From traditional to unique, find out who came out on top at VZD's Taco Throwdown

The parking lot of VZD's, 4200 N Western Ave., came alive with the sounds of Latin music as chefs from the Oklahoma City metro gathered to "throwdown" their best tacos for a hungry crowd.

On the line, the judges choice and people's choice titles in VZDs Taco Throwdown, the bar and restaurant's second competition of the style.

"It's been so fun, it's been a really cool community thing happening," said Adam Aguilar, whose family owns VZD's.

His brother, Alex Aguilar helped come up with the idea for the competitions alongside co-organizer Greg Horton and his brother. As VZD's chef, Alex Aguilar is also one of the competitors.

Who judged and who competed in VZDs Taco Throwdown?

The judges for Saturday — Charlie Alvarado, Isabelle Young and Chris Castro — set their sights and stomachs on finding the best taco presented to them.

Chefs competing in the competition ranged from taco veterans to culinary heavy hitters from across the city. With 13 tacos put up for judging across two rounds, they varied from the traditional to the unique. From tortillas of blue to yellow to white corn, hand pressed day of, night before or locally sourced with and without sauce, each chef brought their own combination of flavors.

Aguilar teamed up with Josh Valentine, executive chef at Milo, 6201 N Western Ave and joined a dozen other competitors for the competition.

• Lupe Garcia, chef-owner of Trompudo's Tacos, 6015 S May Ave.

• Marco Diaz, chef-founder of Aztec Burrito Company

• Abel Ramos, chef of Abel's Mexican Restaurant, 5822 NW 50th Street in Warr Acres

• Chris McKenna, executive chef of The Joinery, 121 E Sheridan Ave.

• Stephanie Miller, executive chef of The Hamilton, 12232 N May Ave.

• David Henry, founding chef-partner of The Hutch, 6437 Avondale Drive

• Zach Hutton, chef-owner of Scratch Paseo, 605 NW 28th Street

• Nathan Frejo, culinary director of Chartwells at Oklahoma City University

• Caleb Stangroom, executive chef at Bradford House, 1235 NW 38th Street

• Cameron Hedgpeth, chef-partner of Mindy Mae's Fat Stacks Grill

• Ashley Gonzales, executive sous chef at Patrono, 305 N Walker Ave.

• Ivan James Norwood II, winner Best Burger competition

"I never met a taco de asada I didn't like," Alvarado joked as judging kicked off.

But several hours in, with stomachs full from the 13 flavor bombs placed before them, it was time to calculate the results of their judging.

Who won the Taco Throwdown at VZD's?

Tweaked slightly from the format of the Best Burger competition held in March — where winner Ivan James Norwood II, took the $1,000 prize decided solely by a panel of three judges — Saturday's competition was set to have two distinct champions crowned, a fan favorite and a judges choice.

Each would claim a belt and $500, but while the judges made their choice unanimously, the fans proved split in their decision.

The judges' choice went to Zach Hutton, a 2022 James Beard Semifinalist, with second place going to Lupe Garcia and third going to Stephanie Miller. Meanwhile, the crowd decided that Miller, Ramos and the partnership of Valentine and Aguilar were all worthy of the People's Choice title.

Hutton said that it had been a long time since he'd won anything and it was nice to win by reigning it in and "not doing too much." However he also said, if he hadn't won it would have been worth it just to compete because it offered a chance to step away from he restaurant for a while for some fun with other people he loves and respects.

What's next for VZD's?

The Aguilars, who recently announced VZD's will be closing at its current location in September, have another competition — barbecue — planned for July and are looking to make their last few months in the restaurants longtime home count.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: VZD's brings chefs together for Taco Throwdown, plans ahead to barbecue