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Tres Carnales Taqueria
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Tres Carnales Taqueria
Review Highlights
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"His tacos although small were tasty and filling." In 23 reviews -
"...of the evening were the Rajas con Crema quesadillas." In 4 reviews -
"...place is the nightmare of parking around Rice Howard Way." In 4 reviews
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica L.
Edmonton, AB
5/20/2012
I FINALLY made it to this local hot spot after close to a year of hearing people raving about it. We ended up in line with friends on a Saturday night around 7 pm. We were told the wait would be about 30 minutes and we were given drinks in line to pass the time. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes, and Im not completely sure, but I am pretty sure one of the owners friends got in before us even though his group arrived much later. We were given our first round of drinks free due to the wait.
I ordered the chicken tacos and they were so good! I am always trilled to find REAL chicken on my plate at a quick serve restaurant instead of that previously frozen "mostly" chicken stuff with fake grill marks. Their salsa and guacamole were also very good as was their Sangria.
We ended up only sitting for about 30 minutes and we definitely got the feeling that we should eat our food and promptly leave as the line didn't quit even though it was an hour to closing by the time we left. If you go here, expect a line, expect to be rushed through when you sit down, and expect it to be noisy. This is a great gathering place for friends and groups! -
Review from Shawna I.
Edmonton, AB
5/8/2012
Food is great, service is awesome, love the atmosphere.
However, I left and shortly after was feeling peckish. Would be nice to see slightly larger portions, or side dishes (rice & beans!). It almost feels like an appetizer, or sample platter rather than a meal. Maybe this could be an option in the future, rather than the "family dining" setup?
As another reviewer commented, I'm used to Mexican food as it's served in California. By comparison, Tres Carnales leaves something to be desired. -
Review from George H.
4/29/2012 2 photos
I would give Tres Carnales 6 stars if I could.
I walked in here to try a few tacos on the advice of a fellow yelper friend. I was waiting in line when someone approached me to ask about my order and if I wanted to sit or take out. It turns out it is one of the owners (Chris) and I really appreciated being greeted with a personal touch. Chris offered to let me hang out with a friend of his who was in for a bite on his birthday. He also took my order and I trusted his taste and told him to order me something I would like.
The birthday boy and myself hit it off immediately and what I had originally thought would be a 20 minute culinary diversion ended up lasting a few hours and a smorgasbord of amazing food. The head chef and part owner made some amazing dishes that isn`t on any of the menus and I was in awe by the quality of it. Home made 16 hour Creme Fraishe!!!
The food was amazing, the company was cool, the service impeccable but the best part of it all was the ambiance. Carnales has an energy of it`s own, like a heartbeat. I could say it was partly due to the decor or the open kitchen or the never ending line up but I actually believe the underlining current is great food. People are happy when they`re filled with tasty, authentic and affordable fare... This is a success model every restaurant should follow! -
Review from Luke R.
I'm hesitant ever to make claims of authenticity when it comes to culture or ethnicity. So I'm not going to say Tres Carnales is authentically Mexican or not. I'm not going to say Tres Carnales is too westernized or not. Tres Carnales is not in Mexico, it's in downtown Edmonton in the middle of the prairies where it stays below -20 for a good part of the year (such as the day I was there). And every lunch and every night this place buzzes with Edmontonians looking for something no other taco place in Edmonton provides: an unpretentious social atmosphere in which to enjoy great--really great--Mexican food.
I had the Marinated/grilled beef flank steak taco. Choose wisely, this is so tasty you'll probably order the same thing every time. The service isn't traditional table service (more like an in between cafe/table service) but it's great. There's also a selection of beers from Mexico, a great refreshing sangria recipe...and more. Is it authentic? I don't know what that means. Just pass the sangria please. -
Review from Marlow C.
Edmonton, AB
4/12/2012
Everything on the menu is delicious, you just can't go wrong! If you're only in the mood to eat a little, I recommend ordering taco, if you want to eat a lot, order a torta. My favorite is the guacamole, which I often order to go and eat as a snack the next day.
The atmosphere is lively with music blasting and the owners of Tres Carnales making the rounds to help serve tables, bus dishes, and ensuring that everyone is enjoying their meal and having a good time.
