Taqueria El Norte in Alliston

There is simply no better place to eat in town than here. The servers are knowledgeable of the menu and taps , the owners are fantastic and the food is THE BEST IN TOWN. Forget the frozen Cisco garbage these chain restaurants serve. This place is the real deal

This is my favourite place to go in Alliston! My friend and I randomly went there about 3 years ago and its been our easy go to ever since. The food is delicious, they have specials and special cocktails which have been great. Inside is cozy with interesting art and the patio is nice when its warm. All the staff is friendly and adds to a lovely experience every time.

The place is rather small but the food was very good. Dietary restrictions: They had a good understanding and accommodation for gluten-free. Food : 5/5 |

Foods were amazing and delicious! Highly recommend the steak taco staff was sooo friendly

Great tacos with creative flavors. Fried chicken taco was outstanding. Tuna was a bit bland for my taste. Chips were fresh, crunchy and delicious

Food is amazing. One of best Tacos I had even compare to big cities like Toronto and Vancouver. But they seem to have some weird house rules. Food

It s now October 2024. The food is even better. I no longer order, I simply ask them to feed me. The food is killer! Three years later. New location, menu now broader. Special today was awesome. I m quite certain there is no other place within 40 miles that delivers such interesting food 2021 - Brilliant lunch today. The tacos are very. To my mind they are over-stuffed. And perhaps the tacos should be doubled for structural support, but they are very, very good.

We went in without a reserving, our first mistake. We were then seated at a table that was attached to another couples table, who we did not know, which made things awkward. My partner was stuck facing the wall, and we were right by the door. And throughout the entire meal, the waitress was giving us attitude, making us feel very unwelcome. The only good thing was the food, but was a bit pricey.

Such amazing dips, salsas, and chips; great tacos (proteins, flavours, crunchy veg and sauces), and the MOST impeccable craft beers on tap. Sweet music and art on the walls, and lovely servers make for great ambiance. 10/10 experience every time.

Great service and food here, well priced quality with home made ingredients and excellent margaritas.

Excellent tacos that are fresh and delicious combination of meat or seafood with veggies and sauce on the tacos. Good and very friendly waitress. Imported mexican beverages offered are a worth a try. Washroom has a unique vibe with pictures of Jesus in a pink lighting. I would suggest a slightly larger tortilla for the tacos to hold the toppings for easier grab to bite. Highly recommended!

Poor communication from the the staff who helped us on the phone about a group reservation led to a dispute about the bill that the restaurant owner would not compromise with us on. They told us they couldnt compromise because they had to turn paying customers away because of our reservation, but half of the restaurant was empty... They sat our party of 13 at three picnic tables on the back patio, which we squeezed in to. We even reserved a late time in the evening to make it easier on them for fitting us in (9pm) on the Potato Festival weekend. Instead of working with us on the misunderstanding and charging us for the food and drink we actually ordered (plus auto grat), they forced us to pay their arbitrary rate of $80/person. (Spending $80/person is hard to do here if you arent drinking a lot). They told us on the phone they would be charging us a minimum fee for a large group, which we DID agree to, but we did not NOT agree at any time on being charged a specific price per head. This is significant because our group size changed from the first call we had to reserve, and this per/head charge was not communicated on subsequent discussions. We bought a final round of margaritas for everyone to try and make up some of the cost they were forcing us to pay because of their rule. The margaritas were brought out to us in a a grey dish bussing bucket and slammed down on the table with a sour attitude by the bartender. It was a disgusting end to a mediocre meal. The experience we had in dealing with the owner and server in this misunderstanding will turn off everyone who was with us that night, and Im sure none of us will be back.

Terrible service and not accessible. My family wanted to check it out and the restaurant denied us because we had a baby stroller. the host at the front said the restaurant was already crowded and couldn t have it inside. They then asked if we can put it somewhere else? how ridiculous. If you aren t family, child friendly or wheelchair accessible, please let your customers know. disgusting

Was denied access to the restaurant (completely empty) at the front door for having a baby stroller. The host gave my toddler a disgusted look as if she was an inconvenience and asked if we could leave it elsewhere. The host proceeded to point at the door to show us the way out in a rude way. DISGUSTED! If you re a family with young children or have a family member in a wheelchair you will be turned away at the door.

The food and service are outstanding. Great variety of things to try and reasonably priced!

Amazing taste and quality of food. Cant wait to come back

Have been going here for years, food is fantastic. And mostly gluten free, massive taquilia, and burborn menu. Dietary restrictions: Lots of gluten free options

My fiancé and I are obsessed with our taco and tequila nights, and we would be here every night if we could. Everything is 10/10. An extra special thank you for the love and support that was shown to us today <3 we love you guys. Keep doing your thing

A local gem! Hidden outdoor patio out back. We will be back for sure

Great atmosphere, nice and great spot to get a good time. Service great by Sara, smiley and so attentive. 5 stars . Food is ok , good portions and good taste, eventhough isnt the real Mexican taste by far. However, for sure it is totally recomended.

My favourite restaurant in Alliston. Great food. Amazing staff. Local craft beer. All with a vintage atmosphere. Very cool place for a date. Definitely make a reservation. They are popular

Huge Discrepancy with the owner over our large bill.......sat at a picnic table.......food was ok........bathrooms dark and sketchy Vegetarian options: Some

Really nice place and the patio is great. The menu is all in Spanish and not easy to read unless you use Google translate but Im sure 90+% of people ask the server what everything means.. the steak taco and steak mulita were both great. Will go back for sure.

