Native Tongues Taqueria - Victoria Park

This restaurant was an unexpected delight. It offers the closest experience to Mexico City's Mexican food style that you can find in Edmonton and many other Canadian cities. As someone from Mexico City, I was amazed at how authentic the flavours were. The food is definitely the highlight, but the drinks are also worth trying, and the service is fast and friendly. Just be aware that the restaurant can get quite noisy when it's busy. Aside from that, if you love Mexican food, this is a place you simply cannot miss.

I’ve been a steady customer for the past ten years. I dine at the restaurant and also order in quite often. However, in-person service has declined since the pandemic. Perhaps it’s due to a generational shift in service. Apparently you now need a reservation and the hostess/server gives you attitude if you don’t have one. Still, I continue to enjoy their food.

This place is incredible. Great vibes, friendly staff, quick service and PHENOMENAL food. Since the first time we’ve eaten here every trip to Calgary includes coming for dinner at Native Tongues. And the icing on the cake is how reasonably priced it is!

Super disappointed with our visit to Native Tongues. Came here for a small birthday celebration (noted in the reservation) and the service was subpar. We were charged for guacamole that we didn’t want, nor receive, and our waitress would disappear if we needed anything. If you’re going to charge us for something, at least give us the item. The tacos were also mediocre for the price - $8 for 1 mushroom taco is steep, especially since you have to pay for extra limes (3 wedges). The salsa flight is not worth the value at all with 5 tiny dip containers and a handful of chips. Really sad because we used to love Native Tongues.

I haven't been to this location before, however, I was downtown and wanted to get a bite. I was greeted quickly and lead to my table. I was hungry so I ordered several of their tacos and a quesadilla and they were packed with the ordered fillings. The two salsas were fresh and had a nice flavor and just a hint of heat to it and the fillings (lamb, beef, and pork) was all nice, tender and juicy. Definitely not dry as some places' shredded meats sometimes are. The service was excellent, and they were all attentive and the food came out promptly. I finished my meal with an order of their churros. Server mentioned they are freshly made daily. It was good, though, it looked and tasted more like a donut.

NOT the best tacos in town, I've definitely had better, but the cocktails were tasty. I liked the interior and the open kitchen concept. The hostess who greeted us was friendly, though the waitress seemed a bit indifferent, like she wasn't too interested in serving us. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I probably won't be coming back.

What an absolute treat it was to enjoy their food & drinks. Delicious! Also the Happy Hour is a great deal when you want to try different things. Highly recommend for authentic Mexican food & drinks ✨

Hits the spot. Went in solo dolo and sat at the bar. Friendly staff, good chill hip hop music and a buzzy atmosphere, delicious authentic tasting food. Quick service. Braised tacos were so tasty I forgot to take a photo before I stuffed my face.

Stopped in while traveling through and was so glad we did! The tacos and service were amazing. The restaurant had a great vibe.

We've been trying to visit their location in the university district but haven't had the chance so we ordered in. My wife and I were both very disappointed. We enjoyed our four different taco and burrito selections as they were very good and authentic, however portion size was terrible! We ordered almost $40 in food and didn't receive enough to fill one of us. For example we ordered a side of Mexican rice and received a small container, with two tablespoons of rice if we were lucky. I guess a person needs to go at happy hour to have a real meal.

Wanted some Tacos and some good drinks and this was the spot. We walked in during their Friday dinner rush and were able to sit by the bar and have a delicious meal. We got a local brew & a margarita with Mezcal. It was delicious but didn't understand the concept on why it was only served half way and a lot of ice I took a few sips and it was done. Not sure if this is their way to get you to order more drinks but I'm used to having a full drink for the price they had it at. Besides that the tacos we had were absolutely delicious. We had a Carne Asada, Carnitas, Queso/Beans and Birria Tacos. They were small but very flavorful. Their salsas were very good some a bit spicy but tacos were well served with meat & very very flavorful. The ambiance was a bit dark but cool vibes for date night and night out and grab some drinks. Enjoyed our time here and would def be back if we are ever In town. The customer service was great, very attentive and food came out fast.

