Image: Good Taco / Good Taco is a brand new Mexican restaurant at 5525 Vedder Road in Chilliwack. Its employees are men from Adult & Teen Challenge of B.C. who are working to rebuild their lives and gain valuable work skills. One per cent of all sales at Good Taco go to a children's centre in Mexico in order to help alleviate poverty there.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Good Taco

Authentic Mexican cuisine abounds at Good Taco where employees work and recover from addiction

Mar 14, 2023 | 11:38 AM

CHILLIWACK — Good Taco is much more than a new venue in Chilliwack for experiencing authentic Mexican food and fresh sauces inspired by the taco stands of Mexico.

Its employees are men from an addiction recovery program in Chilliwack under the auspices of Adult & Teen Challenge Society of B.C., a one-year addiction recovery program.

The society opened Good Taco, located at 5525 Vedder Road in Garrison Marketplace, on February 2 as an opportunity for men to start their lives over, some of whom have lost everything.

“Adult & Teen Challenge Society of B.C. has opened a Good Taco franchise in Sardis/Chilliwack to help the men, from our Chilliwack Men’s Center in Yarrow, have a safe place to work as they learn to do life over again,” said Loralee Harbut, business development director for Adult & Teen Challenge. “The men, in our one-year addiction recovery program, will be mentored directly in the workplace at Good Taco as they learn valuable life skills and work ethic while sowing back sustainable income for their program.”

The seven types of fillings feature al pastor complete with spit-roasted pork, achiote marinade and pineapple; carnitas including pork confit, crisped and pulled; carne asada, a chargrilled beef steak; pollo birria, which is chicken braised in ancho broth; prawns accompanied by guajillo chili, garlic and ceviche onions; rajas con crema, a mix of peppers, corn, cream sauce, cotija cheese; and rajas con aji featuring peppers, corn, guajillo chili, and garlic.

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The menu consists of their signature tacos, accompanied by a choice of fillings, salsa, guacamole, cilantro and onions, and an option between corn or flour tortillas.

Image: Good Taco / Patrons can choose from multiple options on the Good Taco menu, including three tacos, one taco, or a taco plate.

“The foundation of our Good Taco menu is our seven authentic fillings inspired by the taco stands of Mexico (Al Pastor, Carnitas, Carne Asada, Pollio Birria, Prawns, Raja con Crema and Raja con Aji),” Harbut said. “These fillings are most commonly enjoyed as tacos, but they can also be made into a burrito, quesadilla, salad or taco plate.”

Patrons can also feast on taco plates, a take-home family taco meal, burritos and quesadillas. Their taco plates have a reasonable price point of $14.45 and come with a choice of filling with rice and refried beans, rajas con crema, salsa, cilantro and three five-inch burritos, corn or flour. Customers can wash it all down with Jarritos soda, a popular beverage in Mexico, in assorted flavours.

Not only does the restaurant aim to give its employees a second chance in life, the franchise began with a vision for reaching impoverished children in Mexico.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / Good Taco is located at 5525 Vedder Road just south of Keith Wilson Road.

“Good Taco as a franchise was created with the ambitious goal of alleviating childhood poverty in Mexico,” Harbut said. “At Good Taco, we bring together traditional taqueria flavours with a passion to do good, giving 1% of all sales to Casa De Luz Children’s Centre in Mexico.”

Good Taco Chilliwack/Sardis aims to provide a hope-filled future for not only children in Mexico, but also for men struggling with addiction right here in the Lower Mainland, for this is what drives them day in and day out.

“Our work experience program is vital to the restoration of the men, many of whom have lost everything – family, healthy social supports, careers, education and their dreams,” Harbut said. “Adult & Teen Challenges work experience program and social enterprise ventures are vital to establishing a hope-filled future. We are a faith based one year addiction recovery program for help with any life controlling addiction. The men are thriving as they learn to do life over again at Good Taco. They hope to serve you soon!”

Good Taco is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Visit goodtaco.ca to order and view their menu.