15 West Cordova, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 899-7907

Web: http://tacofino.com/

Twitter: @TacofinoVAN

Advice: No reservations. Taco bar open nightly, the Burrito bar open for lunch thru late night.

My love for Tacofino began a few years ago when their first food truck was on the streets serving up their delicious fish tacos and the addictive spicy diablo cookies. As they evolved in the city with the addition of their East Village commissary, their boldest statement of all was the recent opening of their flagship abode in Gastown. With their Burrito Bar on the Cordova Street side and their Tacofino dining room (entrance off of Blood Alley in the rear) they have pretty much come full circle and have enticed my palate further. The space is beautiful, designed by local designer Shiloh Sukkau, there are many handmade details and local artists take pride of place.

I have dined at both sides of this eatery, over dinner sitting at the bar, I had the delicious and flavourful Oaxacan Corn Fritters ($6) with chili lime, Cotija, probably the most addicting appetizer that we have seen in a long time! I also had the Glazed Beef Ribs ($17) with chilaquiles an amazing plate of merging flavours with lemongrass, habanero, kale and peanuts. The dessert front could use some work, since I love Churros and would order them in a heartbeat, these didn’t come close to winning my heart, served in a cute paper bag, the Churros ($6) were pillowy bite size, deep-fried agave coated morsels.

On the other side of this eatery is the exciting Burrito Bar and this they have nailed, finally an eatery that reinvents the burrito in our city. It is a small eatery with about 10 seats, and a take-out option which is really the way to go here. A simple menu with a selection of inventive filled burritos, I had the delicious and outstanding Crispy Chicken Burito ($11) with chicken karaage, rice, black chili mayo, sriracha, cabbage, cilantro, guacamole, filled in a flour tortilla.  This is a spot that is going to become one of my frequenting takeout locales!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Vancouver, BC V6B 1C8, Canada