The Vancouver Foodster 10th Annual Taco Challenge was a success featuring taco creations from restaurants around Vancouver. Each restaurant and food truck featured their taco creation from May 3-28, 2023. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
{107 points}
Food by Fanta
Thai Taco Cone Carousel
Price: $21
Created by: Food by Fanta Kitchen Team
Description: Khanom Buang, know as Thai crepes in English, is an ancient Thai snack (crispy pancakes). It is a popular form of street food. These crepes resemble tacos.
For this challenge, we will change our Thai crepes into taco cones filled with 3 different types of fillings representing Thai Street Food Style; Fried Pork Salad balls, Green Apple Tofu SomTum, and Prawns Nam Prik Oang!
This refreshing Taco carousel is perfect to be shared as an appetizer or enjoyed as a main course. It’s presented on a unique stand and we are calling it The Taco Cone Carousel!
Offered: Brunch and dinner
Available: for dine-in only
Food by Fanta
20542 Fraser Hwy #107, Langley
Tel: (604) 427-0166
Web: www.FoodbyFanta.com
Instagram @foodbyfanta
2nd Place:
(93 points)
Mi Casa Mexicana
Taco Campechano
Price: $6
Created by: the team
Description: Taco Campechano is a unique taco for combining flavourful suadero-beef and chorizo-pork, into one delicious taco topped with onion, cilantro, lime, and cucumber on the side to clear taste. A popular style from Mexico City. Salsa recommendation: Verde
Offered: All the time
Mi Casa Mexicana
2015 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-346-7084
Web: https://micasamexicana.net
Instagram @micasamexicana.yvr
3rd Place:
(91 points)
Tacosaurus Food Truck
Surf & Turf Tacos Set
Price: $14
Created by: Alejandro Estrada Flores
Description: Surf – Baja Fish Taco (Gluten-free beer battered seasonal fish on a 6 inch corn tortilla served with cabbage, chipotle mayo, cactus and pico de gallo.) Turf – Traditional Birria Taco (Slow braised beef with cheese, onions, cilantro and fresh salsa served with consome)
Available: All time at Tacosaurus.
Tacosaurus Food Truck
Mobile locations (tba) schedule can be found on their social media platforms and the street food app.
Instagram @tacosaurus.vancouver
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Taco Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Tamaly Shop
Taco Tamal Pastor
Price: $8.50
Created by: The team
Description: “Tacos al pastor are an institution in Mexico”. “Every grillmaster, taqueria owner, and food cart cook has their version of this classic that fills the streets with the smell of spicy grilled pork with charred pineapple and onion.”
The dish may be a signature of Mexican cuisine. Al pastor means “in the style of the shepherd”.
Tacos al pastor are made with pork and served on corn tortillas. First, marinate thin slices of pork shoulder (about ¾” thick) in a bath of fresh pineapple, onion, dried chiles, and more for up to 12 hours. Grill the pork over low heat to help it develop a deep char and caramelization (a.k.a. those crispy bits we’re all after) while keeping the meat tender and juicy.
We decided to take up the challenge by turning one of the most popular Mexican tacos into a tamale.
Offered: All the time
Tamaly Shop
2525 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 369-3446
Instagram @tamalyshop
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Mi Casa Mexicana
Taco Campechano
Price: $6
Created by: the team
Description: Taco Campechano is a unique taco for combining flavourful suadero-beef and chorizo-pork, into one delicious taco topped with onion, cilantro, lime, and cucumber on the side to clear taste. A popular style from Mexico City. Salsa recommendation: Verde
Offered: All the time
Mi Casa Mexicana
2015 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-346-7084
Web: https://micasamexicana.net
Instagram @micasamexicana.yvr
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Food by Fanta
Thai Taco Cone Carousel
Price: $21
Created by: Food by Fanta Kitchen Team
Description: Khanom Buang, know as Thai crepes in English, is an ancient Thai snack (crispy pancakes). It is a popular form of street food. These crepes resemble tacos.
For this challenge, we will change our Thai crepes into taco cones filled with 3 different types of fillings representing Thai Street Food Style; Fried Pork Salad balls, Green Apple Tofu SomTum, and Prawns Nam Prik Oang!
This refreshing Taco carousel is perfect to be shared as an appetizer or enjoyed as a main course. It’s presented on a unique stand and we are calling it The Taco Cone Carousel!
Offered: Brunch and dinner
Available: for dine-in only
Food by Fanta
20542 Fraser Hwy #107, Langley
Tel: (604) 427-0166
Web: www.FoodbyFanta.com
Instagram @foodbyfanta
Each media judge scored each creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points. The highest number of points a challenge creation could have been awarded is 120 points.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Emma Clark, Jessica Chan and Rei Van.
Thank you to all the restaurants and food trucks that accepted my invitation and featured the Taco Challenge creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Taco creations! See all the Taco Challenge Entries Here.
By: Richard Wolak