Where to Eat Cheap Mexican Food in Madrid: 12 Taquerías Under €3 a Taco

Madrid has quietly become Europe's capital of cheap, authentic tacos. If you want real Mexican food without spending more than €10, the city has a network of street-style taquerías, birria specialists and market stalls where a taco al pastor costs between €1 and €3, the salsas are made in-house and the tortillas are pressed the same day. This guide gathers 12 verified places with their exact addresses, organised by neighbourhood, so you can plan your own taco crawl without breaking the bank.

The trick to eating cheap Mexican in Madrid isn't hunting for "set menus" — it's finding the taquerías that charge per unit: €1 at El Chaparrito (until 8.30pm), €1-2 at Takos al Pastor, €2.50 at Mami Tacos. Three tacos will fill you up; five and you're stuffed. Here are the unbeatable options, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Centro and Sol: tacos for €1-2 in the historic core

Takos al Pastor

Address: Calle de la Salud 13, 28013 Madrid (Sol/Gran Vía).
Specialities: tacos al pastor sliced straight from the trompo, carnitas, quesadillas.
Price: €. Tacos between €1 and €2.
Why it stands out: probably Madrid's most popular taquería for fast, cheap food. No reservations, queues are part of the experience, and the quality of the trompo meat is among the best in the centre. Inspired by Mexico City street stalls, Time Out routinely lists it among the city's best tacos al pastor.
IG: @takosalpastor

El Chaparrito

Address: Calle Mayor 68 Bajo, 28013 Madrid.
Specialities: tacos for €1 until 8.30pm, burritos, quesadillas.
Price: €. You'll struggle to find anything cheaper in central Madrid.
Why it stands out: unbeatable prices, casual atmosphere and a short but effective menu. Small chain with several locations (Calle Ventura de la Vega 11). Perfect for a quick stop after wandering Sol.

Taquería Mi Ciudad

Address: Calle Fuentes 11, 28013 Madrid (also Calle Hileras 5).
Specialities: tacos al pastor, quesadillas, burritos, nachos.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: considered the first authentic taquería in Europe, opened nearly 20 years ago by brothers Manuel and Tadeo Gulias. Their nixtamalised corn tortillas, made in-house, are among the city's best. Two tacos al pastor here cost less than a coffee and toast in Salamanca.

La Cochinita Loca

Address: Calle Torija 10, 28013 Madrid (also Mira el Sol 23 by El Rastro, plus locations in Tribunal, Tetuán and Carabanchel).
Specialities: cochinita pibil, tacos, enchiladas, homemade nachos.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: the cochinita pibil is the centre's best value-for-money. Their La Latina branch holds an 8.7 rating on TheFork despite being a sub-€10-per-head spot. Homely atmosphere, generous portions.
Web: lacochinitaloca.com

Malasaña and Conde Duque: birria, trompo and late-night service

Mami Tacos Birriería

Address: Calle de San Andrés 31, 28004 Madrid (Malasaña).
Specialities: tacos de birria for €2.50, quesabirria, birria ramen.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: the first birriería to open in Malasaña, run by Patricia and Gabriela (a Mexican mother-and-daughter team). The beef consommé that comes with the birria follows a family recipe. Time Out lists it among Malasaña's must-visits.
Web: mamitacosbirrieria.com / IG: @mamitacos.birrieria

Tiki Taco

Address: Calle de San Bernardo 12, 28015 Madrid (Conde Duque/Malasaña). Also Guzmán el Bueno 105.
Specialities: tacos for €1-2, burritos.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: a chain running since 2018 with a no-frills format, ideal for filling up under €8. Short menu, punchy salsas, long opening hours.
Web: tikitacotaqueria.es / IG: @tikitaco.taqueria

Lavapiés: tacos in proper neighbourhood bars

Antigua Taquería

Address: Calle Cabestreros 4 Bajo, 28012 Madrid (Lavapiés).
Specialities: tacos for €1.50-2, premium tequilas in the evenings.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: at lunch it's a simple taquería inside an old neighbourhood bar; at night it turns into a tequilería. Capacity for 60, pure Lavapiés atmosphere. Arguably the best value-for-money-and-vibe combination in the area.

