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Taqueria Playa Tropical
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
11 reviews for Taqueria Playa Tropical
11 reviews in English
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Review from Randall S.
New Westminster, BC
1/6/2012 6 Check-ins Here
5 stars, for Canada that is. This is not the WORLD's best Mexican food, but is very good. However, it's the best Mexican food I've had anyplace in Canada, and I've had a LOT (I'm a Mexican food junkie). The waitress explained that it's hard for Mexican restaurants in Canada because the food supplies are not readily available like they are in the States.
I had the enchiladas verde, and enjoyed the tang of the green sauce and the FOUR nicely stuffed (chicken) corn tortillas. The beans and rice were very tasty, and the portion size was right. Price was also right at under $10.
My partner had nachos and a carne asada taco. The nacho toppings were excellent--beans, cheese, sour cream and we added our own salsa. however the number of chips seemed sparse. I've dined with Mexicans and am aware that they seem to enjoy a few chips, vs. the North American typical mountain of chips. Overall, this dish could have been 20% bigger for sharing or individual meal. The taco was good, and surprisingly came with a dollop of avacado, not something I expect.
My "litmus test" Mexican dish is mole, which they don't offer here. But the other dishes did exceed my expectations.
The decor is ok, but I'm REALLY hopeful they're saving their pennies to change the dining room lighting. Fluorescent lights may be common in Mexico, but they don't give the warmth I want in a Canadian dining room. They could also ditch the TVs during dinner hour...but hockey does draw people I suppose.
The bar area has the better ambiance...next time we may sit at the bar.
The place was the right amount of busy for a Thursday night.
We will return. The food was excellent and priced right. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
Updated - 3/20/2012 1 photo
I love it when a place comes together. Icky window mural gone. Liquor licence in. The fluorescent lights are turned down and festive little Christmas lights on the walls provide atmosphere. And food is great! Super-tasty little tacos mounded with fresh warm meatiness (still love my Pastors, and the Barbacoa beef is a new favourite). Not to mention those sturdy corn tortilla chips with the red and green salsas to squirt over top. It can take forever to get your food, which means it's made fresh.
Yes, this humble little Mexican restaurant in one of those *impossible* locations where nothing can seem to stay open in has stepped up its game. This is my taco joint consolation prize no longer; it is my taco happy place. Yes, from the smiling server to the salsa beat of the music to the party in my mouth where cilantro and lime is always invited, a happy piece of Mexico indeed.Listed in: Bright Lights, Royal City
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/6/2011
Not quite the flavour rollercoaster that is La Taqueria, but I do love this friendly New West taco… Read more »
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Review from April F.
Vancouver, BC
5/19/2012
Amazing find in New West, given that Mexican is one ethnic cuisine Greater Vancouver hasn't figured out. The food is what it should be: side, fresh, and fragrant. I love ordering a selection of tacos and calling that dinner. The meat, chicken, or seafood selections are combined with a little salsa, a lime squeeze, some cilantro or a cheese sprinkle...each one a little different and so hard to declare a favourite. Except for the chorizo. They make it in house and words don't do it justice.
Round out a plate of tacos with a margarita and some ceviche - heaven!
It's a smaller business and I've had the odd issue with slow service or food not as hot as it should be. I was also less jazzed about the torta and quesadilla I tried...tasty but a bit too meat-and-cheese simple for my taste
But there are some knockout items on the menu and it's a fun, casual environment, good value, and one of the first places I recommend to fellow New Westies. -
Review from Ashok S.
New Westminster, BC
5/23/2012
My wife and i went there expecting nothing. We were just wanting to try new place. When we entered they had live latin music playing. The decor was cheap and not too good, but the energy in the restaurant was amazing. The food was amazing and so were the drinks. One less star because of the service. At the time we went it was busy and the service was slow, and our food came at different times rather than together. But what ever we got was very nice.
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Review from Peter D.
Coquitlam, BC
5/14/2012
It was 26 degrees out and we were suddenly craving some serious mexican food. We remebered seeing this little spot across from our favorite neighbourhood "Uptown Market" so we decided to give it a go, and it was winner.
The tacos are $2-$2.50 and are awesome. We wanted to try them all, but we settled for the Carnitas slow cooked pork $2 and the Barbacoa slow cooked beef soft tacos $2.50 to start. Fresh, flavourful, delicious. Can't wait to try the others.
Our entrees were the Champinones garlic and mushroom quesadilla $6 and the Carne Asada 8oz steak $12.99. We came here with low expectations, but hands down, one of the most tender, well seasoned steaks Ive had for under $20.
The food is an easy 4.5 stars. Value 4.5 stars ($2 a can of pop but the underpriced tacos balanced that out). The only slight downside was that the service was a little slow, only because the 2 servers were taking their time greeting their regulars. We definitely plan on joining the club. -
Review from Ben L.
