Some of Toronto's best tacos can be found at this hidden pop-up

Tucked deep within an Italian restaurant, with limited hours, no reservations and a menu of Toronto-style takes on traditional Mexican fare, the city's hottest taco spot is wooing in-the-know diners to King East.

A recent pivot from an admired hospitality team, Mikey Dreams of Tacos is creative and a little wild, with a killer menu of new and old faves.

In the run-up to his current role as executive chef and co-owner (with Adam Teolis) of Amano Trattoria and The Berczy Tavern, Michael Angeloni has dabbled in American barbecue, rallied behind nose-to-tail cooking and, during four years running Grand Electric, made his fair share of tortillas loaded with braised and grilled proteins, as well as ceviche, salsas and guac. 

It's this specific part of Angeloni's past that has recently piqued the interest of new fans and inspired Mikey Dreams of Tacos, a pop-up taking place on the last Monday of every month inside Bar Notte Social Club.

"Word has gotten around," explains Angeloni. "I do a lot of offsite catering for Major League Baseball. Some of these teams found out that I make tacos and they like them, so they've asked me to do them."

Though previously used as an Italian-style speakeasy and cocktail bar, Bar Notte has stood empty of late, with the team looking for ways to revive the hidden space inside Amano.

"We tried it as a fancy cocktail bar, and it just, there are some really great people doing it, and it's just not us. We didn't feel like we loved the concept," explains Angeloni.

"I'm in the kitchen making the tacos one day, and I was like, 'You know what? I really miss the vibe of Grand Electric and what we used to do… I was like, 'I've got this space at Notte. We're closed on Mondays. I'm not busy enough with a baby and two restaurants, so why not do something else?'"

Peppered with a mix of Grand Electric hits (we see you Baja fish) and new tacos, Mikey Dreams of Tacos also offers diners heartier mains, desserts and drinks.

"It's a mixed bag," says Angeloni. "A lot of them are recipes that I developed, or Colin (Tooke) developed, when we were together. There's a lot of dishes I've never done before. We did a beef cheek mole taco last pop-up that I created."

From pork shoulder carnitas and aguachile to carnitas crunch wrap supreme, the menu blends Angeloni's time in Oaxaca with a thoroughly North American sensibility. "It's my version of Mexican food," he adds. “We're in Toronto. We're so multicultural. It makes sense for us to use ingredients from different places, and styles of cooking. It's what's around us."

Available from 5:30 until sold out, the event is first-come, first-served. "The response has been really great," says Angeloni, of the first two events. "A lot of the local neighbourhood that follow Amano and The Berczy, they're really into it because it's something fresh and fun for them."

Additionally, "a lot of our old Grand Electric staff has come out. A lot of old faces are coming around. I think we all miss what GE was back in the day."

Whether Mikey Dreams of Tacos will take over the Bar Notte space on a more permanent basis remains to be seen. "You never know. I always say I'm good with two but then I get these crazy ideas. I always want to do something new."

For updates on events, visit @mikeydreamsoftacos. Bar Notte Social Club is located at 11 Church Street.