Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!
BelAir Cantina
The category might be new, but the results are the same for BelAir Cantina, as the popular Milwaukee restaurant chain scored the first victory for the Best of Dining poll's inaugural best tacos category (now split from best Mexican/Latin American).
Now up to six locations – the original Water Street spot, Downer Avenue, Wauwatosa, Oak Creek and Brookfield with a bonus locale out in Madison – BelAir Cantina has become a statewide sensation thanks to its collection of tasty tacos (ranging from a classic gringo to the spicy pollo to the porky ninja pig and many more, including vegan options), refreshing margs and beloved deal days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cafe Corazon finished in a distant but respectable second place, while Laughing Taco – the OnMilwaukee editors' pick, as well as an OnMilwaukee editor's child's pick – Mazorca and Guanajuato wrapped up the rest of the top five. And while it finished out of the voters' main five, Kompali has to be pleased that it won over our food expert's heart, earning Lori's top honors.
But after winning four of the last five years in best Mexican/Latin American, it looks like BelAir's setting up for a similar run of success here for the tile of Milwaukee's best taco.
Runners-up:
2. Cafe Corazon
3. Laughing Taco
4. Mazorca
5. Guanajuato
OnMilwaukee editors' pick: Laughing Taco
Lori Fredrich's pick: Kompali