The tasting menu is creative and the dishes are beautifully plated. Flavors are fresh and balanced, though a few items were milder than I expected. The seafood and small plates were my favorite, especially the ceviche. Portions are moderate, so sharing a few dishes works best. Service is polite and attentive, but the pace felt a little formal at times. Overall, a solid choice for a refined night out, though not quite perfect in every dish read more

Stopped by Quetzal recently and really enjoyed the experience. The space has a warm, refined atmosphere, and the service felt attentive without being intrusive. The dishes were well balanced with a nice depth of flavor, especially the grilled items. It's the kind of place that feels relaxed yet thoughtfully done. I'd happily come back for a quiet evening. read more

Will, who's from Wales, was fantastic, and the food was absolutely amazing. He made excellent suggestions and took great care of us throughout the meal. Whether you live in Toronto or are just visiting, Quetzal is a must-visit! read more

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Pricy but totally worth it. $145/person curated menu, but you can request certain items from the menu if you'd like it included. Quetzal was recommend by our server when we were dining at a Vancouver Michelin restaurant (Barbara), as our server was originally from Ontario. So of course we saved it on our list for when we visited Toronto. Very very accommodating staff and attentive. All the tables next to us seemed to really enjoy their meals as well. Every dish was amazingly flavoured and presentation was on point. Atmosphere was lovely too, laid back but chic. Comfortable yet elevated. Highlight was the scallops, we asked for it to be included on our set menu, and they delivered. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Beautiful minimalistic space and next time I would definitely like to sit at the chefs counter. But since we were 3 and were celebrating a birthday, we decided to get a table instead. Service was good but not exceptional, especially for the price point. The food was good and I'd go back to try other dishes, but might've missed the mark on some basic dishes like the aguachile. We ordered about 9 dishes overall - dry aged hiramasa aguachile, scallop ceviche, tuna tiradito, mushroom & shishito, coal roasted sweet potato, empanada oaxaquena, tlayuda (veggie option), whole sea bream, and for dessert the coconut nicuatole (with berries instead of the mezcal pineapple). Our favorite dishes were the scallop ceviche, mushroom & shishito, tlayuda, the sea bream, and of course the dessert. read more

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We weren't impressed with any of the restaurants we dined at when we visited Toronto until we ate at Quetzal on our last night in Toronto. The experience and food blew us away! We chose to order a la carte style since we read another review that the tasting menu was not worth it and we're so glad that we did! The dishes came out at a reasonable pace (not too long/short) and each dish tasted phenomenal. Surprisingly the only item that wasn't up to par for us was the dessert. We ordered the spiced mexican chocolate...and it tasted exactly like spiced mexican chocolate. The dessert tasted spicy, peppery and bitter. It wasn't to our liking and we would not recommend this dessert. Overall, our experience was superior! read more

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Came back after 3 years since the last time I dined here, and my thoughts and reviews are still a solid 5/5! Can confidently say this is my favourite restaurant in Toronto by far - and the bonus is that it's a Michelin star. Reservations open about 3 weeks in advance at midnight - so make sure to snag your spot early! Everything about this restaurant deserves the 5/5 star rating for me. From the service, the ambiance, down to the food - everything was amazing. The service is top notch, with servers being very attentive and always watching for what we need and when the table needs clearing. The food here is impeccable with flavours and textures. I think the only miss for me are the cocktails, but that's a personal preference and I didn't love the mix of flavours in their drinks. We got the tasting menu and price is now $150 per person, but imo worth all the hype and costs because it's that good! Here's what we got: Oysters - Great item to start with. Fresh, and delicious with the green oil topping. Scallop Ceviche - MY FAVOURITE starter at Quetzal. It's the textures and freshness of the scallop paired with the crispy leek and black sauce. Everything about this dish is amazing. Tuna Tiradito - Citrusy and fresh and plated beautifully Mushroom & Shishito - Perfect char to the mushrooms that tastes so good. A variety of different mushrooms for lots of different textures. Cookstown Beet - Not my favourite vegetable dish, since I don't like beets. But the rest of my party enjoyed this. Empanada Oaxaquena - Looks like a big taco and perfect for sharing split in two. So delicious with their flavours. One of my favourites as well. Newfoundland Scallops - Comes with a green garlic butter, popcorn, and tajin. Each person gets 2 of these scallops for their tasting menu. Whole Seabream - Whole, deboned, charred to perfection. Comes with salsa roja and salsa cruda. Ribeye Wagyu - So fatty, melt in your mouth, and a must get! Desserts - We got 3 desserts, the coconut nicuatole, tres leches cake, and spiced Mexican chocolate. I thought desserts were okay and not my favourite. But of the three definitely liked the coconut nicuatole the best. Overall, I love love love this restaurant and can't wait to go back to dine here again! Definitely worth checking out and highly recommend! read more

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This place is sexy and modern and cozy all at once! Got the tasting menu which they make for each table individually to your likes and preferences. The food just kept getting better and better. Very popular and busy on a Thursday night. Please do yourself a favor and go. read more

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Quetzal tasting menu Very filling if you plan to do this alone. Don't really have a stand out dish ..maybe the al pastor but would like to revisit and get the meats. Lots of reviews about the scallops but did not love the popcorn topping. It was hard like when you reach the bottom of the popcorn bag and get the kernels. Only got one dessert and wasn't anything unique. Redditors might've hyped it too much for me. read more

