Whether you’re after a simple fish taco or a plate of juicy tacos al pastor, Vancouver’s expanding Mexican food scene has got you covered.
Featuring small storefronts to long-established favourites, here’s our guide for where to find the best tacos in Vancouver.
La Taqueria Pinche Shop
With three locations in and around Vancouver’s city centre, one is never too far away from a delicious and authentic taco feed from La Taqueria. Just as colourful as the eateries themselves (designed to feel more like taco stands than formal sit-down restaurants), are the fresh and flavourful taco toppings. Made from traditional recipes with local, organic and sustainable ingredients, La Taqueria’s soft, handmade tortillas come with a choice of many different types of fillings, including marinated pork, free-range chicken with chocolate mole sauce, braised beef cheeks and more.
Website: www.lataqueria.com
Tacofino Taco Bar
With arguably one of the best fish tacos in the city, Tacofino’s Taco Bar in Gastown is a must-visit food destination for anyone craving this handheld delight. Served on a soft flour tortilla, generously filled with tempura battered Pacific Cod and topped with salsa fresca and chipotle mayo, Tacofino’s fish tacos are light, fresh and mouthwatering good. Those impartial to fish, should dig into the eatery’s Lamb Birria taco. Loaded with herb salad, arbol chili, pickled nopales (cactus) and preserved lemon zest, this taco is guaranteed to hit all the right spots. You can also hunt down the Tacofino taco truck for grabbing your tacos on the go.
Address: 15 Blood Alley Square, Gastown
Phone: 604-899-7907
Website: www.tacofino.com
Tacomio
Despite being the new kid on the block Tacomio, located on Abbott Street, has already gained quite a following thanks to the taco shop’s fresh and flavourful tacos. Priding itself on authentic, fresh Mexican cuisine, Tacomio (which translates to “my taco”) keeps their recipes simple and garnishes their soft-floured creations with a variety of fun and enticing toppings, like B.C. Albacore tuna, braised pork shoulder, Angus ground beef, a vegetarian mix (pinto beans, chipotle pepper, caramelized onions, fresh crema and cilantro), and more.
Address: 435 Abbott Street, Gastown
Phone: 778-868-7041
Website: www.tacomio.ca
El Caminos
Known for their delicious Latin American-inspired street food, it should it comes as no surprise that El Caminos, on Main Street (near 16th) dishes up some seriously tasty tacos. Served on small, soft white corn tortillas, the tacos at El Caminos are made for sharing, particularly when a few different flavour combinations are ordered. Choices include fried Baja cod, buttermilk fried chicken, grilled flat iron steak, and pulled pork with pineapple salsa, just to name a few.
Address: 3250 Main Street, Riley Park
Phone: 604-875-6246
Website: www.elcaminos.ca
Bandidas Taqueria
Striving to create healthy, affordable and fresh-tasting food, Commercial Drives’ Bandidas Taqueria offers a range of small, carefully-crafted tacos. Catering to a vegetarian crowd or rather those who want to simply enjoy meat-less tacos, Bandidas Taqueria serves healthier editions like the Ronny Russell, which is comprised of house-made corn tortillas, roasted yams and onions, fresh guacamole, black beans, purple cabbage and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Address: 2781 Commercial Drive, East Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-8224
Website: www.bandidastaqueria.com
Lolita’s Restaurant
Transporting patrons south of the border, this Davie Street cantina dishes up delectable Mexican fare — tequila optional. In addition to tostadas, taquitos, burritos and ensaladas, Lolita’s also offers soft shell taco platters. Served with organic greens, house-made black beans and Mexican tomato rice, diners have the choice of any two tacos listed. Some taco toppings adhere to more traditional flavours like the slow-roasted Mexican style pulled pork with grilled pineapple and citrus salad, while other feature more locally inspired tastes and textures like the ancho rubbed candied wild B.C. salmon, which is topped with a citrus and tomatillo salsa.
Address: 1326 Davie Street, West End
Phone: 604-568-8224
Website: www.lolitasrestaurant.com
La Casita Tacos
When it comes to finding wonderfully seasoned and reasonably priced tacos downtown, you can’t bypass this casual taco joint on Robson (near Denman). Featuring an array of traditional toppings, freshly made sauces and salsas, La Casita’s menu boasts soft shell tacos with a choice of chicken tinga, beef picadillo (ground beef), or Mexican pork sausage on top, alongside quesadillas and burritos.
Address: 1773 Robson Street
Phone: 604-685-8550
Website: www.lacasitatacos.ca
Gringo
Gastown’s taco scene is rounded out with the playful vibe and eats at Gringo (translation: white person). They bill themselves as an unpretentious taco bar with “unfussy” food and a love of 80s and 90s music. Gringo is beloved by many, including NHL star Eddie Lack; recently the restaurant honoured the hockey player with his own taco, aptly named The Lacko.
Address: 27 Blood Alley Square, Gastown
Phone: 604-721-0607
Website: www.gringogastown.com
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