Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez
Taco restaurant · Hillside Morningside ·
Michelin-recommended spot for tender, flavorful birria tacos
Michelin-recommended spot for tender, flavorful birria tacos
"One of the most searched MICHELIN Guide restaurants in North America, Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez is an affordable, casual Mexican spot whose specialty is wonderfully tender and flavorful birria. It is served in many forms—from tacos and flautas to tortas, burritos and quesadillas—so be sure to order the corn tortilla tacos stuffed with generous birria and topped with onion, cilantro and lime, or the quesatacos, two corn tortillas filled with mozzarella and birria crisped at the edges." - Michael He
"Surprisingly singled out for a Michelin recommendation in Texas’s inaugural 2024 ceremony, this restaurant began as Rogelio Cortez Jr.’s all-beef birria food truck and opened a brick-and-mortar in 2021 during the pandemic. The compact, all-beef menu centers on a quesabirria platter served with consumé—the tortillas are crispy and the meat is tender and melt-in-your-mouth, though the exterior could be crisper and the reviewer wished for more marinade heat; diners often praise the consumé even if this visit found it milder and less peppery than expected. The menu otherwise includes birria tacos (available without cheese) and many birria-based items—quesadillas, tortas, burritos, street tacos, chimichangas, tostadas, flautas, plus playful options like birria pizza and sliders—while sides such as Mexican rice and pinto beans are serviceable. The vibe is low-key and homespun (no reservations for most parties), with a bold, high-saturation red-and-orange interior, airbrushed murals, a large Virgin Mary mural near the women's room, rainbow-topped tables, an expansive matching patio, paper-towel napkin holders, sports on TVs, and attentive service from a well-staffed, youthful crew. Prices are excellent for Michelin-recognized food—individual birria tacos and quesabirria run under $4, a hearty plate with a soda can be had for under $20, and a $35 sampler includes an 8-inch birria pizza, flautas, two quesabirria tacos, and consumé." - Courtney E. Smith
"This spot, focused on cheesy, melty birria tacos, is a first for Michelin — no restaurant solely focused on this dish has ever landed in the guide. It serves them in trios and platters, and even as a Mexican pizza, along with spicy consomme for dipping. This taqueria is an informal spot with murals of Tejano figures on the bright red walls, mix-and-match chairs, and an unfinished look — proving a place doesn’t have to be fancy to be Michelin-worthy." - Courtney E. Smith
"Earned recommended status in Fort Worth, representing the city among Michelin's recommended spots despite the broader disappointment over the lack of stars." - Courtney E. Smith
"Named a Michelin-recommended restaurant in the inaugural Texas guide, signaling inspectors found its offerings deserving of inclusion and often resulting in greater public interest and patronage." - Courtney E. Smith
