Itacate

What is Itacate? Occupying 998 St Clair Avenue West near Oakwood, Itacate operates as a working Mexican carnicería and taquería helmed by the Moreno family, who brought their Mexico City recipes to Toronto in 2007. The no-frills room is decorated with colorful lucha libre masks and Mexican wrestling photos, wrapping around an open kitchen where meats are cut and griddled right before your eyes. With barely a couple of tables squeezed next to the butcher counter, this is an intensely casual setup where takeout reigns supreme.

Itacate Menu & What to Order Thanks to the in-house butchery, every meat cut is deeply flavourful, exceptionally juicy, and piled high onto double corn tortillas. The undisputed crown jewel is the suadero taco—slow-cooked beef brisket crisped on the flat top—closely matched by rich carnitas and spiced al pastor. If you have a massive appetite, go for the colossal multi-meat Torta Itacate or fresh weekend tamales, paired with a cold horchata or bottle of Jarritos. Approach the house habanero salsa with genuine caution, and note that vegetarian options like mushroom and pepper tacos are readily available.

Know Before You Go Itacate is strictly walk-in with zero reservations, and seating fills up instantly during lunch and dinner rushes. The 512 St. Clair streetcar stops directly nearby, which is far easier than fighting for street parking along the avenue. The shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, operating Wednesday through Saturday until 8:30 p.m. and closing early on Sunday.