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La Taqueria is a traditional Mexican taqueria with limited bar seating based on an authentic Mexican, street food concept. Cash only. Hours: 11-7 Monday to Saturday.
Food: I have only two words: Al Pastor - chilliwack pork marinated in chile with pineapple on top. It was so good, I ordered it twice! I tried every meat taco and they were all very good with the pollo con mole and pescado coming in as a close second and third. It's a palm sized filling in a small corn tortilla (made locally)and it just tastes amazing - the closest thing I've had to the little Mexican lady who made tortillas in front of us Mexico and filled them with delicious unknown spiced meat. It's as authentic as it gets and they try to source organic, local and sustainable as much as they can which is a nice surprise. My friends tried the veggie tacos and they were impressed with it as well. Great sauces on the side as well with the habenero as my fave!
Service: Friendly and fast - cooked to order! They come over, hand you your plate, explain what is what and lead you to the sauces and let you know what's what. What more can you ask for???
Value: A little bit on the pricier side for the small sized tacos you get but considering its as local, organic and sustainable as you can get, I think it's fair. Maybe we're spoiled by the cheap large lower quality portions that many Mexican dining establishments now strive for... You're paying more for quality than quantity so prepare to dole out the dough if you're hungry cuz the portions are small!
Ambiance: Small, cramped and once they open that door in the back and you're sitting back there, it's freezing! Small stools to sit on, counters to sit at and you clean up after yourself. Expect a dive (but a cleaner version) and you won't be disappointed. The kitchen is open concept so I don't doubt the food quality/cleanliness. It's kind of endearing but no place for romance - just a place to enjoy excellent food with your friends! By all means bring a date but remember that it is a hole in the wall.
Overall, I'm coming back, no ifs/ands about it. The food is that good. And you should go too to taste what real Mexican is rather than the goopy massive tex mex that's available all over this city. Bon appetite!
My gf and I finally had a chance to try out Taqueria recently, amidst all the glowing reviews. It's located in the seedest part of Vancouver but it compliments the overall experience.
The place is small and seemingly ratty, but kept neat. There's a chalkboard menu that offers various filling choices. The menu choices are tacos or quesadillas and what little choices are offered, they do it well, real well. We went with the first eight. Verdict? The best authentic tacos you'll find! Double wrapped with a generous heap of filling, my gf loved her mole with a soothing spicy with chocolate undertones flavour but we both agreed that the al pastor (chili marinated pork with pineapple) and the carnitas (pork confit) were the standouts, but in effect, they were all standouts in their own right. There's a small condiment station to garnish your tacos but we kept it simple.
It is a self-serve outfit but the fellows working there tidy up the small counter areas in between orders. They are passionate about the food they offer and thus it resonated to us and I'm sure the other customers coming in.
Finally, non-gringo Mexican food!
My mouth is drooling right now at the thought of the delicious tacos from La Taqueria - Pinche Taco Shop!
My co-workers and I walked about 15 minutes just to try their tacos, waited in line for about 10 minutes to order..and we were ALL unanimous in saying that they have the BEST and MOST DELICIOUS tacos in Vancouver!
I loved the variety of authentic tacos served. I tried their pescado (fish), carnitas (pork - which is what's making my mouth WATER right now), and the frijoles charros con queso (beans) and each taco was equally delicious.
The restsaurant is in a funny location - but the service and delicious food made up for it.
I will never EVER go anywhere else for tacos again.
I absolutely LOVE Mexican food. I've eaten it in many other cities, but, was generally disappointed with Vancouver's Mexican food offerings. Until La Taqueria arrived!
The soft double tacos with spicy, flavourful fillings are absolutely delicious and authentic-tasting. I think I have tried all of the different tacos they offer, and they were all delicious. They offer some homemade salsas in squeeze bottles that you should definitely try. The Habanero salsa is extra-spicy hot and yummy!
If the tacos weren't as amazing as they are, I'd never pay $10 for 4 little tacos. But, as evidenced by the people crowding into this hole-in-the-wall place, with the line often streaming out onto the street during the busiest hours, it seems I and others are willing to pay a premium for these delicious, authentic tacos. Mostly because you can't get as good anywhere else in Vancouver just yet at any price.
While they do have stools set up next to a dining "ledge," it's not a great ambiance for eating in, however, I think most of their customers order take out, like me. And this place only does tacos, no other types of Mexican food.
I tried going here once before and realized they close fairly early in the evening at around 7 or 8pm. I decided to hit it in the afternoon at around 2pm and it was surprisingly busy. It took about 10 minutes to get my tacos after standing in line for about 5 minutes. Not too bad considering how busy it was.
I ordered the 4 tacos for $9.95 with 2 asada (grilled beef) and two al pastor (spicy pork). Both were very good. The pork tacos had some apple in it which is obviously a classic combination but a little suprising in Mexican food (and good). Overall I thought the tacos were great and I would definitely return when I am craving traditional-style Mexican tacos. I will try to visit a little later in the afternoon and hopefully it will be a little less busy.
