Luis Hernandez Restaurant in Toronto

556 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P6, Canada

★★★★★
(86 reviews)
Categories: Mexican restaurant Small plates restaurant Tapas restaurant
Address
556 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P6, Canada
Plus Code
MJ8J+Q8 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
5–9 PM
Tuesday
5–9 PM
Wednesday
5–9 PM
Thursday
12–9 PM
Friday
12–9 PM
Saturday
12–9 PM
Sunday
12–9 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Organic dishes Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups LGBTQ+ friendly
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards Credit cards

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
86 reviews

Most Mentioned

fish tacos (8) carne asada (8) quesabirria (7) chips (7) fine dining (6) cocktails (6) addition (5) tres leches (5) chicken enchiladas (5) house (5)
5 stars
72
4 stars
6
3 stars
2
2 stars
2
1 stars
4
★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Underated and super cozy Mexican restaurant in the Cabbagetown area. They have a main menu and a brunch menu that is available until 4 pm. We opted for the brunch option which is a 3 course prix fixe menu along with either tea or coffee at $25 per person. We ordered the fruit mix cup and fruit salad with granola and each had a Cafe de olla to start. For mains we had the Huevos a la Mexicana migas (recommended by the waitress) and the Monterrey Enchiladas. I preferred the former quite a bit. To finish we each had the Carlota (lime flavours). Everything was tasty, well presented, elevated and bursting with flavour. Portion size is generous for the prix fixe menu cost. If you like a bit of heat, you should try their house made hot sauce which is freshly prepared on a daily basis. It's out of this world and has a lovely smoky taste. It's available to purchase in the restaurant if you can't get enough of it like myself. They also have a separate take out and delivery spot separate from the restaurant that has been operating for many years. The dining space at Luis H has been open for about 2 years and what a pleasant surprise it was for us to stumble upon this spot.

★★★★★
November 1, 2024

Luis H is such a delightful restaurant. The ambiance is quite intimate with maybe 5-8 tables spread out across the tastefully decorated space. The service matches this vibe as the lady who took care of us was very caring and considerate. Come here for all this but stay for the food!! The Mexican cuisine at play here is just wonderful. I especially enjoyed the Quesabirria, the Al Pastor taco and the Barbacoa taco. The fish tacos were also very good. What can I say, they just do a really good job here. Highly recommended !!

★★★★★
August 26, 2024

This place was an unexpected surprise. The food was absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor! I started with a quesabirria and was blown away by how flavorful and cheesy it was - I could've had two portions all by myself. Then I had the chicken enchiladas and again, they were so full of flavor and so delicious! I finished off with the deconstructed tres leches cake - perfectly sweet and creamy with bursts of berry flavor from the fresh blueberries and raspberry jam - amazing! The only thing that was missing for me was coffee or tea to pair with the cake. Otherwise, this was one of the most delicious places I've been to recently.

★★★★★
August 3, 2024

one of my favourite spots on the east side :) the space is beautiful, the service is great, and the FOOD is incredible! fresh, bright, juicy, colourful, and delicious :D

★★★★★
June 16, 2024

I didn’t expect everything to taste soo good. Each dish was bursting with flavour and beautifully presented. The Chicken Enchiladas and Quesabirria were outstanding. Really enjoyed the tender, juicy Carne Asada and Shrimp tacos as well. Such a cozy, chic atmosphere to dine in.

★★★★★
May 27, 2024

This place has flavours beyond expectations, anybody visiting here for just a taco or quesadilla, be ready to indulge themselves in a very beautiful journey of flavours. This place just blew my mind with some very delicate, intriguing and indulging flavours. It is not an ordinary taco place and is not anywhere close to it, beyond and above expectations. Loved it!

★★★★★
May 19, 2024

Delicious amazing food, cozy atmosphere, excellent service. Would highly recommend. I got the chicken enchiladas, they were 10/10, can’t wait to come here and try more food.

