Taqueria El Michoacano — Restaurant in Waco

Review Title: Birria Ramen: A Hidden Gem in Taqueria El Michoacano’s Modest Atmosphere

Walking into Taqueria El Michoacano at 3601 Bagby Avenue in Waco, Texas, you might find yourself met with modest visuals and minimal interaction. The unassuming pictures on the wall won’t prepare you for the star of the menu, and the lack of a warm welcome might leave you wondering what’s in store. But let me assure you: the food here has the potential to surprise and delight, especially one dish—the Birria Ramen.

The Experience

The setup is straightforward: you order at the window, and the dining area is simple, functional, and largely unoccupied. This isn’t a spot built for ambiance, and it’s clear most patrons opt for takeout. At the counter, service was functional but lacked warmth—no smiles or eye contact, which can shape first impressions. The total for my meal of birria ramen, three tacos (birria, fajita, and barbacoa), and two bottles of Coca-Cola came to $34.

While not inexpensive, the food delivered where it mattered most.

The Food

Let’s start with the tacos. Each one came wrapped in soft tortillas, garnished with cilantro and onion, and accompanied by limes. They were good, but not groundbreaking. The proteins—birria, fajita, and barbacoa—offered solid flavors but didn’t stand out as memorable. Street tacos like these rely heavily on the quality of the meat, and while they were satisfying, they lacked the depth and complexity to make them shine.

Now for the showstopper: Birria Ramen. This dish was a revelation. The broth was packed with rich, bold flavors that reflected the hours of slow cooking and careful seasoning. Every spoonful delivered layers of spice, savoriness, and a depth that felt like it had been simmering forever. The ramen noodles soaked up this incredible broth, creating a dish that was hearty, satisfying, and unforgettable.

While the ramen lacked an egg (traditional to Japanese ramen), the birria twist brought its own personality, staying true to its Mexican roots. This fusion dish alone is worth the visit, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore something beyond the usual.

The Atmosphere

This spot has roots as a food truck, and while the brick-and-mortar location offers a stable setup, it still feels like a space in transition. The dining area is simple, with functional tables and chairs, but it lacks the warmth or aesthetic that would encourage you to linger.

The menu visuals on the wall are underwhelming and don’t do justice to the food being served. If you walked in without prior knowledge, you might not feel inspired to try anything new. That said, the food more than compensates for the lack of visual and atmospheric appeal.

Final Thoughts

Taqueria El Michoacano may not be a place you visit for ambiance or hospitality, but the food—especially the birria ramen—makes it worth the trip. The tacos are solid, but they pale in comparison to the standout broth and noodles of the ramen. This is a spot where the food does the talking, and when it’s good, it’s really good.

If you’re in Waco and looking for a culinary surprise, give Taqueria El Michoacano a try. Just don’t judge it by the pictures on the wall or the service at the counter. Instead, let the food speak for...

Wife and I wanted a torta, tried something new to us. For those that don't know, this place used to be a food truck across the street and this is thier first brick&mortar. Easy access from all sides, decent parking. Newly refurbished building so they had to pass a recent inspection to open. You order at the window and there's a small area for dinning with a slightly crowded feel. We ordered one shredded chicken torta and a birria torta and one strawberry and cream drink and a strawberry lemonade. We waited I'd say 10 minutes with a steady flow of customers and took it home to go. The tortas were good sized rolls and were decent size. Not a whole lot of meat on either, but I'd say it was evenly thinly spread. My wife and I both agreed there seemed to be a bit more connective tissues in the meet than we usually like. The bun was soft, sweet and toasted. It came with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and avocado. There was almost more lettuce than meat. The flavor was good and the meat was tender. All together a decent sandwich but I don't feel worth the price(around 10 a piece). The drinks on the other hand were great. The strawberry cream was nice and perfectly sweet and crazy with a great fresh strawberry taste. The strawberry lemonade was really good as well with a mild citrus flavor smoothed out with a sweet fresh strawberry flavor. We were hungry and it still did its job. In the end we were still satisfied. If I could give it a 3.5 I would. Honestly the drinks kind of made up...

Good barbacoa & chicharron tacos. Good seasoning on the red & green salsas. Tripa was a little tough but had good flavor. A little disappointed after reading all the hype of having the best birria in town; driving from Dallas to SA decided to stop by to try their birria; just to find out they didn't have any at 11:15 for lunch time and wouldn't have any until 3pm. You've got to be kidding. The best birria in town and you don't have birria for lunch. I'll definitely stop by again, hoping they will prep and time it to where it'll be ready for lunch.

Update: been here several times now as I pass by heading to SA. The goat birria with consome is one of the best I've had. It's comparable in flavor and texture to some birria I've had in DFW, Chicago, California, Guadalajara and Tijuana. A big thumbs up for this gem in a hole...