I've eaten @ this place 3 times now and each time has been great.
Once it was Fish Tacos-good not outstanding and the other two times the Veggie Special 4 Tacos for $7.00- a delicious deal.
Not only is the food outstanding the atmosphere is 100% Mexican-Staff are friendly helpful personable people who take the time to explain the food to patrons-they always have time and are upbeat people who enjoy their jobs and it shows in the overall atmosphere.
If the place is a bit tight in terms of seating well that's Mexican too the best places aren't the fanciest just the warmest/most welcoming.
I've always found it puzzling that such an international city as Vancouver, and one with so many restaurants, could be so lacking in good (authentic) Mexican food. Well, look no further - La Tacqueria is here!
The tacos are wonderful - with *real* mexican style tortillas, not those awful supermarket ones that other restaurants use. The taco fillings are amazing (and not all are strictly 'authentic' - they have special ones they've created, but they are just as good, if not better!), and the value can't be beat. I recommend the chicken mole, the fish taco, and the tofu one - and be sure to try the Chile Arbol salsa!
The atmosphere is lacking, but what can you expect from a place that's meant to be a hole-in-the-wall taco stand? It's spotlessly clean though; even though there's no atmosphere, it's still a pleasant place to eat. And the great, friendly service more than makes up for the fact you're perched on a stool at a tiny counter! Try to avoid the lunch rush as this place gets BUSY!
I will be back here A LOT.
Went to La Taqueria for the first time this weekend. Was initially a little put off by the limited seating, but the "hole in the wall" charm grew on me within a few minutes.
The gents behind the counter were great. Passionate about the food; very helpful with helping me and my group decide what to order. The food was prepared VERY quickly and DAMN was is good. The little tacos were hot, fresh, and tasty. Best part about the meal was that you have a good selection of toppings to choose from, and they all seem to be delicious.
One thing that is a bit of a minus in my books was the price. For the tacos and beverage it came to just over $12. The food was delicious, but you don't get very much of it. I was starving when I got there, and I found the tacos just barely satisfied my hunger pangs. After leaving and walking about 2 blocks I was hungry again, and I'm not even a big eater. So the only suggestion I can give is go when you have a little extra cash to burn, and maybe not when you are too hungry.
I'll definitely go back now and then as a treat, but eating there too often would definitely add up after a while.
Make no mistake about it, if you are looking for the best tacos in the city, maybe the country... your search has ended! This is the Canadian Nirvana of los infamosos pinches tacos Mexicanos. We use to eat tacos a lot when I lived in Mexico and I have seen them all, the good, bad and the ugly... these as I said are among the best. They have done an excellent job of making the place look like an a real Mexican Taquieriaa, another thing, the place is as clean as a whistle, everything... shining clean.
Four tacos and a drink will set you back about $14, given that your tacos are served on a plastic plate and you are asked to clean up after yourself; clear your plastic plates and glasses and put them in a busing tray, I would say that the only drawback would be the value. There is a disconnect between the price and the fact that it is counter service.
If you are looking for tacos and want the best in an impeccably clean spot and don't mind paying a few $ for the cleanliness and upkeep, your search is over... GREAT TACOS!
What a great little place. Service is fast and efficent. The food is fresh and delicious. Some people say it is a bit pricey but not really when you consider the ingredients being used. We usually frequent a bunch of places in Gastown and make La Taqueria one of our "tapas" stops. Will go back again and again.
Mr. Dining Dandy almost sobbed after he ate one of these little tacos. Mr. Dining dandy spent a large part of his life in the states and living their came with authentic mexican galore! Something Vancouver was lacking in before this little gem came along. Mr. Dining dandy has been missing mexican (which is his favorite kind of food) for a long time. We had read about this place from some local paper and decided to try it. I hate the room and dislike the area but when you take a bite of your first taco (and I recommend all of them)suddenly all that seems like it doesn't even matter when your enjoying a messy tasty taco. Tacos are such a comfort food when your craving something meaty (although they had really good vegetarian options too) The price was so so but upon closer inspection you discover something that brings the value from solid to outstanding.. everything is organic and the meat is free range. I love when restaurants use good quality ingredience like that. Service is solid and i love that its authentic mexicans that are in the kitchen. The ambience is small and cramped and they're usually full but its still very worth the wait. You must try if you love mexican! Also if your in a hurry the Chefs really hussle to get those tacos out of the kitchen and onto your plate, Really go try it right now if your debating it!
These do remind me of the ones in Mexico, although it’s unfortunate that they don’t steam their tortillas fresh. But a lot of taquerias in Mexico had a similar habit, so can’t fault them for being inauthentic. They had all the requisite options like various pork, beef, fish…even some west coast added in with tofu. Fish was my favourite, although I found it a bit dry. I would like to go back for the veggie-mushroom. Didn’t like the chicken mole…probably a personal preference thing. Also, missing from the condiments was the guacamole which was a staple at every taqueria in Mexico, I remember because it was my favourite condiment. I don’t know if I would make a special trip down, at $2.50 a pop for a small taco, it’s not that filling. However, I heard they use organic and free-range ingredients, so what they miss in quantity they make up in quality. I think it’s a great place to check out and have a little taste of Mexico up in rainy Vancouver.
