Tampa Bay, voting is officially open. And Taco Bus isn’t just in the running — we’re in the running for nine categories in the Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best 2026. Nine. We told you we don’t do things halfway.
These awards are decided entirely by the community — no panels, no judges, no industry insiders. Just Tampa Bay residents voting for the places they actually love. That makes every single vote mean something real. And we’d really love yours.
What Is the Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best?
Every year, the Tampa Bay Times hands it back to the people and asks: who’s actually the best? Residents vote for their favorite local businesses across dozens of categories — restaurants, food trucks, service providers, and beyond. It’s one of the most recognized community-driven award programs in the Tampa Bay area, and businesses that place carry that recognition with serious pride.
Voting is open now through May 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM — and you can cast your vote every single day until the deadline. Every day counts.
The Nine Categories Where Taco Bus Is on the Ballot
Here’s everywhere we’re competing — and everywhere we need you:
🌮 Best Taco
We’ve been making tacos the right way since before most food trucks existed. From our classic street tacos to fresh-caught fish tacos to the Coconut Shrimp Taco that just took Best Seafood Taco at the 2026 Pinellas Taco Fest — this one’s personal. If a Taco Bus taco has ever stopped you mid-bite, this vote is for that moment.
🥙 Best Empanada
Criminally underrated. Golden, crispy, stuffed the way they’re supposed to be stuffed. Our empanadas have been a Taco Bus staple since day one — and it’s time Tampa Bay put some respect on their name.
🍟 Best Appetizers
Whether it’s chips and fresh guac, elotes, or something off the specials board — Taco Bus appetizers set the table right every time. We start the meal the same way we finish it: with intention.
🍮 Best Desserts
Yes, we have desserts. Yes, they’re worth voting for. Churros, tres leches, and more — if you’ve ended a Taco Bus meal on a sweet note, you already know what to do.
🎉 Best Caterer
From corporate events to private parties to community gatherings across Tampa Bay — Taco Bus brings the food truck energy to every event we cater. Real food, fast service, zero compromise on quality.
🚌 Best Food Truck
It’s literally in our name. The Taco Bus has rolled through Tampa Bay for nearly three decades, and it’s still out here every day. If any food truck deserves this title, it’s the one that started the whole conversation.
🍹 Best Margarita Bar
Fresh lime. House-made mix. Real tequila. Our margaritas aren’t an afterthought — they’re part of the experience. Come for the tacos, stay for the margaritas. Vote for the best bar in the Bay while you’re at it.
🏖️ Best Beach Restaurant
Our Treasure Island location has been the go-to for anyone who knows that great beach food doesn’t have to mean bad food. Proximity to the Gulf? Great. Proximity to a solid street taco? Even better.
🏠 Best Mexican Restaurant
Taco Bus isn’t a chain playing by someone else’s rules. We’re a Tampa Bay original — born in 1995, built on real Mexican street food, eight locations deep and still showing up every day. That’s what Best Mexican Restaurant looks like. bringing real food to real people, wherever they are. If any food truck deserves this title, it’s the one that started the whole conversation.
How to Nominate Taco Bus (It Only Takes a Moment)
This part is easy:
- Click the link below to head to the official voting page
- Search for Taco Bus and cast your vote in all nine categories
- Come back tomorrow — daily voting is allowed through May 31st!
The whole thing takes less than a minute. Bookmark it. Make it part of your routine until the deadline.
Why This Matters to Us
We’ve been part of this community for nearly thirty years. That’s not something we take lightly — and neither is the fact that you get to decide who wins this.
A win in any of these nine categories isn’t a marketing stat. It’s Tampa Bay saying: this is the place. And that hits different when it comes from the people we cook for every day.
So if Taco Bus has ever been your post-beach stop, your late-night save, your go-to for a first date or a family lunch or a Tuesday when you just needed something good — this is how you give that back.
Vote early. Vote daily. Vote in all nine. We appreciate every single one. 💜
Voting for the Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best 2026 is open through May 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Vote for Taco Bus at tampabaybestofthebest.com — find us in all nine categories and vote every day until the deadline.
