Our waiter was Danny - a super wonderful human. The food was pretty fantastic. We had the Zucchini Fritters as an appetizer. YOU MUST try these. My partner and I shared the seared scallops and the two tacos - barbacoa and crispy fish. The food is incredibly fresh. and the place was quite busy when we got there. It has a cool Leslieville vibe to it. It is cozy enough to enjoy a conversation without having to yell over the music. I would have preferred a bench placement just cause I'm an old man, but the barstools and table we sat at were quite good. Highly recommend. The pricing is not exorbitant. our bill was around $45 before tip. read more

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We've had good experiences in the past so came on Mother's Day for dinner. We could tell the staff was overwhelmed and food was made in a hurry. The food was not done properly at all--tacos and enchiladas were VERY dry with barely any flavour, filling or cheese, guacamole was forgotten with the fish tacos, fish tacos overdone, tiny portions and inflated prices. The tacos looked and tasted exactly like what my 10 year old makes at home (a tortilla quickly folded in half with barely anything inside, then placed in a toaster). We were completely surprised and shocked they would charge $7.50 for one measly taco. Drinks were brought out long after appetizers, main meal order was not taken for eons, and no one cleared our table after appetizers so our table was stacked with extra dirty dishes and menus our entire dinner. Sorry but won't be returning even though we had been enjoying this restaurant in the past. read more

Came in with a group of 9 and was grateful to sit in the air conditioned indoor seating back section (humid and hot out) Bobby / Robert was our most excellent host ~ wait staffer, being both hospitable and energetic friendly! Thanks also to the other wait staff that pitched in to assist! Food - decent guacamole and deep fried tortilla chips. I ordered chicken enchiladas. While not my 1st choice after eating it, due to the exterior layer being more thick & 'bready' than expected, the sauce was still nice and light with the filling having a substantial amount of chicken. They has some other untraditional Mexican dishes, such as beef short ribs with potatoes and also scallops & adobo aioli (I wanna try this one next time!!!) Dessert, we shared a tres leches with 'fried' ice cream. Loved the thin crispy layer on the ice cream. The cake was more of lovely vanilla cake with cream vs a traditionally soaked-thru cake in milk tres leches. We would come again to try the scallops, as it looked amazing (someone else had it on our table) and because the staff was so great! (find me on IG via @aida.loves ) read more

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Decent Mexican place with good specials. They have a nice back patio for summertime fun. Good drinks and service.

With a variety of fresh and flavourful dishes, it's tough to choose, but here are my top three picks: Chula Nachos: If nachos are on the menu, you can expect me to get them! These were some of the best-loaded nachos I've had in the city! Each layer was coated in cheese, beans, pico de gallo, and queso. They're also super generous with their helping of guac which is always a bonus. Dare I say, these are the best nachos I've had in Toronto. Tres Leches & Fried Ice Cream: Devoured this. That's all there is to say. Sweet, milky cake, topped with warm, crunchy ice cream. It was a mistake sharing this between two people. Chula Margarita: They were sweet enough to go and make these drinks virgin for us on request. Between the mango, strawberry, and lime it was hard to pick a favorite. Each one was so refreshing! An honorable mention to the Seared Scallops & Adobo Aioli which had such a phenomenal sear but were still very tender. The bed of rice that they were on top was so filling and perfectly seasoned. read more

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Nice vibe and amazing food! Order three tacos - zucchini, carnitas and haddock and all of them were amazing. I totally wouldn't order a veggie taco but the server gave the recommendation, and oh zucchini was such a hit!! It was so flavourful and cooked to perfection. I actually enjoyed zucchini the most out of all the other tacos. Highly recommend to try! read more

My friend and I came back here again for the second time. We had our usual tacos, zucchini fritters, and drinks and churros. We were a bit concerned about the timing of the food and the service because the kitchen forgot two of our orders; however our waitress was so nice and waived one of our orders and gave us free shots. The food is great; however I can see that the size of the zucchini fritters have gotten smaller. Wouldn't mind coming back again for more food and drinks read more

