The Menu - My Favorite Tacos
My Favorite Tacos of All Time
I’m brought to think about the best tacos I’ve ever eaten. This is only because after watching The Menu I’ve thought about what taco I’d like to have as possibly my last. Not to sound grim but there are some fantastic food in the world and tacos are one of the most simple to make and readily available foods. Yet in my lifetime, there have been a few that can make my favorites list.
Starting with a local spot, El Mariachi. Operating as also a Latin Food Market, it’s the only place I’ll buy any taco-making ingredients from flour tortillas to Oaxacan cheese. The Birria here is made only on the weekend and it is one of the best in Edmonton. The consomme has a runny texture and is so delicious to dip in the tortillas. The meat is so tender and juicy that it makes it so appealing to have as a weekend comfort food. Pair with some horchata for complete satisfaction. Horchata and Birria may be the new Coke and Pizza. Taco Tuesday is a must here, with great value and a great selection. Al pastor with pineapple anyone?
Birria
Al Pastor
Next up is La Patrona in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. If you’ve sought out some of the best tacos locally this will garner the top spot in most lists and it’s for good reason, it’s amazing. All of their tacos are solid. My go-to here is the Al Pastor tacos with broiled pork and topped with pineapple. It’s delicious and worth the short trip out of town.
Kelowna, British Columbia is home to Latin Fiesta. Probably the tastiest and best value tacos you could ever get in Canada. Amazing birria, it’s a must-buy as it’s probably their tastiest taco. They also have classic pastor, carnitas, asada, beef, chicken and fish options. When I first had these maybe 8 years ago, the price was $3 a taco. So we basically got every taco they offered. While the tacos are great they really shine with their entire menu. Tostadas and tamales are a must-add to your order. Major chef’s kiss.
Birria Consomme
Speaking of Birria, one of the best restaurants I’ve had in the past year has the best Birria in Edmonton. Smokin Barrels La Cocina. Just pure joy when you are eating one of these tacos. It’s perfected the consomme and perfectly dips the tortilla into the consomme before cooking. It’s perfect in everyway and astronomically delicious.
This list brings us to Austin, Texas. I guess the next taco spot specializes in breakfast tacos? It’s still a fucking amazing taco though. Veracruz All Natural was the taco truck we stopped by for both breakfast and reg tacos. The Migas Poblanos Taco was so bomb. Egg, tortilla chips, poblano pepper, red onion, black beans, queso fresco, and avocado. Yes, it is vegetarian and so good. I had so many tacos here as well as the El Tradicional with egg, bacon and refried beans. As well as the Al Pastor Taco with marinated pork, grilled pineapple, and cilantro. All of these were heavy hitters. Amazing how a meatless taco could be this good.
Migas Pablanos
El Tradicional
Al Pastor
Here we are in my top 3 and we’re back in Edmonton. Frida Urban Taqueria has been so impressive since it opened. Most notably their Suadero tacos have me crawling back and begging for more. The Suadero taco has tender confit brisket topped with onions and cilantro. Very simple yet the fat coming off the brisket mixed with the acidity of the onions is pure heaven. This is my favorite taco in Edmonton and it’s always a contender for my Taco Tuesday money.
Suadero
2nd place for me is Chancho Tortileria in Vancouver, British Columbia. I remember coming here when they first opened about 5 years ago? It was a small space with maybe 3 tables and the aroma of fresh meat being cut up surrounded this cozy spot. Since then It has moved to a different location in Yaletown and still serves up the best tacos in Canada. I usually get the pork belly (Panza) or the mix of pork belly and shoulder (Campenchano). You can’t go wrong, it’s so good here and lightyears ahead of any other taco spot in Vancouver.
1st place is definitely one of those jaw-dropping experiences. On a trip to Mexico City, a few friends and I embarked on going to 3 well-known Al Pastor spots on the same street. However, only one came to be victorious and mind-blindingly delicious. Taqueria El Gabacho was just perfect in every way. Freshly cut from the vertical spit, this was some delicious pork. With or without cheese this was truly epic. All the condiments were on the table for easy access to cilantro or pineapple. The flavor was just truly unreal and worth the Uber. Some food makes me want to cry and this is probably one of those times I almost did.
Thanks for reading and indulging in my trip down memory lane of my fave tacos. Also, watch The Menu. It’s a good watch.
