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The Best Tacos in Toronto

Robin Winship

Written By

Robin Winship

The Best Tacos in Toronto

The best tacos in Toronto, whether on flour or corn tortillas, brimming with slowly stewed birria, spit-roasted al pastor or Baja-style battered fish tacos guarantee to appease all cravings for Mexico's favourite street food.

With several spots scattered across the city, from full-scale Mexican restaurants to temporary pop-ups and pint-sized taco stalls, no matter where you're ordering from, the best Toronto tacos will have you coming back for more.

Well-seasoned protein, homemade tortillas and nuanced and spicy salsas are all integral components when it comes to finding Toronto's best taco. The list is long, but with so many places, it becomes hard to narrow down. Whether you are a steadfast believer in the traditional and authentic or opt for a modern take, there is a taco to appease all tastes.

Below is a list of the best tacos in Toronto.

Little Italy

460 College St

Campechano - College

With two locations in the city, Campechano has established themselves as one of Toronto's top destinations for flavourful tacos.

Campechano - College

Little Italy

460 College St

With two locations in the city, Campechano has established themselves as one of Toronto's top destinations for flavourful tacos.

Dundas West

802 Dundas St W

Fonda Balam

Run by chefs Julio Guajardo, Kate Chomyshyn and in partnership with celebrity chef Matty Matheson, this pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant is a go-to for birria! On the menu, you'll find quesa birria, consisting of a crispy quesadilla with birria, or the tacos suave, consisting of birria in soft tortillas. All are served with cilantro, lime, salsa and consomé.

Fonda Balam

Dundas West

802 Dundas St W

Run by chefs Julio Guajardo, Kate Chomyshyn and in partnership with celebrity chef Matty Matheson, this pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant is a go-to for birria! On the menu, you'll find quesa birria, consisting of a crispy quesadilla with birria, or the tacos suave, consisting of birria in soft tortillas. All are served with cilantro, lime, salsa and consomé.

Comal y Canela

This home-style spot for authentic Mexican eats, specifically specializing in slow-cooked stews like birria, is a favourite destination for birria tacos with consommé; you'll also find gobernador tacos with shrimp and a vegetarian tinga taco.

Comal y Canela

This home-style spot for authentic Mexican eats, specifically specializing in slow-cooked stews like birria, is a favourite destination for birria tacos with consommé; you'll also find gobernador tacos with shrimp and a vegetarian tinga taco.

King's Tacos

This unassuming simple spot located in Corso Italia offers a menu of pastor, carne asada and carnitas.

King's Tacos

This unassuming simple spot located in Corso Italia offers a menu of pastor, carne asada and carnitas.

Bracondale Hill

933 St Clair Ave W

Tenoch Restaurant

Mexican

A quaint taqueria hailed as a best kept secret offers a menu of delicious tacos such as steak and cheese, pastor, chorizo, tinga, chicharrón and plenty more.

Tenoch Restaurant

Bracondale Hill

933 St Clair Ave W

A quaint taqueria hailed as a best kept secret offers a menu of delicious tacos such as steak and cheese, pastor, chorizo, tinga, chicharrón and plenty more.

Mexican

CINCO Mexican Restaurant

The Mexican restaurant in Roncesvalles does pastor, rotisserie chicken tacos, chicken mole, carne and cochinita pibil.

CINCO Mexican Restaurant

The Mexican restaurant in Roncesvalles does pastor, rotisserie chicken tacos, chicken mole, carne and cochinita pibil.

King West

552 King St W

Wilbur Mexicana

Mexican

This bold takeaway spot on King West offers a menu of Mexican street food, including elotes, burritos and tacos like grilled avocado, bulgogi and mushroom, with the option for a flour or corn tortilla.

Wilbur Mexicana

King West

552 King St W

This bold takeaway spot on King West offers a menu of Mexican street food, including elotes, burritos and tacos like grilled avocado, bulgogi and mushroom, with the option for a flour or corn tortilla.

Mexican

Kensington Market

277 Augusta Ave

El Trompo

Mexican

A snug taqueria in Kensington Market comes with five small tacos per order, with options for tinga, al pastor, quesongo tacos (mushrooms, onion and cheese) and plenty more.

El Trompo

Kensington Market

277 Augusta Ave

A snug taqueria in Kensington Market comes with five small tacos per order, with options for tinga, al pastor, quesongo tacos (mushrooms, onion and cheese) and plenty more.

Mexican

Kensington Market

214 Augusta Ave

La Chilaca Taqueria

This pint-sized spot for tacos tucked away in Kensington Market offers a menu of tacos served on flour or corn tortillas. Find fish, chilaca, chorizo, carnitas and campechano.

