A good taco menu can be exciting and slightly dangerous: everything sounds good, but the names do not always tell you what you are getting. If you are choosing Mexican tacos in Ottawa and wondering whether you want birria, barbacoa, carnitas, suadero, asada, lengua, chorizo, or al pastor, this guide is for you.
If you like beef
Start with asada if you want the most familiar beef taco. It is grilled steak: direct, savoury, and easy to like.
Choose barbacoa if you want beef that is softer and slower-cooked. It is less about char and more about tenderness.
Pick birria if you want deep, braised flavour. Birria is the beef behind Aztec Tacos' quesabirrias, and it is especially good if you like rich meat with consome on the side.
Try suadero if you want something with more street-taco personality. It is beef brisket cooked until tender, with a texture that sits between soft and slightly crisp when it hits the griddle.
If you want something traditional
Lengua is beef tongue. That can sound intimidating if you have never had it, but the flavour is mild and the texture is tender when it is prepared well. If you already like slow-cooked beef, lengua is not as big a leap as it sounds.
Cachete, or beef cheek, is another specialty cut. It is rich, soft, and built for people who like the deeper side of beef.
If you like pork
Al pastor is marinated pork with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. It is bright, savoury, and a little sweet from the pineapple. If you want a classic street-taco order, pastor is one of the best places to start.
Carnitas are slow-cooked pork. They are richer and more comforting than pastor, with a flavour that is more pork-forward and less fruity.
Chorizo is Mexican sausage. It has more spice and a bolder seasoning profile. If you want a taco that announces itself immediately, order chorizo.
If you want chicken or vegetables
Chicken tacos are the easy choice for someone who wants something lighter but still filling. They are also a good order for kids or first-timers who do not want to experiment too much.
Veggie tacos and veggie gringas are good options when you want the tortilla, salsa, and topping experience without meat. A gringa uses a flour tortilla with melted cheese, so it feels a little more like comfort food.
What should I order first?
If you like beef, order birria or asada. If you like pork, order al pastor. If you want something crispy and rich, order quesabirria. If you want to explore, order Rosquitacos with a group so you can try several meats without committing your whole meal to one choice.
The best taco is not the one someone online declares the winner. It is the one that matches what you like: charred, slow-cooked, spicy, rich, crisp, or bright. That is the fun of the menu.