Sure, we can eat tacos every day of the year (and nobody could stop us from trying). But it is reassuring to have a dedicated day each week to stake a claim to the flavorful tortilla pockets.
It seems Taco Tuesday has always been in the zeitgeist, though its origins, and copyright, has been in contention for decades. According to a 2018 Thrillist article, Mexican restaurant chain Taco John’s has held the “Taco Tuesday” registered trademark since 1989. So protective of the trademark as they are, the restaurant has sent cease-and-desist letters to other eateries who use the phrase.
While Taco John’s claims to have been the first to use the phrase “Taco Tuesday,” in 1979, Thrillist stated it had been in use for several years prior. Baker’s Drive-Thru in Southern California has a “Taco Tuesday” campaign that dates to 1976. And Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar holds the trademark for “Taco Tuesday” in New Jersey, which it filed in 1979.
Finally, in 2023, Taco John’s formally abandoned its claim to the phrase after Taco Bell went on a high-profile quest to free the commonly used saying of trademark restrictions. That’s right; you can thank Taco Bell for liberating “Taco Tuesday” for all (well, in 49 states — Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar still holds the trademark in New Jersey).
Locally, some residents started their own Taco Tuesday campaign — with a healthy twist. Chad Hunt and Juan Chavez, founders of the North Bay Kruzers bike club, initiated the Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Ride in 2021, which sees dozens of people biking through the Santa Rosa Junior College neighborhood en route to local food trucks for post-ride tacos (on Tuesdays, of course).
On Election Day, locals rode through town in a lighted bike parade, from the SRJC parking lot to Mitote Food Park (see videos of the spirited community ride, as well as updates on future rides, on the group’s Facebook page). Find more information on schedules, start times and course routes for the weekly Taco Tuesday rides at downtownsantarosa.org.
So, now that Taco Tuesday is for everyone, we compiled some local restaurants that offer the best taco deals and specials on Tuesdays.
For more delicious tacos any day of the week, we rounded up the best in the county. And our dining editor has shared her overall favorites.
El Coqui
This year, Puerto Rican favorite El Coqui rolled out “TacoRican Tuesdays,” only available in-store. The Tuesday deal includes $10 tacos made with the restaurant’s signature pollo al horno and garlic cilantro sauce, as well as $10 nachos with Puerto Rican black beans and garlic cilantro sauce. There’s also $5 micheladas and margaritas.
400 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-542-8869, elcoqui2eat.com
Tipsy Taco & Cantina
The Santa Rosa cantina offers $2 street tacos all day for Taco Tuesday, including veggie, chicken, carnitas, chorizo, asada and al pastor.
505 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-890-5581, tipsytacocantina.com
Tita’s Cuisine
This Sebastopol Road food truck recently added a Taco Tuesday special to its lineup, featuring $1.75 tacos all day every week.
959 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-889-6956, instagram.com/titas_cuisine_
La Rosa Tequileria & Grille
Every Tuesday, La Rosa’s has employee-favorite quesabirria tacos on special. Plus, the daily happy hour, from 4-6 p.m., includes tacos starting at $5.
500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3663, larosasantarosa.com
Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Taproom
In addition to Martini Mondays and Wine Wednesdays, this Santa Rosa taproom offers Taco Tuesdays with a fun lineup of street tacos and drinks. The street tacos are $5 and come with chicken, chorizo or pulled pork on a choice of flour or corn tortillas. Modelo Especial and tequila shots are each $5. Sample each of the deals with the Taco Tuesday Combo ($15) — a choice of taco, tequila shot and Modelo Especial. There are also margarita carafes for the table from $30-$35.
523 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5787, bellyleftcoastkitchenandtaproom.com
Dolan’s Den Bar & Grill
Formerly the Nutty Irishman, this restaurant and karaoke bar offers $3 tacos and $7 margaritas all day on Tuesdays.
995 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-544-1447, dolansden.com
Sunny Cafe Food Truck
This taco truck down the way from Coffey Park hosts Taco Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. weekly with $2.50 tacos. Choose one of 10 meats (except fish or shrimp).
3230 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-710-1467, instagram.com/sunnycafeofficial
Mi Pueblo
All Mi Pueblo locations in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Windsor and Cotati offer Taco Tuesday deals every week. Tacos are just $1.50 all day at the Petaluma and Santa Rosa spots, and $3 for all taco choices (meat, fish or shrimp) at the Cotati location.
800 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-8192, eatmipueblopetaluma.com; 108 Kentucky St., Suite 2926, Petaluma, 707-769-9066, eatmipuebloelcentro.com; 7384 Commerce Blvd, Cotati, 707-792-4380, mipueblocotati.com; 703 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-843-7804; 8832 Lakewood Drive, Windsor, 707-836-4360, mipueblowindsor.com
Taqueria Sol Azteca
This Rohnert Park taqueria celebrates Taco Tuesday every week with $2 tacos. Plus, tacos dorados and super tacos for $3, as well as three quesabirrias for $6.
1435 E. Cotati Ave., Suite C, Rohnert Park, 707-792-1859, facebook.com/SolAztecaRP
Barrel Brothers Brewing Kitchen & Cocktails
Starting the first week of November, this Windsor brewhouse will host Taco Tuesdays, elevated with handcrafted margaritas to pair with tacos and tortas. Stay tuned on Barrel Brothers’ Instagram for more details on the Tuesday specials.
9238 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 128, Windsor, 707-697-5818, barrelbrothersbrewing.com
Castañeda’s Market
This popular Mexican food market sometimes offers Taco Tuesday deals, in addition to discounted taco bars for special occasions. The market recently offered a “Taco-la Tuesday Presidential Platter” for Election Day — priced at $47 as Americans elected their 47th president. Keep an eye on the market’s Instagram for updates on deals.
8465 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 601, Windsor, 707-838-8820, castanedasmarket.com
Osito Style Tacos
This Barlow taco shop sometimes offers deals for Taco Tuesday — though it pays to follow Osito’s Instagram for updates and special deals. Last week, Osito offered 10% off taco orders if you mentioned its Taco Tuesday post to their team. Innovative creations await, such as chicken and waffle tacos with chipotle syrup and jambalaya tacos with shrimp, pork adobo and chimichurri.
6760 McKinley St., Suite 140, Sebastopol, 707-494-1416, ositostyletacos.com
Flagship Taproom
All of Flagship’s taproom locations — Cotati, Windsor and Santa Rosa — offer a Taco Tuesday special, featuring $2 street tacos. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available.
8099 La Plaza St., Suite B, Cotati, 707-664-5904; 1001-1007 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-837-5654; 446 B St., Santa Rosa, 707-541-6716, flagshiptaproom.com
Ready to join the Taco Tuesday movement? Whether you're biking through Santa Rosa or just looking for some unbeatable taco deals, our local spots have you covered. From $1.50 tacos to creative taco combinations, there's no reason to miss out. Grab your friends, and let’s taco ‘bout your plans for the next Taco Tuesday! Find your perfect taco destination today and make every Tuesday a celebration of flavor.
