Eating here makes me feel that any other five star review I've given to other establishments was given too easily. This is some next level food.
My daughter summed it up best a few hours later when she said "I just had a taco burp and it still tastes amazing".
Don't plan on finding a place to sit to eat here. Stand in line. Order your food to go. Pay cash. Oooh and aaah as you sample each different taco. There isn't a single bad option on the menu.
Can’t say enough about this place. The food is FANTASTIC! And I can make pretty good tacos at home, these are some of the best I’ve had. The staff is super friendly. I was sad not to be able to have the deep fried Mahi Mahi taco which was THE BEST. But the rest are great. I wish there was more seating space but this place, the staff and their food deserve 5 stars.
Cash only, hole in the wall. Get two tacos. I recommend the spicy shrimp! Best tacos in Toronto and very casual. Very limited seating.
I just my first Gobernador experience and it totally lived up to the hype - so delicious and fresh and full of flavour. Bite for bite, possibly the best taco I've ever. I can't wait to come back and try all the rest of their delicious sounding options.
Overcrowded, but the food is served at a more than reasonable pace. The Gobernador is definitely to die for The shrimp seasoned nicely and cooked just right! Would recommend to anyone who's looking for a snack or a meal!
Great food for a good price, I had the Baja haddock fish tacos � � and they were excellent. Cash only and limited seating but I had no problem with that.
The "go to" spot for tacos in the 6ix! There is a reason why this place is always busy... food is next level legit! Keep it up.
Best tacos outside of Baja Mexico/SoCal. Pity place is so small and need to get LCBO licence. But because of the winter weather, no line up outside but still a wait (well worth it) inside.
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Knowing where to get the best tacos in town is serious business. As it stands, the best tacos that I have ever eaten have been at Tacofino in Tofino and Tres Carnales Taquería in Edmonton. After reading that Seven Lives was voted #1 Best Taco 2018 by NOW Toronto, named in National Geographic magazine's Places of a Lifetime article, and called #1 Best Fish Taco and #1 Best Tacos by blogTO... They seemed like a sure bet.
You'll find Seven Lives located in Kensington Market, one of the most eclectic corners of the city which suits them well. I visited the tiny shop on a Friday evening, prior to their early closing time of 7pm. They're definitely more of a lunch or early dinner type of place. It should also be noted that they accept cash only, so come prepared!
The tiny shop is bustling and exciting, buzzing with taco energy. The bright walls and giant sign that reads "TACOS" sets the vibe perfectly. I also appreciate their logo of a cat with a fish in its mouth - and the insinuation that this cat is down to seven lives, having already lost two. There is one table that can seat about four people and then there’s a little bit of standing-room-only counter space. This makes things a little bit awkward if you plan to eat-in, as I did. The table wasn't available and so I stood at the counter in front of the window to eat instead. Which was fine. But certainly not ideal.
The menu is fairly straight forward, including nine types of tacos, some sides, and some beverages. Your order is placed at the counter with a friendly staff member and they call out your name once the food is ready.
Starting with something to drink, I was happy to see Agua de Jamaica on the menu. I always prefer an agua fresca when visiting a Mexican establishment, although I was also happy to see that Jarritos Mexican sodas are also on offer. (Their cola is my personal favourite of all of the colas.) Agua de Jamaica, otherwise known as "hibiscus water" is a beverage that exists in several cultures. In Southeast Asia it is known as Rosella tea and it's basically the same thing. Tart and sweet, this refreshing drink was a perfect accompaniment to the food.
We decided to get a Side as a bit of an appetizer. Tortilla Chips (Made fresh! - $3.00) and Guacamole ($3.00 for small) seemed like the way to go. I was a bit surprised that the guacamole didn't just come with tortilla chips and that both items had to be purchased separately. However, I did enjoy the homemade nature of the chips and that a heaping amount of them are tossed into a brown paper bag and given to you. I'll take a bag of chips any day. Golden and ultra crispy, these tortilla chips are exactly what I wanted them to be. They were seasoned really nicely as well. The guacamole was fresh and bright, with a great acidic kick to it. Obviously chips and guac are a match made in heaven.
