La Taqueria (Kreis 4) — Restaurant in Zurich

There’s a cruel trick the world plays on those of us who’ve known the true glory of Mexican cuisine. It’s like remembering the echo of a long-lost melody from your past, vivid yet elusive. I grew up with tamales in California, cut my teeth on fiery salsas in Nevada, and found solace in the sun-drenched enchilada plates of Arizona. Mexican food isn't just a cuisine in those parts—it's a rhythm, a lifeline, an anthem of flavor.

And then, I moved. I wandered across Europe, that old, elegant, drunken uncle of a continent—full of charm and unparalleled in other culinary realms. Germany? A taco travesty. Czechia? Czech that off the list for Mexican food in general. The UK? God save the queen, but not their idea of guacamole. Italy? Pasta heavens, sure, but their alleged al pastor game is a crime against humanity.

I had given up. If Los Angeles was an earthquake of flavor and spice, the rest of Europe was canned refried beans slapped cold on a sawdust tortilla. Until La Taqueria.

Zurich, of all places—well-heeled Zurich with its air of banks and polished calm. Kreis 4 bends the narrative just enough to allow for something wilder, something real. And here sits La Taqueria, a Latin American oasis with a heartbeat. The moment I walked in, I smelled home—not a postcard of it, but home. Zest catching sparks with the scent of freshly griddled tortillas, the hum of simmering meat, and the soulful squeeze of limes spiraling over salsa.

The tacos—God, the tacos. I took the first bite and was dumbstruck. Carnitas that pull apart like they were kissed by an abuelita’s hand, al pastor coming alive with grilled pineapple’s sweet sting, and a tortilla just so, it feels like it’s apologizing for every bad taco you’ve had before. Everything—the balance of heat, the pop of acidity, the way it all coalesces into an unapologetic symphony in your mouth—was nothing short of revelatory.

I’d been chasing these flavors my entire life, not realizing they were hiding here in Switzerland. La Taqueria doesn't just serve food; they give you a damn narrative, a no-frills, unapologetic reminder of what Mexican food is supposed to be—a love letter to the streets of Oaxaca, the soul of Jalisco, the sea breeze of Baja.

I don’t toss around the word “authentic” lightly. It’s a loaded word, capable of doing as much harm as good. But La Taqueria is more than that—it’s visceral. You’re not just tasting the ingredients; you’re tasting the grind, the respect, the inheritance of a culture that demands its flavors be bold, alive, and unapologetically human.

Make no mistake, I’ve spent my life steeped in the cradle of Mexican cuisine. I’ve seen it done to perfection, and I’ve seen it mangled beyond recognition. La Taqueria holds its own with the best of the greats, and its location makes the achievement even more stunning. Zurich, you beautiful, slow-burning rebel—you blindsided me.

If you’ve forgotten what a taco can mean—or if you’ve never truly known—go. Get to La Taqueria in Kreis 4. Eat until you can’t. And then eat one more. It’s not just Mexican food—it’s...

La Taqueria is a little taste of Mexico in Zurich. Maybe. I'm from Texas, so I only know Tex-Mex, and Tex-Mex is not Mexican, and I don't really eat meat, so really I'm a terrible person to ask. But either way, I really enjoy La Taqueria because I'm a huge fan of salsas, and they have absolutely delicious salsas. I'm also a fan of margaritas, and they do those VERY WELL.

This is their second location and I've been to both many many times. The one in Altstetten has more seating both inside and outside and looks cooler, but it's farther away from me so Kreis 4 has been my general hangout. The options seem to be the same at both locations. They have a number of different interesting offers, along with several veggie options which makes me happy. They even offer a bug taco, but I can't exactly remember which type. And recently they've been using planted meat for a taco and burrito- winning! If you want to find a relatively affordable meal, I suggest ordering a side of beans, or beans and rice with tortillas. The portions are big and you can make your own tacos and use all the salsa you want! However, the star of the show is their veggie burrito with smoked cheese. I don't know how they smoke that cheese but man they do it right and it makes the entire burrito. That's probably the best burrito I've ever had, ever! Also, their veggie platter has some great textures, tastes, and colours.

Note that if you are an American coming to visit, be aware that you are in Switzerland, and whatever you order will have a price. That means that if you order a tortilla, they will charge you for each tortilla, or a side of chips. That's the way it is. You just have to get used to it. Sometimes it's painful, but I'm thankful that they made this restaurant so I'm not going to complain. Oh, and let's not forget their margaritas. They have absolutely delicious margaritas! And their cookies! oh their...

We were looking for an authentic mexican restauarnt and finally found one! It's better to come by public transportation, cuz it was really difficult to find a parking space. From the station kernstrasse by foot, its about 2-3min.

As u enter the restaurant u can see the typicall colourful mexican decor, good music (but in a good volume, so u can still have a chat without screaming one another) by the entrance u could see a variety of beer.

We arrived about 5-5.30pm the restaurant and it was pretty empty (4 costumers, us included). Still had to wait a good 20-25min till we decided to go upfront to ask if its selfservice. The woman at the front desk told us, that a waitress will come to our table..10min laters still no one.. We were getting pretty thirsty..and decided to get ourselfs our drinks on our own..

Saw 3-4 staff talking and laughing while waiting a good 40min to be served. Sooo yea so if ur not in a hurry or hungry its quite ok..

The food was great! We ordered: Burrito con Res Quesadilla Veg Birria con Res

All the three were deliciouse..the cooking was alot faster than the serving. That was quite a relief!

We did wanted to order but some coffee and desseret, but we didnt want to spend an hour more till...