Delicious Mexican fare await! The tacos, guacamole, corn and churros with the marshmallows are all divine! Let's not forget the margaritas! It's a party in your mouth, and you will not forget the medley of flavors! Bring you appetite and your stretchy pants ;) read more

Unfortunately I thought the food was mediocre and the chile relleno came so fast I can only imagine it was zapped in a microwave. The cheese was barely soft (melted) and overall the dish was flavorless. Our table was small and they brought everything immediately after the chips we requested. I dislike it when servers don't pace delivery of the food. I had to put the chip bowl in my lap to have room for all. They brought two mains on separate plates and two plates of beans and rice. We already had two items (chips and guacamole) along with drinks on a very small table for two. I can't recommend the place for food. Chips weren't very good either. read more

Ordered through door dash and the food was well packaged. In case that isn't self explanatory, to me, that means they didn't pour sauce on the flautas and packed it separately to ensure I get the proper texture upon arrival. The details matter when it comes to delivery and I'm noticing this more now because of COVID. Akin to packing fried noodles separately from the saucy veggies so you can pour it on yourself. Asides from being well-packed, we were big fans of the flavours and texture of everything. We had the burrito, flautas, salad, and tres leche cake. Everything was delicious. I wouldn't change anything about the order if I decide to order from them again. The salad was especially enjoyable cause it had a variety of texture and the dressing was very refreshing. Drooling as I wrap this review up. read more

Craving some tacos but do not want to stretch out your wallet? Playa Cabana is a perfect choice for you then! We came here on a Sunday night with a few friends and wow was the restaurant popular. Most of the seats were filled with large groups and couples so definitely try to make a reservation ahead of time if you are coming here with a large group for dinner. We ordered a variety of tacos and snacks to share and was pretty impressed with the food. My favourite was the Baja Fish tacos - the fish was incredibly light and the taco was super flavourful. The Guacamole was also a great choice for a group to share. The space can get quite tight and you probably will end up hearing the conversation of the group next to you. Service was alright sometimes it took a while for us to flag down our server and receive our food. Definitely be careful when walking down the washroom stairs as they can get quite slippery. Overall if you are in the area and want to satisfy your Mexican cravings, Playa Cabana is a great choice for you. read more

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Oh man...what an outstanding meal! Family and I showed up without a reservation (early) on a Saturday night and they were extremely accommodating. Wife started off with a margarita cocktail that she loved so much she had a second. We started the table off with some appetizers...homemade chips, salsa and guacamole were all flavorful (especially the salsa with its slight kick). Chips had just been fried so they were pillowy yet crisp. For dinner, we ordered several dished for the four of us to share. The ancho beef short rib tacos were hearty and oily-saucy but our favorite dish on the table. The chorizo burrito was spicy and had two great sauces (one red and one green) and an over-easy egg on top. My wife loves fish tacos, so that was dish #3...she loved them! Fun (intimate) atmosphere in a lively setting. Given the chance we will definitely be back. read more

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I'm a long-term fan of Playa Cabana restaurants, and this one is my favourite. The restaurant is quite small, so it's best to make reservation ahead of time. Everything from their ceviche, guacamole, poblano-corn crab cakes, and avocado & black beans salad, to tacos and burritos are some of the best I've tried in the GTA. My go-to dishes are the lobster tacos and side avocado & black beans salad. The lobster tacos come in crunchy hard shells filled with large, tender pieces of lobster meat, and queso cheese. read more

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First of all, the restaurant is hard to find and we passed by a few times. The Google map led us to the wrong location (almost one block west). The place is pretty small but I like the vibe of the place. There are a few areas can accommodate group of 6-8 people. Service is prompt and friendly. My review is based on my lunch time experience. Two of us shared two appetizers and one burrito. Poblano corn crab cake with fresh Dungeness crab - they have rich taste of crab and the sauce is very, but I wish the crab meat could be more moist in terms of texture Tacos de Pulpo (our favourite) - First I couldn't find it from the main course Taco section, but found it in the appetizer. A order comes with two tacos. Each one has a big piece of tentacle with spicy guacamole and corn topping. The tentacle is very tender and flavourful. Love this dish very much!! Toluca Chorizo Burrito - Chorizo is flavourful and well mixed with rice and the sunny side up Egg enhance the flavour and texture. The green and red tomato sauce are nicely down. The portion is quite sizeable for one person. Recommend to share it with others so you can try their appetizers and dessert! Definitely wanna come back to try other dishes especially the sponge cake with cream! read more

