Mr. Victor Lopez and his wife Elena Garcia welcomes you at El Meson! This authentic Mexican restaurant located just across the Lachine Canal, in an old brick house in Old Lachine welcomes you in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It is already several years that this Mexican gem serves its secret family recipes. They started timidly years ago in Dorval for those who remember, and it is through satisfied customers that this Mexican restaurant has made a name for itself and today El Meson ranks among the best Latin restaurants in Montreal.
Don't be fooled! You are here to enjoy and savor the fine foods from Mexico. So forget about other so called Mexican restaurants that offer the same Americanized dishes over and over again. Here you'll taste real delicious Mexican specialties such as Carne Asada, the Nopalitos con carne (Cactus with beef), and many more... Indulge yourself, it is not every day you can travel to Mexico for so little. Everything is a matter of imagination, let yourself be surprised, there are so many flavors to discover...
To enjoy the sunny weather, El Meson offers two pretty terraces (front and back) where you can relax with the magnificent view of the beautiful Lachine Canal, an experience that your eyes will never forget. During the winter, once you step inside El Meson, you will never want to leave.
Our Specialties
Nopalitos con carne (Cactus with beef), Pescados Yucatan, Carne Asada, Pechuga con mole, Cazuela Mexicana (Seafood platter)
Reviews highlight El Meson as a cozy, family-run spot offering authentic Mexican cuisine with bold flavors, where items like mole, ceviche, perfectly seasoned seafood, and hearty fajitas are praised for depth and balance, and portions are described as generous with fair prices. Diners often mention friendly, attentive service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with a charming terrace by the water adding to the experience. The menu's variety receives frequent kudos, from ceviche and tacos to fish dishes and carnitas, along with well-paired drinks such as margaritas and sangria, and the presentation and freshness of dishes are repeatedly noted. The setting, including the canal view and colorful decor, contributes to a memorable visit, and many reviewers say they plan to return, sometimes after traveling a distance. Overall, the combination of flavorful food, comfortable vibe, and good value makes El Meson a destination that tends to satisfy a broad range of tastes and occasions.
In my opinion, El Meson is the best Mexican restaurant in Canada,full stop. It's the kind of place that deserves recognition in the Michelin Guide. Despite being a small, family-run restaurant, the level of quality, care, & authenticity in the food is exceptional.
I regularly travel from Toronto & make it a point to stop here every single time, whether for lunch or dinner. I was first introduced to El Meson by a friend whose mother lives nearby, & since then, it has become a must-visit.
What truly sets this place apart are the sauces they are absolutely outstanding. Each one is layered, rich, & clearly made with deep knowledge of traditional Mexican flavors. You can taste the craftsmanship in every bite.
I would 100% recommend everything on the menu, but my personal favourite has to be the enchiladas with the house mole sauce absolutely incredible.
The service is equally memorable. There is a lady server who is always there unfortunately, I never caught her name but she consistently elevates the entire experience. She is warm, attentive, & genuinely kind, & she has a way of making everyone feel welcome & taken care of.
El Meson is more than just a restaurant it's an experience. If you're serious about authentic Mexican cuisine, this place is not optional.
Nous avons souper hier chez El Meson. Très déçu: enchiladas trop cuites baignant dans la sauce, riz aux tomates très très petite portion semble très réchauffé sans goût. Le personnel replace la configuration des tables de façon très bruyante.
Mar 7, 2026
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It is a hot day. We came in for drink & food. Ordered taco roll & fajitas. The avocado sauce is wonderful! Lemonades are cold! The extra bread/pita is hot & tasty. Surprise!