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Had the guacamole app and braised beef plate. The guac tasted fresh, but I wish they'd give better chips with it. The beef plate had a great portion and the Mexican gravy it's covered in is yummy. The beef was cooked well with great flavour. Be warned, it's very filling because of the crispy patatas! This spot is great for a casual date but wouldn't really recommend it for a bigger group. We came for a birthday and it felt a little pinched. read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Extra star for the great service and friendly staff. Came on the weekend for a bunch, and this slightly out-of-the-way restaurant, ensured a quiet meal away from the crowds. Lovely large patio in the back provides the opportunity to soak in the last of summer, even if you need one of the heat lamps to stay warm. I had the breakfast poutine and loved the perfectly crispy home fries. The liberal drench of hollandaise provided some great saucy flavor. Simple but filling. Shared the guac and the lychee ceviche with the table. Great home made chips! Preferred the guac over the lychee as it was too sweet for me. read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Guac and lychee ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came here with a group for dinner and I got the crispy fish and beef barbacoa tacos - I liked the crispy fish one very much. I also got to try the pork carnita burrito bowl which was very tasty. We split the guac and chips and it was a good sizable portion for 6 people. Service was really great and ambience was lovely! read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came for the couples set menu. Amazing value! Drinks were great, portions were good, and ambience was decent! I don't know why I don't come here more honestly. Had a great experience overall and I'll be back soon! read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Weekly specials menu - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

this is probably my favourite taco place in the city! i visited it for the first time a few weeks ago. to start, I ordered the ceviche trio with lots of seafood -I have never tried to ceviche before and just wanted to try something new-it had so much flavour and seafood! I also got the crispy Calamari, which was so unexpectedly really good, and I still think about it! it was so yummy and the sauces that came with it were the perfect touch. for the main course I got pork tacos, which were so fatty and tender, with the ingredients spilling out it was so good. To finish it off, I had the churro Sundae, which was a classic dessert, but so well done, the coldness of the ice cream complemented so well with the warmth of the Churros. I will definitely be heading back again! If you want to see a video I made with this review , go to @hb.eatstoronto on instagram read more

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Chula was a recommendation from a coworker who said this was her go to for mexican food and I can see why. The scallops were still very tender despite the nice crisp sear it had, the beef birria tacos are so juicy and flavourful, and their cocktails were strong but good. I tried one with mezcal in it and I really enjoyed the smokiness of it. It also looked really cool with black salt too. The staff working there are always super fun and provide great service. I hear they have a really nice patio out back so I'll have to come back again in the summer to see what that's all about. read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Seared scallops and adobo aioli - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Kind service, tasty food. We tried the kids chicken and rice, chilaquiles with steak breakfast, and enchiladas. Our most favorite was the enchiladas, but all were very good, especially the proteins on all the dishes. The eating area is open and inviting it was just a bit cold when we stopped in right after they opened in the morning. read more

From the moment we stepped into Chula we were greeted with a warm Welcome from both the host and the owner! Our first time here and This place has such a great vibe, bustling atmosphere and a great look about it. Our server was friendly and helpful with menu suggestions and our food was fresh and delicious with a beautiful presentation. Portions were more than enough (took my leftovers home for sure) The owner came by twice to make sure our experience was great and chatted with us for a bit! and then even brought over a complimentary birthday dessert for myself! Definitely recommend this restaurant, I will be back and you will not be disappointed read more

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We really enjoyed our time at Chula's. Food was excellent. Service was great and accommodating.

Have always been wanting to try and get to Chula and finally was able to this past weekend. This mexican restaurant is right by Gerrard and Jones intersection.. the entry downstairs as well as upstairs is very inviting. They checked us in even though we were there 20 mins before the reservation time.. not sure if they do walk ins but definitely do reserve in advance if you can.. The interiors of the restaurant plus also the patio (both up and down) is definitely a good vibe. They do have the new normal menu (the QR Codes) Quite a long list of cocktails to choose from if need be. We ordered the corn, guacamole and chips.. the chips were in house made but some weren't cooked that well so they tasted chewy hence why one star less for that. Otherwise their roasted corn is highly recommended. Drinks were very well made too! And do order the churros with scooped icecream if you love churros.. its freshly fried on order and the peanuts on top are a great touch! read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My friends and I had a great time here. Our server Bob was absolutely phenomenal. He was super nice, and had such great energy. The food was also amazing and had great portions. The seating was pretty decent too, especially for having a smaller interior. Overall, we had a great experience and I would definitely recommend trying it out sometime. read more

