Took a day off on Monday in search for the holy grail of seafood tacos... Turns out, many places in Kensington were closed on Monday so we went with Playa Cabana since they had Octopus and Fish tacos. Arrived right when they open at noon and considering how their website looks, expected restaurant/seating to look better and more upscale. Ordered the ceviche to start with the Tacos de Pulpo. Cevice with a side of chips came first. The ceviche was NOT good, fish was barely visible and bowl was full of lime juice, tomato and peppers. Definitely not the authentic ceviche I've eaten in Mexico and Peru and a little steep at $9. Chips on the other hand were fresh and delicious and well seasoned so it was a good vehicle to try all the hot sauces they had on the table. Tacos de Pulpo came next, Octopus was cooked nicely, good chipotle-tasting sauce. I should have ordered another tacos de pulpo instead of the ceviche. For entree, we ordered the fish tacos and the tacos al pastor which came 15-20 mins after they took the dishes from appetizers. By the time I munched through half the chip basket.. Al pastor was good, had a good amount of pork and pineapple which balanced with the red onion. The fish tacos were OK, the slaw was a little bland but after putting the red and green hot sauce it was better. For an entree portion with 3 tacos in the $13-15 price point, I would have expected a larger portion but tacos were the same size as appetizer tacos or street vendor size. Also, authentic tacos usually come with two tortillas. The bill for 4 dishes came to almost $60 with tax and tip, which I probably could have spent taco hopping at Kensington and been a lot more full/satisfied. Considering the neighborhood though, there will be enough hipsters and upper middle class folk who will come here and tell their friends they had the best fish tacos ever, which I unfortunately did not feel. 3 stars. read more

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I am always on the lookout for a good Mexican meal and seeing an Instagram picture of Playa Cabana (@PlayaCabana) burrito, it was so colorful and pretty that I just have to try it :D We arrive for a late Saturday brunch and it was still half full and I can totally expect it to be bustling in a few hours, def a neighborhood gem. When we drover by, we almost miss the place since it's nestle among other houses. The place is rather small with a small kitchen next to the bar. Single Amber Agave Margarita $8 ~ This was perfect, with just teh right amount of tart, sweet, salty (salt rim) and alcohol Ceviche of the Day $9 ~ This was a bit watery and just end up being so messy when you try to scoop with the tortilla chips Guaca Fresca $8 ~ each guac is made to order in a lava rock molcajete with spicy, medium or mild to choose from ~Of course we order spicy and that's the first time I remember we were given the choice for guac. ~ It was very creamy and bit of jalapeno peppers that just give it a pop ;) Taco de Pescado $13 ~ Baja "catch of the day" fish taco w/ a Tecate-cerveza battered ($14 for non-battered/grilled fillet) ~Ben ordered this and of course he choose the battered style but I would love to try the grilled version.... oh well, next time ~ The beer battered was really thin and crispy but wish there was more of a sauce/wet component to it Playa Burrito $14 ~ choice of chicken, veggies, ancho-braised steak and pork carnitas wrapped w/ melted Oaxacan cheese, rice, choice of beans served w/ fresh guac, pico de gallo, crema, green tomatillo sauce and red tomato sauce ~ This was what attracted me to come here and it tasted as good as it look... isn't this one of the prettiest burrito you have ever seen (at least for me). It was a really big portion and can be easily share between 2 people after the appetizers. ~ Everything was perfect here, I got the ancho-braised steak which was recommended by our waiter and it was so soft and moist. The best part here was the green tomatillo and tomato sauce that filled the plate, you would thing that's a bit much but once you dig in you'll know it's just right For more heat, we were given 2 house made hot sauce : a habanera salsa & a roasted chile arboles salsa. The heat of the 1st do creep up on you which I love (I did almost finish the entire thing) while the second was more refreshing with just a tiny touch of heat. Verdict : Love this place and heard they are opening a 2nd location soon Will def go back for my next Mexican craving without hesitation Great Portion, Great Price & Great Service read more

