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From 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Juan Almanza is cooking birria.

Every two days, Almanza cooks 250 pounds of birria for his restaurant, . At the end of the six-to-seven-hour-long process, Almanza has made some of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s favorite birria.

Growing up in Coahuila, Mexico, which borders Texas, Almanza started cooking when he was 12. Since then, he has worked in the food industry perfecting his birria recipe.

At first, Almaza used five to 10 ingredients in his birria. Now, he uses over 30. His recipe is also so complicated that only one other employee at El Rustico knows how to make it.

Over on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s south side, is also known for their delicious birria dishes, winning the best birria title in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Weekly’s Best Of awards three years in a row. Mateo Otero, the owner of the restaurant, remembers birria being part of every major family party.

When he went on to create a catering business, he learned how to make the dish due to its demand. After watching other people cook it, learning their recipes, Otero crafted his own, mastering the balance between the flavors and spices.

Eventually, Otero opened Rollies, which became the first restaurant in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to sell ramen birria. At one point, Otero said they were making 400 ramen packages on Thursdays — one of the two days in the week that the ramen is available — due to the demand.

Whether you’re going to El Rustico or Rollies, birria has been a staple in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ for decades. It’s hard to resist the tender beef (or sometimes goat), spices and flavor that come with every bite. Local chefs have created everything from cheesy tacos, burgers and pizza with the traditional Mexican dish, transforming it into a whole new meal while keeping its same savory taste.

Below are just a few authentic and creative places that will satisfy your birria craving.

El Rustico

When asked who has the best birria in town, many ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans will mention — and for good reason. El Rustico got its start at the Tohono O’odham Swap Meet, before moving into a building near Grant and Oracle roads during the pandemic. Despite opening during a time when people weren’t leaving their houses, El Rustico managed to become a local favorite. The restaurant was even listed as one of .

Here, you can get birria tacos, quesabirria tacos and birria soup.

El Chivo de Oro

If you’re looking for authentic birria made with goat, this food truck has you covered. offers both goat and beef birria tacos and soup. While some may be wary of goat since it can be gamey, the birria at Chivo de Oro is cooked to perfection.

The tacos have great flavor and a nice spicy kick — I couldn’t tell I was eating goat. The homemade flour tortillas were the cherry on top.

Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen

In recent years, I’ve noticed quesabirria has been rising in popularity. Quesabirria tacos consist of dipping tortillas in broth, then cooking the tortillas with birria and cheese inside. In the end you get a cheesy birria taco that you get to dip into the leftover consommé.

I’ve had a lot of quesabirria tacos — and the ones at were unbelievable, in the best way possible. They were the perfect ratio of cheese to birria and had a spicy flavor that wasn’t too overbearing.

Birrieria Los Toros

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When looking on Reddit for birria suggestions, I saw recommendations for this hidden gem. I was not disappointed.

At , they make tacos and soup with both beef and goat. My tacos were stuffed with plenty of birria, which made each bite feel like birria heaven.

Rollies Mexican Patio

Like El Rustico, is another fan favorite in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, with many enjoying their birria and quesabirria. While their birria is bomb, Rollies is also known for their birria ramen, which gets served every Thursday and Saturday. Ramen noodles, shredded beef, onions and cilantro are all mixed together in birria broth for this unique take on the traditional dish. Top it off with some lime and Rollie’s birria ramen has a taste like no other.

Rollies also serves birria burros, flat enchiladas and what they call a pizzadilla. 

Zio Peppe

When I first heard about ’s birria pizza, I was skeptical. I couldn’t picture pizza and birria being a match — until I tried it. Upon taking the first bite, my mind was instantly changed.

Dipping the cheese pizza, which is topped with El Rustico's birria, onions and cilantro, into the broth brings the dish to a whole other level. This pizza is one of my favorite dishes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

The Delta

The quesabirria smash burger at is no joke. This massive burger is made with a smashed patty topped with El Rustico's birria, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado salsa and consommé on the side.

The host at the restaurant said this burger is ordered frequently and is a favorite among customers and employees.

520 Taco Stop

Birria is so good, everyone should be able to enjoy it.

has a vegan option for their quesabirria tacos. Although I am not vegan, I was pleasantly surprised. The tacos had the same great flavor and the meat substitution had a nice texture.

Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs

American Eat Co., 

has every birria combination you can dream of. Birria tops Takis, tots, hot dogs, ramen and mozzarella sticks. There's even birria stuffed into a grilled cheese sandwich.

Other worthy options

• Birrieria Guadalajara,  — Birria tortas, burritos, tostadas and tacos ... and we've heard Birrieria Guadalajara makes some of the best soups in town.
• Ensenada Street Food,  — There's a reason why people rave about this food truck. The menu not only features birria tacos, but also a vegan version.
• La Yaquesita,  — The success of La Yaquesita's quesabirria is what inspired owners to open a location on Fourth Avenue.
• Taqueria Lingo Lingo,  — Find killer birria here, made with goat.