Wow. I was amazed, really not expecting this. We started off with the ceviche, which was great in itself, then had the enchilada with tomato sauce, it was awesome. My wife had the chicken breast with the molle (cacao) sauce & that was also awesome. I also took some of her molle sauce for my vegetables, & that was also great. It was our first time trying the molle sauce & we really loved it. The next time, I'm getting the molle sauce! A big thank you to the waiter who was patient with us, & helped us navigate through the menu. I'm not one to get overexcited with food, but this struck a cord.
it was just the right deal, good food & bonne potion, musique pas trop fort, un bon service avec bcp d'attention. ils ont plat de fruit de mer avec une sauce exquise. J'y retourne c sur & je recommande👍
Jul 26, 2025
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Second time eating at El Meson & it doesn't disappoint. We got the stuffed beef pepper dish & the chicken enchiladas with red sauce & they were delicious. The staff is friendly & helpful & it's always a full house. Unfortunately I don't have photos of this one!
We were looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant while a quaint atmosphere. We got exactly that!! So good!! We were 2 couples & ironically we each ordered the same two dishes., Chicken Tacos & the Carne Asada (?)- Steak & Cactis! The Steak & Catcus I had no choice as a friend had said" You have To Try It!" & no regrets, the Steak was cooked perfectly, medium rare & the cactus & sauce was delicious. The meal was deceiving large, I managed to eat it all! The tacos were not severed how you know the/open face if you will but rather came closed on top, the ladies loved them! We had several drinks with the meal, Margaritas & a tequila Sunrise, these too were excellent! We even managed to share some dessert, a three milk cake & a flan & once again, no regrets! The staff were super attentive & per couple were in for under $100 before tip! The restaurant is a converted house, which adds to the charm, it is cozy but not intimate. If you decide to go, make a reservation to avoid disappointment as there are not that many gables available. Cheers
Aller faire un tour au El Meson, vous ne serez pas déçu. Les plats sont savoureux, la sauce piquante est excellente, la terrasse avec la vue donne l'impression d'être en vacances & le service était impeccable. En plus, les plats sont vraiment très abordables. Je recommande sans hésitation.
In desperate need to book a restaurant at the last minute, I called El Meson & asked to reserve a table for 8 people on that same day. The lady on the phone was super 🌟 She was very understanding & helpful. I was able to reserve for 8 people last night for my partner's 26th birthday celebration 🎂 Given that we were 8 people, I thought the food will take time to come in, but our plates started coming in very shortly after we ordered our meals... Everyone in our table had nothing but good things to say about the food. The portions were more than enough!!! Our friends said that the Carne Asada was cooked to perfection 👌🏽 My other friends enjoyed their Beef & Chicken tacos 🌮 My partner liked his Pollo Barbacoa 🍗 My Chicken Fajita was sizzling when it came to our table that one of my friends even commented & said that he also wishes that his food came in with sound effects 🔥 Also, their secret hot sauce was so good that we wanted to buy a whole bottle of it 😆 The service was quite fast, our primary waiter, Senor Roberto, was quite patient with all our requests & was kind enough to help us clean the table when one of our friends accidentally poured his water on the table. All in all, we had AN AMAZING experience at El Meson & hoping to come back soon!!! 🙏🏽 I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT TO ANYONE LOOKING TO TRY AUTHENTIC & DELICIOUS TASTING MEXICAN FOODS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Mar 3, 2024
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Super bons plats copieux servis par des gens adorables. Le poulet était très tendre. Genereux en sauce. Les tables en terrasse sont l’idéal, avec vue sur l’eau au loin. L’intérieur est un peu sombre. Pas beaucoup de plats végétariens, par contre.
Quaint environment. Guacamole & cactus salad were excellent. Enchilada had a bit too much sauce & could be baked more. It wasn't very hot. Overall, a nice place.
This was the best Mexican meal I have ever had in Montreal! The chips & guacamole were so yummy, I just couldn't stop! The fajitas & the enchiladas (with green tomato sauce) were extremely flavorful. We will be going back.
Service attentionné & souriant. Possibilité d'avoir plus épicé à la demande (sauces hors menu). Pour quelqu'un qui fréquente le mexique souvent hors resort, je retrouve la vraie nourriture traditionelle.
