Latin World — Restaurant in Toronto

This place is so much more than tacos. It’s a chance to explore traditional and hard to find Mexican dishes.

There was a time when we visited Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico year-after-year for about six years. We took pride in discovering the best street, alleyway and under-the-bridge taco & street food stands. Throughout this journey we discovered a number of delightful Mexican culinary specialties.

The main reason we go to Latin World’s Mexican Cocina (at the intersection of Bloor St. W. & Emerson) is for the beyond-the-taco Mexican cuisine. Don’t get us wrong; their tacos are good. Their specialty dishes are a whole other thing!

When you sit down you’ll always get some of their homemade tortilla chips with a selection of 4 sauces. But be careful - two are incredibly spicy. They’re not just good on the chips, they compliment the any dishes served here beautifully.

Here are some of our favs (so far):

Tlacoyos, a pre-Hespanic dish made of Masa - an ancient corn dough. It’s still popular in central Mexico, often enjoyed for breakfast as an appetizer or with a soup. These blue patties can be ordered with any protein of your choice (we like chicken or shrimp) and arrive piled with tomatoes and cactus. They are generously dusted with cheese and drizzled with sour cream. Really yummy and filling.

Enmoladas - These fried tortilla are stuffed with chicken and cheese and served with a generous pour of Mexico’s famous and complex dark mole sauce. It’s also got a nice spicy kick, making it a comforting cool weather dish.

Quesadilla Frita - Fried tortilla filled with cheese, topped with huitlacoche. We were excited to see something with huitlacoche on the menu. Think of it as a new-world truffle. A must try if you’ve never had it before. Ask them to go light on the sour cream and cheese on top to let the delicious, unique flavour of the huitlacoche to shine.

And their OG guacamole is always great. Count on a generous stone bowl serving with limitless housemade tortilla chips. Bring your appetite!

If you want tacos their regular menu provides medium-size double tortillas, each price representing a single taco. If your ordering beef or pork tacos take them to the next level with a side order of Tuétano - Roasted bone marrow. Just spoon it onto your taco and add one of their amazing sauces for an amazing flavour sensation.

The bone marrow is also good on its own and always comes with warm tortillas. Scoop the bone marrow, smear a tortilla, add a little of their cilantro sauce, roll-up and devour. Just killer; we dream about this dish!

Here are some of the more popular tacos:

Gobernador: Our favourite (so far). Tasty small-ish shrimp served with melted cheese and a creamy spicy sauce. It’s always very flavourful!

Asada - Thinly sliced grilled beef with that lovely, smoky grilled flavour that’s so addictive. They can be a bit grisly at times, but honestly we rather enjoy that, it just adds a little texture. Served with cilantro and chopped raw onion.

Pastor: Marinated pork served with pineapple and onions and cilantro. This is one of our all-time favourite tacos. We have had many good servings here, but occasionally the meat does come out of the kitchen a bit dry. But we always order them - ‘cause when they’re “on” they’re really good!

Baja Fish: A single strip of battered fish, served with pickled cabbage. We find the delicate flavour of the fish is lost among the ingredients. It’s nice, but not our go-to.

Worth noting - they do not serve alcohol here. This is more a Latino family dining spot than a place to smash back margaritas.

The service is always warm and kind, but when they’re busy, expect things to be a little slow. They just don’t have a...

Nestled in the heart of Toronto, Latin World is a Mexican restaurant that captivates diners with its non-alcoholic culinary delights. Stepping into the restaurant, the vibrant colors and warm ambiance set the stage for a memorable dining experience sans the typical alcoholic offerings.

Ambiance: The restaurant's décor seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with traditional Mexican elements, creating a welcoming atmosphere that focuses on the culinary journey rather than alcoholic pairings.

Service: The attentive and friendly staff at Latin World contribute significantly to the positive dining experience, guiding patrons through the menu with enthusiasm and ensuring a delightful meal without the need for alcoholic accompaniments.

Culinary Excellence: Latin World's menu is a carefully curated selection of Mexican classics and innovative twists on traditional dishes, showcasing the richness of Mexican flavors without relying on alcohol-infused creations. From tableside-prepared guacamole to flavorful enchiladas verdes, each dish emphasizes the quality of authentic ingredients.

Beverage Selection: While Latin World doesn't serve alcohol, it compensates with an impressive selection of non-alcoholic beverages. From refreshing aguas frescas to traditional Mexican sodas, the beverage menu complements the culinary offerings, providing a satisfying and diverse array of options.

Desserts: The sweet endings at Latin World maintain their excellence, offering churros dusted with cinnamon sugar and a decadent tres leches cake, ensuring a delightful conclusion to the meal.

Conclusion: Despite the absence of alcoholic beverages, Latin World proves that a culinary journey can be just as vibrant and fulfilling. With a focus on authentic Mexican flavors, warm ambiance, and attentive service, this restaurant stands out as a testament to the richness of Mexican cuisine, catering to patrons who seek a sober yet satisfying dining experience. Whether you're a teetotaler or simply looking for a different kind of culinary adventure, Latin World offers a feast for the senses without...

Upon walking into the place, the decor was unique and inviting. We sat outside because the weather was nice, and we had high hopes for this place. Strike 1: The advertised $1 tacos Mon-Fri are now Mon-Wed, so we felt a little upset that we came on a Thursday. Fair enough. Strike 2: My fiancée orders 2 tacos with no cilantro, and they ignore her dietary restrictions. Worse yet, we send it back, and instead of refiring the order, they pick off the surface cilantro and she has to spit out the cilantro after one bite in. The tacos also came back ice cold, and everyone was waiting for her order to start eating, so now everything's cold. Strike 3: I order taco al pastor and papa asada, and they're out of potatoes. They were also out of cactus, guava flavoured drinks, and pineapples. While they told me about the papa asada, they choose not to tell me they're out of pineapples too. Instead, they serve me my tacos without pineapples which is half of its ingredients. The only saving grace was our server, "Tarde" (at least that's what it said on the receipt), who was super kind to us. He handed us the machine bypassing the tip option, and I felt bad for him. The kitchen really needs to step it up. Aside from the issues above, the food was still overall dry and bland. The fish tacos my friend had were super burnt and all the tacos needed to be sauced up ourselves. Needless to say, we will not be...