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Lovely experience at Quetzal. We opted for the curated menu and left our fate in the hands of the server. Standout dishes: mushroom & shishito, Newfoundland scallops, bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp, pork secreto al pastor and coconut nicuatole. The dishes that stayed backstage: tlayuda toloquena, cookstown beet, and the spiced Mexican chocolate. There was one off menu item that incorporated veal but the texture was off-putting. Service was prompt and well-coordinated. Our plates were regularly changed and our water was refilled constantly. Our reservations were at 9:15pm but we left around 12:15am. read more

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Food is very unique and amazing! I came here two times ready and try something new every single time. Some flavour combination is definitely unique and one of a kind but still taste amazing. Service is quick and efficient too. The ambiance is down to earth and I highly recommend to reserve a spot at the chef's table where they cook in front of you. The price is a little higher than the average, but I highly recommend coming here for a special night out. read more

Incredible food, truly worthy of its Michelin star. Dry Aged Hiramasa Aguachile (9/10): An amazing starter. The textures and flavors of each bite are so well-balanced. I loved the foam. The amberjack was so tender and delicious. Scallop Ceviche (9/10): DELICIOUS scallops. Truly amazing sauce and the freshest scallops. The only nitpick I have is that the fried leeks aren't the best texture to go along with the scallops. I understand the flavor complexity they add to the dish, though Empanada Oaxaquena (10/10): The lamb barbacoa is impossibly tender. It literally just melts in your mouth. The shell is amazing. And the salsa is also amazing. They said it's medium spicy level, but I didn't think it had much heat at all. Newfoundland Scallop (9/10): Great dish - reminds me of escargot. Very tender. Nicely seared, and the butter is amazing. Pork Secreto Al Pastor (9/10): The pork is cooked perfectly. Definitely get the tortillas with this. Coconut Nicuatole (8/10): Solid dessert, but not a must-order. Probably the least memorable part of our meal, but that's more of a testament to how amazing the other courses were Service was pretty good. Servers checked up on us pretty frequently, and explained each dish in detail. As for ambiance, it was WAY too smoky in there. My clothes came out all smelling heavily of smoke. They really need some better ventilation, as that can't be healthy read more

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This restaurant was an amazing experience the food was something I absolutely cannot rave enough about. Everything tasted delicious. The desert was so unique and delicious. The octopus was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent as well our server was prompt and nice. The vibes of these place were off the charts. From the smokey aroma in the restaurant to the decor and design...everything is very well thought and put together. They are well deserving of their Michelin star read more

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After many years of waiting, I finally got to try Quetzal! This was a company celebration, so although I didn't personally pay out of pocket, I didn't feel that this restaurant was worth it at its price point. We got the tasting menu plus the non-alcoholic beverage pairing (a whopping extra $80!!). While the food was flavourful with some standout favourites, portions were tiny and a few of us went home hungry. We started with some appetizers - some tuna with a strawberry reduction and a beef tartare with crunchy, delicious deep-fried tostadas. Immediately this set the dinner off on a vibrant and bright note. Then, a light refreshing ensalada verde and a tortilla "pizza" with beans were served. The salad balanced out the richness of the flatbread pizza. We also ordered some scallops, so these arrived shortly after. Our mains came after - seabream with salsa roja, wagyu striploin, another fish, a pork chop, maitake mushrooms with shishito, and coal roasted sweet potato topped with peanuts and spicy salsa. All were pretty decent - but I candidly preferred the appetizers more. In particular, the tartare, salad, and the tortilla. As many members of our dinner party were not yet full, we added a ceviche and another raw fish dish... but again, super small dishes. At this point, we were getting hurried out so we were served dessert - a spiced Mexican chocolate (basically soft chocolate mousse with very spicy passionfruit toppings) and another sorbet that reminded me of cactus leaf. Drink pairing was a wide range of non-alcoholic champagne (tasted like sparkling apple cider), some healthy-tasting cucumber lemon green juice, a fake spicy margarita, and a sweet horchata - among 1-2 more. Overall, was a decent and tasty meal - but pretty overpriced and not worth the price tag. read more

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Visited this place on June 28th (Saturday) to treat my partner and her brother for their birthday and it was one of the best dining experience! It was also our first Michelin star experience here in Canada. From start to finish, the service has been on point and the experience has been quite the adventure. We've got their tasting menu, and asked weeks prior if we could get the Carne Cruda, as my partner's brother and I are a huge fan of it and I've heard great things about the one from Quetzal. The day of, they also accommodated his request for Pork Secreto Al Pastor. We also shared a wine pairing. Neither one of us know our wine, or drink much wine but the guy serving it was very enthusiastic and knowledgable and were really glad for the experience. Despite not knowing anything, we thoroughly enjoyed the pairing and it went REALLY well with the dish served. Some of the wine they served us (such as the Sherry), did not taste good on it's own but we were very surprised how it elevated the dish and the drink when paired together. It was fantastic. My personal highlight was the Carne Cruda and the wine pairing. The Carne Cruda/beef tartare has been one of the best I've had in the city. We were left stuffed and a bit tipsy (despite sharing the wine pairing lol). My partner and her brother was thoroughly impressed, and I would love to come back here again! read more

