The concept of a taco is simple: A tortilla, protein, toppings, hot sauce and maybe a freshly squeezed lime.
But what makes it "authentic" or "traditional"?
Do you like corn or flour tortillas? A crispy or soft shell?
We learned on our search for Michigan's Best Taco -- which took us on a 10-day, 2,600-mile journey to 45 restaurants throughout Michigan -- that a "taco" means different things to different people.
Basically, it comes down to what you grew up with and personal taste.
In Michigan, we found mainly three versions of a Mexican taco:
1. Traditional: Corn tortilla, meat such as pork or steak, with onions, cilantro, and a lime.
2. Americanized or Tex-Mex: Deep-fried corn or flour tortilla that is served with ground beef and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and plenty of cheddar cheese.
3. Californian or Fusion: A taco that experiments with non-traditional flavors and blends them with corn tortillas. It has no boundaries.
Michigan's Best Taco: John Gonzalez and Fritz Klug posed for this picture at Jose's Cantina in St. Ignace, the last of 45 stops on their search for MLive.
Traveling with me -- once again -- was MLive multimedia journalist Fritz Klug, who took hundreds of photos and helped chronicle the trip.
Mi amigo even learned some Spanish from restaurant owners, managers, employees and patrons in a series of videos we shot at each stop.
RELATED: Spanish lessons with Fritz
And Fritz learned about the different styles of Mexican cuisine, which I grew up enjoying back in my hometown of Capac. He tried for the first time carne asada (marinated steak), carnitas (marinated pork), al pastor (pork with chili, spices and pineapple), chorizo (Mexican sausage) lengua (beef tongue), trippa (tripe, stomach intestine), barbacoa (beef cheeks), and so on. Fritz even pulled together a guide, which you can find online.
RELATED: Michigan's Best Taco: A guide to different styles and meats tried on 45-stop tour
Along the way we were joined by reporters and editors of our newspapers, as well as dignitaries such as Kalamazoo mayor Bobby Hopewell, my friends Arturo Armijo of Grand Rapids and Todd Woodard in Muskegon, and many readers who follow our Michigan's Best series.
A special thank you to Patrick Espinoza of Ann Arbor, whose parents owned the former Spanish Inn in Adrian. He and his wife Kelly led me on a tour of the tiny town south of Jackson to show off the Tex-Mex tacos at four local restaurants.
We visited Salsarita's (great salsas), Maria's Sunny Side Cafe (loved the menudo), El Chapulin/The Grasshopper (most extensive menu) and Mario's (my favorite stop in Adrian for Mexican-style offerings and a great bean dip).
Now, let's get to our Top 10 list and Best of the Rest!
Michigan's Best Taco Top 10
1. Cuatro Amigos, 310 E. Midland St., Bay City
Cuatro Amigos translates into "four friends," and this is a perfect place "for friends." We found the tacos so fresh, so tasty and so memorable that we would love to spend a whole week there, trying everything on the menu. Owners Freddy and Maria Gomez and their family have a great restaurant you must visit. You will learn about the culture from authentic decor, an Aztec mural and tacos that range from traditional al pastor (marinated pork with pineapple) to their own variations, including a salmon taco. My favorite was the fish taco, which featured honey lime marinated talapia, topped with a jalapeno coleslaw, chipolte sauce and fresh slice of avocado. Make sure to ask for the hot sauces that goes with the individual tacos, the pairings are wonderful.
Call: (989) 686-8630
Website: loscuatroamigosinc.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/CuatroAmigosBayCity
2. Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria, 693 S. Maple Rd., Ann Arbor
You feel right at home at Chela's, which is the goal of owners Lori and Adrian Iraola. And that means you feel comfortable to explore street-style tacos that Adrian learned to make in Mexico City. On the night we visited we saw families coming back from soccer practice and couples out for dinner. And tried just about everything from elotes (corn on the cob) to tacos de chicahron (pork rinds). We loved the chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage), carne asada (steak) and barbacoa (beef cheeks) tacos. Make sure to get there early for flan: a Mexican caramel custard dessert that sells out quickly.
Call: (734) 332-6055
Website: chelas.co
Facebook: Facebook.com/ChelasRestaurantAndTaqueria
Taqueria Lupita's, 3443 Bagley Ave, Detroit
Known for its traditional and authentic meals and bargain prices, Lupita's is a longtime favorite in Detroit's Mexicantown. We had the lunch special: $4.25 for two tacos, rice and beans. We loved the fresh and sweet flavor of the al pastor pork tacos served on local corn tortillas. We didn't speak any English to the wait staff -- and that's always a good sign. Cash only. More information at (313) 843-1105.