Next it was time for the big show: the TACOS. Of the nine tacos available, two of them (the Adobada and the Carnitas) were already sold out. On the plus side, I probably wouldn't have ordered either of these anyway. Although, I must say that this did not leave much for meat options. There were four fish/seafood tacos, one beef and one chicken option, and a vegetarian. Nothing for pork at all. But again, I did not mind at all because I was going full ocean food - it's what they specialize in, after all.
Baja Fish ($6.00) and Gobernador ($6.00) were the ones for me. I loved the little condiments bar to the left of the counter that featured three different salsas (hot habanero, medium tomatillo, mild guajillo) as well as chili oil with sesame, and a bowl of sliced limes. This makes it very easy to customize your tacos to your preferred specifications and to control the amount of heat that you desire.
The tacos did not take very long and before I knew it, a green plastic basket was placed in my hands. The tacos were certainly vibrant and demanding to be eaten.
I began with the Gobernador (smoked marlin, shrimp & cheese). If Seven Lives has a signature taco, this is the one. Their front window even says "home of the Gobernador" right on it. I definitely loved the smokiness from the marlin the most, while the shrimp filled out the taco and added more texture. Everything had been grilled up deliciously. The pickled onion brought a great hit of balancing flavour and I liked the fresh tortillas a lot.
Next I had the Baja Fish (fried haddock). The first thing that I noticed is how generous the portion of fish is! The haddock was big, juicy and fried to perfection. The rest of the taco was kept very fresh with cabbage and fresh homemade salsa on top.
Both tacos were packed full and were pretty messy to eat, but in the best possible way. I liked both tacos but found them to be missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. I guess that I was hoping for something even bigger and more unexpected in terms of flavour. They were good... Just not the best that I've ever had.
I was also very impressed to see a Cuitlacohce taco on the menu. Serving as their veggie option, this taco incorporates the use of corn smut, an ingredient that you don't see all that often (especially in Canada). Known as the Mexican truffle, huitlacoche is a delicacy. It's basically diseased corn that has been taken over by a fungus and has turned black. I'm here for it. Don't knock it until you try it!
My expectations were pretty high considering that these are supposed to be the first and last name in tacos in Toronto and I'm not entirely sure if my expectations were met. Attempting to eat in the restaurant is a bit of an issue. However, I enjoyed my experience at Seven Lives overall. The food was pretty good and the prices were decently alright too.
Bangin’ bangin’ bangin’ tacos! I honestly think it’ll be a very long time before I have tacos as good as this again. The shrimp and fish were both flavourful, generous tacos, served by the staff with a smile and a boogy. Absolutely loved the characterful interior and appreciated the fact you could choose your own salsa from mild to soul shakingly spicy. Couldn’t recommend more highly!
Staff is incredibly kind and gracious.
Love it when a restaurant does a couple of items extremely well and doesn't try and cater to everyone. Don't like tacos or chips, salsa, guacamole? Then on you go.
Multiple homemade salsas. Seriously great salsa.
Really enjoyed both shrimp AND squid tacos. The spicy sauce is REALLY spicy so if you can't handle heat, make sure you pick the mild/medium one.
Read reviews on this place so decided to try it. I was not disappointed. The tacos were a good size - I had a taco de pollo and a baja taco. Both had a ton of flavour. The place was really busy but you didn't wait long for your food. It was &6 + tax per taco.
They only accept cash.
Heard big things about this place. Everyone I've asked where the best taco place in Toronto, they've recommended Seven Lives. Although it's a small taco place with little room to eat, I would recommend taking it to go due to the location size.
When you think about tacos you picture a hard shell, something crispy. When I first heard about a soft shell taco I thought to myself what's the fun in that? How would that even taste good?
Here at Seven Lives in Kensington they completely changed my view experience. Shrimp, Pork, Beef and chicken they have it all. The meats are cooked just perfectly and cannot be done any better. It just melts in your mouth. Priced a bit high around 7 to 8 dollars including tax but it is worth the money.