Delicious food and a great selection of microbrews. Definitely try the fish tacos and the scallop too.

Excellent i love their Mexico special recipe

Cool little place with yummy food! The battered cod taco and the shrimp tacos were the bomb! The roasted chicken and the carnitas were not great 10/10 recommend the pineapple salsa though. The chips with salsa verde were delicious too. Gave the atmosphere a 3 because you have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom which is kinda off putting. I d come back for the food though!

Solid restaurant. Amazing service and food. The vibe is so unique and fun. Lots of neat art and cool old TV shows on the numerous TVs. The PPC political party sticker by the door was a jarring insertion of concerning politics into our meal but thats the only thing to complain about!

Superior food! This is authentic Mexican food with delectable flavour and high quality ingredients. I would highly recommend this place.

Awesome place, it was recommended I try this place while in town, certainly glad I did. Great service, good craft beer selection and awesome food. Will be back, thanks.

Fantastic food and amazing beer selection. Cannot recommend enough

Loved it! Its our restaurant of choice when were in town! Wasnt even sad that they sold out of cheesecake. Vegetarian options: Great vegetarian options!

Food /service good..check spice level when you order. VERY SURPRISED TO BE TOLD ONLY ONE BILL PER TABLE....BIG PAIN. In small print on menu. Will hesitate to go back unless alone or a couple. Too bad

Absolutely fabulous, waitress helped with suggestions, food was delicious, fast service,

I am an avid supporter of local businesses and was so excited to finally try taqueria el Norte. When you walk in, you re greeted by eclectic cool decor a server greeted us at the door and asked if we have a reservation we did not but they were able to get us seated anyway. I want to start off by emphasizing the food was fantastic and would highly recommend the service on the other hand . I had a few issues with. I had my one-year-toddler with me. Since my toddler was sleeping, we brought in his stroller so that way he could lay down while we proceeded to have our meal. We were then told that we weren t allowed to have the stroller brought in because it would take up too much space and it is a tight venue. I completely understand but a few chairs could have been shifted around and room could ve been made for servers to walk around and for customers to come in and move about. It would not have been an issue as it did not take up that much floor space. Next the server asked us what we would like so we placed our order for appetizers as well as some tacos. Come to find out that as more people are being seated that same server proceeded to tell the other customers about their specials and recommendations and we did not get any of that, a few other customers who were seated after us received their food first as opposed to us when we start ordering first. and lastly, the thing that really irks me is another party came in who also had a stroller they were told that they cannot bring the stroller in because of the same space issue however they so ok and still brought the stroller in!!!! same thing as my stroller and they were permitted to bring their stroller with the car seat that would be the same amount of space taken up so at this point, I m feeling very devalued as a customer and almost borderline racialized because we were the only brown customers. I don t want to bring any racism into this, but it just feels that way when you re telling one you can t have a stroller and making us return it to the vehicle but then allowing the other party to then proceed and bring it in when it is just as bulky the same size and everything as the one that I wanted to use. Alliston is very lucky to have a place like this because the food is amazing hats of to the chef, but the service and the servers ARE RUDE and DO NOT TREAT customer equally they really could use a lesson in customer service and discrimination.

Still sitting at the table and experiencing an afterglow provided courtesy of the 4 different seafood tacos and the key lime cheesecake. Already looking forward to a return visit.

Favourite Mexican restaurant . Ever. :)

Food was very good, service too. Quirky atmosphere, a bit noisy. Vegetarian options: I had the mushroom taco , ok I had 2 of them. Very tasty. Food : 5/5 |

Great atmosphere for a date!

This restaurant was vibing when we got there around 8:30pm. It s a small place but super lively. Music was great. Atmosphere was great. Food and drinks were amazing. We ordered Carne Asada, Chorizo de Jabali and Diver Vieras for tacos and an order of Esquites. For drinks we ordered The Girl Next Door and their spicy margaritas, and tasted beer flights. Staff were friendly, happy, helpful. Kitchen was always busy. Owner was cooking that night, too. We would definitely return to try more tacos if not all of them. Our favourite was Chorizo de Jabali and Esquites.

Great spot, good food....cant ask for anything more :) always great to see familiar faces come into the restaurant. they also have a cool back patio area.

Ok, so this is one of those one-in-a-million reviews. Never intended to go here, ended up in the place because we were in the area and my wife thought it was a pub. My daughter wasnt interested but when I pointed out that Taqueria meant taco place they relented. Boy was I glad they did. What a place. You could sit all day just looking at the decor but youll forget all about it when the food arrives The flavours! Arguably the best meal I have ever had. Try all the tacos, try all the salads, try all the beers. Just keep going back and keep mixing it up. I was upset when I ate a mint an hour after dinner and I couldnt taste my last taco any more. Alliston is a little off the beaten track but if youre in the vicinity then pop into Herberts, treat yourself to a real pair of boots and then celebrate your audacity with a bite at Taqueria El Norte. Youll leave wondering where you had the better time.

Food is fantastic for a great price, staff are prompt and have great personalities.

Overrated tacos. Their sandwiches need more meat in them.