Carnival Market, 1101 E Walton Blvd, Pontiac
An unassuming restaurant in a grocery store, Carnival offers a wide arrange of tacos and other foods made from family recipes by the way of California. Like the shelves of their store, the restaurant offers anything you want, including 16 different styles of salsa. In the restaurant 8 were offered cafeteria style. Any of their tacos are worth trying. They have their own bakery and plan on adding a tortilla factory later this year. For those that want different styles, there's a California burrito, fish taco and carne asada fries, basically nachos with French Fries instead of chips. More information at carnival-market.com.
Taqueria El Michoacano, 64075 Van Dyke Rd., Washington
Saginaw News reporter Lindsay Knake emailed me and said the best place to get a taco in Michigan is Taqueria El Michoacano. "It's a small place and only a few years old, family-owned and different from the standard Tex-Mex. I highly recommend it. Worth a trip." She was right. Owner Damaso Sandoval started his business as a food truck, and then left his construction job to open the restaurant. They serve traditional, Mexican-style tacos with cilantro and onions on corn tortillas, and fantastic tomatillo salsa. I'll be back. Thanks for the tip, Lindsay. More information at taqueriaelmichoacano.com.
Frying tortillas at Alley Taco in Detroit
Alley Taco, 4614 2nd Ave, Detroit
A favorite of Wayne State University students, this taco joint is tucked away in the back of a grocery and liquor store. Their tacos are following the California style, where owner Jason Frenkel lived before coming back to his hometown. The barbacoa, which is made with beef cheeks, was savory. It is also a good stop for vegetarians: The Veggie and Root tacos were excellent, and the pickled vegetables were out of this world. More information on Facebook at
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Imperial Bar, 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale
A trendy taco place with a definite California vibe, we found an exciting menu with fresh ingredients, awesome salsas and even creative daily specials (we tried lamb tacos on the day we visited). Our favorite taco was Al Pastor, marinated pork with chunks of grilled pineapple and a jalapeno onion relish. While you're there you MUST try one of several Sonoran Dogs; bacon-wrapped hot dogs topped with cilantro, onions, queso fresco and other items. More information Facebook at Facebook.com/imperialonwoodward.
El Charro of Fraser, 16720 E 14 Mile Rd., Fraser
It's the home of the puffy taco, and that's why people flock to El Charro. Owner Delia Martin has kept the secret family recipe going, and won't even share it with employees at its four locations. Order any taco puffy style to see what this Metro Detroit staple is all about. More info on Facebook.
Isalita, 341A E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
Isalita is right next door to Michigan's Best Pizza: Mani Osteria and Bar. The owners carried over the same traditions of quality and creativity with the menu. Inspired by owner Adam Baru's trips to Mexico and the street food cuisine, Islalita provides fresh combinations and unique flavors. One of the few places that makes its own corn tortillas in house, we loved the Hanger Steak, which featured pickled onion, crispy chiles and salsa verde. We also loved the presentations of the other tacos, including al pastor served with pork belly, baja fish with pickled red cabbage, tinga chicken and carnitas. The next time I'm in town I'll go for lunch at Mani's and dinner at Isalita. More information at isalita.com.
Tmaz Taqueria,3182 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor
Owner Cesar Hervert was too busy to really tell us much about his tacos when we visited on a Friday night. But he did a nice interview with Ann Arbor News' food writer Jessica Webster, and the teacher from Mexico and former Arbor Brewing Company chef has built a steady business with food that is traditional Mexican cuisine. The line was out the door. Wife Anna was kind enough to bring us a couple trays of tacos, including carne asada, chicken, chorizo, barbacoa, al pastor, and Tmaz's Baja seafood tacos. I want to return to try other items and spend some time hearing more about his styles. Plus, we loved the fresh guacamole. Our favorite tacos were al pastor (marinated pork with pineapple) and chorizo. More information at Facebook.com/Tmaz.Taqueria.
Tacho's Mexican Food, 701 Michigan Ave., St Louis
It was a family affair on our visit, which included the birthday of Tacho himself, who turned 88 the day we arrived. His wife Juana Diaz and daughter Mary Thalison own and operate this Mexican restaurant, which is more of a Tex-Mex style, offering flour and corn tortillas and their signature creation, a puffy, deep-fried taco that almost looked like a seashell. We tried two tacos: chicken and ground beef. Both were fantastic. On an earlier visit I had a tasty carne guisada (beef stew) taco and a chorizo, egg and potato taco that hit the spot for breakfast. Check out their Facebook page for more information or call (989) 681-2675.