It was a busy Thursday evening in this alley of an eatery painted in Latin market pastel and awashed in tungsten yellow, complete with Our Lady of Guadalupe. I had the deal, four meat tacos for $9.50, and ordered chicken mole, al pastor, carnitas, and the special of the day, lamb birria. While waiting, I watched the cooks spoon heaps of onion and cilantro on the tacos and I listened to a young couple telling the proprietor that they were from Philly and that they had already been here on a previous night. I took my four tacos to the park on the corner and sat on the concrete bench and ate them and licked the juices from my fingers and wished I had four more to eat before giving up and wandering back up Cambie to the station. The tacos were appy-size small but a nice little reminiscence nonetheless.
Simply put...THE BEST! What a great little place. My buddy and I went here the other night and had the best Mexican food we have ever had in Vancouver. I had the quesadilla with asada which was outstanding... my buddy had 2 fish tacos and 2 carne asada tacos that he just raved about. The guy who served us was really nice and friendly, the service was fast as well. For being later in the evening the place was literally packed, and rightfully so. We will most definately return.
Okay, these tacos have instantly become a cult classic in our office... I have had many authentic tacos and I think some of the meats at La Taqueria are better, more succulent, and more carefully prepared than authentic places where they have a vat of pre-cooked meat that they spoon out. That being said, at 9.50 for 4 tiny tacos it is not a budget meal, but even a cheapo like me thinks they are worth it because they are so darn good. The day I went the skirt steak taco had an off chemical flavor, not sure what was happening there, I won't order that one again. Try the carnitas, chicken mole, fish taco, and corn and chile taco.
This is far and away the best Mexican place in Vancouver. Everything tastes amazing and their service is quick and friendly.
I'm particularly fond of the pescado and the al pastor, which is as good as the al pastor I had in Puerto Vallarta, something I frankly didn't expect to find up here. Vancouver hasn't classically been famous for its great Mexican food and it's nice to see that that's changing.
It's good value, too: $9.50 for four meat tacos. It's a pretty small place and the seating isn't super-comfortable, but the decor is nice. On a sunny day I could just about convince myself I'd wandered into a little taqueria in PV.
Well worth checking out.
I spent one of my mexican holidays in a rural part of the south, and one night we stumbled onto a small taco shop where all they were making was tacos al pastor, roasting slowly with pineapple on top, served on small handmade tortillas and garnished with cilantro and onions, and we stuffed ourselves silly. Ever since that trip I've been chasing the tacos al pastor dragon...and I found it today at La Taqueria. Oh joy!
The tacos menu is extensive, local and organic and I'll be back to try the rest of the flavours (there are veggie and carnivorous options both available) note that seating is limited and take out might be a good option when they are busy. On sunny days just head down to the street and hang with the rest of the folk.
And be warned, if you are hungry, order 4!
Just tried this place out this past weekend and had been anticipating it for a while.Heard that the chef from Flying Tiger was involved and really enjoyed that place so I was pretty eager.
Ambiance is pretty minimal,bar stools and counters.Service is quick and basic,just put in your order from the menu board and they'll bring it along pretty quickly.
I went with the 4 taco meal and had one steak asada with cuke,a chicken mole,pork al pastore and a fish taco.They were all pretty tasty and I especially liked the pork one,it had pineapple in it.The fish also had a fresh salsa that really went well with it.
I was pretty pleased with everything overall.The tacos are smaller than tex mex style but there's lots of interesting fillings to pick from,including vegan if thats your thing.
Thumbs up!
finally, i don't have to head to the states to get really tasty, authentic tacos!
i tried the carne asada, al pastor, and fish.
all were really tasty, and i agree with the previous reviewer - the salsa with the fish really added a dimension - and the pineapple and pork, which i sometimes don't like as much, also worked really well.
i'll definitely be making a return visit to try the rest of the menu.
and it's nice to see veg options that are actually tempting, not just an afterthought.
the downside is, the place is bare bones - no points for ambiance, that's for sure. and the value isn't really fantastic, but considering the quality and taste, it's worth the price - a good light meal for 10 bucks.
highly recommended when you're in the area, and definitely fills a niche in vancouver that's been missing.
I've been to some of the best taco spots in Mexico city, and I can easily say La Taqueria is right up there, beating some of the famous mexican spots.
I went there with a friend yesteday. We ordered their 2 x 4 taco combo (9.95).
I don't think you can go wrong with any of their taco's. I highly recommend their Pollo Con Mole if you like mole sauce. Everything is top notch, from the tortilla's to the filling to the cilantro. They're not messing around.
As side options, they have tradiitonal pickled onions and they have 3 hot sauces to choose from. Their arbol sauce is amazing and has a great kick.
The place is spotless.
They do one thing and they do it exceptionally well.
They're happy and you get service with a smile.
Get there before the hipsters take over.
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