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michelin 1 star, came for my birthday last year. the grilled octopus was a miss for being overcooked, but otherwise every dish was super yummy and well crafted. the scallops are a must get!! also don't skip dessert here, they gave me a complimentary one to celebrate which was super nice. ambiance is elevated but not like fancy formal michelin, the entire restaurant is built around a grill concept which was really innovative and warm in the winter haha be prepared to be a bit hot read more

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I had an absolutely wonderful experience at Quetzal! The food was bursting with flavor, and every dish was beautifully presented. The service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive, and the overall vibe of the place made it so comfortable and enjoyable. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional meal in Kensington Market. read more

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Mexican cuisine is one of my favourites, and while I love tacos, I have always wanted to try Mexican fine dining. Quetzal made that wish come true and far exceeded my expectations. My partner and I made a reservation through Open Table for our anniversary. We sat at the chef's table, which was like bar seating across from where the chef's cook on the wood stove. It was such a unique experience getting to watch the process. They had a nice cocktail and mocktail menu. I opted for the Sorry Heather mocktail. It was so refreshing and made with house made juice. I highly recommend going with the curated menu! We were pleased to hear that it's not a set menu; the server takes into consideration any allergies, things we really want to try and/or things we don't care for. We were really happy with every dish our server choose as it was impossible to pick our favourite at the end! Everything was so delicious and had layers of flavour and texture. The service was impeccable with the great recommendations from our server, the explanations of the dishes as they came out, and the staff clearing the dishes and cleaning the table after every course. You could tell they all work as a team. Chef Steven was even so kind to chat with us a couple of times. I wish we didn't wait so long to come here, because we will certainly be back to try more of the dishes. It was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. read more

My partner and I came for a birthday dinner and opted for the curated menu ($145 pp). I would honestly not recommend the curated menu, as it's not like a traditional tasting menu... they ask you if there are any dishes in particular that you would want to try and just fill in the blanks for the rest. I think the most bang for your buck is to just choose all of the dishes that you're interested in, which would probably equate to less or equal to what you would be paying for the curated. The pro of the curated menu is that it does introduce you to yummy dishes that you might not have opted to get in the first place. Some highlights: tuna tiradito, scallop ceviche, mushroom & shisito, newfoundland scallop, TRES LECHES CAKE (!!!), coconut nicuatole Some dishes I would definitely not recommend: memela Service was great throughout the night, and the vibes are great for a date night :) read more

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Best food I've had in Canada hands down! Came here on a Thursday night with a 6pm reservation and was seated immediately. We got the scallop ceviche, the aguachile, the empanada, 2 newfoundland scallops, and the pork secreto al pastor. The scallop ceviche was delicious, and The hiramasa aguchile was perfectly refreshing. The spicy aguachile foam was unique and made the flavors more complex. The empanada was delicious, and tasted like the best taco i've ever had in my life. The shel was crispy and fragrant, and the meat was so tender without any gaminess at all. The newfoundland scallops melted in our mouths, and the garlic butter sauce left me craving for more. These were my favorites of the night- I'd get on a flight back to Toronto for just these two dishes. The pork secreto was also super delicious. The meat was so tender I couldn't tell where the meat ended and the fat began, every bite was so incredibly flavorful and the roasted pineapples added a nice, fun fruity dimension to the meat. Every course was a 10/10 hit, and we regret not having bigger stomachs to fit more of this delicious food. The service was also top notch and the staff were attentive and helpful with recommendations. read more

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We made a reservation at Chef's Table (which in my modest opinion is the best seating option as you're facing the footlong wooden oven and can witness the efforts made to prepare your delicious meal). Also reservations at least 2 weeks in advance is strongly recommended. They have 2 rounds of 2-hour seating per night. The staff are friendly and accommodating and the restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere. You can choose from Curated menu (Chef's choice) and also go with either alcoholic/non-alcoholic paring. Or, you can go with à la carte menu and choose from Entradas, Vegetales, Masa, Mariscos and Carnes. We started from Mexican cocktails: "No Heather, It's Heathers Turn" and "Moras De Fuego"; both beautiful and tasty. Then, we ordered "Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche" from Entradas and it was a the perfect combination of avocado, scallops and crispy leek. From Masa, we ordered "Empanada Oaxaqueña" and "Tlayuda Toluqueña". They were both delicious and perfectly seasoned. We also ordered "Bone Marrow & Wild Argentinian Shrimp" and "Pork Secreto Al Pastor" from Mariscos which ended up bringing the highlight of our meal. The combination of spices and the perfect cooking time had created a masterpiece. Both are strongly recommended. From desserts menu, we ordered "Spiced Mexican Chocolate" and "Tres Leches Cakes". Both were tasty and right amount of sweetness. read more

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Wonderful restaurant. As you enter you smell this beautiful smoky aroma and then your eyes go to the bar and the open kitchen and you are drawn inside. The servers are helpful and the food is excellent. We took their curated menu and really enjoyed the dishes. Like my wife commented, "I know why they are Michelin star. I've had al pastor so many times but I've never had al pastor like this". It was her birthday and they also gave us a nice birthday ice cream. The only consideration to keep in mind is it can be a bit noisy so you have to strain to hear the servers describing the tasting menu items. But hey with the amazing food and the quantity, I'm not complaining. Highly recommended. read more

