TUESDAY, MARCH 23: FOUR BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>
Yesterday's Results
Favorites or underdogs, fancy restaurants or dive bars, it's all the same. In the end, they all have one chance to put some meat in a shell that can take the prize.
Here were the match-ups:
Taqueria El Guadalajara (Lakewood) vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara (Tacoma)
Duke's Chowder House vs. Anthony's At Point Defiance
The Funky Iguana vs. Taco De Mar
MI Taqueria vs. Puerto Del Sol
In the battle of the Guads, the Lakewood version smoked the Tacoma restaurant with 64.7 percent of the votes. Could the fact that the Tacoma store is in the process of moving affected the outcome? Whatever, what's done is done. The Lakewood El Guadalajara moves to the next round. The Tacoma is sent packing ... while packing.
Fried fish, corn tortillas, shredded cabbage, salsa, crema: Fish tacos sound easy enough, but alas, there's not. We cast our fishnets far and wide in search of greatness, tasting tacos at every turn. Muchas margaritas were required to wash down some of the dried out, less-than-fresh samples and fried fish that had lost its crunch. But we quickly sobered up when we came across two particularly good versions at Duke's Chowder House and Anthony's At Point Defiance. Yesterday, voters agreed with our findings - Duke's won with 70 percent of the votes. The waterfront restaurant now moves on to battle Top of Tacoma's meat version.
A trend has emerged in the Tournament of Tacos. Go local. When up against the chain restaurants, the local taco slinger has emerged victorious. Yesterday, the trend continued as The Funky Iguana off 38th Street walked all over the Taco Del Mar chain with 77.8 percent of the votes. The Funky Ig will practice its moves while waiting for the outcome between Matador and El Toro.
Last, MI Taqueria on Hosmer Street put the hurt on Puerto Del Sol capturing 76.5 percent of the votes. Inside, MI Taqueria looks sparse like many restaurants in Mexico itself. Nothing fancy - a few tables spread around with vinyl chairs. However, their pork taco on a classic soft corn tortilla is a beautiful thing.
Let's get down to the hard shell facts. The following are advancing to the next round:
Taqueria El Guadalajara Lakewood
Duke's Chowder House
The Funky Iguana
MI Taqueria
Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.
OK, time to move on to today's competition. ...
GAME 1: Tijuana Taco (10005 Bristol Ave. SW, Lakewood) vs. Taco Time (various locations)
A Weekly Volcano Facebook friend labeled Tijuana Taco as having the "best fast food taco in Tacoma." The long-time Lakewood business, owned by a guy named Rocky, will need all the friends it can get to clock the national juggernaut that is Taco Time.
GAME 2: Taqueria La Sinaloense (4002 Center St., Tacoma) vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (6402 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma)
Both competitors serve authentic tacos with tasty steak versions. Both caught the attention of Weekly Volcano staff foodies. Both will not win design awards from Architectural Digest.
GAME 3: Moctezuma Mexican Restaurant (4102 S 56th St., Tacoma) vs. Puerto Vallarta (3834 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)
This game could elicit riots. Both Mexican restaurants have large fan bases. Who will have the bigger home court advantage? Tough call.
GAME 4: Taqueria El Rinconsito (72nd and Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. El Patio Taqueria (14506 Pacific Ave., Tacoma/Parkland)
El Patio might fly under the radar with most Weekly Volcano readers but the quaint Parkland restaurant brings with them a strong and loyal following. El Rinconsito, with several locations in Western Washington and sporting a new Tacoma location in the Fred Meyer parking lot at 72nd and Pacific, will be a tough competitor for the Patio. The taco truck serves dishes typically not found in mobile Mexican joints such as menudo. Its beef tacos are spicy good.
Game 1: El Perran (131st and Pacific Avenue) vs. El Tenampa (38th Street)
Game 2: Reyna's (411 Garfield St., Parkland) vs. La Fondita II (Proctor District)
Game 3: Beach Tavern (8612 Sixth Ave.) vs. Powerhouse (Puyallup)
Game 4: El Pulgarcito (Ponders Corner in Lakewood) vs. Taqueria Los Parados (5604 E. Portland Ave.)