Itacate located along St. Clair West near Appleton Ave (which is near Oakwood Ave) serves up authentic Mexican eats. The mom and pop shop gives off hole in the wall vibes with it's no frills decor and homey atmosphere. There are 6 tables to dine in as well as a small patio but they also do take out as well. They have an extensive menu featuring a long list of tacos, quesadillas, and garnachas alongside some popular appetizers. I've heard many good things about Itacate and finally made my way to visit the eatery recently. I came by on a Saturday around 1pm. You have to order and pay at the counter before taking a seat if you do plan on dining in. It is cash or e-transfer only. Service was friendly and you could see all the tacos being made on the flat top behind the counter. I decided to order 3 tacos and had to wait 20-25 min for my order. I was able to walk around the neighbourhood instead of waiting inside the restaurant. When I was picking up my order, the staff mentioned to customers ordering that their orders would take 40 min to prepare! (you know everything is prepared fresh though!). For my tacos I opted to get: - Volcan (steak, onions, cheese) - Pastor (marinated pineapple, pork) - Choriqueso (sausage, cheese) All tacos come with onion, cilantro, and 2 types of hot sauce + a lime wedge on the side. Staff do ask if you want onion and cilantro on your tacos when ordering. I decided to get take out and went to a nearby park to eat my tacos. I didn't want to wait too long before eating them. The tacos came with 2 corn tortillas each and were still piping hot when I was eating them. The hot sauces tasted great. I enjoyed all the tacos I got but the volcan and the pastor tacos were standouts. Each taco were packed with meat and flavour. Three tacos were definitely a good portion for me and I was full afterwards. Overall, a longtime neighbourhood gem in the St. Clair Ave. W. area. Delicious authentic Mexican eats and friendly staff. Definitely do check out Itacate if you are in the area! I know I"ll definitely be back for more in the future! read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'm trying to make sense of the pricing at Itacate. The sausage pambazo was massive--easily enough for two meals--and at $16, it felt like great value. On the other hand, the volcán and lengua tacos were quite small. While everything tasted fresh, the cuts didn't feel particularly premium, especially at $10 each. Prices are tax-included, which I appreciate--but the pricing across items feels inconsistent given the portion sizes and perceived quality. read more

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I've definitely heard of this place but it's my first time here. It's a hole in the wall mom and pop shop, nothing fancy but the food was amazing! They take your orders at the front with 5 tables at the back where you can dine in. We ordered a couple of tacos and the shrimp nachos. My carnita taco was loaded with pulled pork. After eating the taco, I was half full already. This was my first time trying shrimp tacos and was pleasantly surprised. It was layered with cheese and flavourful shrimps. It's a great appetizer to share and to pick on. While dining there, there's many people coming in to pick up take out. This is definitely worth the trip to the wet end and I hope to be back soon! read more

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Wow. Sometimes there are no words other than wow. We'd heard that Itacate had some of the best tacos in town, so after making our way through some seriously horrendous traffic, we showed up on a recent Saturday. The place had only been open for a little while and it was already pretty full, although we luckily were able to snag a tight table near the back. I decided to get a couple of their tacos, the Volcan ("Steak, Onions, cheese") and the Carnitas ("Pulled Pork"). It took a while but they eventually showed up and holy moly are they delicious. They've both been packed with super tender, super flavorful meat and topped with a healthy serving of cilantro and onions. These tacos are next level. Honestly I don't really know how you could do better. And they're really filling, too. I figured two tacos would be a nice appetizer, but I was stuffed. We also ordered one of their tortas, but I was too full to really appreciate it. Best. Tacos. Ever. read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a family owned Mexican spot that is highly recommended by locals! The place is tiny but there are a few tables inside as well as places to stand and eat. They also have a small front patio. I tried three different tacos- the pastor, shrimp and volcan. I thought the ingredients were fresh and the the tacos came very hot with the cheese melted but I did think it was a little bit under seasoned. I thought 8$ per taco was a bit steep, but still a good place to try if you're in the area. read more

Itacate - a group of people in a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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In a city filled with delicious tacos, I really do think Itacate should top anyone's list of best taco. Simplicity with a focus on fresh ingredients and fresh ingredients, there is no going wrong at Itacate. The tortillas are fresh, soft and heated, you get a vast array of different salsas, ranging in heat levels and flavour profiles, the meat is fresh and the prices are extremely reasonable, meaning you'll have to get a couple of these. This is a small, family taqueria that focuses on quality. In a perfect universe, I would have tried every taco on the menu but I could only eat so much. As such, I opted for the steak and cheese (this stood out to me as different and unique) and fish taco (because, fish taco) and both were superb. This is a must try for anyone who wants an authentic taco and wants to support a local business while doing so. read more

