Tacos El Prieto in Oklahoma City: Custom Orders and Low Prices on NW 23rd
Tacos El Prieto is a fast-casual taqueria in northwest Oklahoma City that builds tacos to order, with carnitas, barbacoa, and carne asada as the core proteins, and operates primarily as a lunch and early-dinner spot. It sits in a part of the city where Mexican restaurants cluster and compete closely, making price and customization the practical differences that matter for daily eating.
What Tacos El Prieto actually is
A counter-service taqueria where you order at the front and receive food within minutes. The restaurant seats 20 to 30 people in a compact dining room. It is not a full-service restaurant with table service or a delivery-focused operation, though many customers take tacos to go. The focus is narrow: tacos, rice, beans, and drinks. No breakfast, no full entrees beyond tacos.
Menu and pricing
Tacos cost $1.75 to $2.25 per taco depending on protein choice; carnitas and al pastor fall in the middle range around $2.00, while carne asada runs slightly higher. A three-taco order with rice and beans runs approximately $8.00 to $9.00 before tax. Agua fresca, horchata, and canned sodas are standard drink options at $1.50 to $2.00. The salsa bar includes both mild pico de gallo and a medium-heat roja, free with any order. This price tier is competitive against other casual taquerias in the NW 23rd corridor but undercuts full-service Mexican restaurants in Midtown by 30 to 40 percent.
Customers build tacos rather than order fixed combinations; this means you choose the protein, number of tacos, and toppings (onion, cilantro, lime, pickled jalapeños) without upsell or negotiation.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City taquerias
Tacos El Prieto positions itself against other counter-service taquerias along NW 23rd and nearby residential streets. Compared to larger sit-down Mexican restaurants like those in the Uptown district, it offers faster service and lower per-item cost, making it a practical lunch choice for people working nearby. Compared to food trucks on the same strip, it provides a fixed location, more consistent hours, and seating. The carnitas here are simmered rather than pressed thin, creating a texture difference from some of its immediate competitors who emphasize speed over meat tenderness.
Who it suits and who it does not
This works for people eating lunch on a budget, anyone working within a few miles, and customers who prefer to customize rather than order off a preset menu. It is not suited to diners seeking table service, a full bar, or a long menu beyond tacos and sides. Groups larger than 6 or 7 may find the seating tight.
What the first visit involves
Walk in, examine the handwritten menu board near the counter (proteins and prices listed), order your tacos by protein and number, pick up your order at the counter, and seat yourself. The total transaction takes under five minutes. Salsa is self-serve; napkins and hot sauce bottles sit on each table. Most first-time customers order three to four tacos to test the kitchen before deciding on a regular order size.
Hours and logistics
Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Sunday (verify by phone as restaurant hours in this area sometimes shift). Located on NW 23rd Street with street parking; no dedicated lot. Cash and card accepted. The restaurant is a short drive from the NW 23rd business district and within a 10-minute radius of several office parks.
Tacos El Prieto fills a straightforward role in Oklahoma City's Mexican food landscape: affordable, customizable, and predictable lunch service in a part of the city where that combination has built a customer base and a survival rate longer than many neighborhood spots hold.
