Maria's Tortas Jalisco — Restaurant in Hamilton

I recently had the chance to try Maria’s Torta Jalisco, and it was such an enjoyable experience overall. If you’re craving authentic Mexican food, this spot is definitely worth a visit.

The star of the meal for me was without a doubt the birria tacos – they were absolutely amazing! The flavor was bold, rich, and perfectly seasoned. Every bite was juicy and satisfying, and the meat was incredibly tender. What I loved most was how balanced everything tasted – the seasoning wasn’t overpowering, and the consomé brought it all together beautifully. These tacos are the kind of dish you think about for days afterward.

The portion sizes were another huge plus. You definitely get your money’s worth here. The servings were more than generous, and I left feeling very full and satisfied. It’s nice to see a restaurant give customers hearty plates without sacrificing quality.

Now, the only downsides are things to keep in mind before you go. The restaurant is very busy, which is both a good sign of how popular it is and a reminder that you may have to wait a bit for a table. I’d suggest coming a little earlier than peak dining times if you want to avoid a long wait. The other issue is parking – it’s not great. The lot is small, and the area around the restaurant doesn’t have a lot of extra space, so be prepared to drive around a little to find a spot.

That said, the food makes up for any inconvenience. The atmosphere inside is lively and welcoming, with the kind of energy that comes from a place loved by locals. You can tell the food is made with care and tradition, and the quality really shines through in every dish.

All in all, Maria’s Torta Jalisco is a must-visit if you’re a fan of authentic Mexican flavors. The birria tacos alone are worth the trip, and paired with big portions and delicious flavors, this place easily ranks among the best Mexican restaurants I’ve been to. Just bring your appetite and maybe a little extra patience for parking – it’ll...

I came here after a good friend of mine suggested we try the place out when I mentioned wanting to try some authentic Mexican food. While it’s impossible for me in particular to judge how authentic the food is what I can say is that the flavour was out if this world!

Both of us had the Birria with goat meat and I got chicken quesadillas for my mom. My mother is a very picky eater with Alzheimer’s so it was surprising when she took one single bite and immediately commented on how tasty the food was!

So why only four stars? Well going on flavour alone Maria’s deserves five stars no question! But given there’s a 5% “processing fee” and considering the price to value ratio I unfortunately just can’t justify giving them five stars. I read a lot of Maria’s reviews and I suspect that the relatively large number of 4-star reviewers felt the same way I did given the overwhelmingly positive comments.

While I was relatively satiated after the meal, the skimpy portions will definitely have you reaching for a snack - especially if you work a physical job or are active! My friend says (and this might not be accurate) that he remembers getting five tacos for roughly the same price in the past ($15.95 each for the Birria - pictured below). Whether true or not, I understand that the continuing rise in food prices and inflation are an ongoing challenge to business owners like Maria and myself, its important to get pricing right otherwise you risk incentivizing would-be regular customers choosing restaurants with better value propositions instead. Just down the street you can get three “taco grandes” from Ole Gourmet that are more filling for $11.95 - for $4 less that is a noteworthy difference. Even if there’s a little less variety on your plate, the flavours are on par...

This place is legit if you are craving an authentic Mexican cuisine. EVERYTHING is good and this place is always busy everyday especially during lunch and dinner times. Its not un common for line ups especially during the weekends. The food is a 10. The great thing about this place is they have pictures on the wall when you walk in explaining whats what on the menu so your not intimidated by the menu (it can be intimidating in your not familiar with authentic Mexican food). The staff and servers who bring your food to your table are very welcoming and will answer any of your questions. Food wise they have it all including various Mexican deserts, various Mexican drinks including bottled Coke from Mexico which is a thing (bottle Coke from Mexico hits different if your a Coke enthusiast). They also have like a mini Bodega store where you can buy Mexican various Mexican snacks and stuff like that. In regards to parking, that's the only negative as they just don't have enough parking to accommodate the hords of people thats always there which just shows how good this place is. Good thing is there is a side street right off the restaurant you can park down. They also do take out as I noticed allot of taķe out orders going out too which is another good sign. Overall its a local gem to have such a great restaurant in this community. This place could easily have a Michelin star and would rival any Mexican restaurant you'd find in downtown Toronto if not better than. For anyone going to Niagara Falls from outside Hamilton, its not a bad idea to stop by as this place could also be a destination restaurant as well which is not uncommon from...