★★★★★
April 26, 2023

Affordable fine dining Mexican food made with super fresh ingredients. Dish may look small but surprisingly filling; texture and flavours were top notch. The staff was friendly and attentive, they overheard us commenting on one of our dishes and the chef prepared a new order on the house to ensure we were satisfied (honestly, for the record I thought the seasoning was great) - this level of service and attention is unmatched. Would definitely come back to try the rest of the menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

One of the best soups I have ever tried (Oaxa soup)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

One of the best (if not the best) taquerias in Toronto! Carne asada and barbacoa were superb... Food : 5/5

December 1, 2024

We ordered several dishes, and I ordered a famous soup because the review was good for it. But it was very disappointing. It was not warm.at all, and a server came to check our table when we almost had our food. It was not busy at all, just our table was served. I dont think I would go back there again.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Hidden gem of cabbagetown. Rich flavored tacos with great presentation. Would highly recommend

★★★★
November 22, 2024

First off, service was great. The waitress was super kind and friendly, the atmosphere in here is really nice and relaxed and the food was super tasty. My only gripe was the tacos (I got the quesabirria) could ve been pan fried a little more so they weren t so soft, and the consomé could ve been a little more developed, it kinda tasted like it was simmering for like 20 minutes rather than all day but to be fair idk how a restaurant could be efficiently produce consomé on that level all day so I thought it was good anyways. All in all, great prices, great food, great service. Really a lovely place in Cabbagetown for some great Mexican food!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Great neighborhood restaurant serving upscale Mexican

★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

I m genuinely surprised to see the glowing photos and descriptions of people s dishes. While the space itself and the staff are charming, the food itself was bland and chewy, as well as overpriced for a lacklustre experience. A shame because the neighbourhood could use a good Mexican restaurant. This one isn t it.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Just my luck I find this place on my last day in Toronto! Absolutely superb high end tacos to die for!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Great tacos. Great drinks. Great service. Fantastic addition to the neighborhood.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Great little spot on Parliament, excellent cocktails, great tacos, with attentive service, and not too crowded. Perfect date night spot.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Had tacos and drinks here two nights ago and looking forward to going back. Laid back and elegant at the same time. Tacos delicious. Attention to detail - everything done beautifully. For drinks, the paloma is delicious.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Awesome eats! The lime crema on the burritos was excellent. Good sized portions.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

A quaint and charming little gem serving thoughtfully curated, authentic Mexican cuisine that is richly flavourful and leaves you wanting more.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Delicious, fresh and authentic. Everything is gluten-free too! I feel like they could advertise this more, its such a bonus. Cant wait to come back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Yummy tacos, yummy guac

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Unique flavors and loved the chicken enchiladas and shrimp taco

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Food and service was incredible. Tried almost everything on the menu. The fish tacos, enchiladas and the chips and guac were standouts. Coming back very soon!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Came in for a quick bite before a show and wanted to stay longer and not leave. We ordered the tiger shrimp taco, fish taco, carne asada, fresh salsas and chips and shrimp ceviche tostada. Every single dish was outstanding as was the service. Definitely a go to spot for my partner and I now.

★★★★
March 22, 2024

Nice restaurant with some good food options.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Quesabirria was excellent! Vegetarian Enfrijoladas was delicious. Staff was friendly and gracious. Great date night spot for supporting local business.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The food was amazing. Well, everything was. Fortunately, I ordered the dessert. OMG the dessert!!!!. What an amazing experience!!!! Hoping to go back soon!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Tried this restaurant for the first time. It was a great experience, the food I ordered was pretty good. A great addition to Cabbagetown.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Had a great time in a cozy new spot The staff and chef are welcoming, their care and passion evident. The tacos were delicious! Delicate but sturdy corn tortillas, so good! Smoothest guacamole I ve ever had. We ate a wide variety of items and still there are more I need to try! I m def going back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I recently visited a taco restaurant and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with my experience there. The menu was simple yet offered a variety of fresh options to choose from. I particularly enjoyed the taste of the tacos - they were filled with juicy meats, crisp vegetables, and perfectly seasoned with a range of spices. Try the margueritas! The atmosphere of the restaurant was also noteworthy. It was very relaxing, with comfortable seating and warm lighting. This created a welcoming ambiance that made me feel at ease as soon as I walked through the door. One of the standout features of this restaurant was the service. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and went above and beyond to ensure I had a wonderful experience. They were knowledgeable about the menu and were able to make recommendations based on my preferences. In conclusion, if youre looking for a delicious taco experience in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend this restaurant. The fresh menu, wonderful service, and relaxing atmosphere make it a standout dining destination

