King of Tacos: Team Ringgold's Search for the Best Tacos in Topeka, Kansas

10 Episodes, 10 Local Stops, and a Whole Lot of Tacos

For the past 10 episodes, Team Ringgold has been on a mission to explore one of Topeka's favorite foods: tacos.

What started as a search for the King of Tacos in Topeka, Kansas turned into a 10-stop tour of local restaurants, taco shops, and food trucks throughout the community.

We tried steak tacos.

Carne asada.

Birria.

Al pastor.

Chorizo.

Lengua.

Pork.

Different sauces, toppings, seasonings, and taco combinations.

And along the way, we discovered something that may have been even more important than finding a favorite taco.

Topeka has a lot of great local food to explore.

From longtime restaurants to food trucks and smaller local establishments, every stop gave us something different to try and another reason to appreciate the businesses that help make Topeka a great place to live.

Now that we've reached the finale, let's look back at the entire King of Tacos journey.

What Is King of Tacos?

King of Tacos is a local food series from Team Ringgold that took us around Topeka, Kansas, in search of great tacos.

Each episode focused on a different local restaurant or food truck. We ordered tacos, tried different fillings and flavors, and talked about what made each location stand out.

The goal wasn't simply to find one taco and declare that every other taco in Topeka was somehow inferior.

Instead, we wanted to explore the local taco scene, support local businesses, and give people watching the series some new places to consider the next time they're looking for tacos in Topeka.

And after 10 episodes, we certainly found plenty worth talking about.

Our 10 King of Tacos Stops

Over the course of the series, Team Ringgold visited 10 different local taco spots.

Here's a look back at every stop.

1. Vuelve a la Vida

We kicked off the King of Tacos journey at Vuelve a la Vida.

One of the biggest standouts from our visit was the steak taco.

Starting the series with steak gave us a strong introduction to the variety we would encounter throughout the rest of the journey.

It also set the tone for what became one of our favorite parts of the series: discovering how different local restaurants approach a familiar food.

2. Rosi's Food

Our second stop was Rosi's Food, where the carne asada caught our attention.

The chopped-up carne asada brought plenty of flavor to the tacos, and we also had the opportunity to try their elote.

Having both tacos and a side like elote gave us another look at the kind of food that can make a local restaurant worth seeking out.

3. Zoila's Cafe

Next up was Zoila's Cafe.

This stop brought us a pork taco along with a flavorful green sauce.

The combination gave us another example of how much variety can exist within something as simple as a taco.

Different meats, different sauces, different preparation methods and different flavors can completely change the experience.

That's exactly what we wanted to discover throughout the series.

4. El Mexicali

Our fourth stop took us to El Mexicali.

This time, birria tacos were the focus.

Birria has become a popular taco style for good reason, and getting to try it at another local Topeka establishment gave us another opportunity to compare different flavors and preparations throughout the series.

The rich meat and flavorful profile of birria added something completely different to our growing list of taco experiences.

5. El Centenario

At El Centenario, we visited a Topeka establishment with more than two decades of history behind it.

This stop gave us the chance to try both al pastor and chorizo.

Al pastor had already become an important part of our taco journey, but the chorizo gave us another flavor profile to consider.

It was also another reminder of how longtime local restaurants become part of the identity of a community.

6. El Zocalo

Our sixth stop was El Zocalo.

We tried birria tacos and a flavorful consommé during this visit.

The consommé added another element to the meal and gave us a chance to experience another take on birria during the series.

By this point in the journey, it was becoming pretty clear that there was no shortage of different ways to enjoy tacos around Topeka.

7. La Casita

Next came La Casita.

This stop brought us al pastor as well as lengua, giving us another opportunity to try some different taco fillings.

The al pastor had a distinct seasoning and flavor, while the lengua gave us something we hadn't tried earlier in the series.

Trying something unfamiliar was one of the most enjoyable parts of King of Tacos.

You never quite knew what might become your next favorite.

8. El Ranchito

At El Ranchito, we found another feature that made the tacos stand out: the adobo sauce.

Sauces can completely change a taco, and the adobo added another layer of flavor to the tacos we tried.

By this point, we had tasted a wide range of meats, sauces and taco combinations, and every stop continued to give us something different.

9. Lupita's Tacos

Our ninth stop was Lupita's Tacos.

One of the things we enjoyed about this stop was getting tacos packed with the elements that make a great taco so satisfying: meat, toppings and plenty of flavor.

Lupita's also helped set up the final stretch of our journey as we got closer to the 10th and final stop.

After nine episodes, we had tried tacos from restaurants and food trucks all over Topeka.

Only one stop remained.

10. Tacos El Sol

And finally, we arrived at Tacos El Sol.

For the final stop in the King of Tacos series, we wanted to feature a longtime Topeka staple.

Tacos El Sol has been part of the local food scene for nearly two decades, making it a fitting location to close out a series focused on local restaurants and the businesses that have become part of the community.

Several things stood out during our visit.

The first was the spicy pastor.

It brought plenty of flavor along with a noticeable kick.

The tacos also had juicy fillings, making every bite flavorful and satisfying.

And another detail that stood out was something that can sometimes be overlooked:

The food came out hot and fresh.

Sometimes the things that make a meal memorable aren't complicated.

Good flavor.

Juicy fillings.

Hot food.

And a local business that has been serving its community for years.

After nearly 20 years in Topeka, it's easy to see why Tacos El Sol has become a local staple.

Ten Stops, Ten Different Experiences

Looking back at all 10 episodes, one of the most interesting things about the series is just how different each stop was.

