Edmonton is the birthplace of a number of major restaurant chains. Boston Pizza. Earls.
Will Taco Delhi be the next? This restaurant opened in south Edmonton earlier this month. Plans are for a location in Kelowna to open soon. Go to the Taco Delhi website, and there’s a hard sell about “how you can bring the Taco Delhi concept to your city!” Well, we can’t say that the entrepreneurs behind this concept are short on confidence.
But, you have to walk before you run, right? As it stands, there is only one Taco Delhi spot — and I visited it this past week. The concept is simple. Like those chain build-your-own-burrito spots, at Taco Delhi, you build your own meal. But, and this is a big but, there aren’t any literal tacos on the menu. You can choose one of three shells: naan, roti or a burrito. The fillings, as you may have guessed from the name, are based on our favourites from Indian restaurants.
I am a huge supporter of taco fusion. If you’ve been to Southern California and enjoyed a Korean/Mexican taco hybrid, you know that the collision of two great cultures can produce some pretty darn tasty results.
So, I ordered the lamb and roti, plus a chicken tikka on naan. The lamb curry was pretty substantial and rich, and it held well inside the roti shell. With cheese, tomatoes and cilantro on top, and a squirt of lime, it made for a pretty big lunch. The roti didn’t get soggy or break. And, so, as a “taco,” it worked.
The naan acted more like a pillow for the chicken, and, this was also a pretty darn hefty meal. With shredded onions, tomatoes and cilantro on top, this was… fun? Can food be fun? Of course it can be.
Remember to save this review. If Taco Delhi goes on to have hundreds, even thousands of locations around the world, maybe this spot in Calgary Trail will become as hallowed as that first Tim Hortons that you’ll find in Hamilton, or the historic designation given to the site of the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, California. But, for the moment, it’s a neat spot, where the food offers pretty decent value for the money.
Taco Delhi
Calgary Trail South | 3318 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton | tacodelhi.ca | 587.463.2311
