Montreal's Mexican food scene has finally arrived

Chef Juan Lopez Luna and sommelier Lindsay Brennan have built something rare in Outremont: a restaurant where Mexican technique and Mediterranean sensibility meet without either losing ground. The room is small and warmly lit, decorated by friends and family, and the menu moves with the seasons—though nixtamalized corn tortillas, made in-house, remain the anchor. A carte blanche tasting menu lets the kitchen lead, pairing courses with Catalan natural wines that Brennan sources with obvious care. There's a phrase in Catalonia, vino con alma—wine with soul—and it fits the ethos here. Every detail feels considered, from the plating to the pacing, yet nothing reads as precious. Dinner at Alma unfolds like a conversation, one that happens to involve some of the most refined cooking in the city.

Bar Luz lands somewhere between Alma's tasting menu and Terraza Luz's taco stand: a 20-seat fonda fina where heirloom Mexican corn meets Quebec's seasonal pantry. Chef Juan Lopez Luna and sommelier Lindsay Brennan continue their quiet expansion here, building a menu around tortillas pressed daily, some on Lopez Luna's grandmother's own press. Fillings range from homestyle stews and grilled fish to pork Milanese or simply beans and rice. The room is compact and considered, with off-black walls, Oaxacan clay plates, custom stools from La Metropolitana, and lighting that shifts as the day turns. Drinks follow suit: Brennan's Vin i Vida imports, mezcals, sotol, tepache, and Micheladas made with house clamato. A small space with a clear philosophy, built around heritage, craft, and the pursuit of something that feels both rooted and alive.

La Matraca doesn't bother with atmosphere. This Plateau taqueria channels the no-frills energy of a Mexico City street stall: cafeteria seating, an open kitchen, and a short menu built around suadero, chuleta, and al pastor. The suadero arrives tender and deeply flavoured. The al pastor hits the expected notes of marinated pork, cilantro, and pineapple without overreaching. There's nothing extraneous here, no design flourishes or cocktail list to distract from the point. You order, you eat, you leave satisfied. Loyalty is earned through consistency, not ambition.

Mr. Azteca has been holding it down in Villeray for over a decade. Owner Rosina Martinez and her late husband Mois Reyes built the place on recipes they carried from Mexico, and Rosina still runs the kitchen today. The menu doesn't try to reinvent anything: tacos, enchiladas, pambazos, birria quesadillas. Every dish lands with the kind of warmth that only comes from home cooking done right. The space is bright with items brought back from Mexico by friends and family, and the drinks (margaritas, mezcal, cold beer) pair easily with whatever's on the plate. Regulars don't need to look at the menu. Newcomers quickly understand why.

Carlota brings Mexican baking traditions to Montreal with precision and care. Founded by Mariana Martin, a Mexico City native who trained under Elena Reygadas at Rosetta and studied culinary sustainability in France, this sunlit Mile End storefront treats pan dulce as craft, not novelty. The conchas (vanilla and chocolate) are light and fragrant, the guava-cheese roulés are textbook, and seasonal offerings like pan de muerto and rosca de reyes arrive with the weight of ritual behind them. Martin's path wound through three countries, a pandemic pivot, and the kind of community support that turns a dream into a lease. Workshops and collaborations with local artists make Carlota a cultural space as much as a bakery. You come for a pastry and leave with a sense of where it came from.

By day, the Saint-Denis space that houses Caifan transforms into Piel Canela, a Latin-inflected brunch spot helmed by Mexican-born chef Karla Guzman. The menu pulls from her roots while playing well with the Barranco Partners formula: elevated but accessible. Duck-stuffed tlatoyo. Shakshuka with a spicy edge. Breads from Carlota Boulangerie. The drink list leans into Latin-style coffees and cocktails that don't shy away from flavour. Corn cake with mascarpone, pancakes with mole shrimp: each plate reads like a small celebration. It's brunch with personality, nostalgic without being stuck in the past, and just indulgent enough to justify a slow morning.

Tacos Frida started as a humble hole-in-the-wall in Saint-Henri and has since grown into a small local chain, but the original still carries a certain charm. The tacos (carnitas, beef, mushroom, and more) come stacked on small corn tortillas with grilled toppings that stay true to Oaxacan tradition. What sets Frida apart is range: while most taquerias lean into dinner and late-night crowds, Frida's breakfast game is just as strong. The huevos rancheros hold their own against anything else on the menu. Fresh-made guacamole is a must. Affordable, reliable, and flavourful in a way that doesn't need to announce itself.

