The 9 Best Taco Spots in Calgary That Will Make You Think You’ve Been Transported to Mexico
There are some foods that I associate with a good time, and tacos are right at the top of that list. It’s impossible to have them without feeling like you’ve ascended and gone straight to heaven.
Picture it with me: vibrant vegetables and herbs on a tortilla with tender and juicy meat right in the middle, topped with gooey melted cheese. And after every bite, a refreshing sip of cold beer that prepares your palate for the next one.
I bet that made you hungry because it definitely made my stomach grumble. Thankfully, years of loving and looking for tacos have led me to the greatest taco spots in Calgary. Just refer to the list below when you start craving some heavenly taco goodness.
1. Native Tongues Taqueria
– Media credit: nativetonguesyyc
Address: 235 12 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 403 263 9444
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
Must-order: Hongos Tacos
Native Tongues Taqueria is the closest you’d get to finding authentic Mexican street market food in Calgary.
They’re so good at capturing what makes Mexican cuisine great, in terms of flavor and ambiance, that they’ve been included in lists of Calgary’s 10 best overall restaurants by multiple publications.
As for tacos, they have a nice selection, but the Hongos (aka the Mushroom Tacos) are definitely the star. Despite being vegetarian-friendly, the savory sauce and the texture of the mushrooms trick your brain into thinking you’re eating something meaty.
We highly recommend dropping by during happy hour so you can enjoy your food with drinks that are 50% off. Although they may be busy during this time, their citrusy margaritas pair so well with the tacos that it’s more than worth it.
| Pro tip: Native Tongues Taqueria has a loyalty program called Club Chilango that gives you special discounts on food and drinks. Just by joining, they’ll give you a free taco as a way to say thanks. |
2. Anejo Restaurant
– Media credit: anejorestaurant
Address: 2116 4 St SW #2
Contact details: +1 587 353 2656
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Must-order: Quesabirria Tacos
Anejo Restaurant attracts those who are looking for strong flavors. Everything in this restaurant is bold and lively, from its ambiance to its innovative dishes.
Out of everything they serve, the Quesabiriria Taco is our go-to. The braised beef inside is so tender that it just melts in your mouth, along with the buttery Oaxaca Cheese. To keep it from being too rich, the crunchy pickled onions are there to balance it out.
And the best part is that you can enjoy this with some fresh tableside guacamole. They prepare it right at the table, and we always appreciate that they ask if we prefer ours smooth or chunky.
This restaurant also has the largest collection of Tequila in Canada, so it’s a must to try at least one. At this point, we trust them so much that we always just go with their latest concoction. We see it as a little adventure that makes each visit special.
| Pro tip: If you’re about to get married, you would be happy to know that Anejo Restaurant is a popular bachelorette party destination. They’ve got everything you could ask for — good food, great drinks, hilarious servers, and a lively ambiance. |
3. Tacos Mexico Memorial
– Media credit: tacosmexicomemorial
Address: 3725 Memorial Dr
Contact details: +1 403 457 6117
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Monday – Closed
Must-order: Lengua Tacos
Based on their popularity, you would expect Tacos Mexico Memorial to be a huge restaurant. Instead, the place is much more intimate and cozy.
Dining here feels like you’ve been invited over for dinner at your friend’s house, and they’re showing you their traditional cuisine. Each dish has clearly been prepared with lots of love.
There are over 24 kinds of tacos to choose from, and there are no wrong answers. They only use the finest ingredients, and they make sure that each taco they serve is overflowing with toppings.
However, our personal favorite has to be the Lengua Tacos. We’d never had beef tongue prior to coming here, but this dish is life-changing. The meat is soft to chew, and it has this subtle, gamey taste that we’ve grown to love.
If you still have space, try and get the Mexican Platter, too. It’ll give you a taste of other traditional dishes such as burritos, chimichangas, and flautas.
| Pro tip: It’s common to see Tacos Mexico Memorial full and busy. Unless you’re willing to wait more than 45 minutes for some good tacos, we highly suggest arriving at the time they open. |
4. Chilitos Taqueria
– Media credit: chilitostaqueria
Address: 510 77 Ave SE
Contact details: +1 587 586 8226
Operating Hours:
- Thursday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Monday to Wednesday – Closed
Must-order: Tinga Tacos
You may have heard of Chilitos Taberna and its large selection of Mexican street food before. However, not as many people know about its sister location, Chilitos Taqueria.
As you can work out from the name, this place shines a spotlight on tacos. They’re not afraid to include spice and strong flavors, the way Mexican cuisine would, and their regulars love them for it.
We can’t get enough of their Tinga Tacos because of how moist the chicken filling is. The sauce it comes with is just the right amount of smoky and spicy to warm us up on a cold day.
| Pro tip: Since they’re located at a Farmers Market, make sure you don’t open your order until you’ve got a flat surface to eat it on. So many customers have shared stories of their food spilling because of how generous Chilitos Taqueria is with toppings. |
5. Moose and Poncho
– Media credit: mooseandponcho
Address: 1327 1 St SW #6
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Must-order: Cochinita Pibil
It’s hard not to be impressed with Moose and Poncho. Within the first year of opening, Avenue Magazine already named them the Best Mexican Restaurant of 2020.
