Top Taco Crowns Taco and Margarita Kings and Queens

by Andra Zeppelin Jun 27, 2014, 9:07am MDT

Last night at Sculpture Park in downtown Denver, Top Taco gathered over 2,200 taco aficionados for its inaugural taco and margarita battle.

Some 22 restaurants battled in three categories: traditional taco, creative taco, and margarita. A panel of six judges including Amanda Faison of 5280 Magazine and Ruth Tobias of Zagat, chose the best traditional and best creative taco. Bartenders Ryan Layman of Steuben's and Allie Geppert of Star Bar were among the judges for the best margarita -- and the guests, all of them, chimed in for the popular vote on both the taco and margarita categories. Who reigned supreme?

The six panel judge ranked the following tacos at the top three. In the traditional category: (1) Comida for its Stella pork carnita taco; (2) Pinche Tacos for its own version of the carnita taco; (3) Billy's Inn for its fish taco. In the Creative category: (1) Machete for its cricket taco on a house made hibiscus tortilla; (2) Los Chingones for its mini lengua taco; (3) the Squeaky Bean for its steak and shrimp taco.

The popular vote on tacos went like this. In the traditional category: (1) Pinche Tacos; (2) Billys Inn; and (3) Highland Tap. In the creative category, (1) Moontower; (2) Comida; and (3) Zengo.

In the best Margarita battle, a panel of professionals named (1) La Biblioteca, (2) Comida, and (3) Adelitas as winners of the best drinks. The popular vote went to (1) La Biblioteca, (2) Machete, and (3) Adelitas.

Comida at Top Taco [Photo: Facebook/Comida]