You might think of yourself as an expert on tacos in Beijing, but have you checked out these newcomers making their Taco Fest debut? At all our festivals, we aim to blend established favorites with fresh faces, hoping to uncover some hidden treasures you may not have heard of or tasted before.
This year's event – taking place on May 3-4 at the National Tennis Center – features several first-time Taco Fest vendors, including a special guest from Shanghai, along with other exciting newcomers. If you're in the mood for something different, be sure to look out for these establishments!
La Coyota
La Coyota is not only debuting at Taco Fest but also making its Beijing debut. Traveling all the way from Shanghai for the festival, this will offer you a brand new taco experience unless you’ve visited them in their home city. Founded by Mexican chef Gaby Fernández in 2013, La Coyota has been serving authentic Mexican cuisine in Shanghai. At the festival, they will present some of their fan-favorite tacos, including: Taco al Pastor, featuring pork marinated in a savory mix of dried chilies and spices, grilled to perfection; Cochinita Pibil, which involves slow-cooking pork in a traditional marinade of achiote paste and orange juice; and Carnitas, where pork is cooked low and slow for a delightful mix of crispiness and tenderness. There’s also the Choripollo Chicken, a combination of tender chicken and mild Mexican-style chorizo. Vegan attendees can enjoy a delicious plant-based Chorizo & Mushrooms Taco, packed with smoky, satisfying flavors and a hearty texture, along with their vegan Mexican Chorizo available for separate purchase. All tacos from La Coyota are served on warm tortillas topped with fresh ingredients.
Exclusive item(s):
All tacos are exclusive to the fest since they are coming from Shanghai.
MAMACOCO Bar & Restaurant
MAMACOCO will be featuring two of their signature dishes at the fest: the Pineapple Char Siu Pork Taco and the Mexican Beef Chili Taco. The former is their highlight product—a fusion of marinated pork neck with a pineapple glaze, char siu sauce, and Mexican pickled vegetables, while the latter includes rich beef chili simmered with aromatic spices. Additionally, they've crafted the Rockin' Cheese Elote (Mexican Street Corn) special for the fest, featuring smoky grilled corn topped with crumbled cheese, zesty lime, and jalapeño peppers for an extra kick.
Exclusive item(s):
Rockin' Cheese Elote
Casa Lola
Casa Lola is bringing an impressive array of five taco varieties to the festival: Beef Stew Taco, Slow-Cooked Octopus Taco, Fried White Bait Fish Taco, Grilled Flounder Taco, and Slow-Roasted Spicy Chicken Taco. They will also offer a variety of snacks, including Chimichurri Shrimp, Peruvian Citrus Seafood Ceviche Cup, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, and Fried Chicken.
Lucky Taco
Lucky Taco will present two taco options at the festival: True Chicken Tacos and Bullfighter Cheese Beef Tacos. Made with chicken breast and beef shank respectively, both tacos are topped with homemade sauce, fresh vegetables, and tomato salsa.
The T Restaurant
The T Restaurant will bring two tacos to the fest. The first is the General Tso's Taco, featuring the famous American-Chinese dish inside a tortilla for a unique twist. The other offering is The T Restaurant Double Layered Taco, which combines Mexican chili inside a hard taco shell placed within a soft taco shell — hence the double-layer naming — for an intriguing carb-loaded experience.
Exclusive item(s):
General Tso's Taco
Goose Island Taproom
Although Goose Island has participated in other festivals before, this marks their first appearance at Taco Fest. They have crafted two exclusive tacos for the occasion. The first is the Yunnan Black Three Dices Taco, inspired by the classic Yunnan dish "Hei San Duo," featuring minced pork, stir-fried chili, and pickled vegetables topped with cheese in a soft-shell taco. The second is the Black Truffle Pine Leaf Crab Taco, which combines shredded crab, truffle, avocado, nori, and lettuce. Besides tacos, they will also offer Chicken and Beef Kebabs, chips, and a variety of their signature beers.
Exclusive item(s):
Yunnan Black Three Dices Taco
Black Truffle Pine Leaf Crab Taco
Certified Angus Beef x SALATE
This year, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) joins us for the first time at Taco Fest, bringing several exclusive offerings. The highlight is the Beef Steak Taco, featuring char-grilled CAB beef flank steak with smoked beef chili sauce and American cheddar cheese. Additionally, they will offer a Smoke Roasted US Pulled Pork and Turkey Quesadilla.
Exclusive item(s):
Beef Steak Taco
US Pulled Pork & Turkey Quesadilla
Have you sampled any tacos from these vendors?
You might think of yourself as a taco expert in Beijing, but have you checked out these places that are making their debut at Taco Fest?