Pablo's, 311 E Grand River Ave., Lansing
When we walked in to Pablo's, a group of men were enjoying menudo, traditional Mexican soup, consisting of tripe, hominy, oregano and other spices. Owner Pablo Maldonado came to Lansing from Puebla, Mexico, by way of New York. He's cultivated a traditional Mexican restaurant in Old Town that values freshness of meats. No cans are allowed in this restaurant, which is also known as home of "La Torta," a Mexican sandwich. We tried six tacos: carnitas, pastor, asada, trippa, pastor and chorizo. All were fantastic, served on a white corn tortilla with cilantro and onions and fresh lime. More information on Facebook at Pablo's Old Town.
El Oasis, 2501 E Michigan Ave., Lansing
It's a small roadside taco stand that packs a big punch of flavor and el sabor de mexico -- the flavor of Mexico. There are usually long lines, and people will wait through any weather for the rich tacos. If you are traveling through Lansing on US-127 or I-496, stop off and order a few tacos for the road. You will not be disappointed. We tried four kinds of tacos: pork (pastor), steak (asada), chorizo (sausage), and tripe (trippa). The asada was our favorite.
El Gallo Blanco, 2838 Portage St, Kalamazoo
Offering traditional Mexican tacos with corn tortillas, cilantro and onions, as well as Americanized style, with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and cheese, owner Esteban Blanco is able to cater a wide audience. He also offers a bilingual menu, so it's very easy to order exactly what you want if you have limited Spanish capabilities.
We tried four tacos: chicken, steak, pork and beef tongue. And we also loved the Horchata, a fresh rice water drink that is popular in Mexico. More info at Facebook.com/elgalloblancokazoo.
Gorilla Gourmet, Bronson Park, Kalamazoo
For a small food truck parked at Kalamazoo's Bronson Park, owner Noel Corwin's is thinking outside the box and trying some unique combinations of flavors. On the afternoon we visited, we tried a pineapple chicken taco and a curry beef taco. It's a far stretch from authentic, but give them tons of credit for their creativity. Mayor Bobby Hopewell joined us and ordered El Monstro, an XXL folded and stuffed grilled flour tortilla with a three-cheese blend, spiced slaw and beef. Find them on Facebook, searching for Gorilla Gourmet.
Taco Bob's, 300 S Kalamazoo Mall #171, Kalamazoo
It was one of the most fun places we visited on our trip around the state. Taco Bob's has established a loyal following, and we could see why. The fresh hot sauce was great: Habanero, serrano, jalapeño, tomatillo, cilantro, and seasoning. Although it has three of the hottest peppers, it was mighty tasty. If American tacos are your thing, you can't miss Taco Bob's. We tried three tacos: the beef and chicken Funny Tacos and a cheesy. The downtown location just added a bar. Salud! More information at tacobobs.com.
La Familia Morales, 725 Garland St., Flint
They took a popular, local restaurant and made it more popular, by offering Tex-Mex style tacos alongside authentic favorites like menudo. Don't be surprised if you see Flint celebrities Mateen Cleaves and Clarissa Shields walk in. While all the tacos looked the same when they came out of the kitchen, as soon as we bit in we noticed the difference by the flavors of chicken and beef. The fish taco topped with pico de gallo and avocado sauce should not be missed. The beef stew was also excellent.
We tried six tacos: Ground beef, beef stew, turkey, chicken, fish and fish with pico de gallo. More info on Facebook at La Familia Morales.
El Adobe, 8284 Saginaw St., Mt Morris
Owner Greg Leon knows that local taco enthusiasts want choices, so he he offers his tacos with soft tortilla, medium fried and hard shell taco. They served them in both styles: Tex-Mex, which they called "Americanized tacos," and traditional Mexican tacos. If you want a single place to eat and explore different styles of tacos, El Adobe is a great choice. Also, you will love the homemade chips and salsa; We tried a green tomatillo salsa, and a traditional salsa made with tomatoes, onion and cilantro. More information at eladobemexicanrestaurant.com. They also offer a drive-thru.
House of Tacos, 2400 Page Ave., Jackson
One of Jackson's first Mexican restaurants, House of Taco offers simple, American style tacos: lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese. Make sure to order the Elephant Toes, their deep-fried sugar coated signature snack, and the treasure toes, which adds a mini Hershey chocolate bar. We tried three tacos: hard shell ground beef, hard shell chicken and soft ground beef. For more info, visit houseoftacojackson.com, follow House of Taco on Facebook or call 517-784-2550.
