Little Conejo Vancouver — Restaurant in Vancouver

I almost don't want to leave a review because I want this place to stay a hidden neighborhood secret! We live nearby (within walking distance), moved from California, and met a waitress who confirmed that she's a California transplant that approves of this place too! Wow the chopped smoked brisket is just tender, glistening with fat mixed in, the salsas are fresh and bursting with flavor. I had barbacoa and sweet potato specials. I often stay away from the stewed meats because I usually experience super acidic wet messes but this was different, definitely way more palatable. Choriqueso, super yum. The sweet potato taco was so good! The veggie tacos are outstanding. Heck, everything is outstanding. Al pastor was great! I'm usually not keen on pork because I can pick up on an off chemically taste if the meat isn't good quality. The pork was delectably seasoned, the meat was moist, flavorful, clean, and the whole taco was super delicious. Lengua (beef tongue) was ace. Fish taco had a fantastic crunch on the outside and tenderness on the outside! Best fish taco I've ever had! Smooth, wonderfully spiced horchata, yum!! I'm not a corn tortilla fan but these guys changed my mind. I hate gritty, dry textures but the tortillas they serve here are sweet, moist, and delightful. The waitress said the chef/owner has ties to a farm and has access to really great ingredients. No wonder. We need to go back and learn more, eat more, and remember their names. Fabulous food and incredible people. We lucked out.

Why take our word for it?

Coming from: 10 years of living in California and having had a local taco place that debuted on Netflix's Taco Chronicles (they kidnapped a Northern Mexico taquero they found on vacation, brought him home with them, and then he married into the family, true story), having places like Tacos 1986, Goa Taco (ridiculously flavorful, juicy mouthwatering tacos in a unique paratha, described by NY Times as a "many-layered Indian flatbread built like a chapbook of dough, each leaf inscribed with ghee"), a sprawling outdoor open air food market called Smorgasburg and another food market at the Los Angeles Farmer's Market on Third & Fairfax, Michelin starred Taco María, and many of famed food critic Jonathan Gold's favourite haunts being our own. We were fortunate even to have authentic, incredibly delicious Oaxacan mole tacos from a start-up stand in an Asian market of all places. I've lived in NYC for 5 years and been to Texas. I've also experienced being invited over for Mexican Christmas with a family that had a whole goat head in their refrigerator. Suffice to say, we've tasted taco greatness and...

Just had lunch at Little Conejo and I’m so, so glad I ate here instead of the other place I was considering. Don’t care how good the other place is, it couldn’t have compared!

Service: 4.5/5 The service was great. I was given a solid recommendation for one of my tacos and the staff were eager to clear my plates for me. Everything also came out very quickly!

Food: 5.5/5 When you go to little conejo, there’s a chance you’ll find a pair of black socks somewhere in the restaurant. This is because the food blew my socks clean off my feet. I got the chips with guac (share size even though I was alone), a pescado frito taco, a choriqueso taco, and a norteño deluxe taco. The chips and guac were surprisingly good. I mean, I know chips are hard to mess up, but they stood out and I’d bet they are made in house. The guac was also very tasty; simple and creamy and flavorful all at once. I got the share size because I was scared I wouldn’t have enough otherwise and I ended up taking it in a box with me because it was an ample portion. The choriqueso was the taco recommended to me, and it was my second favorite. The flavor was complex and everything complimented each other; I really liked the green salsa they put on it. The pescado frito was a little underwhelming. It felt a touch under-salted and the fish itself felt perhaps a little overdone? It was still great and was far from the worst fish taco I’ve had, but if you’re a fish taco freak like me, this one might not be your favorite! However, the norteño deluxe.. wow. I mean just wow. I was sad when I started eating it because I know I won’t be in Vancouver again very soon and I wished I’d ordered all three of my tacos as norteño deluxe. It was creamy and meaty and juicy and the flavor melted my mind while I was eating it. When I took the first bite, my inner monologue started sounding like I had a stroke. Anyway. Pretty good taco if you ask me.

Price-to-quality ratio: 5/5 I spent about $26 on everything before tip and, while that seemed a little steep at first, my mind was changed by how astoundingly good the food was. Fairly priced for how wonderful it all was.

Absolutely check this place out! It...

The food was great but the experience was marred by the fact that the facilities were busy to overwhelm.

Perhaps Sunday brunch was not the best option to try a new place in downtown Vancouver. Especially with my aging father who is recovering from a stroke. The wait time wasn't unreasonable, but the parking downtown in that area isn't great.

The system here is to get in line to give them your phone number when they are ready to accommodate you. They then call you up and you place your order and take a seat.

When pouring our own waters I had to teamwork with another customer (team building!) to get water out of the dispenser because it had just run low. Then, while waiting for the food, I went to the restroom. I ended up picking up a number of paper towels thrown carelessly by the trash can and replacing the empty spool with a roll of toilet paper. All of these are small indicators of just how busy the staff is in that they are unable to keep up with all the elements including bathroom checks for cleanliness and keeping the water filled for customers. They seemed hecka busy and were terse in conversation and when ordering.

The food, however, was delicious and enjoyed by most at my table. Two beef tacos for dad, which he liked. A torta for me which I enjoyed. My spouse had the fish tacos but was surprised by how spicy they were. I probably would have enjoyed them, but they were overwhelming for her.

I think I'd go again but I'd likely try a different day or hour. They seem popular enough that perhaps they should open another location in a more...