My friend and I decided to try this Mexican place out because it was close to where my appointment was. We came in at around 6 on a Wednesday night. It wasn't full but it wasn't dead either. We were seated quickly by a friendly hostess at a table near the kitchen. It took a few minutes for the server to get to us but while we waited we had a chance to look over the menu and decided on what we wanted to try. We both wanted to try the lamb quesadilla special and got a couple of tacos to go for her other half. The quesadillas were to die for. The lamb was so succulent and tender. There was just enough cheese and the homemade tortilla was fried to perfection. My only complaint was that the fried cheese made it a greasy mess. We only had to wait about 5 minutes between ordering and being served and while we waited we took a look around at the pretty decor. There are plants hanging from the ceiling, pictures and a trophy deer on the wall. It felt homey but the music was a bit too loud.

Great tacos. Quick service. Reasonably priced for happy hour. Enjoyed sitting on the patio.

Nice spot for tacos! Taco Tuesday = 25% off certain tacos and happy hour from 2-5pm. I ordered the birria, carnitas and cochinita and they were all great! Also tried the snackerita and Paloma off the happy hour menu and they were super refreshing and only $5!

Popular location downtown and chill atmosphere/happening spot. Amazing menu, the owners really captures the true native tastes of the 6 regions of Mexico both from a cuisine and mixology profile. Lovely decor and mood lighting. It can be busy during peak food hours but if you come in after 8:30pm during the week it's a sexy date night. Food: 3-4 tacos per person is recommended Eats: pork belly, Carne Asada, squash, Hongas (mushrooms) we excellent. Drinks: chaac's tempesta had endless foam and the mezcal was muted slightly with the bourbon and pineapple/coconut. Basically any drink with coconut is a hit. Toasted coconut margarita bomb! Marea Sandia - gin, rosemary aperol, Fernet cut with Benedict, lime, watermelon, and cucumber bitters. Very flavorful odd combo. Donas for dessert anyone!

My daughter was on a stopover from NYC and had me join her and a few of her friends for a visit while we dine. The service was efficient, the staff pleasant and the tacos were delish!!! Nice, relaxing atmosphere

We went for dinner and provided with decent service considering how busy they were. Main complaint is the price. The birria taco was very small compared to the other tacos. The fish and pork belly tacos and salad were good.

First stop on our Calgary trip and it turned out pretty good! My favorite part was probably the micheladas. I got the regular and my partner got the cubana, both very delicious. We got birria, frijoles, rib eye and pollo tacos. I personally thought the pollo tacos were a little dry and needed more sauce. The guacamole served with chips was amazing!

Looked at Yelp for dinner recommendations while on vacation. Accidentally went to this location (there are a few), but it turned out great. The salsa sampler was fantastic and the tacos and quesadillas were excellent. Surprisingly good and a nice surprise. They only have two beers on tap, but lots of cans and cocktails. My margarita was solid, but I'd probably stick to beer next time. Good service and hip atmosphere. Definitely would recommend!

Incredible Taco's and Mexican cuisine. Super fun and friendly place. Looks like a new enclosure patio coming soon. The burgers and donuts are yummy here too.

My wife and I went to the Native Tongues location in Britannia. This was my second visit there within a month with a family member. Much like the first visit, the second visit was equally enjoyable. Tonight, my wife and I ordered a sipping tequila (Tromp Blanco) each to start. We then ordered the Chips and Guacamole for our appetizer which was delicious - generous amounts of both chips and Guacamole which was nicely spiced. We then ordered 6 tacos to share - Polio Asado, Hongas, Birria, Carnitas, Cochinita and Pork Belly. Each was so unique in their tastes and textures; all soooo good. They were well prepared and nicely presented. Our server was Alexa who had just the right degree of attentiveness. She was friendly and efficient throughout our meal. If you ever wondered about going to Native Tongues, take the plunge - you'll love it.

i am continuing on with my trip in calgary. My brother and I decided to stop off at Native Tongues because we were looking for great Mexican food. and boy did we find it. we started with a salsa bar. with home chips and five types of salsa, chipotle, habanero, sunflower seed and tomato, green mild and pico de gallo. it was quite the variety . the ambience was truly authentic mexican. for the main i had three soft tacos, a birria, a carne asada and a pollo asade. all were very good and had their own distinctive flavours from citrus like to a smoky chipotle . i also had smoke mexican rice. I just wanted to give a shout out to the service the young gentlemen gave a great description of the food were ordering and knew the menu like the back of his hand for only his third day. I was very impressed with his knowledge. Due to his superior recomendations , we decided to grab mexican donuts for thewwalk back to the apartment . Native tongues was a super place to check out and get a tremendous mexican lunch

My girlfriend and I went to the Native Tongues Taqueria (University District) for dinner. This exciting restaurant has left the best impressions! Hospitable hosts, delicious Mexican dishes, beautiful presentation and wonderful dessert! Our waiter Daniel was very knowledgeable and attentive too. I recommend this excellent place to everyone! We will definitely come back here again soon!

