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Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 12 pm - 9 pm
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One of my favourite hole in the walls in Toronto. My wife and I will come here twice/month and enjoy a wide range of dishes.
To appease us regulars, please follow this simple rule:
- Order first, then grab a table.
I don't like to defend tables from people who come in and jump at the first empty table before ordering, but I will. If there are other people in line to order, they get those tables first!
With that out of the way, I've got to say that every dish on the menu is delicious. When I first started visiting I always ordered tacos and burritos, but then I noticed that many of the non-gringo patrons were eating soups, steaks and other meals I hadn't thought of ordering. So don't be afraid of the black bean soup, pozole, steaks, pupusas (squash and cheese!) and any special of the day.
Good lord, those are some tasty tacos. The crispy tacos melt in your mouth, and the toppings of onion, cilantro, and peppers are a great compliment the delicious filling.
Admittedly, seating is minimal at best, they only take cash, and it is a claustrophobe's nightmare. I've never tried any of the other items on the menu, but I'm sure they're just as tasty.
Tacos El Asador is a hole in the wall spot that makes great tacos and other 'Mexican' or Central American food favourites. The staff are friendly and helpful and will gladly translate to explain what the different types of meat/menu options are.
My bf and I were craving some tacos and decided to go for an early dinner to beat the usual peak hour rush. We ordered a soft taco, a hard taco, a quesadilla and a pupusa to share. Everything was tasty and delicious, the beef, chicharron and chorizo were all juicy and cooked just right. We were very happy with our choices - particularly yummy was the crispy crunchy hard taco. Only wish we had enough room left for an order of guacamole which looked amazing. Hope to go back soon to try that. Definitely ask for hot sauce with your order. You'll get it on the side and it will just make everything better, but it is HOT... so be warned.
Loses one star only because it's kinda small and divey and the picnic bench seating is not really ideal, making the tiny space feel even more cramped. The food comes out on wax paper which lines the inside of a plastic 'basket' making it really tough to cut anything, especially with plastic cutlery. Definitely somewhere for a quick bite, not where you'd want to linger too long.
Having lived away from California for 5 years, this place is as good as it gets. I searched everywhere for something decent and by far this place is definitely the go to place for some tacos and burritos. Their hot sauce is a must have along with a nice cold beer.
Listed in: My favorites
I love this place and come here every time I come to Toronto, which is often. It is as authentic as authentic gets, by which I mean this is Latin American food, not a Californian gringoised interpretation, so it is slightly bland until you add the salsa and squeeze on some lime juice.
There is a gratifying absence of gringos working here and everything on the menu is cheap and very real. The tortillas are all home made, the tacos ($2.70) are the crispiest I have ever had, their salsa picante is hot and vibrant, the onions and jalapenos crisp and fresh.
The pupusas which are stuffed El Salvadoran corn bread parcels are wholesome and filling, chatting ( in Spanish) with the guy at the counter there, he mentioned that in Mexco they have something very similar but called a gordita, I laughed and in English said, " a fat girl?" and then we both laughed.
I love this place and whether you come here to eat "a fat girl", or come here to enjoy the tacos or the burritos or anything else on their menu, if you have ever lived or travelled South or the Border, then I'm sure you will love it too.
The most authentic tacos I've had in Toronto.
This small little shop welcomes you with delicious aromas that are a great introduction to the authentic flavors offered. I came here at 7pm and it was super busy but the wait wasn't too bad. I managed to snag a seat in 10mins.
This place is not the nicest but it definitely has its charm. There are 6 picnic tables crammed in this small space with Spanish MTV playing and wood everywhere.
The service is usually super fast and super friendly. You order at the counter, grab a seat and the food will get brought to you accompanied with some hot sauce, onions, jalepenos, and hot peppers.
The food is amazing and is the closest thing I've had to a real taco since living in California. Absolutely authentic and delicious. Definitely try the chorizo taco.
Overall the prices are great while the food is better. If you're looking for a place to get delicious Mexican food look no further as this is THE place.
This place truly lives up to their sign saying they're the best tacos in Toronto. This is the first place I've had the opportunity to eat a handmade tortilla outside of California (and Mexico of course) and they were pretty good. This place is really authentic as its a Mexican family that runs the joint.
I had a pork taco, chicken taco and the nachos. The pork was really good but I found the chicken to be a little dry, like it needed some guac or sour cream on it. The only other negative was that this place is really small so Mike S. and I had to get our tacos to go and eat them out in the cold on a nearby park bench.
