METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — What some would call “a culinary extravaganza,” was back with live music, margaritas, and tacos! The 2021 Top Taco kicked off on Thursday, October 28 at 6 p.m. at Lafreniere Park in Jefferson Parish.

Participants and got to try the most creative and most traditional tacos and cocktails from multiple restaurants around the city.

2021 COMPETING RESTAURANTS

ASIAN OUTDOOR KITCHEN • AVO TACO • BAR TONIQUE • CASA BORREGA • LA COCINITA • CROW & PITCHER • CRAWFISH KING SEAFOOD & BBQ • EL CUCUY • EL PASO MEXICAN GRILL • ESPIRITU • THE FILLMORE • HABANEROS • THE HANGER • HOTEL FONTENOT’S PEACOCK ROOM • HOWLIN’ WOLF • JOHNNY SANCHEZ • THE JOINT • JUSTINE • LIBERACION NOLA • LOS JEFES • LAS MORRITAS TAQUERIA • LULA RESTAURANT DISTILLERY • MR. TEQUILA • NOLA CAYE • NOLA CRAWFISH KING SEAFOOD & BBQ • PALM&PINE • PARLAY’S W/BILLY WRIGHT’S MANUEL’S STYLE TAMALES • PEDRO’S TACO & TEQUILA BAR • THE RENDON INN • SECRET BIRRIA • SHENANIGAN’S • THE SMOKING OYSTER • SOUTHERN’S • TABLE AND TAP • TACOS DEL CARTEL • TACOS PARA LA VIDA • TAQUERIA LA LUCHA • TCHOUP TCHOUP • TCHEFUNCTES • TRENASSE • VELVET CACTUS

2021 PARTICIPATING SPIRITS

1800 TEQUILA • AVIÓN • BABE WINE • BIG EASY BUCHA • EL BUHO • CASAMIGOS • CAZADORES • CENOTE • CORONA SELTZER • CORRALEJO • CUERVO TRADICIONAL • DON JULIO • GHOST TEQUILA • GRAN CENTENARIO • HERRADURA • HORNITOS • HUSSONG’S • EL JIMADOR • HAPPY RAPTOR DISTILLING • MAESTRO DOBEL • MILAGRO • MODELO ESPECIAL • OLMECA ALTOS • PATRÓN • PATRÓN CITRONGE • TEREMANA • EL TESORO • TRES AGAVES • TRES GENERACIONES • VILLA ONE • WHO DAT SPIRITS

2021 Top Taco Winners

G.O.A.T.(Greatest Of All Tacos) – The JointBrisket Burnt End Taco – sliced burnt ends, onion/cilantro, pickled red cabbage, avocado with pineapple scotch bonnet hot sauce.
Best Traditional Taco/Judges Pick – The JointBrisket Burnt End Taco – sliced burnt ends, onion/cilantro, pickled red cabbage, avocado with pineapple scotch bonnet hot sauce

Best Traditional Taco/Fan Favorite – Los JefesCarnitas Taco – Citrus-marinated carnitas on a corn tortilla dressed with guacamole, cilantro, onions topped with Los Jefes specialty charred tomatillo salsa.
Best Creative Taco/Judges Pick – Palm & PineThe Mother-In-Law – hot sausage, tamalito, red chili gravy, crema with salsa sonora
Best Creative Taco/Fan Favorite – HabanerosThe Playero – local shrimp, bacon, stuffed cream cheese jalapenos sauteed in guajillo sauce topped with escabeche (pickled red cabbage and carrot) with chipotle mayo
Best Traditional Drink/Judges Favorite – The Velvet CactusStrawberry Jalapeno Margarita made with Don Julio tequila
Best Traditional Drink/Fan Favorite – The Velvet CactusStrawberry Jalapeno Margarita made with Don Julio tequila
Best Creative Drink/Judges Favorite – Trenasse
Made with Ghost Tequila

Best Creative Drink/Fan Favorite – Los Jefes Blackberry Mint Margarita made with Avion Tequila