This take out taco spot in Kensington Market usually has a line forming out the door. People salivate over their tacos, which aren’t cheap, but substantial enough as a snack. We ordered the gobernador since it seems to be the most popular and it is full of flavor, but messy. Luckily tacos are wrapped in two layers of tortilla to hopefully prevent a spill. Cash only, which makes it easier to hold back on buying one of everything.
Rasoi-Dè-Homè_SukhjitGill
+4
Did you say taco..? No i said best tacos . If you have to be in queue its worth it. Best taco place. Flavours and taste cant be described. Must visit. Mark it down. Dont forget to take cash and try hot sauce.
Fish taco is my favourite here 😍
We found pretty good reviews of Seven Lives, so we made our way to the area. It was complicated to find parking since many of the roads were shut down in this area so it's pedestrian friendly on Sundays. Cool concept, tough for visitors. After circling around many times, we actually found a parking spot pretty close!
Extremely good tacos. Went there multiple times. The carnitas is very good. Adobado is pretty spicy but so tasteful. Almost no room to sit but take out is possible.
Lives up to the hype. Best tacos I have had: period. OMG the line is huge. Though sun baked, we stood defying odds. And it was so worth it. Best fish tacos : gobernador, cameron diablo. Also the carnitas. Thr freshness and spice , aroma and texture are mind blowing. Bring cash as its cash only.
This is a very small resto(more like a take out) but hippy place located in Kensington Market. Tried the Baja fish, chicken and shrimp varieties and couldn't stop from relishing their taste.
Also don't forget to compliment your order with Jarritos.
The awesomeness of the tacos here cannot be easily described. There is a good reason why the lineups are long. When you try one you will understand. Lots of choice and great hot sauces.
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This place is like an Oasis in a desert ! A desert with no good Mexican food. There are less than a handful good Mexican restaurants in Toronto and Seven Lives is to the Top of that list. It's a small hole in a wall kind of a place located in the heart of Kensington Market. Be prepared to stand and eat your food (especially in this cold winter) because the sitting arrangement is very limited (just one table to be precise).
But all that hassle is completely worth it once you bite into their 'heavenly' tacos.. Evry taco is priced at $6+taxes. 2 of those are sufficient for a meal!! 3 if you are really hungry!! The size of the taco is huge with generous fillings and toppings.
I also tied the strawberry Lemonade and wasn't really impressed with it. I would not buy it again.
Also, the lady at the cashier taking orders kind of prevented it from being a 5 star experience. She was a bit rude and ignorant. (Hope the owners take note of this). She kept blabbering in spanish and did not even care to say sorry when she made a mistake with the total of the bill
Guys in the backgrund at the grill were pretty friendly though.
Overall a good experience because of the food! I will come back for sure!!
Highly recommended !!
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Seven Lives is constantly busy! Everytime I walk by there is a constant line up of people and the line ups seem to get longer and longer! I had to check out what this buzz was all about!😄
Athough there was a steady line up on the day of my visit the staff had a very efficient way to prioritize the orders as the line went fairly quick. I would like to applaud them for this strategy that they created!👏 I didn't expect to get my order that fast! Not that I'm complaining though.😄
I loved how they had a variety of hot sauces that was available for the tacos. All of them were great, it allows us to explore the heat levels! 🖒I ordered a variety of tacos. Fish, chicken, pork and octopus. I enjoyed them all! The had very unique combinations for each style of taco. For example, the octopus had fresh coriander and what appeared to be lime. The chicken had pineapple and very tangy sauce. They were all delicious and now I see why there is always a constant line up of patrons!
I recommend Seven Lives if you are searching for some great tacos! Please Don't feel intimidated by the line up! I assure you it will move quickly and when you get your tacos you will be in taco heaven! 🖒🌮🌮🌮
Food - 4.5
Service - 4.5
Ambience - 4.5
Creativity - 4.5
Value - 4.5
Overall grade - 22.5/25 = 90% (A)
The best tacos in Toronto. Bigger size than your average taco, generous portions of filling. Decently priced. The only downside is the lineup and the size of the location. Getting your tacos can be a frustrating and uncomfortable experience but it's worth it for the taste.
One of the best places for tacos in the city. The portions are also hearty, one taco is surprisingly filling....just prepare yourself for the wait!
