Street Tacos (Carne Asada)
Authentic carne asada street tacos that are juicy, bold, and unbelievably easy. Just marinate, grill, slice, and pile into warm tortillas with onions, cilantro, and lime. This is Taco Tuesday at its best! From such simple ingredients comes an authentic taste that can’t be beaten.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Street tacos are one of my husband’s absolute favorites. When he lived in Imperial Beach, California, he would dip into Tijuana almost every weekend. And there would be a taco stand on nearly every corner. He still talks about the smoky carne asada, the smell of tortillas warming on the griddle, and the simple toppings of onion, cilantro, and lime.
That unforgettable experience inspired us to recreate the same flavor at home, and the best part is how easy it is to do. With just a quick marinade, a good cut of steak, and fresh tortillas, you can have tacos that taste every bit as authentic as the ones from a street corner in Mexico. They’re perfect for Taco Tuesday, backyard gatherings, or any night you want bold flavor without a lot of fuss.
He actually dug up a pic from all those years ago:
What To Serve With These Tacos
Some dishes that pair well with these tacos are our Easy Mexican Rice and our Creamy Jalapeno Cilantro Dip, which are pictured with these tacos. You could even toss in a side of some amazing street corn and/or some Borracho beans to round out the entire meal!
The ingredients you use are readily available and found at your favorite grocery store.
How to Make Carne Asada Street Tacos
Toppings
Authentic Mexican street tacos are served with a topping of freshly chopped onions, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges. But if you like, you can top them with the following suggestions.
- Guacamole
- Fire Roasted Salsa
- Sour cream
- Fresh jalapeno
- Pico de gallo
- Cotija cheese
Tips
- Use fresh tortillas: If you have a Hispanic market nearby, buy fresh corn tortillas. The flavor is miles better than packaged ones. Flour tortillas are good, corn tortillas are better!
- Don’t skip the rest: Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juices stay in the meat.
- Slice against the grain: Essential for tender carne asada.
- Grill > stove: You can cook this inside, but nothing beats the flavor of grilling over an open flame.
Variations
- Try it using chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Just follow the recipe as instructed.
FAQ’s
A street taco is a traditional Mexican taco that is served on a corn tortilla with meat, onions, and cilantro. Typically, there is no cheese, tomatoes, or lettuce on Mexican street tacos.
Other Delicious Taco-Inspired Recipes
Street Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Flank or skirt steak
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 cup Orange juice
- 1 Lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- 4 – 5 cloves Garlic, cracked
Instructions
- Whisk olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper in a bowl.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 cup Orange juice, 1 Lime, juiced, 1 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon fresh ground Pepper, 2 teaspoons Cumin, 4 – 5 cloves Garlic, cracked
- Place steak in a resealable bag or container and pour in the marinade. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.1 pound Flank or skirt steak
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove steak from marinade and pat dry.
- Grill steak 3–5 minutes per side over direct heat.
- Warm tortillas on the grill during the last minute.
- Rest steak 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
- Serve in tortillas with onion, cilantro, and lime.
Im so happy, I forgot the 5 stars!!
We moved from San Diego years ago and currently live in Northern Virginia. We cannot find tacos like the ones down there so I started searching for recipes. These are amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
That just warmed my heart, Val! Thanks so much!! 🙂
Will top round steak work? That’s all I could find out my local store.
It should work just fine! I hope you enjoy the recipe. 🙂
Tried this recipe last night……Awesome! Kids ask were I found a taco truck! Thank you soooo much for posting it. We have traveled the country extensively and taco trucks are my families first choice in food but we have never been able to copy any recipes. I’ve sent it to everyone i know! Thanks again.
Hi, Carla! This makes us so happy!!! Thank you so much for coming by to share you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
Love this. Cannot find any taco trucks this time of year in minnesota. I have made with skirt steak and tried with chicken. Both are amazing. Easy to do and quick. I make on a regular stove, looking forward to trying on the grill this summer.
Thank you, Sue! I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipe! 🙂
Is it still good on the stove??
Hi, Brandy! We have made them in a skillet and they are still good just WAY better grilled.
I made it on cast iron griller, it was great
Awesome Ric! Glad you liked them. Fresh and simple is the way to go, that’s for sure!
The bomb!!!!