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    La Carnita

    3.3 (500 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open • 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Order La Carnita Takeout or Delivery

    La Carnita Photos

    Business Info

    LA CARNITA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Loud
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - La Carnita

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    Veggie nachos. So many toppings and that cheese is golden gooey goodness!
    Mike O.

    I've been checking out Mexican restaurants lately and I feel like La Carnita is the best that I've had in downtown Toronto! First, La Carnita isn't perfect. You enter the restaurant from a set of stairs outside and the restaurant doesn't look too appealing from outside. Also, the restaurant always seems busy and/or small, so it's always loud and service is slow. With the negatives out of the way, let me explain why I love La Carnita! The food is amazing! Their tacos are on point, and with so many to choose from I can go back multiple times can never get bored. Each of their tacos has something different to offer and each has relatively good balance to them. The balance of freshness and savory (and sometimes sweet) toppings is well done, making me come back for more. The one item that pushes La Carnita over the top is their nachos! Homemade nacho chips with gooey cheese and a generous amount of toppings makes them my favorite nachos in Toronto! One last observation is that the service is always friendly. They may be (very) slow at times but they seem like they always try their best and are always quite pleasant. Overall, I love La Carnita and when I get a craving for tacos and nachos, I'm heading straight here!

    Margaritas
    Hazel P.

    Food 4/5 Service 3.5/5 Ambiance 3.5/5 We came here with some co-workers for a team lunch. Since we were a large group there is gratuity & a minimum spend amount. The prices on the menu were for 1 taco, average price is about $8-$9 per taco. The tacos look surprisingly small but they are very filling. The ingredients of the tacos vary. There are options for vegetarians & meat eaters alike.The table also ordered some appetizers to start: Scorpion wings, tortilla chips with dip. For myself I had 2 carne asada (beef) & the sweet potato taco. I'm not great with spicy even mild spicy. I found these tacos spicy. So when I ordered the sweet potato taco I asked for non-spicy & I was okay. For dessert I tried the churros the table ordered. It was delicious! Others had their own individual desserts. Service was good. The waitstaff are full of tattoos & piercings but they were very nice & friendly. The vibe here is casual & cool. We got our food promptly. Decor wise the tables were wood with a dark & rough hewn top. Chairs were either metal or wood bench seating. There are only 3 single bathrooms & one was out of order. So there were short lineups to use the bathrooms. The bathrooms were clean at least. The food seemed a little pricey to me. But then almost everything downtown is more pricey than North York where I usually dine. I thought the food was good, but it didn't blow my mind. The service was also good, but nothing above & beyond. La Carnita is a decent place to eat with good service.

    Mushroom tostada
    Tasha C.

    I pretty much only come here for one thing, the mushroom tostada, love it! Vegetarian options are ok overall, small selection of veggie tacos (3). Margs are good, churros are ok, nachos are ok, Mexican street corn is good. Always busy, atmosphere is bustling, after work crowd is typical.

    Mary M.

    Dropped by for a quick bite and they were fairly busy. Tried different tacos and they were tasty. Average price per taco was $7.00-8.50 each Chicken was my favourite. The patio outdoor was great, umbrellas for shade and great music. Service was quick.

    Nachos
    Yoland E.

    I had a pretty underwhelming experience here, from the unremarkable dishes to the slow service. The tacos here were quite plain in taste and had very little fillings, and the nachos were alright (also taking an hour to get to our table).

    andria l.

    We sat at the bar, which had comfy seats. Bartender was friendly and efficient. We had the street corn and nachos. Both were delicious. House margaritas were also tasty, maybe a little weak. Overall vibe was great.

    Nachos
    Katie M.

    The food was surprisingly good for how quickly it came out! The nachos were very good too, and super loaded up. The only thing I would have changed would be to come early so we could sit outside because the music was SOOO loud inside. My partner and I could not talk/hear one another. Because of the atmosphere, I will rate it a 3 but will update my review the next time I go and use the patio.

    Melissa L.

    It's our first time coming here, and I doubt it will be our last time as the service was excellent despite being on a weekend! My friends and I were quickly seated, and our server was super patient with us trying to figure out the drinks and food order. We ended up ordering some cocktails - mojito and LCP MARG, tortilla chips with 3 dips, and some tacos to share. The appetizer was really good, especially the combination of putting some guacamole and corn salsa together on a chip... the little sweetness from the kernels really made the flavours pop! For tacos, we chose chorizo crunch wraps (Sunday special), pork belly, cod, and steak. The crunch wrap was highly recommended by the 3 of us... it's spicy, juicy, sweet, and tangy from the salsa on top, which helped with the saltiness of the chorizo, all in a crunchy and soft taco TOGETHER! The pork belly taco has a nice grilled taste, and the diced pineapple added a fun summer flavour in your mouth. The steak was really tender and juicy... but the cod wasn't our favorite as the batter seemed to not be cooked through as it tasted a little mushy, a little flavourless so that was a little disappointing.

    Corn
    Kelsey B.

