New Orleans Is Getting A Huge Taco Fest in 2017

Move aside beignet and fried chicken fans, it’s time for New Orleans first ever taco festival to now burst onto the scene. Yes, on March 23, Top Taco will land on the CBD riverfront at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza with some 40+ restaurants vying for top taco and margarita honors, Ian McNulty reports.

The festival, which was actually started in Denver two years ago but is being run locally by Nacho Mama’s Shane Finkelstein, is a bit different than some of the newer food fests on the scene, including the location and another significant factor— a single ticket for $65 gets you entry with food and drink included, which could alleviate some line hassles.

Expect margaritas and tequila galore, Day of the Dead costumes, lots of live local music and more shenanigans. There’s even a VIP experience aboard the Creole Queen river boat.

Restaurants participating in Top Taco already include area tacqueria favorites including Araña, Del Fuego, La Casita, and Mizado, and restaurants that will most certainly be taking a welcome break from their normal fest fare— Jacques Imo’s, Patois, Chiba, and Cowbell.

According to Ann Maloney, the restaurants will compete for top creative taco, top traditional taco, top creative cocktail and top Margarita, as chosen by judges and attendees.

• Top Taco, a new food festival, to debut on the New Orleans riverfront [Advocate]
• Top Taco New Orleans festival set for March 23 [NOLA.com]
• All Events Coverage [ENOLA]