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Location: Right by Dupont subway station. There are some paid parking nearby. Price: Overall, it came down to around $25/person after ordering appetizers, tacos/burritos, and alcoholic drinks. Food: The fried baha fish tacos were delicious! The batter is thin and super crispy, but not oozing grease. I'd say this is a must-get, especially if you're pain-avoidant and can't handle spice. The octopus tacos were very tender, yet charred just enough for the flavour to be strong. It's on the spicy side though, but you can ask for the non-spice version. Their home-made nachos were thick and crispy. They also offer sugar-cane Coca cola if you want to avoid high fructose corn syrup drinks. The burrito was gigantic and covered in sauce and veggies. Service: Very quick service, and the waiter was very helpful. Overall: delicious Mexican food that's well cooked. Book ahead if you want a place inside. We walked in and only the patio had seats. read more

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My second time here and this time I sat outside on the quaint patio which is tops. The place was packed at 9:30pm. Had the Cadillac margarita which is fantastic, fresh lime juice,... Not one of those cocktails that after 2 sips it is done. Could drink these non- stop. For appetizer I had the emlotes a la parilla or grilled corn on the cob. So good. My main was brisket crispy tacos. First time I had real hard tacos that didn't come in that taco kit box. They were so good and came with an array of hot sauces. Efficient service. Decent prices. Definitely recommended. read more

Playa Cabana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This restaurant might take the cake for the best Mexican restaurant in Toronto, which is saying something because there's a lot of good spots. The food, the service, the atmosphere was outstanding. The staff were extremely friendly, felt like a family experience. Food was extremely fresh and well portioned. Will definitely be going back as soon as I can. read more

Cute Mexican restaurant tucked into a neighbourhood. Beautiful decor and friendly staff. I had the Baja Fish tacos and they were delicious! You have the option of fried or grilled for the fish, the waiter recommended grill and so, I went for that and never looked back! My colleague got the fried fish and it looked heavy battered however still tasty. If you're looking for a crunch and some extra calories, the fried option is the way to go but definitely grilled baja fish for me! Definitely get the corn as well, it could get a bit messy but hey, you'll be having tacos anyway. Guacamole is tasty here, doesn't taste just like a lump of avocado - creamy, smooth and flavourful. Will definitely come back here for their other items on the menu! read more

I came to this place recently and I ordered the Chicken Playa Burrito, and there is so much wrong with this burrito. The red sauce have a smokey sour taste, the green sauce isnt good, either, there is like a guacamole salad that is the only decent thing of this burrito dish, also the chicken taste smokey, I dont know why they dont mention that when you are ordering. Chipotle is half the price and taste better with a mexican basic dish. Also, the guacamole taste like its old. Do yourself a favor a save $20 dollars and go to Chipotle. read more

Yup, the food matches the hype! Too bad you gotta make a reservation years in advance (not really, but it certainly feels that way). Just make sure you're arriving at the correct location....Playa Cabana has TWO locations on Dupont: this one, and PC Hacienda, which is further east. The interior is very intimate (ie small), as is the patio. Actually, the whole restaurant looks like a converted home which just adds to its quaintness. I started with a beautiful glass of sangria (I'm a sangria snob and this one was excellent!) and outstanding guacamole and chips. While we hemmed and hawed about what to order, our server suggested we just share a selection of tacos ("because that's what most people do") so we ordered: Baja fish tacos (grilled, not fried) -- positively delicious Chicken tacos ("tacos de pollo al carbon" with fresh mango salsa) -- great Braised shortrib brisket tacos -- holy hell!! Amazing. read more