Excited to visit as reviews were great. Mine will be honest. Very disappointed. Tacos are too small but most flavours were tasty. Do not order the Auguachile tostada. I love prawns but what was on the tostada were grey slimy fishy tasting things they called prawns. When I asked if they were raw I was told they are cooked in acid instead of heat. !y gag reflex is still reeling!! Didn't resemble any prawn I have ever eaten before. I won't return

Great Ambiance! Great food! Great drinks! Servers are knowledgeable! Don't be shy! Try the salsas, they are amazing. They can be spicy, but they are approachable, and oh so tasty!

My cilantro aversion was handled kindly and professionally. The few things without cilantro were shown AND they made a special dish for me without any cilantro. Everyone else in our party loves cilantro and they enjoyed their meals immensely.

It's too pricey. The Tacos are way too small for the price even if it's reverse Happy Hour. Don't order the Chips with Guac-- it's mid taste and so expensive. We were hoping that for $16 it will be a big plate of chips... But NO! So avoid! Over all not happy. The room was so dark that you can't even see the menu. No help from the servers. Look for other Taco place with better price, taste and serving.

Excellent food, atmosphere, service and drinks with an outstanding selection of tequilas.

Pricey small bite tacos on uncomfortable seats. Wouldn't recommend. If you want to be fed ant size bites then I've found the place for you.... Not sure how an establishment who values its customers could look you square in the face and charge you $8 dollars for one bite.

I don't even know where to start and will just keep it short and simple in that this place fully lives up to their high ratings. We visited 3 times in 5 days and it still wasn't enough. We ordered a bunch of varieties of tacos and each one hit it out of the park. Do I have a taco to recommend? All of them. And since we visited multiple times, I can also attest to the fact that their quality control and consistency are 10/10. The service was also super-friendly and attentive each time too. Oh, and I should mention that I had possibly the best donut I've ever had too.

Thanks only to the power of Yelp did we find this gem. I think that it might be attached to a hotel, which might lead you to question its authenticity. Damn delicious is what it is. We each had different types of tacos and all of us were happy. They were great with food requirements. Cute washroom too! Monday nights are busy because they have a drink special. It was packed with dates, friends and families.

It was ok. The Birria lacked flavor but the guac was stellar. Margs are great and the service was great. Place is super dark. Good place for a pre dinner drink!

We had a large party of 10 no reservations and they accommodated us very well as walk ins. Great vibe, lots of happy servers, and yummy food here. The service level was spot on. They kept checking if we needed more drinks, kept our waters full, and very pleasant when we asked for anything additional. Go there for the Birria tacos. They are delicious. I live in San Diego so I know good Birria tacos and I highly recommend trying one here. I also ordered pork belly with pineapple taco and it was a little plain for me. I added some guacamole and that totally helped. The side of beans were good but not exceptional . More of a black bean than a pinto bean look. The chips and guacamole are delicious. It was pretty loud in there so expect that when you arrive to this fun packed taqueria.

What a great spot! We got the salsa & chips. Loved the variety of salsas, especially the spicy ones. We tried the birria tacos, chicken tacos, and mushroom tacos. All were amazing!!! The classic margarita was good, although a little small

Food was more than what we were looking for in flavor. Service was very fast and super friendly. Got to our seats quick. Enjoyed the ambiance this restaurant provides. Would definitely return.

This is my old faithful taco spot. It never disappoints and the room is welcoming and friendly. Their tacos are fresh and delicious and their appetizers are amazing. If you're ordering at home make sure to try out their burritos. Always a pleasure Native Tongues!

I ordered quesabirria and birria tacos with chips and salsas tasting. Definitely 11/10! The birria tacos were small but delicious, just no birria broth unless you ask. I prefer the quesabirria because I love cheese and it comes with birria broth. Great customer service. I've been to California, which has the closest to authentic Mexican food!