Overall a solid spot - service was good and the patio was nice, but food was a bit average. The guac and chips were meh, the chips definitely tasted a touch stale. Fish taco was good but smothered in a not so great crema sauce, and barbacoa was actually excellent but would've gone better with something other than the salsa with corn they used. Très leches cake was alright too. Overall I'd say it's a nice spot if you're in the area and want a patio, but I think a few tweaks to the food could go a long way with this place. read more

Had a nice Friday dinner upstairs (this place has 2 levels, bottom is more bar styled). We ordered the tequila flight Tromba Family: Blanco + Reposado + Anejo $13 Comes with 3 tequilas and spiced orange and lime to start. It came in a cool looking plank board and shots served in dip cups. Very unique. I ordered the pork belly to start (my favourite dish of the night- belly was fatty and crispy) , shrimp tacos (delicate but full of taste) Camarón Picante - Spicy Butterflied Shrimp citrus mayo + cucumber + pico + corn + radish + pickled onion + jalapeño $7 and the flank steak plate: CARNE ASADA - GRILLED FLANK STEAK(chimichurri + creamy Mexican street corn + queso fresco + blue corn chips) $23 All the food was great, the hot sauce comes with big punches. There's also a lot of specials during the week so we will be coming back for more ! There is also a hot sauce challenge...if you're into that crazy life definitely check this place out ! read more

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Had such a great time tonight on the patio with a friend. The waiter was so kind and attentive and even brought us shots. The atmosphere was fun and buzzing. The food tasted fantastic and the drinks we had margaritas were so flavourful. read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Chipotle Mango Chicken Tacos, Guacamole, and Crispy Fish Taco - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I booked a table for 6 for brunch today at noon indoor since their outdoor seating was full. The area where we sat had a lot of distance from other tables and QR codes for a menu. The flavours were great, and I always enjoy fusion eggs benny to keep things interesting. Out of tacos, we enjoyed the chicken over the beef brisket. The fries/taters that came with the eggs benedict are surprisingly SO GOOD! I love the spices and crispiness to them. The main issues are the cook on their eggs and the beef brisket on tacos were dry. Across both our eggs benedicts had overcooked eggs, so it's not runny at all. I requested the server that I wanted the Huevos Mexicana with over-easy eggs and saw she wrote it down but still served us scrambled eggs at the end. Perhaps they don't take special requests for the eggs here, or the dish is not supposed to be enjoyed that way? If so, she did not let us know and did not notice when she served it. In any case, the Huevos tasted great from what I heard so no biggie. Another suggestion I have is to have the music slightly quieter so the group can have better conversations inside. When the server came around to check on us, I mentioned that the dry brisket tacos and overcooked eggs benedicts. The restaurant kindly offered us 25% off the beef brisket tacos and one eggs benedict dish. I wasn't looking for a discount, I will still eat it but just want to send the feedback to the kitchen so it's right for the next customers. In any case, I'm grateful, though it was an odd place that they discounted one eggs benny and my friend didn't get her benedict discounted. It was a bit loud and dimmer inside, so I don't blame the server missing that I was mentioning this on behalf of us both. It is still tasty. I wouldn't mind checking out the patio, for drink and dessert options next time. We are also guilty of staying 20mins past the 1.5-hour mark, though it didn't seem too busy then. Ordered 2 Eggs Benedicts - Chula & Carnita $15 each 5 Tacos - Three beef brisket and two chicken $8 and $7 each Huevos a la Mexicana $14 - I made a special request to make it over easy instead of scrambled eggs but don't count on them honouring it Burrito (Not sure which kind - $16-19) read more

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Highly recommend this little gem in the east end, especially if you're looking for a cute atmospheric patio. The patio is small but with the wait to enjoy some fresh air while you eat/drink. We got a breakfast burrito which was amazing! The churro sundae was also unbelievably delicious and a great shareable Altho, I could easily eat it all to my self as well. read more

