Best Tacos & Mexican Food Trucks in Southern Maryland are worth adding to your local must-try list whether you’ve lived here for years, just bought your first home, or are spending a weekend getting to know the area before a move.

Southern Maryland may be famous for Chesapeake Bay seafood, but our local food scene goes well beyond steamed crabs and crab cakes. Across St. Mary’s County, Charles County, and Calvert County, you can find taco trucks, taquerias, Mexican restaurants, and Latin American food spots serving everything from classic tacos to tortas, quesadillas, and other favorites.

And exploring them is part of the fun of getting to know Southern Maryland.

If you’re hungry and wondering where to start, here are several local spots to put on your list.

Where to Find the Best Tacos in Southern Maryland

What makes the “best” taco?

That depends entirely on who you ask.

Some taco fans want a simple street-style taco topped with onion and cilantro. Others are searching for birria, tortas, quesadillas, plenty of salsa, or a new dish they haven't tried before.

Instead of declaring one restaurant or truck the undisputed winner, think of this guide as the beginning of your own Southern Maryland taco tour.

There is one important thing to remember when visiting food trucks: locations and schedules can change.

Calvert County Tourism specifically recommends contacting food trucks directly or checking their websites and social media pages for current locations, menus, and pricing. The county also directs visitors to tourism resources for Charles County and St. Mary’s County when looking for additional Southern Maryland trucks.

So before making a special trip, confirm where your chosen truck is serving that day.

Now, let's talk tacos.

Mexican Food Trucks & Tacos in St. Mary’s County

From Lexington Park to Mechanicsville, St. Mary’s County gives taco lovers several places to explore.

Tacos Hernandez — Lexington Park

Tacos Hernandez — Lexington ParkLocated on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, Tacos Hernandez is a popular local stop to consider when you're craving tacos in southern St. Mary’s County.

Its location also makes it easy to work into a day spent around Lexington Park, Great Mills, California, or nearby communities.

For someone relocating to Southern Maryland, locally owned restaurants like this are worth discovering. Exploring places beyond the major national chains is one way to start getting familiar with the communities you're considering calling home.

Local tip: If you're touring homes around Lexington Park or California, save this one as a possible lunch stop and check its current hours before heading over.

La Pasadita Taco Truck Taqueria — Mechanicsville

La Pasadita Taco Truck Taqueria — MechanicsvilleHead north along the Three Notch Road corridor and you'll find La Pasadita Taco Truck Taqueria in Mechanicsville.

This is an especially relevant stop for anyone searching online for a taco truck in Southern Maryland rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant.

Mechanicsville sits in northern St. Mary’s County, so this location can also be convenient for people traveling between St. Mary’s and Charles counties.

If you're planning a taco tour, consider pairing a Lexington Park stop with a Mechanicsville stop and deciding on your own favorite.

Taco & Mexican Food Favorites in Charles County

Continue north into Charles County and the Waldorf area opens up even more dining possibilities.

Waldorf is one of Southern Maryland's largest commercial centers, so it's naturally a useful place to look when you're searching for tacos and Latin American food.

Taqueria El Rey #3 — Waldorf

Taqueria El Rey #3 — WaldorfTaqueria El Rey #3 is located on Old Washington Road in Waldorf and gives taco fans another option to add to their Charles County list.

If you're spending the day shopping, running errands, meeting with a real estate professional, or looking at homes around Waldorf, this can be an easy way to turn lunch into part of your local exploration.

And that's one of our favorite ways to learn Southern Maryland: don't just drive from property to property. Take time to explore the businesses and destinations you pass along the way.

El Paso Latin Food Truck — Waldorf

El Paso Latin Food Truck — WaldorfAnother mobile-food option in Waldorf is El Paso Latin Food Truck, currently listed along Mattawoman Beantown Road.

This option broadens our list beyond strictly Mexican restaurants into Latin American food and gives food-truck fans another place to investigate around Charles County.

As always, verify the latest schedule before making a dedicated trip. Mobile vendors can adjust their operating locations or hours.

Mexican Food Trucks & Tacos in Calvert County

Cross over into Calvert County and your Southern Maryland taco tour can keep going.

The county stretches from the Dunkirk area in the north all the way down toward Solomons, meaning you can combine your search for local food with plenty of other Southern Maryland exploring.

La Bandera Mexican Food Truck — Solomons

La Bandera Mexican Food Truck — SolomonsNear the southern end of Calvert County, La Bandera Mexican Food Truck is currently listed along Solomons Island Road South in Solomons.

Solomons is already a destination for waterfront views and local attractions, so adding tacos to the itinerary isn't exactly a difficult decision.

Spend some time around Solomons, explore the area, and stop for food before heading home.

For buyers who are new to Southern Maryland, trips like this are also an easy way to understand just how different the communities throughout the region can feel—without trying to judge them simply from a map.

Tacos y Tortas Doña Maria #1 — Dunkirk

Tacos y Tortas Doña Maria #1 — DunkirkAt the opposite end of Calvert County, Tacos y Tortas Doña Maria #1 is currently listed along Southern Maryland Boulevard in Dunkirk.

That gives taco lovers an option toward northern Calvert County and another reason to make food part of a day spent exploring the region.

Calvert County also maintains an official food-truck directory. Its current directory includes trucks serving barbecue, pizza, desserts, fusion dishes, and other cuisines, including a Mexican-inspired option.

In other words, even after you've finished your taco tour, there are plenty of other food trucks left to try.

How to Find a Mexican Food Truck Near Me in Southern Maryland

If you've ever searched “Mexican food truck near me,” you've probably discovered one of the challenges of food-truck dining: knowing that a truck exists doesn't necessarily tell you where it will be today.