This is a very good place. It's tiny, mostly take out but it does have counters for eating there. The Gobernador shrimp taco might have just been the best taco that I have ever had. The Baja taco was quite good. I highly recommend this place for great street food.
Great staff and good tacos. I enjoyed my mahi mahi taco. This place gets busy so expect to eat standing up. The taco I had was very filling and full of flavour.
Finally was able to eat here without the 1 hour wait.
Amazing food. Great combination of flavors. 1 taco is not enough, 2 is just right.
Had the Baja & the Tuna taco.
Only problem is the really long wait time.
My favourite was the baja fish. I didn't care for the cactus. Overall its a good cheap eat. I wish the service was a bit more efficient and friendly, but I guess we can't expect too much.
This place is amazing! The tortillas shells are home made and the tacos were very tasty and very affordable. I will definitely come back and will recommend this place to others. FYI...bring cash. They charge extra for debit.
The first time I heard of a fish taco was when Jason Segel took Paul Rudd out to eat them in I Love You Man. I thought to myself, “a. why has this thought never passed your mind, b. I’m going to the wrong restaurants, and c. you love fish and tacos so get up and go find some.” Well that was a couple years ago, but I've got to say it was life-changing (to a certain degree).
One of my favorite spots in Kensington market. My favorite baja fish Taco in the city. Only cons is that line up is too long and they only take cash.
Not too many complaints about the food here. I had the Baja Fish and Grouper ("Catch of the Day") tacos, both of which were great! I also had a Strawberry Lemonade on the side, which wasn't too bad. While the food was fresh and surprisingly filling given its size, the flavours were a bit underwhelming considering how many things were piled on. Plus the place is far too cramped.
Great quality taco with fresh ingredients. I do think the menu could be expanded a little bit more to incorporate a few new menu items, but with their very small space I can understand their limitations.
Feeling for some seafood tacos? California style? This is the place to be. Although quite small and limited in seating which is common in the Kensington market area, their tacos are worth the standing up while eating.
I ordered the gobernador, grilled octopus and hibiscus juice. My friend ordered the baja fish tacos and spicy squid. Tacos are $5 and cash only! Gobernador was my favourite out of the 4. Tuna with shrimp and cheese! Flavours were nice and blended well together. Tacos were double shelled and it held up pretty nicely. Grilled octopus was a little overcooked and chewy for me but it was seasoned nicely. Baja fish tacos had a nice batter and stayed crispy till the end. It was my friends favourite. The spicy squid was actually really spicy but was also full of flavour. Hibiscus juice was... different ... but it paired well with our tacos. Definitely would return for the gobernador though!
A little overhyped but good tacos, regardless. If there was a line, I probably wouldn't wait in it but if there's no line, I'll gladly grab some tacos.
So I'm here eating my black Mahi Mahi and another taco that I ordered which I don't remember. There is this guy who is having a orgasm at the front of the cashier telling them this is the best thing he has ever eaten. I wasn't a fan of the Mahi Mahi the other taco was alright. By no means was it amazing. Something you would get at any other of the hipster taco joints.
Good quality tacos for $5 each. They are generously stuffed and flavorful. I will definitely go back here for more tacos. This would be a great place during the summer (eat your tacos outside), as there arn't many seats in this popular joint.
The best taco place I have been to ! Ingredients are fresh and the place can get very crowded during lunch time but the service is still decently quick. You will need at least two tacos to fill you up.
Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos’s tacos have been haunting me ever since I’ve first tried them about a year and a half ago. On this return visit, nothing has changed: the small restaurant is as busy as ever, eating in is still limited to a table of six and standing room for about the same, but most importantly, the tacos are still $5 each and just as delicious as ever.
Diners rave about the Gobinator ($5), a rare combination of smoked tuna, shrimp and cheese. It’s never sounded appealing to me, but with this much praise it’s at least worth a try.