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Loved it here! It's been on my list for a few years now so I'm glad I was finally able to make it. The outside patio was nice and relaxing. The food was amazing. The chips, guacamole and pico de gallo was some of the best I've ever had. The calamari was also amazing. The mojito was very tasty, I just wish it was a big bigger. The only thing I wasn't crazy over was the time limit of 90 minutes. I understand it's due to COVID restrictions but two out of the four people didn't even finish their food and they had to pack it to go which really sucked. Other than that, everything was great. Our server was friendly and made good recommendations. I'll definitely come back and would recommend to others. read more

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There's a certain freshness that hits you when you eat good Mexican food. Crisp veg fillings, aromatic herbs, the clean heat of jalapeños...these are the alchemy of authentic Mexican fare. Chula Taberna Mexicana packs that fresh punch and does so at great value, in a hip setting with friendly staff. We started with the very photogenic corn. There are plenty of pics from other reviewers and I can say it is exactly as shown. The flavours are beautiful and the corn is sweet and tender off the cob. We also tried the shrimp ceviche, which is served on a fried taco shell to add some warm crispness to the refreshing shrimp and veg mixture. The tacos were calling us so we leaned in on those instead of ordering main entrees. So many taco choices... Pulled beef: great flavour and generous proportion of beef but the meat was a tad dry...could have used more sauce but deelish just the same. Chicken: tasty, moist, no complaints. Fried zucchini: great idea and great execution. Halibut: home run! Crisp on outside, soft on inside, and dressed just right. We finished with the churros and ice cream. This ain't you're fairground churro. Served hot with a scoop of ice cream on top. The churro breaks apart gently, revealing a soft doughy middle. The ice cream is a necessary complement. Hot/cold/sweet/crisp/soft. Yes yes yes. We went on a cold night in March but will be back in the summer to enjoy the patio, some cold cervezas and summer fresh tacos. read more

Great little spot to try. It is a bit overpriced given the amount of food you get and I can't say the food was "to die for." However, great ambience and a place where you can meet with your friends or go on date night. I was expecting the corn to be much bigger as it was over $10 but it was tasty and devoured within seconds. $15 beef birria which was pretty small so you'd have to order something else as well. $17 for the bowl which is not bad and the waitress was kind enough to give us some extra chips to eat with. Overall, great vibe and staff was nice. Priced a bit high and I would go somewhere else if I was craving mexican for a cheaper price. read more

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Really enjoyed this place. Was brought here by a friend. The ceviche was nice. The featured cocktail was absolutely delicious. It provided a good balance of sweet and spicy with a light alcohol taste. The tacos (the spicy shrimp, the pork belly, the carnita, the beef and the fish) were all really tasty. The fave was the pork belly as it provided a sweet tasting cut with a good savoury bundle of toppings. As dessert, we ordered the churro sundae, but they were nice enough to separate the churros and the ice cream. Also very tasty and fresh. A nice little vibe. As a head up though, it may be best to do a reservation if you plan on showing up after 7pm as it gets busy. read more

Cute restaurant, good drinks, decent guac. The mains on the other hand were not good. Tacos -- pork carnitas. Should be the simplest thing to pull out. Delicious slow-cooked pork seasoned well and served in a taco shell with maybe a little pineapple, or a little white onion, some cilantro perhaps. No, not here. Here we can sauce pork that had no flavour because it was served topped with ice cold grated carrots and some pickled cabbage or beet or something, that was so sharp it was all I could taste. It was terrible. chicken enchilada was ok, way too much cheese, portion small, no sides. Want actual Mexican fare, don't go here. Maybe it's your thing? Who knows. Didn't do anything for me. read more

The only place in Toronto where you can reserve a spot on the patio! Came on a sunny day in the fall for the first time and fell in love with the place immediately. Good food, decent vegetarian options (i.e. vegetarian ceviche!) and stellar service. When the patio got a bit chilly, there were plenty of heating lamps to ensure we could still have a great time. Will definitely be back! read more

