Native Tongues Taqueria
Opening at 11:30 am
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TAKE OUT WINDOW IS NOW OPEN! Native Tongues is a neighbourhood Mexican restaurant specializing in house-made, non-GMO corn tortillas, Antojitos, and Tacos al Carbon. Our bar is centred around Mezcal, the spirit of Oaxaca.

Cuisine type

  • Mexican,

Dishes

  • Taco,

Products and Services

  • Mexican,
  • Tacos,
  • Beltline,
  • Cocktails,
  • Mescal,
  • Open Late,
    • Guacamole,
    • Cantina,
    • Taqueria,
  • more...
  • less...

Languages Spoken

  • English,
Useful Information

Opening Hours *Holiday hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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Meet the owner

It’s hard to believe that Native Tongues all started with a series of pop-up luchador wrestling events – but it was all thanks to those underground taco-fueled fights that Calgary got its very own taqueria.

At the time, Calgary restauranteur Cody Willis (of Thank You Hospitality) was fresh out of culinary school organizing pop-up taco events at Taste of First Street and wrestling events at the No. 1 Legion and Commonwealth. He had a taste for authentic Mexican food and really wanted to open his own restaurant. Inspired by his travels around Mexico and growing passion for Mexican culture, he decided it was time to bring Calgary its own little cantina. “I just really delved into Mexican food and culture while travelling in Central Mexico and Oaxaca, Mexico City,” he says. “We just wanted a rustic kind of cantina vibe, like something you would walk into in Mexico City.” So in the summer of 2015, Cody finally opened Native Tongues and eventually brought Rodrigo Rodas on board as head chef.

Rodrigo stumbled upon Native Tongues by chance, and as fate would have it, he hasn’t left since. A classically trained chef from Mexico City, Rodrigo relocated to Canada and was on the hunt for the best Mexican food in Calgary. “I tried different places and not for nothing I came to Native Tongues and tried a couple of things and I knew it was the best,” he says. At the time, Scott Beaton (the former head chef) was moving on to other ventures, so Rodrigo took over his position. “I wasn’t looking for this. I just decided to move to this city and then I happened to find the best Mexican restaurant," Rodrigo explains. "I tried it, loved it and then built a relationship with Cody and Scott and the Native Tongues family."

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Menu & Prices

ANTOJITOS MENU - Native Tongues Taqueria

TAQUITOS

potato & sheeps milk cheese, salsa de ajo, crema, queso fresco

$9.00

CHIPS y GUACAMOLE

made in the kitchen

$13.00

ELOTES

grilled corn on the cob, crema, queso, chile, cilantro

$6.00

ESQUITES

epazote braised corn, mayonesa, queso, onion, cilantro, chile

$6.00

CHILAQUILES

totopos, salsa verde & fresca, crema, queso fresco, cilantro

$11.00

HAMBURGUESA al CARBON

the works. served with chips & hot sauce

$15.00

CEVICHE

shrimp, tigers milk red onion, cucumber, lime, saltines

$17.00

ENSALADA

romaine, orange, radish, pepitas, cucumber, avocado, herb vinaigrette

$12.00

ESCABECHE

pickled vegetables

$5.00

SALSA TASTING

salsa negra, salsa fresca, salsa macha, fermented serrano, crema

$8.50

TOSTADAS

Crispy fried tortillas topped with a varity of delicious garnishes

BEAN & CHEESE

frijoles, crema, queso, avocado, chili

$10.00

ENSALADA de PULPO

Octopus, macha vin, avocado, cucumber, tomato

$14.00

CARNE APACHE

wagyu ceviche, fermented serrano mayonesa, mushroom escabeche

$16.00

TUNA CONTRAMAR

ahi tuna, maggi, chipotle mayonesa, crispy onions

$16.00

TACOS DE GUISADO

Braised meats & vegetables wrapped in warm corn tortillas. Served with Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja.

LENGUA

beef tongue, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CARNITAS

confit pork, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CHORIZO con PAPAS

chorizo rojo, potatoes, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

POLLO TINGA

braised organic chicken, tinga sauce, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

FRIJOLES

refried beans, crema, queso fresco, cilantro

$3.95

HONGOS

locally cultivated mushrooms, kale, cream, queso fresco, cilantro

TACOS AL CARBON

Grilled over charcoal & served Mercado Style (Family Style). Please allow up to 30 minutes to cook.

PESCADO ZARANDAEDO

grilled whole trout (de-boned), cabbage, pickled red onion, chipotle mayonesa, cilantro, lime, salsa verde

$39.00

BARBACOA de CORDERO

slow roasted lamb neck, salsa verde & rojo, coal roasted cebollas, agua chile, white onion, cilantro

$36.00

POLLO ASADO

grilled chicken, frijoles, grilled romaine & tomato salad, crema, queso fresco, cilantro

$35.00

PORK BELLY PIBIL

achiote-marinated, slow roasted pork belly, grilled pineapple, pickled red onion, cilantro

$31.00

CARNE ASADA

14oz flank steak, coal roasted cebollas, roasted anaheim peppers, lime, salsa verde & fresca, cilantro

$53.00

PULPO

herb-marinated grilled octopus, mole verde, heirloom tomatoes, garlic oil, cilantro, radish, lime

$35.00

POSTRES

aka After the Meal

DONAS!

original glazed donuts, made in house daily

$5.00

FLAN de CHOCOLATE

chocolate flan, salted caramel, coconut, almond

$11.00

TRES LECHES CAKE

horchata soaked cake, whipped cream, pickled fruit

$10.00

CARAJILLO

cold brew, liquor 43 (traditional after dinner drink)