You may want to try the "chrispy" tacos. Yes that's right "chrispy".
We used to order take-out from this place all the time at my old job. I would always get the chicken burrito. In fact, I would get two chicken burritos because they were so damn good. I would also get an horchata to wash it down, but for some reason I think they discontinued that drink.
Now I tend to pop in and get a variety of things as take-away, but the chicken burrito is still my favourite. Only complaint is the place is super tiny and very popular -- which makes for a tight situation.
Judging by other reviews, Tacos El Asador is about authentic as you can get in Toronto. I've never been to El Salvador so I'll have to trust that this is true. But, authentic or not, I'm not really feeling this place. The food is good but not great. I just found things a little on the bland side.
In two visits to Tacos El Asador I've had soft tacos, crispy tacos, and papusas. The crispy is definitely the best. Everything is served with decent salsa and a mixture of onions and jalapenos for those that want to increase the heat. In all cases I had the vegetarian versions, which I realize might be the cause of the blandness, but I had a bite of a friend's pork crispy taco last time and wasn't super impressed with that either.
Service is quick and everything is fairly inexpensive. I'd probably go back to Tacos El Asador but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
All the best of El Salvador without the pesky civil war-relic landmines or CIA death squads.
By far and away the best Central American food available in a city full of spectacular options.
The best thing here in my opinion are the pupusas. But everything seems to be excellent....
Inexpensive. Delicious. Tecate. Hot Sauce. Cha cha cha.
Simply delicious. After visiting many disappointing "Mexican" restaurants such as Milagro's and Hernando's Hideaway, I can safely say I have finally found the best tacos in town.
Tacos El Asador is an El Salvadorian restaurant, so technically the best tacos in Toronto are not even Mexican. Truth be told, there are no good authentic Mexican restaurants in Toronto, but that's another story altogether.
I went at around 8:15pm on a Saturday night. The place was packed so there was a long line. I noticed the "Cash Only" sign so I had to go get cash. By the time I came back, there was no line and a few of the picnic tables were empty. I ordered the Combo #1 (Soft Chicken Taco, Chicken Enchilada and Drink for $6.99) and a crispy Chorizo taco on the side.
It took about 10 minutes to get my meal, and it took less than that to eat it. The salsa picante is one of the best I've had. My only regret is that I didn't order more tacos. I can't wait to go back.
Delicious cheap food, friendly staff, and a great atmosphere. What else could you want? This is as good as it gets if you are looking for tacos in Toronto.
Ever since I drove by and saw the sign advertising the city's "best" tacos (only the word best was in quotes, pretty much guaranteeing a submission to The Blog Of Unnecessary Quotation Marks), I knew I had to try Tacos El Asador.
Despite Yelp's warnings to NOT go at 7pm, I found myself inside at precisely 7pm along with about thirty other hungry patrons, many of them Hispanic, making me increasingly confident that I'd be getting an 'authentic' experience. I dilly-dallied about my order selection and finally decided on the "strictly vegetarian" black bean soup (soup of the day!) and a bean and squash pupusa.
Luckily for us the folks in the kitchen fire out food at such a mind-numbing pace that it wasn't long before our dinner was ready and brought out to us (in waves, might I add, as we received a few unexpected add-ons like a bowl of onions, avocado slices, some weird salad with jalapenos on it and a brown slurry that may have been hot sauce...or soup.)
The black bean soup was fairly brothy (not a puree as I'd been expecting) and brimming with rice and whole black beans. It was a bit spicy and the portion was enormous so I didn't even get halfway through it before I had to get started on my pupusa.
According to what Wiki tells me, pupusas have been around for nearly 3000 years and were eaten by "the natives" back in the day. They're a thick, hand-rolled maize (corn) tortilla that kind of looks like a pancake or a crepe, but is stuffed with a variety of things like "chicharrón" (fried pork rinds), cheese, beans or ayote squash, which is green and stringy like zucchini.
Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the pupusa - it was too bland for my tastes. It was in dire need of a flavour intervention by way of chilis or hot sauce. Even sour cream would have helped its cause.