You have to like the idea of smoked tuna - are you the type of person that salivates at the site of a Scandinavian herring platter? Then this one’s for you. As for me, the fish was
Tacos are really good and so reasonably priced. Ordered the blacken mahi mahi and the baja fish. The guac and sauce on the tacos were probably the best part, fish was slightly overcooked. The restaurant itself was way too small. There wasn't even any room left to breathe. Open up a bigger place please! You are way too popular!!
very little restaurant. only have 2 seats and one sofa. you need to stand when eating. But the decoration style is so cool. and The tacos there are awesome! I add hot sauce and it is indeed really really hot!
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Seven lives. Sigh.
We had:
1. Seafood ceviche - really yummy. Great value in terms of how much seafood you get. If you're hungry you should definitely get this.
2. Gobernador - OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHMMYYYYYYYYYY. My oh my. Oh my oh. I cannot believe there wasn't red meat in this. Don't miss it, okay? Do your little taste buds a favour and eat this. So so so so good.
3. Baja fish - meh. If you like crispy fish then get it. Not saucy enough for me.
4. Blackened mahi mahi - this was great if you like spices (not spicy spices but earthy flavourful spices). Prominent cinnamon-esque flavour which I really loved but my spice averse eating partner frowned upon.
5. Carnitas - great value. A surprising amount of juicy meat. Would recommend getting if you like pork. At other places it is more shredded and easier to eat but I don't mind chewing if it's worth it.
Overall a really cool place with barely any seating room but that's okay. I would recommend that you treat yoself and get a Mexican soda as well because you are worth it girl.
Seven Lives is a very popular food spot in Toronto and I finally got the chance to check it out.
The atmosphere is nothing special as there is only one table to sit at if you'd like to dine in. There's also space for you to stand and eat.
I decided to try the gobernador which is a soft taco filled with smoked tuna, shrimp and cheese. We also tasted the Baja Fish taco which is also another popular item on the menu. I must say they both tasted wonderful. I loved the gobernador a bit more because of the amazing flavours that flowed out of the taco with every bite. The thought of it makes me crave it.
I would highly recommend that you check out this place and try the gobernador!
Great tacos in Kensington! Shrimp and fish are very fresh with just the right amount of toppings. Super busy especially for lunch, few more places to sit would be nice, definitely worth the wait!
Heard about this place from blogTO. The first time I went the line was or the door (as usual) and the place was rammed. I ordered two fish tacos and they were absolutely amazing. Battered tilapia with a slaw and corn tortilla absolutely amazing. The second time I went I tried the gorbanador, that too did not disappoint. The hot sauce is killer. Would definitely recommend stopping by when you're in Kensington. Cash only!
Fantastic tacos, fantastic guac & chips, just fantastic. It's a cozy little spot where you most likely order take-out after waiting in line (because everyone knows how good this place is) and stuff your face outside at your first chance. The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious, what's not to love about 7 lives?
Very good tacos! Long line always... Worth the wait. CASH ONLY (come prepared). Ingredients are fresh. Decent portions. Good value for the money. Will be back.
It's honestly nacho problem that I'm obsessed with taco joints, okay?
And no, I'm not going to taco 'bout it.
But I will talk about the tacos at Seven Lives...
I got their famous baja fish taco. It was really good. The toppings they had on it plus the sauce worked really well. The tortilla was a little burnt though, so that was unfortunate as that made the taco hard to eat. But the fish was delicious - not overly battered and fried with a good amount of fish.
Hey. You. Yeah, you. Here's the thing about Seven Lives: long lines out the door and lack of seating.
You probably should find somewhere else to eat. You hate lines. And by coming to Seven Lives, not only will you stand in line but you'll make the line longer for everyone else. Don't be that guy.
Only true taconnoisseurs have the patience for these California-style double-wrapped shells stuffed with seafood like grilled octopus, smoked marlin, spicy shrimp, mahi-mahi, and more. You would probably get lost just trying to navigate the hot sauce bar.
Go find some pizza or a hotdog, and leave the tacos to the professionals.
Best tacos ever. 1st time here and had very high expectations..and I was not disappointed!! I couldn't decide which tacos to order, so finally decided on the Baja Fish, Grilled Octopus and Slow Cooked Pork! I would say excellent choices! I wish I ordered the ceviche tostitoda...but a long line formed quickly behind me shortly after opening up and it was a weekday! A must try at Kensington Market and there will be a lineup!
