Located at Adelaide and Portland, this tiny tanqueria is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Toronto. Mexican chef Olivier LeCalvez designed a menu featuring authentic favourites with a modern twist. Skip inside the dramatic dining room and you’ll find jaw dropping features such as oversized folk art chandeliers and huge mural by Oscar Flores lit with black lights. The kitchen is in the back of the restaurant, serving up classic tacos like al mexican food in toronto pastor, battered Baja fish, and carnitas.
With its eclectic menu and laid-back vibe, La Carnita invites guests to embark on a culinary journey through the bustling streets of Mexico City. Join us as we explore some of the top Mexican restaurants in the city, offering a taste of Mexico right here in downtown Toronto. Welcome to Toronto, where the vibrant flavours of Mexico come alive in the heart of the city.
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Beyond the taco menu you’ll also find chilacas, tortas, burritos and quesadillas. Wag your finger down Quetzal’s drinks menu and you’ll find creative Mexican cocktails and a wine list offering a strong selection of Niagara and Prince Edward County wines. The space features a 9-seat bar that sits perched over a 28-foot open flame where diners can watch chefs grilling meat, vegetables and seafood. Walker explains the inspiration behind the restaurants romantic interior, “it is inspired by the billowing tarps and peaking sunlight of traditional Mexican mercados.
- Bartenders chat H2O chemistry as easily as amaros, yet the vibe stays welcoming, with guests drifting up from the food hall for tacos and a seat at the brass rail.
- Located in the heart of Korea Town on Bloor Street West, Barrio Coreano does a blissful job at marrying Mexican and Korean flavours.
- The interior of La Carnita is designed locally by some of Toronto’s best street style artists.
- Executive Chef and Founder Arturo Anhalt draws inspiration from his Mexican upbringing to craft a menu brimming with vibrant flavours and familiar favourites.
- Located in the former Butter Chicken Factory space, Luis H Restaurant is a friendly neighbourhood restaurant serving elevated tacos and regional dishes from Oaxaca.
El Trompo
Chef Irina Tirtirau manages the food program at Chula Taberna Mexicana. Both patios get full sun all day and are set up with beachy umbrellas to keep our guests cool while they enjoy sipping margaritas. As experienced restaurateurs, the duo decided to turn their vision into a reality by building Chula Taberna Mexicana. In the kitchen, El Rey’s Head Chef Rodrigo Aguilar has pulled culinary inspiration from central regions in Mexico like Veracruz, Hidalgo and Michoacán, as well as Yucatán state.
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So what are some of Chef Aguilar’s favourite places in Toronto to eat Mexican food when he’s not working in the kitchen at El Rey Mezcal Bar? We sat down with Rodrigo Aguilar, Head Chef of El Rey Mezcal Bar in Kensington Market to chat about Toronto’s Mexican restaurant scene. Chula Taberna Mexicana enlivens Leslieville with its colourful terrace and menu bursting with Mexican tapas.
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The drinks menu features an evolving lineup of mezcal bottles, categorized by species and annotated with places of origin and tasting notes typical of their terroir. Chef Grant van Gameren is regularly credited for popularizing the nose-to-tail dining concept in Canada. Traditional Mexican colours like terracotta and turquoise compliment the calm, breezy dining space that represents Mexico’s heritage and cuisine.” The chic 72 seat restaurant in Little Italy was designed in collaboration with PARTISANS (the same firm behind the award-wining interiors at Bar Raval). Travel tends to be a huge contributing factor to the fostering of a strong concept.
The concept succeeds thanks to its mix of Mexican street food, graffiti and love for old school mixtapes. La Carnita first created waves in the Toronto restaurant industry by harnessing the power of social media to promote taco pop ups. Stand-out dishes on the menu include Birria-quiles (beef birria topped chilaquiles) and Birria Ramen (tender meat served over Japanese noodles).
From classic tacos filled with mouthwatering meats and tangy salsas to inventive dishes like Mexican street corn and churro ice cream sandwiches, every bite at La Carnita is a taste sensation. With over 17 years of journalism experience, Andrew is recognized as a global expert on luxury hotels, restaurant food culture and recipe development. If you’re here on a weekend the place can get really packed so we suggest treating tacos as they were intended, a street food enjoyed best while strolling. Wag your finger down the menu and you’ll find Mexican classics like guacamole, ceviche, and plenty of drool-worthy tacos.
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For example, when you come to El Rey you get a traditional Cantina experience. In Mexico we have a lot of traditions and celebrations that are tied into our food, which I think are very captivating for people. Aguilar describes the unique appeal of Mexico’s culinary traditions, “It’s not only the vibrant flavours that draw people in, but the experience. I think the city is doing a good job of sharing not only the flavours, but the traditions and cultures of my country.” In North York, there are a wide variety of restaurants of all kinds of cuisines. Their tapas-style menu encourages sharing, making it an ideal spot for social dining amidst the area’s cobblestone charm.
The vegan Mexican restaurant sits perched over Richmond Street West, a stones throw from the Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre and Toronto City Hall. The cozy dining room is filled with antique wooden chair and tables topped with blue and white hand-painted dishware from Mexico. Located in the heart of Kensington Market, El Trompo is famous for its no-frills dining room and sun-soaked front patio. There are two or three stools tucked under the bar top, making it a perfect spot if you’re looking to grab a quick bite and have a penchant for people watching. Pair one of the bars 85 tequilas with decadent foie gras tostadas or lobster and guacamole burritos.
Whether you’re craving authentic street tacos, gourmet mole dishes, or refreshing margaritas, these Mexican restaurants are sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you coming back for more. La Carnita is more than just a Mexican restaurant – it’s a culinary experience that celebrates the vibrant flavours and spirit of Mexican street food culture. Dine at the King West restaurant and you’ll find a menu inspired and influenced by traditional Mexican dishes and flavours.