Avenue Calgary recently named Native Tongues one of the Top Ten Restaurants in Calgary. Now we had no excuse not to try it! Native Tongues focuses on authentic Mexican Street food, really letting the ingredients shine. They feature a mix of appetizer-size dishes (antojitos), small authentic tacos (tacos de guisado), and larger charcoal-grilled plates meant for sharing (tacos al carbon). Since it was just the two of us, we focused on the smaller dishes. Next time we'll have to come with friends!
We knew we wanted to get a variety of their tacos, but also wanted to get the best they had to offer. Our server made some suggestions, and out came a series of fantastic dishes!
The first dish to arrive before us was a tostada, with a delicious pile of toppings on a crispy fried tortilla. Our server recommended the bean and cheese - while it sounded unassuming, it was packed full of flavour. The first thing that hit our palate was the delicious queso fresco. It provided an incredible salty kick that blended so well with the rest of the ingredients. The avocado and crema gave it a wonderful smoothness, while the lettuce and crispy tortilla added the perfect crunch. A delicious blend of flavours and textures made for a perfect start to our authentic Mexican feast!
Next came the Zanahorias, a dish that simply translates to 'carrots'. This dish, however, was anything but simplistic. We were given a scrumptious mix of different kinds of Alberta carrots, all grilled and charred perfectly to bring out their sweetness. Sprinkled on top was, again, the deliciously salty queso fresco and fresh cilantro. What really brought the dish together was the agave butter the carrots sat on top of. Don't let roasted carrots fool you - this dish was complex, flavourful and excellently executed.
What would a visit to a taqueria be without some tacos? This order was a no brainer for us because we just ordered one of each! There's something for everyone with the six options at Native Tongues - beef, chicken, pork, chorizo, beans and mushrooms. What stood out about the meat tacos was the meat itself. The meat, clearly the star, was grilled to perfection and packed with smokey flavour. The chorizo taco was P's favourite because of its rich, spicy flavour. Much to her surprise, the mushroom taco was actually V's favourite. With super flavourful grilled mushrooms, this taco came with our (new favourite) queso fresco, sour cream and chopped kale. Complimenting the tacos were sides of house-made salsa verde and salsa roja that added a fresh kick to the tacos.
For dessert we ordered the Flan Mexicana. It's obvious Native Tongues has put a lot of love into their incredible dessert! Often restaurants that specialize in a particular type of main don't put much thought and attention to their desserts. This was not the case with the Flan Mexicana. The Spanish flan was covered with toasted coconut, chopped almond and crispy plantain. It was resting in a pool of delightfully light salted caramel sauce. Coconut, almond, plantain and caramel are meant to be together! This well composed dessert brought to us many flavours, textures and an element of surprise. We're huge fans!
Pro Tip: We were there for a late lunch on a Saturday, and had no trouble finding a table. We were in the neighborhood later that day at around 5:30pm, and saw a long line outside the door. Since they don't take reservations, if you don't like waiting, you may want to visit between the lunch and dinner rush.
V's Final Word: What impressed me the most about Native Tongues is their focus on excellent quality and fresh ingredients. What stood out to me in particular is their queso fresco and sour cream. Quality you can taste doesn't happen by accident, and I'm glad to see Native Tongues nail it!
P's Final Word: If you're a coffee fan like I am, you have to check out their drinks menu. While it may sound super weird, I had the Rosso Cold Brew and Cream Soda - and it was incredible! Cream soda and coffee don't sound like they would go together, but bitter and sweet combo worked. It was totally unexpected, and definitely worth a try.
Price Range: $70 for a filling lunch for two.
Website: http://www.nativetongues.ca
Address: 235 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1H7