“I’ve been in town for 25 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an event with such diversity and so family-oriented,” reflects Marcos Rodriguez of Hola! restaurants on last year’s first-ever Central Oregon Taco Fest. Rodriguez is organizing the burgeoning festival, which is set to extend to two days in 2025 in Bend’s Old Mill District, May 10 and 11.  This year’s full weekend celebration of Latin culture will once again feature fun for the whole family, taco trucks and other food vendors, beer and tequila tastings, handcrafted margaritas, Chihuahua dog races, mariachi bands, a family tent with art and crafts, a Selena competition, dancing and even luchadores (Mexican wrestlers). 

Aiming to highlight and celebrate the rich cultural tradition of Latin America, the Taco Fest is also an opportunity for the entire community to savor the flavors of some of Central Oregon’s best tacos. Tacos from El Sancho, Hola!, Sopa Mexican Cuisine, Esta Bien and Tacos El Nava, and pastries and sweets from Panaderia y Pasteleria El Moy will be available. Rodriguez looks forward to seeing everyone happy and having a good time again this year. “Seeing hundreds of people of all ages dancing at the same time is just wonderful,” he smiles. 

When it comes to taco joints, Bend serves up some solid options. Here is our roundup of some local favorites around town. 

Hola! Nouveau Mexican Peruvian Cuisine: Taquitos 

Authentic Peruvian cuisine meets bold Mexican flavors at Bend’s longtime award-winning Hola! At their full-service sit-down locations in Bend and Redmond, enjoy everything from Guacamole Fresco and traditional ceviche to taco salad and enchiladas to Chile Relleno. In the taco department, you can order chicken, pork or shredded beef with rice and beans. Or, for a fun twist on traditional tacos, try the Hola! taquitos. Taquito is also known as taco dorado, flauta or rolled taco. The Hola! rolled tacos are filled with chicken, fried to perfection and topped with sour cream, queso fresco, lettuce and salsa. Wash it down with an Hola!-signature margarita or Latin cocktail such as the Pisco Sour. 

Hola! has locations in Downtown Bend, the Old Mill District, Redmond and Camp Sherman. Visit holabend.com for more information. 

El Sancho: Beef Barbacoa Taco

A longtime Bend fave since 2010, El Sancho was one of Bend’s first local food carts. Their mission? To provide the community with high-quality Mexican street food at a decent price sustainably. Along with pork carnitas, carne asada, chorizo, grilled fish, fried shrimp, potato & poblano rajas, mushroom, lengua, chipotle chicken, and Oaxacan cheese tacos, El Sancho is famous for their Beef Barbacoa tacos. This shredded brisket taco is served simply with guajillo salsa, the perfect condiment for the tender, melt-in-your-mouth Well Rooted farms beef. A squeeze of fresh lime and a handful of napkins is all you need to enjoy this tasty taco!  Get your El Sancho fix at their westside taco shop on NW Galveston, at the taco shack at Crux Fermentation Project, and at events and festivals all around town. Be on the lookout for the reopening of their Eastside taco shop, which is being rebuilt after a fire in the summer of 2024. 

El Sancho is located at 1254 NW Galveston Ave. in Bend and Crux Fermentation Project at 50 SW Division Street in Bend. Visit elsanchobend.com for hours and more information. 

Tacos Pihuamo: Adobada Tacos 

Tacos Pihuamo is another family-owned taco restaurant on wheels that has built a loyal following over the past decade in Bend. A visit to this truck is an authentic street food experience. Service is friendly and fast, and the food is simple, abundant, and delicious. The adobada, or red pork tacos, feature pork marinated in a flavorful adobo sauce full of chilies and spices. It’s the biggest little taco you’ve ever seen!  A huge pile of pork and soft, cooked onions are mounded on top of two handmade corn tortillas. A thick slice of fresh radish, lime, and a shot of their signature bright green sauce top off this filling taco. Of course, if pork is not your game, there are carne asada, pollo and birria tacos, several burrito options, quesadillas and tortas. 

Tacos Pihuamo is located at 950 SE 3rd Street in Bend. Open weekdays at 10 a.m. Call (541)390-9992 for more information. 

alebrije Oaxaca: Chorizo Taco 

This small, family-owned restaurant on wheels is a colorful staple in the food cart lot adjacent to the Bunk+Brew Historic Lucas House just a couple of blocks from downtown Bend. Whether you’re a guest at the house or a local looking for a quick downtown lunch, alebrije Oaxaca is a true gem. They have a huge menu with everything from traditional dishes to burritos and quesadillas to several vegan options and, of course, a handful of taco choices. All the tacos start with handmade six-inch soft corn tortillas topped with onion, cilantro and guacamole (upon request), along with whichever meat or veggies you want. The chorizo taco is piled high with crunchy, flavorful chorizo crumbles with just the right amount of spice. Try the mild green sauce on the side and a squeeze of lime for the perfect bite. 

alebrije Oaxaca is located behind Bunk + Brew at 42 NW Hawthorne in Bend. Open daily at 12 p.m. Visit alebrijeomt.com or call (541) 749-7592 for more information. 

Sopa Mexican Cuisine: Birria Tacos 

Birria tacos have surged in popularity in recent years, and one of Bend’s favorite birria taco spots is Sopa Mexican Cuisine, a permanent food truck at River’s Place on Bend’s east side. Offering a plethora of tacos, burritos, and other specialties, the Sopa birria taco plate is a standout menu item. One order consists of four corn tortillas filled with birria, cilantro, and onions and served with a bowl of velvety, flavorful consomé for dipping. Each tortilla is filled with juicy, slow-cooked meat and then fried until crispy on the flat top. Birria, originating in Jalisco, Mexico, is a meat stew or soup historically made with goat or beef marinated in vinegar, dried chilies, garlic, herbs, and spices cooked in a broth. Street carts, known as birrierías, exist throughout Mexico. Many variations of the dish now exist, and the birria taco is at the top of many taco lovers’ lists. 

Sopa Mexican Cuisine is located at River’s Place, 787 NE Purcell Blvd. in Bend. Open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m. Visit sopamexican.square.site or call (541) 306-0569 for more information. 

The Central Oregon Taco Fest is taking a break in 2025 but will return to the Old Mill District on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Admission is $25 for adults and free for children under 12 years old. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at centraloregontacofest.com or on the day of the event.