The food was spectacular and flavorful. The decor was crazy fun and I liked how the Chef cooked right there with us. It is small, but cozy Food : 5/5

Food and service 10++++

This was our first time here, recommended by a friend, and we were not disappointed. The service was great. Our server was very sweet and handling the front on her own very well. We had the papas fritas and added tinga to it. This dish was so delicious! We had a variety of tacos and none disappointed. The pollo frita taco was amazing!!! Finished off with the margarita cheesecake. Everything was reasonably priced. We will be returning!

Great Taco Spot

If I could give it 10 Stars, I would! Run here do not walk! Im gluten-free so Im used to my food being disappointing. It was such a relief to open the menu and hear the waiter say these two items have gluten in them the rest of the menu you can have! The food is absolutely amazing, the drinks were amazing, the service was amazing! My new favorite restaurant in Alliston. You cannot go wrong here! My only advice to those wanting to come here is MAKE A RESERVATION! That is how good they were they literally had to turn people away because too many people wanted their food ! Dietary restrictions: Gluten free friendly

Had a great lunch! The chips and dips were good and the tacos were excellent! Nice to find a place we can eat at with options!

Had lunch with my sister today, food was amazing. Our server Sarah was great

Loved this place! The vibes are awesome, the food was amazing and the service was great!

You have to eat here.

Best place to eat, awesome music and great staff. I will go there as much as possible

Best tacos I have ever had. Really affordable pricing and great service. I actually cant stop thinking about these tacos!! The margarita cheesecake was absolutely delicious as well. Highly recommend

LOVE this place. Drinks are excellent, food is amazing and service is top notch. Find this small restaurant and you will definitely enjoy yourself. Its small so call ahead and make reservations. Vegetarian options: Mushroom Taco- yummy Dietary restrictions: They are able and willing to work with your restrictions and preferences

White people taco night... and soggy. Bad vibes (right wing) Food

A very nice sit down and cozy restaurant. Great service and the food was incredible and very authentic! My waitress was friendly, and informative. The excellent food made my experience over the top! My Taco order: -Birra de Res -Pollo en Slasa Verde -Papas Friras And ordered more tacos for take out!

Fun place to go for authentic Mexican.

What a gem! My daughter asked if we could stop here and Im so happy she did. Amazing food, great staff and the atmosphere cant be any better. I very much need to find out where one of the pictures hanging up is from

Very cool place with a focus on quality ingredients. Need to go back to try more varieties of taco.

Everything from service to food was fabulous!! It does feel like we are in downtown Toronto when eating here, love it!!!

Delicious and unique taco selection. Fun atmosphere and excellent attentive and friendly service!

Best restaurant in town, great service, amazing on tap selection , authentic cuisine! Must go! Food

GREAT spot. Second visit. Food was delicious again. Service was friendly and efficient. Fun environment. Looking forward to many more visits. Highly recommended.

Felt really rush last visit

This is now one of my top 3 places to go in Alliston. Service is excellent, atmosphere is spectacular, and the food is unbelievably savoury and delicious. This is the place you want to go to when you want something different / other than the usual. Big thumbs up on this one!

Go! Here! This is a jewel of a restaurant for amazing Mexican food. Get there. You will enjoy! Food

Its really unfortunate that the owner is so incredibly rude.

Go here. Dont wait. Make a reservation but go here. Amazing food. Great service selection of different kinds of tequila will give you a new experience.

Fun place with a funky aesthetic. Nice variety on the menu, many unique food and drink options. Staff are courteous and helpful in terms of whats what.

Service was quick, and the tacos were fresh and very good.

Great food, great atmosphere.

Bro what is this place doing in Alliston? I legit felt like I was in Spain. So good.

We were visiting the area and we re intrigued by the reviews. Wow - so glad we tried it and will absolutely return. The service, food and vibe was 10/10.

I have been trying several resteraunts in town, and in my opinion this one is among the best. Everything tasted very fresh and was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere was very relaxed and I love the decor. I will 100% return.

This is BY FAR the best food town! You can tell the menu is carefully curated and executed by top notch chefs. The craft beer selection is unmatched and the handmade cocktails are incredible! The weekend specials are always creative and elegantly plated for a truly uniquely delicious experience. Service is amazing and the aesthetic is so cool for a small town, you feel like youre in the city. I cant recommend this place enough!!

Vegans and vegetarians do not eat here. I expressed that I was a vegetarian when I ordered. I ordered both of their tacos that are advertised on their menu as vegan while my partner ordered meat, including one that was only available cooked rare. When the food came out all of the tacos were on one tray. Side by side. Overlapping one another. So yes the meat was touching the vegan tacos. When I mentioned this to the server I was told I should have mentioned it was an allergy if I wanted it served separately. Why would I need to express its an allergy if you re advertising it as vegan? What vegan would eat tacos that were touching and overlapping with meat tacos? That had oil and sauce spilled over from the meat tacos on to the vegan tacos. We received no apology, we still paid for the tacos I did not eat and the customer service completely changed after I expressed my concerns. Definitely would not eat here again due to the lack of care and consideration for those with dietary restrictions simply because it s not an allergy Vegetarian options: Advertised good as vegan but served it with meat Dietary restrictions: Cross contamination with meat and vegan options

Absolutely loved this place, their vegan tacos and spicy margs are to die for. Will 100% be back. Staff is super chill/friendly and I adore the decor would be awesome if they had later hours on the weekend though

Absolutely by far the best place in town , food is always amazing . We were a party of 18 Jess did not miss a beat service was excellent. Thanks Rob , Nate, ladies

Dropped in on a Friday evening, was busy. The first time there, the people working were great! The food was very tasty, and their large craft beer selection was awesome. Will have to go again.