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A worthy Michelin starred restaurant, Quetzal is a lively and cozy place to dine and enjoy the warmth of company. First timers should go for their prix fixe curated menu where you tell your server your food preferences and items from the menu will be chosen for you based on those preferences and the size of your party. The items roughly add up to the same cost as ordering a la carte. The big benefit of the curated menu is that it takes the guesswork out of things and you get surprised with off menu items as well. It helps to have a larger party as well to try more variety of dishes. All of the dishes were flavourful and unique. Whether it was seabream and scallops from the sea or the giant 14oz Tajima Wagyu from the land, each bite leaves you wanting more. We got sweetbreads that were off menu and it was my first time ever having that. It was like pate and was enjoyable. This was the 3rd Michelin starred restaurant I've been lucky enough to try over the past few years and it's the best one so far. I would not hesitate to return for a special occasion to relive the favourites and to try some new dishes. read more

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My first Michelin star restaurant in Canada. Thankfully, it lived up to my expectations. Service was absolutely exceptional. The staff were attentive, quick, and very accommodating. The interior was nice, although it felt a bit claustrophobic and cramped. The food was amazing. We opted for ordering a la carte since it allowed us to try more of the menu. Dry Aged Amberjack Aguachile: Visually, probably the best dish of the night. I loved the look of the foam with the carrots and cucumbers adding a pop of color. The amberjack was wonderful. Slightly sweet with a wonderful firmness. However, I found the accompaniments a bit lacking. They didn't hurt the dish, but they didn't enhance it in any meaningful way. Scallop Ceviche: My favorite dish of the evening. A sea of citrus, interrupted by tart apples, sweet cherries, and melt-in-your-mouth scallops. Absolutely wonderful. My one complaint is that the leaks weren't as crisp as I expected. So they felt a bit thorny, rather than providing a crisp texture. Memela: A take on mexican street food. I really enjoyed the experience of this dish. First you get a taste of the crisp chicharron and juicy shiitake, then you get rich cheese and salsa, finally finished with the smoky corn flavor of the tortilla. My one complaint is that its still a bit simple for what you're paying. Mushroom & Shishito A bit disappointed by this one. The mushrooms are delicious, and the crema is exceptional. But, the mushrooms weren't bursting with juice like the ones on the memela. Pork Secreto Al Pastor: It was juicy and flavorful. But the pork was a tad overcooked. Still very good though, and the onion salsa was unique and delicious! Tres Leches Cake: I really loved this cake. The horchata cream was so light and airy it was almost like a foam. The sea buckthorn syrup provided a tropical flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. The rice tuile topped it all off with some much-needed texture. Also, the coffee paired perfectly with this dish. read more

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Quetzal is honestly worth the hype. Had a fantastic time with the curated menu, a surprising number of dishes. Everything was done so perfectly. Salt, fat, acid, heat. You get it all. Service was phenomenal as well, super attentive to us all night. All in all - food, service, vibes, price - best meal in the city. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Quetzal is an exemplary culinary experience. From start to finish they impress you with their chefs cooking in front of you on open flames, attentive service, and creative dishes with plenty of bite. We started out sitting at the chefs counter and then we realized how hot and smoky it really was, so we moved to a table which was still nice and much more temperable. The cocktails were decent, nothing mind blowing for me but simple and refreshing. The food itself was excellent, with every new dish impressing more than the last. My favourite bites were the seafood, particularly the scallops grilled with and herby garlic butter. We opted for the wagyu upgrade but next time I'd opt to give the bone marrow a try. Finally, they made our birthday celebration special with a tres leches cake that was pretty solid. Overall it was an excellent meal and I look forward to returning! read more