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This place has by far the best tacos in Toronto. Low key if you know then you know. Their Carnitas tacos are my fav. Delicious & melt it your mouth. Their Tortas sandwiches are also Amazing too but only available late night. Pro Tip: the place can be busy at times so call ahead & order on the phone & pick up. It'll save you time read more

Itacate - Carnitas Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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If you want authentic, this must be the place since I saw many Mexican customers. However, as I grew up on a Western palate, I didn't find the tacos to be amazing. Skip the carnita as it was really dry. The beef tongue wasn't anything special; you'll probably agree if you eat Korean oxtail soup periodically. Also got the steak and cheese (decent) , grilled fish (average), and the suadero (beef), which I thought was the best. Skip the Placero was the pork rinds were kinda dry. Alambre was good and filling. As a guy, three tacos ($8 each) should suffice. So, I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here personally (Ay Caramba and Seven Lives had better tacos IMO; can't compare to Comal Y since I've never been). If you're in the area, though, I'd check it out. Also knocking down the rating as the place isn't the cleanest and they only accept cash / e-transfer. read more

Itacate - a plate of tacos and cheese - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Can't even lie. The tacos are really really good and salsa flavourful with a nice punch of fresh spice. Cilantro and onions galore. My fav ! We had the fish tacos , beef and chicken. I took off 1 star because the chicken was dry and tacos a bit pricey ($6). Also the fish is the cheap tilapia. For $6 per taco I want a better quality fish. Otherwise , definitely authentic and plenty of options. Would absolutely return. CASH ONLY! read more

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If you are looking for authentic tacos, Itacate is definitely the place to go. This is a small taco shop located at the front of a butcher shop in the St Clair West area. It is quite small with about two or three tables and gets very busy. I had the opportunity to try their fish, chicken, beef and steak tacos and all were really good, however, the steak, WOW! that steak taco was by far the best taco I have ever had. Next time I think i will get all steak. It had the perfect amount of fat and the meat was super tender. I also really enjoyed the two types of salsa they had, one was red and one was green. Both were super fresh and not overly spicy. I am not much of a taco fan but maybe that is because prior to this I have never had an authentic taco. Itacate has changed my mind and I will definitely be back! read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I don't usually UPDATE a review; Friday was a disaster. The owners should provide the staff/customers AIR CONDITIONING, they are sweating into the grill it's so hot (flavour to the tacos?). The time it took to get 2 tacos was LONG. Poor interior design, cluttered. 1 of 2 tacos went into the trash (very under cooked). The tables are cluttered in garbage, food scraps. They make enough money, pay a teenager to clean. This place needs HELP. It was one of those experiences where I'll try other spots on St Clair, over Itacate. read more

Itacate serves some authentic/no-frills Tacos. I tried the Suadero (beef) and Pescado (Fish). Both tasted pretty decent. However, the ingredients weren't special nor were they trying to experiment with the flavours. Wife tried the Vegano and she didn't like them. Based on my experience they were pretty good, albeit a little pricey for a take out joint. The tacos are priced at ($6). You could get some at that price range at some dine-in places (La Carnita, Grand Electric). Also, you could get tastier alternatives at other takeout places (El Nahual, Seven Lives) read more

This is a tough one! As some of you may know I love Tacos! I kept hearing that Itacate was the best place to grab the most authentic tacos in Toronto and obviously I had to give it a try. This little spot is located on St.Claire W and it doubles as a Butcher shop. I walk in and it smells amazing! I love pork tacos and since I can cook all other tacos I decided to get the Carnitas and El pastor. I was so excited and 2 of the saddest looking tacos were brought over. Now, looks are not everything so I decided to take a bite. Even though the tacos were super plain I figured if the meat is super flavourful I won't need any sauces. The meats were very chewy, at one point I felt like I was eating leather. Most of the Pork had gooey fat all over it and I just wasn't a fan. I added cilantro, onions and the extra spicy sauce which helped with flavour but the meat was a big issue for me. Keep Eating, Angela read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My, my! Can't write a review here without thinking about their meaty tacos... Makes me hungry all the time. Good price, lots of great options and hearty toppings! Yes, it's a small place and they take cash only, but don't let that stop you from trying this place out. Been here a few times now, I've tried their chorizo & papas, pastor, lengua, and carnitas. Very generous with the meat and you can put your condiments yourself (unlike some other taco places). One of the most authentic Mexican taco places I've been in Toronto. Give it a try and you won't regret it read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

