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

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,

The story of Hotmess Tex Mex begins with one man’s delayed flight from Houston, Texas. With time to kill, he visited a local eatery serving up the best in Americanized Mexican food—better known as tex mex. Now, HotMess brings a piece of Mexico and a piece of Texas to Toronto, where a love of tacos

The JOEY franchise has become somewhat of a Toronto staple over the last couple years. The slew of restaurants boasts a comfortable lounge atmosphere where high-end burgers and fries and overpriced edamame seem to reign supreme. The Shops at Don Mills location is the perfect spot for an afternoon drink on the massive upstairs patio

Cold Tea was nearly a self-parody staple of Kensington Market: a dingy bar with a semi-secret entrance and loud industry patio cookouts in the summer. The owners, having outgrown the legal headaches of the tailgate party atmosphere, have transformed the space into a slick restaurant with the requisite high chairs and neon lights. Partnering with

At King Rustic Kitchen and Bar, they pride themselves on being a laid-back and local spot where you can enjoy a good bite and a relaxing evening. This place feels like a neighbourhood eatery among the more industrial and corporate restaurants that are scattered along King West. The menu here is a mix of modern

Kupfert and Kim bills itself as a plant-based, full service restaurant making delicious, minimally processed food that is awesome for humans, animals and the planet. Fresh produce arrives each morning and is prepped on site with almost everything made in-house from scratch, including the sauces, pickles and curries.

Through a shared love of art, music and a good taco, La Carnita has built a huge following amongst Toronto foodies. With six locations in Canada and one in the U.S., this team knows a thing or two about good Mexican food. As the glow up of Yonge and Eglinton centre continues, its no wonder

Andrew Richmond and Amin Todai have brought La Carnita to the entertainment district with their new location at 106 John St. (at Richmond).

Family-run La Mexicana is the place to go for authentic Mexican cuisine north of Eglinton. After moving here from Mexico city, the family started cooking up some super traditional offerings at La Mexicana, and they don’t plan on stopping. Open since 1988, the menu is a collection of real Mexican classics. The mini-empanadas are cute