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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value

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CUISINES
Mexican, Seafood, Fast food, Canadian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
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meals, features
Reviews (195)
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194 results
Traveller rating
137
47
7
3
0
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
137
47
7
3
0
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All reviews taco chicken burrito prawns picnic tables worth the wait vancouver island sweet thai gluten free qualicum beach ocean
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Reviewed October 3, 2023

Fresh fish tacos oceanside - does it get any better!?! I ordered the traditional fish taco & the monthly special tropical fish taco with pineapple salsa. Bath were soo bursting with fresh ingredients & delicious chunks of fish - a fork for the fallen bits...& a napkin for all the sauce is mandatory !! And huge portions - Going in Oct meant no long wait & its oceanside so the views are breathtaking. Just watch for the little hut & stop!More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed June 28, 2023

What a find - superb fish tacos, we became addicted to these on our trip to Vancouver Island. We were staying in Bowser, so we weren't too far away, it's on the way to Parksville/Qualicum Beach. A roadside shack, but the tacos are wonderful, with...a beautiful view over the ocean - watch out for seals and eagle fishing for lunch.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed June 1, 2023 via mobile

This little shack is on the side of the road on the Island Highway in Qualicum Bay, Vancouver Island. They have a few picnic tables for people who love to dine outside, with the best view on the island, and smelling the ocean air. We...ordered two Prawn and two Chicken burritos. They are very generous with the fillings. Delicious! They are closed Sundays, however open at Noon everyday, Monday and Tuesday until 4:00 and Thurs to Saturday until 5:00. Check out this little shack it's awesome!More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed October 20, 2022

The food is truly excellent, the price very good, the view better than virtually anywhere! We bring own own folding chairs as they are more comfy than the wooden picinic tables. This is more a food truck than a restaurant. And in the summer there...is a good sized line up everyday. But in October before the rain we arrived at about 2 mins to noon and were their 1st customers of the day.More

Date of visit: October 2022
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Reviewed September 20, 2022 via mobile

The tacos are amazing and has gluten free corn tortillas options for my wife. I highly recommend stopping for some yummy food with a fantastic view. Cash only or e-transfer. Patience is needed as the place is busy but it's worth the wait.

Date of visit: September 2022
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Reviewed March 21, 2022 via mobile

Chose the Sweet Thai Taco and WOW - you need to stop here! Friendly staff, and GREAT food! Highly recommended

Date of visit: March 2022
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Reviewed February 13, 2022 via mobile

A friend took us here while we visited the island. It was very good - although the weather was chilly. There is no indoor seating, and it is right along the beach. The tacos and service were great! A fantastic place to go on a...hot day!More

Date of visit: February 2022
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Reviewed January 5, 2022

Never had a fish taco before and now I'm wondering why. The fish so light and crispy, with a crunch from the cole slaw and the fresh tomatoes!! Your view is the straight and the mountains on the other side. Beautiful. SO worth the stop

Date of visit: December 2021
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Reviewed October 25, 2021

We stopped by for lunch, for two. We ordered a Baja Fish taco each and a prawn taco to split. The Baja fish tacos were yummy, and were a good size for a lunch portion. The prawn taco was meh, glad we only got one...to split - We'll be back for more fish tacos though. Good enough to repeat and judging from all the cars and people there (it wasn't a long wait) everyone else in the are ogress this is good food and good value.More

Date of visit: October 2021
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Reviewed October 21, 2021

This little shack tucked between the highway and the seashore was literally a breath of fresh air. Sitting on a rock or picnic table in the sunshine was a great experience while enjoying a visit to Vancouver Island. The prices were average but the really...fresh homemade food made the experience a great deal. It was obvious that this was a well known spot as there was a continuous stream of customers for take away service. It will be a "must stop" on my next Island trip.More

Date of visit: September 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed August 6, 2021 via mobile

Our Niece suggested Tidal Tacos a few years ago and we HAVE to stop in for a meal each year when we are on the Island to visit family. There can be a bit of a wait during the busy part of the afternoon, however...it is so worth it!More

Date of visit: August 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed November 7, 2020 via mobile

Yes the tacos are decent.. not authentic but tasty. However... If youre so busy that it's an hour wait.. which they are not.. you need to either expand or improve. You can rave about fresh all you want but it's maybe the fish and veggies...hardly count.. ok why the chip on my shoulder.. well the wait didn't help. But the chick running the show is.. well miserable. The service is rude, arrogant and crap to say the least for a very basic taco with thousand island dressing that takes a minute and a half to make but 30 plus minutes to get. I'd personally go across the street to insteadMore

Date of visit: November 2020
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed September 18, 2020

From the depths of a tiny shack come tasty tacos for a satisfying picnic on the beach. I do not know how it can be done efficiently in the two person operation to churn out fresh ( maybe not fast) food order by order, but...it seems to be a popular spot. You can bring your own chairs or sit at picnic tables or on the rocks or straddle a wooden structure with a friend. Next time it will be a burrito feast.More

Date of visit: September 2020
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed July 9, 2020 via mobile

Stoped on the side of the road on the way to Coombs. I had a shrimp burrito and my waive and daughter had a beef and bean taco. The food was very good, fresh and filling. It took a very long time to get our...order but in the end it was worth it.More

Date of visit: July 2020
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed May 26, 2020

You'll find this tiny little shack basically in a beachfront parking lot. It does offer a grassy area with picnic tables and direct access to the beach. Bring your own chairs if you like. (Some changes to seating & additional condiments due to COVID-19 being...observed). Everything is made to order and extremely fresh. In fact, they frequently close up early due to running out of fresh ingredients. Usually open Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-5pm Cash or e-transfer only Prices are reasonable and reflect serving sizes Food is delicious; especially the prawns! If you order a taco, get 2 you won't regret it. The burritos are bigger. Also available as a salad or kids taco. The tacos are very full and VERY messy, almost impossible to hold (request a fork). Not recommended for eating in the car - get the burrito for this! Be prepared for a long wait time, it is the standard (there's even a sign that says so. 30 min-1 hour). No one seems to mind as the food is worth the wait; enjoy the location in the mean time. A nice west coast twist on a Mexican taco.More

Date of visit: May 2020
Helpful?
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Questions & Answers
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Douglas F
August 22, 2020|
Answer
Response from Travel03205309968 |
They no longer have a phone for ordering. It’s order at the window only, fcfs.
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NWandBeyond
February 18, 2020|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from Kristi B | Reviewed this property |
Yes! My husband had a beef burrito and said it was delish. They also had chicken, prawns, veggie and vegan options.
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TIDAL TACO SHACK, Qualicum Bay - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Tidal Taco Shack

Yes, Tidal Taco Shack offers takeaway services.

Tidal Taco Shack is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4.5