Cool vibe. Wait staff were great.

This place is a vibe. The tacos are excellent. The atmosphere is chill. And the staff and owner are very friendly and truly care about their customers! First time here tonight and will definitely be back! Alliston needed this place!

I had dinner with my family at Taqueria El Norte this evening and I have nothing but positive things to say. First off, extremely cool vibe and can right away tell the cleanliness of this place. Our waitress was kind and very informative about the menu. The craft beer list is extensive and I had a natural spritzer from PEC which was incredible. There were 4 of us, we each had 4.5 tacos as we wanted to try them all. Cod, steak, red snapper, scallop and pork belly taco. Each equally delicious and the flavour palates so well executed. We really enjoyed how all the ingredients used are high quality and you can easily tell the chef has a passion for cooking and food. The owner(chef) came over and chatted with us. I had this feeling this man knows his craft just by watching him prepare our food. He had quite an incredible story about his life and the places he had lived - which made our experience that much more special. If you know real food, and enjoy eating high quality food this place is definitely for you. Into the hip hop and fun decor. Love that there is no splitting of the bill option- you go to a place like this to eat well and actually enjoy your surroundings / the people you are with. Highly recommend and will be back soon. No pics to prove as we devoured everything quite quickly. Thank you, Vic

Well prepared, lovely presentation, perfect portion sizes and, very yummy! We go all the time now. Food is fabulous, fresh and perfectly prepared. So nice to eat in a restaurant where the owner is not only a real chef but friendly, honest and accommodating. Staff is friendly and efficient! Love the atmosphere ..like being at home! Vegetarian options: Huge selection available Dietary restrictions: Open to requests wherever possible Parking: Free parking lot is just a Ross the street. Kid-friendliness: Lots of pictures and objects hung on the walls that would catch kids interest. Wheelchair accessibility: Sidewalk entry... No steps

Amazing food, cocktails, and beer. The service was phenomenal and the atmosphere is one of a kind.

Yummy lunch spot!

Ive never in my life wrote a Google review. I am someone who reads them and goes trys the place based on reviews. I just have to let everyone know my experience at this restaurant last night was by far the worst. The service was horrible no one came out to table for so long lady was rude not even wanting to explain her menu to us. Oh and then meat came out soooo raw like the cow jumped on my plate still alive and wait staff had the odadicity to ask if Id like to take it home and cook it more myself uugh. Wasnt accomdating at all when came to bill or food that wasnt even touched. My whole entire family went home after paying a big bill starving . If your looking for a place to eat trust me as a chef myself this place is not to be stopped at .

Whatever you do, DO NOT ask for salt or pepper, or ask them for food without cilantro. You will get serious attitude, be told that they have a red seal chef that knows all. You will not get salt or pepper, so bring your own. The experience left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. Literally. Will never go back.

100% recommend! We absolutely love this restaurant such a good vibe , incredible food and drinks. They accommodated me by booking my 30th birthday months in advance and in a regular staple our us when going out to dinner.

Yum

Delicious & fast. Highly recommend.

It was just awesome the presentation was beautiful and the flavour was amazing you just have to experience for yourself words cannot describe

Delicious food and friendly staff

Taqueria el Norte in Alliston is a great Mexican restaurant with amazing service. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The menu features a variety of delicious Mexican food, all made with fresh ingredients and served in generous portions. The prices are reasonable, and the portion sizes are generous. Overall, Taqueria el Norte is a great place to go for a delicious and authentic Mexican meal.

Amazing customer service skills with the waiters. The chefs were nice as well and greeted us. The drink choices are unique and the food is fresh and hot. The dessert and chips are my favourite, specifically the dulce de lece cheesecake!

The food is actually really good. I will say that. My boyfriend and I have been here quite a few times and loved the food. HOWEVER, the owner is incredibly ignorant. Every time we picked up the food it was a rant about masks, mandates, communism and/or identify politics (unprovoked). I see when a customer complained about the MAGA sticker at his place he linked them to a mental health service? Really disgusting. So off-putting. Wont be back simply because of the owner.

Yum! Nuff said!

Ok, I loved this Canadian version of tacos and sandwiches until my last visit. As a Latin American immigrant, with knowledge of Mexican cuisine + others; All I can say is: never judge a white/catira person for not being Latin American and dont even patronize them... this is the moment we had at this restaurant. Not all Latinos are dark-skinned, nor strictly of Spanish descent. We are Irish... Ukrainian... Italian... French... Portuguese... Bosnian... Hungarian... And also German. And while Im proud of the waitresss attempt to speak Spanish, Im not impressed by her claim to be a Spanish speaker, Im not impressed by her attentiveness (until she convinces me otherwise); especially after you (you) realized that you couldnt fool us while we were ordering food from the menu. (e.g. We know what salsa verde and salsa rojo are, and we also know what pico de gallo is (by the way, its an aphorism for anything small chopped, not just tomatoes with herbs or chimichurri), in fact, the one with tomatoes is a Fresh Sauce. The topic drives me crazy. You never judge the person, especially if they take the time to visit your establishment.