The food is fresh, delicious and full of flavor, a great place to eat with a group of friends! -
Review from Elaine B.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2012
A nice addition to downtown Edmonton's restaurants.
I think the consensus is, is that the food is good. My friend and I split the fish and house-made chorizo tacos. I've had mexican food up and down California - from roadside and parking lot stands and from places like Tacolicious and Nopalito in SF. Comparatively, it's pretty alright. I'm not dying over it, but it's pretty good.
The ordering situation is a bit awkward, however. We did hear the person at the counter muttering to the staff about how we couldn't make up our minds. Dude - we can hear you. If you see us not being able to make a decision, maybe you could help us out and suggest something on the menu?
And I don't really understand why you have to get 3 of the same tacos in an order. I think it would be a good thing for people to be able to try a little bit of everything. -
Review from Pat D.
Edmonton, AB
4/7/2012
Disappointed with this new addition to downtown Edmonton's dining scene. Found the food bland and not up to par. No one in our party finished their main courses.
Will not be returning to this restaurant and cannot give a good recommendation based on the experience. Two stars only. -
Review from Alex P.
Edmonton, AB
5/10/2012
Food is fantastic. That can't really be denied.
I hate the uber hipster vibe, and that unless you look like a 20 yr old university student, the owners don't really notice you. It's like being a nerd in high school all over again, but I'm just there for lunch!
I am sad when I know how awesome their bean salsa was, and now I pay the same price and don't get it anymore. Yeh. The three slices of radish in my to-go box really makes up for the salsa that's missing. -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Edmonton, AB
3/19/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Tres Carnales is a fun addition to the downtown dining scene, if you're lucky enough to get a table or have the patience to wait in line for a bit. I found their ordering system a bit confusing at first, but the staff are friendly and the food is delicious.
My favourite is the fish tacos, but I don't think you can really go wrong. I've heard a lot of people complain about the size of the tacos relative to the price, but I think they're still good value and quality-wise they're orders of magnitude better than certain fast-food tacos. If you're really hungry, get the torta. -
Review from Anna T.
3/19/2012
As a person from California, I like to believe that we have the best Mexican food outside of Mexico. I mean, it's just logical because of proximity, right? I'm really picky about Mexican food because I don't think burritos are authentic at all... it's all about the TACOS!
Edmonton is generally pretty expensive for okay ethnic food. So Tres Carnales is like a GEM.
Their homemade Sangria is pretty darn tasty, so I would highly recommend that to accompany your dinner. Their chips and guac are to die for. I think they fry their chips fresh, so it's unbelievably crispy.
The meats were all really good, so I would share a couple of orders with friends to try everything. There's a lot of stuff on the menu that I must go back to try! But seriously, the Guac... the chips! I would just take an order of that! -
Review from Matt B.
4/16/2012
This place is great! When one of the owners meets you at the door wearing a baseball hat and offers you complimentary alcoholic drinks while you wait in line because the wait is kinda long, you know you've gone to the right place. The food and drinks are great (and taste authentic) and the service is amazing. The only down side is that this place is kinda small so the line up is kinda long on the weekends.
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Review from Miho U.
Edmonton, AB
5/7/2012
Tacos were really delicious and staff are very friendly!! But this restaurant always busy so have to bit wait :)
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Review from W B.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2012
A great place. Lively and fresh food that is very authentic. Way hipper than the neighbourhood it was in.
Wish they were in Toronto! -
Review from Adam S.
2/10/2012
I can't quite decide whether Tres Carnales deserves three stars or four, so I'll err on the more generous side.
The food here is great and the prices are reasonable. It costs about the same as a place like Mucho Burrito but the quality and authenticity of the food is much higher.
I went for a late lunch and the place was not too busy, but still busier than I'd have expected for the time of day. We went to the counter and ordered and then found a table. I ordered the fish tacos and DAMN! they were good.
The food is good. The atmosphere is fun. And the staff are attentive.
The seating is a bit weird. I am not a fan of backless chairs that many of the tables have. We live in Canada. We all wear winter coats about half of the year. If you're not going to have a coat rack, make sure that my chair has a back so that I can hang my coat on it. Plus, it just isn't comfortable to sit on a backless seat for any length of time.
