until pork was used did tacos arabes become widely accepted in Mexico.

Based on my research, the very first tacos arabes were served by La Oriental, a restaurant that was founded in 1933 and is still open to this day. It used to be located directly in front of Puebla Cathedral but has since moved one block away, right next to the zocalo (main square). It’s now known as La Oriental, la cuna del Taco Árabe.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TACOS ÁRABES AND TACOS AL PASTOR?

As described, tacos al pastor evolved from tacos arabes. Mexico City experienced a culinary boom in the 1960s and one of the dishes that was invented and popularized during that time was the taco al pastor.

Second-generation Lebanese immigrants opened restaurants and began experimenting with the original recipe for tacos arabes. They used a chili marinade for the pork and substituted pan arabe with corn tortillas. They served it with onions, coriander, and a slice of grilled pineapple and created what we now know today as the taco al pastor.

Tacos al pastor have become such a popular dish in Mexico that younger generations of Mexicans believe that it’s 100% a Mexican dish. Many don’t realize that the dish actually has Lebanese roots, and it all started with tacos arabes.

Due to its shape, the vertical pork spit is called a trompo, which is the Spanish word for a “spinning top”. In the picture below, you can visually discern the difference between trompos used for tacos arabes (two on the right) and tacos al pastor*.

The pork for tacos arabes are more simply seasoned, typically with garlic, onion, oregano, thyme, and cumin. Tacos al pastor trompos are more orange in color thanks to the meat being marinated in a mixture of chilis, achiote, vinegar, orange juice, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs.

*The tacos al pastor trompo in the picture below is considerably smaller but size has nothing to do with the differences between the two. Trompos for either can vary in size.

WHAT IS A TACO ORIENTAL?

In Puebla, you’ll often see “tacos oriental” on restaurant menus. This just refers to tacos arabes served in corn tortillas. They’re made with the exact same meat as tacos arabes but they’re served in smaller corn tortillas.

Many restaurants in Puebla will give you the option of having tacos arabes in pita bread (pan arabe), corn tortillas, or flour tortillas. Personally, I think pita bread works best for tacos arabes. They’re puffier and chewier in texture and go very well with the taste and texture of the meat.

Pictured below are two tacos arabes and one taco oriental. Because of the size difference, tacos orientales are considerably cheaper than tacos arabes (usually around half).

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST TACOS ÁRABES IN PUEBLA

10. Taqueria San Juan

Taqueria San Juan is a hole-in-the-wall that offers one of the best deals for tacos arabes in Puebla. They have an ongoing promotion where you can get two tacos arabes for just MXN 24.

Their tacos arabes aren’t the biggest but at just MXN 12 per piece, they’re one of the cheapest.

Taqueria San Juan offers deals on tacos orientales and tacos al pastor as well. You can get three pieces of each for just MXN 20.

Taqueria San Juan is located about a 10-minute walk northeast of the zocalo. It isn’t the most hygienic-looking restaurant but they do offer one of the best deals for tacos arabes in Puebla.

Taqueria San Juan

Address: Av. 4 Ote. 802, Centro, 72000 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 24 for two tacos arabes

9. Taqueria y Jugueria “Los Angeles”

As its name suggests, Los Angeles is a restaurant that specializes in tacos, smoothies, and fresh fruit juices. They serve tasty tacos arabes with five different housemade salsas.

The tacos arabes at Los Angeles are a good size and go for MXN 29 per piece. You can also get them with cheese for MXN 45 each.

I love the different salsas at Taqueria y Jugueria “Los Angeles”. They really amp up the flavor of the tacos arabes.

Taqueria y Jugueria “Los Angeles” has two outlets in the Historic Center. Pictured below is the larger branch located about three blocks east of the zocalo. It’s one of the more contemporary-looking restaurants you’ll find in the Historic Center.

Taqueria y Jugueria “Los Angeles”

Address: Av. Don Juan de Palafox y. Mendoza 608B, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 3PM-1AM, Sun-Fri / 3PM-2AM, Sat
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 29 per taco arabe

8. El Taco Poblano

Like Taqueria San Juan (#10), El Taco Poblano offers one of the best deals for tacos arabes in Puebla. They offer a promotion where you can get two decent-sized tacos arabes for just MXN 30.

