A highly acclaimed modern Mexican restaurant in Toronto, led by Chef Steven Molnar, holding a Michelin Star and ranking high on North America's and Canada's best restaurant lists.
Chef Steven Molnar is the Chef and Partner at Quetzal Toronto, known for its elevated Mexican cuisine. His culinary journey took a significant turn from an initial focus on French food to a deep dive into Mexican...
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SteakhouseLatin AmericanMexicanSeafoodVegan-friendlySeafoodFine diningDinnerFine DiningCocktail Bar
Last updated: 7/1/2026, 3:06:02 PM
Key Information
Quetzal Toronto is a vibrant, upscale Mexican restaurant known for its wood-fired cooking and craft cocktails. It holds the distinction of being Toronto's first Michelin Star Mexican restaurant. The dining experience is enhanced by a sleek, modern dining room, an immersive ambiance with the aroma of wood smoke, and a beautiful open kitchen and bar.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Quetzal for its exceptional dishes, beautiful plating, and attentive, professional service. The immersive atmosphere, characterized by the aroma of wood smoke and a cozy, modern Mexican adobe aesthetic, is frequently highlighted. Standout dishes include the lamb, sea bream, sweet potato, bone marrow, and various ceviches. While the experience is highly regarded, some customers note that portions can be smaller for the price, and reservations can be difficult to secure. The restaurant can also be quite smoky due to the open-fire cooking.
Additional Details
The restaurant is located in Toronto's Little Italy neighborhood. The masa used for dishes like barbacoa is house-made, emphasizing a commitment to authentic and high-quality ingredients.
Vegetarian options availableHalal-friendly options (lamb, steak, tartare)Accommodates other dietary restrictions with advance notice
Best Times to Visit
Dinner is the primary meal service. Given that reservations are often difficult to secure, planning ahead is recommended. Tables are ideal for date nights, while bar seating offers a great alternative for a more casual yet equally engaging experience.
Took my partner for his birthday here and was very impressed with all the dishes we had as well as the service. Quetzal deserves a Michelin for sure as each dish was executed well and the plating was beautiful. We ordered the tasting menu and the pacing was perfect. The dishes went from light to heavy and each menu was curated differently per table. Everyone got different dishes around us.
I really enjoyed the Newfoundland scallops, scallop ceviche, and the masa barbacoa with diablo sauce. The masa was all house made. I was really full after eating all the dishes actually. But of course there is always room for dessert. The dessert was tres leches cake and it was really delicious! Highly recommend ordering that if you don't get the tasting menu. It's a dessert worth ordering.
Overall service was fairly quick and there was not much wait in between plates. The restaurant runs like a well oiled machine, as expected as they get so much volume. Overall, such a great experience and it was our first time eating Mexican food at that level. I will come back again to try their regular menu!
The aroma of wood smoke immediately sets a tone when you step inside. The space itself is amazing, like a modern interpretation of Mexican adobe, feeling incredibly cozy, warm, and welcoming. It makes you feel like you're somewhere else. While the space is well-ventilated, that scent of the coals combined with the aesthetic creates an immersive experience.
The restaurant's layout is anchored by a beautiful open kitchen and bar running the full length of the dining area, allowing you to watch the culinary staff. When we mentioned our intention to share, the front of house seamlessly paced our selection of dishes into courses. The portions were generous, and the timing was flawless. We never felt rushed and the courses came with a brief pause in between.
We started with the tuna and ceviche appetizers, followed by a second course of the squid and asparagus. For the main course, we had the whole sea bream and the coal-roasted sweet potato, with warm corn tortillas, which we used to build tacos. While every single dish featured a richness and variety of flavors, the sea bream and that sweet potato were the absolute standouts of the night. We finished the evening by sharing the spiced Mexican chocolate and the tres leches cake. The drinks were just as impressive, with a lineup of cocktails that were inventive and beautifully prepared - the Piolin and No Heather were standouts.
It felt as though every minor detail or passing remark we made was treated as an opportunity to go above and beyondb by the front staff. That level of care and thorough attention to detail made us feel entirely looked after, and it elevated what was a truly exceptional dining experience from start to finish.
5
What an amazing night! From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations — and Petra was a huge part of that. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and so easy to talk to. Nothing felt like a hassle, and her recommendations were absolutely spot on, both with the drinks and the food.
We chose to sit at the kitchen bar, which was such a fun experience because you’re right in the middle of the action. That said — it gets HOT 🔥 You’re basically front row to the flames! If heat isn’t your thing, definitely book a different table ahead of time. The place is fully booked most nights, so switching tables when you arrive isn’t really an option.
As for the food — wow. The Ensalada Verde was crisp and refreshing, the Empanada Oaxaqueña was packed with incredible flavor, and the Bone Marrow & Wild Argentinian Shrimp was rich, indulgent, and unforgettable. The Pork Secreto al Pastor was cooked beautifully — tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor.
We didn’t manage dessert only because we were completely full, but honestly, if we had even a little more room, we would have happily ordered one of everything.
An all-around fantastic experience. We’ll absolutely be returning — next time for the curated menu!
5
This place is amazing, some of the best food I’ve had anywhere, every dish was amazing and the cooking all done over the fire was spot on point. The scallops and the sea bream where so so good
Every dish that was going out that we didn’t order also looked perfect
We sat at the counter right in front of the fire and I noticed some reviews say it’s to hot, it’s warm but it’s all part of the experience I would definitely recommend it. The Chefs do an incredible job at such speed and efficiency great to see it. All the staff very friendly to.
I have been to many great restaurants over the years and this one definitely one of the very best. Highly recommended a visit
5
This bespoke menu provides shareable helpings of top notch Mexican Asian fusion with select ingredients. Served by a professional staff in a cozy atmosphere with soft jazz and just the right lighting. We highly recommend the chef's table so you can watch the food being prepared. The chefs were helpful and described what they were working on if asked. If you are on a date night a table might be better. 4 Michelin stars 2022 through 2025 are well deserved. Each dish was a complex melange of flavors. Highly recommend the sea bream, sweet potato and empanada, but literally everything was amazing.
