Sherwood Park is overrun with fast food “Mexican” chains—you know the ones: Taco Bell, Taco Time, Taco del Mar…other than Casa Doce, really good Mexican food is hard to come by in these parts. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case: No Way Jose’s Taqueria is getting ready to add some spice to the mix.
Lorne and Ruby Rudkin are the owner/operators. Ruby and their son-in-law both come from Mazatlan and it is these two who bring their culinary skill and tradition to this new taqueria in Edmonton’s eastern suburb. The Rudkins serve the Mexican street food that they’re familiar with: tacos, tortas, quesadillas, burritos and nachos. I’ll say straight up: this is no Tres Carnales, the award-winning little taqueria downtown that continues to deliver insanely delicious ‘tacos for the people!’ Some of the ingredients at NWJ need to be improved upon, and some dishes are too North American-ized, but for the most part, No Way Jose is off to a good start.
You have five topping choices for the locally-made soft tortillas: refried beans (frijoles), barbecoa (slow roasted beef), al pastor (pork) and carne asada (steak). Mexican beer battered pieces of basa are deep fried and served up as tacos de pescado on Fridays.
What we ate:
Tacos: carne asada (steak), al pastor (pork) and pollo (marinated chicken) 3 for $14.95
Vampiros: barbacoa (slow roasted beef) and frijoles (beans) $10.95 Far right: horchata (flavoured rice milk drink)
Al pastor torta (sandwich) $10.95
Brocheta: Carne aside with grilled green peppers, onions, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado and soft corn tortillas $13.95
Friday Special: fish tacos 2 for $8.95
For more details on the food, click here to listen to my CBC Edmonton AM review of No Way Jose. (Correction: It is the al pastor that includes pineapple tidbits, not the barbacoa as I mentioned on air.) Read CBC’s web article here.
No Way Jose’s Taqueria is located at 160 Broadway Blvd., Sherwood Park.