Tournament of Tacos: Daily Loaf, Creative Loafing Tampa

It's Final! The winner of the 2009 Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll is...

Brian Ries — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:04:49 -0400

After four weeks of voting -- and over 7,500 votes cast -- you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the entire Bay area.

The Championship match pitted the popular Dunedin Mexican restaurant Casa Tina against the surprisingly active fans of Lutz's Mekenita Mexican Grill in a 24-hour marathon of voting.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll CHAMPIONSHIP: Casa Tina vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill

Brian Ries — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:44:28 -0400

It's all come down to this. All the signs in the restaurant, the mass emailings to patrons and friends, the voting every ten minutes like clockwork.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Mekenita vs. Mema's

Brian Ries — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:31:24 -0400

With over 800 votes cast -- and a fairly close tally throughout the last 24 hours -- Mekenita Mexican Grill has managed to knock Mema's Alaskan Tacos out of the Readers' Poll by a vote of 455 to 358.

Now it's time to vote for the biggest match of all, the battle across the bay, the titannic taco-a-taco throwdown finale, the 2009 CL Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship!…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Tampa Championship: Mekenita vs. Mema's

Brian Ries — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:25:35 -0400

Both Mekenita Mexican Grill in Lutz and Mema's Alaskan Tacos in Ybor have been able to motivate the troops and get out the vote, no matter the competition. But how will the two powerhouses fare against each other?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break --

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Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Zurritos vs. Casa Tina

Brian Ries — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:17:31 -0400

Wow. WOW!…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Pinellas Championship: Zurritos vs. Casa Tina

Brian Ries — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:24:01 -0400

Zurritos has consistently motivated its loyal customers to get out the vote in the competition, with some of the highest tallies of any of the matches. Casa Tina has had it fairly easy so far.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Final Four is set!

Brian Ries — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:16:46 -0400

The final round of the Edible Eight was massive, with over 300 votes cast and the outcome close in the final tally. In the end, El Taconazo was unable to hold off the ardent supporters of Mekenita Mexican Grill

That means that the Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Final Four is set: Zurritos, Casa Tina, Mema's Mexican Grill and Mekenita Mexican Grill.…

Tournament of Tacos Edible Eight Results: Casa Tina vs. La Cabana del Tio

Brian Ries — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:24:55 -0400

No matter how much I may disagree with the results, there's no arguing with popularity. At least, that is, in a popularity contest like the Readers' Poll.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: El Taconazo vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill

Brian Ries — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:12:48 -0400

El Taconazo may be the most well-known taco joint in the Bay area, but it can't rest on its laurels in this fight against Mekenita. In previous rounds, the Taco Bus hasn't mustered nearly as much fan support as the Lutz-based Mekenita.…

Tournament of Tacos Edible Eight Results: Acapulco Grocery vs. Mema's Alaskan Tacos

Brian Ries — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:07:54 -0400

Mema's again turned out the troops to propel it into another round of the tournament, despite Acapulco's exceptional traditional tacos.

Voting for the second match of the Edible Eight begins at 2 p.m. today -- with Casa Tina vs. La Cabana del Tio -- and continues through Monday, so be sure to support your favorite spot!…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Casa Tina vs. La Cabana del Tio

Brian Ries — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:55:04 -0400

Casa Tina is a perennial favorite among northern Pinellas folks, thanks the its congenial atmosphere and often incredible sauces. La Cabana del Tio is a tiny spot with a devout following amongst the Bay area's taco cognoscenti.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Acapulco Grocery vs. Mema's Alaskan Tacos

Brian Ries — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:15:48 -0400

Mema's can bring out the crowds to vote for their odd fried tacos stuffed with chicken, beef, and shrimp patties, while Acapulco is a corner bodega that -- lets be practical here -- possibly doesn't even know this tournament is going on. Can the little market with exceptional traditional tacos beat the popular Ybor spot?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break --

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Tournament of Tacos Edible Eight Results: Red Mesa vs. Zurritos

Brian Ries — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:11:18 -0400

Zurritos continues its domination of the Readers' Poll, trouncing popular competitor Red Mesa by a score of 104 to 45. Zurritos advances to the Final Four and will compete against the Pinellas North winner next Tuesday.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Red Mesa vs. Zurritos

Brian Ries — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:31 -0400

Zack Gross' Zurritos has marshaled a huge fanbase for this tournament, while Red Mesa has suffered from rather tepid turnout. Can the long-standing St. Pete modern Mexican fixture beat the popular Zurritos?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break --

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Tournament of Tacos Edible Eight is set! Start voting for the Final Four!

Brian Ries — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:16:07 -0400

In lukewarm voting, La Cabana del Tio beat Taqueria El Maguey to move on to the next round.

Which means the Edible Eight is fully fleshed out: Red Mesa, Zurritos, La Cabana Del Tio, Casa Tina, Acapulco, Mema’s Alaskan Tacos, El Taconazo and Mekenita Mexican Grill.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Sabor Latino vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill

Brian Ries — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:27:24 -0400

In the most lopsided victory of the tournament so far, Mekenita's fans absolutely devastated the tasty tacos of Sabor Latino by a vote of 143 to 5. Can you imagine what would happen if the NCAA had a fan-based poll instead of a single elimination tournament?

Mekenita Mexican Grill moves on to the Edible Eight.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: La Cabana del Tio vs. Taqueria El Maguey

Brian Ries — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:20:56 -0400

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break --

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Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Algusto vs. Mema's Alaskan Tacos

Brian Ries — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:52:54 -0400

By an overwhelming vote of 103 to 25, Mema's slam-dunked this popularity contest with ease. Will they have the same success against the noticeably superior tacos of Acapulco in the next round?…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Sabor Latino vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill

Brian Ries — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:43:40 -0400

Mekenita is a hugely popular, modern quick-Mex joint way up in Lutz, created by former Roy's chef Rand Packer. Sabor Latino is a hole-in-a-strip-mall traditional Mexican restaurant on Busch.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Zurritos vs. Peg's Cantina

Brian Ries — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:18:34 -0400

Holy crap! Turnout for this contest was like the turnout at a kick-the-banker booth at the county fair!…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Algusto vs. Mema's Alaskan Tacos

Brian Ries — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:10:26 -0400

Like yesterday's contenders, Mema's has a vocal and ardent fan base that will likely mobilize to push that Ybor spot over the top in this battle. But don't count out Algusto, which had one of the strongest turnouts in the first round.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: El Taconazo vs. Don Pancho Villa

Brian Ries — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:19:46 -0400

Wha huh? Were all the Taco Bus supporters on vacation, or too busy noshing on El Taconazo take-out and watching college basketball to log on and vote?…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: Zurritos vs. Peg's Cantina

Brian Ries — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:10:41 -0400

Both of these places have rabid fans and die-hard supporters, as well as great fish tacos, so this taco-a-taco matchup may be the most hotly contested of the competition so far. Mobilize your base, Zurritos and Peg's, and get out the vote!

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break --

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Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Results: Casa Tina vs. El Toro Negro

Brian Ries — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:46:20 -0400

In an outcome that's no surprise for anyone who's experienced the massive fan base of Casa Tina, Dunedin's favorite Mexican joint dominated the polls, with 71 votes to El Toro Negro's measly 3. Casa Tina movees on into the Readers' Poll Edible Eight.…

Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Matchup: El Taconazo vs. Don Pancho Villa

Brian Ries — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:40:31 -0400

Is this a competition even worth having? Is it remotely possible that a dreary Mexican restaurant with mediocre tacos could summon the devoted fanbase necessary to unseat the Taco Bus?…