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As soon as I entered the restaurant, since I had no idea that entire kitchen operates only on open fire(no gas), I thought they had smokey aromatic diffusers set up in the dining room. Once I got close to the kitchen & seated at the chef's table, I finally realized that where aroma was coming from. It is like sitting at the campfire & loved it. What a nice surprise. Started with smokey mezcal flight tasting. Bar manager brought 3 choices of mezcal along with the bottles and explained the history and pinpointed tasing notes which was very helpful. Smokey mezcal went great with each dishes cooked on open fire. We opted for curated tasting courses($135) and they served 9 dishes from the existing menu and 1 dish from off menu. We mentioned that we loved seafood and we were served with 5 seafood dishes( 2 scallop dishes, 1 amberjack, 1 sable fish and 1 octopus), 1 meat, 1 memela, 1 veg dish and 2 dessert dishes. 1. Dry aged Amberjack Aguachile; Def. can see Chef Steven Molnar 's Japanese heritage into this dish. Very refreshing, well balanced. 2. Scallop Ceviche w/ Leche Negra; Hokkaido scallops, Leche Negra(Assuming Yucatan "recado negro" that was heavily toasted chilli & spice to make dark colour then blended with tortilla & coconut milk), avocado, ground Cherry, garnished with crispy leeks. Leche Negra was dominant & I did not understand this large amount of fried leeks on top of this ceviche. Was neither doing anything to enhance the flavour nor texture was not great. It stood out to look like a bird nest for sure.  3. Memela; Learnt about this tortilla dish variation called Memela, thick blue corn masa tortilla w/ formed edges to hold cheese. Excellent Mexican pizza with smokey shiitake & purple mizuna. Nice crunchy chicharron underneath the mizuna! 4. Newfoundland Scallop. Such a fresh bite w/ green garlic butter, popcorn crumble(?) & a hint of tajin. 5. Octopus. "salsa mocha" made from dried chill, nuts, corn, miso was incredibly smokey that it showed the character of Quetzal. Charred Napa cabbage & kohlrabi was crunchy. Octopus was cooked perfectly. 6. B.C. Gindara Sablefish w/ parsnip hazelnut puree & brussels sprouts. Sablefish, brushed with salsa verde was delicious and went well with sweet parsnip puree. Brussel sprouts were nicely charred and again crunchy. 7. Opal Valley Lamb with incredible black garlic mole negro. Wide leaves covering lamb were Hoja Santa( sacred leaves) gave beyond just minty flavour to compliment lamb.  8. Brassica: on top of bright green mole( assuming "Pipiane Verde" made from pumpkin seeds and greens), there were charred broccolini, chicken skin & pickled ramps. Enjoyed every single vegetables they served. 8.1. They served plenty of tortillas to go with fish, lamb and veggie dishes. This house ground, pressed and cooked tortillas were excellent. One tortilla has two different colours of heirloom corns which was Tuxpeño Amarillo from Chiapas (Yellow) & Conico Azul from Oaxaca(Blue) I learnt new word called "nixtmalized" today. Tortillas were really tasty & they were great on their own. 9.Coconut Nicuatole made with masa & coconut cream served with pineapple, hibiscus meringue, a hint of mezcal & mint. This Nicuatole was very creamy and smooth, almost like ice cream. 10. Spiced Mexican Chocolate served with sponge toffee( Loved it. It's like Korea dalgona), passion fruit & tonka bean. They incorporated a touch of Japanese such as umeboshi, miso & mizuna into traditional Mexican dishes. All the seafood, meat & vegetables were prepared really well. Especially enjoyed how vegetables were charred and dressed. Was also great to try all the different salsa & mole such as Leche Negra, salsa mocha, black garlic mole negro and green mole. Here was the part that I hated. There were many things going on in each dish they served and I was anxious to learn. When my servers explained the dishes, it sounded like they were just memorizing  and reciting a narratives like a robot in a fast pace. So at the end I was like did he say miso & cauliflower... where? While we were eating there was a number of times we had to get attention from servers to ask questions about the dishes. Where is the fish coming from? What is this puree again? There was one time that a server explained something and did not make sense, one of the cook jumped in to explain clearly. Thank you. There was a reason I picked "curated tasting menu" - to have a culinary journey & experience Quetzal. At least my servers ruined it. I feel like they needed to work on speaking clearly & slowly, highlighting what makes the dish excellent(show some pride), connecting with the patrons more. There are more important things than folding my napkins every time I go to the washroom imo. When making a reservation, mentioned on Opentable that it was for my birthday, candle was not shown on my dessert as well. It was first time that happened to me when I dined out for special occasion. read more

I love the chef's perfectly cooked medium-rare steak here; paired with my favorite matcha dessert, it creates a dining experience that is both delicious and evocative--allowing me to sense the wildness of nature alongside the tranquility of the forest. read more

We got 6 dishes + 1 dessert, we really liked the 2 scallop dishes- Hokkaido scallop ceviche and Nova Scotia scallops in the shell. The lamb masa was very tasty, the mushrooms and the chocolate dessert were outstanding. The pork jowl and octopus were good but didn't stand out. I prea fresher, light flavor preparation for octopus. So many other dishes that we'd love to return and try. read more

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Upon entering the restaurant, you are welcomed with a smokey sensation that is their wood fired grills. They have some massive vents likely to push away the vents and the smell eventually fades as the body gets used to the smell. I word of caution, as I suffer from eczema, my skin was not happy the next couple days after the dinner. Service here was great, we got our suggestions and then ordered the tasting menu (for 3) and a drink pairing to share with my partner. Watching other tables with drink parings, I can say that there are slight difference between pairings, likely reflected by the food that we receive. There is a global selection of wines and includes sake and mezcal. The somm was knowledgeable and comedic. Tasting menu was super fun and tasty. There was a good play of taste and texture on the cold aspect of the restaurant. The grilled items were a bit of a disappointment to me. Especially the bone marrow, not seasoned to my liking. In fact most grilled items didn't come with a good fire grilled flavour, maybe due to my senses already saturated with that smell. We did have a grilled fish which was top. The taco shells were a good addition to mop up the juices. The desserts were super magical! Wouled highly recommend especially with more people for more variety. But with so many choices to dine in Toronto, hard to come back to this one. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We were excited to try this place given that it is the only Mexican restaurant in town that has a Michelin Star. We did not do the curated menu due to allergy issues. We gave it a 5/5 but here is the individual ratings for each component: foods, services, drinks, desserts, and ambiance. Foods: 4/5 My boyfriend and I shared empanada oaxaquena. It was not really an empanada but more like a taco. They made their own corn tortillas here. That was a plus for me cause I love homemade corn tortillas. The lamb was super tender but tasted a bit gamey to me. However, the gamey taste did not turn me off. I really enjoyed this dish. The sauce that went with it helped elevate the flavor of the dish. Highly recommend everyone to get this dish. For entrees, my boyfriend got pork secreto al pastor. It was not my thing. I compared this dish to my favorite Mexican restaurant in a little town called Columbus, OH. Quetzal's al pastor was missing some traditional Mexican flavors, although they had better quality meat than my favorite Mexican taco place. It was not bad but just different. It was a nice touch to have grilled pineapples with the al pastor. It helped cut the fatness. I liked that they had a bit of fat in the meat to make more moist and tender. Also, we got some homemade corn tortillas for the al pastor. I loved their corn tortillas, so fresh. They also added caramelized onion sauce to the dish. That was a nice touch. Even though this was not my thing, my boyfriend loved the dish. For me, I decided to get the whole seabream. The fish was grilled perfectly. I don't know how they did it but everything they grilled was not dry at all. They just knew when was the right time to take the foods out from the open fire. The fish was so tender. I wished they added more salsa roja to the fish to make it more pop. The salsa cruda was nice but a bit too citrusy for me. Again, there was a bit of fatness to the fish rhat made it tasty. I love that they tried to balance out all flavors with salt, fat and acid. Desserts 7/5 My boyfriend and I think this restaurant made the best desserts ever. He got nicuatole which contained masa and coconut cream. On top was a bunch of hibiscus meringue and some mints. They also added mezcal + pineapple jelly. This dessert was so well balanced. It was so rich, creamy and not overly sweet. It was a masterpiece. The hibiscus meringue was so delicious. Meanwhile, I picked a more traditional Mexican dessert. I got the tres leches cake. It was so rich, creamy and moist. That was the best treat leches cake I've have. Drinks 5/5 I have a sweet tooth when it comes to drink. Our waiter suggested something off the cocktail menu. He said he could make the non-alcoholic drink the neighborhood ice alcoholic for me. I chose mezcal as the base and it was sweet and delicious. My boyfriend got an old fashioned and a Manhattan as drinks and he liked it. Service 5/5 All the waiters and waitresses here were all so nice and informative. They were very attentive. I liked the fact that they explained each dish to us. I can see why this is a Michelin Star restaurant. Ambiance 5/5 The ambiance is intimate. Great for date night. It was nice to see the kitchen. They had wood fire stove so that was pretty cool to see. Overall, we understand why they got their star. Definitely would come back to try out different dishes. read more