Playa Cabana - Tacos Pulpo from Appetizer Menu - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The only negative thing about this place was that I had to walk from St. George subway station. Arrived at the place and was seated immediately. Service was quick and straight to the point! Started with the freshly made guac and chips. Guac was on point and definitely could taste the freshness of it. Chips were home made, light and crispy. Chips were able to sustain the dipping and did not crumble under the dense guacamole. Quickly after that it was followed by the corn. Very jooocey and succulent. Grilled to perfection and seasoned well. Possibly one of the best things I ordered tonight. Could be a bit messy to eat but well worth the trouble. On came the tacos and burritos. No idea what they were called but they were definitely not your average taco and burritos. Would not order these two again but that's just a personal preference. Finished with a churros dessert. Came out piping hot and smelt fantastic. Overall a FANTASTIC experience! Would definitely dine at this place again without a second thought. read more

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This place is happening! The atmosphere is energetic and the decor is great. We had a couple of baskets of nachos and salsa to share. Both were great. I had the burrito which was a lot spicier than I had expected. It turned out to be one of the sauces that was put on it which I wish I had known previously b/c I don't like spice. Other than the heat though, it was really good. I liked how you could have a bunch of different types of tacos - I find it hard to choose sometimes, so the tapas style tacos with really unique combinations were a great idea. The churros were the best part. If you're thinking of coming, I suggest you make a reservation, and get there in advance of it. We came for a friend's birthday, and although we made a reservation, when we got there they didn't have a table for us. We ended up having to stand at the bar for 15 mins or so. They were very apologetic, and worked quickly to get us a table, but it was still a bit disappointing, especially because they didn't offer a free basket of nachos or anything. read more

Favourite Mexican restaurant in the city! Everything is amazing. Favourites are: short rib tacos, guac and chips, flautas, margaritas and the tres leches!!!! read more

Before I go into why I gave Playa Cabana 2 stars, I'll give credit where credit is due. The service here is solid... they quickly addressed the first concerns of the inedible octopus but they also asked how my dish was when they clearly saw that I did not finish one taco of the 3 they gave. So the really nice server we got was good. If the kitchen followed the lead of the service, you'd have a good Mexican spot... that sadly didnt happen. On Dupont which looks more of a quiet residential street of Toronto, you'll find a packed, lively, and crowded Playa Cabana. You can clearly feel the vibe and sounds coming from the restaurant as you walk through the patio. There's a buzz of activity from the young servers going between the extra squished tables filled with family or older couples that have bags of Royal Doulton and William Sonoma crowding into the minimal walking area. The menu is simple and easy to understand with it looking somewhat reasonably priced... It looks great on the menu till you might get in person and then question the value. Just a word of caution there. I should have tempered my expectation on Playa Cabana (even though it is ranked 4 stars) because Carmeka (Chicago yelper before me) mentioned this isnt real Mexican. After going to Chicago 4 times last year and San Diego the year before, my love for real Mexican is there and this ... isn't it... at all. Guacamole & chips - Simple guacamole with a side of corn chips. I would say that the flavour compared to what I've had in San Diego is missing... this is far more bland but adding in some heat from the sauces kicks it up. Chips are a bit thicker than I've experienced but they're crunchy and not oily. For $9, I find it a bit expensive for the small amount but then again, avocado prices have jumped so maybe it's at the right price point. 3/5 Pulpo Taco (Octopus) 2 tacos - Oh Toronto... please do not tell me you think this is 4 star quality octopus taco. The octopus given was smaller than the length of the fork tines (about an inch or so) and completely rubber... I took a good 20 seconds with a fork and knife just trying to cut through and only got 80% of the way through. It's supposed to be tender and yet lightly charred at the last minute grilling to get that flavour ... and this wasn't it. Completely inedible. Thankfully they took off this bill. 1/5 Tacos al Pastor (Pork) - We had this rendition at El Loco Local and though I didnt love that version, I felt this one didn't match up that one. It's supposed to be tender and flavourful pork with pineapple ... the pork was ok and the pineapple was really mandarin or orange segments that tasted overly sugary and syrupy... as if they were canned or jarred. It didnt have any balance. 2/5 Pescado Baja style Tacos (Battered Fish) - This seems like an odd comment but this fish was way too large for the taco and it was buried under way too much shredded cabbage. I guess it could look instagram pretty at that level but it made it frustrating to eat. It has zero balance and flavours werent the focus. In addition to the fish being 2 times the size of the taco shell, the batter was nearly 2 cm thick in some parts. Overall, there's no flavour. At least the fish was cooked through, not greasy, and served hot. That's the only plus. I didnt even finish one taco. 2/5 Horchata - I'm not sure if this is housemade but if it is... its has too much water and sugar. My favourite is from Chicago where its has a wonderful lingering cinnamon taste and sweetened just right. The rice is supposed to give it a creaminess instead a watery feel. This wasn't close. 2/5 Maybe we came when their kitchen staff is changing up and learning? I'm not sure but the recipes here were bland and the execution just left everything inedible. For $30 per person, we got a lot of inedible food... I'm starting to get the feel that Toronto doesnt do Mexican food well anywhere in our city. read more

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This place is so good I cried multiple times while eating. Please just go here. I promise you'll be glad you did.

