Tournament of Tacos — CL’s third annual culinary showdown — needs your help
February 19th, 2009 by Brian Ries in Food and Drink
(Comment below to let us know who has the best tacos on the Suncoast!)
Two years ago, CL challenged 32 pizza places to enter tournament-style culinary combat, slice versus slice, the deserving winner crowned best pie of the Suncoast. Last year, burgers took center-stage in our quest for gustatory greatness, one patty reigning supreme. This year, the tradition continues. It’s Taco Time, baby!
Such a basic recipe: one tortilla, stuffed with meat, vegetables and sauce. But, as with CL’s pizza and burger tournaments of years past, taco success is more elusive than that simple combination would indicate. And finding the savants of this art is no easy task, since the best of these hand-held treats often come from the back corners of anonymous bodegas, or off the backs of semi-mobile trailers, uncharted territory far from the comfort of Google searches.
But to the seekers come great rewards, as pork pastor, cilantro and toasty corn mesh into true taco bliss. With your help we’ll narrow it down to 16 of the Suncoast’s best joints and pit them against one another, taco-a-taco, in a titanic, tortilla-wrapped tournament the likes of which has never been seen in these parts.
Who serves your favorite barbacoa, lengua, tripe, or pastor? Who presses the best fresh tortillas? Who garnishes like a culinary Cezanne? We need to know. Comment below with your favorites.
CL’s Tournament of Tacos begins March 11, followed by three weeks of competition in the paper and here on the blog. Don’t think you’ll agree with our choices for each match-up? No problems, you’ll be able to vote as well. Every day, a new taco-a-taco throwdown, with prizes for selected voters, culminating in a CL pick and a Reader’s pick for Tournament of Tacos champion.
Get involved. Get eating.
(Photo via Paul Goyette/flickr.)
February 20th, 2009 at 1:13 am
seafood taco at blue iguana, on washington blvd in sarasota is pretty good
February 20th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Thanks for the tip, Mr Thinc! I personally love the food at Bianca’s Mexican Store on 301. In fact, I ate there yesterday!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I’ve always enjoyed the taco truck in front of Joyland in Bradenton.
Also the tacos from the place inside the Red Barn flea market are usually pretty wonderful.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Dann: Agree about the Red Barn tacos, but haven’t tried the Joyland ones. There are a couple worthwhile stops up old 301 in Bradenton, too.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Id be impressed to see if anyone can stop the tacos at that place on McIntosh and Clark. Their hand molded fresh tacos are the deal sealer.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Steak and Cactus tacos at Baja Iguana at 301 and 13th. Also chicken tacos at Tacos Aquascalientes and 301 and 23d.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Super Bodega @ 2828 Clark Road.
It is a Mexican market and they have a little restaurant inside with a kick-ass salsa bar. You won’t get any shredded yellow cheese on you tacos only queso fresco.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
[...] to the tune of Pachelbel’s classic Canon in D major, I give you Taco Bell Canon, the official CL Tournament of Tacos theme song, after the break: Bookmark [...]
February 28th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Maria’s in the front (inside) section of the Red Barn flea market is my current favorite. Truly amazing, delicious, wonderful tacos – best I have found. Try the asada with onions, cilantro and a squeeze of lime on corn tortillas – the food of the gods. The second place would be Aguascalientes on N Washington by Dr. King Park. 3rd place goes to Tacos la Cholita outside of Oneco Market by the corner of SR 70 and 15 Street East – Viva Hidalgo!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Not your typical Mexican place, but the fish tacos at Hillview Grill are pretty good. I like to get them blackened for extra kick.
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 am
The fish tacos at the Hillview Grill are not only the best tacos in town, they’re the best tacos anywhere!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Everyone knows the best tacos are at mi Pueblo!!
March 4th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Tijuana Flats on S 41 always delivered consistently delicious food
March 4th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Also, 2 Senoritas on main street
March 5th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Homemade is always the best. They’re fresh, always made the way you like and don’t forget having the family all in one place.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
You all ALMOST got it right, but the BEST TACOS are from the OUTSIDE CANTINA (also Maria’s) at the Red Barn, yes, outside by the fresh veggies and the hand cut coconuts
March 6th, 2009 at 10:06 am
[...] Well, Suncoast, you were fiending for some Creative Loafing on the airwaves and over your Internet, and we are delivering. Like I mentioned yesterday, we have kicked off a new partnership with WSRQ, 1220 AM, creating a new weekly half-hour radio show and podcast. Yesterday was our inaugural voyage, and things went well: We chatted about this week’s issue, asked Brian what he thought about Watchmen (in theaters now), discussed the elected mayor referendum, even teased next week’s big cover story, the 2009 Tournament of Tacos. [...]
March 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Mi Pueblo’s as the BEST fish tacos!