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I went back and forth on this review in my head. The tacos were delicious and 5 star - all of them, but the enchiladas were underwhelming. They needed more of a kick! The drinks were also very underwhelming, there was no nuance or brightness. But then the churro donut stack was one of the best desserts I've had in the city! So overall I settled on a 3 star review. Would I come back? Maybe with friends. But I think there are better tacos in the city. Overall, they had good service and a nice patio. But the food just didn't hit the spot although it looked fantastic. read more

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I have been to Chula twice in two weeks- that's how much I love this place!!! It is probably my favourite Mexican place in the city as they have the best margaritas and chicken tacos. I would highly recommend getting a few margaritas and chips and guac if you want to have a chill night with your friends. My friends and I booked a table for us via opentable so we didn't have to wait for long. Also, the food arrived pretty quickly after we placed the order, however, this place is getting 4 stars from me because the servers took forever to come by and take our order (both the times). I am definitely going back to this place again to try more drinks off their menu! read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Visited this super cute and authentic Mexican restaurant in Leslieville a few weeks ago and absolutely loved the vibes in here! Because it was still a bit early we opted for the brunch menu and we were NOT disappointed We got the following: breakfast burrito, beef brisket eggs benny and chorizo eggs benny We initially thought we'd get some tacos to share for the table after but everything was super filling and tasty that we were beyond satisfied. Their drink menu is MASSIVE and so creative and flavourful! My favourite was obviously the mango harbenero; just the right balance of sweet, spicy and alcoholic lolol Although because of the rain we weren't able to enjoy their super cute patio but only gives us a reason to go back right? Thank you chula taberna mexicana for the fun, delicious and boozy brunch! Also for the amazing customer service. We will be back to try the rest of menu, see you soon! read more

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We made a reservation to dine here on a Friday evening. The place is good in that they have plenty of outdoor heaters and patio spots. I love how the place is brightly lit and is bustling with energy. Our waiter was well knowledgeable with the menu and attended to us very well. What we ordered for food (tacos and a burrito bowl), and drinks looked appetizing and also tasted delectable. My only gripe is that the menu items are a little on the pricey side which seems to be standard for food places in this category. read more

Chula Taberna Mexicana - Churros $12 - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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They have a decent size patio on the second floor (6-7 tables) and can accommodate 8 (biggest table). Dogs are not allowed on patio. Went during covid so they only serve bottle water ($1.00) and plastic one time use cutleries. Food wise it is pretty filling. The sizes are good. 3 tacos are definitely enough. Would choose the grilled peppers again, bit of spice. Do believe they have $5 tacos on tuesdays. read more

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Hands down one of the best Interior StreetArt in the city. Well done. One of the biggest reasons I went. The other is a new spot on the east side of town which seemed kinda fun. I have to say after reading what everyone else has said. I can't say I disagree. I had high hopes for the food. It fell short on flavour. We didn't even finish our ceviche which I always do because it's a go to fave for me. We were seated in the second floor dining area. Same level as the patio so I had to check it out. It looks amazing. Maybe in the summer. The service was sporadic. Present in the beginning but absent after the food was served. We waited forever for someone to come by to the point where we just flagged down another server to get our bill. It's not a bad spot. It just had no standouts in terms of food. we ordered a variety of tacos to share too. The drinks - cocktails and beer - were okay. I'd say if they bumped up their food flavour game and worked a bit more on customer service this would be a solid spot. It has a ton of potential. The interior design is incredibly inviting so I'm crossing my fingers. read more

Ok so this place makes one of my fav tacos in the entire city. Wait for it........ the zucchini taco!!!!!! It is shocking how good this taco is!!!! SHOCKING! It is a must try here and I cannot get enough of it. I went three days in a row! read more