My friend and I happened to stumble upon this restaurant after being unprofessionally turned down by Rose and Sons 4 minutes walk away (See my review on them under my account). They had the cutest patio out front, but it was way too hot and humid and I was so hungry and tired I needed food in my belly while being comfortable too. I didn't realise until later, but Barrio Coreano is part of this chain, and I loved that place too! I started with the Guaca Fresca. It was made to order in a lava rock molcajete. I had it in medium spice and it was perfect! Smooth zesty with a bit was sweet and spice. I am not sure if they make the chips in house too, but they were quite good too! crunchy not oily and not overly salted. I also ordered the Ancho Braised Short-rib - Brisket Crispy Tacos. I made such a mess but it was so worth it! I didn't even care my face was covered in saucy Short-rib goodness. The tacos were so flavourful and juicy. It was loaded with a lot of good ingredents like AAA Ontario Beef shortrib, ancho chiles, pico de gallo, guac, and homemade crema. The restaurant had a rustic Mexican feel. I felt like I was in a Mexican truck stop. A clean safe Mexican truck stop with clean cutlery LOL!!! The servers and bartenders were very friendly and welcoming. I didn't have a reservation booked and they seemed busy, but they still accommodated us...unlike Rose and Sons which a reservation was booked! I will go back there again maybe at night to see how their ambience transitions. read more

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Definitely a go to place in Toronto. Excellent food and good atmosphere! You will probably walk by this place not even noticing or thinking who goes here to eat but as they say don't judge a book by its cover! Inside is cozy and has a nice ambiance! Very pleasant and helpful staff! Went for lunch and had fish taco(soft) and rib taco(hard)! Very good specially the rib taco! The guacamole is from another universe! Will definitely go back! read more

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Went today for an early dinner after a show and enjoyed this place. I would give it 3.5/5. We had the guacamole and homemade chips. The guac size and chips were generous. Chips were a little thick but still tasty. We had the special shrimp appetizer which were much bigger than the shrimp bucket. Tasty but only six a plate for $15. The chicken soft taco with mango salsa was good but needed a bit more flavouring to the chicken. The chorizo burrito with egg was good and portion was huge! The flavour was great. Waiter didn't realize we ordered another appetizer so he gave us a tres leches cake on the house which was spongy and soaked up all the milk from the side. Not too sweet and was a great dessert. Nice to sit on the patio, the food came out a little slower than expected. All in all, would come back again to try other dishes! read more

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First time in Canada and was craving Mexican food this place hit the spot! Delicious food, great music and great service read more

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Went for my sister's birthday with a group of her friends, note: this is not a place for large group (ie. anything more than 2 people). The food was good. Fresh ingredients, good size portions, flavourful, simple and made with love. The service was attentive, polite and helpful. This is a tequila bar, so don't expect a wide selection of scotch or vodka. Their cocktails are creative and bring out the different tequila flavours. The space is where they lack and the "intimate" setting just gets annoying. Because of proximity to everything else in the restaurant, it gets loud and it was hard to maneuver around especially since there was a group of us. So if you're claustrophobic, wait till you get a seat on the patio. Also, it's a bit pricey, but affordable considering the area. It's about $8 for a plentiful side of guacamole and chips and $13 for tacos. Which as I'll say again and again in my review of taco places- is too much for street food. Parking is difficult, street parking only, but the subway is about 2 blocks away. read more

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

Had the Octopus Taco (Tacos de Pulpo) Very fresh and delicious octopus taco. The combination of ingredients (corn, guacamole, and the special sauce) gives a unique taste to this taco. Space in the restaurant is pretty small and tight though. read more

Playa Cabana - Travelling Foodie Eats: Octopus Taco (Tacos de Pulpo) - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

One of our go to Spots when we crave Mexican. Hard to find a good wet burrito in the city. This restaurant hits a home run in that particular category. They have a wet burrito that has breaded chipotle chicken. This is a must (see attached). Also Cadillac margarita is great. Really can't go wrong with this place. Plan ahead with reservations. Otherwise you'll be rolling the dice to show up there for seating. If you're lucky you'll get spot at the bar. Otherwise you're stuck. There's not a lot to do in that area to kill time like you can when you're downtown. Ambiance is nice and It works for small groups of up to 6 people as well. Beyond that definitely plan well ahead. Highly recommend this spot. Great menu. read more

