Cook Street’s beloved Benjo’s Tacos announces move back to Esquimalt

One of Victoria’s most-celebrated taco spots has just announced they will be moving their operations out of Cook Street and into a food truck they plan to park in Esquimalt. 

Benjo’s Tacos actually began their venture in Esquimalt back in 2022, where they utilized a kitchen space inside the Craigflower Foods convenience store. 

However, just as the business was starting to generate some buzz, a fire in the suite above Craigflower Foods caused significant water damage to their kitchen, putting Benjo’s in jeopardy. 

Owners Samantha and Johl Green then took to social media to announce the unfortunate news and received a heartening amount of support from the community and other restaurant owners in the city. 

One supporter in particular, Melanie Laverick, owner of Empire Donuts, reached out and offered the Greens a kitchen space in the Cook Street Empire Donuts, which Benjo’s would share with the donut shop. 

That is where they’ve been since 2023—until now. 

Benjo’s just announced they will be moving their operations out of the Empire Donuts space, into a food truck and will be parking the truck in Esquimalt at 900 Carlton Terrace. 

“This was definitely a hard decision for us, as we love all our Cook Street regulars, but we’ve always known Esquimalt is home,” wrote Samantha Green on social media. 

“Both Johl and I are born & raised in ESQ (we even own our home here) so this was always in the long term plan for us.”

The Greens’ last day running Benjo’s Tacos at their Cooke Street location will be August 29th. 

“We are hoping to be up and running with the truck in the beginning of September, but that depends on how quickly paperwork can move,” Samanth noted. 

“We have some new exciting items to be added to the menu, and of course will have vegan/veggie options. Oh & the food truck will always be 100% gluten-free,” she added. 

The site Benjo’s will be moving to is of particular note because it is part of the property that was being developed by GMC Projects. 

The property, formerly home to the Carlton Club, has been slated for redevelopment that would feature a 26-storey high-rise, an eight-storey rental building and new public spaces. 

Esquimalt Council officially approved the development in April 2024; however, GMC Projects has made no moves to begin work on the redevelopment and their webpage for the project is currently down.