La Chilaca Taqueria

Kensington Market

214 Augusta Ave

This pint-sized spot for tacos tucked away in Kensington Market offers a menu of tacos served on flour or corn tortillas. Find fish, chilaca, chorizo, carnitas and campechano.

Queen West

247 Queen St W

Mi Taco Taqueria - Queen

With a location on Bloor and Queen, this Mexican restaurant offers an array of tacos on house-made tortillas. Find all the classics, like tinga, carnitas, carne asada and fish.

Mi Taco Taqueria - Queen

Queen West

247 Queen St W

With a location on Bloor and Queen, this Mexican restaurant offers an array of tacos on house-made tortillas. Find all the classics, like tinga, carnitas, carne asada and fish.

St. Clair West

998 St Clair Ave W

Itacate

One of Toronto's most authentic taquerias, Itacate offers a no-frills menu of carnitas, chorizo, lengua, pescado and more.

Itacate

St. Clair West

998 St Clair Ave W

One of Toronto's most authentic taquerias, Itacate offers a no-frills menu of carnitas, chorizo, lengua, pescado and more.

Queen West

942 Queen St W

Fonda Lola

Mexican

The Mexican restaurant on Queen West offers authentic flavours in an intimate space. On the menu, you'll find chicken tinga, Baja fish, shrimp and top sirloin.

Fonda Lola

Queen West

942 Queen St W

The Mexican restaurant on Queen West offers authentic flavours in an intimate space. On the menu, you'll find chicken tinga, Baja fish, shrimp and top sirloin.

Mexican

Chula Taberna Mexicana

This lively and vibrant fusion Mexican spot offers tacos like carnitas, BBQ beef brisket, crispy zucchini, beer-battered haddock and chipotle grilled chicken.

Chula Taberna Mexicana

This lively and vibrant fusion Mexican spot offers tacos like carnitas, BBQ beef brisket, crispy zucchini, beer-battered haddock and chipotle grilled chicken.

The Annex

111 Dupont St

Playa Cabana

With three locations across the city, this taqueria offers a menu of camaron, al pastor, carnitas, grilled chicken, tinga, shortrib and pescado.

Playa Cabana

The Annex

111 Dupont St

With three locations across the city, this taqueria offers a menu of camaron, al pastor, carnitas, grilled chicken, tinga, shortrib and pescado.

North York

3220 Yonge St

Maiz - Yonge

Latin American

This Latin American restaurant with a location near Yonge and Lawrence and one in the Junction offers a menu of arepas, burritos, bowls, nachos, churros and tacos. You'll find chorizo, carnitas, tinga, vegan tacos, cod and shredded beef for tacos.

Maiz - Yonge

North York

3220 Yonge St

This Latin American restaurant with a location near Yonge and Lawrence and one in the Junction offers a menu of arepas, burritos, bowls, nachos, churros and tacos. You'll find chorizo, carnitas, tinga, vegan tacos, cod and shredded beef for tacos.

Latin American

Corso Italia

145 Lauder Ave

Atomic 10

Mexican

This restaurant in St. Clair West opened back in the spring of 2020 and offers a menu of appetizers like cassava fries and tostones, tortas, large plates and of course, tacos. You'll find more traditional options like carnitas and asada on the menu, in addition to more creative options like the Pad Thai taco or the Tipsy Chick, with smoked adobo pepper marinates, pico de gallo, pickled carrots and chipotle.

Atomic 10

Corso Italia

145 Lauder Ave

This restaurant in St. Clair West opened back in the spring of 2020 and offers a menu of appetizers like cassava fries and tostones, tortas, large plates and of course, tacos. You'll find more traditional options like carnitas and asada on the menu, in addition to more creative options like the Pad Thai taco or the Tipsy Chick, with smoked adobo pepper marinates, pico de gallo, pickled carrots and chipotle.

Mexican

Kensington Market

2a Kensington Ave

El Rey Mezcal Bar

One of Toronto restaurateur Grant van Gameren's ventures, this Mexican eatery and mezcal bar in Kensington Market offers al pastor tacos, crispy squid tacos, cauliflower tacos, birria burritos and chicken mole burritos.

El Rey Mezcal Bar

Kensington Market

2a Kensington Ave

One of Toronto restaurateur Grant van Gameren's ventures, this Mexican eatery and mezcal bar in Kensington Market offers al pastor tacos, crispy squid tacos, cauliflower tacos, birria burritos and chicken mole burritos.

Tacos El Asador

This Latin American institution in Koreatown is a family-run affair that offers Mexican and Salvadoran dishes. The menu is rather expansive, but in terms of tacos, you'll find soft and crispy tacos. There is beef tongue, beef, chicken, pork, chorizo, cochinita, pastor, goat birria, carnitas, fish, shrimp and vegetarian.