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very please and Interesting take on Mexican food. Every dish is carefully prepared and on point. Perfect balance of spices, not overpowering the main ingredient flavour. Great addition to the neighbourhood

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

One of the best Mexican food I ever had so far in Toronto. They were recently open so we decided to try their food, and I must say it was beyond our expectations. Vegetarian options: Enfrijoladas and Enmolidas

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Unbelievable food and service. The mushroom taco was magnificent. Beautiful bistro style Mexican dinning that is bespoke to the chef s soul and your experience. Beautiful.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Always delicious tacos, and enchiladas, and quesabirra; always super-friendly! Tasty margaritas too. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wild cod tacos that melt in your mouth. Superb cocktails, chilled atmosphere, wonderful addition to the Cabbagetown vibe. Dietary restrictions: Ketogenic perfection!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I had the Oaxaca soup and a fish taco. Best flavours Ive had in a long while. Lovely spot, great service. I will be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food is excellent! Cozy atmosphere. Great service

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

AWESOME tacos, LOVE the shrimp tacos and definitely enjoying the Mezcal cocktails. Very fresh and well-presented! Vegetarian options: Great options! Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped in for a mid-afternoon cocktail before an event. Really great cocktails and unique rim on the margheritas. We will return soon for the full experience. Taco takeout spot next door is the same kitchen but runs a different menu from the dine-in service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My wife and I enjoyed a nice Sunday lunch. Very nice setting. The fish tacos and the shrimp tacos are a must. They have a appetizer special which was sooo good (house made chips, with guacamole, fresh avocado, sour cream and cheese). So good. And very reasonable. Neighborhood Jem!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent food and experience from a Mexican chef/owner. The sit down restaurant is for nice cocktails and beautifully conceived and plated food, but Luis will also have a takeout window for neighbourhood casual takeout like burritos. Of course anyone can make good food from any cuisine with time, but it is really nice to see a Mexican chef owner in house to represent the food and culture that Toronto has embraced so much these past few years. Congratulations Luis H!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best fish tacos in Toronto are here in my opinion. I remember when I first had the fish tacos it was at a smaller establishment on Keele. I m glad I got to revisit and have them again at this joint The breading/batter is fluffy and just the right amount that gets you that crisp. I ve never had fish tacos better than here! Also, the chips and salsa are phenomenal. A mark of a good Mexican restaurant, as basic as it sounds, is how they make their chips. Baseline, folks. It s not flat/thin, doritos like, but has some thickness and is handmade with a good texture. The chef here makes probably one of the best tacos in the city, as close as the tacos in California.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Vegetarian options: Vegetarian Enfrijoladas 2 different vegetarian tacos Food : 5/5

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Luis H serves Mexican food fit for nobles: freshly made, fabulously tasty, fancily plated, at fine dining prices. Stopped by for dinner and got a bunch of stuff: - Tacos: Got the barbacoa, carne asada and acapulco fish. Standout was easily the carne asada with how tasty and tender the skirt steak was. That said, liked the other two as well. The tortilla tasted freshly made. Serving size is small for the price. - Chicken Enchilada: Chicken was moist, again with the homemade tortilla goodness, and loved how everything was smothered in cheese and crema. - Chips and Guacamole: Good quality chips, the type with heft and crunch where you can taste the bake and fry. Guacamole was smooth. And we added charred corn which brought a sweet kick to the appetizer. - Tres Leches: Deconstructed. Other than that, fairly run-of-the-mill. Kitchen is a bit slow, but makes sense given how fresh everything tastes so its worth the wait. The place is small (sits only a little over 20 people) so good to come on off-peak times or make a reservation. Service is polite and efficient. When we were there, it seemed like half the restaurant was people who had been there before, and I can see why. Luis H is a fine dining Mexican treat thats worth a visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