After the first bite of the carnitas taco I ordered, I wanted to put it down and apologize to the chef for all the times I made carnitas at home. What the hell was I thinking? How could I dare to think I had the right to make carnitas when this miracle existed? I've been back a few more times and ordered more items on the menu. Everything I've had is great. Everything is made fresh right in front of you and the ingredients are all at peak yumminess, down to the chopped white onions at the toppings station. Hot tip: come here after 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays for their special late night menu. They serve up a few different varieties of tortas (basically subs) that feature a generous helping of meat, cheese (if you're into that sort of thing), and guacamole at no extra charge (I'm looking at you, Chipotle). They have a hot dog and egg torta that has absolutely no business being as good as it is. I watched the chef whisk the eggs, chop up the hot dog and cook it all up on the flat top. The eggs were fluffy as hell and the flavours mixed together into a masterpiece that Imran N. and I couldn't believe. So yeah. Go here, be polite and get the best damn Mexican food in the city. read more

This is hands down The. Best. Place. To. Get. Tacos. In. Toronto. If you're debating whether or not to come, just do yourself a favour and come. You will not regret it. It's a small family owned restaurant with very limited seating, almost like a hole in the wall, but the food is packed full of flavour. Everytime I come here, I always get the carnitas - the pulled pork is SO tender, juicy and melt in your mouth. The Volcan is also a fan favourite and so worth the effects of lactose intolerance. We've also had the pastor and chorizo and papas. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the tacos. Top it all off with their cilantro and onion salsa and hot sauce and it's literally a chef's kiss. 10/10 recommend! read more

Itacate - Carnitas and volcan - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Itacate is a small Mexican restaurant located in st Clair west. Their tacos are as authentic as it gets.. each taco was flavorful and the meats were juicy. Definitely the salsa is what made itacate stand out as they are out of this world! read more

Itacate - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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my god i love love this place. It should have major line ups for its tacos and tortas. Their hospitality and food is unbelievable. They make good tripe tacos, al pastor and carnitas, it's to die for. They have a spicy tamarindo drink that i love and order when i'm there. Their hot salsa is amazing and please don't sleep on this place. read more

I ordered suadero (beef) tacos. I didn't have high expectations because I've eaten real tacos in Mexico City and it's hard to match that authentic taste. These tacos were loaded with beef. Very filling. I was worried that I'd still be hungry, but they use the large tortillas and they were loaded. I'm happy to say that they were quite delicious. Even my wife who is Mexican really enjoyed the food here. And she's hard to please when it comes to Mexican food. I had one of my wife's al pastor tacos and it was soooo flavourful. I highly recommend this one as well. The hot sauce was nice and hot too if you like your food spicy. My only knock, was that the service was a bit slow. Other then that, this place is the real deal. read more

Itacate - Suadero and Al Pastor. - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing tacos. Totally authentic. The menu is in Spanish but the staff speak English. Watch for the salsas - they are hot! Another tip: if you want tacos, you need to be there during the first shift (before 9pm, I believe). Otherwise, they only make tortas. They're okay, but not as good as the tacos. The butcher shop part of the store in the back seems a bit odd -- hardly any stuff in the refrigerator -- but adds to the unique ambience of the place. read more

Itacate - Tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Their carnitas tacos is the absolute best. It is extremely flavourful and tender. I am definitely ordering that again. The other taco I've tried was the Pastor+Chorizo+Queso. Unfortunately that taco's spice level was extreme. Not sure why a taco needs to be that spicy... Overall I would go again to the place and order tons of their Carnitas Tacos. read more