Playa Cabana is a pretty small restaurant, so I made a reservation for 2 for 7pm on a Wednesday night - we were seated immediately, and there were still a few other tables free around us. The place started to get quite busy at around 8, so it's definitely worth making a reservation especially if you're going with as a party larger than 2. Even though it can feel a bit cramped, the service and food were good. I got the baja fish tacos (comes in a set of 3) - the fish was really good, but I feel like it could have used a bit more guac/sauce around the sides, as it sometimes tasted a bit bland. I wasn't full after the 3 tacos, but generally have a pretty big appetite! Overall, I still enjoyed my time, but am not sure if I would return at this price point. read more

Playa Cabana - Baja fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Went last week. Food is very good! Churros were amazing and drinks are made with fair amount of alcohol compared to other places. Friendly staff! Would recommended! Make sure to make reservations as it is a very very cozy place. Unless you don't mind sitting at the bar, as I did. read more

Playa Cabana - Chicken, fish & beef taco. Mojito + passion fruit margarita. - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Recommended portions for 5: 3-4 tacos, 2 mains Top picks: tacos de pescado (Baja Style), tacos de carnita, and the GLORIOUS guac Price range: $25 to $30 pp (no drinks) - - - - - Came for the Tacos, stayed for the guac. Really though, this is the place if you are looking for some seriously delicious Mexican food. Visited with a group of friends over the weekend, I highly recommend placing a reservation ahead of time as the place is relatively small and appears to be quite popular. Our group was astonished to pay a mere $25 after ordering a plethora of snacks, and quite frankly, some of us were having a hard time standing up from our chairs. The food is honestly impressive, and the wide range of hot sauces found on the table makes it all the better. Considering that most plates range between $16 and $22, you should come here as a larger group if you'd like to try out multiple items without breaking the bank. I do have to note that the price for drinks was a definite no-no for our group. We were intrigued by the cocktail list at first, but had to pass on the offer after noticing pitchers for $60+. Hopefully management will consider this point, I personally would have loved to accompany my spicy tacos with a fresh mojito! Maybe next time . . . Will be back for more. read more

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Everytime Im back home in Toronto I come here. the best restaurant in the area. Service is spot on too

One of the best Mexican restaurants I've been too! We came with a large party of 8 and they were very accommodating. Our server was awesome, I wish I could remember his name to give him a shoutout. But overall he was very attentive, gave great drink and food suggestions and was very friendly! We truly enjoyed all the appetizers ( we got the salsa and ceviche), a few pitchers of margs as well. I got the chicken tacos and they were phenomenal. Everyone loved their food and we just had a great time. Definitely recommend. We made a reservation as well. read more

Playa Cabana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Let me just say right off the bat: THEY HAVE ALL YOU CAN EAT CHIPS AND GUACAMOLE!!!!!!!!! You can literally buy a large chips and guacamole for 6 dollars and just keep eating until your full. For seven people!!!!!! I would know I've done it! It's literally heaven! There other food is amazing as well but c'mon! After the eight refills of my large platter of chips and quacamole I was in no position to complain read more

The food was fresh and very delicious! I gave it 4 stars because the place is way too crowded, the space is tight and it was way too loud! You could barely speak with the person next to you. read more

Closer to a 4.5/5. Here's a breakdown: -Homemade guac and chips: Excellent, love that you can vary the heat-level. -Corn on the cob: Heavenly, slathered with cheese, onions, and lime juice. -Chicken wings: Not too greasy, good amount of spice. -Lobster tacos: Amazing. Lobster was soft and succulent. The guac that came with it also tasted incredibly fresh. -Baja fish tacos (battered): I'd say overall they were tasty and fresh, but nothing out of this world. I like how they didn't over-batter the fish. -Dave's margarita. Maybe a little too much ice, but still went down smoothly. The space is a bit cramped, so it's probaly not the best option for an intimate one-on-one. Music can be a bit loud. On the plus side, our server was friendly and very attentive. And considering all the food we ordered, the bill at the end of the night was also pretty reasonable. read more

