A record-breaking crowd flocked to this year’s Taco Wars to celebrate
Latino culture, food, and music at one of the country’s largest one-day taco, salsa and tequila
festivals.
The festival, presented by the Prize Foundation, Modelo Especial, Maestro Dobel, Caddo
Commission, Delta Utilities, and Ochsner LSU Health, was held on May 2 outside the
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Taco lovers throughout the region flocked to Downtown
Shreveport for the festival.
“It was definitely our best Taco Wars ever! said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director of the
Prize Foundation and founder of Taco Wars. “For me and Team Prize, to see that many people
from our community celebrating together was inspiring and joyous to see! We are honored to be
able to put this festival together with our partners and taquerias. That said, we now have our
sights set on Prize Fest in October, and we look forward to raising a glass with everyone again!”
The Prize Foundation worked in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Alliance of Northwest
Louisiana to recruit 13 taquerias from Northwest Louisiana and East Texas. This year, in a new
partnership, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council presented live music by award-winning
mariachi band Mariachi Los Caporales, Los Varela, and Quimikoz in Common Park.
A panel of celebrity chef judges (including Golden Fork winners Chef Dylan Teekell and Chef
Melvin Nelson) tasted all 13 tacos in a blind tasting. After careful deliberation, the Taco Wars
Judges awarded La Reyna Del Sur the Best Taco title, along with a $1,000 cash prize.
All taquerias also gave out free tastings of chips and salsas to the hungry crowd. Attendees
were given voting tokens upon entry to the festival and voted for their favorite bite. Ramirez
Mexican Restaurant defended their title of Best Salsa and were awarded a $500 cash prize.
At Taco Wars, 90% of taco sales goes directly back to the taquerias. Participants for 2026
include: Bazzar Mexicano, El Novillo Meat Market La Potranca, La Villa Taqueria, Mi Mercadito,
Mi Meza, Pedro’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, Ramirez Mexican Restaurant, Taqueria El Eden,
Taqueria Flores, Taqueria La Reyna Del Sur, Taqueria Mi Palmar, and Taqueria San Miguel.