love it here. Amazing food and staff. It has been added to my favourites list.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious! Really inventive and refreshing. Be sure to have a margarita!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped in Friday May 26 to find one young lady with a very cute bob working all on her own manning the entire FOH - she worked the entire restaurant with a smile and great service. We are very impressed with the food and drinks and of course - service! So delicious and we are excited to come back.. I hope this employee is recognized! Thanks for a great evening. Fantastic addition to the neighborhood

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Looks like a new place, very clean and almost felt like fine dining for Mexican food. We ordered the black tiger shrimp ceviche tostado (good), the black tiger shrimp tacos (very good), the Acapulco fish tacos (very good), the vegetarian taco (good) and the home made hibiscus iced tea (very good). Service was very good but I d say the prices were quite steep for the quantity/quality. There wasn t much parking available either incl street parking but overall decent experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Wanted to taste test before I commit to a sit down meal there because there s a lot of bad Mexican restaurants in Toronto. I ordered 3 tacos on Uber- carnitas, shrimp, and barbacoa. The carnitas were a tad dry but the shrimp and barbacao were delicious! And I loved the sauces they came with. I will absolutely try this new neighbourhood gem in person, can t wait to try their margaritas

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, beautiful space, but a bit pricey.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Their menu is small but every item is amazing. The server was very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is great. I really loved their quesobirria and their barbacoa tacos. Overall, we had a great time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best tacos

★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely atmosphere but tacos were very under seasoned and the ceviche was similarly bland.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The restaurant prides itself with fine dining but tables have paper table cloths, your view is homeless people at gas station, you don t get enough plates gotta ask for stuff several times. Portions are tiny and taste worse chipotle! I rather have chipotle. MY APOLOGIES THAT WE CARE WHAT WE EAT!

December 22, 2023

Probably the worst service i ve ever gotten. They gave us the wrong order no cutlery no plates and never even apologized for their bad service. Rude staff mediocre at best food and we had to eat with a view of a garbage can

