🧭 GTA Eats: Tacos Take Toronto – The Rise of Mexican Street Food

From Kensington Market to Parkdale, birria, fish, and al pastor tacos are redefining Toronto’s food scene — one tortilla at a time.

May 31, 2025 Tiana Editorial, Leisure & Lifestyle, Restaurants & Bars 0

GTA_Eats_Tacos_May31_2025_compressed — A flavour-packed spread of birria, fish, carne asada, and al pastor tacos — showcasing the bold, colourful rise of Mexican street food in the GTA.

🌮 From Sidewalk Stalls to City-Wide Sensation

Walk down Queen West, Kensington Market, or Lakeshore Boulevard and you’re bound to find one thing: tacos. The GTA’s love affair with Mexican street food has gone from a niche craving to a full-blown culinary takeover.

Whether it’s birria, al pastor, barbacoa, or fish tacos — this handheld street food has found a permanent home across the region, with a new generation of Mexican and Latinx chefs leading the charge.

What started as food trucks and weekend pop-ups has grown into a citywide network of taquerias, taco nights, and tequila-paired menus. And locals can’t get enough.

📍 Where to Get the Best Tacos in the GTA

🔥 El Nahual

📍 1566 Queen St W, Toronto
Run by Chef Arturo Anhalt, this Parkdale gem fuses Mexican heritage with Canadian ingredients — from birria quesatacos to grilled corn ribs. It’s a street food vibe with serious chef credentials.

🌮 La Carnita

📍 Multiple locations across Toronto
Known for its urban edge and creative flair, La Carnita dishes out crowd favourites like In Cod We Trust (battered cod taco) and carne asada on handmade tortillas.

🧅 Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos

📍 Kensington Market, 69 Kensington Ave
Famous for Baja-style tacos, octopus, and their house-made sauces, Seven Lives brings the energy of a Mexican fish shack into the heart of downtown.

🐐 Birria Catrina

📍 Food truck & pop-up (check socials)
Specializing in the ultra-trendy birria taco — stewed beef folded in grilled tortillas and dipped in consomé — this pop-up has become a must-visit at GTA food events.

🇲🇽 Beyond the Tortilla

For the GTA’s growing Mexican community — and food lovers across all backgrounds — tacos aren’t just a trend. They’re a symbol of flavour, flexibility, and cultural pride.

From mezcal tastings to taco Tuesdays, the city is embracing the spirit of Mexican street food in a big way — one bite at a time.

📍GTA Eats: Food, Flavour and Culture is your weekly guide to the rich culinary tapestry of the Greater Toronto Area. Published every Saturday in GTA Weekly.

About Tiana 30 Articles

Tiana Squire is a multi-talented contributor to GTA Weekly, where she leads coverage of leisure, tourism, and food culture across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. She is the author of several weekly series including Jet Set Weekly, GTA Eats, and Weekend Vibes, offering readers curated guides to festivals, local dining, global destinations, and family-friendly fun. With a passion for storytelling and a flair for finding the best experiences near and far, Tiana brings a fresh, vibrant voice to the pages of GTA Weekly. She can be reached at tiana.squire@gtaweekly.ca.