Itacate is a small family run taqueria located in the west end of Toronto. It's situated inside a butcher shop on the Northwest corner of St.Clair Ave West and Oakwood Ave right across Oakwood Collegiate Institute. It's a place I have been meaning to try since it's usually on the list of hidden gem hotspots in Toronto and has gotten rave reviews for serving authentic Mexican tacos. I ordered two tacos ($5 each tax included), a steak, cheese and onion taco and something adventurous which was a cow tongue taco. Both tacos came on a double layered soft tortilla. The tacos don't come with any dressing and you have the option of dressing the tacos with chopped onions, cilantro, hot sauce, guac and lime for drizzling. The tacos were authentic and delicious, brought back memories of getting tacos from food stalls when I visited Mexico. Nice fresh soft tortillas, the steak, cheese and onion taco was delicious. I had never tried cow tongue before so i was expecting something chewy, the cow tongue was really soft and tender surprisingly, but could have used a little bit more seasoning. Overall, if you are looking for a simple no frills place to have good authentic tacos, you should definitely check out Itacate. The tacos aren't cheap at $5 each tax included but the prices aren't crazy either, let's be honest, eating out in Toronto isn't cheap anymore. It's definitely a hole in the wall gem for authentic Mexican tacos. read more

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The best tacos in Toronto and the GTA. Good, warm up your soul, Mexican food has always been very hard to find in Toronto & the GTA. There are definitely more "hip" restaurants serving Mexican or Mexican-style food, but none have a family feel like this place. Primarily a butcher shop, Itacate also serves very delicious food. I've visited this place twice in a month and here's what was ordered: - tacos de Placero (fresh cheese, chicharrones, and quacamole) - tacos de Lengua (beef tongue) - tacos al Pastor (marinated pork freshly sliced from the spit grill) - tacos de Suadero (beef brisket) - tacos de Choriqueso (chopped sausage with cheese) On both occasions the food was 10/10. You owe it to yourself to come here. One more thing: CASH ONLY, but that don't bother me. read more

Itacate - Tacos placero - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The tortas are HUGE. I shared one with my friend and we were barely able to finish it. There was not a lot of space inside to sit and eat (we were here before pandemic times), but the 5 of us managed to squish together and sit by the counter area. We really enjoyed our gigantic sandwiches and we all loved the picked veggies and hot sauce. We each got a different one and they were all delicious. Wash everything down with a cold pop and it's late night PERFECTION. Heard really great things about the tacos and we can't wait to come by earlier next time to try them. NOTE: Not only are the Tortas huge, but they're also extremely heavy, I'm talking slapping on the grease, then adding more to it. Delicious! read more

Itacate is a taqueria located inside a butcher shop on St. Clair West. I was here for lunch yesterday and I've been thinking about it all day. We got the guacamole with chips, steak taco, chorizo taco, and gringas. The guacamole was made on the spot. It was super fresh, chunky, and delicious. It just needed a tiny bit more salt to be perfect. The meat was all impeccable: very savoury and perfectly cooked. The tacos came with corn tortillas. They were dressed simply, with just a little onion and cilantro. There are also a variety of pepper salsas available that have a good kick. My favourite was the gringas, which are flour tortillas folded over, melted cheese, al pastor, and pineapple. They were incredible. I've never had better al pastor. The effect was not unlike Hawaiian pizza, in the best possible way. The portion was massive; so big we took half of it home and reheated it in a pan for dinner, along with the leftover guacamole. Just a great spot, and I plan to return soon. read more

Did a little research on where to get good eats while visiting Toronto and this did not disappoint. Took a minute to find parking but was very much worth the effort. read more

I'm a huge fan of Authentic tacos, and in many ways consider Tacos El Asadore the measure of quality tacos for Toronto. Don't anyone suggest Wilber's, except those hipster never been to Mexico wannabes. Anyway. This soot is true to Yelp tips, small setup inside a butcher shop. Likely more Mexican stream joint than butcher shop, given the sq footage, I'll bet they expand and take the whole place over soon. I went pretty safe, grabbed a couple steak tacos at $6 a piece. The corn tortilla was authentic and really good, while the meat was mildly seasoned and unfortunately a bit too full of gristle for my liking. Yes, glad I had a napkin. One thing I liked are the accessible condiments as wanted. Onions, cilantro, hot sauce and mild. All fresh, all good. Once you add everything and bite, you'll feel like you're warped to a small taqueria in Mexico. Well done. I'll be back, and ready to explore the wider offerings they have. read more

Came for lunch around 12:30. The place only has two tables and some standing room. After you order and pay, they give you a number and you seat yourself. The tacos all tasted good but were quite overpriced at 6 bucks each. The enchilada tasted good and was better priced at 8 bucks. I didn't feel the service was great, the cooks seemed annoyed when orders started piling up or when a customer asked for the provided cilantro/onions/ salsa to be refilled. Space wise the place sucks with only two tables. They also said there was not bathroom for customers ( even though if we paid). Floors and tables were not clean either. I also asked their facebook page a few days before my saturday visit if they have tamales. It's on the menu and some reviews on other review sites mentioned they are not usually available. I got a reply within 1 hour that they would have tamales around noon. When I asked about them, i was told they make them some weeks and not others. I do not think they are worth returning to. There are other taquerias in the city that have cleaner restaurants and friendlier staff. Take out might be ok. read more