I haven't yet been to Tres Carnales for dinner, but it feels more like a lunch place to me. I hope that they get better chairs in the future, but that is a relatively minor complaint considering how much I enjoyed the food. -
Review from Alexandria S.
Edmonton, AB
3/2/2012
The passion of this restaurant has the passion imported from the sights and the sounds of Pacific Mexico. Tres Carnales Taqueria located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, on Rice Howard Way. They are dedicated to the close food movement to promote sustainability and community. All of their protein (with the exception of our fresh seafood) comes from within 200KM of our city, we have no freezers or microwave ovens and all of our salsas, marinades, and especially our guacamole are made from scratch daily.
Lunch/Dinner times always have line-ups, whenever I feel the urge to go on vacation and get 'down' with the winter blues, I head out for this restaurant as it provides me the atmosphere and music that I would encounter if I were to go on vacation. -
Review from Eric W.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was a welcome addition to a really funky new scene brewing in Edmonton, as it had been a few years since i had been back, and several of my friends wanted to show off the city to me. Tres Carnales was the first stop, and i suppose it says something i went back twice in two weeks.
cool environment, decent food, and... well lets say interesting service. I hated the way you ordered at the counter, and then had table service after this. It was really odd, and a bit rude actually. the food was pretty regular, but lets face it, the taco thing in Toronto is a bit more mature, so i am biased. and these guys are really first to market in what they are doing. I missed a few of the go to garnishes: the asador didnt have the roasted pineapple that usually accompanies, etc.
one thing I will say is the guys who run the place make it allot of fun, and they are really making an impact. i would expect the imitator to start nipping at their heels, so they may need to up the game a bit. -
Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
1/22/2012
As a native Californian, I crave good Mexican food. And I generally want it served quickly and conveniently.
Tres Carnales, is quick, convenient, and delicious. I didn't find my carnitas to be spicy enough, but Tres Carnales provides hot sauce to enhance the flavor. There's something odd to me about needing to use hot sauce on Mexican food, but I think that Tres Carnales is aiming to serve authentic Mexican food for the Edmonton palate. And with this, it succeeds completely. My carnitas were both wonderfully tender and locally sourced.
My only qualm is the expense. While my $12.50 Torta satiated me, my wife's collection of four vegetarian quesadillas at $11.50 did not. Perhaps they could serve complimentary tortilla chips, the way every taqueria in California does. And why can't you just buy one taco - why must you buy in multiples of 3? Or if I am mistaken, and you can purchase just one taco, why must this be a secret?
I'm rooting for Tres Carnales and look forward to trying more of the items on their menu. -
Review from Bala C.
4/9/2012
A good tex-mexican alternate. Like the food and the setting. I happen to go during weekday lunch time and the place was quite busy with about 20+ waiting minutes. Food taste very good with fresh flavor. Would definitely suggest for anyone hungering around the downtown area. Will try again.
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Review from Jamie T.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mmmm.......Mexican. How can you go wrong there? Well, I suppose if you're talking about Taco Hell or something like that, it can be very, very wrong, but that's not the case here.
The food was tasty, and arrived at the table a lot faster than one would expect. Couple of reasons I'm giving 3 stars instead of four - 1) I ordered quesadillas, but I was given tacos. Granted, not a huge issue, but I was kind of in the mood for some melted cheese. And 2) the taco, while tasty, did not have as much salt as I prefer, and there did not seem to be any salt or pepper on any of the tables. Little bit annoying.
Other than that, I enjoyed the decor, the staff were incredibly attentive, and our waitress was really hawt. Definitely a plus for me.;) -
Review from Kim H.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a very adventurous 'foodie', so this was just a tad out of my comfort range. I really just don't like spicy foods, and I can't say I've been exposed to much Mexican food in my life. I do remember a friend's birthday at Taco Time once...so this would be my second time in a Mexican restaurant.
I tried a Pollo (chicken) Torta (sandwich). It was served kind of open-faced with a spicy guacamole 'sauce' on the side. I was instructed to drizzle the sauce over the sandwich and then close the top & bottom then slice in half. I'm glad I gave the sauce a quick taste before I drizzled it on, too spicy for me. Yes, my tastebuds are that weak.
I seemed to manage the closing & cutting of my sandwich. One of my dining guests did not. He then needed to cut off small bites of the sandwich and eat it with a fork. The bottom of the sandwich became very soggy and messy.
