5 of the best under-the-radar tacos in Dayton

Our readers voted for their favorite tacos in the Best of Dayton contest. However, there are some we think might be comparably delicious, but just a little out of reach at times.

>>BEST OF DAYTON: The people's choice for the 3 top tacos in town

Here are six tacos everyone should try and why:

1.🌮Las Peñas

Address: 215 Byers Road, Dayton 

First up, Las Peñas. The menu is low frills. You pay in cash at the Las Peñas Grocery counter, and there are no chips and salsa. However, the payoff is tenfold.

Regular tacos come on two corn tortillas with your choice of meat with a heaping scoop of fresh white onion and cilantro. The cost is $2.69 each.

"Las Peñas opened in 2010, but flew below my radar until Jhembert "J.P." Perdomo told my colleague Mark Fisher during an interview," Dayton.com reporter Amelia Robinson wrote after discovering Las Peñas tacos.

“I tried three regular tacos with chorizo, barbacoa and carnitas. Each came with a mountain of tender meat that the tortilla held up to. I cleaned my plate after squeezing on lime and deliciously spicy chili sauces that lingered in my mouth. The thick bits of barbacoa were a standout, with drizzles of spicy chili oil sauce and salsa verde,” Robinson wrote.

>> RELATED: This delicious hidden taco place in the Dayton area will change your life

2. 🌮Taqueria Mobil Garcia 

Address: 7 Huffman Ave., Dayton

Dayton.com’s Allegra Czerwinski considers herself quite the taco enthusiast. After giving this hidden-gem taco stop a try at lunchtime, she proclaimed she has a new favorite Dayton taco.

She ordered a pair of tacos Al Pastor style and loaded on the “green sauce.” It was more flavorful than other verde sauces she’s enjoyed, Czerwinski said. Ingredients were perfectly rationed out, the meat went above her expectations. She said she would be back very soon.

3. 🌮Taqueria La Lomita Truck 

Address: 2721 Linden Ave., Dayton

If we’re basing this list on purely under-the-radar rating, this Dayton taco stop might take the cake (or nacho). Nestled against the La Tapatia II grocery store on Linden Avenue, this taco truck is almost always something to easily drive past. It doesn’t even have a website. But after it’s discovered, it’s a can’t-miss.

This Yelp reviewer says it best:

“The unassuming truck parked behind the Hispanic grocery on Linden serves the absolute best tacos in Dayton. Mixteca is good. Taco Loco is good. Even that other truck down the street is good. But these tacos are THE BEST. And I know my way around a taco. 

 Quesadillas? Check. Burritos? Check. Tortas? Check. Other menu items that I don't know because I don't speak Spanish? Check.  

Eat here. You will not be disappointed,” — review by Eric T. from Scottdale, GA. 

>> Condado Tacos confirms it’s coming to Dayton, and it may be eyeing The Greene

4. 🌮Sea Jax Tavern

Address: 5900 Bigger Road, Kettering

If the picture of this heaping pile of taco goodness doesn’t speak for itself, Sea Jax Tavern in Kettering is going to pile on your money’s worth in taco deliciousness.

The Jax Taco Dinners are reasonably priced and loaded with flavor. For around $12.99 each, each dinner comes with two flour tortillas, black beans and Jax’s delicious Mexican rice. Pictured above are the Fish Tacos ($13.99) with flash-fried Grouper fingers, shredded cabbage, topped with Jax’s secret Boom Boom Sauce and fresh pico de gallo. We highly encourage everyone to ask (very nicely) for extra Boom Boom sauce.

5. 🌮Victor's 

5 locations: 

• 6418 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights, 

• 1438 N Keowee St, Dayton 

• 483 W. Main St., Xenia

• 1002 N Broad St., Fairborn 

• 1929 E. Main St., Springfield

It’s quite easy to recognize a Victor’s taco when you see one. The golden shells hold all the goodness of Victor’s fillings in a perfectly warm, house-fried taco clam. This Dayton stop made our under-the-radar list because a taco shop drive-thru might make some people looking for a delicious, authentic taco meal say “next.” This is not the experience you’ll find at Victor’s.

>>You can get some of the best Mexican food in Dayton from a drive-thru

They’re generous with toppings and fans swear by the sauces. Served up in humble, clear containers, the green and red sauces each add just the amount of heat desired. The red sauce brings the heat while the green sauce is more tangy without being spicy. This is perfect for someone looking to enhance the Mexican flavor of their dish.

What are your favorite hidden gem taco shops (or unexpected places to find an amazing taco). Let us know at contact@dayton.com.