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I've wanted to try Quetzal since before their Michelin Star, but never got a chance until after. So imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to be able to get a reservation fairly easily at this place! The experience showed that the star was well earned, and I would definitely come back for more. We tried a good variety of dishes. I was particularly impressed by the empanada oaxaqueña, the bone marrow, and the pork secreto al pastor. The pork especially was seasoned with the perfect combination of sweetness and savoury flavour that keeps you wanting more. We also had * Scallop ceviche - fresh and sweet * Dry aged amberjack * Mushroom and shishito - a little spicy, wonderful mushroom flavours and textures. * Tlayuda toloqueña - a mix of green chorizo and various vegetables. This was an odd dish which was too busy in my opinion. The ambiance in the restaurant was informal l but not too casual. The kitchen was visible from the tables and the open flames added to the experience. Service was attentive as expected from a Michelin star. Overall Quetzal is one of the more solid Michelin star restaurants in Toronto where you can actually get a table! Check them out! You won't be sorry. read more

And they started offering a tasting menu ($125 per person) to really increase the dishes each duo can try. They even have an "off menu" version, where you're presented with some dishes that aren't available a la carte or adjusted based on seasonal ingredients. You don't have to ask me twice; off menu we go. Almost every table seemed to order the dry aged amberjack aguachile ($32). It's certainly stunning with the ruby pink rhubarb juice studded with scallion oil, a mild but refreshing accompaniment to the fish. Having been dried aged, the amberjack was denser but still tender and the dollop of pasilla and chickpea miso gave it a bright pop of flavour. While I could have done without the jicama slice (it's a bit dry and sucks some of the flavour out of the dish), the garnish does add to the dish's presentation - just enjoy this separately. Then things get interesting: we're asked if we'd like to have a drink with the remaining rhubarb juice. Um, yes! Spooned into shot glasses and mixed with mezcal, the flavour profile completely changes from tart to savoury and spicy. It's like magic. Our next dish goes off the menu with a flatiron steak tartare. This needs to get on the menu as it was one of the best tartare I've had. Diced beef was mixed with olive, chilis, and something slightly crunchy (fried capers or puffed rice?) creating a wonderful varying bite. But it's the airy hollandaise crowning the tartare that stole the show, adding a creamy element that's not unlike aioli but much fresher and lighter. The following memela is available on their menu, but the tasting gives it a different take. The toasted blue masa tortilla was covered with melted cheese, poblano (?) sauce, mushrooms, and pickled cactus, and a host of other ingredients. Together it created what I'll describe as an amazing deep dish Mexican pizza, without the excess sauce and breading. One of these with a salad would be a great meal for one. Who would have thought popcorn (albeit in powdered form) would pair well with Newfoundland scallops ($39)? A meaty sweet scallop, salty butter powder, herby garlic butter, and sprinkling of tangy Tajin created a delicious bite. Like Lays tag line goes... they're so good, you can't just have one. This is a long review, for the rest go to Gastro World. read more