Food trucks can appear at markets, businesses, community events, festivals, and other temporary locations.

A few simple habits can make your search easier:

  • Search Google Maps for Mexican food trucks and taco trucks near your current location.

  • Check the truck's social media before leaving.

  • Look at local tourism and county event calendars.

  • Watch for farmers markets, festivals, and community events featuring rotating food vendors.

  • Confirm current hours directly when you're making a longer drive.

Calvert County's official food-truck resource recommends contacting individual trucks or checking their online pages for daily locations, menus, and pricing.

Farmers markets can be another good place to discover mobile food vendors. Calvert County's 2026 farmers-market schedule, for example, lists rotating food trucks at some of its markets.

So when searching for food trucks in Southern Maryland, don't limit yourself to permanent addresses. Local events may introduce you to something you haven't tried before.

Tacos, Food Trucks & the Southern Maryland Lifestyle

What does taco hunting have to do with real estate?

More than you might think—but not because you should choose a house based on the nearest taco truck.

When you're considering moving somewhere new, you're trying to understand an entire area. The homes matter, of course, but so do the places and experiences you encounter after you leave your driveway.

Exploring locally owned businesses is one way to get familiar with Southern Maryland.

Grab tacos in Lexington Park. Explore Waldorf. Visit a farmers market in Calvert County. Spend an afternoon near the water in Solomons. Try a restaurant you've passed a dozen times but never visited.

Those experiences help turn dots on a map into places you actually recognize.

Southern Maryland's food culture is also a good reminder of how varied the region can be. Mexican and Latin American food are part of the mix, but Maryland's traditional culinary identity remains closely tied to the Chesapeake Bay.

What Is Maryland's Most Famous Food?

If someone asks, “What is Maryland's most famous food?”, the answer is hard to separate from the blue crab.

Maryland's official tourism website describes blue crab as the food icon most often associated with the state, and steamed crabs, crab cakes, and crab soups remain important parts of Maryland's culinary identity.

So no, tacos haven't replaced Maryland blue crabs.

Fortunately, nobody says you have to choose.

Crabs on Saturday and tacos on Tuesday sounds like a perfectly reasonable Southern Maryland food plan.

Why Work With a Southern Maryland Real Estate Expert

Finding a home in Southern Maryland involves more than entering a price range and bedroom count into a search box.

St. Mary’s County, Charles County, and Calvert County each contain a variety of communities, housing options, commuting considerations, amenities, and market conditions. Understanding those differences can be especially valuable if you're buying your first home or relocating from outside the region.

That's where local experience matters.

When you're searching for Top Real Estate Agents & Realtors in Southern Maryland, look beyond a list of names and consider practical experience: Does the agent regularly work in the areas you're considering? Can they explain the home-buying process clearly? Do they understand the local market and help you evaluate your options based on your individual goals?

Strong local knowledge builds trust because buying a home is rarely just about the house itself.

It is about helping you make an informed decision about one of life's biggest purchases.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, relocating to Southern Maryland, searching for more space, or considering an investment property, our goal is to help you understand your options and move forward with confidence.

Ready to start exploring homes?

Explore Southern Maryland homes and buyer resources

And yes—you can absolutely plan a taco stop after the home tour.

Southern Maryland Taco & Food Truck FAQs

What are some food trucks in Southern Maryland?

Southern Maryland has mobile vendors serving Mexican-inspired dishes, barbecue, pizza, seafood, desserts, and other cuisines. Food-truck options can be found throughout St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties, although locations and schedules may change. Calvert County maintains an official directory and recommends checking directly with individual trucks for current information.

Where can I find the best tacos in Southern Maryland?

Start with taco and Mexican-food options in St. Mary’s County, Charles County, and Calvert County. Lexington Park, Mechanicsville, Waldorf, Solomons, and Dunkirk all have current local options worth investigating. Because “best” is subjective, try several spots and decide which tacos deserve the top spot on your personal list.

What is the best Mexican restaurant in Maryland?

There isn't one objectively best Mexican restaurant for the entire state. Maryland has restaurants and taquerias with different regional styles, menus, specialties, and dining experiences. If you're in Southern Maryland, starting with locally owned taco spots in St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties is a much more practical way to find your favorite.

What is Maryland's most famous food?

Maryland is most strongly associated with blue crab. The state's official tourism resources highlight Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and dishes such as steamed crabs, crab cakes, and crab soup as signature Maryland food experiences.

How much does a food truck cost in Maryland?

There isn't a single standard cost for starting or operating a Maryland food truck. Expenses can depend on the truck or trailer, cooking equipment, insurance, licensing, food-service requirements, and local jurisdiction.

Requirements can also vary locally. In Calvert County, for example, mobile food-service facilities must obtain applicable food licensing, and additional requirements can apply depending on how and where the truck operates. Anyone planning to start a food truck should check current state and county requirements directly rather than relying on a generic startup estimate.

How do I find a Mexican food truck near me?

Start with a map search, but don't stop there. Check the food truck's latest social media posts or website to confirm where it is serving that day. Southern Maryland tourism resources, farmers markets, festivals, and community-event calendars can also help you discover mobile vendors.

Ready to Explore More of Southern Maryland?

The best tacos and Mexican food trucks in Southern Maryland give you another delicious excuse to explore St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties.

Try a taco truck you've never visited. Support a locally owned business. Spend an afternoon exploring a community that's new to you.

And if exploring Southern Maryland has you thinking about making a move, we're here to help with that part too.

Start your Southern Maryland home search

Editor’s note: Food-truck locations, menus, schedules, and operating hours can change. Confirm current information directly with each business before visiting.

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