The short rib tacos are the bomb diggity! Never knew you could put rib meat into tacos, but I'm glad they invented it. Perfectly sweet with a nice tangy finish. Rich and diverse. Excellent mouthfeel too - that short rib was tender and moist. The fish tacos sucked though. It's a catch of the day dish, and today's was baja. We got grilled (as opposed to battered) at the recommendation of our server. It looked kinda bland, tasted bland (reminiscent of overlooked and browned scrambled eggs) and was soggy to the point where the soft tortilla fell apart in my hands and I had to eat the taco ashamedly with a fork and knife. Save your fish taco cravings for seven lives in Kensington. The guac and chips appetizer was real nice. The guac comes in a nice stone mortar (great looking touch), and comes in three spicy levels: mild medium spicy. The spicy level has the perfect kick to it - spicy, but not overbearing. The chips are homemade and fried - hint of egg, and real tasty, although some -very few- were a bit too oily). A friend's recommended the Mexican iced tea. Apparently delicious and strong. Gonna have to get next time. read more

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Easily the best Mexican food in Toronto. I have been several times over the last 6 months and recommend the following dishes: chips and guacamole, short rib tacos, chorizo burrito, or the enchiladas. All of these items are top notch. The servers are also very knowledgeable on tequila and the bartenders make great custom drinks and sangria. You do not want to miss this place. Worth the wait if you do not have a reservation. read more

Playa Cabana - Amazing chorizo burrito - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Small but mighty! This location is one of a few that are owned by the same chain. The food is great, not as much of a selection as Playa Cabana Hacienda but still the food is equally as good. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food and some good drinks, this is your place. Make a reservation or you may run the risk of not getting in! read more

I LOVE this place. Cozy and tiny, great vibe and great food. I've been there a few times and it's easily one of my favorites in the city. You just have to make sure that you make reservations before you go because it's seriously really tiny. read more

The food is ok, but I didn't find anything special. I didn't like they added salsa Cholula to both tacos I ordered, I would have liked if they made their own salsa to make it more authentic. read more

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THE BEST!!!! Amazing service, amazing food, fair prices. Nothing to complain about at all. Our server knew about the menu and was able to answer all of our questions and make suggestions. My bf is super picky and he loved everything. I cannot wait to go back and try more items on the menu. We went on the civic holiday monday, no wait at all. Got seated right away, which was a huge surprise. I hear there is usually a wait as the place is pretty small. So drinks my bf had the signature cabana margarita and he loved it. Hes usually a rum & coke guy, but I told him nope try something new. I cant drink so had a diet coke. Starters we ordered nachos a la plancha and flautas. Both super delicious but I LOVED the flautas w braised steak so delish w the corn and queso fresco on top. The best ive ever had. The nachos a la plancha was like a tostada w blk beans cheese and stuff on top. Mains i got the lobster tacos and my bf got the chicken tinga. I couldnt even finish , struggled to eat the second n took home the third one. Dessert menu is quite small but we did get the churro poutine. It was good but nothing special.but my bf loved it. The carmel sauce inside was much better than expected. I dont like caramel but it was great and came warm w marshmellows that i thought would be melted. See u again soon Playa Cabana read more

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Decided to be festive and celebrate cinco de mayo this year and found/chose Playa cabana based on Blog TO & yelp reviews. The place is small and quaint, but is very popular in the evening creating a very tight space. However I could look past that because the food is amaaaaazing! My boyfriend and I ordered drinks, snapper ceviche, chorizo tacos & short rib tacos and finished off with churros. It was truly a love at first bite! At first I was worried about portions, as everything look small on yelp, however food was soo filling! The staff was warm and welcoming however they were not as attentive as they should've been. They were quick to seat us & say hello but didn't take initiative to check on their tables, instead most servers were huddled around the bar just socializing. This caused quite a waiting game when I was in need for water or when we wanted to order our mains & dessert. I'd only hope the service is better the next time. read more

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This place has the best SHRIMP TACOS in the city. The seasoning of the shrimp is scrumptious, and it doesn't overpower your taste buds because it's balanced with their fresh guac. It comes with a crunchy taco, so the textures are all there! I also tried their FISH TACOS and it's delicious as well! The fish is nice and crispy, and has a soft taco wrapped around. The other tacos are okay. If you go here, make sure you also try their CHURROS! It's very crispy and extremely soft on the inside. Slightly pricey, but well worth it - especially because the churros are quite thick. It also comes with a caramel/marshmallow sauce, but it's just as delicious on its own! Don't forget the CHIPS & GUAC too!! You'd think it's just like any regular side, but it's surprisingly very good!! I love this restaurant, and will continue to come here again! read more