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Overall this restaurant is 4.5 stars. Definitely worth the Michelin star. We made a reservation through Open Table about 3 weeks in advance and the earliest time I could get was 9:15 pm. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. You could get the curated menu (tasting menu) where they choose items from the menu or off menu for you or you can order your own items from the menu). We were a party of 4 and we decided to go with the curated menu to try a variety of dishes. The food was fantastic and the ambience was great, casual but elegant. Service was excellent as they frequently came by to refill our wine glasses and they described each dish when they arrived and they clean our tables between each course. The first set of appetizers were the yellowtail, scallop ceviche, and the steak tartare. They were delicious. The flavours were fresh and tasty. The steak tartare was off menu and came with toasted homemade corn tortillas. The next set of dishes were the TOMATO & CUCUMBER (fermented anaheim crema, garlic scapes, queso fresco, shisho) and TLAYUDA TOLOQUEÑA (chorizo verde, white coco bean, queso chihuahua, carrot escabeche). The tomato and cucumber was a simple dish but the flavours were good. The Tlayuda was a Mexican pizza and was delicious with the chorizo adding lots of flavour. The next set of dishes were NEWFOUNDLAND SCALLOP (green garlic butter, popcorn, tajin) and the black cod. The black cod was an off Menu item. The scallops were amazing and sooo delicious. The black cod was cooked perfectly and the flavours were perfect. The next set of dishes were PORK SECRETO AL PASTOR (charred pineapple, caramelized onion salsa), 6oz STRIPLOIN (A5 NAGI WAGYU, OKAYAMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN) (pasilla sal), COAL ROASTED SWEET POTATO (salsa de cacahuate, red watercress, mint) and MUSHROOM & SHISHITO (Shogun maitake & Trinity Farms oyster mushroom, shishito, crema poblana). The pork was amazing. We have not had pork that literally melts in your mouth. The Wagyu was perfectly done and was delicious. The sweet potatoes were good as well as the mushrooms. For dessert we had the strawberry gelato, TRES LECHES CAKE (horchata cream, sea buckthorn, rice tuile) and the SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE (Sponge toffee, passionfruit, tonka bean). The gelato was good and very refreshing. The tres leche cake was really good. The chocolate was very rich but not very sweet. Overall an amazing dinner and would definitely recommend. read more

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The ventilation in this restaurant is not good. There was so much smoke from the stove, that my lungs and eyes were pretty irritated. Also so noisy! Luckily we were next to the chefs (and smoke) so I could at least hear my dinner companion. Service was attentive, probably Michelin-caliber. Air and noise pollution, not very high caliber. Food: My favorites were the pork secreto, mushrooms/shishito, bone marrow, newfoundland scallops - Aguachiles: Citrusy broth with tender rhubarb and crisp jicama. A nice fresh start to the meal -Scallop ceviche: Tender scallop with creamy chunks of avocado with the perfect hint of lime. The crispy leek added a nice textural contrast -Beef tartare on a salty crunchy tostada: Very tender beef, although I hate beef tartare. Psychologically I do not like eating red meat below medium. Those that enjoy consuming raw beef will enjoy this dish. The tostada tasted more stale than crunchy, but maybe that is just what homemade tostadas taste like. -Memela: Both the mushroom and masa could have benefited from salt. The mushrooms should have been charred to bring some intrinsic umami flavor but instead tasted a bit watery. I mean, I hoovered this dish as part of the prix fixe but probably would not order it a la carte. - Newfoundland scallops: The scallops were fresh & tender, and the garlic butter was worth drinking. I certainly did dribble it over the tortills - Bone marrow + shrimp: Bone marrow is something I ate growing up that was just a cheap cut of meat. But now I get a little teaspoonful of bone marrow for 52$. definitely worth it as part of the tasting menu but pretty pricey as a whole separate entree. The shrimp were not particularly special. -Pork secreto al pastor: The pork was a juicy tender cut of meat & contrasted very nicely with the grilled pineapple -Mushrooms & shishito: This is how I wish the mushrooms in the melema were cooked, nicely charred with a clear smoky flavor. It really brought the umami flavor out. The dish was beautifully presented, not that you can tell from my blurry photo. But this was near the end of the meal, and the smoky interior had made my eyes burn so I could barely see my camera screen. -Mexican chocolate mousse with honey comb: There is something special about Mexican chocolate. The sweetness is definitely there, but then some heat hits the back of the throat. The honey comb had great mouth feel and blended well with the chocolate flavor. -Shaved ice with compressed strawberry with white chocolate ganash: It was good, but I am not someone who enjoys shaved ice so though I did eat the whole thing as part of the tasting menu, it is not something that I would order a la carte. Unlike the Mexican chocolate. read more