    I came here many years ago and decided to try it again when meeting up with some family. The worst part of this was our server, who was distant, sassy, and inattentive. She never cleared our plates, took forever to bring the bill and - When asked for 2 beers on tap - she didn't bring them for 30 minutes to come tell us to say she will "check on them", 15 minutes later she brings out 2 flat beers to tell us "they were changing the keg".... Food was not good and overly spicy but not seasoned. The drinks were alright but this experience was overall bad. Nice and fun atmosphere, not family friendly but would be "fine" for a cocktail with a bunch of drunk friends. Overall I won't be returning and I don't recommend.

    tacos and oxtail quesadilla
    Sam B.

    This place was highly recommended, so had to check it out and was a bit disappointed. The service was spotty and unreliable, and it was WAY too loud for my dad and I to hear each other. The oxtail quesadilla was really good, and the tacos were solid but definitely not my favorite in the city. Some solid food, but the service and ambiance were not ideal.

    Pollo Asada Bowl
    Marysa M.

    La Carnita is a decent option if you're looking but nothing too amazing. I got the pollo asada bowl and it was tasty and fresh. Some of the chicken was crispy enough that it was borderline burnt. The chips were my favorite and definitely unique. The atmosphere would be nicer if the volume of their music wasn't as loud. You have to yell to talk to the people are your own table.

    happy hour fish tacos + margaritas
    Carrie L.

    my friends and i came for the happy hour on sunday and it was sooo good !! when we went the service was really great, they took our orders and gave us our food super quickly. we all got the happy hour margarita deal for $10 and the fish taco deal for $5. i really liked the pickled cabbage on the fish tacos (could eat 1983822 if i really wanted to)

    Carnita margarita
    Maia E.

    La Carnita is a chain of Mexican restaurants all over the city. I decided to visit the John Street location while Downtown. Ambiance: We made reservations to be inside but he weather was so nice we decided to wait in the long line for a patio seating. It was super cute with the hanging lights that came on when it got dark. All the patio seats were like wooded picnic tables. The interior is pretty dark but nice decor with lots of red. Washrooms are single washrooms and are unisex. Service: The line was long but we got a table pretty quick. There was a lot of people working there yet the service was lacking. We asking for a knife 3 times and the ended up getting us a knife to share since they ran out of knives at a restaurant?? We asking for more water twice before we got it. Also half price wine night on their menu but they ran out of wine at 7pm?? They were really quick to take out empty plates away. Food: Slightly disappointed. We ordered a pitcher of margarita original for $50. The server said it was huge for $50 and that it could be 6-8 glasses. It came and it was only a small pitcher which we got maybe 4 glasses from it and only because it was watered down with pure ice in the pitcher. I would not get the pitcher not worth it. The pita chips that came wig the guacamole was stale. The guacamole was ok a bit plain. The honey chipotle ribs was really tasty and not dry! That's the only dish I liked. I ordered 3 different tacos to share. Carna asada which is your beef, pork belly and fries cod tacos. The carna asada the beef was dry with no flavours. The pork belly was also dry not sure if that's possible. Both the need and beef didn't look fresh. The cod was not bad but also plain and tasteless. I slathered my tacos in hot sauce for taste. All in all not impressed with the food here, give it a 2 star for the beef ribs.

    Chicken (bottom) and Fish (top-left) Tacos

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    1 year ago

    Great spot. Cool vibes. Quaint. Delicious food. Perfect place to hit for a bite before Jays game. Will be back for sure.

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    2 years ago

    Wow! So delicious. Everything was very spicy which made me happy but might be hard for people who prefer mild flavors. The chorizo is great!

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    Playa Cabana - Baja fis tacos, Gauc & chips and Pollo tinga

    Playa Cabana

    3.9(504 reviews)
    3.3 km•The Annex
    •$$

    Visited this spot as its close to the museum and Casa Loma. The strong reviews looked promising so…read moreI decided to book a reservation here. The place is a bit small so it can be a bit tight so I would highly recommend having reservations if you have a large group. Tacos: The soft and the crispy tacos were both delicious. The tinga chicken and the beef barbacoa were juicy and full of flavour. The portions was fair, the quality was a standout and tasted quite authentic. Overall, I really had a great experience at Playa Cabana, totally would come here again to try out their other dishes.

    The food was awful. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas, and I've never had enchiladas served with…read moreraw zucchini and carrots. On top of that, the entire meal arrived cold. It got worse. When I went to the basement washroom, I swear I saw what looked like the end of a mouse's tail sticking out from under the door. Needless to say, I completely lost my appetite. When the waiter asked how everything was, I told him honestly that it was terrible. I had only taken two bites, and there was really no response. I wouldn't have wanted a replacement anyway after that experience. I also had some fruit bites, and about 10 minutes later my stomach started gurgling. By the time I got home, I felt awful. I was shivering, felt like I was going to throw up, and had to rush to the bathroom. It honestly felt like food poisoning. And I still paid for my meal Unfortunately, I can't recommend this place.

