What started as a celebration for a local Latino soccer league is now one of the Ark-La-Tex’s biggest food festivals. On Saturday, April 26, Prize Fest will host Taco Wars.
Taco Wars was originally a gathering of just a few local Latino restaurants, meant to connect the various cultures of Shreveport.
"In Shreveport, I just didn’t see that connection, right? I mean, not that it’s not there, I just think that any of those connections are something that we at the Prize Foundation always want to strengthen."
Gregory Kallenberg, the director of Prize Fest and founder of Taco Wars, says that he planned on about 500 attendees for the first Taco Wars. To his surprise, about 1,500 people attended.
"Little did I know the intense draw of the lowly, you know, but much celebrated taco," Kallenberg says.
Since then, Kallenberg reports massively growing numbers for the event. Last year the headcount was around 10,000, and Kallenberg says he hopes for that kind of turnout for this year.
"I mean, essentially, it’s a tortilla with a filling in it, right? But, when you really go and speak to some of these vendors about what they’re putting into a taco, it’s so much more, right? It’s embedded in their family; it’s embedded in tradition."
In addition, the competitors are small businesses from Shreveport and Bossier. This means that a handful of local restaurants are getting the attention of those 10,000 attendees.
"You know that big crowd is awesome," Kallenberg says. "It’s super fun and it puts a lot of energy there. But there’s also an importance to it, which is that support of those small businesses and those Latino and Hispanic businesses that are so essential to the economic health of Shreveport and Bossier."
Here’s how Taco Wars works: attendees buy food and drink tickets, each worth one dollar, and a salsa voting token. Then, attendees can taste and vote on their favorite salsa and enjoy the various tacos served by the taquerias. A panel of celebrity taco experts will then select the Taco Wars winner, who receives a $1,000 cash prize. Kallenberg emphasizes that 90 percent of profits from the tickets actually goes to the businesses.
"So, every dollar you spend at a taqueria, ninety cents go back to these small-business people."
Out of every Prize Fest competition, Taco Wars is the only one with completely local contestants.
"It’s not just a taco on a plate, but you’re actually seeing the people really put those things together," Kallenberg says. "And you get to see the love and hard work that goes into it."
Kallenberg says that Taco Wars celebrates Shreveport-Bossier’s Latino population by taking the time to highlight the culture they bring to Northwest Louisiana, food and tequila from local restaurants, music from local bands and community
"You can hear the sizzle from the flatirons; you can smell everything that they’re cooking."
Taco Wars leads up to Prize Fest’s Food Prize. Right now, the Society of the Golden Fork is selecting the chefs who will go on to the Food Prize competition in October.
"It’s really Shreveport and Bossier who make this thing special. And, having everyone be able to be there together is something that really has, I think, been a part of the positive change in this region, and hopefully will continue to do so," Kallenberg says. "It's really one of the most magical festival events, not just in Shreveport, not just in Louisiana, but in the country. And, you know, I feel very lucky that we get to host it, but to be down there is to be a part of something incredibly special. Please be a part of it. Not only to help support these local taquerias but also have an incredible time with an incredible culture, with an incredible community of people, and really to help build something that is one of the most special events in the country."
With Red River Radio News, I’m Alaina Atnip.
Taco Wars 2025 Competitors:
-El Novillo Meat Market
-La Potranca
-La Villa Taqueria
-Maria’s Kitchen
-Mi Meza Latin Cuisine
-Mi Mercadito
-Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant
-Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant
-Ramirez Mexican Restaurant
-Taqueria El Eden
-Taqueria Flores
-Taqueria La Reyna Del Sur
-Taqueria Mi Palmar
-Taqueria San Miguel