You know it's peak summer when you're kicked back on a terrasse with your crew, a cold drink in your hand and a plate of tacos to chow down on.
Montreal's food scene is chock-full of taquerias whipping up traditional and revolutionary versions of this favourite Mexican dish. Downtown is home to some of Montreal's most eclectic and inventive tacos, while up in the Plateau, there's a lineup of more traditional options. Then there's the Mile End, Jean-Talon Market and the list goes on.
With so many options to choose from, a taco tour is definitely in order. Why try just one place when you can try them all? That said, it can be hard to know where to start, which is what the Jarritos' Taco Tour Map is for!
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These nine Montreal taco joints are all worthy of a visit, and each one is a great place to kick off your itinerary. The best part is you'll be supporting small businesses and tucking into the city's best tacos at the same time. Now that's how you do summer.
La Capital Tacos
Price: Individual tacos from $4.50
Address: 1096, boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: La Capital Tacos can be found in Montreal's Chinatown, and it's easy to see why this street food-inspired Mexican restaurant is so popular.
Their menu has everything from pulled beef to confit pork, and a vegan tinga taco that's served with cashew-nut cream and tofu. This is a great spot to start your taco tour because you can order one taco and try a few, or you can get three of a kind for $12 if you know what you want.
Escondite
Price: Two tacos from $9.95
Address: 1206, av. Union, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: Escondite is one of Montreal's most-loved taco joints. With lots of fun twists to be found on their menu, this restaurant serves up a range of Mexican eats including tacos (obviously), ceviche and inventive cocktails.
They have a deep-fried chicken taco that comes with cornbread croutons, and another with sirloin, grilled cactus and pickled jalapeño. With so much variety on the menu, you can (and definitely should) make an entire night of eating here.
Le Mariachi
Price: Three tacos from $10
Address: 26, rue Bélanger, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: Le Mariachi serves up some of the best veggie tacos and burritos in the city. A must-try on the menu is the taco frits: fried wheat tacos stuffed with Cajun-style mashed potatoes and topped with crema, cotija and pico de gallo.
You can enjoy this delicious taco and many more in Le Mariachi's new dining room. All you need is an ice-cold Jarritos to wash it all down.
El Rey Del Taco
Price: Four tacos from $12.50
Address: 232, rue Jean-Talon, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: If you're in search of authentic Mexican eats, El Rey Del Taco is the place. Located in a tortilla factory, this taqueria dishes out street food that you can enjoy on their terrasse that backs onto Marché Jean-Talon. What could be better than chowing down on taco pollo on a balmy summer night overlooking the market?
After filling up on some of the best tacos in the city, you can check out their dessert menu which is full of Mexican treats like churros and tres leches cake.
Ta Chido Snack Bar Mexican
Price: Individual tacos from $4
Address: 5611, av. du Parc, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: From its decor to its menu, Ta Chido Snack Bar is full of character. This restaurant is a family-owned taqueria, and all food is cooked with 100% fresh and homemade ingredients.
You can feel that much better swinging by Ta Chido for lunch, dinner or maybe both knowing that you're supporting your fellow Montrealers. With a street-side terrasse and a generous menu, Ta Chido will be one place you'll want to head back to more than once.
Antidote Bouffe Végane
Price: Three tacos for $16
Address: 3459, rue Ontario E., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: Vegans, rejoice and get ready to live your best life at Antidote Bouffe, an all-vegan restaurant located in Hochelaga. This innovative resto offers a tasty taco plate you can enjoy inside their rustic walls or outside on their terrasse.
You get three tacos, topped with barbecue-seasoned soy "meat," pickled onion, corn, coriander, spice mayo and their house salsa. If three isn't enough, you can add extra tacos to your plate for $4 each.
Tacos Tin Tan
Price: Three tacos from $12
Address: 3828, rue St-Denis, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: Whether you dine in or order takeout, Mexican-owned Tacos Tin Tan promises to be a good time, every time.
Nestled in the centre of the Plateau, this little yellow taco stop offers tons of taco options, from grilled cactus and tempura-style fish to carnitas and shrimp.
Tacos Victor
Price: Individual tacos for $7.47
Address: 4280, rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: If a picture could speak a thousand words, this one would be saying "yum" many times over. At Tacos Victor, creativity is the name of the game — think tacos loaded with fries, towering molcajete, creative cocktails and a whole range of ceviche.
You can pick up some traditional tacos to snack on individually or go big with their Tacobox (12 tacos, piled high with fries, guac and a whole bunch of extra toppings). Wash it all down with a Jarritos and you're good to go!
Tacos Frida
Price: Three tacos from $8.85
Address: 4350, rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Try It: From its stylish interior decor to its tasty eats, Tacos Frida is not only big on authentic flavours, but an authentic experience too. Just as you're sinking your teeth into one of their many tacos (Oaxaca-style grilled beef, anyone?), the friendly atmosphere will make you feel right at home.
Along with plenty of carnivorous options, this restaurant has two veggie tacos on the menu, mushroom or grilled cactus and a wide range of drinks including Jarritos, horchata and wines.
Wherever your taco tour takes you, you can make this summer the most memorable one yet using Jarritos' Taco Tour Map to choose your stops in and around the city. If you don't see your favourite taco joint on the list, you can nominate it to be added to the map, too!
