Popular Toronto Mexican restaurant 'rebuilding' after scary acts of vandalism
August has been an unfortunate month for La Barbacha, the viral Mexican restaurant in Toronto, which has been vandalized twice in the last 30 days.
The family-run Mexican restaurant, known for its red, colourful interiors and social media presence, says it has experienced two separate acts of vandalism in August: the first involving graffiti on the restaurant's exterior wall and windows, followed by a more serious incident in which someone smashed through the restaurant's front door.
For the team behind La Barbacha, the incidents mean more than property damage. "We've been hit hard by what has happened, both emotionally and financially. La Barbacha is a family business we built from the ground up with hard work, love, and sacrifice. So seeing something we've poured our hearts into being damaged has been heartbreaking," the team tells blogTO.
The second incident was particularly disruptive, forcing the restaurant to temporarily close while the team cleaned up the damage and made sure the space was safe for staff and customers.
"That day affected not only us, but also our employees, suppliers, and customers, because we couldn't operate," they say. The damage also came with a significant price tag. According to the restaurant, replacing and installing the new front door cost more than $1,500.
Of course, the latest incident will result in a police investigation, but the team now wishes they had been more diligent about security measures.
"Unfortunately, our cameras weren't working that day," they said. But the restaurant across from La Barbacha has security footage, and the police now have it as part of the investigation.
Despite the financial hit and emotional toll, La Barbacha is focused on moving forward and rebuilding.
"[W]e're still here. We're working, rebuilding, and stronger than ever." And while the vandalism has been difficult, the restaurant says its customers' response has provided a bright spot during an otherwise challenging month.
For a small family business, rebuilding after an incident like this isn't simply about replacing a door or cleaning graffiti off a wall. It comes with the hard hit of lost business and unexpected expenses, which cut into a small business' bottom line hard.
This isn't the first time the restaurant has faced issues in its journey to cement itself in Toronto's food scene. La Barbacha's original Kensington Market location was abruptly shut down in May 2026 after the team said the landlord halted operations and banned them from using the store. They then resumed operations out of a new location on Queen Street in June 2026.
La Barbacha in Toronto went viral for its Birria Pizza and Birria Tacos, drawing customers to the restaurant over the last few months.
La Barbacha is located at 1647 Queen St. W.
La Barbacha