The entire meal was made more entertaining by the inclusion of a Mexican Telenovela on the big screen TV. I have NO idea what the name of this soap opera was, but it was hilarious. It was super dramatic, every actress burst into tears at least once per scene, and the entire thing took place in a hospital. At one point there was even a flashback montage of freak accidents like electrocutions, gasoline fires, radioactivity and gas leaks. It was a wild ride!
Listed in: Toronto Mexican Food That…
Charming authentic Mexican. Squash pupusa, tamales, grilled plantain... It's only fault is that it is so small and always so busy...
I arrived here before my friend did and so I parked myself on one of the unoccupied benches that serve as dining tables. This was about 6:15ish. After sitting there a little while one of the employees politely asked me if I could get up because other people needed the spot. I understood and went outside and waited out front for my friend. A few minutes later when we both entered and sat down, this same employee apologized profusely. Almost a little too profusely. Clearly this is a man who cares about his customer service.
You can argue over the relative deliciousness of the food here (an argument that is centered around how good it is, rather than IF the food is good) but what is not open to debate is the authenticity of the experience. This place is so Mexican it hurts. After eating here it made me question whether I should see a doctor to check for swine flu. It's that Mexican.
A stop here would be incomplete without a quick crane of your neck up to the tv screens showing Mexican television. When my friend and I ate here we spent most of our time trying to piece together the obscenely convoluted plot of the Mexican soap that was on.
Little did my friend know, I am secretly in love with her sister while about to be married to her other sister even though that sister spurned my best friend after he got her pregnant. But I am definitely not responsible for the poisoning of her father, that was her jealous uncle who has always wished it was he, not his brother who had married her mother
Went back today and it was much better than before. The chicken in the tacos I had was a little dry, but the beef burrito was amazing. And when you learn to take it easy with the salsa that has habaneros in it - wow! It adds enough kick to make me sweat without actually causing pain. Delicious.
I take back my previous lukewarm review and kick this up to a solid 4/5. Stay away from the chewy chicken and you're golden.
I had heard a lot about this place and finally got around to going. Perhaps it was all the hype, but… Read more »
Wandered into this packed Taco joint Friday night before a show at Clinton's. Standing ass-to-ass we shout-ordered a mega-load of crispy tacos. Seating consists of small picnic tables so it's better suited to groups of 4 or fewer. Our order took a while to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. The tacos have a unique flavour, and there are so many varieties; I can't wait to try their other options.
Obligatory Title Pun: More like Tacos el Awesome-dor!
Menu Readability: On a board high above the counter. They have a lot of selection, but it was too busy to quiz the staff on their offerings. Maybe next time.
Need to mention: The prices are incredible. I had a filling dinner, and a beer, for less than $15.
What this place teaches me about myself: I don't know what papusas are. But I intend to find out.
The tacos al pastor alone are worth a return visit. Super friendly staff (I half thought the guys would come sit down and have a beer with us). Its a family run operation so its fairly authentic (I believe they are from el salvador). I hope they will have the tequila flavored beer they were telling us about next time :)
I love this place!!! very cosy and small... I think it might be family run, but the food is delicious. My favourite is the hard fish tacos. The salsa is also very fresh and tasty. If you're looking for some quick and casual mexican food, this is the place.
After eating here the other night, all I have to say is...
"OINK OINK!"
I'm a pig!
Sometimes I amaze myself. You should have seen the spread on our table. Crispy pork tacos, crispy chicken tacos, chorizo soft tacos, cheesy chicharron papusas and plantains. Did I mention that there was only 2 of us? And trust me, I ate my share.
Very casual look from the inside and out. But don't let the lack of ambiance fool you. There is no lack in the quality of El Asador's food. Authentic Latin American eats, personable and mindful staff, comfy atmosphere. And all for a price that can't be beat.
There's always a line up, but I'll always wait as long as I have to, to order their food.
I'm a Tacos El Asador regular for life!
Listed in: Diverse Tastes
El Asador, you make dreams come true. The first time I came here, some big soccer match was blaring on the television, and the place was packed with tri-colour painted faces. The staff, too, had their one eye focused on slapping my meal together and another eying the sinewy muscles running across the field. Great introduction to one of the best cheap eats in the city.
Though I'd have to say El Trompo's meats are a little more flavourful, this place is authentic, vibrant and makes me feel like I'm in another country. Above all, the service is so spot on. Water? You done? Everything fine? Need cheese? Above the food, the attention here is what sells the place.
However, its exterior is so unobtrusive that I always seem to miss this place every time I pass by. And it's too bad, because I could always use a dose of the Asador.