Playa Cabana - Lobster and baja fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ever the fan of this small Toronto chain, and only ever experiencing the Junction location on Dundas before I jumped at the opportunity to try out the place where it all started last weekend. If you're looking to try any of the 4 Playa Cabanas out, I recommend you make resos and make them early in the week. We were lucky when trying to make a reso for 4 on a Friday at the last minute that they were able to fit us in for a set amount of time. Parking is a bit wonky here so I'd recommend you also hail a cab to get here as I'm not sure that taking the TTC to get here is possible later on in the evenings/weekends. We grabbed our table and hunkered down for what I anticipated would be an equally amazing meal to what I've come to expect. It's a small place, and when packed you'd be hard pressed to back your chair up without backing into someone so if you like your space then maybe pick a less busy night. That said, if you like a cozy lively dining experience then this is your jimmy-jam friendo! What I liked: - Three choices in guacamole (mild medium and hot), we ordered a hot for the fellas and a mild for our ladies who weren't as fond as the spice. I'm no master spice connoisseur but the hot was a 2 alarm at best (our of 5) so I think even someone with spice sensitivity can handle it. Came out quick with amazing tortilla chips as expected. Always a winner - Tacos, the short rib tacos are the house speciality and they certainly deliver in taste and in presentation. The meat was tender the fillings were excellent and the tortillas were a lovely cross between soft and crispy. - service, friendly, helpful and attentive. Despire beign slammed, we never waited too long for anything including re-ups on drinks and/or asking questions What I didn't like: - Tacos, yes I know I said I liked them, and I definitely do, but unlike the Hacienda and Cantina locations, you're only allowed to order 3 of the same kind of tacos, where the other locations you can order singles. To get a fourth of the same kind will run you and extra $4. Just my preference but I like my choice when I'm splurging my calories on a taco night out - Space, As i mentioned, it's a tight fit, I like a little more room, not much but a little. Overall a good experience, but I'm definitely more partial to Cantina and I'm looking forward to trying Hacienda soon as well as their new Annex location which is a Korean fusion style joint! Eatcrest Out! PS - even saw titan of Canadian grocery business Gaelan Weston doing taco take-away while we were eating. Not a big sighting, but cool to know a multi-billionaire still enjoys good tacos at the same spot the rest of us do. read more

Playa Cabana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We celebrated a friend's birthday at Playa Cabana this year for some good Mexican eats. The restaurant is very small and popular so reservations are a must! We had some drinks to start off the night- Playa Paloma ($9) - a traditional Mexican margarita with Grapefruit infused Tromba blanco Amber agave ($8) - secret house margarita made with El Jimador reposado 100% de agave, sweetened with raw organic agave nectar from the tequila plant and a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice Mexican iced tea ($10) - Tromba blanco tequila, los Arango reposado tequila. Cazadores añeja tequila, triple sec, freshly squeeze lime, and Coca Cola I had the Amber agave and it was, hands down, the best margarita I've had! I really wanted to order another one, but unfortunately couldn't because I had to drive later that night. We started off with the guaca fresca ($8), which was absolutely delicious! It was so fresh and creamy, I just wanted to eat this all night long! The guaca fresca comes in mild, medium, and hot. We asked for mild and they gave us two types of hot sauce on the side. I enjoyed both of them, but the habanero one (on the left) was really quite spicy, even for me. The other one- a roasted chile arboles salsa- was just perfect! tacos de pescado ($13) Baja-style with catch of the day, fresh battered with Tecate-cerveza. I can't recall what the catch of the day was, but I didn't particularly care for it. The fish wasn't as flaky and light as I'd like it to be. Ancho braised short rib-brisket crispy tacos ($14)- AAA Ontario Beef short rib braised in ancho chiles wrapped in fresh corn tortillas and griddled to a golden crispiness, served with pico de gallo, guacamole and homemade crema. This was definitely a heavier taco, and the flavours were also a lot bolder. The short rib-brisket combination was extremely juicy, resulting in an incredibly messy eating process (not that I'm complaining). All in all, I enjoyed the crispy taco, but it was so filling that I wouldn't be able to eat more than one. Playa burrito with pork carnitas ($14), served with fresh guac, pico de gallo, crema, green tomatillo sauce and red tomato sauce. I'm not a big fan of burritos in general, but I've read so many great reviews about the ones here that I was sorely tempted to try one. First of all, I thought the presentation was so pretty with the two contrasting sauces. Secondly, the portion was huge- our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomach! I was intimidated by the sheer massiveness of all the that pork, rice and beans- it was almost like a brick. In the end, Mel and I struggled to finish the whole burrito, and neither of us liked the green tomatillo sauce that much. To be fair, this was probably a very good burrito, but it was just not for me Because it was a birthday celebration, we obviously had to have dessert! First up, an order churros ($6). Unfortunately, I didn't love this version, as the dough was a little too dense and the flavours were lacking a punch because they ran out of the cajeta dipping sauce. The second dessert was a traditional Mexican flan ($7), and while it didn't look very pretty, the flavours certainly made up its looks. The flan was velvety smooth and rich, and even the side of whipped cream was delectable! I really enjoyed dinner at Playa Cabana. The drinks were excellent, and I'd come back just for the guaca fresca! Though next time, I'd probably stay away from the burrito. read more