March 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Polo Grill & Pattigeorge’s have the best & most requested tacos in town… Tuna Tartar Waonton Tacos with Sakemole & Wasabi Caviar
March 6th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Tacos at Red Barn – inside and outside – are outstanding and a great value. The pork tacos at Dona Tortilleria on Hwy 301 just south of 17th Street are ADDICTIVE, especially with their homemade salsa and fresh homemade tortillas, which you can buy by the pound!
March 7th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Fish Tacos at “HILLVIEW GRILL” are the best! I’ve tried a lot of their menu items and love them all. I’m from out of town and have to visit when I’m in Sarasota.
March 10th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Derek’s on central has come very tastey and creative fish taco’s on his lunch menu. Can’t go wrong at Dereks!
March 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
There’s no place like El Toro Bravo!!
March 17th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
MI PUEBLO MI PUEBLO!!!! you should just end the tournament the have the BEST tacos!!!!!
March 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
The BARBACOA TACOS at TWO SENORITAS is hands down the best in the city
March 19th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
The BARBACOA TACOS at TWO SENORITAS ARE(not is, sorry) hands down the best in the city…
March 20th, 2009 at 2:33 am
I love the tacos at two senoritas.o my they rock.I ate 15 in one day before ..go get your taco on beatches…tell them CHIZEr sent ya.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:40 am
take it from this senorita, TWO SENORITAS TACOS ROCK! its like crack inside of a taco and you have to keep going back for more!
March 20th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Hands down…TWO SENORITAS! I’m writing with my mouth full of taco goodness!!!!
March 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
TWO SENORITAS tacos are the bomb.com!!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Im at Evie’s Tavern right now rocking some Two Senorita’s tacos!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I love two senioritas!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Two Senioritas is the OOOHHH in my taco
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Two Senoritas tacos pastor or fish tacos or steak tacos…I can’t make up my mind I love them all
March 24th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I knew Two Senoritas would make it to the Final Four….BRING ON THE FINALS!!!!!Two Senoritas is the BEST
March 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
two senoritas has the best beef taco”’my mouth waters as soon as i see it,,kinda like a smokin hot chic,,at about 320,,,o anyway the bean soup rocks too,,,,tow senoritas #1
March 25th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I absolutely loved the Fish Tacos at Two Senoritas!!! Without a doubt the best in town. The service was great too!
March 25th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I really know my tacos. i believe a great taco shows a lot about an establishment. Two Senoritas has some wonderfully unique tacos!
March 25th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I have eaten tacos in lot of places in USA and Mexico and never before had Tacos as good as those in TWO Senoritas, I love the Tacos al Pastor and the fish Tacos are the best of the best
March 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Im in love with the tacos at two senoritas. specially with the tacos al pastor they are one the best i have ever had!!! not too heavy for me and the pineapple gives is a unique taste!!!!!
March 25th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I have to say hands down that Two Senorita’s on Main Street has the best fish taco’s this side of San Diego. Their grilling of the fish is perfection and their crema fresca is just what the doctor ordered.
If you’ve never had a fish taco you don’t know what you’re missing.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Tacos…what the hell are all these other places.. I know that Two Senoritas has the only taco
March 25th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
two senoritas is a great place very friendly and elegant, they have the best tacos around, very delicious and really good
March 25th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
The only taco is a Two Senoritas taco..HOLLA!!
March 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Hands down Bianca’s is the best!! The tacos are especially tasty because of the self-serve embellishments, such as pico de gallo, cilantro, onion, tomatillo, etc. What a discovery!!
March 26th, 2009 at 10:57 am
For a truly authentic mexican feast, Bianca’s tacos win my vote.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Look all the others should just throw in their tacos…Two Senoritas is the best!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Two Senoritas has been dishing out the Best tacos for the last 15 years downtown..THey have my vote..
March 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
OMG! Two Senortias is soo yummy! They have the best tacos I have ever tasted!(and Ive tasted a lot of tacos…) I just love the crispy chicken tacos, the beef enchiladas, the falutas and the bean chalupas…so Delicious- You dont know what youre missing.. you must experience it! A very delightful ambiance and great service as well!
March 26th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
The tacos at Two Senoritas are amazing!! Yay!
March 26th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I vote for Bianca’s!
March 27th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Maria’s @ Red Barn Flea Market has finger licking taco…… they also have great flautas, sopes, tostadas, gorditas, all
with the fillings of your choice
like carnitas, chicarron, cactus, chicken, barbacoa, and so much more……. yummy!
March 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Maria’s at Red Barn gets my vote.
I am not an expert but those tacos are delicious!
March 30th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Two Senoritas tacos are bitchin’ !!
March 30th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I love Two Senoritas tacos….my favorite are the Chicken Parillas!
and the manager is really hot.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Two Senoritas gets my vote!!!
March 31st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
YEP I MUST SAY TWO SENORITAS IS MY PIC TOO,,,,,TACOS BB