Toronto Restaurants

Tacos el Asador

#9 of 565 things to do in Toronto

#15 of 1004 things to do in Ontario

1 reviews | Write a review

Good for: atmosphere, Solo Travellers, service

  • Address
    • 690 Bloor St W
  • Transport
    • Christie
  • Phone
    • 416 538 9747
  • Price
    • mains $4-8
  • Hours
    • noon-9pm

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Lonely Planet review for Tacos el Asador

For an authentic taste of old Mexico, tether your horse to a bike rack and sit your saddle-sore behind down in this taco-sized Koreatown canteen. Burritos, enchiladas, nachos, tostadas and guacamole clatter across tiny timber tables beneath Mexican flags. Crane your neck to check the hockey score on the TV and swallow some cold Corona in the same movement.

 

Traveller reviews for Tacos el Asador (1)

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    Tacos El Asador

    thelighthouse recommends this,

    From the outside, it underwhelms. Inside, it abounds: Mexican and El Salvadoran flags hang; two televisions show a football match. There’s a giant inflated plastic Desperados bottle, a Plinko machine, Christmas lights and Aztec figures on the walls. Walls of yellow, blue, orange, and green.
    The restaurant pulls sunlight in through the front door, weaves it into a zarape.
    I ask for Especial Cuatro. It comes with pupusas. What might those be? I get to choose between enchiladas and quesadillas.
    “This is crispy. This is soft,” the chubby man behind the till explains, pointing at the immense menu hanging above him. Orange, green, and red sticker lizards scuttle across my options.
    “Quesadillas,” I say.
    Something to drink? There’s a cooler with a hodgepodge of beer. Another, unlit, contains a brainstorm of Jarritos: strawberry, tamarind, mandarin. I pick Fruit Punch and take a seat at one of the picnic tables.
    The food arrives in plastic baskets. I start with the pupusas: flat full moons of baked cornmeal, stuffed with cheese. My plastic knife can’t cut through them. Torn by fork and dipped in salsa, they are worth the struggle. I kill the soda. The quesadilla leaves me wanting. I ask for a pork taco.
    “Suave?” the man asks. Soft.
    “Croquante,” I say. Crispy. “Y un burrito de pollo y un Dos Equis.” Behind him, the tiny kitchen’s breath is full of spice and summer. He hands me a beer.
    The next round arrives, the taco sitting perfectly upright, statuesque. The meat soaked in a piquant sweetness. The stout burrito is gummed with refried beans and rice. I spoon salsa onto it, devour it. I’m buzzing. I slug the beer. I want to stay here all afternoon and eat the menu. I’m going to fill myself with tostadas and enchiladas. Wash it down with watermelon soda and sunshine.

    Good for: atmosphere, Solo Travellers, service

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