I dream about this place. Their guacamole and bottomless chips are addictive. My friends and I devoured two orders of it and they just kept asking us if we wanted more chips. Um, yes. Never stop giving them to me. The enchiladas suizas are amazing, and the jarritos are a nice non-alcoholic option. The tres leches cake makes me want to cry, it's so good. It's a tiny place so make sure to have reservations, and it's good to note that it can get very loud. If you can deal with a somewhat cramped and lively space for the fantastic food, then you need to try this place. read more

Playa Cabana - Enchiladas suizas. - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Took my BF here for his birthday, made a reservation two weeks in advance. We were a bit late for our reservation which made me nervous we would lose the table. When we arrived the hostess seated us at the most awkwardly placed table in the restaurant (IMO) which caused us to have to sit side by side not to get constantly bumped into being in the middle of the aisle. This place is tiny! After about 15 minutes of awkwardness, we were eventually moved to a more sensibly located table which had been empty ever since we arrived. Thanks!! Not deflated and just wanting to enjoy ourselves, we ordered a couple of fancy drinks, including mojitos and the Paloma (?). Well made and strong! Woot! Our starter was the spicy peel and eat shrimps - so messy but sooooo good! My BF got the beef braised tacos which were very awesome, I recommend anyone try these! For our mains, my boyfriend ordered the steak and I got the chill relleno (I always have to order this at any Mexican restaurant, it is my fave!). Unfortunately his steak came out much more rare than he wanted (he ordered medium rare and got rare). The waitress was super nice about taking it back but he was just turned off at it and shared my main with me. She ended up comping us a dessert for the trouble and taking the steak off the bill, which was nice. We actually ordered both desserts to try (after all it was his berfday!), the churros and the tres leches cake. I loved both of them but the cake was something out of this world. It was seriously one of the best desserts I have ever had and hands down the best tres leeches for sure. By the end of our visit, it seemed some heavily intoxicated people had piled into the restaurant and the noise level increased substantially. The woman behind me kept knocking into my chair and it was a bit uncomfortable. We just wanted to roll our stuffed selves out of there at that point. I enjoyed the food but have to say did not love the ambiance. read more

Best salsa ever! Honestly everything was really good and so was the service and the atmosphere. We had guacamole, salsa, octopus, short rib (my favorite) and Baha fish tacos and Curro Putin. The only thing that was not great was the espresso I had at the end, but really who cares? This place deserves all the great reviews it has. read more

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This location's options were good, I still prefer the Diablo shrimp hard taco at the Dundas location. I had the beef hard taco, it was good, the BBQ sauce is not my favourite although others may enjoy it more. Their shrimp hard taco was good, although I personally think the Diablo is better. Service was great, our server was wonderful. read more

Hands down, this is the BEST Mexican food I've ever had. My boyfriend and I dined at this little gem on a Saturday night. I was able to make reservations the night before, however, there were very few time slots left, so I recommend making a reservation at least a few days in advance. It is quite small, so I don't think you'd be able to get a table without a reservation. We ordered guaca fresco (medium spice) and chorizos conquistadores to start. The guacamole tasted really fresh; you can definitely tell it is made to order. The chips were perfectly salted and there was just the right amount to go along with the guacamole. The chorizo was AMAZING! It was cooked perfectly and the sauce (simmered red wine and beer) complimented the meat so well. Perfect portion for an appetizer (although I definitely could have eaten more!). I ordered the chicken enchilada for my main meal. This dish comes with two chicken enchiladas (chicken folded in corn tortillas and served with salsas verde/roja), re-fried beans (choice of black or pinto) and rice. The enchiladas are a generous size and tasted great with the two salsas. The re-friend beans were delicious and the rice - OMG! I know it's just rice, but it might just be the most flavourful rice I've ever eaten. Full disclosure: I couldn't finish the meal - but not because I didn't LOVE it - there was just so much food! My boyfriend had the braised beef tacos, which I tried, and of course, loved! The meat was so flavourful and the tacos held together so well (which is rare - hard taco shells tend to break apart when you eat them). His dish came with three tacos with the option to add re-friend beans and rice (which he opted for). I also ordered a margarita (a must when dining at a Mexican restaurant!). It was a little different from your standard margarita, as it had blueberries and raspberries, but it was delicious and refreshing (and they definitely don't skimp on the alcohol!). Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu (he did a great job of explaining the different types of margaritas). The service was quick. And the prices were very reasonable! I will, undoubtedly, return to this restaurant in the near future. A must try if you're a fan of Mexican food! read more