This place is simply awesome! The atmosphere and design are spot on. Staff is super friendly and accommodating, and the food is absolutely delicious! If you haven't been I highly recommend their guacamole and chips, short-rib tacos, and fried fish tacos. Can't wait to go back! read more

Playa Cabana - Shrimp extravaganza! Don't pass on this serving of deliciousness! - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fun ambience Great food! We enjoyed the tacos de pulpo (octopus tacos) and the tacos de pescado particularly ! The red sangria is so fresh and tasty!!! read more

Playa Cabana - Red sangria - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Favorite Mexican spot in Toronto. Midtown location works out so well and saves you the trip to downtown for good food. Loved the crispy brisket tacos, the flautas and the burrito. The tres leches cake for dessert was to die for. read more

Playa Cabana - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Had a great meal here the other day with a friend. I had the crispy chicken tacos and they were awesome. Three tacos with lots of chicken and veggies. Salsa was a little spicy but just barely. It looked small on the plate but was very filling. My friend had tostadas and liked them too. For dessert we shared the churros - 3 churros on the plate with whipped cream on top. Weird presentation but tasted ok. Next time I think I'll skip the desserts, but will come back for tacos! read more

I made a reservation on Bookenda and asked for a table on the patio. When arriving we were told that reservations are for inside only, but of course they did not bother to give this information online. Unfortunately the wait time for a table outside was really long. It is a small place, and the only table they were willing to offer had one of the seats practically in the door. There were 2 options to rearrange small tables, but they refused to accommodate anything we asked. So after a drive of over 1 hour from north of Toronto... No tacos for us ... read more

I came for the first time and I just love the place and food. Even their simple of Mojito was superb and then the enchiladas and Carnitas were mind boggling... read more

Best Mexican restaurant in Toronto! Beef and chorizo hard tacos made just perfectly! The trio desert is also a must! Def recommend this place and def will stop by once a month to get my dose Peace and love read more

Woohoo! As good as it gets, indeed! Seriously the best Mexican food I've had since moving to Toronto, hands down. At Playa Cabana, you're not going to find greasy cheese-soaked Tex-Mex garbage. This, folks, is the real deal -- and I say that as someone who was raised in Southern California, and spent time living just a short drive from the Baja border. Husband and I strolled in one evening and were lucky to get a table. We split the ceviche, which was fresh and spicy. The enchiladas I ordered as a main were stuffed with super tender chicken and zingy red and green sauces. Also a huge plus: they have Mexican Coke! (Not the yayo kind, the drinkable kind in glass bottles and not sweetened with real sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup). I wish I'd saved room for dessert! Playa Cabana has a great boozy menu, a good selection of tequilas, and the people that work there are awesome. The only downside is that the place is super small, so the next time I go I'll try to make reservations. But it's not going to be long 'till I go back. Playa Cabana is seriously delicioso! read more

Anyone who tries to say that there is no good Mexican food to be had in Toronto has clearly never been to Playa Cabana. I adore this place. I would come back every week if I lived nearby. The first time I came here was on a swelteringly hot summer day. My boyfriend and I sat on the back patio and I almost believed I was actually in Mexico. I had a glass of white sangria, the "pizza nachos" and a veggie burrito. Sweat trickled down my face and onto my plate. It was not a proud moment for me, but I never thought that I could be so hot and so happy at the same time. Tasting fresh Oaxacan cheese was like a revelation. Seriously, after one bite of the nachos we vowed to return again as soon as possible. We recently came back and I had a mojito, guaca fresca, and the poblano chile rellenos. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that there are other options aside from the typical "veggie quesadillas with mixed peppers and onions". Again, everything was absolutely delicious. Service was a bit on the slow side because there was a huge takeout order that had overwhelmed the kitchen, but our server kept checking in with us to let us know that our food would be coming out shortly. Generally, I don't mind waiting as long as it doesn't seem like we were completely forgotten about. The restaurant itself isn't the fanciest or the most spacious, but that's what adds to the charm! The food and the service have, on both occasions, been nothing short of excellent. Although I haven't yet been able to make a reservation (always the answering machine!), my boyfriend and I have walked in fairly early (around 5PM) and have managed to snag a table a two before the dinner rush. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