Itacate - 2 fish tacos, one chicken breast (breaded) taco - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My only thought eating Itacate was this is real to the bone. In the back of a butcher shop, the food looked and smelled incredible. There is a huge rotating shanks of meat right above the grill. The menu has no photos and is in straight Spanish so my mum has trouble, but we got a variety of tacos and one super taco(two tortillas fused together with 2 meats). It's not a great place if you're in a rush, but it was very worth the rush. She got steak tacos with grilled cheese put on the oiled tortilla, and the steak melted your mouth. My double taco was probably the best taco I've ever had. The grilled cheese underneath, it had a mix of chorizo and grilled steak. Unbelievable experience, as soon as I have access to car I'm pulling up again. 11/10 read more

No one eats more than I do. Seriously. I'm a fat fat man in a little man's body. I've eaten all over this city and only now started to write reviews, because my wife's sister got invited to be a yelp elite and she can't even boil water and only eats where I tell her to, so I'll start with my favs: Best AUTHENTIC taco in the city though I still prefer Wilbur overall. This is the most ghetto place ever but it's really awesome and you feel like you're eating in the streets of Tijuana without the risk of being beheaded by MS-13 or having to jump back over the wall. If you speak English, you will be the only one here. read more

One of my fav Mexican tacos. They've got a variety of tacos to choose from. They've also got other options. Be sure to bring cash. read more

Itacate - Yummy yummy tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Itacate probably serves the best tacos I have ever had in Toronto. From the tortillas - an extremely important, and underrated (in Toronto) part of of the taco, to the salsas, Itacate tacos are exceptional. Particularly the Al Pastor - by far the best I have had in the city (you get a spit and a pineapple! The real deal!) Certainly come here for the food, and skip the more trendy spots in the city. Itacate is authentic, and delicious. read more

Tortas Sandwiches delicious and good size also the service of the people there it's awesome

If you've got a late night craving (i.e your very drunk), this is the spot. The late night torta menu is effectively crack. read more

Bring cash. Have patience. Be hungry. Eat everything you can. You'll be hard pressed to find another place like this in Toronto. This is the best. The dishes here are an experience. You'll leave here, walk a block, and then want to return for more. To all the reviewers docking stars for this place being cash-only....really?!? read more

Were the tacos good? Definitely. Pescado, beef and pork with pineapple, all solid choices with two homemade tortillas each. The people were pleasant, though not overly friendly. Its cash only, that in my book makes things difficult. The wait is long, I had to wait (I was told) 25-30 mins for three tacos. To me they just need to sort out their process to get through orders faster. I understand you have one big order before me and you want to be authentic, but there must be efficiencies. Maybe if you offered like chips while I wait it would smooth things out for me. It's delicious and authentic like I said, but not sure I'd wait another 30 mins for tacos. read more

Most authentic Mexican in Toronto hands down I always order the tacos Al pastor but if you are with friends you need to order the nachos with chorizo. The place is definitely not pretty but the food makes it worth it 10/10 read more

A staple for authentic Mexican food on St. Clair. A little bit more on the pricier side per taco however, quality and taste is everything here. I had the grilled fish and pastor tacos both were great and the sauces actually had an authentic spice. Be aware the place is Cash Only with no ATM inside. Would recommend to anyone in the area looking for quality mexican food. read more

Authentic, good quality and the closes to a real taco spot in Mexico City. Salsas are amazing.

Hands down the best tacos in Canada. This place is small and that only adds to the authenticity. Every time I visit I feel like I am in highschool when we used to go for late-night tacos back in Mexico. Depending on how busy they are the orders may take some time, but good food usually does. Everything is amazing here, but we warned, the portions are big. First time I went there I thought "of course I can eat 5 tacos," let me tell you I was barely able to finish them. This place is the prime example of "always being under the owner's eye" since the owner is the one working the grill most of the time. It is always a pleasure to chat with him and learn his story about coming to Canada. Do yourself a favour and go experience what an authentic taco place is like in Mexico. read more