Few foods are as happy-making as a good taco: a warm corn tortilla, a well-seasoned filling, a squeeze of lime and a salsa with some bite. Montreal’s Mexican food scene has grown fast, and today there are excellent taquerias in almost every corner of the island, many run by Mexican families cooking regional recipes. To find the best tacos in Montreal, we went through Tastet’s taco list, updated in July, and picked ten spots, plus a few bonus addresses.
A quick taco glossary
- Al pastor: pork marinated with chilies and spices, traditionally cooked on a vertical spit and often served with pineapple.
- Birria: slow-braised, deeply spiced meat, usually served with a cup of its rich broth for dipping.
- Suadero: a tender, slow-cooked cut of beef, a Mexico City favourite.
- Cochinita pibil: pork marinated in achiote and citrus and slow-roasted, a specialty of the Yucatán.
- Lengua: beef tongue, meltingly tender when done right.
The best tacos in Montreal: 10 taquerias
1. La Toxica (Villeray)
Generous portions, authentic flavours and great value make La Toxica at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert a standout. Go for the birria, the shrimp tacos or the cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork with a recipe that dates back to the Maya.
2. La Capital Tacos (Chinatown)
A very good Mexican restaurant in a simple, well-designed room at 1096 boulevard Saint-Laurent. La Capital’s rosarito, ribeye and gringa tacos are especially popular, and Tastet pegs the price at around $10 for three small tacos or one quesadilla.
3. Tacos Victor (Saint-Henri)
A festive atmosphere, charming staff, tongue tacos, a punchy spicy sauce and affordable prices keep people coming back to Tacos Victor at 4280 rue Notre-Dame Ouest.
4. Restaurant Amaranto (Mile End)
A tiny Mexican grocery and counter at 4848 boulevard Saint-Laurent with authentic cooking. There’s a special mention for the chorizo taco, plus ceviches and other house specialties.
5. Mexico Restaurant (Rosemont)
Proof that you can eat well without spending a fortune: Mexico Restaurant, near Iberville station at 2474 rue Jean-Talon Est, serves generous portions at friendly prices in a décor Tastet calls “entertaining.”
6. Casa Tato (Montréal-Nord)
Tato cooked for his loved ones for years before opening Casa Tato at 4344 rue d’Amiens. Come for the birria tacos, the machete and the generous family combos, in a humble setting straight out of a Mexican neighbourhood restaurant.
7. La Matraca (Plateau)
A small, colourful spot at 4607 rue Saint-Denis that feels almost like a cafeteria, with friendly service. The suadero and al pastor are the favourites.
8. Ta Chido Snack-bar (Mile End)
This tiny, kitschy restaurant at 5611 avenue du Parc serves tacos, tostadas, tortas and quesadillas at reasonable prices in a relaxed atmosphere.
9. Tacos Frida (Saint-Henri)
A charming neighbourhood restaurant at 4350 rue Notre-Dame Ouest serving the cooking of southern Mexico, including expertly made tacos and quesadillas.
10. La Tamalera (Mile End)
A tiny spot at 226 avenue Fairmount Ouest with pork, vegetarian, braised beef, shrimp and chorizo tacos at $7 to $10, according to Tastet, plus Mexican brunches on weekends. Service can be a little slow, so don’t go in a rush.
What ties these places together is a sense that you’re eating someone’s family cooking, not a chain’s idea of Mexican food. Prices are friendly, dining rooms are small and the menus go well beyond tacos, so leave room for a torta, a tostada or a bowl of something slow-cooked.
Four bonus addresses
- Calaveras, 2040 rue Beaubien Est in Rosemont: carnitas, chorizo, pollo chipotle and mole tacos, with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Mr. Azteca, 7349 rue Saint-Hubert: vegetarian, vegan, fish and meat tacos, plus burritos.
- Tacos Tin Tan, 3828 rue Saint-Denis: a lively Plateau taqueria since 2017.
- Icehouse, 51 rue Roy Est: not traditional, but crispy Tex-Mex-style tacos that are a bit pricier and very good.
How to taco like a local
- Order three or four different fillings and share.
- Try the house salsas; each spot has its own, and heat levels vary a lot.
- Corn tortillas are the norm at traditional spots; ask if you prefer flour.
- Check hours. Many are small family businesses with limited seating.
Hungry for more? Compare notes with our best poutine and best pizza lists, plan a game night with our bars to watch the Canadiens, and find more in our Food section. ¡Buen provecho!
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- More Montreal food on MTL365
Photo: T.Tseng / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Sources: Tastet (best tacos), Tastet (La Toxica), Tastet (La Capital), Tastet (Tacos Victor), Tastet (Mexico), Tastet (Casa Tato)