$8.50

DESAYUNOS MENU - Native Tongues Taqueria

traditional Mexican Breakfast Foods. Available 11:30am-3:00pm Saturday & Sunday

CHIPS y GUACAMOLE

made in the kitchen

$13.00

ELOTES

grilled corn on the cob, crema, queso, chile, cilantro

$8.00

ESQUITES

epazote braised corn, mayonesa, queso, onion, cilantro, chile

$6.00

CHILAQUILES VERDES

totopos, hot salsa verde, crema, queso, cilantro, poached egg

$11.00

HAMBURGUESA al CARBON

the works. served with chips & hot sauce

$15.00

MOLLETES

grilled sourdough, refritos, gouda, salsa fresca, cilantro

$12.00

CÓCTEL DE MARISCOS

spot prawns, clamato, valentinas, avocado, salsa fresca

$13.00

ENFRIJOLADAS

quesadillas, frijoles, crema, queso, white onion

$14.00

ENMOLADAS COLORADITO

rolled chicken tacos, mole coloradito, crema, queso

$15.00

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

tortillas, fried eggs, salsa ranchero, avocado, queso

$11.00

POZOLE VERDE

tomatillo & serrano broth, carnitas, hominy, radish

$14.00

AVOCADO TOAST

grilled sidewalk citizen sourdough, guacamole, fried egg, radish, cilantro

$13.00

BARBACOA de CORDERO

slow roasted lamb neck, salsa verde & rojo, coal roasted cebollas, agua chile, white onion, cilantro

$36.00

SALSA TASTING

salsa negra, salsa fresca, salsa macha, fermented serrano, crema

$8.50

TACOS DE GUISADO

Braised meats & vegetables wrapped in warm corn tortillas. Served with Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja.

LENGUA

beef tongue, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CARNITAS

confit pork, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CHORIZO con PAPAS

chorizo rojo, potatoes, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

POLLO TINGA

braised organic chicken, tinga sauce, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

FRIJOLES

refried beans, crema, queso fresco, cilantro

$3.95

HONGOS

locally cultivated mushrooms, kale, cream, queso fresco, cilantro

POSTRES

aka After the Meal

DONAS!

original glazed donuts, made in house daily

$5.00

FLAN de CHOCOLATE

chocolate flan, salted caramel, coconut, almond

$11.00

TRES LECHES CAKE

horchata soaked cake, whipped cream, pickled fruit

$10.00

CARAJILLO

cold brew, liquor 43 (traditional after dinner drink)

$8.50

Beverages MENU - Native Tongues Taqueria

Drinks

MEZCALGARITA - Todos. Siempre. All of it. All the Time. LAS POZAS - Brilliant, Surreal, Romantic . El MARINERO- Rugged, tropical, stormy

ANTOJITOS MENU - Native Tongues Taqueria

CHIPS y GUACAMOLE

made in the kitchen

$13.00

HAMBURGUESA al CARBON

the works. served with chips & hot sauce

$15.00

ESQUITES

Epazote braised corn, mayonesa, queso, onion, cilantro, chile

$6.00

CHILAQUILES VERDES

totopos, hot salsa verde, crema, queso, cilantro

$11.00

ESCABECHE

pickled vegetables

$5.00

THE NT BURRITO!

fully loaded. TAKE OUT ONLY.

$10.00

TACOS DE GUISADO

Braised meats & vegetables wrapped in warm corn tortillas. Served with Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja.

LENGUA

beef tongue, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CARNITAS

confit pork, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

CHORIZO con PAPAS

chorizo rojo, potatoes, white onion, cilantro

$3.95

POLLO TINGA

braised organic chicken, tinga sauce, white onion, queso, cilantro

$3.95

FRIJOLES

refried beans, crema, queso fresco, cilantro

$3.95

HONGOS

locally cultivated mushrooms, kale, cream, queso fresco, cilantro

DULCES

aka Sweets

DONAS!

original glazed donuts, made in house daily

$5.00

FLAN de CHOCOLATE

chocolate flan, salted caramel, coconut, almond

$11.00

TRES LECHES CAKE

horchata soaked cake, whipped cream, pickled fruit

$10.00

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

MEXICAN COLA

Coca-Cola, Squirt, Jarritos Mandarin

$5.00

CAFE SODA

Rosso cold brew with your choice of Cream Soda, Root Beer or Tonic

$5.00

CAFECHATA

Rosso cold brew & Housemade horchata

$6.00

FRENCH PRESS

Cafe Rosso

$4.00

COLD BREW

Cafe Rosso

$6.00

AGUAS FRESCAS

Ask for flavors

$4.00

HORCHATA

House made

$4.00

SUERO (I.V.)

Lime, Salt, Mineral Water

$4.00

COMIDA MENU - Native Tongues Taqueria

HAMBURGUESA al CARBON

The works. Served with chips & hot sauce.

$8.00

ESQUITES

epazote braised corn, mayonesa, queso, onion, cilantro, chile.

$4.00

CHILAQUILES

totopos, salsa verde, crema, queso fresco, onion, cilantro

$6.00

Beverages

Drinks

MARGARITA. PACIFICO CLARA , FEATURE RED WINE , FEATURE WHITE WINE.

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Appears in 6 Smart Lists

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It features hipster decor and a fancy cocktail menu, but Native Tongues is a remarkably authentic taqueria specializing in the best of Mexican street food. Order up a plate of street-style tacos or a big platter of grilled meat for family-style tacos you can build right at the table, or try a tostada (or two) and a quick bite from the antojitos (snacks) menu.

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