Chamberí and Argüelles: trompo in independent shops

Trompo Tacos

Address: Calle de Gaztambide 35, 28015 Madrid. Also a stall at Mercado San Leopoldo (C. de San Leopoldo 8).
Specialities: trompo tacos, al pastor.
Price: €. Sello Copil 2025.
Why it stands out: started as a market stall at Mercado San Leopoldo and grew into its own shop thanks to demand. The trompo spins in front of you and tacos are sliced to order. The Casa de México Foundation awarded it the Sello Copil, the seal recognising authentic Mexican kitchens in Spain.
IG: @trompo.taco

Vallecas: home of Spain's taco champion

Valletako

Address: Mercado Numancia, Calle de Josefa Díaz 4 (units 5 and 24), 28038 Madrid.
Specialities: oxtail birria taco (Spain's national taco champion 2024), tacos al pastor, suadero.
Price: €. Sello Copil.
Why it stands out: winner of the 2024 Spanish Taco Championship with its oxtail birria. Sitting inside Mercado Numancia in working-class Vallecas keeps prices well below central Madrid. A must if you're in the south-east of the city.

Portacos

Address: Calle de Josefa Díaz 4 (Mercado Numancia), Vallecas.
Specialities: craft tacos with freshly pressed tortillas.
Price: €. Sello Copil.
Why it stands out: Vallecas's second great taco name. Shares the market with Valletako and has become a fixture for locals. Holder of the Casa de México's Sello Copil.

Mercado Antón Martín: market-stall antojería

Cutzamala Mex Food

Address: Mercado Antón Martín, Calle de Santa Isabel 5, 28012 Madrid (basement level).
Specialities: carnitas, cochinita pibil, tinga, al pastor, courgette flower and huitlacoche quesadillas.
Price: €.
Why it stands out: a hidden gem in the basement of Mercado Antón Martín since 2014. Salsas are 100% homemade, with a 2-for-1 happy hour Mon-Fri 6-8pm and Saturdays 8-9pm. 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor. This is where local Mexicans actually go when they want to eat well and cheaply.
Web: cutzamexfood.es / IG: @cutzamala_mex_food

How to eat cheap Mexican in Madrid: practical tips

• The €1 trick is real, but time-limited: El Chaparrito does €1 tacos only until 8.30pm. Takos al Pastor goes up to €2 after 10pm at weekends. Get there early and take advantage.
• Order per unit, not by set menu: set menus at taquerías usually run €10-15; ordering 3-4 individual tacos costs €6-9 and lets you try more variety.
• Vallecas and Tetuán are the cheapest neighbourhoods: prices can drop 20-30% versus the centre. Valletako, Portacos and La Cochinita Loca (Tetuán) are good examples.
• Birrierías need a booking at weekends: Mami Tacos usually has queues Saturday and Sunday. Arrive before 1.30pm or after 4pm.
• Salsas, salsas, salsas: in any authentic taquería, the salsas are the quality indicator. Industrial bottles? Bad sign. Small bowls that get refilled in front of you? Excellent sign.
• Drinks add up: a craft michelada is €4-6, a Mexican Coca-Cola €2-3, a Modelo beer €3. Factor it into your budget.

Getting around and typical opening hours

Most of these taquerías are well connected by metro: Sol, Tribunal, Lavapiés, Argüelles and Pacífico cover almost every option. Standard service is lunch 1.30-4pm and dinner 8.30-11.30pm, although the street-style places (Tiki Taco, El Chaparrito, Antigua Taquería) tend to stay open all afternoon. Vallecas and Mercado Antón Martín close earlier (around 10pm).

Want to cook Mexican at home?

If trying these places makes you want to cook tacos al pastor at home, we have an authentic tacos al pastor recipe, a traditional cochinita pibil and many more in our 700+ Mexican recipes. And if you're looking for fresh tortillas or dried chillies, see our guide to Mexican shops in Madrid.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you eat tacos for under €5 in Madrid?

El Chaparrito (Calle Mayor 68) does €1 tacos until 8.30pm — three tacos costs less than €4. Takos al Pastor and Tiki Taco also serve tacos in the €1-2 range.

What is the oldest taquería in Madrid?

Taquería Mi Ciudad (Calle Fuentes 11) opened nearly 20 years ago and is considered the first authentic taquería in Europe, founded by brothers Manuel and Tadeo Gulias.

Where do you find the best birria taco in Madrid?

Valletako, inside Mercado Numancia in Vallecas, won Spain's 2024 National Taco Championship with its oxtail birria taco. Mami Tacos Birriería in Malasaña is the best central option.

Are there cheap, authentic Mexican taquerías in Lavapiés?

Yes. Antigua Taquería (Cabestreros 4) serves tacos for €1.50-2 in a neighbourhood bar. Cutzamala, in nearby Mercado Antón Martín, is another excellent choice with a 2-for-1 happy hour.

How much does it cost to fill up at a cheap Madrid taquería?

Three or four individual tacos (between €1 and €2.50 each) plus a drink will run under €10. Add a quesadilla or guacamole starter and you're still below €15 per head.