Taco Fest is less than a week away, set to take place next weekend from May 3 to 4 at the National Tennis Center. We’ve already explored the entertainment options and now it’s time to focus on our fantastic lineup of vendors. This year, we feature a diverse selection ranging from authentic Mexican street cuisine to innovative fusion dishes, along with exclusive items that you won’t find anywhere else, including a Shanghai taco vendor making their debut in Beijing!
So, rally your friends and let’s dive into the offerings!
**La Coyota MexFood 辣口友大墨西哥菜**
From Shanghai, La Coyota, created by Mexican Chef Gaby Fernández, has been showcasing authentic Mexican flavors in Shanghai since 2013. At the fest, they will present popular tacos such as Taco al Pastor, featuring marinated pork seasoned with a rich array of dried chilies and spices; Cochinita Pibil, where pork is slow-cooked in a traditional marinade of achiote paste and orange juice; and Carnitas, which is pork prepared slowly for an ideal balance of crispiness and tenderness. Additionally, they’ll offer Choripollo Chicken, combining tender chicken with mild Mexican-style chorizo. For vegan visitors, there’s a delicious plant-based Chorizo & Mushrooms Taco, packed with smoky flavor accompanied by their vegan Mexican Chorizo available for purchase separately. Each taco is served on warm tortillas topped with fresh ingredients.
**Exclusivity:** All tacos are exclusive to the festival, given their arrival from Shanghai.
**Las Musas Taqueria Las Musas 墨西哥餐吧**
Las Musas, purveyors of authentic Mexican cuisine, will feature a special taco for the festival called Yo Daddy’s 80's Taco— a nostalgic twist! This taco uses Slowboat's signature pilsner-infused Mexican chorizo, treated like a smash burger. It's crisped up, loaded with gooey Monterey Jack cheese, and garnished with fresh crispy lettuce, zesty pico de gallo, and homemade sour cream; all combining to create a unique Midwest-Mexico fusion inspired by the '80s. They’ll also offer a Carne Asado con Salsa Cacahuate Taco, with premium charcoal-grilled beef paired with white onions, cilantro, homemade cotija cheese, and a drizzle of Oaxacan-style salsa cacahuate. Lastly, a vegan Taco de Jamaica featuring marinated, pulled hibiscus flowers with toppings like white onion, cilantro, spicy radish, pico de gallo, and vegan aioli will be available. In addition to tacos, snacks like Tajin Mexican Fries and Loaded Mexican Fries, along with drinks like their Classic Frozen Margarita and Mango Mojito (non-alcoholic available) will be offered.
**Exclusivity:** Yo Daddy’s 80's Taco, Carne Asado con Salsa Cacahuate Taco
**Q MEX Bar & Grill 库迈墨西哥餐吧**
Beijing’s Q MEX Bar & Grill returns with their exclusive Carnitas Tacos for the festival, which consist of slow-simmered pork topped with tomatillo salsa, chopped onion, and cilantro, all served in a white corn flour tortilla. They’re also offering Crispy Battered Fried Fish Tacos, with crispy battered fish over marinated red cabbage, topped with Mexican tartar sauce and chopped cilantro. To complement your meal, Mexican Bulldogs—a frozen margarita served with a beer or beverage of choice—will be available.
**Exclusivity:** Carnitas Tacos
**MORROW Cantina 墨佬墨西哥餐厅**
MORROW Cantina will present various tacos, including their signature Beef Birria Tacos featuring slow-cooked beef rib inside a soft flour corn tortilla with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, Mexican cheese, chili sauce, lime juice, and cilantro. They’ll also offer MOVENPICK ice cream for dessert, perfect for cooling down after tacos.
**MAMACOCO Bar & Restaurant MAMACOCO墨西哥餐吧**
MAMACOCO will showcase two of their signature dishes at the festival: the Pineapple Char Siu Pork Taco, featuring marinated pork neck with a pineapple glaze and Mexican pickled vegetables, and the Mexican Beef Chili Taco with rich beef chili infused with spices. They’ll also introduce the Rockin' Cheese Elote (Mexican Street Corn) for the festival—smoky grilled corn layered with crumbled cheese, zesty lime, and spicy jalapeños.
**Exclusivity:** Rockin' Cheese Elote
**Casa Lola South American Restaurant Casa Lola 南美菜餐厅**
Casa Lola will offer an impressive selection of five different tacos: Beef Stew Taco, Slow-Cooked Octopus Taco, Fried White Bait Fish Taco, Grilled Flounder Taco, and Slow-Roasted
An exploration of this year's vendors, featuring a special guest from Shanghai...