So I've been wanting to come here for literally two years. For some reason, every time I've tried to come, it's been a Tuesday (which is the only day they're closed, lucky me). I had the shrimp taco and my friend had the blackened fish taco. I cannot rave enough about the shrimp taco. So flavorful, packed with shrimp, and I can't wait to come back!
Finally returned to seven lives and it was as sublime as the first visit.
I opted for the absolutely delicious blackened Mahi Mahi.
Homemade drink combo of orange and lime is a terrific accompaniment and soother to their taco.
If only it was closer to home...
Super solid tacos. Great bang for your buck at $5 per taco! We got octopus & blackened mahi mahi. Both were excellent with a flew lashings of their hot sauce. Filling, jam packed with flavour and the shells held up. Small place but the line moved quickly
Even though the place is always packed and there is very little space in there, the tacos are awesome. I got the gobernador and the baja fish tacos. I added the hot roasted garlic salsa to both of them and they were amazing. Everything tasted fresh and they definitely know how to combine ingredients to make a great tasting taco.
Sean McKenzie-Mardelli
+5
The soft shell tacos are prepared with so much care and attention to detail. The combinations of sauces/spreads they offer are great. This is my favourite taco joint so far.... BUT make sure you check the hours carefully because their hours are scarce. and there's always a lineup so be prepared to wait.
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June 19th, 2015
After waiting to go to this place for a year I finally went!
I waited in line for 45 minutes to get the spicy shrimp taco and the gobernator. The shrimp was a LITTLE over cooked and rubbery but the flavors were there. 2 tacos were more than enough for me and I spent $10 plus tax.
Definitely a place to try.
Update: November 20th, 2015
After having a month long craving for tacos, I decided to stop by old trusty to satisfy my desire for a tempting taco!
I ordered the Baja Fish and the Blackened Mahi Mahi.
The Baja fish taco was everything I craved and more. It had a generous piece of battered Mahi Mahi and was topped with pico de gallo, lettuce, and their 'house sauce', which had the wonderful tang of sour cream.
The Blackened Mahi Mahi took on a different, but equally appetizing flavour profile. It had a savoury seasoning and was topped with a fresh slaw, which featured the refreshing taste of my favourite herb: cilantro.
My boyfriend's carnitas taco and octopus taco were also delectable. The pork carnitas were topped with a generous serving of guacamole, and there were quite a few pieces of octopus in the Pulpo a la Mexicana taco.
Seven Lives gives you more bang for your buck. This place is the best taco joint I've been to in Toronto, hands down.
Tacos at $5 each. Had pork tacos and two fish tacos (one was deep fried and the other mahi mahi). Even around 4pm which is like between lunch and dinner time, it was packed and had to line up. Luckily the wait wasn't too bad and it was definitely worth it. For two of us, we ordered four tacos and it was more than enough. It was an affordable and satisfying meal.
Best Fish Tacos in the City. I had the Smoked Tuna and Shrimp, the Octopus, and the Catch of the Day (Swordfish and Pineapple). All three were revelations. The shrimp and the octopus were slightly overcooked for my liking, but the place was so full, and the flavours so good, that I didn't even care. Seven Lives makes seafood sing.
Believe the hype! Get ready for $5 tacos that leave u wanting more every time.
This place is small and always packed. The signature taco is just out of this world!
The tacos here are so good! I've gone here many times and have never had a bad experience. I think I've tried everything on their menu and everything is delicious. All tacos are exactly 5 dollars each to make things easy because it's cash only. There is always a line out the door so you'll need some patience but it's totally worth it. It's also a small place so don't expect to be able to sit while you eat. Seven lives is basically a food truck in a small store front.
Easily one of the very best ceviches in Toronto and at $7 for a giant portion ( sits on top of a crispy corn tortilla and a thick smear of creamy guacamole) it's also the deal of the century. The tacos are great too but I always get the ceviche and they also have fresh ages fed a every day - today I am having a cucumber lime. Expect long line ups
Finished early at Toronto Western Hospital and decided to go with my clinical skills group to Kensington Market to check out Seven Lives. The doors open at 12pm and we lined up 10 minutes before opening. 15 – 20 minutes later, the place was packed and we were lucky to find a seat at the only table they have.