The Western-themed decor at Tacos Don Rigo might throw you off, but the kitchen takes its work seriously. This Pierrefonds spot draws crowds for its quesabirria: crispy tortillas stuffed with slow-stewed beef and stretchy cheese, served with consommé for dipping. The tacos and burritos are generous, the tortas hold up, and the house-made sauces are worth asking for extra. Service moves efficiently even when the dining room fills, and the terrace adds breathing room in warmer months. It's the kind of place that brings the energy of a Mexican street corner to the West Island without trying too hard.

La Capital opened in 2015 with a straightforward goal: bring the flavours of Mexico City to Montreal's Chinatown. The three partners behind it (Rafael Hernandez Vaillard, Paulino Martinez Cardenas, and Geoffrey Moreau) draw from Monterrey and the capital itself, and it shows in the range. Tacos arrive on house-made tortillas with vibrant salsas, covering everything from confit carnitas to vertical-grilled al pastor to breaded shrimp Rosarito-style. Vegetarian options like garlic mushrooms and vegan tinga hold their own. The pandemic pushed the menu further, adding tortas, quesabirria, and sides like papas con veneno. The space occupies a former cathedral furniture store, with natural light and mezcal-forward cocktails. Casual energy, serious flavour, and proof that tacos and tacos can absolutely constitute a meal.

La Toxica started as an online side hustle in 2020 and built enough of a following to land a brick-and-mortar spot on Saint-Hubert. Owner Rosa Castellanos keeps the menu tight: birria at the centre, flanked by tacos like cochinita pibil, shrimp, and lengua. Everything is cooked to order, which means a short wait, but portions are generous and the consommé is worth the patience. The room is simple and the kitchen runs the show. Come hungry, dip everything, leave full.

El Rey del Taco has held court at Jean-Talon Market since 2009, doing things the uncomplicated way: street-style tacos sold in sets of four, built on house-made tortillas and topped with onion, cilantro, and salsa. The menu runs deep (lengua, cabeza, suadero, nopales) alongside more familiar options, which explains its staying power. No frills, no reinvention, just consistency. The kind of spot that rewards repeat visits and reminds you that sometimes the simplest approach is the one that lasts.

Escondite isn't trying to be authentic. It's trying to be fun. Since opening on Union Street in 2015, this downtown spot has leaned into Mexican comfort food at volume: shareable plates, a compact taco list, queso-forward crowd-pleasers, and a tequila program that does a lot of the heavy lifting. The room runs loud, the playlists match, and the menu borrows freely from street food and bar snacks without apology. Multiple locations across the city speak to the formula's success. Built for groups, casual lunches, pre-show dinners, and nights that benefit from a little chaos and a lot of lime.

El Meson sits in a brick house across from the Lachine Canal and has earned its reputation quietly. No gimmicks, no oversized sombreros, just solid traditional Mexican cooking. Victor Lopez and Elena Garcia launched the restaurant years ago in Dorval before moving to Lachine, where they've built the kind of place where regulars know the owners by name. The carne asada arrives sizzling, and the menu ventures into territory you won't find everywhere: cactus with beef, grilled Salers ribeye, and deeply comforting mole. Two terrasses (front and back) make it a summer destination. The warmth inside carries through the colder months.

El Sabor de México operates like a well-worn family table that happens to be open every day. The cooking leans traditional without being rigid: guacamole made right, enchiladas dressed properly, elote, birria, and barbacoa that taste like recipes carried over intact. Margaritas are balanced and generous, the kind you notice halfway through because the glass is already empty. Service, led by Roberto Isaac Hernandez and Gérman Rodriguez, moves easily between French and Spanish, and the room stays calm even as it fills. Takeout bags by the door are a common sight. The sort of Verdun spot locals return to without thinking twice.

Caifan is chef Eduardo Acosta's ode to Mexican heritage, now expanded into a bold new Saint-Denis space through a partnership with Barranco Partners. The room is modern but grounded in tradition, and the menu reflects that balance. Signature dishes like the Costra Cochinita and Barriga Confitada lean into slow-cooked meats and layered flavours. The bar showcases a curated lineup of rare tequilas and agave-forward drinks. Refined without being fussy, welcoming without losing its edge. A modern Mexico built for Montreal.