Horrible service , poor execution when planing a private gathering with no warning, walked into a private event.. Won t be back

Our first patio for spring 2023. Lovely little place for lunch. Great menu options. We shared some nachos with cheese and some flautas. Both were filling and fantastic for two. Our server was attentive, helpful and the meal was served very quickly.

I have been here before and the food is mediocre. I walked by the other day with my 4 year old, who had to use the washroom as an emergency. I entered the front door and very politely asked the waitress if my son could use the washroom. She responded in front of the entire restaurant paying customers only. Absolutely humiliated, I picked up my son and ran him across the busy street to Wild Wing restaurant where they graciously let my son use the washroom. I was so embarrassed by this interaction, but looking back I am frustrated that people can be so unkind. I would not recommend going here.

Ordered takeout and I wish now I had have eaten in the restaurant. The vibe in the place is so chill and the food was incredible. Definitely going back to try their margaritas

Calling the day before to make a reservation was easy. The lady was polite and friendly. The indoor dining area was nice with a combination of bench seating and chairs. The outdoor area was basic, with wooden picnic tables and needs to be upgraded. The background music would better add to the ambiance if it were NOT rap, but rather something with a Spainish vibe. The decor was cute and upbeat but maybe remove the signage with expletive s using the F word by the front counter. The staff were friendly and answered all the questions for us. The food is fresh and made to order. The presentation of some dishes were very artful. The quesadillas were unusual being in a bowl with shredded lettuce as a top garnish. The tinga chicken was ok. The tacos were again fresh and tasted fine but nothing really over the top. At 7 bucks each I m not seeing the value for money there. Bar glassware should have wine in wine glasses not regular type glasses, and margaritas should be in a margarita glass. Jazz it up a bit. Chips and salsa should be a complimentary start not a charged item. Extra salsas or guacamole could be an add on but plain chips ? C mon. Overall the restaurant caters to locals which is great, with a few improvements to decor, music, and an altered menu this place could be a great success. Otherwise I think people will give this place a try but not return. Parking: Street parking along the strip was easy to find and 4 hour limit.

Pretty good food. Cool outdoor space. Great cocktail and beer selection. Absolute awful and rude service. They have to stop putting all the tacos on one plate and start allowing separate bills. Oh and if they tell you theyll cook your beef medium rare, what they mean is still breathing.

Most favourite place! Delicious food, and the best vibes!

Fun and funky little place! Great food, excellent variety available, fast, knowledgeable and personable service, cozy private patio. Dietary restrictions: Both of us had dietary restrictions, our server was fantastic in guiding us through best menu options for our needs. Slight omissions and having sauces and garnishes on the side was an easy adaptation that came with no hesitation.

Friendly place. A little tight, but lends itself to the ambience. Several families with small kids, as it was midday. Very tasty, perfectly spiced, reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will return.

Amazing food and atmosphere. The service is outstanding!!!! Have tried most things on the menu and have not been disappointed at all and have loved everything I have tried. Had the special yesterday(lobster roll) that was so delicious! Have tried multiple cocktail specials my favourite being the mango margarita which was to die for. Check it out and you won t be disappointed! The owners have brought a unique dining experience to our town that has been needed. My favourite meeting place to get together with friends.

I had dinner at Taqueria El Norte tonight with two friends. Our entire experience from start to finish was fabulous! What a little gem of a restaurant in the heart of Alliston. Our food was superb .seriously so fresh and delicious I didn t want it to end! Sarah was our server and is an absolute delight! She s friendly, personable, provides attentive service without being overbearing, and she helped make our night even better. Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening and seriously yummy food I can t wait to come back!

By far the best food in Alliston - no contest. Very comparable to restaurants in Toronto but much more reasonably priced. For dinner for 2 with appetizers & dessert (mind you I dont drink alcohol) my bill has never been more than $70 before tip. The Carne Asada taco is my fave and theyve had really creative dessert options, usually something new every time. They also have great taste in music. Cool vibes, nice people, cant ask for more than that. I am a loyal repeat customer. Vegetarian options: Mushroom options are delicious

Amazing food and drinks!

Everything I had we exceptional. Plus the service was empeccable.

Terribly disappointed that this was my first visit & although the drinks & tacos were decent, the waitress & owners decided to argue with me about an obvious insect that was in my drink. They tried to reassure me it was just fresh blueberries, which were also present, but my eyes were not deceiving me with evident wings & legs floating around. Not even an apology or drink taken off the bill, just tasteless rebuttals. Never coming back! Still arguing with the customer instead of rectifying the incident speaks volumes about how you feel about returning customers; photo posted to confirm 2/3 of my drink most certainly was NOT consumed. Not to mention, as I was paying I did mention to the cashier that I was surprised my drink was on the bill, however she was taking orders over the phone and was not engaged. I called as soon as I left. Her service was great, you as the owners far from A simple come back next time & well fix it wouldve sufficed. I guess I shouldve listened to the terrible Facebook reviews

absolutely enjoyed my experience here at Taqueria El Norte. Food was beautifully presented and tasted as good, however I do wish the tortillas were warmed and the tacos separated as per customers order. Otherwise, this is an absolute hidden gem in Alliston! Will definitely be back and recommending this place to others !