We weren't eating the exact same taco ten times.

We tried different meats, sauces, toppings, seasonings and preparation styles.

We had:

• Steak tacos
• Carne asada
• Pork
• Birria
• Al pastor
• Chorizo
• Lengua
• Spicy pastor
• Different sauces and toppings
• Elote and other sides along the way

Every restaurant had its own take.

And that's what made the series work.

A taco might be a relatively simple food, but there are countless ways to prepare one.

Exploring the Topeka Taco Scene

One of the biggest takeaways from King of Tacos is that Topeka has a diverse local food scene.

If you're searching for tacos in Topeka, there are plenty of options to consider.

You can find established restaurants that have been serving customers for decades.

You can find smaller local spots.

You can find food trucks.

You can find different taco fillings and styles.

And you can find completely different experiences depending on where you go.

That's part of what made this series so enjoyable.

We weren't just looking for tacos.

We were getting out into the community and discovering businesses that contribute to the character of Topeka.

Why Local Restaurants Matter to a Community

At Team Ringgold, a big part of what we do is helping people buy and sell homes in the Topeka area.

But being part of a community is about more than real estate.

It's the restaurants where people meet for dinner.

It's the food trucks people seek out.

It's the small businesses people recommend to friends.

It's the longtime local establishments that have served generations of customers.

Those businesses help create the places we call home.

That's one of the reasons we enjoyed making King of Tacos.

It gave us an excuse to get out, try something new, meet local businesses where they are, and share some of those experiences with the people who follow Team Ringgold.

What We Learned From 10 Episodes of King of Tacos

If there's one thing we learned during this series, it's that there isn't one simple answer to the question, "Where can I find the best tacos in Topeka?"

Everyone has different tastes.

Some people want carne asada.

Some want al pastor.

Some want birria.

Some want lengua.

Some want a taco with plenty of toppings.

Some want a simple taco where the meat and seasoning do all the work.

And that's okay.

The fun is in trying them.

Our 10 stops gave us plenty of favorites and plenty of new things to discover.

More importantly, they gave us 10 opportunities to highlight local businesses.

The King of Tacos Journey Comes to an End

Ten episodes later, our King of Tacos journey has officially come to a close.

We visited:

Vuelve a la Vida

Rosi's Food

Zoila's Cafe

El Mexicali

El Centenario

El Zocalo

La Casita

El Ranchito

Lupita's Tacos

Tacos El Sol

That's 10 local stops.

10 different taco experiences.

And a whole lot of tacos.

We had a great time putting this series together, and we're incredibly thankful to everyone who watched the videos, shared them, commented, recommended restaurants and followed along from the first episode to the finale.

What Should Team Ringgold Try Next?

Just because King of Tacos is over doesn't mean we're done exploring Topeka.

In fact, we're already looking toward the next food adventure.

Now we want to hear from you.

What cuisine should we explore next?

What restaurants or food trucks should we visit?

What specific foods do you want us to try?

Maybe there's a longtime local favorite we haven't discovered yet.

Maybe there's a restaurant you've been telling everyone about.

Or maybe there's a particular dish in Topeka that you think we absolutely need to try.

Let us know in the comments.

Your recommendation could help decide where Team Ringgold goes next.

Thank You for Following King of Tacos

From the first taco to the final stop at Tacos El Sol, we've had a lot of fun exploring Topeka through food.

King of Tacos gave us the opportunity to discover local restaurants, try new foods, highlight small businesses and spend some time getting to know another side of the community we call home.

The series may be finished, but Topeka's local food scene isn't going anywhere.

There are still restaurants to discover.

Food trucks to find.

Dishes to try.

And, of course, plenty of tacos left to eat.

Thank you for coming along with us.

The search for the King of Tacos may be over, but the next food adventure is just getting started. 🌮👑

King of Tacos Series: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the King of Tacos series?

King of Tacos is a local food series from Team Ringgold that visits restaurants and food trucks throughout Topeka, Kansas. The series explores different taco styles, meats, toppings, sauces and local businesses while searching for great tacos in the Topeka area.

How many locations did Team Ringgold visit?

Team Ringgold visited 10 different taco locations during the King of Tacos series.

The stops were Vuelve a la Vida, Rosi's Food, Zoila's Cafe, El Mexicali, El Centenario, El Zocalo, La Casita, El Ranchito, Lupita's Tacos and Tacos El Sol.

What types of tacos did Team Ringgold try?

Throughout the series, we tried a wide variety of tacos, including steak, carne asada, pork, birria, al pastor, chorizo, lengua and spicy pastor, along with different sauces and toppings.

What was the final stop in the King of Tacos series?

The final stop was Tacos El Sol in Topeka, Kansas.

Tacos El Sol has been part of the Topeka food scene for nearly two decades. The spicy pastor, juicy fillings and hot, fresh food stood out during our visit.

Is King of Tacos finished?

Yes. Episode 10 marked the finale of the King of Tacos series.

However, Team Ringgold is looking for recommendations for future food adventures around Topeka.

Where can I find tacos in Topeka?

There are many local restaurants and food trucks serving tacos throughout the Topeka area. The King of Tacos series visited 10 different locations and explored a variety of taco styles and flavors.

If you're looking for tacos in Topeka, exploring different local restaurants is a great way to find the style and flavors you enjoy most.

What should Team Ringgold explore next?

That's up to you!

We're looking for recommendations for cuisines, restaurants, food trucks and specific foods to try around Topeka, Kansas.

Leave your recommendations and let us know where we should go next.