Local celebrity spotting: Rick the Temp from MuchMusic. ZING!
Final assessment? GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
Listed in: Toronto: Meals under $10! (And…
Chorizo tacos... mmmm...
This El Salvadoran place is as basic as it gets. The small space is filled with wooden picnic tables and there's a counter where you order. But just because it's basic and simple doesn't mean the food is.
The tacos are full of flavour. The guacamole is creamy and sooo fresh. Try the pupusas filled with cheese. It's grilled cheese latin american style. If you like the heat, go heavy on their homemade hot sauce. I like heat but I like my tongue better so a few drops suffice. Plantains and refried beans are good accompaniment to the tacos/burritos. I wasn't a fan of the tamales. A little stingy on the meat and the masa needed a little more seasoning. Drink it all down with a Jarrito or a Dos Equis and you've got yourself a fine lunch or dinner.
Lunch and dinner gets packed. So come early if you want a shot of the picnic tables.
This place rules! Pupupas just like the ones in El Salvador! Yummy!
Best Mexican/El Salvadorian food in Toronto. The character of the interior is awesome. You feel like you've stepped into a different world. It can be hard to get a seat, but they're pretty good about helping you find a seat, and cleaning up spaces quickly. The beer selection is impressive, and the staff are extremely friendly. The freshness of the home-made tortillas is something I will never take for granted, and I love all the vegetarian options on the menu (ie. beans or avocado instead of meat). Prices are more than fair. I'd love to see this place expand one day.
I've eaten here loads of times and it's never disappointed me. Love this place.
Listed in: Burrito Bonanza
There's a lot of hub bub about this place. It's an authentic Latin American eatery, which is primarily a take out joint, but has a handful of picnic benches (indoors) for you to eat at if you wish.
They make good burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and, of course, tacos. I've read (in NOW and such) that this place is known for its spiciness, but I've never found the heat to be a big deal. Certainly, you have the option to add spicy salsa (red or green) to your eats, but it's not a requirement.
I've enjoyed the food on a handful of occasions, and this is easily one of those spots that you wouldn't expect to be as good as it is. I think part of that is its location. It's located right in Korea town, and nothing in the vicinity hints at a Latino vibe. It's both a good spot on its own, but even better when you consider there's nothing like in nearby.
I generally refer to Tacos el Asador as "butt tacos". Not because the food is bad (it's awesome!), but because I'm 12, and what can I say...it always makes me laugh.
Anyway, Tacos el Asador (as it is more commonly known) is my favourite place for tacos. Every meal I've ever had has been excellent. I urgently implore everyone who has the slightest interest in tacos to go there in the very near future. Some of the key selling points include:
1. Authenticity: big points here. This is how tacos are meant to taste. No gobs of sour cream, no diced tomatoes, just meat, seasoning, and maybe a little bit of lettuce. They also use queso fresco, which looks like of like feta, but isn't.
2. Quality: Two of my friends from California moved to Toronto, and both of them professed to miss the tacos "back home". Both of them said that Tacos el Asador was just as good as the food in L.A. I've also had tacos at several places in Mexico (ie: the places where no gringa has gone before), and the tacos at el Asador are just as good.
3. Uniqueness: Tacos el Asador is the only restaurant I know of where you can eat inside at a picnic table while watching South American soccer, and drink cheap Mexican beer. It's truly one of a kind. They also serve a Salvadorian breakfast, which is cool if you want a break from your basic breakfast.
Listed in: Lose Your Virginity!
Tucked in the heart of Koreatown at Christie and Bloor is Toronto's best burrito. Perched on the corner of Clinton and Bloor between dozens of Korean BBQ restaurants and cheap, designer knock-off stores is El Salvadorian eatery, Tacos El Asador.
The décor is minimal with brightly painted picnic tables for seating, TVs mounted in ever corner, an order desk and a few small fridges stocked with beer, water and South American sodas make up the whole restaurant.
The menu includes burritos (chick, veg or beef), soft or hard shell tacos, breakfast, guacamole, soup and salad and chorizo.
In the summer it's tight, sweaty and loud if there's a soccer game on. Place your order at the cash and have a seat. You pay when you're done eating. Meal plus tip, tax and beer works out to $12.
My suggestion: chicken burrito with guacamole and an apple soda. Make sure you try the hot sauce, they make it in-house and it's delicious.