Went out of our way to eat here after reading reviews and it was a waste of a trip. Food was pretty bland and had to go through the kitchen to where the bathrooms were and there were bugs everywhere. Will not be back.

Authentic mexican cuisine with great choices on the menu. Two is not enough!!!

Great food. Peaceful back patio. Rare steak taco is a win as is the mushroom taco... wow... also great vibe inside !

A great restaurant. Check out the bathrooms!

This was an unexpected find during our travels. But the food was amazingly good

Small, quaint environment, fantastic service and tasty food. Would love to see some combination platters added to the menu. Vegetarian options: Fantastic choice of vegetarian options.

Is this really in Alliston? I cant say enough good things about this place. I only have to drive 15 min to feel like Im downtown. First the vibe inside was as really cool I will NOT eat a second time at a place where they use ipads to take your order. This place is simple a pen and pad as it should be. The waitress was lovely. It was jam packed but we didnt have a reservation so we ate outside and that was nice too. The food was absolutely amazing. attention to detail and flavors. No way you could complain. Will be back many many times. As per other reviews no clue why you would need salt but if you do I guess why argue and we didnt get separate bills. Didnt notice the MAGA sticker but if I did Id give thumbs up. Good for him

I ll preface this by saying I used to frequent this place often, food is outstanding. Sadly I will not be returning, the owner and I are on opposite ends of the political spectrum (which is fine) but I always found myself dragged into a political convo about idpol and it was very awkward and uncomfortable, (I m not there to argue about wokeness or whatever other right wing talking point) The maga sticker and the juvenile condescending response to the person (and others who have left critical reviews) is the straw that broke the camels back for me.

Food is not good, drinks are alright. I would not recommend

Update: On my last visit: I ordered Caesar salad and the ramen dish. When asked by the waitress how the dish was, I candidly said the salad could use some salt but overall good. The waitress courteously offered to bring me salt. Given my experience here with the no salt policy, I was surprised but nevertheless obliged. Well, the lovely waitress came back with a large cardboard box of coarse salt! When I asked why was I brought a commercial salt box, the waitress said she had no other dish to bring it in. My favourite place no more sadly. I m definitely tagging this spot as one of my favourites in Alliston. No, scratch that, my actual favorite eating spot in Alliston! I believe the chef should get his head out of his behind when it comes to providing salt when asked and splitting the bills at the same table. Apart from that, the service and the food is spectacular.

The tacos are amazing here! Great food, good service! Will definitely return. The menu is small, but the quality of food is very good.

I agree with the previous post take that vulgarity off the street even out of the restaurant. I will not eat at this place or recommend the world has enough disgust why add to it.

Unbelievable food experience! The service, the margaritas, the craft beer and the incredible tacos were out of this world! We cannot wait to go back! Thank you Taqueria El Norte!

Great dinner on the patio!

absolutely delicious food, good portions and the store decor and ambiance is a great little date spot !! especially recommend the chips and dip platter to share, all the salsas are homemade and i recommended the grilled pineapple one !!

This used to be a favourite of mine but there s been a big attitude switch in staff this past year. We also haven t been able to order over the phone or in person for the past 6 months. Either too busy or unable to do takeout after 5 even if the restaurant is half empty. Pretty upsetting.

Really wanted to love this place based on the reviews, but unfortunately the food fell short for us. The staff and atmosphere were excellent, and the apps were delicious. Unfortunately the tacos (in our opinion) were extremely bland. We had a variety of tacos off the menu, and all of them lacked spice or seasoning. Mexican food should be rich and vibrant. The tacos were heavy on lime juice and not much else. That is not to take away from the freshness of the food or the presentation which were excellent. 3/5. Maybe the kitchen had an off day, but did not hit the mark for us. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free

Waiter was great! Table was sticky. Felt dirty. Food was okay. Warner tortillas would have been better. Cleansingness was the biggest concern. Not a fan of the pollo Frito. Sweet doesnt mix well on tacos. Will not be back.

Super cool atmosphere, welcoming. Great design. Wait staff very friendly and informative if its your first visit... Food was amazing! We tried the tacos... Chicken maple something lol and pork with pineapple salsa .. omg! Next try will be duck!. Others around us getting the duck looked absolutely amazing. Very happy and return customers here This restaurant has been around for years! We did not know this, we thought it was newer.... Personally I feel you guys will need a bigger space once again haha!! Also. Make a reservation!!! It was packed when we got there and ppl coming in were all under reservations. Dietary restrictions: Veggie options Parking: Parking on street or lots all around town. Kid-friendliness: Tight space. Id say kids 7 and up

My husband and I had a date night here and the food was fantastic. Their drinks were amazing. I love that they bring in unique drinks which are totally on brand for their restaurant.

A cool and funky little place with excellent atmosphere and delicious food! The mix of flavours sat on my tongue as I left and I opted not to have an ice cream cause I was enjoying the lingering taste.

No pictures of their Menu, Ontario crafted beer only, alcohol is very pricey here. Gravel based patio.

Poured sauce. Lots of it on my flautas. Expensive but tasty. At a generous $6/ taco the offerings left my partner still hungry after three portions.

The food was good the ambiance was terrible. It is not for a family with young children, the music had lots of swearing, the movie selections e.g The Green Mile and surrounding art work is inappropriate. As a person of colour it was a very uncomfortable atmosphere for me. My family and I will not be going back.