La Selva has been around for over four decades, which tells you something about its approach: know what you do well, and keep doing it. The menu covers regional Mexican staples with a confident hand. Ceviche and salmon tartare anchor the lighter side, while grilled or dressed octopus adds weight when you want it. Plates arrive with the expected trio of rice, beans, and salad, but the seasoning does the real work. A table d'hôte offers a reliable tour of the menu, and weekday and weekend specials keep regulars coming back. The fact that it's BYOB doesn't hurt either.

Ta Chido takes its cues from Mexico City's botaneras, those convivial spots where food, drinks, and music blur into one long afternoon. Opened in 2011 by the Franco family, this neighbourhood snack bar is anchored by tortas built on house-made telera bread, loaded with black beans, avocado, caramelized onions, and fillings like achiote pork, mole-soaked chicken, or pork in pumpkin-seed salsa verde. The taco menu runs deeper than expected, and the mezcal-forward cocktails quietly steal the show. A place designed for lingering, not rushing.

Mexicain 365 might look like just another Mexican restaurant from the outside. Inside, it operates like a well-stocked family table open every day of the year. The menu is expansive but grounded: antojitos, soups like pozole and tortilla, tacos, tortas, and slow-cooked plates built around achiote, guajillo, and mole. Portions are generous, the drinks flow freely, and corridos tumbados set the pace. A full and honest experience in a Verdun spot that rewards the trip.

Mezcaleros runs on a simple premise: Mexican food works best when it's built for drinking. The menu leans tapas-style, with small plates designed for grazing that pair naturally with palomas, micheladas, and a mezcal list favouring smoky and approachable pours. Not a destination for a full meal, but that's the point. Come for a few bites, a few drinks, and the kind of easy evening that doesn't require a plan.

Calaveras reopened in 2025 with the same spirit that made it a neighbourhood favourite: cooking rooted in family memory, served without pretence. Chef Elemy draws from her upbringing in coastal Manzanillo, leaning into Pacific-facing Mexican flavours. Ceviche, seafood-forward plates, and tacos built for balance rather than excess. Queso fundido comes generously topped, burritos actually satisfy, and everything lands in that rare spot between comfort food and careful cooking. The room is intimate and colourful, with live music nights reinforcing that this is as much a gathering place as a restaurant.

Mexico Restaurant is straightforward about what it does: birria, and lots of it. Opened by Mauro Cruz and Jessica Rubi, both from Oaxaca, the menu sticks to the essentials (tacos, tortas, quesadillas) but birria is the centre of gravity. You can get it as tacos, in soup, or by the kilo for takeout feasts. Portions are large, prices stay low, and there's no alcohol to distract from the food. A place built around nourishment, not noise.

Plaza Latina looks like a commercial strip from the outside. Step through the doors on Jean-Talon and you're in the middle of a vibrant Latin American food court: music blaring, families sharing ceviche, a stage in the back where the mic stays hot. It's where the local Latinx community gathers to eat, sing, and celebrate, and newcomers are welcome to dive in. Among the vendors, Mariscos El Muchacho Alegre takes the crown for spectacle, with a live singer crooning ballads while seafood towers loaded with shrimp, octopus, and clams hit tables alongside blood-red Caesars. A few steps over, Carnitas Michoacanas Leoncito delivers the opposite energy: simple, no-frills, locked-in on flavour. Their Michoacán-style pork is crispy, tender, and best eaten by hand with warm tortillas.

Mojito & Margarita is run by a Cuban-Mexican couple (Lisandra in the front, Martin in the kitchen) and the menu mirrors their shared history. Tacos al pastor sit comfortably alongside a proper Cubano. The tacos lean generous, with standouts like cochinita pibil and steak ranchero layered with Oaxaca cheese and cactus. Starters set the tone: choriqueso bubbling with heat, hongos quesadillas rich with huitlacoche mayo. Daytime hours keep things casual, but the drinks pull their weight. Bright mojitos, chile-rimmed margaritas, and aguas frescas that balance the heat. A room where two traditions meet without fuss.