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    Playa Cabana - Inside of restaurant

    Inside of restaurant

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    Tacos

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    Quetzal - Empanada oaxaqueña

    Quetzal

    4.3(156 reviews)
    1.7 km•Kensington Market
    •$$$$

    Had an amazing experience at Quetzal. We got the curated menu so we got to try a lot of different…read morethings. For the two of us, in total we got between 8-10 different dishes to try plus 2 desserts. This is what we got: 1. 1 oyster each (phenomenal) 2. bluefin tuna tiradito - amazing, goes so well with the strawberries. My husband doesn't like strawberries but he loved this dish 3. scallop ceviche - a little disappointing, I specifically requested this because of others recommendations but it was just okay, the scallop was overwhelmed by the sauce 4. empanada oaxaquena - so good! love it with the sauce it comes with 5. tomato and cucumer salad- tasty and refreshing 6. scallop in green garlic butter (1 each) and bone marrow / shrimp. This comes with 4 tortillas so you can make tacos. This was my favourite dish! 7. fish (i think this is off menu) - but it was very juicy and this was my husband's favourite dish 8. pork secreto al pastor - came with 6 tortillas so you can make tacos. delicious 9. coal roasted sweet potato - this was just okay, probably our least favourite dish Dessert (both good): 1. Tres leches cake 2. Spiced mexican chocolate

    Came here for my boyfriend's birthday and had to book the reservation exactly 30 days in advance at…read more12am on the dot. I would recommend doing so just in case if you want a specific date and don't want to sit at the bar counter. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and everything was very delicious, just VERY rich. At points the flavours all together felt very heavy but everything was still amazing. Would definitely recommend to try if you've never been before although I don't think I would come a second time. Pork secreto al pastor and the tres leches cake were standouts for sure.

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    Quetzal - Inside

    Inside

    Quetzal - Bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp

    Bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp

    Quetzal - Coconut Nicuatole

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    Wilbur Mexicana - Delicious tacos

    Wilbur Mexicana

    4.1(649 reviews)
    0.7 km•Waterfront Communities-The Island
    •$$

    Fun taco spot on King Street! Fast and friendly but I wouldn't put them in the same category as…read morefast food. No, no, no! Wilbur Mexicana - they're much better than that. Casual yet FUN late night vibes. The only thing fast food-y about them is that their food comes out in little fun baskets. The tacos are delicious! I had the fish, chicken, pork and vegetarian (mushroom). Loved them all! The fish was topped with the perfect pickly condiments. The side sauces for the taking is a nice addition! They have a condiment station of a variety of sauces (spicy, mild) with add ons (pico de Gallo, peppers, salsas) to enhance your tacos! Love the high table set up. Nice for a semi large group (each table might seat about 6-8 people). Fun, loud music and views of King West through their large windows. A must try!!

    We had come here on a rainy Sunday afternoon, as we were itching to try some Mexican food, and…read morefound this place had good reviews. When we first walked-in, we were served by the cashier behind the front counter, whom answered all of the questions that we had about the meals listed on the board behind the front counter. After weighing my options, I decided on the grilled chicken bowl, which had a mix of shredded lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and other spices/sauces. The bowl was hearty, with many delicious flavours rolled into one. I liked how the food items were brought directly to our table, which was great service on the restaurant's behalf. The restaurant itself was decorated well, with many artifacts resembling the Mexican culture, even down to the music playing on the overhead speakers. Overall, this place provided us with an excellent opportunity to try authentic Mexican food, in an inviting setting with great service. The prices weren't too bad either considering the amount of food we had received.

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    Wilbur Mexicana
    Wilbur Mexicana - Fajitas

    Fajitas

    Wilbur Mexicana - Menu

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    La Chilaca Taqueria - Two Chilaca tacos - one with shrimp the other with campechano

    La Chilaca Taqueria

    4.4(65 reviews)
    1.2 km•Kensington Market
    •$

    So I have tried them a few times and each time the quality and taste has been spot on…read more Located in the heart of Kensington market this is definitely a hidden gem tucked in a store with a few different eateries. So each time I have their shrimp and beef tacos. All tacos are served in corn tortilla freshly warmed and stuffed with your preference of meat topped with amazing sauces and vegetables. These tacos are super moist and flavorful. The best part is that they have maintained their quality so well over the time. Last time I got three tacos and they totaled to $12. Next time I definitely want to try their fish tacos. The staff is friendly and they make the order pretty quick. Lots of street paid parking in the area. Kudos to the team for creating such a following even though there are a few very popular taco joints close to them.

    I thought this place would be good but what a let down honestly the tortilla were so tough, I got…read morethe three tacos fish beef and chicken it didn't taste like anything special, I will never come to this place, gus tacos is one of the best tacos I ever had and this is one of the worst, the meat was bland, no flavour, it was a big letdown, the fish taco was okay, but I had better at Wilbur mexicana, now I know this is one of the worst tacos 99.9 percent sure I won't be back here, because there are still better tacos to try on my checklist

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    La Chilaca Taqueria - With live Latin music every Friday through Sunday

    With live Latin music every Friday through Sunday

    La Chilaca Taqueria - Menu

    Menu

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    La Carnita - mexican - Updated September 2026

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