Street tacos are small soft tacos served on corn tortillas, usually about four inches across, with one filling and very little garnish, typically just onion, cilantro and lime. They are the taco sold from street carts in Mexico and they are deliberately simple: the tortilla and the filling do the work, not the toppings. They are not the same as the hard-shell taco sold as a supermarket kit, which is a North American invention with a pre-fried shell and a lettuce-and-cheddar build.
Street taco vs hard-shell taco
- The shell — a soft corn tortilla, often doubled so it does not tear.
- The size — a three-bite object. You order three or four.
- The garnish — onion, cilantro, lime. No lettuce, no sour cream, no grated cheddar.
- The filling — one thing, seasoned properly, rather than a mixture.
Why corn and not flour
Corn tortillas have a toasted flavour flour does not, and they behave differently — softer and more prone to tearing, which is why they are doubled. Flour is a northern Mexican and Tex-Mex convention; it makes a fine burrito, but a street taco on flour is a different dish.
How to order a trio
Our Street Taco Trio ($18) is three soft tortillas and you choose the filling: spiced chicken, braised beef or seasoned paneer. Ordering for a table, take all three rather than three of one — they eat very differently. In Happy Hour the trio is $15.
Where to eat it
The Aroma Bistro & Bar is at 32760 Simon Ave, Abbotsford, BC. The kitchen is on from 11:30 every day — Monday to Thursday until 11pm, Friday and Saturday until 1am, Sunday until 10pm. Happy Hour runs 1–5pm daily and again from 9pm until close.
Walk in, call (604) 743-3131, or book a table. The full board is on the menu page.
Common questions
What makes a taco a street taco?
A small soft corn tortilla, one filling, and minimal garnish - usually onion, cilantro and lime. Size and restraint define it, not the specific meat.
How many street tacos is a serving?
Three is a standard starter serving, because each taco is about three bites. Four to six makes a main course.
Are street tacos spicy?
Not inherently. The heat comes from the salsa served alongside rather than the filling, so you control it yourself.
