La Toxica is a Mexican taqueria in Montreal, known for its birria tacos served with their consommé. It runs two restaurants, one at Plaza Saint-Hubert in Villeray and one in Chinatown, and the menu is long enough to get lost in on a first visit. This guide sorts out what to order first, as the dishes appear on the menu today.
The La Toxica menu in Montreal starts with the birria tacos and their consommé, then runs through the house plates, starters, seafood, desserts and the Mexican bar. This guide follows the order most tables use.
What should you order first at La Toxica?
The birria tacos are the first thing to order at La Toxica: the house specialty, the first choice in the tacos section of the menu, served with their consommé. Add an al pastor taco, a quesabirria to share and, if you are hungry, one of the house plates. The rest of the menu will give you good reasons to come back.
What is in La Toxica’s birria tacos?
The birria tacos are slow-cooked beef topped with cilantro, fresh onions and house salsa, in a griddled corn tortilla. The card offers them with or without cheese, in orders of 2 or 4, and notes that the cheese version comes with broth for dipping. The recipe is inspired by Rosa’s grandmother’s, in the Jalisco tradition. The page on birria tacos in Montreal tells the full story.
The move is simple: a squeeze of lime, the taco still hot, its edge dipped in the consommé, then a bite. People order it because the meat is tender and the broth makes every bite juicier. If you cannot decide between the two versions, try the one with cheese first and compare on your next visit.
What is a quesabirria and why order it?
A quesabirria is a tortilla filled with birria meat and melted cheese. On the menu it sits in the quesadillas section under the name Birria, and La Toxica’s birria also comes as a burrito, a torta and tostadas (with chicken or beef birria). The quesabirria suits anyone who wants something more filling than a taco that can still be eaten by hand: the cheese stretches, the tortilla crisps, and the consommé stays within reach for dipping.
For another format of the same meat, the Birria soup section lists the ramen de birria, ramen noodles served in birria broth. The card also lists the consommé de birria on its own, in 500 ml with 4 tortillas or 1 L with 8 tortillas, which works well for sharing or taking home.
Which tacos should you pick besides birria?
The tacos section of the La Toxica menu goes well beyond birria. Here are the options worth a look, using the menu’s own descriptions.
- Al pastor: marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit (trompo), sliced and served with onions, cilantro, pineapple pieces and house salsa. It is the classic taqueria taco, with a good balance of savoury and sweet.
- Cochinita pibil: traditional Mayan-style shredded pork with pickled red onions. The acidity balances the meat.
- Tinga: slow-cooked chicken with cilantro, fresh onions and house salsa, with or without cheese.
- Campechano: a mix of beef and chorizo, for people who like a bolder taste.
- Lengua de res: beef tongue cut into pieces, with cilantro, fresh onions and house salsa. A pick for the curious.
- Alambre de res and alambre de pollo: beef or chicken sautéed with onions and green peppers, topped with melted cheese.
- Vegetarian: sautéed onions, green peppers and mushrooms with cheese, for tables where not everyone wants meat.
The menu also lists steak, shrimp, chorizo, choriqueso and carnitas tacos. Extra cheese is available on tacos, and the all-you-can-eat tacos promotion runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Check the promotions page for current details.
What are the house plates to know?
The house plates at La Toxica are full meals that share well: when a meal of tacos is not enough, the House specialties section takes over.
- Carne asada: grilled beef with Mexican rice, beans, fries, pico de gallo, 2 quesadillas and 4 tortillas.
- La toxi: your choice of meat with Mexican rice, beans, 4 corn tortillas and a grilled cheese crust. The kids’ menu has a petite toxi built the same way.
- Papas toxi: your choice of meat over fries, with melted cheese, sour cream and house sauce.
- Enchiladas: four rolled corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken, covered in house sauce and baked until golden, with sour cream and pickled red onion.
- Chilaquiles con carne: your choice of meat over crispy corn chips with beans, sour cream, feta and house sauce.
- Flautas: four rolled and fried corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken or beef, served with lettuce, onions, sour cream and feta.
What starters and seafood should you share at La Toxica?
The starters at La Toxica include guacamole with corn chips, which opens a meal well, and tequeños, fried cheese sticks (3 per order). The sopa de tortilla is a traditional soup served with corn tortillas, grated cheese, sour cream and avocado. The tostadas, whole corn tortillas topped with chicken or beef birria, come with beans, salad, feta and sour cream.
The Seafood section suits tables that want something fresh. The aguachile is shrimp marinated in lime juice, serrano peppers, cucumber, onion, cilantro and avocado. The ceviche is fish marinated in lime juice, with pico de gallo and pineapple. The shrimp cocktail comes in a small and a large size.
Which desserts and drinks should you try?
Three desserts are on the menu: churros (three warm churros drizzled with condensed milk and dusted with sugar and cinnamon), pastel tres leches, a traditional three-milk cake with a smooth, creamy flavour, and flan napolitano, a chilled, creamy flan. The churros are the easiest to share.
For drinks, the menu lists horchata and hibiscus by the glass or in 1 L, lemonade, Jarritos and café de olla. For alcohol, the Mexican bar offers margarita slushes, micheladas and 120 choices on its list. Alcoholic drinks are for guests aged 18 and over.
Where are the La Toxica restaurants in Montreal?
La Toxica serves the same menu at both restaurants. The first, La Toxica Plaza Saint-Hubert, is at 7221 rue Saint-Hubert, Montreal, QC H2R 2N2, in Villeray, steps from Jean-Talon Market (514 277-1111), at Plaza Saint-Hubert, open every day (Monday to Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.). The second is at 1059 boul. Saint-Laurent, 1st floor, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J6, with its own entrance, in Chinatown near Place-des-Arts and Saint-Laurent metro stations (438 380-8995): see the Chinatown Saint-Laurent page, closed on Mondays and open Tuesday and Wednesday noon to 9 p.m., Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Both are also on the locations page.
To get a table, book online. To eat at home, order online or use Uber Eats or DoorDash. Tastet also ranked La Toxica’s birria tacos among the best in Montreal. When you are ready, the full menu remains the best reference, with current sizes and prices.
La Toxica menu: frequently asked questions
What is the most popular dish at La Toxica?
Birria is the house specialty. The birria tacos come with their consommé, with or without cheese, in orders of 2 or 4.
What is a quesabirria?
A quesabirria is a tortilla filled with birria meat and melted cheese, browned on the griddle and served with consommé. On the menu it is in the quesadillas section.
Does La Toxica have vegetarian options?
La Toxica’s menu includes a vegetarian taco, quesadilla and burrito. The tacos are made with onions, green peppers, mushrooms and cheese.
Can you order the birria consommé on its own?
La Toxica sells the consommé de birria on its own, in 500 ml with 4 tortillas, or 1 L with 8 tortillas.
Is the menu the same at both restaurants?
La Toxica’s menu covers both restaurants, Plaza Saint-Hubert and Chinatown, and delivery.
Where are the La Toxica restaurants in Montreal?
La Toxica has two restaurants: Plaza Saint-Hubert in Villeray (7221 rue Saint-Hubert) and Chinatown (1059 boul. Saint-Laurent, 1st floor).
What are La Toxica’s opening hours?
Plaza Saint-Hubert is open every day, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. early in the week and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Chinatown is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 9, 10 or 11 p.m. depending on the day.