Highly recommend! We had been told about this SPECTACULAR taco restaurant, so we decided to try it out & will definitely be back! Service was exceptional! We each had 3 tacos but could have had more - steak, scallop, shrimp, and assorted fish tacos as well. Drinks are absolutely delish!!! We ate outdoors on their back pario. They also have a very nice indoor eating space.

Didn t realize the menu was GF, so taco shells were a bit of a disappointment. Great staff and good drink. Staff explained the menu well. Just not what I expected

Excellent food, big variety, friendly staff, all around good experience!

One of our favourite new places. We went last Friday for the first time and liked it so much, we had to go back. And, we did, last night. Sarah and Jay provide great service, the food is flawless and the drinks are great. A great for a Friday night date, and if you like 90s hip-hop and rap, youll get your fix. Well be back sooner than later! Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian options. Wheelchair accessibility: Everything is on the main floor, so wheelchair accessibility is not an issue.

Whoa! What a place! Great tacos, great apps, great local beer....and a Bourbon selection that would rival any bar! The tacos are outta this world.

Found this place while in the area. A must taste place! Jay, our server is absolutely fantastic. The variety and freshness of the tacos are scrumptious! Great little gem. Go, relax, taste and enjoy! Reservations recommended on the weekend. Great variety of drinks too!

Youll be pleasantly surprised and grateful to find yourself a seat here. Great food and fare!

This was a great find! It feels like youre downtown Toronto without the long drive there. The service is good, the food is amazing and they have great cocktails and craft beers to select from. This is a regular spot for me now.

I was there last night with a group of friends. All Ill say is this.... AMAZING. Im a huge foodie and rarely am I impressed, well last night I was. Hats off to the chef, I wish I took photos, next time because Ill definitely be back! Its worth the drive, better than anything Ive tried in the GTA. Good amount of meat, packed with flavor, unlike other places that barely give you anything.

Taqueria El Norte is a hidden gem in Alliston, one of the best taco places Ive been to in the GTA. Very comparable if not better than downtown style restaurants and quality. The food, atmosphere and service is always great, definitely a must try for anyone that hasnt yet.

Only thing missing is sign on door saying WHITE S only. And if ur gay you ll loves this place.

Fantastic little restaurant. Food is great and the service is really fast and friendly. Im pretty sure everything on the menu will be great, but I just tried the tacos on my first visit. Definitely wil be back again to try everything on the menu. Can order single tacos, so the variety of tacos makes it really fun to try different things. The pork belly tacos and maple chipolte chicken tacos were great.

Consistently great food, absolutely incredible staff who know every dish and side on or off the menu. We always have complete faith in the specials, and weve never been disappointed!

Best Mexican food I have had since living in LA! Worth a long drive to this stylish and artsy chill spot. Food is PHENOMENAL and service is great. Care for quality fresh ingredients is a priority. It will not disappoint!

Delicious! I wish there were more handcrafted beverages, but the raspberry lemonade iced tea was good. Highly recommend the queso; ask for extra totopos.

I was excited to give this restaurant a try after hearing the food was great from a coworker of mine. And while I did enjoy my meal, I left feeling very uncomfortable with the way I was treated by the owner of this establishment. A very humiliating experience. I will not be back.

We had a very uncomfortable experience with the owner who was needlessly aggressive. We sat at a table and asked if there was a highchair for the 1.5 year old with us. There wasnt one available which is fine, so we kept her in her stroller to eat. The stroller was pulled up next to the table like a chair. As we were finishing up, my friend went to grab something from the bottom of the stroller and moved it out a few inches. Immediately, the owner came over and yelled at my friend to move the stroller because he needed a clear pathway to walk though for fire exits. She commented she was just trying to grab something and there wasnt a high chair option, and he huffed off. After we paid (and tipped, as this wasnt the waitress fault!) there was a verbal altercation between the owner (who stated my friend needed to bring her own high chair and that she was making snotty comments under [her] breath for trying to talk to him as he walked away) and my friend (who stated he was rude, and asked what he would do if someone in a wheelchair ate here). He ended up losing it and yelling at us to leave, as we were leaving. If we were blocking a fire exit, he had the entire meal to ask us to move tables. There was still a clear path to the exit, and we were not blocking any tables from being served. If the concern is fire safety, there definitely should not be a table placed so close to the door. The child was well-behaved and ate food that we paid for, so that wasnt a factor in his rage. All in all, very uncomfortable experience and I cant recommend this place. Watching an adult have an outburst like that was quite frankly concerning, and the food was pretty meh. I gave 2 stars because the waitress was great and handled all of this like a champ. I hope he doesnt go off on her like that, or other people with strollers. Just pure unprovoked anger...so weird.

Best food in Alliston by far!

I had the pleasure of dining in with my family the other night, the food and atmosphere is amazing. If you re looking for a fun night out in Alliston, some craft beer, tequila AND a patio, this is the place!

