In the same Northwest Dallas strip center as A Step Up Lounge, Tacos El Metro is a bold and soulful taquería where the star of the show is whole-hog pork—prepared with precision, pride, and more than a little fire. The walls are lined with nifty maps and iconography from Mexico City’s subway system, a nod to the hometown of owner Sergio Quijano, whose culinary journey began far from the casual taco counter he now commands. Quijano trained and cooked for years in some of Dallas’ most refined kitchens, most notably as part of Julian Barsotti’s Italian empire, where he absorbed both the discipline of fine dining and the creative confidence to build something entirely his own.
Together with chef Mike García, another Barsotti alum, Quijano turned his focus toward something deeply personal: the flavors of his childhood, brought to life with technical mastery and unfiltered enthusiasm. At Tacos El Metro, pork isn’t just a protein—it’s a philosophy. They roast whole hogs in-house, breaking them down into a variety of cuts that are celebrated in tacos, tortas, and weekend specials that often sell out before closing time.
The signature Taco Metro is a generous, slow-cooked heap of pulled pork topped with golden, crispy chicharrón—intensely savory, slightly fatty, and completely addictive. It’s served on a warm, freshly pressed corn tortilla that holds up beautifully to the weight of the meat and the splash of house-made salsa. For something even more indulgent, try the huesitos, or rib tips, served bare-boned and drenched in your salsa of choice—verde, roja, or the smoky morita, depending on your level of heat tolerance. Each bite is juicy, fatty, and dripping with flavor that feels both primal and refined.
The tortas are massive, layered affairs built on crusty bolillo rolls and stuffed with your choice of pork cuts, pickled vegetables, refried beans, and salsas that strike a perfect balance between acidic brightness and deep umami. They also serve rotating specials, like longaniza sausage or pork cheek tacos, depending on what’s freshest and most flavorful from the butcher that week.
Prices hover around $3.50–$5 per taco, making it easy to order a variety and turn lunch into a proper feast. But despite the affordable menu and laid-back setting, there’s nothing casual about the craftsmanship. Tacos El Metro is a rare example of high-level technique funneled into street food without pretension, powered by memory, heritage, and the irresistible aroma of roasted pork that lingers in the air long after you’ve left.
