Itacate — Restaurant in Toronto

This place was wonderful at first. I went at time that wasn’t busy which was a Saturday night at 2am in the dead of winter. I have only had their tortas which had been highly recommended. I got the beef with onion torta & it was quite delectable. After that, every time I’ve gone the service has worsened according to their preference of being served or taking your order. Even if you’ve respected the line that keeps getting longer, if the owners have their friends coming then they will serve them first. Even food pick up has been based on preference, it has taken a good hour & a half to get our order as if 2 tortas would take that long. The lady with glasses is the most rude person in the establishment for being in the service business. Her tortas tend to be smaller too. Her dad isn’t usually there but when he makes tortas then those are huge. I’ve tried practically all the tortas such as the al pastor one which isn’t to my liking. I’ve tried the milanesa one as well but I had it only to try it. I’ve yet to be disappointed in the tortas but it would be pretty hard to ruin a sandwich. It’s bread with meat & toppings. It’s not so hard for the time they take. The torta I’m most inclined to is the pierna adobada with no beans. It’s the most delicious one with a jarritos de Jamaica or a sangria. Usually a torta can be split between 2 people, my husband & I share most of the time since they’re so big as well as the price of $18 per torta. TLDR: go if you have the time & money to get a...

It's always a bit sad when a place you once loved doesn't quite live up to expectations.

Having fond memories of Itacate from a visit back in 2018, I was eager to revisit this Toronto spot after seven long years, hoping to recapture the magic that drew me in initially. Unfortunately, my recent experience left me with a sense of disappointment.

While the staff remained as friendly as I remembered, the quality of the food seemed to have taken a noticeable dip. In a city like Toronto, which now boasts a vibrant and diverse Mexican culinary scene with over a hundred restaurants, the dishes I tried this time simply didn't impress. The flavours seemed to miss the mark, lacking the authenticity and vibrancy I had hoped for.

Adding to the less-than-stellar experience was the continued inconvenience of their cash-only policy in this day and age. Furthermore, our order wasn't entirely accurate; my horchata was forgotten and only arrived after we had finished our meal, which was a bit of a letdown.

It's truly heartbreaking when a beloved spot doesn't live up to past experiences. While the service was still commendable, the decline in food quality in a competitive market like Toronto leaves me unlikely to return in the near future. I sincerely hope Itacate can recapture the essence that made it special in the...

It's pretty easy to miss this place. The sign outside is for the butcher shop which shares the space. There's a small poster in the window with Itacate so you know you've found Itacate. It's cash only and they have 2 menus. One for regular hours, then they close for an hour then re-open around 10:30 till late with a different menu.

The food itself was fresh, and you could tell it was authentic. The menu is written on the overhead board, with some descriptions for those that don't know.

My boyfriend and I were clearly out of our element, and the lady at the cash offered little help even though she saw we were struggling. It also took her over 10 minutes to acknowledge us standing in the cramped space. We almost left, but she spoke to us just in time. It was hard to tell who had already placed an order and who was waiting. There was no organization. Also, there isn't much space to dine in, so we ended up getting our orders to go.

We ordered 2 different tacos and although they were delicious, we won't be back. We receive better customer service, bigger portions and delicious food at a nearby...