Masters at turning fresh, pickled, braised and creamy ingredients into a litany of unbearably alluring Mexican dishes, the team at this casual spot in the Weston-Mount Dennis area never disappoints. Wait your turn in the small space, for birria, sopes, tacos, and everything else they're willing to send your way.

Squeezing into this family-run spot on St. Clair West is just part of the fun. Order more than you think you'll need; from beef tongue tacos to fried quesadillas, pozole and pancita, every item carries the flavour that generations of fantastic cooks have worked hard to perfect.

Beyond its rotating lineup of rare, small-batch mezcals, this Kensington Market restaurant entices diners with food that's fresh, distinct and deceptively simple. Bright, layered dishes include pozole rojo, quesadillas, tacos and properly soaked tres leches cake.

Every day, imported corn is transformed into tortillas and house-made chips at this soulful spot, with locations by King West and in Little Italy. Loyalty — to tradition, quality and kick-ass flavour — makes every morsel sing.

From its original Kensington Market location, this unfussy Mexican spot has grown to include outposts in Parkdale, Bloorcourt and more. The draw? A menu of flavourful, affordable Mexican staples that feel home-cooked, nourishing and exactly right, no matter the hour or the day.

A 28-foot wood fire infuses this cozy Little Italy restaurant with a sexy, smoky aura that grabs hold of diners, from first bite to last. In the place of tacos and tortas, find refined dishes, like lamb-barbacoa-filled empanadas oaxaqueñas and seared, dry-aged Hudson Valley duck breast with sensory-igniting red pipian.

An abundance of cocktails, mezcal and tequila flights animate diners at this restaurant in the Annex, seven days a week. Paired with crowd-pleasing bites — from zingy esquites to fire-kissed octopus and drippy tacos built on house-made tortillas — they make for memorable outings.