For a Saturday night dinner, I was looking for something interesteing to eat, rather then the usual Bar/American food found in Liberty Village. I started going through the usual paces, what to eat, what to eat... Thai...been there done that...too many times. Sushi...its getting cold..i want something warm and tasty Mexican! - I loooove Mexican, from the burrito boys, the big fat, to the sit downs, its all good in this belly. So mexican it is. We usually hit up Milagro on Queen, but I thought its time for a change. After reading the reviews we hit up Playa Cabana and I'm glad we did. Awesome little restaurant. The place: Nice and cozy Service: Quick and attentive Food: Wicked! Everything was fresh and flavorful. For starters we got the Ceviche - it was haddock that night - so tasty My entree was the Surf and Turf burrito - with steak and shrimp. covered in some tomato and green sauce. soooo good My gf got the Short Rib/Brisket tacos..they had fried taco shells - sooo tasty. Things I wanted to try but couldn't: -Fresh guacamole - they allow you to choose your spice level. -every burrito and taco available on the menu and all of this was much more affordable then Milagro. I will definitely return. read more

I know I'm not Mexican, but I've had a hell of a lot of great Mexican food. If you want proof, check my profile. This place is less than mediocre. I was very disappointed. Starting with the drinks, they can't make a margarita to save their life. I do a better job at home. Tasted awful. The nachos were horrible, tasted like some fried up Tori's or something like that. I had the Carne Asada and my wife had the fish tacos. The good was again, less than mediocre. The guacamole tasted like it came from a can, wasn't great at all. The flan, tasted so bad. I have no words to describe it. Don't plan to go to this place again. read more

I visited PC on my weekend vaca to Toronto from Chicago. I hate to say anything bad about a restaurant, but the food was not very good:( I started with guacamole and chips (which was pretty good actually) then I had the fish tacos at the recommendation of my waitress. Unfortunately they were bland and didn't have good favor at all. I asked for the short rib tacos instead. Those were also bland with no flavor:( I ended up leaving (still hungry). In PC's defense, I live in Chicago and we have Amazing Mexican food so perhaps it was a high bar I was measuring them against. PS. The staff was really friendly and they had decent drinks, hence the 3 stars. read more

Having lived in California for many years and eaten at many Mexican joints, I'd say this place is right at the top tier of the list! It's a tiny place with lots of personality. I sat at the small bar, where the bartender was cool and friendly. The food...gauc with chips to start...as good as anywhere. Entree...carnitas tacos (soft shell) with meat that was so flavorful and tender, accented with an incredible Mexican bbq sauce. I can't wait to go again! read more

Russell Peters once said "There are no Mexicans in Canada. You should see how messed up our lawns are." I think he should have replaced "lawns" with "Mexican restaurants." I spent a few years in San Diego, so blah blah blah, yeah, whatever. This place is truly amazing. It's expensive, but totally worth it, and a GREAT place to take a date. Don't take her here TOO much, because she'll likely get fat. I should probably quit before I say something offensive. Seriously, check this place out. I had a chicken burrito that was smothered in some really delectable orange sauce. It's authentic and upscale. You'll like it! read more

Need Better Service/Management... Waited over half an hour while they cleaned 3 tables and the manager chitchatting with friends. Then a server tell us that everything is reserved. One of those places where they look at you and hope there's no eye contact and then look away... Bad Business! No common courtesy to check on the people standing by the entry. read more

