Among an entire street of Korean restaurants on Bloor Street, my partner and I visited this taco store, which was listed as a Salvadoran restaurant upon my research, so we had to give the tacos and the pupusa a try, and honestly, we enjoyed the tacos and tostadas a lot more. I believe we ordered the squash pupusa or the cheese & beans pupusa, but it ended up not being very memorable because it wasn't as savory as tostadas or tacos, and part of me was wondering if I was eating it correctly, because I didn't quite see the appeal of pupusas in general. I think I need to learn more about it first. Every tostada and taco we have gotten are amazing, from the camaron tostadas to the birria tacos to the lengua tacos, everuthing was juicy and flavorful. I have never had lengua tacos with guacamole in them, and it turned out very well! The lengua meat bits were huge, so of course I was very satisfied. The birria meat was cooked very well as well, so after getting birria tacos, I got birria tostadas during Round 2. The only reason I wouldn't give this place a 5 was because the price for one taco, especially with the amount given on the camaron (shrimp) taco as displayed in my attached photo, was a bit too much, as $6.5 didn't get me much at all. The tostadas were totally worth it, but seeing the amount in the tacos I would expect the price overall to be more balanced and reasonable. Overall it was definitely a good joint, and if you are a basketball fan, you'd be in luck because the place has Toronto 2019 championship stuff all over its walls! read more

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The food here is amazing! The chicken soup in particular, it's the best I've ever had!

I've walked past this place countless times and never stopped in because I was always in the neighborhood for Korean food, given that it's on the edge of K-town. I finally stopped in for dinner and got a chicken burrito with a side of rice and their homemade hot sauce. The burrito was huge and I couldn't finish it in one sitting. I really liked the flavors, especially the cotija cheese (which was also on the rice). They advertise as "the best tacos in Toronto," and I can't really comment on how true that is, but I can say I really liked the food and the service. The staff was really friendly and I waited less than 10 minutes for my food to be ready. This is a nice spot if you're looking for something different in the Christie Pits neighborhood. read more

Tacos El Asador - Burrito with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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After coming here expecting authentic Salvadoran food, I was pretty disappointed. We started with the chips and guac - the guac was not fresh and needed salt and lime. The chips were on the border of stale and needed a lot of salt. We ordered the birria taco as that one was apparently super popular, but again the seasoning was just not there and the birria stew was severely lacking in flavor. This was some of the blandest latin food I've ever had, and I'd recommend to skip this spot. read more

Tacos El Asador - Birria tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Very very disappointing Rudest staff ever Stale tacos and chips. Very greasy Ignored my special order instructions read more

Absolutely loved our experience. Have walked by here countless times and ducked in as we were craving tacos and we were the furthest thing from disappointed! A wonderful family owned business. Our server was so friendly and helpful. The music was fun and added to the vibe. The shrimp taco was the best I've had to date! I also love fried plantain and theirs was so perfectly caramelised. Can't wait to come back, will be recommending this place left, right and centre. read more

Has this place changed owners? We have been eating here for 20 years and loved the food. But it's different now. The burritos are twice the size - way too big. So are the quesadillas. And the spices seem lacking. The food just doesn't have the same flavor. I'd really like to know if anyone has heard of any changes here. read more

We had the chicken, fish, birria, carne asada, the tacos were okay not really worth the price maybe cuz I had so many tacos and tacos in Mexico my standard has risen, the fish one and asada u would say was the best one meat was tender, and I though the birria taco comes with consume, I guess not, the service was good they were nice and polite but unfortunately the tacos weren't a wow factor and the price wasn't worth it, i think Gus tacos and Wilbur are 50 times better than this read more

Tacos El Asador - a tacos el asador restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I have been meaning to try birria tacos with all the hype lately but was having trouble finding alternatives to beef. Happy to stumble upon Tacos El Asador. I love the enthusiasm of the staff and happy to check this off my food list. It is definitely something worth trying and I know I'll be craving it again. I'll be back, next time hoping to try it with hard tacos. read more

Tacos El Asador - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We're visiting from Michigan and thought we'd try this place out! Food was delicious and freshly made to order. Staff was so friendly! Thank you! read more

