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tostada in blue plate on pink plate La Cantina/Facebook

11 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants in Montreal

Go beyond the tacos with pozole, mole, tostadas, and more

by Ivy Lerner-Frank Updated
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by Ivy Lerner-Frank Updated
La Cantina/Facebook

Montreal’s taco scene is decent (and we have a whole guide to it), but there’s more to Mexican food in this town. There’s a sizable Mexican and Central American community here, with restaurants dishing specialty dishes for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Mole (a complex sauce that incorporates chiles, cocoa, and spices), Mexican-style aguachile, breakfast faves like chilaquiles, and seasonal plates like chiles en nogada (peppers smothered in walnuts and pomegranate seeds) can all be found — and that’s where this map comes in.

¡Provecho!

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

El Meson

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This Lachine restaurant has been bringing in aficionados of simple Mexican food for over 25 years. The menu hits all the traditional food options, with tortilla soup, guacamole, chiles rellenos, and fish filets in a garlicky tomato sauce. Sit near the front windows for a view of the river.

1678 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Lachine, QC H8S 2N1, Canada
(514) 634-0442
(514) 634-0442

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El Sabor de México

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This Verdun favourite replicates classic flavours of Mexico, starting with the chef’s specials of fried quesadillas, tacos de birria (braised beef), and enmoladas (stuffed corn tortillas napped in mole). 

5013 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1Y1, Canada
(514) 362-8888
(514) 362-8888

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Tacos Frida

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Founded by a Oaxacan family, Frida is a formidable destination for classics like carnitas or tinga dished up in corn tortillas, with homemade chorizo and a hefty burrito menu. Check out their cochinita braised pork option, or go for the El Flaco option featuring the chef’s special cecina grilled beef, Oaxacan style.

4350 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 2W6, Canada
(514) 935-9696
(514) 935-9696

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La Cantina

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Downtown’s La Cantina offers a table d’hôte lunch (including a vegetarian cauliflower and chickpea taco along with meaty choices), a dinner menu featuring chapulines, cactus tempura, and other dishes like Mexican-style brisket not seen elsewhere. 

2022 Rue Stanley, Montréal, QC H3A 1R6, Canada
(514) 357-2173
(514) 357-2173

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Maria Bonita

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Mile End gem Maria Bonita has a full menu of Mexican specialties, featuring homemade tortillas, tlacoyos, and sopes appetizers, moving on to specialty stews of fish, meat, or chicken served in cazuelita clay pots. Dairy-loving vegetarians can be happy here, with an alluring choice of meatless options. 

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada
(514) 807-4377
(514) 807-4377

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La Capital

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First time visitors to La Capital will find the deliberate kitsch of its Chinatown location charming, from melamine plates with Chinese themes to the maneki fortune cat with the Lucha Libre mask waving to you from the counter. The printed menu features appetizers, tacos, and quesadillas; the chalkboard promotes daily specials where you’ll find dishes that veer towards traditional platters, special beverages, and desserts. Check out the tasting flights for a range of agave-based drinks.

1096 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2Z 1J5, Canada
(514) 873-5255
(514) 873-5255

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El Rey del Taco

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This anchor of the Jean Talon Market with a new outlet in Mile End has a dizzying menu plus a grab-and-go section that runs the gamut from tacos and enchiladas to the famous vuelve a la vida (return to life) seafood cocktail hangover cure. It’s hard to avoid all things tortilla here, but don’t miss their warming Mexican triumvirate of innard stews during non-terrasse season: pozole, menudo, and birria. 

232 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2R 1S7, Canada
(514) 274-3336
(514) 274-3336

Cafe Grain D'Or

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This Beaubien café on the southern edge of Little Italy proffers hearty Mexican breakfasts, with a team of home cooks churning out Aztec soup, chilaquiles, and enchiladas from the tiny kitchen. Saturdays are coffee roasting days from the Guatemalan co-ops the owners are connected with; there’s an evocative soundtrack and Wi-Fi for longer daytime visits. 

250 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1R7, Canada
(514) 272-3905
(514) 272-3905

La Selva

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Plateau restaurant La Selva has been around for almost 40 years, and for good reason: a great value weekend table d’hôte and Thursday/Sunday deals show off the restaurant’s versatility and skill across a range of regional Mexican cuisines. La Selva’s seafood game is strong, with ceviche, Mexican-style salmon tartare, and several riffs on octopus.

862 Rue Marie-Anne, Montréal, QC H2J 2A9, Canada
(514) 525-1798
(514) 525-1798

Alejandro

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Alejandro’s sunny Village premises features brunches with fresh takes on traditional fare. From benedictos with chipotle cream to pancakes with dulce de leche and a range of smoothies and coffee, Alejandro’s got breakfast covered. 

1481 Rue Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L2, Canada
(514) 527-6000
(514) 527-6000

Calaveras

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This family restaurant near Cinéma Beaubien bills itself as a taco bar, but it’s more: In addition to all manner of folded tortilla-based dishes, they offer ceviche, aguachile, and classic plates like enchiladas (red or green) and mole-based mains. There’s brunch on weekends, and occasional music performances, too.