They have guacamole that they must make fresh, I've never experienced anything quite like it, very tasty. It is served with a tortilla. I found them to be very salty, not a big fan of salt either.
Also, I had tried the Sangria, fairly tasty, but again, didn't find it to be my style. I think I just don't jive well with these types of foods...best to stick to medditeranean I guess.
Kudos on service, we were a party of 4, waiting quite some time for #4 to show. One of the staff was helpful in getting us drinks and opening a tab for us. It gets busy in there at lunch. Very accomodating in letting us take up a table during their peak time. We must have waited 20 - 25 minutes for the last person to show.
One of my dining companions has a condo in Mexico and thought that the food was authentic. -
Review from Cory C.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2012
Tres Carnales! Si senor, muy bueno! It was awesome! ordered the fish taco and it was amazing! fresh off the grill and it didn't have the fish smell. they also have imported mexican soda or caribbean soda or something (had pineapple one). But yes, it is a little pricey ($14 for both) but hey! it is Edmonton and it is downtown. Would go there again!
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Review from Happybadfish S.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012
What a great GREAT dinner I had here!!!!
This is not a sit and order place, you put your order in at the counter and then they will bring the food and drinks to you. The food is AMAZING. I loved everything. We were 4 people and we told the owner to bring us 4 different meals to share, and it was so fun and delicious.
The food is seriously tasty, the fish tacos is too much deep fry for me to eat the whole serving, which is one of the wonderful things about sharing.
I'd skip the dessert, they look yummers, but we had the turnover apple thing and it was ho-hum.
They have beer, homemade sangria, and bottles of margarita "coolers", as well as soda's and other things. If the margarita's were home made, then I'd give this place 5 stars. I don't mean the blended resort kind, but the lime straight up tequila kind.
I would def go back next time I'm in town. -
Review from Aaron P.
Edmonton, AB
4/19/2012
Really good food and atmosphere. The only disappointing thing was when we tried to come back with friends, it was so busy we weren't able to get a table. I would love to go back, I just need to know what time is best.
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Review from Jessie M.
Edmonton, AB
4/27/2012
So I used to think this was a great place to grab a quick bite to eat considering it is very close to where I work, and upon being here at least 3 times, I have never had a bad experience. The food is great, the service is friendly and other than having no place to sit and huge lineups, geting there before noon always helped...till today.
SO normally when I arrive, I sit and wait for my friends to arrive and together we go up and place our orders, which is no different then placing your coat on a chair then placing your order, no one had mentioned the "no saving seat policy" until today. Normally the short friendly man is quite pleasant but coming up to my friend and I in line saying that it is "not how we do it around here" and stating that "these people in front of you were here first" is fine....but then to go and pick up my friends jacket and hand it to her was not only rude and tactless, but it was down right embaressing to do this in front of everyone else in line.
Not only will I never frequent or recommend this place again, but I will get my tacos somewhere else, see this as a warning to not save seats...put up a sign then buddy!Comment from Chris S. of Tres Carnales Taqueria 4/27/2012
I'm sorry your experience was that terrible today, Jessie.… More » -
Review from Sadeeq H.
Edmonton, AB
4/12/2012
Delicious meats. Improved portions since the last time I went. Cool space.
Delicious meats.
Delicious, delicious meats. -
Review from Gail M.
Edmonton, AB
4/5/2012
The food is amazingly flavorful. The constant line up and difficulty getting a seat are definite drawbacks. With any hope they will expand -soon.
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Review from Tracy H.
Calgary, AB
3/2/2012
Sorry Tres Carnales but I don't get the hype. We were visiting Edmonton (from Calgary) and really were not made to feel welcome from the start. I felt more like a foreigner here than I ever did in Latin America when we visited recently! I'm talking about the 'rule' that you don't seat yourself; rather, the proprietor seats you. So, now you know! I didn't and there isn't a sign to 'please wait to be seated'. With two very hungry kids, I decided to have them sit down rather than wait in line. I had to negotiate with the owner to allow us to sit down.
We ordered 3 chicken quesadillas and a fish taco. Fish taco was okay. Just okay. Certainly not as good as the ones I've had in Twin Butte (General Store). After we sat down, we were then told they were out of chicken. At 1:30 on a Friday afternoon. The rest of the family had no real choice but to get the beef quesadillas. I guess they were quesadillas. Greasiest beef my husband has ever eaten. We definitely wish we had gone to Mucho Burrito or even the nearby Subway (quieter; you can sit when and where you want). -
Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
1/24/2012
I finally made it down to Tres Carnales. I've been craving good Mexican food since I got back from Mexico in May. Tres Carnales itself is a nice size, open, lots of bright colours and fun decorations.
I went up to the counter and decided to order something I'd never tried before, a torta. I also ordered some sort of a delicious hibiscus ice tea/fruit drink thing. The lady behind the counter recommended it, and I must say kudos.
Now I don't know Spanish, but if I were to deduce from the meal I got, a torta is a huge sandwich. The plate was placed before me and I stared for a moment wondering, how to eat the sandwich. The sandwich was big, and had so much filling, that I couldn't wrap my hands around it.
So I went back to the front and grabbed a fork, because I knew things were going to get messy. And they did. If you like eating daintily, then the torta isn't for you. Me, I got no problem scooping up the pollo asado (chicken) that fell from the bun back onto the plate, or licking guacamole from my fingers. And the guacamole was delicious. As soon as I got a taste and immediately thought, "just like Mexico." The torta was't too spicy, so if your worried about heat don't be. If you like things hot there's some Mexican hot sauce at the tables. The dish was served with a side of what looked to be salsa verde, which had a little bite to it.
Somehow I finished the torta. For $15 I got a lunch meal so filling I didn't have to eat dinner.
Finally I gotta add the service was really great, really friendly. I'll definitely come back again. -
Review from Laurel P.
2/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Mmmm! Just thinking about Tres Carnales makes me hungry.
I was a little confused at first by the ordering system the first time I came here. You can't tell on first glance if you need to order at the front if you're staying or if that's just for to-go customers. That being said, it's nice that after you order, they bring the food to your table and keep your tab open in case you want to order extras later on.
The rajas con crema quesadillas were a great vegetarian option. Spicy and authentic. Since I'm not a huge eater, I actually like the smaller portion sizes that others have mentioned. It was just the right amount of food for me.
I was really surprised with how lively the place got later in the evening. It was pretty quiet when I arrived, but things really picked up as the night wore on. It's definitely a great place to start an evening and I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Randy S.
Edmonton, AB
1/20/2012
First time I tried this place, and I have to say that food was very good. Fresh and tasty. I ordered the Al Pastor (Slow roasted, marinated pork) tacos and my wife order the Pollo Asado (Chicken) tacos. We shared a appetizer of Chips and Guac. Guac was fresh and good, and they must make their own chips, which were very nice ! Tacos were small(ish), but when you get 4 of them on the plate, its a decent amount of food.
The value for the meal was decent. You can certainly pay more for Mexican food, and you can definitely pay less. I think the value was average as the 2 taco plates and chips and guac ran us $28. Remember there were no drinks with this order.
The place is small with maybe 40-50 seats max, but its clean and well lit.
You order at a counter and take a table, the server will bring your food over to you. Time from when order was placed to when the food was on the table, 3 and a half minutes ! I was a bit skeptical about the quality when it comes out that quickly, but it was tasty and fresh.
I'll go back again. -
Review from David W.
Edmonton, AB
3/23/2012
Wow. Had lunch yesterday with a buddy. I had pulled pork tacos and he had quesadillas. We started with the best guacamole ever. Lunch was great. I loved the minimalist but flavorful quality. I am definitely selling this to all my friends. Go!!
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Review from Rachel F.
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a native Texan, I find myself craving good Mexican food, which, honestly, can be hard to come by here in Edmonton. But thank goodness I have discovered Tres Carnales!
I finally tried this place out last night. The food is fresh and authentic. We started off with fresh guacamole and chips, which were made from flour tortillas instead of the usual corn - a nice and delicious twist. The guac was excellent, undoubtedly the best I've had in Canada, even giving my own guac a run for its money.
The fish tacos were accompanied by a spicy slaw that complimented the fish so very well. They were not the best fish tacos I have ever had (it's hard to compete with the taquerias I have visited in San Diego for fish tacos), but they are darn good and able to satisfy any fish taco craving.
The tacos vegetarianos were also yummy, though I think these would work better as a quesadilla. I'll have to try that next time. The beans that accompanied these were outstanding. I wish they came with more beans than just a tiny serving.
The highlight of the evening were the Rajas con Crema quesadillas. The grilled poblano peppers, sweet corn and onions in creamy, cheesy goodness created an exquisite combination of flavours. I'll definitely be returning for these.
Overall, I felt the prices were decent for Edmonton. Sure, they cannot compete with the prices of the tiny taquerias in southwest US where four tacos will run you about $3-5, but then we can take pride in the fact that Canadians pay our workers more fairly.
My one disappointment of the evening was that they were not serving horchata. I absolutely adore this agua fresca and was so looking forward to having it here. I do like the Agua de Jamaica, but as pregnant women are to avoid hibiscus tea, I had to refrain. I wish they could serve both.
This restaurant may just save me throughout the remainder of this pregnancy as my cravings for Mexican food have intensified and I long for the yummy "comfort foods" of home. I have a feeling these three carnales will be seeing more of me in the weeks to come, especially if they have horchata on the menu. -
Review from Andrew P.
Edmonton, AB
11/22/2011
My first review I'm writing on Yelp goes to this awesome place!
A friend brought me in today, as a surprise. I've been craving tacos lately and she didn't disappoint. I was totally pleased with the great food, friendly staff, up-beat atmosphere and being just awesome.
I will be back for more! -
Review from Pamella H.
Edmonton, AB
9/20/2011 ROTD 12/19/2011
It was a Saturday night and we were so not interested in cooking. We rarely go out anymore because we can do a much tastier and healthier and cheaper job cooking up a storm at our casa.
But sometimes a girl just has to get out! This time I dragged the husband to a new eatery downtown. What I love about downtown is that it is close to where we live. What I hate about downtown is the parking and our less than perfect metro system. I miss you Paris!
We found parking. It was a lovely day for a walk. We made it to the restaurant and was totally surprised when we walked in. It was lively and had that underground Mexico charm: the cinco de mayo skulls, the Mexican wrestler masks, and some other fab decor!
We lined up and ordered. My order was a no brainer. I scanned their website earlier that evening and discovered that their special was fish tacos. I have never had fish tacos. My husband had the grilled chicken tacos. We also ordered some nachos and guac.
We sat down and waited for our food. It come very quickly. The homemade chips were perfect and simple. The guac was thick and meaty and ever so tasty! Totally ate it ALL UP!
My fish tacos arrived. It was a big order and they were so tasty! I was able to share with my husband. He loved them too. His tacos although small were tasty and filling. My only comment would to serve sides with the tacos or maybe we just like to eat too much!
The staff were attentive and friendly. I would totally come back again! I hear it is crazy busy at lunch. I would recommend calling in your order for pick up. This would also be a great place to host a party as well!
Good job Tres Carnales! It's great to see creative restaurants pop up! -
Review from Justin B.
Edmonton, AB
2/22/2012
After living in Corpus Christi, Texas for about 4 months - which is about as close to Mexico as you can get without living in a border town - I have been desperately craving real Mexican or Tex-Mex food in Edmonton. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of great and convenient Mexican restaurants in Edmononton. Although not quite to the standards of the street meat I ate in Nuevo Laredo or Matamoros (not to mention in Corpus Christi), the food at Tres Carnales was a pleasant surprise, if not a bit pricey. However, there is no comparison between Tres Carnales and places like Mucho Burrito or Julio's Barrio - Tres Carnales is far and away a better restaurant in terms of authenticity, price, atmosphere and service. I personally think Julio's Barrio has given most Edmontonians a horrible impression of latin food. I welcome the day Julio's corona/margarita abomination - 'The Bulldog' - is forgotten like the those shameful nights I spent in Matamoros!
I highly recommend the Tacos Arrachera! The only thing missing from the menu, and I assume it is either because it is winter or because this dish did not originate in Mexico, is a nice ceviche! Hopefully, the summer months will find a sumptious selection of fresh ceviche! -
Review from S J.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 10/25/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Returned to see many things had improved, some had not, but the food remains absolutely great.