El Taco Poblano is located about three blocks south of the zocalo. Like Taqueria San Juan, it isn’t the most hygienic-looking restaurant but it does offer one of the cheapest deals for tacos arabes in the city.

El Taco Poblano

Address: Av 9 Ote 2, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 10:30AM-9:30PM, daily
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 30 for two tacos arabes

7. Taqueria Katy

I lived in the Azcarate neighborhood and Taqueria Katy was one of my go-to places for tacos arabes in Puebla. It’s located just a block away from the best traditional market in Puebla – Mercado Municipal la Acocota.

Taqueria Katy doesn’t offer two-for-one deals but their tacos arabes go for just MXN 16 apiece. It’s a great place to go for tacos arabes after visiting La Acocota Market.

Taqueria Katy is located in Barrio de los Remedios, about a 20-minute walk east of the zocalo.

Taqueria Katy

Address: Calle 18 Nte 50, Barrio de los Remedios, 72377 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 12NN-10PM, daily
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 16 per taco arabe

6. Tacos Beyrut

Tacos Beyrut is a small taqueira with a focused menu. They basically offer just two things – arabes meat and falafel. You can enjoy their arabes in tacos arabes, tacos orientales, and tortas arabes (sandwich).

Pictured below is their taco arabe and taco oriental. The taco arabe goes for MXN 24 while the taco oriental is priced at MXN 15. Both are delicious but in my opinion, I think arabes meat goes best with pita bread.

Just by looking at this trompo, you know that the tacos arabes at Tacos Beyrut are going to be delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trompo this neatly stacked anywhere else in Mexico.

Tacos Beyrut is about a 10-12 minute walk west of the zocalo. It’s located directly in front of the beautiful Christus Muguerza Hospital UPAEP in downtown Puebla.

Tacos Beyrut

Address: Av 5 Pte 718-A, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla
Operating Hours: 5:30-10PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 24 per taco arabe

RELATED ARTICLE: Discover 20 Awesome Things to Do in Puebla, Mexico

5. Taqueria El Jardin

Taqueria El Jardin is a bit of a walk from the zocalo so I only recommend going here if you have plenty of time in Puebla. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall with just one or two tables inside.

Most locals park their cars in front and get their tacos arabes to go. As far as I can tell, they only serve tacos arabes and have a predominantly local clientele, which is always a good thing.

The tacos arabes at Taqueria El Jardin go for around MXN 15 per piece. They aren’t the biggest tacos but they’re one of the most delicious. They’re smokey and super flavorful.

Taqueria El Jardin is literally a hole in the wall. As far as I can tell, there’ no sign outside so it’s best to navigate to the restaurant using Google Maps. It’s located about a block east of La Acocota Market.

Taqueria El Jardin

Address: 72377, C. 20 Nte. 402, La Acocota, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 12NN-10PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 15 per taco arabe

4. Don Pastor

Don Pastor is one of the most fun restaurants you can visit in Puebla. It’s a polished and well-branded chain that serves traditional taqueria fare like tacos, alambres, cemitas, and queso fundido. They’re known more for their tacos al pastor but they serve delicious tacos arabes as well.

At MXN 32 per piece, the tacos arabes at Don Pastor are one of the priciest on this list but they’re also among the biggest.

You can get a better sense of the taco’s size in this picture. Two of these bad boys should be enough for most people.

What makes the tacos at Don Pastor truly special are their sauces. No matter what taco you get, you can enjoy them with these six delicious housemade sauces.

Don Pastor has several branches in Puebla but I recommend going to the outlet directly in front of Puebla Cathedral. It’s one of their biggest branches and offers something that the other outlets don’t. Keep scrolling to see what I mean.

I absolutely love the branding and interiors of Don Pastor. The brand has the same energy and fun vibe as lucha libre wrestlers.

I’ve been to three Don Pastor branches and only the Puebla Cathedral outlet has this seating area designed to look like a subway car. Isn’t it cool? Unfortunately, it’s the most popular seating area at the restaurant and is almost always full.

