Inside Vancouver's new two-storey taco shop serving up authentic Mexican cuisine

When it comes to tacos, Vancouver has plenty of selection. Whether you’re looking for some West Coast-inspired tacos courtesy of Tacofino or some Mexican-Japanese fusion from the likes of Miso Taco, there’s a plethora of options to choose from, all with their unique spin on the classic food. However, Vancouver’s latest taco shop isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel but rather offer an authentic look (and taste) into Mexican cuisine.

But that’s no surprise considering that Pinche Taco Shop is run by the same team behind La Taqueria, the taco brand that’s been operating in Vancouver since 2009. But why not call this new location La Taqueria? Well, the reason for this name change is part of a rebrand for the team.

“After the years of being in Vancouver, and also in Victoria, we are just trying to adapt to new things and trends,” explained Alfonso Sanz, CFO of La Taqueria.

Sanz explained that in this location, he aims to bring something super simple but also something that you’re not going to find in another restaurant from the La Taqueria group.

“We want to make every store different than the others,” he said. “So here, we’re going to have an easy menu, vibrant, rapid, easy-going, where you can go ask for a few items and just have a nice time.”

As for Pinche Taco Shop, the team took inspiration from some of their favourite taquerias from Mexico. Here you’ll find a fast-paced, counter-service style restaurant where you can stop in for a quick bite or linger for a more relaxed meal with a couple of drinks.

The restaurant was designed by award-winning Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop and is inspired by the vibrant palette of iconic Mexican architect Luis Barragán through the playful combination of soft pinks and seafoam green.

On the first floor, you’ll find plenty of seating and the bar, while on the second floor is the kitchen where the magic happens.

“The colours, the easy concept, it’s what is going on in Mexico City,” explained Sanz.

This ease of concept is also represented in Pinche Taco Shop’s menu, with a small but mighty selection.

Highlights include bites like the Trompo de Picaña Taco, a taco made with AAA sirloin cooked on a trompo machine, which is a vertical rotisserie often seen in Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine. The meat is rotated slowly, allowing it to cook evenly and creating crispy caramelized edges while keeping the middle juicy. This meat is placed on a corn tortilla with some guacamole and salsa martajada, simple accompaniments meant to enhance the already delicious meat.

Sanz actually told us that this taco was his favourite, so do with that information what you will, but after tasting it, we can see why.

However, it’s not just tacos that you’ll find here, but also another unique offering too: the burrita, which Head Chef Maria Ponce explained to us is different than the more mainstream burrito.

“Burritos are big but full of rice, full of beans, full of everything,” she said. “For the burrita, it’s smaller than a burrito and it’s full of the meat. So, what you’re going to find in this is 90% the meat, instead of being full of rice, full of beans. It’s also a really nice quantity of meat.”

After asking which burrita we should try, having never had one before, Ponce directed us to the Acelga con Huevo: Swiss chard with egg.

Another deceptively simple offering, this burrita was served with… sauteed chard with garlic and onion and a fried egg, alongside a side of green salsa for dipping. Simple, yet tasty, this would be another repeat order for us if we weren’t so excited to try the rest of the menu.

But it’s not just the food to get excited about, as brand partner and Head Bar Director Tara Davies is whipping up some fun, no frills sips, including a Blended Piña Colada.

“It’s my favourite. Oh my God, I can drink a ton of those ones,” said Sanz with a laugh. 

Pair this drink with a couple of tacos, maybe a burrita, and you’ll be in for a good time.

Ultimately, Pinche Taco Shop is a labour of love that the team is dying to share with the Vancouver community.

“We love what we do. We love our food,” said Sanz. “So, we want to share it. We want to share it with everyone.”

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Pinche Taco Shop softly opened its doors on Nov. 3 and is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pinche Taco Shop

Address: 367 Seymour St., Vancouver

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