Casa Rodriguez, 2615 Wildwood Ave., Jackson
Owner Rommell Rodriguez fell in love with cooking when he used to prepare food for his younger siblings. Today, his Casa Rodriguez has been open for nearly 4 years, and he shares his passion with his loyal customers. His goal is to introduce people to the Mexican style of tacos, and take it beyond Taco Bell, he said. That's why on his menu he will have lengua, trippa and our favorite, the campechano: a mixture of steak, chorizo and pork, mixed with bell pepper, onion and serrano pepper. Yes, it was a little spicy, but well worth it! For more information, follow Casa Rodriguez Jackson on Facebook or call 517-513-6100.
Lopez Taco House, 205 N Superior St., Albion
A mainstay for Albion residents, Lopez Taco House offers American-style tacos. Their ground beef is a secret family ingredient, but contains the usual cumin, onion and a few other spices. The tacos are served with lettuce, tomato and a generous portion of cheddar cheese. We tried the ground beef taco, the chicken taco and carne guisada taco. All came in lightly fried corn tortillas. While we enjoyed the tacos, patrons convinced us to try the enchilada. We are glad we did. It was fantastic. For more information, follow the restaurant on Facebook or call 517-629-2800.
Rite Spot, 1205 Lapeer Ave., Saginaw
A Saginaw diner that serves a variety of food -- from breakfast to burgers to tacos, which come in soft, medium or crispy tortillas. We tried ground beef and ground turkey tacos in flour and corn shells. When we asked if we could have a catfish taco, they said sure, and made one in a flour soft tortilla. For salsa I used Frank's Hot Sauce. When you go, don't forget the suicide: a blend of their three Kool-Aids: grape, fruit punch and lemonade. More info at ritespotrestaurant.com.
Rico's Authentic Mexican, 2720 Bay Rd, Saginaw
They are doing something right! This take out and catering business was booming on the day we arrived. We were lucky that Christine Rico and her daughters Sherry Marquez and Elaine Rico were able to break away for a few minutes to take us on a great taco journey, with various meats and style of tortillas. Our favorite was the stew fajita. They are well known in the Saginaw area for their tortillas and chips, which are sold at local grocery stores. I loved the chorizo, egg and bean tacos with white cheese, but everything was spot on, from pork carnitas tacos on corn tortillas to steak carne asada tacos on soft flour shells. I can't wait for a return visit. More info at ricostakeout.com.
Tex Mex Grille, 4101 E. Wilder Road, Bangor Township, Bay City Mall
Beloved by mall employees and customers over the last decade from previous locations, the Tex Mex Grille offers a unique taco experience. When you order a taco, they make it right in front of you, like at Subway, and you can add whatever toppings you want. Owners Maria Vasquez and Pete Sanchez have persevered through the years sharing the food they love and passing on family traditions to the Great Lakes Bay region. They specialize in more Americanized tacos, but with a moderate amount of cheese. We liked the freshness and crispy tacos. More info at Facebook.com/TexMexGrille.
Taqueria San Jose, 1338 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
Taqueria San Jose has developed a following in West Michigan, thanks in part to Grand Rapids Press food critic and blogger George Aquino, who ranks it as one of his favorites. When we visited on a Thursday afternoon, there was a wide assortment of customers from college students, construction workers and executives in suits. Owner Juan Barajas offers traditional Mexican tacos on corn tortillas, but can make shells a little crispier upon request. It was the first place we had a birria -- a goat taco, which is like a stew. I was fond of the chorizo taco with a splash of hot, homemade salsa made fresh every day. We also sampled pork, steak and shredded beef tacos, and a few tamales. Fritz loved the elote (corn) tamale, a mix of sweet corn, cheeses and sugar, steamed in a husk. Contact them at 616-284-2297.
Tacos El Cunado – Downtown Market, 435 Ionia SW, Grand Rapids
Whenever I go to Grand Rapids' new Downtown Market, Tacos El Cunado is always the busiest vendor during lunch. They offer affordable tacos true to Mexican tradition (on Milagro corn tortillas), as well as good salsas and every Jarrito soda available in the U.S. Co-owner Mario Cascante slowed down his law practice to open the restaurant because he loves the food -- from shrimp, to vegetarian (tempeh) to beef tongue -- El Cunado offers a great variety of tacos. That passion comes through with every taco. If you like things a little spicy, make sure to check out the fish taco, which has an amazing range of kick. More info at Facebook.com/TacosGR.
