Native Tongues Taqueria - University District — Restaurant in Calgary

We’ve been loyal customers of Native Tongues for YEARS, visiting their downtown location hundreds of times. So when we heard they finally opened a spot in the NW University District—closer to us—we were thrilled. Naturally, we decided to check it out.

As always, we joined the waitlist on OpenTable. We got the initial confirmation that we were on the list and saw that we were first in line for a table. So we waited. Patiently. Right there in the little area past the first set of doors. Watching.

And guess what happened? Everyone else was getting seated except us. People who arrived AFTER us, who put their names down AFTER us—just waltzing right in while we stood there like complete idiots.

After 47 minutes (yes, we timed it), I finally went up to ask the host what was going on. And you won’t believe what he said.

There was a table available.

When my partner asked how the reservation and waitlist system actually worked, we were told by the guy seating people that those in the waiting area take priority. EXCUSE ME?? We had been in the waiting area the entire time, watching table after table go to people who had CLEARLY arrived after us. I told him exactly that, and his response?

“we’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to send out text notifications.”

WHAT?! So you mean to tell me that instead of following your own system, you just seat whoever happens to walk up and talk to you first? Then WHY even have a waitlist?! What is the actual point if you’re just going to ignore it?

And when we pressed him on why he was doing this, his response? A blank stare and a repeated “I don’t understand.” Over and over. Like some sort of glitching robot.

This was beyond infuriating. We wasted nearly an hour for absolutely no reason. Native Tongues—FIX YOUR SYSTEM. This is...

We had a fantastic meal at Native Tongues Taqueria and got to try a good variety of their menu. We ordered an array of tacos – birria, carnitas, carne asada – plus the barbacoa quesadilla.

The standout of the night was hands-down the barbacoa (lamb) quesadilla. Rich, savory, and layered with deep flavor, it was easily our favorite bite. The carne asada came in close second – simple ingredients but such a flavour bomb. The birria was also enjoyable, though not quite as memorable. The one letdown for us was the carnitas, which felt underwhelming and fairly flavourless compared to the others.

We also ordered the chips and salsa tasting, which I’d highly recommend. It’s fun sampling the different salsas, and my personal favourite was the macha – a chili, garlic, and nutty mix that packed incredible depth and heat.

On the drinks side, they let you choose your spice level (1–5). I went with a 5 and it wasn’t overpowering at all – just the right amount of warmth. The toasted coconut margarita was refreshing and a perfect way to wrap up the meal.

The only real downside of the night was the service. After we got our appetizer, our server completely disappeared. When I finally managed to flag someone down to place our food order, we were told it was a shift change – which is fine – but then no one ever replaced our server. For the rest of the evening we had to flag down random staff for drinks, food, and anything else, which felt unorganized and honestly unacceptable for a busy restaurant with such a strong reputation.

Overall, the food and drinks delivered and we enjoyed the flavors, but the service really fell short. We’ll be back for the barbacoa (before it sells out!) and to try the burger, but I hope next time the service matches the quality...

We were in the University area for our daughter’s field hockey game, and she was craving Mexican food.

Wow — the service and food were outstanding.

Our server, Calvin, was excellent. He knew the menu inside and out and gave us great recommendations.

What we had:

Tacos – From the de guisada pulled meats list, the carnitas were fantastic, and the barbacoa was honestly the best I’ve had anywhere. From the a la plancha menu, my wife tried the fish la baja and really enjoyed it.

Appetizers – The birria fries were excellent (though I still preferred the barbacoa overall). We also had the elotes de la calle — grilled and smoked corn on the cob with chipotle mayo and queso. We especially loved that a portion of this dish supports cancer charities.

Drinks – I tried the Michelada Verde (10oz): cucumber, basil, green juice, lime, serrano, Valentina’s hot sauce, and Tajín salt. Outstanding — the cucumber and basil really shine, with just the right balance against the salted rim. My wife ordered the horchata, which she also loved.

Other notes:

The 1 lb of meat with 10 tortillas looks like a great option for sharing or snacking.

We also heard the hamburger is award-winning — something we’ll try next time.

All in all, this is a fantastic spot. Huge thanks to Calvin for his hospitality, allergy awareness, and thoughtful recommendations. Total bill for three with tip was ~$100.

We’ll...