Here's where to eat Toronto's best tacos

This tiny taqueria on Adelaide West has an equally mini menu, which could be proof that they focus on doing just a few items well. Tacos here are priced a little higher than average, but you get what you pay for with flavour-packed fillings in generous helpings. We go for the bistec (sirloin) and costilla (rib eye). Sit in the main room of Campechano to get a glimpse into the open kitchen or venture back into its tucked-away patio (when the weather cooperates) for some much-needed sunshine. Come early and/or stay late for the margaritas – they’re excellent here. 

Kensington Market’s unfussy favourite has been serving up simple, authentic Mexican fare for over a decade. The taco set to order here is the al pastor, which features a combo of marinated pork meat, pineapple, coriander and onion snuggled in a corn tortilla. A popular style of taco in and around Mexico City, the dish is believed to have been inspired by the capital’s large population of Lebanese immigrants. Like shawarma, the al pastor pork is prepared on an upright rotisserie. Don’t skip ordering an app of El Trompo’s more-ish guacamole, which is packed with juicy hunks of tomato.  

The sign on the door to this tiny taco shop reads “Mexican born. Perfected in Toronto”. Lucky for us because Tacos 101 ditches fancified tacos for the real deal – classic, no-frills tacos that you’ll find on the streets of Mexico City. The menu is limited and there’s barely any seating so plan your visit when the days are warm so you can get your taco on in the street. Tacos 101’s signature varieties are the al pastor, cooked on a spit with a house blend of spices, and the fried fish, whose popularity draws a crowd every weekend. Don’t skip the hot sauces; three varieties will take you from “slightly tingly” to “nuclear”.
*Tacos 101 will be reopening shortly in a new location.

Grant van Gameren's El Rey restaurant on Kensington Avenue is not your average taco spot. The tiny space, which doesn't even have enough room for a full kitchen, serves up ceviche, tacos and tostadas – their tortillas come from Campechano Taquería on Adelaide, made fresh every morning. We recommend the Grilled Chicken tacos with guajillo adobo, poblano crema, garlic slaw and salsa. The Crispy Squid, with coconut, slaw and tamarind, is another great option. Snag a spot at one of the outdoor picnic tables, order a handful of tacos and sample some of the many mescals on the menu. 

Thanks to some early buzz, this Tijuana-style taco joint very quickly outgrew the confines of the Market’s mini food court on Augusta and needed to move into its own storefront on Kensington Avenue. The tiny shop still attracts lineups at nearly all hours, but you’ll be rewarded for your time with some of the consistently best tacos in the city with a focus on seafood fillings. The Gobernador is Seven Lives' signature item and rightly so – the smoky marlin bursts with a ton of unique flavour. To drink, brave the agua de jamaica – a hibiscus tea served by the ladleful from an ominous plastic jug on the counter in traditional Mexican fashion.