Añejo brings passion for all things Mexican (especially tequila) to the King West entertainment district. Añejo is hidden below street level in an historic building at the corner of King and Portland. Mexican dishes made with local ingredients and authentic recipes serve as the perfect accompaniment to one of a seemingly endless selection of tequilas

True to its name, Ave Maria Latin Cafe features food and grocery products with origins spanning from Argentina, Ecuador and Peru to Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico. Run by husband-and-wife duo Maria-Jose Suarez and Aland Portillo, both of whom are native Colombians, the food menu features traditional Latin American dishes like arepas, empanadas and tamales. Customers

Mas Playas has built up a lengthy list of Mexican eateries across the city. The restaurant group’s midtown location, Bar Esquina, served up the same dinner favourites as the other venues, including guacamole, burritos and tacos. Additionally, Bar Esquina offers a lunch menu of two tacos, including the diablo shrimp, with rice and beans and

Grabbing its name from the classic martial arts flick, BIG TROUBLE is a Chinatown bar that promises the 20-something set a good time. Sibling owners Andrew and Christine Pham wanted to properly celebrate the hood they grew up in; multicoloured lanterns dot the room, red drapes decorate the windows while a dragon oversees the bathrooms

For sandwich enthusiasts, Brock Sandwich is a must. Bloordale’s new hit shop, which seats but a handful of people, hasn’t been open long, but it has already made quite a name for itself. The signature offering is the buttermilk chicken sammy — a veritable beast — but otherwise, the rotating menu keeps patrons coming back for more.

Tortillas are the foundation of a good taco, and when it comes to tacos, Campechano does not mess around. Importing the corn from Mexico, soaking and grinding the masa fresh daily and grilling each tortilla to order, Campechano is serious about making fresh and delicious tacos. Owners Raena Fisher and Daniel Roe (previously of the

For the people at Chadwick’s, a “craft” kitchen means that everything is made in-house. This includes the sausages and the burger buns, the dressings and condiments, and the succulent smoked brisket. The concept for their menu is based on a variety of street food and diner fare from around the world. Executive chef Pablo V

This family-owned eatery offers a classic menu of Latin American eats with an emphasis on Mexican fare, such as carnitas and tamales. Lunch combos come with rice and refried beans, and they also do breakfast options like sincronizada, which is a grilled tortilla filled with refried beans, ham and cheese. The shop also contains an

Clandestine Tacos and Churros is the newest offering from the team behind Queen West Mexican bistro Fonda Lola. It’s billed as a pure Mexican experience loaded with passion and flavours. The menu features fish, pork, beef and veggie tacos as well as churros.    

Executive chef Elia Herrera uses traditional recipes that have been passed down through many generations, to her grandmother to her mother to herself, at her restaurant Colibri, located inside Assembly Chef’s Hall. From hand-pressed tortillas to slow-cooked carnitas and the dozens of salsas in between, every ingredient is carefully selected, as cooking from scratch is

Taps are pouring at the first Ontario location of CRAFT Beer Market. Originally from Calgary, the two-storey restaurant has set up shop at Yonge and Adelaide.

Toronto’s summer romance with Mexican cuisine continues with the grand, and we do mean grand, opening of El Catrin. The Distillery District’s newest addition, designed by Munge Leung, is a visual feast. Both inside and out, this modern cantina — which used to be The Boiler House — is decked out with eye-tantalizing details, many of which have been imported straight from Mexico.

Ever wonder where you could find wickedly bold and flavourful Mexican food that’s also completely gluten-free? Well look no further because at El Pocho Antojitos Bar they’re making California-inspired Mexican food with love and without gluten. Located on Follis Avenue just south of Dupont and Bathurst, this little Mexican casa is translating Mexican street bites

Prolific Toronto restaurateur Grant van Gameren’s Kensington Market Mexican bar features enough margaritas, mezcals and tequila-based cocktails to make you forget you’re not in Mexico. The food is heavy on tacos (which is never a bad thing) with some creative twists, like the crispy squid taco or the aguachile, featuring cucumber and serrano leche, shrimp,

Complete with a folky mural, El Trompo is like walking into Mexico City, despite being in the heart of Kensington Market. The taco bar and cactus grill serves traditional Mexican fare. Whether it’s chile con huevo (scrambled eggs in a green salsa) for breakfast or melted cheese served in a clay pot for lunch, many

This takeout spot offers artisanal tacos that pay homage to the flavours and traditions of Mexico and Latin America, and promises that guests will feel like family and at home when enjoying the restaurant’s labours of love. Enchilados Taquería’s specialty is steamed tacos, known as tacos al vapor, which are made using family recipes with

If the name Fonda Balam rings a bell and the colourful leopards look familiar, that’s because this restaurant is the reincarnated Birria Balam. “Fonda” is a term used in Mexico to describe a family-run restaurant, making it the perfect name for this restaurant concept inspired by a love for travel and the authentic cuisine and

On Queen Street West there are more than enough restaurants that sometimes it’s hard to stand out from the pack. For Fonda Lola, this has never been an issue. Serving traditional and stylish Mexican cuisine, this chic resto is a great place to sip and relax while enjoying some delicious bites. Known for many things,

Run out of a small food stall in Kensington Market, Gus Tacos has built a reputation for its legendary $5 tacos. In addition to the classics like chicken and steak, Gus offers inventive protein options including braised lamb and grilled fish. For non-meat eaters, the shop offers mushroom and queso protein options. These are available