When it comes to tacos, folks in Contra Costa County know their stuff. Tacos El Patron in Pleasant Hill might be the best around. Set in a nondescript little spot next to a gas station at the intersection of Monument Boulevard and Lisa Lane, Tacos El Patron is the kind of authentic neighborhood taqueria that locals swear by. 

Once you take your seat in the tidy and modest dining room, the staff will bring you out a complimentary order of chips and house-made salsas (proceed with caution if you try the ultra-hot habanero). You can nosh while you decide what your main dish will be. The menu is fairly straightforward: choose from a large selection of tacos, or from a handful of other menu items like quesadillas or alambre. The house specialty taco includes fried shrimp and cheese, but the lengua and buche tacos also get high marks on social media. It might be best to sample more than one.