Open 12PM-9Pm daily except Wednesdays and 2PM-6PM on Sundays.
I would probably enjoy this restaurant a lot more if I wasn't a vegetarian. My husband is a meat eater and seems to love it. Still, I enjoy the spicy food and friendly service. The only complaint is the lack of seating.
Its hard to hit Koreatown and skip the tasty bulgogi and bibimbap dishes, but Tacos El Asador is definitely a gem. Go with one of their platters for a little variety from pupupas to quesadillas and burritos. They serve it with a side of peppers so you can enjoy your food at your own level of spice which is nice. From what I can tell, the food is pretty authentic but I am troubled by their nachos which are served with fake cheese which I found very strange.
Watch your head when going down to the bathrooms.
We go here at every other week. Food is good & cheap, vibe is casual and pleasant. My faves are chorizo tacos & chicken tostadas. Always order a side of plantains & watermelon soda. Yumm......
Listed in: Cheap Eats
From the outside, Tacos El Asador looks like a convenience store. Inside it isn't much nicer. Eight picnic tables crowd the albeit colourful room as the sound of CNN Espanola natters in the background. And yet, every night around seven, it's one of the busiest spots in Koreatown when the Salvadorian smells from its minuscule kitchen coax you off of Bloor street and into a sense of comfort despite décor. Delicious food; fabulous guacamole and chips, papusas, burritos and enchiladas made with beef, chicken, bean, pork or chorizo filling, come served on pink plastic trays with a side of the hottest hot sauce and a bowl of chopped jalapenos. Extinguish the fire with a Dos Equis or one of the weirdest juices/sodas from South America. And CHEAP! Their "Chrispy Beef Tacos" (at $2.70 each) are amazing. True taco lovers (like me!) will find a home here.
Listed in: CHEAP Toronto, My FIVE Star Toronto, Top Restaurants
Tacos el Asador was the place to go before the burrito blitz that has taken over the city. We really liked the take a trip up to Bloor and Christie area to chow down on these cute little tacos, papusas and plantains. However, in retrospect, the food doesn't have that much flavor. I've always had a love-hate relationship with the salsa they provide. I love the first bite- lots of flavor. However, immediately after that, I can't taste anything else and without salsa, it just tastes like bland papusa dough. I like things HOT. There is just something missing when you don't have salsa on these things, and when you do, you can't taste them for the burning in your mouth. Alas, it is still quite the experience. We still pop in whenever we have a car for take-out or eat in.
Listed in: Burrito Magic
oooh, i am stuck as to how to review this place. what i saw being served to others around me looked, and i assumed t tasted amazing, judging from their reactions, yet my order was total crap.
i ordered the veggie tostados, thinking it was a safe bet. most veggie mexican dishes i have had in the past have been great, and mexican is one of the first go-to options for both the veggie and carnivore, where they can both get culinary satisfaction.
not so here. my tostados consisted of stale tasting corn tostado, with maybe half a teaspoon of flavourless beans spread on top, which was then covered with seemingly two cups of shredded iceberg lettuce, one thin and tiny tomato slice, perfunctory squeeze of watery sour cream and insignificant sprinkling of cheese. it was beyond lame. i mean here are other dishes with lots of veg going by me left and right, but my veggie offering is 90% iceberg lettuce! c'mon! i would get more veg at bloody taco bell!
but my dinner date, being carnivore got the chicken tacos and freaking loved them! he said it was like being in mexico again! this place is totally hit or miss i think. but that being said i think i would be willing to try again- others food looked so great- maybe i hit the weak spot on the menu. dunno. i hope to have better luck.
Seriously, one of the best places for a tasty and cheap meal El Salvadorian style. Why I love it: Friendly staff, delicious cheese and bean papusas, warm and bumpin atmosphere, and all under $10!!!! I recommend the combo meal #4-2 papusas and quesadilla with yummy cheese and beverage for the wonderfully low price of $8.75.
Listed in: On a Budget Cafe's/Food…, My Neighborhood
The crispy beefsteak tacos at Tacos el Asador are ace. I'm a huge fan.
One of my all-time favs. try the #2 or #4 combos. for 8 bucks you will stuff yourself stupid and love every minute of it.
Neighborhood: Kensington Market
Neighborhood: Queen Street West
Neighborhood: Christie Pits
Neighborhood: Kensington Market
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