Tacos El Asador

This Latin American institution in Koreatown is a family-run affair that offers Mexican and Salvadoran dishes. The menu is rather expansive, but in terms of tacos, you'll find soft and crispy tacos. There is beef tongue, beef, chicken, pork, chorizo, cochinita, pastor, goat birria, carnitas, fish, shrimp and vegetarian.

Grand Electric

Parkdale's trendy spot for tacos, tostadas and guac and chips has gained quite the name in the city. You'll find Baja fish, cauliflower, shrimp, pork carnitas, beef cheek, mushroom and spicy chicken on the menu.

Grand Electric

Parkdale's trendy spot for tacos, tostadas and guac and chips has gained quite the name in the city. You'll find Baja fish, cauliflower, shrimp, pork carnitas, beef cheek, mushroom and spicy chicken on the menu.

Distillery District

18 Tank House Lane

El Catrin

This airy and vibrant Mexican restaurant in Toronto's distillery district has been a mainstay for delicious tacos and patio-side margaritas. Find Baja, pastor, vegetarian and chicken adobo tacos on the menu.

El Catrin

Distillery District

18 Tank House Lane

This airy and vibrant Mexican restaurant in Toronto's distillery district has been a mainstay for delicious tacos and patio-side margaritas. Find Baja, pastor, vegetarian and chicken adobo tacos on the menu.

Entertainment District

106 John St

La Carnita - John

With several locations across the city and one in Mississauga, La Carnita's regular menu offers a selection of tacos, but with the closure of dine-in restaurants, they have pivoted to a more takeout-friendly format, LXCO by La Carnita. On the menu, you'll find taco kits, burritos and bowls.

La Carnita - John

Entertainment District

106 John St

With several locations across the city and one in Mississauga, La Carnita's regular menu offers a selection of tacos, but with the closure of dine-in restaurants, they have pivoted to a more takeout-friendly format, LXCO by La Carnita. On the menu, you'll find taco kits, burritos and bowls.

Kensington Market

214 Augusta Ave

Birria Catrina

Birria Catrina is one of the few places in Toronto solely dedicated to birria, a slowly-stewed dish traditionally made from mutton but can also be made with beef or goat. On the menu at this Kensington Market taqueria, you'll find beef birria served in tacos, consomé, gringa, quesadilla or their specialty, a pizadilla, birria with cheese mounted between two large flour tortillas and topped with cilantro and onions.

Birria Catrina

Kensington Market

214 Augusta Ave

Birria Catrina is one of the few places in Toronto solely dedicated to birria, a slowly-stewed dish traditionally made from mutton but can also be made with beef or goat. On the menu at this Kensington Market taqueria, you'll find beef birria served in tacos, consomé, gringa, quesadilla or their specialty, a pizadilla, birria with cheese mounted between two large flour tortillas and topped with cilantro and onions.

Kensington Market

69 Kensington Ave

Seven Lives

Constantly bustling with people eagerly awaiting their turn to order, Seven Lives has become an institution in the city for what most claim to be the best fish taco in the city. Favourites are the Baja Fish with cabbage, Baja sauce and pico de gallo or the Gobernador with smoked blue marlin, grilled shrimp, cheese, crema and pickled onions.

Seven Lives

Kensington Market

69 Kensington Ave

Constantly bustling with people eagerly awaiting their turn to order, Seven Lives has become an institution in the city for what most claim to be the best fish taco in the city. Favourites are the Baja Fish with cabbage, Baja sauce and pico de gallo or the Gobernador with smoked blue marlin, grilled shrimp, cheese, crema and pickled onions.

Tacos Gus - Parkdale

This taqueria now has three locations in the city, Kensington Market, Gladstone Avenue and Parkdale. Co-owned by cousins Emilio Morales and Augustine Morales, Tacos Gus brings authentic tacos to Toronto. You'll find asada, barbacoa, pollo, pastor, chilorio, pescado and more on the menu. Available as a taco, quesadilla, burrito or torta, there is something for everyone on the menu. A must order is the chilaca taco, which consists of a flour tortilla stuffed with banana pepper, cheese and your choice of protein.

Tacos Gus - Parkdale

This taqueria now has three locations in the city, Kensington Market, Gladstone Avenue and Parkdale. Co-owned by cousins Emilio Morales and Augustine Morales, Tacos Gus brings authentic tacos to Toronto. You'll find asada, barbacoa, pollo, pastor, chilorio, pescado and more on the menu. Available as a taco, quesadilla, burrito or torta, there is something for everyone on the menu. A must order is the chilaca taco, which consists of a flour tortilla stuffed with banana pepper, cheese and your choice of protein.