Don Pastor

Address: C. 16 de Septiembre 203, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla
Operating Hours: 11AM-11:30PM, daily
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 32 per taco arabe

3. Tacos El Chino

Compared to Don Pastor, there’s nothing flashy or eye-catching about Tacos El Chino but they do serve some of the tastiest tacos arabes in Puebla. They’re smokey and absolutely delicious. At just MXN 17 per taco, they’re also one of the cheapest.

Tacos El Chino is about a 10-minute walk southeast of the zocalo.

Tacos el Chino

Address: C. 4 Sur 708, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1-11PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 17 per taco arabe

2. Taqueria “Los Camellos”

Taqueira “Los Camellos” is located about a couple of blocks away from our former apartment in Azcarate. It’s one of my absolute favorite taquerias in Puebla.

Taqueria “Los Camellos” serves fantastic tacos arabes (pictured below) but their house specialty is a variation of the dish they like to call camellos (Spanish for “camels”). Keep scrolling to see what that is.

Pictured below is one order of camellos. Each order comes with two pieces of tacos arabes (MXN 45) or tacos orientales (MXN 38) made with cheese. I’m not sure why they call them “camels”, but it may have something to do with their resemblance to two camel humps when folded.

If you order camellos, you can request for one of the tacos to be filled with al pastor meat for variety. No matter what type of taco you get, they’ll serve them to you with a side of fresh chili peppers and grilled onions which go so well with the tacos.

I absolutely love these camellos and get them about once a week. Two tacos are never enough so I usually get two orders of camelllos (four tacos total).

Taqueria “Los Camellos” is a bit far from the zocalo, about 25-30 minutes on foot. The good news is that it’s just a block away from Parque Ecologico, the biggest and most beautiful park in Puebla City.

People visiting on a day trip won’t have the time but if you’re staying longer in Puebla, then I highly recommend visiting Taqueria “Los Camellos” and Parque Ecologico. Parque Ecologico is home to the ArboTerra which is one of the best but least-known attractions in Puebla City.

Taqueria los Camellos

Address: Calle 24 Sur 703, Azcarate, 72501 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 10AM-7PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 20 per taco arabe

1. Taqueria Tu Momento

EDITOR’S NOTE: (11 August 2022) Taqueria Tu Momento makes amazing tacos but they seem to keep irregular hours. Their listed hours are 11AM-8PM but they were closed at 1PM on a Thursday. Bear that in mind if you’d like to eat here.

Taqueria Tu Momento is one of the newer restaurants on this list. I found it by accident when I was walking to another taqueria. I’m so happy I found this gem because they serve some of the best tastiest arabes and tacos al pastor I’ve had so far in Puebla.

You won’t find many online reviews for Taqueria Tu Momento yet, but you will soon. Their tacos arabes are absolutely delicious.

The tacos arabes at Taqueira Tu Momento are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when eaten with any of the restaurant’s three housemade salsas.

Taqueria Tu Momento is located in a quieter part of the Historic Center, about a 10-15 minute walk west of the zocalo.

Taqueria Tu Momento is a small restaurant that’s more contemporary in feel. It’s definitely worth seeking out if you’d like to try some of the best tacos arabes in Puebla.

Taqueria Tu Momento

Address: C. 7 Sur 908, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Operating Hours: 11AM-8PM, daily
Expect to Pay: Around MXN 23 per taco arabe

RELATED ARTICLE: Everything You Need to Know About Tipping in Mexico

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST TACOS ÁRABES IN PUEBLA

While tacos al pastor may be the most popular type of taco in Mexico City, in Puebla, it’s definitely tacos arabes.

Mole poblano and chiles en nogada may be the more celebrated dishes but if you have a soft spot for comforting food like tacos, then you’ll definitely want to try tacos arabes as well. Together with cemitas, it’s easily one of my favorite dishes in Puebla.

If you’re a fan of tacos al pastor and shawarmas, then I have a good feeling you’ll enjoy these too.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this guide to the best tacos arabes in Puebla are affiliate links. What that means is that we’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Authenticity is important to us so we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves. We really appreciate your support as it helps us keep this free Puebla travel website going. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing!