Everyday is Taco Tuesday on Mort Street, Braddon, with the opening of Canberra's newest restaurant.
Taco Boi is where tacos meet old school takeaway - think fried foods, burgers, wings and other easy-going eating.
Taking over the old Burger Hero headquarters, Taco Boi is the brainchild of Canberra chef Yokas Wu. Wu is also behind some of Canberra's best known cafe menus including at The Pialligo Bakesmith.
"I was talking to a friend, and we were commenting on how many new burger joints there are around Canberra these days, but that if I could do something on my own it would definitely be tacos," Wu says.
"And jokingly he said yeah and then you can call it 'Taco Boi', and it just stuck! We were laughing but it was super catchy, then when the old Burger Hero shop became available, I knew that was the perfect venue for me to bring Taco Boi to life."
Wu wanted the menu to be full of food that he loved to eat and cook for other people - and with 15 years of kitchen experience, he sure knows how to cook.
There are also plenty of fried snacks to indulge in like mozzarella fingers, house-made jalapeno poppers, loaded nachos, waffle fries and shoestring fries.
But it was the tacos and the wings that he really wanted to push to the forefront.
"That's actually how we came up with the logo, a taco, with literal wings, riding a skateboard, to evoke the same cool, casual and relaxed vibe that we want people to experience when they eat our food," says Wu.
Taco menu highlights include the birria con carne tacos filled with ground chilli beef, red kidney beans, nacho cheese, crushed corn chips, coriander and jalapeno. For the vege lovers there's the Korean fried "chicken" tacos of spicy sauce, plant-based chicken, kimchi radish slaw, sriracha mayo and coriander.
"It's the best vegan chicken out - we've already had so many people call us back to tell us we served them the wrong taco but that's how amazing and delicious this imitation chicken is," Wu says.
Being good friends with the old Burger Hero owners, Wu decided to retain a few old favourites from their menu including the original burger of double smashed patties, American cheese, house sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion. There are also some of Wu's own additions like the pulled pork burger of house barbecue sauce, pulled pork shoulder, mozzarella sticks and pickled coleslaw.
But expected to be the most popular menu offering are the range of sauces and dry toppings, designed to elevate the burger and taco experience.
"The food is delicious on its own but if you really want to take things to the next level you should order a wet sauce like our home-made cheese sauce or XO chilli mayo, then dip into something dry like our crumbly parmesan or crunchy crushed corn chips. It's an experience that'll blow your mind," says Wu.
Taco Boi is at 31 Mort Street in Braddon and is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday and dinner on Sunday.