Came here with my girlfriend on a Sunday evening. Pros: + good quality of food + tasty + friendly service Cons: - cash only - decently expensive ($29 for 2 people without drinks) - smaller portions Food: (3.5 stars) The food is pretty good but on the smaller size. We ordered the guacamole (4 stars): likely the best thing on the menu. Pretty expensive $9 for the size. Usually taco restaurants would charge around $6 for this type of food. The burrito (pulled pork) (3.5 stars) was tasty but again quite a bit smaller than expected. ($9 for it) Tacos: We got a pulled pork (3 stars), and a fish taco (3.5 stars). I thought the pulled pork was missing something extra, maybe some cilantro, maybe something else to add to the contrast of the pork. The fish was a bit better, the onions made it a nice crunch to it. $4 each. Atmosphere: (3.5 stars) The place is pretty small and gets busy quickly, but it has a cozy feeling to it. The tables and chairs are clean. The washrooms are in the basement, with pretty low ceilings. Service: (4 stars) They got table service, but paying at the front. read more

Tacos El Asador - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This was a great gem, worth the drive if you crave some authentic tacos! I was a bit surprised to find this well run taco joint amongst all Korean restaurants but it really works! Lots of bench style seating easily fits 4, but gets squishy as this place fills up at lunch time. The service is quick, the food came fast and hot and for tacos, quesadilla, burrito type foods, but our pupusa came after tacos, maybe cuz of table room? Cuz they certainly not a dessert dish. The warm corn wraps were so so good, guacamole was fresh and the perfect green and texture. I had to try one fish and one shrimp taco with a squash pupusa(pan fried puffy corn tortilla pancake like thing? served with a pickled cabbage slaw and hot sauce salsa) and was ok full but ordered another shrimp taco just in case Easily you can start lunch less than $4, but really takes 3-4 tacos for a good lunch which run closer to $15, they have good combos for certain days which is nice and take out was very popular while we were here. My girlfriends all agreed the fish was best of the tacos, and would easily come back tomorrow after our seminar. read more

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I searched up taco restaurants nearby and this popped up as one of the highest and most reviewed places. Walking in, it was kind of hard to determine what to do. The server was behind the counter which wasn't visible to the front door. I guess everyone knows to go up to him to order. We were sat down and told to feel comfortable, menus are qr codes. We ordered 4 tacos and a drink. All of which came out fairly fast. The drink was very artificial which we couldn't finish, but we told this to the server and he generously said he'd take it off the bill for us. The tacos were mediocre, the meat was so dry. It felt like its been sitting under a heat lamp for the whole day. If you come here for the food and drinks, I don't recommend. But the service here is very friendly! read more

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So I'm from San Diego. It is VERY hard for me to find anything even close in taste and quality. This place has high ratings on here, so we decide to take a shot. I regret that decision. I ordered three tacos (beef, pastor, carnitas.) The beef tasted like beef jerky, the pastor was super dry and bland, the carnitas tasted like cat food. Also you can't just order a small side of chips. It's $10 nachos or $11 guacamole (does it come with chips? Who knows?!) Super disappointed. Literally had to get boba tea immediately after to cleanse the pallet. read more

Tacos El Asador - Pastor and Carnitas Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

New location! Improvement. Would function better if customers paid at front, took a number and had a seat. Doesn't need waiters, slows it down. read more

WOW! I ate there lastnight and wish I could return tonight! Two of us ordered Specials with steak and salad. Mine came with refried bean, guacamole, soft corn tortilla, caramelized onions etc.! It was so flavourful and delicious. Highly recommend eating here. Our server (long time server) and kitchen staff were lovely. Cozy environment; perfect for our special date. read more

Tacos El Asador - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been coming to Tacos El Asador for almost a decade. It's my go to lunch place, inexpensive and so tasty. Whenever I go to higher end taco joints I usually leave disappointed because they're not as good as TEA's and more expensive! The TEA staff are friendly and kind. I'm glad they opened up the new location (which is hardly new at this point) and that more people can enjoy eating in. Tip: the tostadas are their hidden secret. Happy eating! read more

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Great little place decorated with blinking Christmas lights and coloured picnic tables. Their tacos are reasonably priced ($5-7) and really filling. The guac and chips ($11) are always good to share. Sometimes their tacos might be a bit dry but they have some spicy sauce and salsa on the side!! Great place for a chill and cheap weeknight dinner. read more

First things first - this is a cash only place. There's an ATM located inside but come on, given COVID, I feel that cash only is a bad option. I wish I had better things to say but maybe I went on an off day. We ordered 6 different tacos and 1 tostada. A few of the tacos that stood out are birria, barbacoa and shrimp. Chicken and regular beef was just a-ok. I will try this place again once it's warmer and I can sit outside and eat comfortably. I see that they have enchiladas (my fave) so definitely will try that. Customer service was good - the cashier (owner?) was super kind and helpful! COVID - masks are enforced for customers but some of the kitchen staff do not have masks covering their faces (chin masks), which is a little upsetting. read more

