Seriously, who doesn't like tacos? There are so many different styles, shell types and filling options that everyone can find their flavour.
Like everyone else, we Ottawans love our tacos, so thankfully there's a wide variety of them to fill our every need in this city. Whether you're looking for something quick and cheap or a more upscale experience, there's an Ottawa taco spot for every taste.
But when it comes to trying to find the best tacos in Ottawa, how do you narrow it down to the most elite of Mexican tortilla delights when there are so many spots to choose from?
Well, I asked local chefs, restaurant owners and other industry pros from across the city to weigh in on the best taco spots in the capital. Here's what they told me.
El Taco De Oro
Price: 💸
Address: 303 St. Patrick St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: El Taco De Oro is a small Mexican restaurant and bar located just outside of the Byward Market serving up classic takes on tacos and other Mexican delights at an affordable price point.
Taco Tuesday is a big deal at El Taco De Oro — they serve them up at just $3.50 per taco!
Perhaps this is one of the many reasons that Stolen Goods owner Mike Campbell calls this one of his favourite spots to eat in the city.
They're not looking to reinvent the wheel at El Taco De Oro, but why would they? It seems to be more of an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type of vibe, and what they're serving up at El Taco De Oro sure ain't broke.
Torta Boyz
Price: 💸💸
Address: 60A Lebreton St. N., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Torta Boyz is a crowd favourite among locals and industry pros alike. Local chefs, bartenders and restaurant owners have shouted it out time and time again as one of their favourite spots in the city, so you know I had to include it on this list.
While their eponymous tortas are absolute show-stoppers, this article is all about tacos. Torta Boyz thrives by providing an elevated take on the classics in a uniquely curated environment.
This isn't your typical hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant. Instead, they provide an atmosphere that's good for a night out, a first (or 10000th) date or even a solo dine.
Perhaps that's why notable industry folks like Bernard Joseph Lemoyne, head sommelier at Atelier, choose to spend so much time showing love to Torta Boyz.
Ahora
Price: 💸
Address: 307 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Where Torta Boyz is not your traditional Mexican restaurant, Ahora definitely is. When done right, this is absolutely a good thing. You walk in to the smell of meats cooking and chilies in the air. You know full well you're going to have one too many margaritas and two full baskets of chips and salsa. This is true happiness.
Of course, to be a classic Mexican restaurant, you have to nail the tacos — and Ahora does. This is why it's the taco of choice for the head chef of Pizza Nerds, Sarah Kirke.
Hugo Taco
Price: 💸
Address: 399 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Bold take alert — tacos are better from trucks. Every time. They just are. There's something nostalgic about rolling up to a taco truck, ordering 3 or 4 different kinds of tacos and taking your styrofoam container and wad of napkins over to a park bench or outdoor seating area and letting the juice drip down your face and hands.
I think everyone should experience this multiple times throughout their lives, and Hugo Taco gives you an opportunity to do that.
I can't say for certain that this is the exact reason why Marc Dorian loves Hugo Taco so much, but I like to believe that the chef and co-owner of Citizen and Town is a little bit like me when it comes to romancing the taco truck.
La Fiesta Latina
Price: 💸💸
Address: 565 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: La Fiesta Latina is admittedly one of the places I knew the least about when writing this article, but that didn't stop me from researching them when I heard that Andrea Gormley, co-owner of Spark Beer and Pizza, and Tarek Hassan, chef and owner of Gongfu Bao, both shouted them out as their favourite spot for a taco in the city.
This place is about as authentic as it gets. The family-owned Mexican restaurant in Chinatown prides itself on being an affordable and accessible option for everyone who comes through their door. They boast a wide variety of options, including vegan and vegetarian options, so that everyone leaves satisfied.
They also managed to snag the domain name "tortillas.ca," which is a bonus in my books.
El Camino
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 380 Elgin St. & 81A Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The El Camino Group has become synonymous in this city with elevating classics, and of course, El Camino is the restaurant that started it all.
Their individualistic take on tacos has made them a hotspot to enjoy great food and a solid cocktail in more than one location in the city. I personally love their cochinita pig head taco and would recommend it to everyone looking to try something new to satisfy their taco cravings.
Tam Auafua, co-owner of Thr33's Co. and St. Elsewhere, went as far as to say this is one the spots closest to his heart in the city of Ottawa, and I can honestly see why.
Whether it's a lunch in the Market or a late-night Camino lager on Elgin, there are many ways to enjoy an El Camino taco.
El Camino MenuLa Bonita
Price: 💸💸
Address: 1128 Cadboro Rd. & 1079 Wellington St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: La Bonita is honestly just such a vibe. I walk by it every single day on my walks around Wellington West, and it's impossible not to poke your head in through the garage door and see what's happening. The atmosphere is immaculate, and according to Mat Flosse, who runs Meatings Barbecue, the tacos are pretty darn good too.
Make sure you give their homemade hot sauces a go!
Yakko Takko
Price: 💸
Address: 25 Hamilton Ave. N., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: I gave all that hype to food trucks with Hugo Taco, so you know I had to end on another taco truck.
Yakko Taco seems to get mentioned to me almost daily at this point. While I haven't been yet, I promise it's on the list.
But do you know who has been to Yakko Takko? Chef/owner Liam Vainola and sous chef Che Saunders of Erling's Variety, and they swear by it.
Honestly, with my ever-growing list of places to eat in Ottawa, Yakko Takko has found itself near the top of my list with all the positive buzz I've heard about it. So please, do yourself a favour and go check it out. Perhaps you too can yell at me about how much I need to try it.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
