Taco Bus on East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa started as an actual bus — a decommissioned transit bus converted into a taqueria parked on the side of the road — and has since grown into one of Tampa’s most beloved Mexican food brands, with multiple locations built around the same authentic street taco tradition that the original bus established. It appeared in Season 12, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner,” which aired October 31, 2011. Guy Fieri found authentic Mexican street tacos done from scratch in a Tampa setting that earns its reputation by delivering the real thing rather than the Americanized version most Florida Mexican restaurants default to.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Taco Bus
City: Tampa, Florida
Cuisine: Food Truck / Mexican
DDD Season: 12
DDD Episode: 11
Episode Title: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Original Air Date: October 31, 2011
Address: 913 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: 813-232-5889
Website: https://taco-bus.com
Status: Open (multiple Tampa locations)
What to Eat
The Street Tacos on fresh corn tortillas with your choice of al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, or pollo are the authentic Mexican street food that put Taco Bus on the Tampa map. The Al Pastor Taco — achiote-marinated pork from the vertical spit, finished with pineapple and cilantro — is the item most regulars consider the best on the menu. The Breakfast Tacos with eggs, chorizo, and fresh salsa are the morning option that built the original bus’s early following. The House-Made Salsas, both verde and roja, are the condiments that separate Taco Bus from every chain alternative in the market. Find a Tampa hotel on Trivago. Planning a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay visit? Get discounted tickets on Undercover Tourist.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current locations and hours — Taco Bus has expanded beyond the original Hillsborough Avenue location.
Address: 913 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33603 (original location)
Phone: 813-232-5889
Website: https://taco-bus.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner episode on Amazon.
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Taco Bus appeared in Season 12, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner,” originally aired October 31, 2011. The restaurant started as a converted bus and has since expanded to multiple Tampa locations.