Great food, great atmosphere, nice music. The pork belly tacos were delicious and the salsa platter had so many amazing flavours and textures - a must share with friends.

Visited Native Tongues with some friends. The atmosphere was lively and inviting and the service was impeccable, with friendly and knowledgeable staff. I tried the Birria, Hongos, and Carnitas, all three were great! The Birria taco stole the spotlight with its tender, flavorful meat and aromatic broth. The Hongos taco surprised me with its savory mushroom goodness, offering a delightful vegetarian option. As for the Carnitas taco, the slow-cooked pork was tender with crispy edges. I also recommend the Chips y Guacamole. If you're searching for an unforgettable taco adventure in downtown Calgary, this is the place to be!

Native Tongues, what happened to you?!? I hadn't been to NT since before the pandemic, and wanted to check out their new location in Britannia. What a disappointment! First of all, they were out of a lot of things. No guacamole, no fish tacos, and limited vegetarian options as they were out of squash. I settled for the mushroom tacos and the ceviche. Neither were exciting. It seems like they're cutting corners since my last visit. The tortillas were clearly store-bought...the same kind you can get at the Latin Market. They were soggy and falling apart by the time I got my food. The ceviche was not good...way too saucy and the tortilla chips the dish is served with do not seem to be homemade anymore. Native Tongues' menu used to be so amazing with their family-style tacos. Those are no longer available...sadly all of my fave dishes like the lamb neck and octopus tacos are a thing of the past. I left wanting more and will be looking for a new taco joint...

We had our first date here after hiking in Banff in August 2022. As somebody from Texas, I felt like the tacos surpassed my expectations given how far up north it was. The spicy salsa was actually spicy! Great ambiance and wonderful service that didn't rush us out the door. Travis' Ratings Taste - 3.5 Quality - 3.5 Ambiance - 4.5 Overall - 4 Isabel's Ratings Taste - 3.5 Quality - 3.5 Ambiance - 4 Overall - 35

Awesome street tacos, though on the small side. The pork belly and the carne asada were favs in the group. Great margaritas too, love that you can decide the spice factor. The Mescal one was amazing, very smoky and delicious

TACO TUESDAY - Tacos are 2.50 all day! Got there around 5:45 and the place was filled! We ordered right away so we could make it in time for happy hour (m-f 3-6) We ordered the hamburguesa al carbon, some chicken, beef, and pork tacos, along with a couple of AGDs. The burger was good, not too heavy and came with chips that had some hot sauce on it. Great combo! The tacos were overall, super great! I don't remember which meat was a tad dry though, but once I added some hot sauce to it, it wasn't as noticeable. I appreciated that your waitress made time to check up on us, fill our waters, and even ask us about the rest of the night. We were able to tell her briefly about our past couple days in Banff. We also had a short discussion about the wildlife that we've seen! Additional to the great food, the service was excellent!

Holy moly. Or should I say Mole? (Yeah, I know, bad Mexican food word play joke) Stopped by this beautiful little place during their happy hour on our way through Calgary and I am so glad we did because it was so good. Like wow. Amazing. Maybe it's because I have only been eating Cheezies, Tim Hortons, and Diet Coke this entire road trip through Canada... or maybe it was the fresh ingredients they used in the esquites, tostada, and chilaquiles. Great food. Great service. Great prices.

One night in Calgary and this was our late dinner spot. Space is really cute with the random wall "art" and tiling along the bar and kitchen. Our waitress was A+! Super friendly and great with recommendations, checking in, filling up water etc. For drinks we started with the mezcalgarita + Serrano for some spice. So delicious and way too quick to drink! Menu looks deceptively small but there are plenty of options! We ordered the salsa tasting, the special tostada that day, carnitas tacos, pollo tinga tacos and a side of rice & beans. Since we came late, the tacos were on HH for $1 off. Great casual spot with solid food and drinks!

I'm still thinking about those birria tacos!!! All the tacos we had were so filled, and flavourful. They are smaller than others I've had but they really don't cheap out on filling them. Everything was so good, the apps, the tacos and the dessert. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

The donuts are sooooo expensive! I believe they are $5 a piece! The really greasy taco (I think it was pork) is soooooo delicious! They have a cute little outdoor sitting area!