Playa Cabana Dining Experience: Dinner Specialty: Mexican Menu items: Tacos de Pulpo, Tacos de Choriqueso, Tacos al Pastor & Churros Playa Cabana's best kept secret is not its decor, a menu item or even a specialty tequila...their secret has a name, and that name is Mireya. Mireya is the master-mind behind most concoctions at Playa Cabana. Her experience in Mexican cuisine roots from her own roots bringing to Toronto's Mexican food lovers some of the most tasting and authentic recipes. I came to know of Playa Cabana through word of mouth. Having opened over a year ago, I was perplexed to have just heard about this place. Maybe my journalism know-how needs some polishing, or maybe its popularity just recently increased with the overwhelming opening of taco joints this year in Toronto, such as La Carnita. Either way, I was, and still am, extremely happy to have visited Playa Cabana and especially, to have tasted Mireya's precious treats. Speaking of treats, why not start by describing the insanely-good Pulpo Tacos. Pulpo means "octopus" in Spanish. The Octo-Taco, as Playa Cabana calls is it, is served with the full octopus tentacle, perfectly seasoned and cooked, with a rather smooth texture and is served on a bed of charred jalapeno salsa. But that is not all that comes with it, there is also visible pieces of corn, a small drop of guacamole and what looked like a grilled cherry tomato drizzled with cilantro. Though the Chef was not able to share the ingredients with me, I could very easily understand why - these tacos are unique and so are the recipes. The freshly-made corn tortillas are something worth a mention as they are made on the premises with corn and water. The "tortillera", meaning the woman that makes the tortillas (not Mireya), has her own station at the back of the restaurant, where she smiles as guests pass by while she makes what looks like thousands of tortillas in one night. Asides from the tortillas, all salsas are also made fresh, with ingredients that never come from a can or bottle, and are locally sourced. Like the Tacos de Chori-Queso, a homemade Mexican chorizo wrapped with Oaxaca cheese, griddle in corn tortillas. The sauce is subtle and is mostly mixed with the juice goodness flowing from the chorizo. This taco drips with flavour and punch and has a nice crunchy texture. The famous Tacos al Pastor, which are Mexico's staple taco, are my favourite and apparently a crowd favorite at Playa Cabana. Pastor tacos are adobo-marinated pork roasted on a Trompo (spit) with pineapple. Adobo is mostly known as a way of seasoning meat to preserve it. Usually made out of paprika, oregano, salt, pepper and vinegar, adobo ensures the meat flavour is locked in while the meat rotates on the spit. Playa Cabana's version of adobo is slightly different, adding a bit of chili pepper flavour, and of course pineapple, with a Mexican je ne sais quoi. The tacos are served on soft tortillas topped with diced red onion and cilantro and packed with the marinated pork which is succulent and tender...the star of the dish. On the sweet side of things, Playa Cabana's churros where delectably served with a home-made dulce de leche, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon powder. The ducle de leche, also known as caramel made with goats milk, tasted instinctively fresh. It was as though I was savouring a slightly sweet goats milk, so good. The churro was crunchy, but a bit too chewy, almost undercooked on the inside. I am not certain if that was the intention, but it definitely felt like it. Mireya's keen affinity for flavour, texture and tradition has made Playa Cabana one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in the city. Wherever she goes, I will go. Buen Provecho, Viviana. read more

A mediocre Mexican restaurant in a neighbourhood with pretentious clientele. My husband and I went here on the suggestion of a friend and we didn't make reservations. We had to wait for at least an hour or so, or if someone didn't show up for their reservation - which ever came first. I think this is poor planning on the restaurant's part. I think they should set aside a few tables, at least, to accommodate those who didn't make reservations and who came here on a whim. While we were waiting in line, people would ask if we had a reservation to which we replied "no." They would then give this smug look and say "We do!" Okay, relax there buddy. The food was okay. I guess if you've never had Mexican food you would think this was good. I've been fortunate enough to taste Mexican food from California made by real Mexicans so eating here was just "meh." The fish tacos had too much salad piled on top and the fish wasn't tasty at all. My husband got a burrito and he, being a Californian native, didn't enjoy it. Can't say we would go back here. Two thumbs down - one for the food and one for the people. read more