If one door is blocked, use the Asador. I mean the other door. If they're too busy, go somewhere else, it's not like it's some big disasador. Amiright? Thanxxx to Lambert for telling me to eat here. He was right. And he's like, the only person in the world (I never exaggerate, 1,000% of the time I do not exaggerate) who seems to get that it's Salvadoran, not Mexican (cough, cough, Yelp tag). He's related to Paul Lambert, Christopher Lambert, Adam Lambert, Miranda Lambert, and Adam Levine... oh wait... but yeah, so he's usually right. What to get: Pupusas, absolutely. Ignore anyone telling you differently. What else: Their Horchata is unusually amazing for a Salvadoran place. What do you mean Salvadoran?: This place is Salvadoran, not Mexican. Ignore anyone telling you differently. Permanently ignore. (I have to say "ignore anyone telling you differently" on Yelp quite a lot. Lately more than ever. Big problem is the wait time. It is endless when they're not so busy. But they're usually packed out the door, and then it's endless times twelve. If you have some time to wait and want to rub shoulders with, well, everyone, but especially the hipsters pretending they know what authentic tacos are, then come in here and wait. You'll have the smirky grin of someone who knows they are one of very few people in line that are there to order what the place is actually good at, and actually makes authentically. Pupusas. If you're coming in here looking for "real authentic Mexican" then get your "Ass-out-the-door" of Asador, because it's not. As much as I love Torontonianical people, they generally don't know a taco from a pizza slice from a chicken wing. Now if we're talking Portuguese bakeries and dumplings and donuts and Greek food... they got some perfect ones. And if we're talking Body, then I agree with what Tove Lo said about Toronto girls. (Swoon) What they do have here is fantastic Salvadoran food mixed with some questionably not-quite-Mexican Mexican food that is made in somewhat Salvadoran style and also somewhat homogenized, anglicized, Hipster-ized, gentrified for the masses, since the masses in Toronto are generally neither Mexican, nor Salvadoran. The tamale (which is usually a Salvadoran specialty, and so much better than the Mexican versions), is just okay. However, the Horchata (which often isn't as good in Salvador as Mexico) is an absolute winner. It's one of the better ones I've had anywhere, and goes straight into my top ten list. That's a rice drink that's popular all over Mexico and Central America, by the way. Made differently in each region, to some degree. However the star of the show here is the Pupusa. Pupusas are fried and delicious and dirt cheap. Discs of corn filled with cheese and/or beans and/or pork. Get it with whatever sounds good, pay next to nothing (although more than you would in most Salvadoran places that aren't quite so popular or trendy), and enjoy the absolute heaven as you combine it with pickles and the infectious red sauce and slip away to bad-for-you food heaven. Ignore what all the locals order... most of them don't know the cuisine. They come here for tacos. The tacos are decent, but you don't go to Salvador for tacos. They're the sideshow. Pupusas are the star. Horchata is perfect to wash it down. Go. Try. See what you think. read more

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It is Valentine's Day, I was so happy my boyfriend came from the Netherlands to visit and we had the best day exploring the city, afterwards we were too tired to go out so opted to order in some good Mexican food! We consider ourselves taco connoisseurs, and often indulge in a tasty tactac. We were VERY excited to have so many taco options so we ordered 3 soft shells and 3 crispy shells (as other Mexican enthusiasts may know, is not as common as people may think to have both shells) To provide more context you didn't ask for ... this was the first MUCH anticipated spot on our taco tour of Toronto. We have a methodical and detailed evaluation system in place for reviewing and ranking our tacsperiences - the system ranks the following on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) ; flavour and freshness (1) Moisture (0) Mouth feel (1) Crunch (0) Contents to Shell ratio (0) Cheese Quality (0 - cheese unaccounted for, still looking for it) Smell (2) Overall (4/35) This may seem bitter, however, we are AS unbiased as they come. Furthermore, we are highly liberal individuals. Our disappointment is immeasurable yet our day is not ruined, because we still have each other, and our view is lovely (will include pic) We hope this is a one off, and the in person experience is better than delivery. read more

Tacos El Asador - View. - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cash only.. it's 2019 Plates with holes in it.. it's 2019 Food is decent, but get the basics right read more

Tacos El Asador - Plates with holes in it.. not really practical. You could end up eating paper if you're not careful. - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The last time I ate at Tacos El Asador was when they were in their old, cramped quarters across the street. Well, they've upgraded big time as the new place is spacious. They've lost that hole in the wall feeling but the food is still good. The wooden picnic tables are a cute touch and it's actually way bigger than I thought. Lots to choose from on the menu: tacos, burritos, tostadas/enchiladas, quesadillas and pupusas. Wish we had time to try the pupusa, they were great last time. Soups, salads, tamales and platters round things out. - Birria (goat) and fish tacos ($3.75 each) - we got one of each but J likes her tacos crispy. I got mine soft style, which are doubled up, and obviously the better way to eat them. Fish was soft and tender. Goat was good too. Solid spot to grab take out/have a few tacos. I'll try one of their platters next. read more

