Photo: AI-generated imageMas Tacos Por Favor
A small, loud, always-packed East Nashville institution. Teresa Mason's tacos — especially the chicken tortilla soup and the fried avocado taco — have a cult following that stretches far beyond Nashville. Arrive early and expect a line.
Teresa Mason started Mas Tacos out of a food truck before opening the McFerrin Avenue storefront, and the East Nashville original has stayed small and loud on purpose — a handful of tables, a walk-up counter, and a line that regularly runs out the door on weekend mornings. It built its reputation well before East Nashville became a dining destination, and it's one of the few spots from that era that hasn't changed hands or lost the crowd.
The fried avocado taco and the chicken tortilla soup are the two dishes that show up in nearly every review, and both hold up: the avocado stays firm under a light fry, and the soup comes loaded with crispy tortilla strips, shredded chicken, and enough avocado to make it a meal on its own. Beyond the tacos, the menu leans into scratch-made Mexican comfort food — elote, tamales, and a rotating list of specials chalked on the wall — rather than trying to cover every regional style.
It's counter-service, and while it ran cash-only for years, cards are now accepted — a relatively recent change regulars still mention. The tables sit close together and it's genuinely loud at peak hours, which is part of the draw: it feels like a neighborhood spot that happens to have a national following, not a restaurant built for visitors.
Highlights
- —Fried avocado taco and chicken tortilla soup are the two must-orders
- —Started as a food truck before the East Nashville storefront
- —Counter service, cash and cards both accepted
- —Small space — expect a wait at peak brunch and lunch hours
- —Elote and rotating chalkboard specials worth checking each visit
Insider tip
Go right at opening on a weekday if you want to skip the line — weekend late morning is the worst time to arrive.