Blog / Food around the world
Taco CaloriesStreet Tacos, Al Pastor, Carnitas and Tex-Mex Compared
· 2 min read
Tacos are one of the easier foods to track: they come in units, and each one is built from a tortilla, a filling and toppings. Here's what each part adds.
The quick answer
| Taco (1) | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Street taco, al pastor (2 small corn tortillas) | 160-210 |
| Street taco, carne asada | 150-200 |
| Street taco, carnitas | 170-230 |
| Street taco, pollo (grilled chicken) | 130-180 |
| Fish taco, battered, with crema | 220-300 |
| Fish taco, grilled | 150-200 |
| Tex-Mex hard shell, ground beef, cheese, lettuce | 170-210 |
| Tex-Mex soft flour, ground beef, cheese, sour cream | 220-280 |
| Birria taco (with consomé for dipping) | 250-350 |
A typical order of three street tacos is roughly 450-650 calories.
Tortillas
| Tortilla | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Small corn tortilla (~15 cm / 6 in) | 50-60 |
| Two stacked small corn (street style) | 100-120 |
| Hard taco shell | 60-70 |
| Flour tortilla, small (~15 cm) | 90-110 |
| Flour tortilla, burrito size (~25 cm / 10 in) | 200-300 |
Street tacos usually come on two stacked tortillas. Eating them with one saves about 50 per taco.
Fillings (per taco, ~50-60 g)
| Filling | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Pollo asado (grilled chicken) | 60-90 |
| Carne asada (grilled beef) | 80-110 |
| Al pastor (marinated pork) | 90-120 |
| Carnitas (braised pork) | 110-150 |
| Chorizo | 150-200 |
| Barbacoa | 90-120 |
| Black beans (¼ cup) | 50-60 |
Toppings
| Topping | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Onion, cilantro, lime, salsa | 5-20 |
| Pico de gallo (2 tbsp) | 5-10 |
| Guacamole (2 tbsp) | 45-60 |
| Sour cream / crema (2 tbsp) | 50-60 |
| Shredded cheese (2 tbsp) | 55-60 |
| Queso fresco (2 tbsp) | 40-50 |
The sides add up
| Side | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Tortilla chips (1 basket, restaurant) | 500-800 |
| Mexican rice (1 cup) | 200-260 |
| Refried beans (1 cup) | 220-300 |
| Elote (1 ear with mayo, cheese) | 250-350 |
| Horchata (1 glass) | 150-250 |
| Margarita (regular) | 200-300 |
At a Tex-Mex restaurant, the chip basket before the meal can outweigh the tacos themselves.
Lighter taco orders
- Street style over Tex-Mex: onion, cilantro and salsa instead of cheese and sour cream.
- Pollo or asada over carnitas and chorizo.
- One tortilla instead of two.
- Grilled fish over battered.
- Pace the chips. Portion a handful instead of eating from the basket.
- Add beans for fibre and protein that keep you full.
Logging tacos
In DietTracker you say "three tacos al pastor with onion and cilantro, plus a horchata", in English or Spanish, and it estimates them with macros. No scrolling through forty "taco" entries.
Eating out often? See our guide to counting calories at restaurants, or try DietTracker free.