La Toxica MTL is a Mexican restaurant in Montreal best known for its birria tacos. It has two locations: La Toxica Plaza Saint-Hubert at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert, and La Toxica Chinatown at 1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent. Behind both dining rooms is a simple story: one woman, her grandmother’s recipes, and a home kitchen in Laval that became too small for everyone who wanted a taste.
In short: La Toxica was founded by Rosa Castellanos. It began in 2020 as a home kitchen in Laval, opened its first restaurant in July 2022 at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert, and added a second in 2023 at 1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent, in Chinatown. The house specialty is birria tacos, beef braised in dried chiles and served with a consomme for dipping, alongside a full menu and a Mexican bar.
Who founded La Toxica in Montreal?
La Toxica was founded by Rosa Castellanos, a Mexican-born entrepreneur who worked as a flight attendant before becoming a restaurant owner. She speaks French, English and Spanish fluently and still runs the business. You can read her full story on the page for Rosa Castellanos, founder of La Toxica.
Rosa had no restaurant training when she opened her first location. She learned by doing, by watching, and by adjusting along the way. That hands-on approach explains much of the house style: no fuss, generous portions, and food made to order.
How did La Toxica start during the pandemic?
La Toxica started in 2020, at the height of COVID-19 restrictions. Borders were closed, planes were grounded, and Rosa was far from her career. In her Laval kitchen she went back to the birria tacos her grandmother made in Mexico, recipes she had known since childhood and that were almost impossible to find in Greater Montreal at the time.
She photographed her dishes, filmed short videos and shared them on TikTok, first as a pastime. Quebec rapper Tizzo, who had more than 27,000 followers on Snapchat, tried the tacos and shared his enthusiasm with his community. Other artists and personalities followed, and demand climbed fast.
That demand became impossible to handle from a private home. Customers were showing up in large numbers at Rosa’s house in Laval, and the street got congested. To protect her family life while still serving her customers, Rosa rented a commercial kitchen in Fabreville, inside the Hot Dog MontRougeau snack bar, where she made her birria tacos on weekends.
Where did the first La Toxica restaurant open?
The first La Toxica restaurant opened in July 2022 at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert, in the Villeray neighbourhood of Montreal. That was less than seven months after her first tacos appeared on TikTok. Rosa built an open kitchen, so guests can watch tortillas pressed to order, the consomme simmering and the tacos assembled in front of them. That openness is still part of what makes La Toxica what it is.
A second restaurant followed in 2023 at 1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent, in Chinatown. The Chinatown room is bigger than the Saint-Hubert original and was designed for groups, birthdays, bachelorette parties and corporate after-work gatherings.
Where are the two La Toxica restaurants in Montreal?
La Toxica has two restaurants in Montreal, one in Villeray and one in Chinatown. Both serve the same menu, but they do not have quite the same personality.
La Toxica Plaza Saint-Hubert
The original location is at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert, Montreal, QC H2R 2N2. It is a neighbourhood taqueria with an open kitchen, steps from Jean-Talon Market and a few minutes’ walk from Jean-Talon metro station (orange and blue lines), in Villeray. To reach the team, call 514 277-1111. Full details are on the Plaza Saint-Hubert location page.
La Toxica Chinatown
La Toxica Chinatown is at 1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J6, on the building’s first floor. A separate business occupies the ground floor, so use the dedicated La Toxica entrance and stairwell to reach the dining room. The space is larger and livelier, with a full cocktail bar. Place-des-Arts and Saint-Laurent metro stations (green line) are both a short walk away. The number is 438 380-8995, and the La Toxica Chinatown page has the details.
What are La Toxica’s opening hours?
At Plaza Saint-Hubert, La Toxica is open Monday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. In Chinatown, the restaurant is closed on Mondays, then open Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m., Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Both locations also offer delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
How do you get to La Toxica in Montreal?
Plaza Saint-Hubert is a few minutes’ walk from Jean-Talon metro station, on the orange and blue lines, and street parking and nearby lots are available along Plaza Saint-Hubert. La Toxica Chinatown, on the 1st floor of 1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent, is a short walk from Place-des-Arts and Saint-Laurent metro stations on the green line, with several public parking lots in Chinatown and downtown.
Whichever address you pick, the same menu is served and the same open-kitchen approach applies. If you are coming with friends, the Chinatown room is the one with space for big tables, while the Villeray taqueria suits a smaller group or a quick stop after a visit to the market.
What do you eat at La Toxica?
La Toxica’s signature dish is birria tacos: beef braised for hours in a blend of dried chiles, served in a griddled corn tortilla with a spiced consomme for dipping. The recipe comes from Rosa’s grandmother. If birria is new to you, our page on birria tacos in Montreal explains how it is made.
The menu goes well beyond that. You will also find al pastor tacos, carnitas, cochinita pibil, quesadillas, lengua, shrimp tacos and a birria ramen, noodles served in the birria broth. At the bar, the house pours margaritas and cocktails inspired by Mexican mixology. For current dishes and prices, see our menu.
If you cannot decide, our article Menu must-haves at La Toxica MTL can help. To learn where the dish comes from, read Which country is known for birria tacos?
What does La Toxica do beyond its two restaurants?
La Toxica also runs a catering service for companies, weddings and private events, plus a food truck for festivals and corporate gatherings. Organizations that have hired the team include Desjardins, the CHUM, National Bank, Amazon, Tourisme Montréal and the Montreal Grand Prix.
The team also takes part every year in Montreal events such as the Street Food Festival at the Old Port, Taco Fest Montréal and Festival Fuego Fuego. For many people, that is where they first taste La Toxica’s birria.
How do you book a table at La Toxica?
La Toxica takes reservations online and by phone. Book through the online reservation page for 4 guests or more; for 1 to 3 guests, just walk in. For any question, call Plaza Saint-Hubert at 514 277-1111 or Chinatown at 438 380-8995.
La Toxica MTL frequently asked questions
Who owns La Toxica?
La Toxica was founded by Rosa Castellanos, a Mexican-born former flight attendant. She now runs both restaurants and the catering service.
When did La Toxica start?
La Toxica started in 2020, during the pandemic. The first restaurant opened in July 2022 on rue Saint-Hubert, and the second in 2023 on boulevard Saint-Laurent.
Does La Toxica have more than one location in Montreal?
Yes. La Toxica has two restaurants: Plaza Saint-Hubert (7221 rue Saint-Hubert) and Chinatown (1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent).
What is La Toxica known for?
La Toxica is known for birria tacos served with a consomme for dipping, made from the founder’s grandmother’s recipe.
Which La Toxica location is best for a group?
La Toxica Chinatown is the larger, more festive location, built for groups, birthdays and corporate events.
Where can you eat birria tacos in Montreal?
La Toxica serves birria tacos at both restaurants: Plaza Saint-Hubert in Villeray (7221 rue Saint-Hubert) and Chinatown (1059 boulevard Saint-Laurent, 1st floor).
What are La Toxica’s opening hours?
Plaza Saint-Hubert is open every day, Monday to Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday until 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Chinatown is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday from noon, closing at 9, 10 or 11 p.m. depending on the day.
Does La Toxica take reservations?
Yes. Groups of 4 or more should book online; for 1 to 3 guests, walk-ins are welcome at both restaurants.
