At nearly three years in the planning stages, having the doors finally open and seeing guests sip margaritas and nibble nachos at La Taqueria's first Burnaby location is a gratifying sight for the restaurant's partners.
Located in a prime space facing the fountain and the Brentwood SkyTrain station in the bustling Amazing Brentwood redevelopment, this newest outpost marks the fifth brick-and-mortar space for the Vancouver-based upscale-casual Mexican restaurant. La Taqueria also operates a food truck that parks at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza.
With its humble beginnings as that "pinche" tacho shop on Hastings Street on the edge of Gastown several years ago, La Taqueria has grown to include two additional Vancouver outposts (Mount Pleasant and Downtown), as well as a Victoria restaurant and a commissary kitchen location in North Vancouver.
Officially announced as "coming soon" in the fall of 2020, the pandemic-triggered supply chain and construction delays wreaked havoc with the opening timeline for La Taqueria; the restaurant was able to slide into a "soft opening" phase Monday, Nov. 7, and is now officially up and running as of Monday, Nov. 14.
Food and drink: What's on the menu at the new La Taqueria in Burnaby
The menu at the Brentwood La Taqueria is the same as at the other locations, which means a broad selection of tacos, burritos, and shareables like nachos, fresh guac, and special dishes like their Birriaramen. Don't forget to save room for golden-fried churros served with dulce de leche for dipping for dessert. You'll also find a lively drinks menu, with classic margaritas and their lavender version, alongside beer (cerveza), micheladas, and soft drinks.
There are a couple of welcome additions to keep an eye out for, however, at this new La Taqueria. On weekends, the Burnaby location will be serving the restaurant's standout brunch menu, which made its debut this spring at the Mount Pleasant location (on Yukon). This means you can kick off your Saturday or Sunday with La Taqueria's incredible morning offerings like their fiery huevos divorciados, which features two robust salsas - guajillo and tomatillo - in a skillet with refried beans, queso fresco, and a pair of just-cooked sunny side up eggs. While some dishes are familiar brunch classics, you can expand your horizons with bright, bold dishes like a gently sweet pan de elote (cornbread) with poblano salsa or enmoladas, which are basically enchiladas in a smoky-sweet mole.
And while it's not happening just yet, the plan is for La Taqueria to use the Amazing Brentwood spot as a test kitchen for new dishes, which means guests will be able to order up items that aren't yet on the menu at the restaurant's other locations.
Speaking of locations, not only is La Taqueria's space at the indoor-outdoor mall complex prime, it also is primed to be a major draw in the warmer months thanks to an expansive patio that's currently closed in - but still has great big windows for lots of light to stream in.
Cozy interior and an amazing patio
The restaurant's interior is sophisticated and cozy, featuring shades of soft green contrasted with industrial chic hanging light fixtures and repurposed metal schoolhouse-style chairs. The room is anchored by an L-shaped bar with plenty of seating, backed by a bar with beautiful built-in library-style shelving and cabinetry. While you'll see evocative black and white photography flanking the bar area, the room is infused with pops of virbrant colours thanks to mural art.
La Taqueria at The Amazing Brentwood is located at 4580 Brentwood Blvd Unit 1210 in Burnaby. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the location is open Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Take a look inside and at a few menu items in this short video:
@forkingawesomevia Tacos, margs, and more. Yes please! 🌮🌮🌮#forkingawesome #vancouverbc #mexicanfood #burnabybc 🎙️: @LindsayWR ♬ original sound - jelle&jelle
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