3 Cincinnati Street Taco Trios Ranked for Post-Workout Muscle Growth

1. Carne Asada Trio at Taqueria El Rey (Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati)

Lean grilled steak on Vine Street leaves cheap protein powder in the dust. The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) sets the ideal post-training target at 20 to 40 grams of protein to trigger maximal muscle protein synthesis, and Taqueria El Rey smashes straight past that mark with trimmed, open-flame carne asada (grilled beef).

This three-taco order loads 44g of high-leucine protein directly alongside 52g of corn tortilla carbohydrates. That 52g carb payload hits the exact ISSN recommendation of 0.5 to 1.2 g/kg of post-exercise carbohydrates, driving rapid muscle glycogen resynthesis within two hours of racking your heavy sets.

• Macros: 548 calories | 44g protein | 52g carbs | 18g fat

• Verdict: The undisputed heavyweight champ for triggering maximum muscle protein synthesis after leg day.

• Why it won: It is the only trio on this list that clears the 40g single-meal protein threshold without adding excess fat calories.

2. Slow-Braised Barbacoa Trio at La Mexicana Restaurant (Newport, KY)

Cross the Ohio River into Newport and you will smell chuck roast transforming into tender barbacoa (steamed beef). The flavor profile crushes the competition, but extra rendered fat means slightly less protein density per bite than lean grilled skirt steak.

Packing 39g of protein and 48g of carbohydrates, these three tacos park right on the edge of the optimal 40g muscle protein synthesis threshold. It delivers massive fuel to replenish drained glycogen stores, though 20g of fat slightly slows down gastric emptying compared to our top pick.

• Macros: 528 calories | 39g protein | 48g carbs | 20g fat

• Verdict: High-yield flavor and near-perfect muscle-building macros for heavy training days.

• Why it beat #3: Outmuscles El Picante by 5 full grams of leucine-rich beef protein to keep your net protein balance positive.

3. Al Pastor Trio at El Picante (Loveland, OH)

Carving marinated pork shoulder off a vertical trompo grill creates culinary magic in Loveland, combining sweet pineapple acidity with savory achiote spice. Yet even brilliant al pastor (marinated pork) suffers because pork shoulder naturally carries a lower protein-to-fat ratio than trimmed beef cuts.

Clocking in at 34g of protein and 50g of carbohydrates, this trio functions as an precise refuel option when staying lean is your primary objective. It easily clears the baseline 20g ISSN threshold to stop muscle breakdown, but leaves 10 grams of recovery gains on the table compared to Taqueria El Rey.

• Macros: 480 calories | 34g protein | 50g carbs | 16g fat

• Verdict: The leanest calorie total of the group, ideal for a strict cutting phase.

• Why it made the list: Delivers 50g of rapid-digesting corn tortilla carbs to jumpstart muscle glycogen restoration right after your workout.

Order the three-taco carne asada at Taqueria El Rey within two hours of your workout to hit 44g of protein and trigger maximum muscle recovery.

Sources

• International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise

• International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: nutrient timing

• CityBeat: Best Tacos in Greater Cincinnati (La Mexicana Newport)

• DoorDash: El Picante Loveland Menu & Items