El Cazo Restaurant

What is El Cazo Restaurant? Taking over the former La Carnita address at 780 Queen Street East in Riverside, El Cazo delivers a revitalized Mexican grill and bar concept. The airy 2,200-square-foot dining room holds 80 seats, anchored by a prominent front cocktail bar and expanded in summer with sidewalk patio seating on Queen East. The room feels buzzing and approachable, catering equally to neighbourhood locals dropping in for a post-work drink and lively evening groups.

El Cazo Restaurant Menu & What to Order Moving away from basic Tex-Mex conventions, the kitchen leans into classic regional Mexican flavours with scratch-made salsas and well-seasoned proteins. Start with the house guacamole and chips before ordering the sweet potato or marinated pollo asado tacos served on warm corn tortillas. The massive loaded nacho platters and sizzling fajita skillets easily satisfy ravenous tables, especially when paired with a fresh-pressed house margarita or cold Mexican lager.

Know Before You Go El Cazo welcomes walk-ins across the dining room and bar rail, though reservations via Resy are smart for prime weekend dinner hours. The 501 Queen streetcar drops you steps from the front door at Saulter Street, with street parking available along the Queen East corridor. Happy hour deals make earlier evening visits particularly high value.