But that was just the beginning. Since then, we’ve been blown away by how consistently good they are.
You might be hesitant to dine with them since their tacos are pricier than others, but we promise you it’s worth it. Just a heads up, it might look like it’s missing, but we guarantee that there’s a tortilla under all the stuffing.
Despite there being a debate among the regulars on what their best taco is, we find the Cochinita Pibil amazingly complex. It’s sweet and savory with a hint of something citrusy that keeps us wanting more.
| Pro tip: Although their tacos are already good on their own, you should also get a Moose and Poncho salsa for an out-of-this-world experience. Their Mango Pineapple Habanero perfectly blends all the fruity flavors while packing in a lot of spice. |
6. Taiko Canteen
– Media credit: taikocanteen
Address: 3851 Manchester Rd SE
Contact details: +1 403 454 1843
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Thursday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday to Tuesday – Closed
Must-order: Pork Belly Bao Tacos
It’s completely understandable if you don’t associate tacos with Asian cuisine, but Taiko Canteen has found a delicious way to blend the two.
Instead of tortillas, they used fluffy bao buns to hold their taco filling. Hence, they call them Bao Tacos.
We’re not exaggerating when we say this, but the Pork Belly ones are insanely good. The meat is soft and rich, and its flavor is enhanced by the spicy mix of gochujang and chimichurri, which you would never expect.
They have other creative dishes on the menu, such as Kimchi Tots and Ginger Beef Tacos. The best advice we could give is to arrive with an empty stomach and to go crazy and try them all.
| Pro tip: Taiko Canteen is best enjoyed with buddies because of its close proximity to Lucky Putt. As you eat, you and your friends can also compete in a fun round of mini-golf. |
7. Blanco Cantina
– Media credit: blancocantina
Address: 723 17 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 403 228 1854
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Must-order: Crispy Fish Tacos
It always feels like a fiesta is happening at Blanco Cantina. People eat here for two reasons: the excellent food and the immaculate vibes.
The attentive service also deserves some praise. Even when they’re packed, the waitstaff is ready to accommodate requests and join in on the party from time to time.
When you ask them which classic taco you should get, we’re willing to bet that they’ll recommend the Crispy Fish Tacos. Everyone who’s ever dined here agrees that they’re phenomenal.
They’ve got this satisfying crunch that’s just pure music to the ears. They also only use fresh ingredients, and they add just a little bit of spice to keep things exciting.
| Pro tip: The best time to eat at Blanco Cantina is during their happy hour, which they actually have twice a day. This is when they have jaw-dropping discounts on their tacos, tequilas, and margaritas. |
8. Golden Cactus Mexican Grill
– Media credit: goldencactusmexican
Address: 5315 17 Ave SE #7
Contact details: + 403 453 3807
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Monday – Closed
Must-order: Birria Tacos
The Golden Cactus Mexican Grill perfectly embodies what everyone has come to expect from a good Mexican restaurant. They have it all — the colorful decor, lively music, friendly servers, and mouth-watering scent of Mexican herbs and spices.
True to Mexican culture, the screens here all show sports. Plenty of families go here to watch games while enjoying large portions of yummy food.
Still, the aptly named Golden Tacos always manage to steal the show. Each bite feels luxurious because of how fresh and carefully prepared the ingredients are.
Out of all the variants, the Birria Tacos are our top choice. The meat melts in your mouth, and the dipping broth it comes with adds just the right amount of heat.
| Pro tip: It’s never too early to get your kids into Mexican food. Golden Cactus Mexican Grill has a kid’s menu that acts as the perfect way to introduce children to authentic Mexican flavors. |
9. Spicy Amigos
– Media credit: spicyamigosyyc
Address: 821 4 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 587 353 1484
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Friday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday – 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Must-order: Arracherra Tacos
It seems perfect that one of the best taco spots in the city is located right in the heart of Calgary. Spicy Amigos is so many people’s go-to for their much-needed taco fix.
From the moment you step inside, you’ll know that you’re in for a good time. The servers are friendly, and the music they play makes you want to get up and dance.
Honestly, there’s a huge chance that you just might do that because the drinks here are strong. The Pina Colada is especially dangerous — it’s deliciously sweet but it packs a punch.
Here’s a tip: the best way to avoid feeling the drinks is by filling up on food. And there’s no other dish we’d rather do that with than the Arracherra (Beef Skirt) Tacos.
You can usually expect some toughness from this cut of meat, but the way it’s been prepared makes the beef really tender. This way, you can focus on the bold and beefy taste that’ll make any meat lover’s heart sing.
| Pro tip: Once you’re done with your tacos, the best choice for dessert at Spicy Amigos is their churros. Try to order them early in the night, though, because they sell out fast. |