★★★
December 22, 2023

I grew up working at an authentic Mexican restaurant operated by best friends parents so I know a few things when it comes to Mexican food. Fast forward 20 years and Ive travelled extensively through the best and worst parts of Mexico, eating countless numbers of tacos from the west coast of Puerto Vallarta, to Guadalajara, Mexico city, Oaxaca, and the Yucatan province. Thats why when Im home in Toronto, I always keep an eye out for new Mexican restaurants, hoping that I can find one that can take me back to a taco Ive once eaten roadside, on some dreamy humid night, lost in hustle and bustle of the city. I wish I could say that about Luis H. At best, the satisfying contents of the carne asada and barbacoa tacos invoke a momentary sense of nostalgia, before you are jolted awake by the unpleasant and unsettling feeling that something is not quite right. Its like having a dream of a loved ones face, and being startled once you realize that up close, their nose is crooked and they are missing a few teeth. In the case of the tacos, it is the tortillas, when you take first bite, that make you realize that youre in fact not in the heart of mexico city, but that you are just in another disappointing mexican restaurant in the equally slummy neighbourhood of cabbagetown toronto. Some restaurants like Luis H, I suspect, label themselves as small plates, fine dining, to limit the size of their mistakes - better to make a small mess than a big one. As a perfectionist, I can accept such a philosophy. But please for the love of God, give some consideration to the ratio of your constructions - dont give me only 14 chips for a $12 chips & salsa and then mock me by giving me runny contents equal to half a bottle of salsa. I will finally leave one last comment about the service. I really dont care about service at restaurants to be honest. I dont need to be chatted up, romanced, checked-in on. As a Chinese person, Im used to the swift and robotic service of dim sum busboy who quickly scribbles an order and throws some hargow on my table. But oh my --- the asian server who waited our table. It was as if Luis H was the place chinese restaurant waiter rejects went to die. She could not count how many people were in party and match us up with the appropriate amount of plates. She mixed up our orders when there were only 15 or so items on the menu. My 55 year old aunt who doesnt speak english can memorize a 20 item order on a menu with 300 items. Maybe she should try to work in fine dining.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Overpriced, small portions, service was terrible! Edit: Lowering my review to 1 star because the owner replied to my review, making fun and saying I dont understand fine dining. What fine dining? Tables were covered by wrapping paper! Our server forgot to bring us cutlery until we were halfway done. There were four of us yet we had only 3 plates, asked for another one but we never got it. She got our orders wrong and was very rude when we asked for more chips! I had way better tacos for way less price. If Im paying 15 dollar for two tiny tacos my least expectation is for the taste to be decent! Edit 2: This place is so fancy that when you leave a bad review, the owner will reply and insult you for free!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Easily the best Mexican food in Toronto. The tacos are excellent (highly recommend the carne asada and Yucatan chicken) but the real standout for my family was the beef Quesabirra. If you enjoy spicy food, ask about their spicy house salsa.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had the black tiger shrimp, acapulco cod, and vegetarian tacos, and they were each sublime and perfectly balanced. Definitely a hidden gem :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Live in the area, first time here. Ive tried a good few Mexican places in Toronto. This place is top notch. Atmosphere; Chill lounge tunes. Nice, modern decor, great lighting. Small and intimate, there arent more than maybe 8 tables, so this is fantastic for a date. Service/plating; Very attentive server and nice plating. Even the cutlery and napkins are nice. Food; These are genuine home-style tacos and Mexican food with some upscale. Everything we tried was delicious and authentic. The meats are stewed and cooked to perfection. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. Only slight negative (for me personally) was the Carne Asada taco which was a bit chewy. If youre not into fatty/chewy beef, skip this. I still finished it though. The Quessabirria absolutely made up for it and I highly recommend it as a main. The Al Pastor was awesome as well. Both pulled meats were stewed to perfection with the right flavors and all sides and ingredients were just right. The mild salsa was perfect (for someone that cant handle spicy!). Dessert was a mindblowing Pastel de Tres Leches (Three milk) cake. Fresh fluffy cake soaked in tasty vanilla cream with strawberry preserve and blueberries. We scarfed this down. Make sure to try it! Cocktails were excellent as well. Will def come back here in the future. :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ive wanted to try this place for a while, as I only live ten min from it. Im giving 5 stars for everything because I feel like this place has so much potential. I hope they take this critique in a good way. 1. Guac needs more lime, salt, perhaps some red onion. Needs some more 2. Perhaps having a pico de Gallo salsa with chips instead of hot salsa 3. Carne asada, shrimp, Al pastor, fish were all delicious. The batter on the fish was nice and light almost like grand electric. I wish the pineapple on the pastor was the length of the taco. 4. Margarita was good but for 18 not that good. I know you use patron silver, but perhaps maybe tromba silver or los arangos, to make it cheaper. I would have had many more if it was the norm price across the city between 13.50 to 16.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place has the best tacos I have ever had.They are so good!!! I highly recomend the steak and the shrimp tacos. WOW Wow is how I would describe them so delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A nice, cozy place to have a great relaxed time. Great atmosphere, great service, great flavorful food. Definitely be back again. Thanks

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

What a true hidden gem! Fantastic chips and lipsmacking salsa with unforgettable drinks and some melt in your mouth birria tacos!!!! Finished up with the blueberry tres leches, truly fabulous! Will be back undoubtedly!!!!! The service deserves a special shoutout for the incredible efficiency! What a vibe!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was too good .. i love the costumer service , definitely visit again .

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Loved this place, best tacos in Toronto! We had the al pastor, the fish tacos and the shrimp tacos, allll soo good. The homemade tortillas were perfectly crispy. Dont sleep on the dessert, the tres Leche was fresh and light and a perfect end to our meal.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The most amazing, clean food! All authentic and homemade. Every dish was just outstanding! Cannot wait to return!