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Excellent dinner. Finally got to try it after hearing and reading so many good reviews. We went on Monday around 6pm, and it was already getting crowded. We ordered pupusa, quesadilla, tacos x3, enchilada platter between 2 people. At first it didnt feel like much, but it was actually a fair amount of food for 2. Our bill came out to be around 30$, so its not bad at all for 6 items + 2 drinks. Staff was great and friendly service. Environment felt very local, with 2 TV screens; 1 playing popular reggaeton mix and the other sports. read more

Tacos El Asador - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

food was meh, used to come here back in the day and was good... now... not so much. plus service was insanely dumb. was getting takeout and took at a seat at one of the tables. figured it should be fine since there were 4 empty tables. i took one close to the kitchen. a few mins in.. the short guy who runs the joint asked me to wait elsewhere. this is after i paid and tipped for takeout. fuck that shit. read more

Really wanted to like this place because of all the amazing reviews and pictures. Really hoping that it was just because of the Covid situation and maybe time of day. We ordered the carnitas and chorizo tacos and a chicharron pupusa. I may be spoiled from having Salvadorian in-laws but the pupusa just didn't hit the spot. Their pupusas came with lots of extras to put on top but not the typical curtido, there was also very little filling than I'm use to. I ordered the carnitas thinking it would be like Carne but the meat was definitely not the same as Carne, and quite bland. The chorizo was definitely the best out of everything we ordered. We had to take it to go so this may have also added to our disappointing order. The tacos were not in a box like you'd typically get at most restaurants, but it was wrapped similar to how you get tacos from Taco Bell in paper. We also waited for about 20 minutes before it was ready, definitely try and order ahead. Hoping to return and try the dine-in experience once restaurants are able to open properly. Until then I'll stick with Kings Taco on St. Clair, such a hidden jem, so far the best taco place that's not overpriced. read more

Who doesn't love a good taco? I surely do, so I was happy to meet my dining companion at Tacos El Asador, as authentic-sounding a taco joint as I've ever encountered in our fair city. I decided to go with the Chorizo and the Birria (Goat) tacos, with the latter arriving first. I don't think I've ever eaten goat meat in the context, so I was definitely excited to give this one a try. It didn't disappoint. The meat was cooked perfectly and contained a very flavorful blend of spices, while the two sauces on the table, of which one is impressively hot, effectively enhance the taste of the concoction. The Chorizo arrived next and while it too was quite good, it didn't blow me away like the first one. It tasted like virtually every other chorizo taco I've ever eaten; there weren't any unexpected flavors at work here, and in fact, the chorizo itself was a little bit on the bland side. I still enjoyed the heck out of it, though, especially when I added those aforementioned sauces. I also ordered a bowl of their Chicken, Black Beans and Tortilla Soup. I'm no tortilla soup expert, so it's entirely possible this was an above-average variation, but I wasn't impressed. The broth was salty without being flavorful, while the plentiful bits of tortilla got soggy immediately and gave the dish a rather unpleasant texture. I should note, too, that the soup comes with a fairly hefty amount of cheese, which definitely should have been indicated on the menu. read more

Super delicious!! The fiance and I have been visiting this spot for a few years - not sure what took me so long to write this review?! Anyhoo, this small spot offers reasonably priced and very yummy homemade tacos, tamales, and papusas. I normally order a tamale and a salad - so good! It can get super busy here and tables are tight but don't let that discourage you, they do take out too! :) read more

You'd miss the place if you aren't actually looking for it but the place sure is busy at dinner. A different dining experience where you order first, get seated, eat then pay after. I got fish soft tacos and cheese pupusa. The fish was okay. I'd have better. Definitely enjoyed my pupusa more. I'll get the bean and maybe another cheese next time. I'll try other soft tacos too. The pupusa was very corn-y which is what it's supposed to be. The sauce that came with it goes well with it. Whats better was the red chili sauce that was on the house for the table. It was spicy at first but once you keep eating it, it gets addicting. I deff slabbed that on my taco and pupusa. read more

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As an American having grown up around authentic Mexican and south American food, it isnt often I find an authentic mexicsn food experience in canada. This is where you can have that experience. Just ordered this place on uber eats during the virus lockdown and I was very happy with it. Bright me back to the days i lived in the US and they even had some surprising flavors that I havent tasted before! Fresh, tasty, passionate cooking, authentic and just an amazing experience. This is a special place I will be returning to and continuing to provide support for. Great job guys! The only recommendation I have is to consider adding horchata to the menu! ;) read more

Don't waist your time here - try Como en Casa at Yonge and Wellesley - they will keep you safe and food is much better!!!!!