2040 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2G 1M4, Canada
(514) 701-0123
(514) 701-0123
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El Meson

1678 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Lachine, QC H8S 2N1, Canada

This Lachine restaurant has been bringing in aficionados of simple Mexican food for over 25 years. The menu hits all the traditional food options, with tortilla soup, guacamole, chiles rellenos, and fish filets in a garlicky tomato sauce. Sit near the front windows for a view of the river.

1678 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Lachine, QC H8S 2N1, Canada
(514) 634-0442
(514) 634-0442

El Sabor de México

5013 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1Y1, Canada

This Verdun favourite replicates classic flavours of Mexico, starting with the chef’s specials of fried quesadillas, tacos de birria (braised beef), and enmoladas (stuffed corn tortillas napped in mole). 

5013 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1Y1, Canada
(514) 362-8888
(514) 362-8888

Tacos Frida

4350 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 2W6, Canada

Founded by a Oaxacan family, Frida is a formidable destination for classics like carnitas or tinga dished up in corn tortillas, with homemade chorizo and a hefty burrito menu. Check out their cochinita braised pork option, or go for the El Flaco option featuring the chef’s special cecina grilled beef, Oaxacan style.

4350 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 2W6, Canada
(514) 935-9696
(514) 935-9696

La Cantina

2022 Rue Stanley, Montréal, QC H3A 1R6, Canada

Downtown’s La Cantina offers a table d’hôte lunch (including a vegetarian cauliflower and chickpea taco along with meaty choices), a dinner menu featuring chapulines, cactus tempura, and other dishes like Mexican-style brisket not seen elsewhere. 

2022 Rue Stanley, Montréal, QC H3A 1R6, Canada
(514) 357-2173
(514) 357-2173

Maria Bonita

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada

Mile End gem Maria Bonita has a full menu of Mexican specialties, featuring homemade tortillas, tlacoyos, and sopes appetizers, moving on to specialty stews of fish, meat, or chicken served in cazuelita clay pots. Dairy-loving vegetarians can be happy here, with an alluring choice of meatless options. 

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada
(514) 807-4377
(514) 807-4377

La Capital

1096 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2Z 1J5, Canada

First time visitors to La Capital will find the deliberate kitsch of its Chinatown location charming, from melamine plates with Chinese themes to the maneki fortune cat with the Lucha Libre mask waving to you from the counter. The printed menu features appetizers, tacos, and quesadillas; the chalkboard promotes daily specials where you’ll find dishes that veer towards traditional platters, special beverages, and desserts. Check out the tasting flights for a range of agave-based drinks.

1096 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2Z 1J5, Canada
(514) 873-5255
(514) 873-5255

El Rey del Taco

232 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2R 1S7, Canada

This anchor of the Jean Talon Market with a new outlet in Mile End has a dizzying menu plus a grab-and-go section that runs the gamut from tacos and enchiladas to the famous vuelve a la vida (return to life) seafood cocktail hangover cure. It’s hard to avoid all things tortilla here, but don’t miss their warming Mexican triumvirate of innard stews during non-terrasse season: pozole, menudo, and birria. 

232 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2R 1S7, Canada
(514) 274-3336
(514) 274-3336

Cafe Grain D'Or

250 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1R7, Canada

This Beaubien café on the southern edge of Little Italy proffers hearty Mexican breakfasts, with a team of home cooks churning out Aztec soup, chilaquiles, and enchiladas from the tiny kitchen. Saturdays are coffee roasting days from the Guatemalan co-ops the owners are connected with; there’s an evocative soundtrack and Wi-Fi for longer daytime visits. 

250 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1R7, Canada
(514) 272-3905
(514) 272-3905

La Selva

862 Rue Marie-Anne, Montréal, QC H2J 2A9, Canada

Plateau restaurant La Selva has been around for almost 40 years, and for good reason: a great value weekend table d’hôte and Thursday/Sunday deals show off the restaurant’s versatility and skill across a range of regional Mexican cuisines. La Selva’s seafood game is strong, with ceviche, Mexican-style salmon tartare, and several riffs on octopus.

862 Rue Marie-Anne, Montréal, QC H2J 2A9, Canada
(514) 525-1798
(514) 525-1798

Alejandro

1481 Rue Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L2, Canada

Alejandro’s sunny Village premises features brunches with fresh takes on traditional fare. From benedictos with chipotle cream to pancakes with dulce de leche and a range of smoothies and coffee, Alejandro’s got breakfast covered. 

1481 Rue Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L2, Canada
(514) 527-6000
(514) 527-6000

Calaveras

2040 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2G 1M4, Canada

This family restaurant near Cinéma Beaubien bills itself as a taco bar, but it’s more: In addition to all manner of folded tortilla-based dishes, they offer ceviche, aguachile, and classic plates like enchiladas (red or green) and mole-based mains. There’s brunch on weekends, and occasional music performances, too.

2040 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2G 1M4, Canada
(514) 701-0123
(514) 701-0123