The good: the food is fresh, flavourful and without a match in town. We had two orders of quesadillas - one chorizo and one beef. Both were great. Started with lovely freshly made tortillas chips and a generous bowl of good, fresh salsa. The flavours were bright and just plain yummy.
The table service was quick and attentive, although we were there late afternoon and the place was almost empty.
What still needs work: the menu board is still a difficult read - both because its in Spanish and because of the writing style. I am convinced that the uncomfortable low backless stools are a deliberate design choice to dissuade one from lingering.
Bottom line: great food and worth the trek.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2011
I am very conflicted about this place, For the most part, food was very good - easily the best tacos… Read more »
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Review from Joe H.
10/14/2011
I was told about this place and it was described to be as "real Mexican food". I've had a variety of mexican food so I was kinda skeptical. I was about to be proved wrong.
First of all, I would say this place is kinda like a fast-food/sit down restaurant. So you go and order your food and then they come bring it to you.
They have a variety of different fills that you can choose (ie. Beef, chorizo, fish) and ways you can have them in (tacos, quesadillas, and some other thing I can't remember). They also got a nice little beer selection as well as sangrias by the glass or pitcher.
I ordered the carnitas tacos and an orange pop. They have these sodas that are made in Mexico so that's kinda interesting.
The carnitas tacos were amazing. Seriously they must have slow roasted this shoulder forever cause it was super tender. Top that with a selection of salsas, brown beans and a double of corn tortillas and you have one of the best tacos I've had. I personally liked them more than Mexico...
Who would have thought it... Edmonton has good Mexican food. Seriously though, give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Tasha A.
8/27/2011
If you are in Edmonton and you haven't been to Tres Carnales Taqueria then get your ass down there ASAP! This is by far some of the best Mexican food I've eaten.
They're known for their tacos & I must say that their tacos as WONDERFUL! I always go for the Pollo Asado. The fact that you get 4 good sized tacos for around 10 CAD is awesome! The meat is marinated to absolute perfection. Everything about this joint is just yum! This is definitely a spot that we'll add to our dinner rotation! -
Review from Yo U.
4/2/2012
Real Mexican food comes to Canada. Hooray! Now drop those prices by a third, and we'll be very good friends indeed. How about complementary chips and salsa?
-
Review from Aditya R.
7/30/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Un, Dos, Tres
You've got to go to this .... taqueria (sing it, sing it!)
Okay.
Tres Carnales is a casual taqueria that serves up authenticity with a side of Latino amity. The tilted hats of the three comrades makes them look like Los Angelenos, but don't be fooled by that. Located on the 53rd parallel, the food transports you to the 23rd parallel, in the heart of Mexico. Delicious, freshly prepared corn tortillas of the right size make a taco complete with immensely succulent pork, fresh cilantro, diced tomates and onions. The quesadillas actually look more like American tacos, but they are well pressed in with cheese.
The burnt pineapple spicy salsa is delicious. There's something about the burnt spicy sauces of Mexico that just makes me wanna sweat! Sweat, baby sweat! I'm sure my sweat would also taste burnt! I actually went with the Torta that was prepared in this crumbly, yet soft textured bread, which seems to be the way Mexicans like it. Also smothered onto one inner face of the sandwich was cheese so well melted that it represented a singular brown coloration.
The price is reasonable, unless you're used to Taco Bell prices. Here you not only pay for authentic food, but also for it being freshly prepared and with ingredients locally sourced, as best as they could. Also the atmosphere of this place is vibrant, friendly yet private. The tortas that are quite filling come to about $10.50 and so do a trio of tacos. Both these would fill you up 2/3rd of the way. If you're in company, you can share a quesadilla or something after that or go for a soup before it. Expect to spend about $15 on your meal here (excluding drinks). It's also worth mentioning that the service is pretty fast. So they've stayed consistent with the idea of a taqueria.
For me, the only downside is no dessert! I know, I know .... it's a taqueria. However, for most people that don't work in downtown, coming to Tres Carnales is a bit of a voyage, especially with parking issues. It would be nice for them to try and make it as complete as possible. I'm sure some would argue that it's better to keep it simple and to be honest, I would be able to live with that.
I wonder if we could order the tacos trio, but mix up the three .... as in, not all the same but one pork, one chicken and one vegetarian? Or any other combo. That would be a nice addition, but not sure if it's an easy thing to do.
