Restaurant Review: Tres Carnales Taquería
TRES CARNALES TAQUERÍA 10119 100A Street ~ trescarnales.com Instagram: @trescarnales ~ Twitter: @TresCarnales Co-Diner: Tim Golem
Tres Carnales has been around for quite some time now (its been a decade) and I would go as far as to say that they single-handedly changed the face of Mexican food in Edmonton. They have paved the way for a better, more authentic expectation of Mexican cuisine and because of them this city now has way better examples of this food. VUE Weekly named Tres Carnales #1 Best Tacos 2018, Maclean's magazine called them one of the The 50 Best Restaurants in Canada 2012, and of course You Gotta Eat Here! featured them on season one of the show. I, personally, have been a major fan of theirs since the beginning and you'll find them listed as one of my Worldwide Faves on this website. It all began with a couple of guys who wanted to make tacos that are actually good. Their location in Downtown Edmonton delivers exactly that and they have now become a brand with two different restaurants, each with a different concept. When you walk into Tres Carnales you are met with the single most vibrant and lively environment - the Latin music is pumping and the decor is awesome. The fare served is Mexican street food and the vibe of the restaurant perfectly reflects that; from the ultra-cool graffiti-style mural, to the corrugated tin ceiling, to all of the beautiful Día de Muertos-style items around the room. I love the star-shaped pendant lights, the bright colours... I could go on and on. The esthetic is wonderful. The first thing to do upon entering is to place your order at the counter. Then you will be seated (they even have a small patio outside) and a friendly server will bring your food to you. The menu isn't that large but everything on it is delicious. The three main stars at Tres Carnales are the tacos, quesadillas and tortas. They have been making these since day one and they are certainly the items to pay close attention to. However, you will also find some pretty awesome specials (they've started doing birria tacos - the hottest thing happening in tacos right now), there are burritos, and a bunch of sides. (I've never tried the papas fritas especiales and I certainly need to.) There are also great drinks. You'll find cervezas, sangria, and a margarita... But the thing that I've been obsessed with for years are their rotating flavours of Agua Fresca ($3.10). They offer at least one (usually two) different flavours each day and there are upwards of eight different types to try (my favourite is the horchata). On the day of my visit they were serving Agua de Tamarindo and Agua de Pepino Lima. I took one of each!
These are always the most refreshing and the flavours are always exciting. This is not some sad, watered-down drink. The tamarind was bolder, more like drinking an iced tea, but with a unique and distinct sweet and tangy flavour. The cucumber lime would be an ideal beverage for a hot summer's day. Cooling and fresh, the lime added the perfect citrus zip. When it comes to the food I'm just a little bit set in my ways. I know exactly what my favourites are and I find it challenging to branch out (however those quesabirria tacos are definitely calling my name). As previously mentioned, Tres Carnales specializes in tacos, quesadillas, and tortas. You can get any of these made in seven different styles; from chicken, to beef, to a vegan option. First, I go straight for the Pescado Tacos ($15.00) because they're the best in the city and are able to hold up to some of the best that I've had anywhere.
Always consistent and just the way that you remembered them, these fish tacos are light, crispy and golden brown. The snapper inside is moist and delicious. Everything else about these tacos is quite simple, actually, and I think that's what makes them great. An expertly-made corn tortilla, fresh and bright tomatoes, cabbage that provides a great crunch, and a wonderfully spicy-creamy sauce. They'll serve you three but you could probably eat more. These are very much what most fish tacos wish they could be. I would be amiss if I didn't mention the elusive and rare tacos de pato. They have only served these as a special on a handful of occasions (that I'm aware of) and they are some of my favourites of all-time. They're duck tacos that taste absolutely incredible. If you ever hear of them on the menu: RUN to the restaurant. Next is my other favourite menu item, the Carnitas Torta ($17.62), a sandwich that eats like a football.
A torta is a Mexican sandwich served on a soft bun with the ingredients and flavour profile of a taco. The bread adds a whole new dynamic! I have tried tortas just about anywhere that I've found them and nothing holds a candle to the ones that they make at Tres Carnales. Honestly, I think it's the way that they griddle the cheese onto the bun, creating those insane crispy cheese edges. The bread is key and this one was perfectly crusty but soft and warm on the inside. Piled high (and I mean high!) with melt-in-your-mouth pork, fresh housemade guacamole, pico de gallo, and plenty of cheese, each bite is completely bursting with flavour. I love the tomatillo salsa on the side for another layer of acidity. I'm pretty sure that this is a perfect sandwich. It's big enough to share but you probably won't want to. Every bite is a delicious dream! I couldn't possibly have anything negative to say about Tres Carnales. They're one of my favourite restaurants in the city and I think that they've done a lot for the culinary scene, especially ten years ago when there was a flurry of interesting growth beginning to happen. After all of this time their food and quality has remained excellent, the prices are reasonable, and the staff is awesome. I love returning to the places that have meant a lot to me, only to find that they haven't changed one bit.