La Casa Fierro, 1427 W Sherman Blvd, Muskegon
Located on the site of the former Pablo's restaurant, originators of the 99-cent tacos in the Muskegon area, La Casa Fierro has been run by Pablo's daughter, Maria Briceno, since 2011. She serves both Mexican and American tacos; and we tried barbacoa, pork and beef in both styles. They also make their own tortillas with Maseca, a corn flour mix used in tamales. You can try a little bit of everything at their dinner buffet every day 4-7 p.m. and a lunch buffet every day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. We especially liked the pork tacos. More info on Facebook, just search for La Casa Fierro.
Arturo's Tacos, 305 N Beacon Blvd, Grand Haven
You may have had Arturo's Tacos without knowing it. Owner Arturo Orduno caters a lot of festivals and events in the region. While they had traditional Mexican tacos, their Americanized tacos were also really tasty, with the white cheese instead of cheddar. We sampled carne asada, ground beef, lengua, chorizo and al pastor. We recommend all; I especially loved the al pastor pork. And we loved, loved, loved the elotes -- sweet corn with mayonnaise, Mexican cheese and chili powder. More info at Facebook.com, search for Arturo's Tacos.
Red Mesa Grill, 117 Water St., Boyne City
Mary Palmer and Fred Moore have brought Latin American cuisine to Northern Michigan. Their standard tacos were excellent (roasted chicken, sirloin steak, garlic roasted pork), and we loved their international tacos, including Japanese tuna and Korean beef. The tacos around the world are offered at various times during the year. It's a beautiful restaurant with murals lining the walls and ceilings. There are more than 180 types of tequilas and their margaritas are renowned. More info at Facebook.com/RedMesaGrill.
Happy's Tacos offers unique ingredients our of their food truck
Happy's Taco Shop, at Beards Brewery, 207A Howard St., Petoskey
While they have only been around for less than a year, people in Northern Michigan are slowly discovering that Happy's Tacos is all about delivering unique new flavors. Inspired by the California food truck tacos, Happy's offers unique ingredients: one taco had grilled avocado and tomato jam, another with jalapeño poppers. There was also a taco with an ingredient we never guessed we would encounter: sprouts. Every ingredient had a purpose. Plus, they make their own salsas. I loved the jalapeno & garlic hot sauce. If you are in Northwestern Michigan this summer on the weekend, check them out at Beards Brewery, one of the fastest growing breweries in Northern Michigan. More info at
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Dia De Los Tacos, food truck, Marquette
We rolled into Marquette at 10:45 p.m. on a Friday, only 15 minutes before the taco truck closed for the evening. It was located this evening in the parking lot of Blackrocks Brewery. The husband and wife team of Mike Walker and Terri Lynn started their food truck less than two years ago when they returned to the Upper Peninsula, and now it is one of the more popular food trucks in Michigan. Everything we tried was great and showcased Mexican style and unique vegetables. They featured the best vegetarian taco we found, the "Terri Lynn." It features black beans, poblano peppers, jicama cabbage, slaw and Chihuahua cheese. The meats were flavored just right. Our favorite was their signature Carmen taco, with spiced pulled pork, the truck's signature herb garnish and queso fresco. We found them at Blackrocks; but you can also find them at the Wooden Nickel and Ore Dock Brewery. More details at Facebook.com/DiaDeLosTacos.
Ron's Taco Shop, 1102 N. Third St., Marquette
For only being open for six months, Ron's tacos are already a hit in Marquette, tripling their expectations almost immediately. Customers have the option of ordering on iPads or at the counter. Either option allows you to customize your tacos; we recommend putting the ancho chili sauce on just about anything or the light wicked sauce for a bit of a bite. Owners also use local Marquette breweries and wineries to season their meat and fish, such as the batter on the fish, which used the Reclamation IPA from Ore Dock. We had our tacos on deep-fried corn and flour tortillas. We also suggest the huevos ranchero taco with chorizo. It drips with goodness. More details at ronstacoshop.com.
The Palace Saloon, 200 West Portage Ave., Sault Ste. Marie
Housed in a historic bar that dates back to 1903, the Palace Saloon is a favorite of Lake Superior State University students, local residents and tourists. We enjoyed their steak taco, which was well marinated and a little sweet. Also, make sure to order a margarita and the chili con queso dip, both of which are signature items. More info at thepalacemexicanrestaurant.com.
John Gonzalez is a statewide entertainment writer for MLive.com. Email him at gonzo@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.