When it comes to that summertime staple known as the taco, there is a wide variety of criteria that may be applied to judge its worth. This article eschews any preferential treatment to a taco that would call itself “authentic.” It is important to familiarize yourself with tradition, but one can’t be too concerned with preservation in a place like Orlando. The stunning amalgamation of cultures that shape The City Beautiful should be celebrated in every context, from a traditional al pastor to a raucous hard-shell taco swimming in queso. A fair warning, however: There are more taco shops spotting the map in Orlando than there are Hidden Mickeys in all of Walt Disney World. Not everything that is wonderful will be mentioned, but the following list is exhaustive, varied and fun.

Gringos Locos
22 E Washington St.
With several locations and hours of operation that stretch to 3am, Gringos Locos constantly delivers on quality, whether you’re stopping by for the perfect small bite or just trying to soak up some spirits after a night on the town. Their storefront is welcoming, the tacos are vibrant, and their menu isn’t afraid to have a good time. Try the Street Tacos for a bright spectrum of lime and cilantro, or the “Double D”: queso spread on a soft tortilla wrapped around a crunchy shell and filled to the brim with whatever you want. A fair submission for the single best taco in town.

Tortas El Rey
6151 S Orange Blossom Trail
There’s a 99% chance that this location used to be a Checkers. Regardless, whatever preceded Tortas El Rey has been transformed by strings of neon lights, a multitude of speakers blaring Latin music and a menu boasting an extensive list of traditional tacos: carne asada, chorizo, cabesa … the list goes on. Your meal arrives wrapped in wax paper in an attempt to avoid the inevitable waterfall of juices contained within. To fight the mess is a fool’s gambit. Just take a bite and let the bitter red of chorizo seep into your pores as your eyes roll to the back of your head.

Tin & Taco
40 West Washington St.
At just over a year old, this is one of downtown Orlando’s newest restaurants. The tacos they are serving up here employ traditional fillings, while simultaneously raiding your middle school lunch box for culinary inspiration. Gaze in awe at mountainous tacos with bases of carnitas and snow-capped peaks of Doritos, all wrapped up in fresh flour tortillas that are crusted with parmesan cheese. You no longer have to choose between a hard or soft vessel for your taco – You get both in a single bite!

Las Cazuelas
4024 S Conway Rd.
This location is tucked away in a tiny Latin grocery on Conway Rd. The market itself doesn’t offer much in the way of produce, but it delivers heftily when it comes to their made-to-order tacos. This unassuming kitchen is slinging brilliant, traditional tacos stuffed with anything from carnitas to beef tongue to nopales, a tart, briny sauté of cactus. The corn tortillas are made fresh and, in accordance with tradition, double layered to withstand the copious amount of taco filling you get for $1.75. This is a cheap and delicious pit stop.

Rocco’s Tacos
7468 W Sand Lake Rd.
This restaurant is a departure from the rest of our list. Let’s say you’ve got a new dress and, by golly, you need to wear it while eating a taco. Rocco’s Tacos is the perfect way to gussy up your taco eating experience, if need be. The tacos are quite good, the margarita menu will leave your head spinning and there’s table-side guacamole service. This location is nestled into the heart of restaurant row on Sand Lake, making it perfect for visitors to Orlando to stop by after a long day on I-Drive. Word to the wise: Rocco’s gets packed on a nightly basis, so make sure to call ahead for reservations.

Sloppy Taco Palace
4892 S Kirkman Rd.
This is a well-known haunt for locals found just outside Universal Studios. Yeah, the name sounds like it was ripped out of a Nickelodeon cartoon. The tacos here are, honestly, wrong. Picture a Taco Bell taco, quick fried, then embellished with hot, creamy queso. That’s the Sloppy Taco. On its own, it would elicit a certain amount of shame upon consumption, but swallowed in a dimly-lit dive aesthetic and chased with a cheap beer draft whilst sitting at a bar that could have only been decorated by the thousands of patrons that came before you, the Sloppy Taco starts to feel oh-so-right. Is it “authentic?” Arguably, yes. The Sloppy Taco of STP exists for one sole purpose: to make you happy. There’s nothing more honest or authentic than that.