3.5 stars **patio review** I booked Chula Taberna on Opentable for 6:45 for a group of three on Tuesday. I don't want to be too too harsh because I'm sure the restaurant is working hard with all these new changes. There were good safety precautions put in place (ie. mask worn in building, one way traffic) but there were quite a few hiccups. I didn't really understand the use of all the disposable stuff, since it's OK to wash things, but maybe this is just an extra precaution. Also they were handing out water bottles (with extra charge)? Service wise, the appetizers and mains all came at the same time... The servers were somewhat attentive...really awkward service overall Here is what we ordered: Dos amigos ( guacamole & pico de gallo) Decent portion size, guac was fresh and well seasoned. Pico de gallo was very refreshing. Wasn't anything too special but good Mexican Street Corn Corn was nice and sweet. The avocado creme, pico de gallo and lime really helped emphasize this dish. 5/5 Shrimp Ceviche I would pass on this, it got soggy very quickly. The ceviche itself had a nice flavour though. The fresh lime really brought out the shrimp. It might be a good idea to serve it separate from the tostada. 3/5 Pork Shoulder Taco I didn't like this one as much as the pork shoulder. I found the salsa verde a little bland. 3/5 Beef Brisket Taco The combination of the red onion & shaved carrot with the beef brisket, really helped give it some texture and blend all the flavours. I also enjoyed the salsa roja on top. 5/5 Drinks: Mami Chula This drink was terribly bland and way overpowered by the salt on the side. There was no hints of the strawberry at all. 1/5 Mango Y Habanero Well balanced drink, the mango flavour was apparent. The drink wasn't overly sweet, but seemed a little light on the alcohol. Pretty decent summer drink. 4/5 Steamwhistle on tap The beer itself was fine BUT the beer WASN'T COLD ENOUGH.......... So that sucks.... Don't get beer, cus its gonna be "kinda cold" Overall the meal was decent, there were a few hiccups but I understand that there needs to be precautions in place. Overall, the food was quite enjoyable but the drinks were just OK. The atmosphere felt rushed and a little disorganized. Hopefully, they are able to adjust to the new environment soon. **DON'T GET THE BEER** UNLESS U LIKE LUKE-COLD BEER** read more

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We decided to drop by on a late Saturday night, the place was busy but we were lucky to wait only 15 minutes. We ordered the Street Corn, Beer Battered Haddock Tacos, Crispy General Tao Tacos, BBQ Beef Brisket Taco and Pork Shoulder Burrito. The Street Corn came out - and was absolutely delicious! The cream sauce on top was the perfect sauce for it. When the tacos came out, the Crispy General Tao Taco's sauce seemed to have drenched all the other ones as well, so the tacos were very soggy, and didnt leave much of an impression. Out of the three the Haddock was definitely the best. Lastly, we the burrito came out, and that was delicious. The salsa, the rice, and meat were so tender it came together perfectly. Overall we enjoyed our dinner at Chula, and would probably come back to check it out in the summer on their patio. We found the indoor restaurant to be a bit cramped (especially the front of the house). read more

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This restaurant kept popping up on BlogTO so I decided that I should check it out. A new Mexican place with a 2 tier outdoor patio? Sounds pretty good to me! Definitey make reservations b/c as the new "it" place it gets PACKED. We got a table for 2 outside on the first level patio. The tables are tiny and squished together so you get to know your neighbours well. In our case this was a good thing as we talked about the food with the couple beside us (who were just about to leave). We ordered several tacos - a few each of the spicy mushroom, the shrimp and the chicken to share. All in all they were ok but I felt they were lacking some acidity/zing to them. They got a little soggy as well so a bit difficult to eat. Nothing spectacular. We also ordered the churros/ice cream on the advice of our table neighbours. You can never go wrong with churros! They were delicious but honestly it isn't hard to screw them up I think the draw of this place is the outdoor patios. On the first level, the middle of the restaurant has those lounge-y outdoor garden patio sets where you can sink back and relax with your drink. Very nice place to chill - right by the tiki bar. Yes they have a tiki bar. It's all things kitsch with the décor. The service is really friendly if a bit slow, but understandable as it was slammed that particular Saturday. I might come back for some drinks but I think I'll pass on the food unless I'm super hungry. read more

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Just tried it for the first time through Uber eats and I give it 2 stars!! I ordered 3 beef tacos, guacamole and chips, zucchini fritters and chicken burrito bowl. I recommend trying the chicken burrito bowl it's yummy! The beef tacos taste like cardboard I am so disappointed maybe it's because I ordered so late maybe I was given the old food...I'm not sure but I literally had to spit it out :( I am actually disappointed I thought this place would be amazing.. read more