The Best Mexican Restaurants in Toronto

The best Mexican restaurants in Toronto are tequila-fueled sources of mouth-watering authentic eats. Among the best are varying vibes — from the shrouded hidden gems to the slightly more visible, to the Mexican mini-chains — but they all share an appreciation for quality food and service. These restaurants are where you'll find the most authentic mole, succulent tacos, and guacamole that will make many of Toronto's Tex-Mex spots pitifully second best. And they're usually flush with loud music, buzz, and flavour too.

Here is the list of the best Mexican restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Tacos in Toronto

Note: This list was previously published in July 2009. Comments below made up until March 22, 2012 are in reference to the old list. We've purposely kept the archived comments here because we believe they (mostly) add value to this topic. If you don't want to have to wade through all of them, simply hit the "sort by newest first" link at the top of the thread.

Lead photo by Jim U in the blogTO Flickr pool

Grand Electric

Blame it on the tacos, the impressive selection of bourbon, or the always-lively atmosphere, but Grand Electric simply has a pull that attracts the masses to Parkdale (and seduces this writer to employ unfortunate punnery). While customers should be prepared if planning to dine on a busy night, promises of house-made salsa verde, pozo rojo, and pork belly al pastor offer good incentive for a little idle thumb-twirling. More »

Milagro

Milagro borrows flavours from a variety of regions in Mexico to offer a authentic, complete menu. The ceviche is undoubtedly one of Milagro’s top sells, along with its tacos (homemade corn tortillas, of course), burritos, and margaritas, available at its three Toronto restaurants. A win for ambiance, as well. More »

Frida

Must love heat (and be prepared to part with a bit of your hard-earned cash), but otherwise, Frida is a great option for those looking for delicious, traditional flavours and hefty main courses. Gucamole and chips is an obvious starter for those who know Frida, followed by something hot, meaty, and ideally cheesy as well, followed by the churros. Must have churros. More »

Playa Cabana

A cosy Annex spot that’s often packed to the rafters, especially in the summertime when the patio is open and the drinks are flowing. Playa Cabana has an extensive tequila list and a reputation for solid ceviche and baja tacos. Reservations are recommended for almost any night of the week. More »

El Trompo

El Trompo delivers bliss in the form of guac and chips on a sunny, patio-optimized afternoon. Its brunch is a pretty big hit for the Kensington Mexican-loving crowd, offering classic huevos rancheros and huevos con chorizo (house-made sausage is key), with al pastor fajitas and molten cheese dishes for the later crowds. More »

Rebozos

While the decor speaks to a picnic lunch brought inside, the food at Rebozos is enough to keep your eyes squarely on your plate. The Rogers Road restaurant offers fiery pozole, beef tongue, chicken, and pulled pork tacos, and the house favourite, carnitas, among other specialties, and has a separate space entirely to keep take-out separate from dine-in. Now with a second outpost in Kensington Market. More »

La Revolucion

La Revolucion is the Junction’s answer to quality Mexican food, offering simple, staple, not-too-expensive meals. The tacos, especially the shrimp, steak, and chorizo tacos, are lauded for their tasty reliability, especially when paired with a superb handmade margarita. Live music, and if you’re lucky, candlelight. More »

Pachuco

Its recipes are a take on south of the border (two borders, that is), but most of the ingredients used for Pachuco’s plates are locally sourced. There are the traditional menu options, of course, such as chile poblano and taquitos but also lots of fresh spins on classics including the goat cheese guac, spicy mango margaritas, and poutine-style churros. Yes, you read that right. More »