On a recent Friday evening, a friend and I found ourselves craving tacos. Our usual go-to, Banditos, tends to turn into more of a bar scene later in the evening, and Tortilleria Sinaloa sadly isn’t open for dinner. I remembered reading good things about the Mexican food at Papi’s Tacos in Fells Point, so it felt like the perfect opportunity to finally give it a try.

Papi’s Tacos is owned by the same people behind Alexanders Tavern just around the corner, and the food there has always been solid. I also knew that the owner, Charlie Gjerde, is the brother of Spike Gjerde, the chef behind Woodberry Kitchen and several other well-known Baltimore restaurants, so my expectations were already pretty high.

We arrived around 8:30 PM hoping to catch the tail end of the dinner rush, but no such luck — the place was packed. The bar was full and the dining room was buzzing with energy. Luckily, there wasn’t a wait and we managed to grab the last open table in the small dining room.

Papi’s Tacos

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Papi’s has a lively atmosphere that makes it feel like a fun place to settle in for tacos and a drink. Looking over the menu took longer than expected because everything sounded great.

Chips and Salsa

While we were debating what to order, our server brought over complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa itself was flavorful, but the chips tasted like they came out of a bag. Since they were complimentary I couldn’t complain too much, but I did notice that the menu offers a $2 order of chips, which I assume are the house-made version.

Chips and Salsa

Trio of Salsas

To go along with the chips, we ordered the trio of salsas: salsa verde, picosa, and guacamole. The guacamole was creamy and fresh, and the salsa verde had a nice bright flavor.

The picosa salsa was a little different from what I expected. Instead of a traditional salsa with pineapple chunks mixed in, it was more like diced pineapple tossed with peppers and spices. It had a sweet heat that worked surprisingly well — and later ended up being fantastic on top of the tacos.

Trio of Salsas

Elote Esquites

We also ordered the Elote Esquites, which is essentially Mexican street corn and one of my favorite dishes. This version featured cobbed corn dusted with lime, chile pequín, cotija cheese, Mexican mayo, and epazote.

It was excellent. There aren’t many places in Baltimore that serve elote, and this one absolutely hit the mark. Honestly, I would go back to Papi’s just for the elote.

Elote Esquites

Build Your Own Street Tacos

Because we were there specifically for tacos, we both opted for the build-your-own street taco option.

Build A Taco

Gringo Style Chipotle Chicken Taco

My friend went with the Gringo Style Taco with chipotle roasted chicken. The chicken was marinated well and packed with flavor, with a nice bit of heat from the chipotle.

She ordered it without crema, but it arrived with crema anyway. Even with the mix-up, the taco was still really tasty — and adding some of the salsas we ordered made it even better.

Gringo Style Chipotle Chicken Taco

Authentic Style Adobo Costillas

I ordered the Authentic Style Adobo Costillas tacos, and between the two options we tried, this one was the clear winner. The meat was incredibly flavorful and tasted even better once I added some guacamole and the pineapple picosa salsa.

These were easily some of the best tacos I’ve had in Baltimore, and I already know I’ll be back for them again.

Authentic Style Adobo Costillas

Planning a Visit

Even better, the bill for the entire meal only came to $28, which made it feel like an incredible deal for such a satisfying dinner.

If you’re looking for great Mexican food in Fells Point, Papi’s Tacos is definitely worth checking out. Between the lively atmosphere, strong margaritas, and flavorful tacos, it’s a great spot for a casual night out.

Papi’s Tacos is located at 1703 Aliceanna Street in Fells Point, Baltimore.

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Looking for a place to eat? Check out Rachel’s Baltimore Restaurant List.

More Great Taco Spots in Baltimore

If you’re craving tacos around Baltimore, here are a few other great places worth checking out:

• Clavel – a Remington favorite known for house-made tortillas, incredible tacos, and one of the best mezcal selections in the city.
• Barcocina – a lively waterfront restaurant in Fells Point serving creative tacos and margaritas with a great view of the harbor.
• Tijuana Tacos 3 – a small, no-frills taqueria known for authentic street-style tacos packed with flavor.

These spots are all worth exploring if you’re on a mission to find the best tacos in Baltimore.

Frequently Asked Questions About Papi’s Tacos

Where is Papi’s Tacos located?
Papi’s Tacos is located at 1703 Aliceanna Street in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood.

What type of food does Papi’s Tacos serve?
Papi’s Tacos serves Mexican street-style tacos, elote, salsa, and other casual Mexican dishes.

What are popular dishes at Papi’s Tacos?
Popular menu items include the adobo costillas tacos, chipotle chicken tacos, elote esquites, and the trio of salsas.

Is Papi’s Tacos good for casual dining?
Yes. Papi’s Tacos has a lively atmosphere and is a great casual spot for tacos and drinks in Fells Point.