I love this place and even more so recently because they do NOT discriminate! Your food is great, service is fabulous and I love that you do not discriminate and welcome everyone. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

I ordered the pulled pork, al pastor, and fish tacos. the three tacos were very filling, the taste was good, but nothing spectacular. I also had the Mexican soda. I did like the customer service. They were friendly, provided quick service, and gave me my own table even if it was busy hour and I was alone. If you're in the area, it's worth trying out. read more

Tacos El Asador - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The food here is quite authentic. Have tried many items and all were good. The lunch specials are good value and so are the drink specials. Staff are culturally appropriate which is great. Be aware it is CASH ONLY. The tables are quite tightly positioned so be prepared to have your chair bumped a few times. You must ask for additional hot sauces (no charge) so be pro-active. The lunch burrito will fill a normal person for a day ! Blows away the chain burrito places. Servings in general are generous. read more

Got a craving for AUTHENTIC tasting Mexican food? This is your spot then! Randomly came here with a friend and I'm so glad I did because this place is everything! From the food, to the service, to the decor and open kitchen concept, everything was great. I got one shrimp taco, one fish taco, and one pupusa--everything of which I enjoyed. My friend got the chicken tostada which they also enjoyed. We also got the chips and guac and omgggg it was the best guac I've ever tasted--you could taste the fresh avocados and lime. I'd honestly go back just for that. I'll admit I got a drink I didn't really like but I'd still go back to try other drinks and eat again. It also helps that they guy who cashed us out was hot lol. Keep it the awesome food and service! I'll be back :) read more

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Ordered beef burrito and pork pupusas through ubereats. Started with the burrito which was bland and barely any beef/protein. I couldn't even finish the burrito because it was so bad and I decided to try the pupusas. It was hard by the time I got to it. Think twice before ordering... read more

From the tortillas to the flavour of the pork, Tacos El Asador brings back memories from my trip to Mexico. Having tried a few other taco places in the city, I can definitely say that TEA takes the cake for me! I came with my girlfriend later on in the evening and was greeted by the infamous Smokey. He asked us how many and we replied back "two people" and then he replied back with "three". We said "no, two people" and Smokey proceeded to point at each of us and said "one, two" then points at himself and says "three". He definitely made our night. We got seated in less than 20 minutes, ordered right away with some nachos, pork tacos and plantain. Wow did that bring back some memories of the taco stand in Mexico! All I can say is, you need to go there and try the food and take my word for it. read more

Itching for an escape down south but can't swing the vacation days? Koreatown's El Asador offers an authentic Latin American experience, minus the pricey return flight. They boast the best tacos in town, which I can confirm from my own personal Toronto taco touring. As a vegetarian, it can be hard to find options that actually excite me, but El Asador's veggie tostadas come with delicious, fresh guac (and no, the guac is not extra!) and the veggie options are cheaper than the meat versions, which doesn't always happen. If you're expecting a resort-like experience, El Asador may not live up to your 5-star expectations. But if you can get down with local living, you'll enjoy this no frills place, with picnic bench seating and plastic cups. The food is fantastic, the service is friendly, and the owner's expressive eyebrows (you'll know when you get there) are sure to make you smile. Affordable prices, a wide selection of beverages, and the new location offers more seating and a shorter wait. read more

TLDR: I smoke tree and eat food I like to smoke all the tree at Christie pitts then eat tacos here. Food is so bless and the service is incredible. It's located right beside my fav weed store. read more

I came here on a bustling evening 30 mins before close(we hadn't realized they closed earlier than most restaurants in Korea town), however we weren't the last to walk through the doors. Since the restaurant is on the smaller side, we had to wait about 20 minutes before being seated. Even though they were close to closing, they didn't rush us at all. The atmosphere is very cozy, laidback yet still lively. The service was great, our server was super outgoing and humorous which is nice after a long day at work. Food is very affordable, they have many options but not too many it becomes overwhelming. I ordered the chorizo and the pork soft taco, and all I can say is it brought me back to my trip in Mexico. The meat was juicy and the toppings were fresh. I also ordered the rice with cheese, although simple was great. We ordered plantains as well, and that was the icing on the cake to us. Instantly made me want to go back to Mexico. Would definitely come back, just wish they were open a little later. read more