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We had delicious tacos and guacamole at Playa Cabana for lunch. The grilled fish tacos on a soft corn tortilla and the beef barbacoa crispy tacos were all a hit with our family. The fish tacos were layered with so much flavor - definitely the best I've had ever! Our waitress was lovely as well. Definitely recommend for delicious food. read more

No one eats more than I do. Seriously. I'm a fat fat man in a little man's body. I've eaten all over this city and only now started to write reviews, because my wife's sister got invited to be a yelp elite and she can't even boil water and only eats where I tell her to, so I'll start with my favs: For Mexican, I generally prefer tacos and burritos but this is my fav mexican restaurant for other types of Mexican dishes. read more

A lot of Pros/Cons to come... Went here for a birthday dinner, and was seated inside... boy - was that a mistake. There were only 4 of us and it was wayyy too tight! Two people literally cannot stand side by side. It was VERY hot, and very small. It is a great little hole-in-the-wall restaurant... which is literally a tiny hole in the wall. If possible, ask to be seated outside! The Guacamole/Salsa were great - and was a good size to share among 4 people. Would definitely recommend. We ordered a number of plates to share... but to be honest, I was not blown away by their tacos. Definitely much bigger than El Carnita - that's for sure, and MUCH better value - but the taste was pretty average. We ordered... Tacos de: Pollo al Carbon, Pescado, Carnitas. The Mexican Street Corn is always my favourite part of these types of restaurants! Must have. The waiter was fantastic, and gave us a really cool run-down and lesson on types of Tequilas and Margaritas. We were very appreciative! Loved the atmosphere... although it was a little too hot in there. Parking is hard to find, and it's surrounded by houses - if you're not in the area, I probably wouldn't recommend it. read more

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I am guilty of selfishness, I know. I didn't want to review this place for the longest time to keep it secret, but I guess now after a 100 smth review the secret is officially out. Yes, it's true. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!! Reserve your table!!! It not easy to get in. If you manage to get in, order without looking at a menu: guaca fresca and a bucket of Negra Modelo, then relax a look at the menu. My personal favorite is seafood and steak burrito that comes with two amazing sauces and is huge so sharing is recommended. Add some corn on the cob to that and you're set for a Mexicana adventure Toronto style. Enjoy! read more

My bf and I decided to come to this Mexican restaurant to celebrate his birthday after reading such good reviews about the tacos - and we can now confirm they taste just as good as they look! We started with the chips and guacamole (which was more than plentiful for 2 people and was super fresh!) and Dave's Margaritas to wash it all down. For tacos, they come in a set of 3, and we opted for the Short Rib Brisket Crispy Tacos, Baja Style Fish Tacos, and the Al Pastor Tacos. The Short Rib and Baja Fish Tacos were by far our favourites of the 3. The Short Rib was tender, juicy, flavourful and served with guac, pico de gallo and cotija cheese on a crispy corn tortilla that had a layer of melted cheese at the base. YUM! The Baja Fish tacos (served with fresh lime and cabbage slaw) were also equally delicious and we fell in love with the batter. If you love a good fish taco, these are the ones to get! Since we both love pineapple we knew we had to get the Al Pastor tacos, however, we were disappointed when our tacos did not arrive with the roasted pineapple as listed on the menu (but instead a slice of mandarin?). While the pork was flavourful, it was our least favourite of the three... and we were really looking forward to the pineapple! For dessert, we got the Churro Poutine, which for $10 was a bit pricey for 3 small churros. Served in a cup with caramel sauce and marshmellow curds (we opted out of the marshmellow), they were perfectly fried and warm with a soft center and crisp cinnamon-sugar outside. Definitely satisfied our sweet tooth! It's a small restaurant so plan ahead and make a reservation! Our server was super friendly and service was quick. Plus, the tacos were seriously some of our favourites we've had - you can't go wrong. read more

