Tinga Kim Taqueria — Restaurant in Toronto

Has been open for a few months and replaced Leslie Jones.

I'd say good for parties of 1-4, but I'd say the could accommodate 6-8 but not easily. I came with a party of 3.

Street parking.

Really great food, though a little expensive - however this comes from a perspective where I think tacos should just be cheap street food... but these were souped up delicious tacos!!

Ordered the nachos - strong topping to chip ratio (lots of toppings) - would recommend utensils for assistance. The paper beneath fell apart and I would suggest to the restaurant to use wax paper or something similar so that patrons don't accidentally consume the liner

Also ordered two soft tacos. The menu on the website shows 2 tacos for twice the price but when I went, you could get tacos individually. Still comes with salad and salsas but it's not mentioned on the current menu. Red salsa is hotter than green.

The individual soft tacos are on 6" tortillas, but there is a special for 6 tacos on 4" tortillas (3 x soft and 3 x hard) which is a great deal and the tacos are chef's choice. I appreciate this effort to maximize / turnover ingredients. I ordered pulpo and al pastor. Both delicious.

The house lager is easy drinking. I would have again.

We were a party of 3 with a reservation. Whether you reserve indoor/outdoor didn't matter (we reserved indoor but were seated outdoor, but that was only in case of weather so we actually enjoyed the patio). Be sure to tell them when you arrive if you have a preference.

Service was a little mixed.

We were seated at a table with accessories for 2. A third glass was brought when we were seated but we had to ask for an additional plate/cutlery/napkin.

We were served by 3 different people and the challenging service was consistent. However, I will say that we were regularly checked on and the servers were around/available if we needed to flag them. They were all very kind.

Throughout these three servers, we had to really clarify our orders to them each time we ordered drinks or food. With at least two of the servers, asking about a menu item made them put it on the order until we clarified we were only asking about it. On one of those miscommunications, an extra taco was brought to the table and the miscommunication was not really acknowledged when we addressed it. When we repeated ourselves to say we didn't order the extra taco, it was kindly removed from the bill.

We asked for the bills, separated, which is pretty standard in Toronto these days. They are able to split menu items (e.g. we split the nachos 3 ways). The bills came incorrect but we addressed it and they were brought back corrected (Thank you). As standard in Toronto, the machine tip prompt calculates on the after tax amount.

In closing, I would eat here again but recommend to just be patient and VERY clear with the orders. It was a Tuesday night and not very crowded. Beautiful back patio and...

Thoroughly enjoyed Tinga. It is a small restaurant, so reservations highly recommended. A few walk-ins were turned away because they were fully booked. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good taco with some unique flavours.

Looks to be owned & operated by Koreans and they definitely put a nice Korean flair in traditional Mexican dishes. Service was attentive and friendly and has a nice vibe to it.

We enjoyed the food but something small was missing in terms of Korean flavour punches like herbs & spices. Love Korean food and get that some Korean flavours aren't liked by all.

What we ordered:

Kwings 18 - ordered the large portion so we could get half & half flavour. Rojo (Gochujang-based) and Oro (soy-based) were both delicious & crispy. Recommend the half & half. Came with 6 full wings, so technically 6 drums & 6 flats. Decent portion as an app.

Tinga kim chipotle braised chicken taco 8 - wife liked this the most flavourwise. I found it ok.

Pulpo octopus 11 - one large flat piece of octopus that was well made. I enjoyed.

Maapo libre galbi taco 9 - I really liked this, with nice big chunks of beef. Wife found it ok

Pescado fish taco 10 - I also liked this because it had 2 large pieces of fried fish and a nice pickled cabbage topping.

bulgogi taco 9 - really good bulgogi flavour, nice sweetness and very Korean! More of this. Glass noodles in it would've been great to have.

Wife ordered Seoul Tea 13, which was quite good, I ordered the rice lager 8 which was also very good.

Bill came to about...

Tinga Kim is a cozy little spot downtown, mixing Korean-inspired flavors with classic Mexican tacos. It’s run by a super friendly owner, and the whole vibe is relaxed and welcoming—perfect for a casual night out.

In a city where good tacos are hit or miss, Tinga Kim really stands out. Their taco flights are a great way to sample the menu—you can choose three regular tacos or six premium ones. The prices are pretty typical for Toronto, maybe even a bit cheaper, but what really makes them special is their creativity. Most taco places in the city are either bland or forgettable, but Tinga Kim’s combos are anything but boring.

We tried the Longosta (lobster), Pulpo (octopus), Pescado (fish), Maapo Libre (Galbi beef), Al Pastor, and Carne Asada. Everything was good, but the lobster and Al Pastor were the real winners. Plus, their taco shells were spot-on—not dry or crumbly like some places, which was a nice bonus.

One of us has a tree nut allergy, and the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating. They double-checked everything and made sure we felt comfortable, which we really appreciated.

We also ordered the tuna tostada. It was tasty, but at $15 for just one, it didn’t feel like great value compared to the tacos.

All in all, Tinga Kim is one of the better taco spots downtown. Their unique menu, solid flavors, and thoughtful service make it a place I’d definitely go back to. If you’re looking for something fun and different in the taco world, give it a shot!

An additional note, they offer 10% off if...