Reviews seemed good so we decided to give it a shot. Im struggling to find a positive about the experience but here are my observations in point form. -i was surprised to find out the tortilla chips were $13... Usually its something provided free but hey they could have at least give us a heads up as it was asked just as we sat down and hadnt opened the menu yet. The 4 options for dipping looked good but had a weird chemical after taste . - the menu seemed unfocused (not authentic Mexican) and has things like Ceasar salad (which was actual good) but I thought I was at a Mexican restaurant. Do Mexicans eat chicken wings and beer battered fish and chips? - I ordered 3 tacos. The $7 steak taco was literally raw in the middle and chewy because it was raw. Little to no salt is in any of the food so the food is pretty flavorless. The chicken and the pork tacos were no better and also had no flavor. - overall the prices were steep for the amount of food you get.... But I think if the food was Rockstar the price could have been overlooked. - The girlfriend had the flautas and it wasnt that good with. The guacamole was good though.

A neat little place with fast friendly staff

Super fresh tasting. Nice staff. Different atmosphere. In a good way. Tasty beer. Selection forever. And definitely would go again.

The food and the service was great. Highly recommend this place for mexican food. Nice little quaint restaurant with outdoor patio in the back. The Paella was fantastic and the tacos were fabulous!! Will definitely go back.

Service was lovely and the tacos were great. Vegan mushroom quaesadilla and carnita tostadas fell short of seasoning which was surprisingly disappointing.

If youre into retro hip-hop and a poor attempt at Mexican/Californian fusion food, then this might be the place for you. We found the food to be pretty bland and the value is definitely lacking. Definitely not a spot wed visit again

Love it

Great authentic Mexican food

Wow! The best tacos/flautas/quesadilla etc. weve had outside of Arizona and Texas. Everything tastes super fresh and the service was great! Well definitely be back.

Food was delicious! And the atmosphere is just so much fun. Service was okay. We were originally sat in the back patio. For making reservations that threw us off because we hadnt dressed to sit outside on picnic benches. I would have thought that would be something they would flag to us for end of September when the evening chill starts. Thankfully we were able to move inside as a table opened up.

Fantastic fresh Cali Mex vibe.

1 Star for the Make America Great Again sticker on the door to downstairs 2 stars for food. Soggy tacos, bland flavours.

Literally everything was on point but, the tortillas for the tacos were made too thick and had a chalky flavour. Almost like they were stale!! They were tearing apart a second after putting the toppings on them and were so hard to chew. I will definitely give them another chance though! Ps, they never provided utensils for takeout which was a bust for us since we planned to eat our food in the car and they had no option to request them when we ordered online. I am posting this as positive criticism I will still recommend many of the menu items to friends and family hence the 4 stars for other amazing items they offer :)

What an amazing place. Food was excellent. Was a little apprehensive with menu but waitress was awesome and explained everything to us. The owner/chef was super approachable and definitely can cook. Definitely a gem in Alliston downtown

Dropped in to get some dinner with my family and although normally the service I find fairly slow, the food came relatively quickly and hot.

As I lover of authentic Mexican food I have never had worst Mexican food. Everything was so watery that the tacos fell apart and were soggy instantly. The burger bun was soggy the burger was burnt never had a soggy burger bun before. My pregnant friend asked for a substitution, because , they don t do substitutions, fine. Asked for the meat a little more cooked they said they only serve it their way, get it, it was basically cold. The dessert was a stale gingerbread cookie probably bought at the corner store, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Then I asked for a scoop of ice cream for my 2 year old, they told me I have to pay for the whole dessert not a single thing dish was worth the money. The only good thing about this place, was the music, I ll give them that ;)

Such a cool place to hang out! The food is fine dining quality at an everyday price. Thanks for delivering such quality

Amazing food , and just a cool spot to eat , beer selection is amazing ! I keep reading how the owner is not a very nice person , I definitely disagree . Hes passionate about his food and you can see his focus when cooking . I have only had good encounters with him when I go in . Keep doing what your doing !!

10/10 go, or youll regret it.

Yum! So GOOD price is worth every bite!

the crispy chicken tacos are lit

Beat tacos weve ever had. Tried them all. Allistons best joint. Great cocktails especially the Ranch Water.

Such a great place

Taqueria El Norte is one of my favourite eateries in Canada. They do modern Mexican dishes outrageously well. This spot in Alliston won t be for the uptight or lame. The food is adventurous, decor bold and staff have personality. Creativity isn t lacking and I could go on and on about how great this place is. They have many great menu options and things as simple as chips and dips are well thought out and executed. The pineapple salsa that comes with the chips is top notch. I ve tried many of their tacos and the crispy chicken, salmon and pork belly are my favourites, but the medium rare steak taco is also killer. They offer many interesting meat options so you ll want to try a few to narrow down your favourites. The toppings always balance the base perfectly and every taco has a unique texture and flavour profile. My only regret is not yet trying their wild game burger. I want to also mention that they have an excellent curated drink menu if you like craft beer and other adult beverages. Taqueria El Norte - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Vibe - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Price - $$/$$$

Came here for a reservation, and food was ok ;nothing spectacular most was soggy to be honest. What I was not impressed with is the way the owner thinks he is entitled to treat people. Horrible , will never be back nor would I ever recommend this place.

Can t say enough about this place. Amazing food, drinks, great and friendly service and such a cool atmosphere. Had a nice chat with the owner Robert to let him know how great of a job he did with the place and he was incredibly friendly. Well done!

Had our annual ABIA appreciation dinner last night. Food was excellant, service was great. Highly recommend

Best tacos I ve ever had north of Toronto. Really excellent food, the elotes were so spicy but worth it.

Hands down the most delicious Mexican food Ive had in Ontario. So flavourful and full of colour, I loved every bite.