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This Mexican fusion restaurant has stayed on my wishlist to try for a long time and I finally got a chance to try out their dinner for a special celebration event. All I can say is they do deserve that Michelin star! The chef here has very solid cooking fundamentals. Almost every dish was delicious and there was no overuse of heavy spice/salt/sugar that could potentially damage my tongue and stomach. It just made me feel mentally satisfied and physically healthy after dining out here. The restaurant itself was not big and had a very lively ambiance here. We did some research prior to our visit and already knew what we wanted to order. The menu provided varieties of Mexican fusion dishes with Japanese and Spanish influence which fit quite well with our Asian taste. We ordered quite some food and it was a bit tough to pick out my favorite ones coz they were all so delicious. For cold appetizers, we ordered the dry aged amberjack and scallop ceviche. Both were good although I slightly preferred the dry aged fish. Usually I hated any dry aged meat or fish coz I didn't like the fishy taste, but their dry aged fish tasted super fresh and refreshing with the citron. The scallop ceviche was delicious too. I especially liked the crispy leek on top. Very creative idea! Next came the lamb empanada (should call it lamb taco) and the chorizo with veggies. Both were delicious again and the highlight was the strong scent of the corn taco from both dishes! The lamb just melted in my mouth immediately and was seasoned so well. The chorizo dish had a noisy appearance (carrots, eggplant, greens, sausage) but actually everything mingled so well altogether. I liked the chef's creativity of this dish. The pizza like dish (crispy taco as the pizza bread with different meat and veggie toppings) not only made my kid eat a lot of veggie but also made a carrot hater like me enjoy eating the carrots inside. The next three dishes served were the mushroom and shishito, bone marrow and Argentinian shrimp (came with tacos) and pork secreto al pastor. The mushroom dish was with decent portion but was plain comparing to other dishes. The other two dishes were amazing. The shrimp tasted quite smooth already and it was even more smooth when mixed with the bone marrow. The pork was another impressive dish. I usually had super high standard on pork dishes and this dish just met all my standards, from how incredibly soft it was to how perfect the flavouring was. We ended our dinner with a coconut dessert. The waitress reminded us kindly that the alcohol inside can be replaced by strawberries seeing there was a small kid in the group. The dessert was not sweet to hell which was good, although missing a wowing factor. Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at this restaurant and would recommend it to you if you like Mexican fusion cuisine and don't like heavy seasoning. My favorite dishes were the bone marrow and shrimp, the pork secreto al pastor, the lamb empanada and the dry aged amberjack. I'll definitely revisit in future. read more

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Quetzal exceeded all expectations. We booked a table for three on a Sunday night weeks in advance. The culinary journey was a masterpiece - from the delectable amberjack agua chile and scallop ceviche to the flavorful mushroom and shishito, tlayuda masa, octopus, and mouthwatering pork secreto al pastor. Each dish was a flavourful adventure perfectly complemented by an array of well-crafted drinks. The impeccable service added to the overall enjoyment of the evening, making it a memorable experience. We finished with spiced Mexican coffee, coconut nicuatole, and tres leches desserts, which was the perfect conclusion. Quetzal delivers a top-notch dining experience, and I highly recommend for anyone seeking an elevated and authentic Mexican dining experience. Accessibility: No automatic door opener; washrooms are downstairs. read more

One of the hardest to book in Toronto, Michelin Stars 2024, only street parking near Bathrust and College. Yes, Quetzal is the name for famous Mexican food. Atmosphere is loud, table is kinda small, but everyone wants to come and try. We ordered Newfoundland scallops, Bone marrow with Argentina shrimp, pork al pastor, and Tres leches cake. Scallop on half shell with lime tastes wonderful, almost every table ordered. Bone marrow with shrimp comes with 6 tortillas, and I am wondering why not 6 pieces of shrimp. Pork tastes like and looks like Chinese cha siu, but with a touch of spice. Finally the wow factor comes from the dessert. One good thing is that the waiters will change sharing plates for every single course. Good experience, reasonable price, tasty food, well deserve Michelin star!! read more

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We had a reservation at 8:45 pm on a Tuesday. The reservation was for the bar, I was hesitant, but that's the only reservation the restaurant had available. We were seated immediately, with the bartender right there, water was poured, menus distributed. My son and I agreed on the curator, tasting menu with the liquor pairing. Usually it's a wine pairing, maybe a sake mixed in. This was a journey of wines from Hungry, Canadian wine, sake, tequila, mezcal. This was by far the most extensive and eclectic collection of pairings. The food. We started with a ceviche, and amberjack dish. The ceviche had a black sauce and the crispy leeks on top added a nice unexpected crunch. The amberjack dish has a beautiful, bright, sauce. Everything on this course made your mouth water for more. Next was a tartare with a sabayon on top, served with tostada rounds. The homemade blue and yellow corn tortillas were really good. The dish was excellent. It was the perfect size. Up next was maybe a tlayuda, or a tostada. Either way it was a crispy blue corn tortilla with cheese, chicharrones, mixed greens on top. This dish had a nice kick of heat, to it. The dish ate like a fried, Mexico City quesadilla. It brought back fond memories. Next was a sablefish dish, with raspberries and bitter greens., I think it was sablefish, I found the fish to be mushy, not my favorite texture but tasty. Our final savory course was roasted mushrooms and shishito. The mushrooms were outstanding. Al pastor with charred pineapple served with warm tortillas. This meat was tender and juicy with a nice smoky char on the meat. Pork usually dries out pretty quickly, not this al pastor. Grilled octopus was the last dish. The octopus was charred but remained tender. The octopus had great flavor and texture. We ended up our meal with a Mexican chocolate mousse, dish and a masa infused custard type dish. Both dishes were good and not overly sweet. The restaurant is loud, sometimes overly loud and it made it hard to hear the description of each dish. That being said what made the night was the bar seating. I was hesitant at first but Marcelo, the bartender, server was really friendly and personable sorry we didn't catch the other bartenders name but was equally as good. Marcelo made it feel like we were at his house for dinner. The entire staff did an amazing job. Come in with an open mind and don't expect chips and salsa to start. You'll have a great time and a great meal. read more

Quetzal - Ceviche with crispy leeks - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A forgettable meal that fell well short of Michelin-starred expectations. Almost all the dishes I tried were well-presented, but perhaps at the cost of flavour as their dishes felt underseasoned and/or imbalanced - with the exception of the octopus dish which was delicious. Unfortunately, there are several better options in Toronto if you're seeking a Mexican or Michelin star dining experience. read more

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