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We had very high expectations about this restaurant. Me and my hubby are Mexicans, lived in Toronto for many years always looking for a Mexican restaurant that can take us back home in our full five senses. We've heard incredible things about playa cabana from our Mexicans friend and from our none Mexican friends, we've also been in "hacienda playa cabana" which is one block away from this restaurant and from the same owner and we really really like hacienda. Anyways, here is why 3 stars. We sat in a corner inside, the inside was pretty empty everyone was seating in the patio (30* degrees outside) we were biking so it was too hot for us, starting with the service, it wasn't bad, although I thought specially because it wasn't really full there was going to be more special attention, the service isn't knocking stars, the service was fine. We ordered a few items tacos de carnitas, tacos al pastor, short ribs tacos, elotes, agua de jamaica and guacamole. Guacamole- home-made with the choice of mild medium or hot, with home made chips, the guac was great. Agua de jamaica - it was extremely sweet and from the dark red color and the really sweet taste we knew it was fake jamaica (the syrup comes in a bottle and you just add water) that was a downer, we didn't like it. Elotes- the elotes were amazing 5 stars for sure, a little spice with cheese and the crema and mayo. We both enjoyed this a lot. All the tacos took a long time, like a looong time. Tacos de pastor- this were not pastor, they didn't look like pastor or tasted pastor, the meat was thick and lacked flavour, we didn't like them. Tacos de carnitas- to me they were ok nothing great, came with some chicharrón (deep fried crispy pork meat) I'm not a chicharrón fan, and also the tacos had lots of topping, onion jalapeños etc but I wanted meat, I wanted carnitas, if you are gonna charge about $5 per taco, they have to be full tacos (that's why I love seven lives). My hubby liked this ones, he wasn't crazy about it but he enjoyed them. Short ribs tacos - in My opinion this were the better ones, I like the hacienda playa cabana better but I liked them. For dessert we had churros con cajeta and flan The churros - were really well done almost burnt with not much cajeta... It was ok but man, churros, you have to give me more cajeta! Flan - do not order the flan, I don't know what was this, I know what flan is and how it looks like and how it tastes like, and I love flan! This is not flan, it was hard, like really hard almost like trying to scoop hard ice-cream...mexican flan it's soft, almost like Jello.. We couldn't eat it, it also had a funny taste.. Sorry playa but this "flan" of yours sucks ): Overall... I don't think we are coming back, we will for sure go to -hacienda- but not here, if we were ever coming back, it would only be for the elotes. read more

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My friend and I decided on Mexican food for dinner and this popped up as nearby where we were at the time, Yorkville/Annex area. As we walked in, immediately we're greeted and seated in a tight space for 2. The menu was explained to us and water was given, then we were left for a few minutes to decide. We decided on salsa fresca & chips, chicken enchiladas suizas and short rib emmoladas along with a bottle each of corona and negra cervezas. Salsa fresca and chips arrived first, the tomato salsa was delicious, the morita chile seemed to have been grilled before it was mashed together with tomatoes and red onions and went well with the crispy chips. (If you come for anything at all, this would be it and definitely skip the guac as it didn't seem appetizing.) My friend and I shared the chicken enchiladas suizas and short rib emmoladas, while tasty, I could've gotten it somewhere else for cheaper. Because of how tight the space is, I was able to look around at what the other dinners ordered and the the tacos seemed to be more popular, so will have to come back and try those. We also ordered alfajores, which at $8 for 2 was just meh. read more

I've been to Playa Cabana before and loved it (as in 5 out of 5 kind of love). However, this time around, it was a huge disappointment. I purposely chose this restaurant for my birthday because I loved it so much and I wanted to share this restaurant with my friend. However, I found the staff not as friendly this time around. When one of the waitress brought our food to the table, she knocked down my friend's utensils and didn't even apologize. I know that it was only a minor accident and she's only human so I shouldn't judge her for it. However, just a quick "sorry" was all that's needed. Instead, she just rolled her eyes after throwing down the dish and walked away. Great service is an element of a great restaurant and that waitress clearly does not belong there. Also, we went there early for dinner (as in before 7). For dessert we ordered churros and they said they ran out of dulce de leche. How could they have possibly run out of dulce de leche when we're one of the earlier customers of the night? read more

Playa Cabana - Playa Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I'm always looking to try New Mexican places In toronto so we went to playa cabana . The place is fair small and has an authentic Mexican ambiance . I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time especially for dinner as there is limited seating . The service was a little slow overall. We ordered three appetizers Chips and salsa - 4/5 - the salsa felt like it was lacking flavour Corn - you get 4 pieces of corn - 3/5 - the corn was sweet instead of being spicy or more flavourful. Chorizo conquistador - 3/5 - basically bbq chorizo slices . For the mains we chose to get 3 hard and 3 soft tacos . Unlike other Mexican restaurants you cannot pick individual tacos . You have to get 3 of the same kind - hard or soft Hard chorizo taco - 5/5 - hands down the best thing we ate there. It was full of flavour and spice. It came with guacamole and salsa . The ground chorizo was way tastier than the appetizer chorizo slices . Soft taco - chicken with mango 2/5 - no flavour at all in the chicken . It was cold and lacked flavour all together . Either the chicken was made hours ago or the chef didn't put any time into preparing it . We are 1.5 of the 3 tacos and let the rest go back For dessert - you have 3 choices We opted for cheesecake with caramel . The cake was average and it was the equivalent of a grocery store cake . Overall - the ambience and select items showed potential but not sure if we are going to go back here as there are several other Mexican places that might be better . Will keep searching other hidden gems !!! read more

