When Joe Vandal opened Coa Cantina off Airport Road in Breckenridge in 2023, the Summit Daily News reported that his restaurant had “big shoes to fill” after moving into the longtime location of a local Mexican joint. But the people have spoken: Coa Cantina has filled those shoes.

Summit County voted Coa Cantina as the winner of Best Tacos in the 2024 Best of Summit contest. Though it’s only been in the culinary scene in Breckenridge for just over a year, the restaurant also earned placings for Best New Business, Best Margarita, Best Burrito, Best Cocktail, Best Dive Bar, Best Mexican and Best Lunch.

“We want to make it a point that you don’t have to go to (Breckenridge) Main Street to get something awesome — good food, good cocktails, good agave,” Vandal said. “I think everything was so Main Street focused.”

Behind the bar at Coa Cantina, customers won’t find any celebrity-endorsed tequila, mezcal or other agave distillates. Instead, customers will find a hand-picked selection of distillates sourced from family-run agave farms in Mexico, not produced by corporate conglomerates. 

The tacos — a classic match for a margarita — are prepared with the same level of authenticity in mind.

“We try to keep things pretty traditional,” Head Chef Amanda Berg said. “I work very closely with a lot of my Oaxacan cooks to make sure that we’re keeping things very authentic and very, truly Mexican. We do a lot of slow braises.”

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Coa Cantina is the winner of Best Tacos in the 2024 Best of Summit.</figcaption><figcaption>Ryan Spencer/Summit Daily News</figcaption>

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From the carne asada — a local favorite — to the chorizo, pork carnitas or chicken tinga tacos, everything is made fresh. Customers who visit on a Taco Tuesday will receive $1 off tacos and $3 off taco plates.

Coa Cantina also has happy hour specials daily from 3-5 p.m., live music Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. and Thursday Bingo Nights starting at 8:30 p.m. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Visit CoaCantinaBreck.com for more information.

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This story previously published in the Best of Summit guide. See complete results at SummitDaily.com/best.