Tidal Tacos, a popular Vancouver Island taco stand in Qualicum Beach, now has a new location in Osoyoos. Staff members Paula Langille (left) and Taylor Price prepare each item fresh to order. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Vancouver Island’s seafood gets a Mexican remake in Osoyoos’ newest taco shop.

Tidal Tacos, located in the Nk’Mip Corner gas station on Highway 3, is a Baja, California fusion take on traditional Mexican food. The name is a reference to both the seafood loaded on the tacos, and the shop’s original location in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island.

Owner Ashely Martz and her husband Frank Major opened the shop on the Island five years ago. The plan was to only operate during the busy summer season and close shop for the winter, but the restaurant became heavily patronized by locals and tourists alike, and was more successful than Martz planned for.

“Not thinking it would be what it is today, we have made a very successful little business on beautiful Vancouver Island serving up some of the freshest tasting tacos around,” she said.

“People line up before we open and some even wait an hour or so for the food on really busy days.”

After half a decade of steady business, Martz decided to bring her coastal menu to B.C.’s Interior, starting with Osoyoos.

Martz’s best friend since the age of 10, Breanne Munro, joined the team to help out at the new location, which opened at the beginning of May.

All of the items on Tidal Tacos’ menu are prepared fresh to order. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

“The whole idea was because it started in a small town on the island, and (Martz) was so successful and people were so excited about her menu, my vision of it was that in a lot of small towns there isn’t a lot of really great food that isn’t overly expensive,” Munro said.

“That was kind of the idea, to bring some of this delicious, affordable, fresh food.”

All items are made fresh to order and the fish is regularly delivered from Vancouver Island where it’s caught. All meat is sustainable and hormone-free.

Each taco, burrito or salad is topped with pico de gallo and a blend of signature sauces, both made in house.

But it’s different from traditional Mexican cuisine, usually made with refried beans, rice and corn, Munro said.

Only one option – the vegan taco or burrito – has rice and corn in it. The rest are heavy on the greens and seafood.

“We’re putting a twist on (Mexican food),” Munro said. “It’s west coast California fusion.”

However, the seafood items have yet to catch on in Osoyoos. Since opening in May, the shop’s best-selling items have been beef and pork, Munro said. On the island, fish tacos are in top demand.

“Everybody on Vancouver Island, if you’re into seafood, they want to eat the seafood,” Munro said.

“When you go to places you don’t typically order seafood when you’re in the Interior, away from the ocean, but it’s all the exact same that we serve on Vancouver Island.”

Tidal Tacos is open daily at 11:30 a.m. From Monday to Thursday, they’re open until 6:30 p.m., and Friday to Sunday they close at 7:30 p.m.

All of the items on Tidal Tacos’ menu are prepared fresh to order. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)