Playa Cabana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I Can't get enough of their tacos! I've been here twice and loved everything that came out. Their menu offers many dishes that can be shared which is great if you want to try a variety of different things. From their tacos, I would definitely recommend their lobster tacos, fish tacos and the ancho braised shortrib-brisket tacos. All their tacos came out really fresh and delicious, packed with a lot of filling. And from their house specials, I would recommend the Carne Asada and Huevos Rancheros. Absolutely delicious! I will definitely be coming back soon for more mouthwatering tacos! read more

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Adoro el lugar! The first time I tried to go to this place, was one Friday night. i didn't have reservation and the waiting time was two hours... This time, we made reservation a couple of hours before, and went there on a Thursday. What we didn't know, is that they have two locations really close of each other. So, we ended up walking back to Playa Cabana. I liked the decoration and the patio. They have a trendy, modern, mexican-cantina vibe. Which was reflected in that delicious "paloma" I drank. It hasn't been common for me to find this drink abroad. Never thought I would find it in the perfect proportion of authentic ingredients. This paloma, was the best cocktail appetizer I had this year. We ordered: GUACA FRESCA HOMEMADE CHIPS AND FRESH SALSA TACOS DE PULPO TACOS DE POLLO AL CARBON TACOS AL PASTOR TACOS DE LANGOSTA Palomas, tequila, and beer!!! It was really cool that they serve the salsa and the guacamole on the "molcajetes". The guacamole had too much lime for my taste, but the salsa was perfect. My favorite item was: tacos de pulpo. A shame they treat them like appetizers, because they would be awesome like main course. The flavor hypnotized me, but they were only two, too small and with just one tortilla. I wanted to order more, but I was afraid it was going to be too much. The tacos de langosta where the ones I didn't like much. Too greasy, messy and blah. The hardshell tastes like a bunuelo (fried bread), not like tortilla. You can't hold them, cut them or bite them in peace. They had enough lobster, but they lacked flavor. The quality and flavor of my other options was great. I recommend them. read more

Playa Cabana - Guacamole, salsa, paloma and beer!! The perfect start - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We came here on a Sat night with no reservations and got a seat quickly at the bar. This place is pretty small so it's recommended that you make a reservation. They do have walk-ins for the bar, but the seating isn't very comfortable. Ambience: Reminded me of an authentic Mexican dive. They played Mexican music throughout the night. Bartender: He was super nice and told us that each drink had 2.5 shots of hard liquor in it - definitely worth it! Food: Guaca Fresca: This guac was definitely better than the one we had at Barrio Coreano (one of their sister restaurants). You can pick the spice level and it's served in a cool molcajete. 4/5 Tacos De Pulpo: Grilled octopus tacos. There were only a few pieces of octopus and the charred jalapeno salsa sauce too spicy for my liking (I know this would be spicy though). This wasn't anything special. 3/5 Tacos Al Pastor: Adobo-marinated pork roasted on a Trompo with pineapple. The slice of orange/tangerine gave the taco a nice flavour and texture. The pineapple wasn't very sweet, but the pork was nicely marinated. 3.5/5 Toluca Choriza Burrito: Homemade Mexician chorizo (sausage) topped with an egg. This was my fave dish of the night. I think Cabana's speciality are their burritos. It was a big dish, which for $16 was great value. The flavours were amazing and the egg on top gave it a nice touch. 5/5 I would definitely come back for the Burritos, but prefer Barrio Coreano for their tacos. This place is on the pricer side - we spent about $80 including tax and tip for 4 dishes, 1 alcoholic and 1 non-alcoholic drink. read more

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This was actually my runner-up option for dinner but because my first option wasn't opened, I unwillingly came here and am so happy I did. They are located on dupont and can easily missed if you're not paying attention. It's a quaint restaurant with a patio in the front. Came by after work for dinner and we ordered: Al Pastor Taco 3 for $13 - marinated pork with pineapples and toppings. I've been searching throughout the city for al pastor taco that is remotely similar to those I've had in LA and I think it's safe to say that these are the closest I've had and I'm thrilled to put an end to my search. Grilled fish taco with rice and black beans $18-20...? - their freshly grilled fish (although not very flavourful) was delicious! Taco usually has two corn tortilla per taco but this place only uses one so our fish taco ripped quickly and made a mess everywhere! The rice and beans were meh - rice tasted like ketchup fried rice. The server was nice and came by the check on us. Be sure to try their hot sauce! It gives everything a nice kick. I will most definitely be back! read more

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