Few other dishes are as crowd pleasing as the taco. Take even the most diverse of palates and you're bound to find common ground with your fellow foodies. Luckily, taco lovers will find plenty of delicious options on the Sunshine Coast. From classic street corn tacos to American-style tex mex, here's where to eat when hunger (or #TacoTuesday) strikes.
First, a Disclaimer
This list covers both Mexican restaurants on the Sunshine Coast and other establishments where you can find inspired tacos on the menus. It's by no means comprehensive, and subject to change depending on current menus. The best way to experience the Coast's wide array of tacos is to simply bring yourself and your appetite.
Mexican Restaurants in Powell River and Lund
Costa del Sol
This long-standing Powell River institution has been a staple of locals and visiting taco fans for years. Costa del Sol is set inside a stucco building from the early 1900s, painted in Mexico Blue with pops of turquoise and covered in a thick tangle of wisteria that blooms every spring. There's a small porch for dining al fresco, along with a patio extension that features an array of tables, propane fire pits, and patio loungers in the warmer months. In the cooler months you’ll find patio bubbles with heaters and blankets to keep you warm. Inside, the restaurant features Mexican-themed art and tile work.
The menu serves up Latin-inspired dishes using local and responsibly-sourced ingredients. The tacos range from classic (pork carnitas) to Baja (fish) to fusion (crispy chicken). Fan favourites also include the wet burrito, which comes smothered in a gravy, the Cuban-inspired burrito with pork, pickles and mustard, and the street corn polenta fries. The drink list is just as long (and good) with all your standards—margaritas, mojitos, pina coladas and more—plus zero-proof drinks that don't skimp on flavour, Mexican sodas, and locally-brewed craft beer.
Iguanas Mexican Grill, Powell River
Iguanas Mexican Grill is a casual spot with a brightly coloured dining room and a small outdoor patio. Tacos are of course on the menu, with a Baja-style fish or prawn option and five taco combos, such as the La Iguana, which features chicken, chorizo, mushrooms, fresh pineapple, onions, and melted cheese.
The menu also includes several kids' meal options (perfect for a family night out), along with nachos made with homemade tortilla chips, tortilla soup, and flautas, enchiladas, and more. Accompany your meal with a margarita—there are a variety on the menu, with flavours like jalapeno lime and blackberry.
Blue Agave Tequila Grill
This vibrant restaurant is making waves with its authentic Mexican cuisine and colourful, art-filled dining room. Along with a flavor-packed menu, it features a stage for regular live music nights, where guests can enjoy Latin tunes while they dine.
Blue Agave Tequila Grill is a family-run eatery paying homage to their cultural heritage, serving up mouthwatering traditional dishes like rich pozole, street-style tacos, chilaquiles, and sopa de tortilla. Their signature dish is the birria, a Mexican stew that consists of marinated beef with traditional dry peppers, roasted garlic, and tomatoes. (Don't miss the quesabirria, a cheesy taco with onions, cilantro, and birria dipping sauce.) The other tacos also lean traditional, with tacos de lengua, carne asada, al pastor, and more. Fresh tortillas are made in-house daily, and spirit enthusiasts will appreciate their diverse selection of unique and hard-to-find tequilas.
Mexican Restaurants in Gibsons, Sechelt and Pender Harbour
Aqui es Mexico, Pender Harbour
On the road and craving a taco? Aqui es Mexico has two locations where you can get your fix. Its main Pender Harbour location is set in a spacious, wood- and metal-clad building and is decked out with Mexican flags and vibrant murals. There's also a small front porch patio for those hot summer days when the temperatures on the Sunshine Coast mimic those of Mexico. In the summer, you can also find their food truck parked at the Davis Bay esplanade—a perfect lunchtime spot for when you're on the go.
Their extensive menu packs a punch, offering up four different types of burritos along with chicken, steak, pork, fish, and veggie tacos. Grab a plate of nachos for a crowd, or round things off with some staples: a margarita or Mexican sodas and dessert churros.
Lunitas Mexican Eatery, Gibsons
Come to Lunitas for the food, stay for the views. This beloved Mexican restaurant is home to some of the best views around, with a prime location along the water in Gibsons Landing. The elevated waterfront patio overlooks the harbour—wildlife, sunset, and boat views all included. Inside, the restaurant serves up a bustling atmosphere with brightly colored decor and good tunes. Even better? The food.
You've got taco flights, queso fundido, and burritos that come wrapped in a flour tortilla or in bowl form. Lunitas’ oceanside setting means seafood is available, with dishes like grilled prawns or ceviche tostadas. Specials and one-off menu items like the pork belly mole make use of an inspired selection of ingredients and flavours. Then, there are the cocktails—the drink menu is worthy of a visit in its own right. Choose from a wide array of eclectic margaritas or cocktails that make use of techniques and ingredients like clarified milk, infused simple syrups, and the classic Mexican spice mix tajin. The bar boasts one-off mezcals and tequilas, but you'll also find draft beer and cider, wine, and more.
Taco Republic, Sechelt
Taco Republic is an unassuming spot that’s ideal for grab-and-go tacos, but you’ll also find a handful of tables inside. Its location just off the main highway as you enter Sechelt means you can quickly fuel up for any manner of adventures.
Grab a flight of three street-style tacos before lounging by the water on one of Sechelt's many beaches—pork, beef, chicken, or vegetarian tacos are all on the menu. A hefty burrito will help you carb load before tackling hiking trails in Mount Tetrahedron, while the kids' meal is a great picnic option if you're planning to spend the afternoon with family at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park.
Salt & Swine, Gibsons
From market pop-up to food truck to permanent restaurant location, there's a reason why this Mexican spot is popular. Salt & Swine focuses on American-style tex mex—think cheesy, flavour-filled, and in some cases, fried.
The best example of this on the menu is the Taco Americano, a fried cheese-stuffed shell loaded with your choice of filling and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, sour cream, avocado crema, and cheese. Then there's the Mexi fries, tater tots dusted with chili lime salt, served with a side of smoky salsa or chipotle mayo. You'll also find burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and taco bowls, plus classic appies like chips and salsa, rice and beans, and the seasonal fave, elote.
Sunshine Coast Taco Vibes, Gibsons
Get your fill of tacos at Sunshine Coast Taco Vibes, a new under-the-radar spot located on Henry Road in Gibsons. The menu is small but mighty, and features both plant-based and meat options: a black bean, sweet potato and yam taco, a plant-based chorizo taco, and a chorizo taco. There are also kid-friendly quesadillas on the menu, and a fire-roasted salsa with chips to enjoy.
Menus Where You Can Find Tacos
Tacos on the Sunshine Coast aren't just limited to Mexican restaurants. The following spots serve up their versions of the handheld, each offering their own unique spin.
- The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery, Gibsons: This local brewery serves up a few tacos, including a beef barbacoa, pollo asado, Baja-inspired fish taco, and even a falafel version for vegetarians.
- El Segundo, Sechelt: El Segundo knows how to do bold flavours. For tacos, choose between a chipotle fish, jerk shrimp or crispy cajun option.
- Joe's on the Beach, Sechelt: The menu currently features a Baja fish taco and a five spice roasted duck taco.
- The Backeddy Pub, Egmont: There's something for everyone—steelhead tacos for seafood lovers, jackfruit tacos for vegetarians, and pork belly for carnivores.
- The Boardwalk Restaurant, Lund: This primarily seafood-oriented restaurant has two types of fish taco, a salmon and lingcod version, along with chicken and veg options.
Find more places to eat on the Sunshine Coast.