In general there food is good and well priced. They do get busy so make sure you pay attention to the yelp waiting list and reserve your spot. My mistake was there was a 5 minute waitlist on yelp initially so I did nothing and just drive to the restaurant but by the time I drive and arrived at the restaurant the waitlist changed to 30. :( I really like their agua frescha and I know they change up their flavours over time. Their tacos were very tasty. Definitely a place I will come back to in the near future.

So happy we checked this spot out on our one night in Calgary. It was recommended by a friend for their tasty tacos and good vibes My partner and I were starving so we ordered 5 tacos to start. We tried one of each of their kinds (beef, chicken, pork, veggie/beans, mushroom). We loved them all except the mushroom which were just not to our taste. Our waitress noticed that we didn't eat the mushroom one and without blinking, offered to take it off the bill. This was super nice and above and beyond good service. We ended up ordering 2 more (birria and chicken cause they were so good). Tacos came with delicious sauces. We specifically asked for a spicy sauce and they gave us one that was very fresh and had complex flavours. For dessert, we got the flan which was perfect in texture and topped with crunchy coconut flakes. We were also surprised with a free donut from our waitress. Service was excellent as described and value was also very good. We will absolutely come back next time in Calgary. Tip: order side of consommée with birria taco

We lucked in to arrive here on a holiday (Friday) and happy hour! This place is eccentric, hipster and eloquently designed. Service was great. The chicken nachos freaking delicious topped with shredded chicken in juice, melted cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro and onion. The hamburguesa charbroiled was so freaking good I don't ha love the words to describe it. Best patty and cheese I've had in my life. Happy hour is from 3-6. Margaritas are $5 and good. :)

Well, everything was good, the server was friendly and service was fast, but then when the main food came, I asked the bartender who was taking an order for the man next to us, if I could please get some Valentina hot sauce. He repeated "Valentina hot sauce?" And I said yes, please. Then I sat there and waited for some hot sauce before eating. Obviously I want some hot sauce for my tacos! And I seen that they had many bottles of Valentina hot sauce, which is why I asked specifically for that. He was behind the bar, on his phone, then would look up at me. And it was almost like a slap in the face, because he obviously wasn't busy, and was looking at me, but yet he didn't want to bring me hot sauce. It was kind of uncomfortable because it was just plain disrespect. I then saw him talking with our server and thought he was telling her about the hot sauce, but she didn't even come back until our plates were empty. Mind you, it wasn't even busy this day. The blonde male bartender then comes to check on food quality for the man beside us, and asks if he needs anything, to which the man replies he would like some limes. This guy comes back so fast with limes. And that's when I knew, he was a hater. I'm not sure why he was rude and unhelpful to me and my bf. It definitely felt like I was discriminated against... I don't know why else he would've just ignored my request. I would fire this man promptly. Blonde male bartender. Other than the service, the tacos were sooo good. Props to the chefs working here.

Saw this on Big Food Bucket List and needed to try it. The restaurant was packed but you could actually hear yourself talk which is definitely a feat in a small area. The service was excellent, food was very prompt and delicious and very reasonable priced. Highly recommend trying this place out but recommend booking on open table before hand if they are busy.

Ok very impressed with with Native tongue. Never would I have thought such an amazing taqueria would be here in Calgary. Very authentic flavors. I had the barbacoa which was amazing. Tender fall off the bone lamb. Floating in amazing broth! So good and hearty. Came with grilled peppers and avocado. Perfect for someone on keto as well! 5 stars!!! The chicken and donuts they serve on sundays looked crazy good! But not keto so no go for me. If your in Calgary hit up this place for sure

Got two tacos via take out. Chicken taco and pork belly tacos were both pretty solid. Both tacos travelled well into their to-go box as well! If you are from Texas, probably not quite as good as typical tex mex.

Wow. Fantastic food and great drinks. Fantastic service and worth. Every. Single. Penny. Went on Taco Tuesday - was a little busy but join the online waiting list on their website first. Got in no problem. Great decor very warm and friendly. And amazing food.

Had a breakfast burrito yesterday that was fucking amazing. The waitress that was working there really reminded me of Trinity off trailer park boys. She was super friendly would totally recommend I would rate it higher if I could

delicious!! We recommend the salsa tasting if you're on the fence for appetizers! Cocktails were delicious, tacos were fresh and flavorful, and the dessert was to die for.