Amaranto is described as an authentic and delicious Mexican spot in NDG, repeatedly praised as a gem with standout birria tacos and a broad menu that includes shrimp quesadilla, fish and chicken tacos, enchiladas, ceviche and more, with crispy homemade tortilla chips and guacamole earning high marks; the atmosphere is warm, clean and vibrant, with friendly staff and owners creating a welcoming and personalized service that many reviews feel makes you feel like the only table; margaritas are noted as effective and portions are described as generous by some and small or pricey by others, reflecting a mix of consistently tasty dishes and occasional pacing issues on busy nights when the place fills up; a move to Monkland is mentioned and fans say the food and uplifting ambiance remain strong, reinforcing Amaranto as a local gem for authentic Mexican cuisine.
We just got back from 3 weeks in Mexico & were thrilled to find the food here to be authentic & delicious. What a treat right here in NDG. Birria tacos were crazy good!
A super authentic Mexican gem. Everyone working was warm & welcoming. The food is excellent. No matter what you get, you won't be disappointed. We had the shrimp quesadilla, the birria tacos, fish tacos, & the chicken tacos. Everything was a 10/10.
Feb 1, 2026
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Super authentic Mexican spot, with lovely owners & amazing food. They are so hospitable & are experts at what they do. Star of the show are the birria tacos, but nothing you get will disappoint.
Great New Mexican restaurant in the heart of NDG (Monkland Village). The food is amazing (both times we ordered the guacamole, soft Tacos Suadero & the Fish Tacos. The fired plantains are also very good!! The food is fresh & authentic!! From the moment you walk in, the warmth of the staff & the rich aromas from the kitchen make it clear that you are in for something special. This place is a local gem!!
ALERT: Amaranto has moved. Their new address is 5626 Monkland. The food & uplifting ambiance is better than ever! Authentic Mexican dishes (I love the tacos Al Pastor,) friendly service, & awesome guacamole with homemade tortilla chips! If you want the best Mexican food in Montreal, Ameranto's is the place to be.
Jul 27, 2025
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Loved them on Monkland & my husband & I made a special trip to them on St. Laurent. Very nice restaurant, great staff, so friendly & welcoming. & the food was DELICIOUS. Truly authentic homemade Mexican food. We were served chips & salsa verde & a regular homemade salsa that was the best Ive ever had. We ordered the chicken tacos & it was sooo good! You can tell that ingredients are fresh, & it is made on the spot. The owner told us about the last Thursday of each month they have flamenco dancers to feel free to come by & check it out. That made us feel special & it sounds like fun. HIGHLY RECCOMMEND, will definitely return.
The food was good, a bit small compared to other authentic Mexican restaurants we usually frequent. The service was good but the only 2 servers were slammed on a sat night. The restaurant itself is a bit small & so their menu but the overall experience was good. The seasoning was perfect.
Mar 22, 2024
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Run by a delightful couple from Mexico City, the food is high quality, authentic, & well proportioned - 4 tortillas & you're full! Excellent service, good price point & a nice diversity. The only good Mexican & it's not TexMex thankfully! Also do takeout but not their specialty. Reliably good & always welcoming...regularly take friends fom out of town & never had a bad experience in more the many years we've been going. Highly recommend!
I would definitely recommend trying this place out simply because the food was phenomenal. The tacos with sausage = pure heaven. We're talking authentic mexican food here. The service was pretty good & there's even a section where you can buy some of their ingredients like hot sauces & etc. They didn't have alcohol, but they make up for it by having amazing specialty drinks. The decor wasn't super beautiful, but do not let that fool you. It's a great place. I will definitely come back here.
First of all I must say that I almost never write reviews of any kind. But after reading some of the comments & ratings for Amaranto on this website, I felt compelled to do Amaranto some justice. I find it hard to believe that somebody would wait 2.5 to 3 hours for their meal to be served. I think those reviewers are either grossly exaggerating or they are simply not telling the whole story. My experience was that of a fair time for meals to be served, great authentic mexican dishes & a professional & friendly service. You have to take into account that this is a small family-run restaurant. Owners do most of the work & I think they do it to the best of their abilities. Do they have the fastest service in town? Probably not, but there are some ways to get around this: you can order in advance, order for take out or simply enjoy an entrée while waiting for the main course (I´ve heard that their guacamole is one of the best, in town). The place is small, 4 to 5 tables but I think it is safe to say that in this case the size of the restaurant is inversely proportional to the taste & authenticity of the dishes. I haven't really tried other mexican joints in Montreal, but as a mexican myself, I can say without any hesitation, that the dishes are as authentic & tasteful as can be, outside of Mexico. I tried the Sopa de Aguacate (Avocado soup), Tacos de Pastor, Tacos de Carnitas, Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus tea), Agua de Chía (very refreshing kind of lemonade) & they were all very well prepared, delicious & brought to our table in a timely manner. The menu is rather small, but what they offer is made at the moment (even their chips & salsas, which by the way are also excellent), which gives it even more taste & freshness (both of these elements are essential to mexican cuisine). It is true that they have an open kitchen & the smell of food might find it´s way to your clothes, but I wouldn't say this is overwhelming. Besides, many food joints in Mexico have open kitchens. We mexicans like to see what's going on with the food we're about to be served!! They also play authentic mexican folk music at Amaranto making it so much more enjoyable!!
So, in a nutshell, take the poor reviews with a grain of salt, give Amaranto a try & not only will you not regret it, I´m pretty sure you'll keep coming for more. If TASTY & AUTHENTIC mexican food is what you're looking for with a good & friendly service, then go to Amaranto.