New Westminster, BC
11/7/2011
I went there last month and the burrito was reasonable. I added the optional beans and rice, which gave it a more varied consistency. (+$2 if i recall) And it was grilled a bit to crisp the outside. That alone one-ups crappy taco del mar.
The tacos were quite good (comparable with anything else east of Vancouver in the GVRD), but the single corn tortilla used for each taco, WTF! That ruined it for me. It completely unbalances the tortilla to fillings ratio. I won't go back there and order a taco until some Latinos go there and flip out at the chef and set him straight. Every other self respecting taco shop, cart, etc. in the US and Canada that I have been to always double up on the tortillas.
I ordered the garlic sauteed mushroom cheese quesadilla for my kid, and it was one of the tastiest items in the meal.
But I did save the best part for last. The red and green salsas are made on site there, (I saw the chef whizzing up more in the blender) and they are really fresh and tasty. It is certainly worth the hit-and-miss food just for the great salsa. -
Review from Tara C.
New Westminster, BC
8/26/2011
There's a couple other taco places that come to mind that are similar, but they are across the river in Surrey. We've lived in New West for less than two months but have eaten here often, bringing people who are rarely in New West and rarely get Mexican food that isn't from a place that rhymes with Taco Hell.
It's a new business and they are slowly working out the kinks. The service is improving, the food is coming out faster, and the menu has grown slightly since inception (mostly on the taco side). The only thing they really need is a liquor license so we can have a margarita with our tacos.
Few comments:
1. The green salsa is amazing. Slighty different every time, but then peppers and tomatillos vary too. Delicious, nice heat, great heat level.
2. The red one is smokey and fantastic on your carne asada taco.
3. Just order tacos. Lots of them. They are about 3 inches in diametre and each has a little dollop of whatever filling you asked for. DH can put away 5-7, while I can only get away with 4-5 - unless I'm famished.
4. We had their burrito and it was also fantastic... so you could try that too.
Overall, a great little eatery that is improving each time. I look forward to being a patron for as long as I'm in New West! -
Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
7/17/2011 ROTD 4/22/2012
Taqueria Playa Tropical would definitely not change their name to it's English equivalent. They are obviously proud to be a proper Mexican restaurant in New Westminster; and they could actually set a standard. They do their best to live up to "the Best Mexican restaurant in town," as their menus say.
Taqueria keep their selection slim and well done, with a very short menu of very familiar variation. They serve about eight combinations of meat and vegetables, with no vegetarian options as far as I could tell, on 4 simple and different breads: burrito, taco, quasedilla, and TORTA! Their whole kitchen probably has no more than 30 items and a grill to create with, so it shouldn't be hard to try everything there in a month.
And you would have a hard time going broke as they're quite reasonably priced! Foot long burritos you can eat with a fork, tortas, quassedillas starting at $5. Tiny taco samplers at $1.50 if you're hesitant to dive in. And if you eat in, you dont get a paper wrapped brick in a basket, everything is nicely plated, and served with complimentary tortilla chips.
They also mix up some unique home made sodas in various tropical flavors, including peach, pineapple, lime, etc to compliment your dish. I can safely assume they serve booze but I wasn't going to set my watch either the hours ahead or a day behind to find out.
The service was pretty attentive, but the dining room was pretty empty this Sunday afternoon. I know you all like hearing about the bathrooms at these places but I never used it. You'll have to just find that out yourself. So go do that sometime, and maybe try a taco when you've washed up. Duh.Listed in: Dive Eats
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Review from Justin H.
Abbotsford, BC
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is great. Service is a bit slow.
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Review from Devika C.
Surrey, BC
9/12/2011
Everything is delicious, fresh, homemade and authentic. Finally a Mexican restaurant that doesn't suck! The service is attentive and friendly. Even the cook came out to check that everything was okay. Also reasonably priced.
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Review from David S.
New Westminster, BC
It's so sad that places like Taco del mar, taco hell , have Canadians thinking they serve mexican food . This place reminds me of many taqueria's in Mexico. Small nothing fancy about the decor, But the food is as authentic as you can get in Canada due too product availability. Tacos are very tasty , as are the other plates offered , the fresh made in house salsa's are FANTASTIC ! I have visited this place with friends from Mexico and they agree the food is close to being AUTHENTIC ! They love the food as much as I do. Due too the kitchen being small you may have to wait a bit for your meal ( depending on how busy they are ) but it is worth the wait . When we are too lazy to make our own dinner or lunch and feel like having Mexican food this is the only place we will go . Wish they were open a bit later 9 pm is a bit early too close as in Mexico Taqueria's are busiest at this time. Being in New West it is perfectly understandable the early closing time as they are located in New West where everyone closes early .
