You don’t need to book a plane ticket to find truly authentic tacos: Take a trip to the airport instead. Modest East Boston mainstay Taqueria Jalisco is just a few blocks from the Airport T stop—and it could be mistaken for a pizza parlor if not for the colorful tile that covers its tabletops. Well, that and the yummy Mexican cuisine, like traditional Carnitas and Lengua tacos that come with a trio of house-made salsas. This spot also offers authentic Birria tacos, a beefy, cheesy delight served with a rich and juicy broth for dipping, which originally hail from the state of Jalisco.

After Chilacates began serving its take on Mexican street food near the Stony Brook T station in Jamaica Plain, the tiny counter-service spot won over enough taco enthusiasts to open multiple locations throughout the Boston area. Success is earned by faithfully executing the classics with fresh ingredients and fast service. When it comes to tacos, Chicken Tinga, Papas con Chorizo, Lengua, and more are served on scratch-made tortillas and topped off with an optional “final touch” of pico de gallo, pineapple salsa, guacamole, cheese, or sour cream. Order yours one-by-one or as a roll-your-own plate with a side of rice and beans.

Lone Star Taco Bar’s two locations in Allston and Cambridge are not your typical hole-in-the-wall, mom-and-pop taco joints: Both of these Texas-style spots have a polished decor, strong cocktail programs, and consistent crowds. But none of that distracts from the sheer taco quality: Lone Star’s half-dozen core varieties never fail to satisfy (the confit Carnitas Pork, Baja Fried Fish tacos, and the smoked brisket Beef Barbacoa are particularly great). Nightly specials delve into more experimental flavors, with ingredients like buffalo chicken tacos and even fried calamari.

Angela’s Café is popular enough to fill two East Boston storefronts, thanks to flavor inspiration from the late namesake founder’s home state of Puebla, Mexico. Now run by Angela’s sons, it offers a wide variety of traditional Mexican food in Eagle Hill and Orient Heights, from chicken Enchiladas de Mole to a plate of Chilaquiles that can cure whatever ails us. The tender Tacos al Pastor, however—served on doubled-up homemade corn tortillas—will always be our first choice. We also love the shrimp taco, and the Taco Arabe riff, which wraps the same adobo-marinated roasted pork in a flour tortilla.