Wow! Best fish tacos I have ever had. Tremendous flavor and healthy sized portions. Highly recommended!! Cash only!
The best fish tacos in Toronto!!! Seven Lives maybe a little hole in the wall but they sure pump out amazing flavors and variations of fish tacos. The portions are substantial making the 5 bucks per taco a great deal.
Don't let the line ups scare you off. The wait (which is about 10 minutes) is well worth it.
As I write this review I am actually on my way back for some more!!!
Simply put... Amazing. A flavour explosion. Nice, healthy and plentiful portions, fresh and juicy. Reminds me of the Mexican food in Cali. Highly recommend the shrimp and cheese as well as the Baha fish taco. Succulent and scrumptious!!
THE BEST!. Alright, simply some of the most delicious things I have tasted. Fish tacos for the win.
It is small, get over it - go eat these tacos!
The gobernador! It might just be the best bite of food in Toronto . This place is legit
Fantastic place. Have only ever had fish tacos this good when vacationing in south beach Miami. Great seasoning, good price and you feel satisfied when you are finished
Tried the blackened mahi mahi :) Personally doesn't like sour cream, but their sour cream really match the overall flavor!!!! Soft taco itself full of corn flavor, very moist!!! Used too much spice to flavor the Mahi mahi, but overall taste is still great!!!!!
Good tacos. The gobernador taco was very good, it was quite tasty, I have tried very authentic tacos along the pacific coast in Mexico, I can say this was quite authentic, my complaint: the shrimp, I never tried a shrimp/marlin taco at the same time, normally is one of the other (shrimp: its call "presidente"). BUT in general its pretty good and I was surprised with it, I was expecting worse. In the other side the Carnitas tacos were just so delicious, you can taste they are dipped in lard, yes people, lard. It tastes amazing, the only thing that throw me off was the toppings, they should ask you before adding things, like the pico de gallo. Oh and they should have hot chili sauce with their sauces too, so far the only offer green and red.
Smoked Marlin and grilled shrimp? In one beautiful taco? I love this place! Seven Lives is proof that great pretension-free food exists in this city.
Most Amazing Tacos!. We had the lengua(cow tongue) and shrimp tacos, it was so good! The taste and textures of the tacos were exploding with flavour, just like in Mexico. Quick and friendly service. Definitely going back to try other stuff on their menu.
Seven Lives. Best beef taco I have ever had. It was brimming with tender soft steak that had a delicious smokey flavour. Small bits of char, which made the texture really come alive nicely. I ended up buy a huge batch for a party that night and it went over really well. The guy that runs the shop was excellent and turned the order around for that afternoon.
Slightly more expensive (but with a lot more stuff), I ordered the ceviche with two tostadas. SO MUCH CEVICHE. The lime and cilantro seasonings are strong which I liked. And yay, guacamole! Also, I normally don’t pay much attention to tortilla shells, but these tostadas were so deliciously fried and crunchy!
I tried their famous “Gobernador” taco (with the helpful pronunciation of “go-ber-nah-dor”) which is a taco with smoked marlin with shrimp and cheese. Mmm, shrimp and cheese. You can’t go wrong with that! It was fairly good.
Favourite place in Toronto! Boy, weren't I glad I found Seven Lives. The place was crowded. There were lines outside the shop. Signs that Seven Lives serves genuinely good tacos. Sweet. If I had been disappointed for missing out on tacos in California on the way to Canada, all disappointments melted away at the sight of this obviously popular tacoteria. Kensington Market just got that much better. I had high expectations. Lines? Waiting time? No problem, as long as the soft shells are good. Thankfully the line advanced quickly, and I was soon at the head. Are you from Australia? asked the guy taking my order. I live in Melbourne. I'm from over there, too! Oh! There are Aussies everywhere, these days. I got a Gobernador (smoked marlin, shrimp and cheese) and a Catch of the Day, which was rainbow trout. All the tacos are 5 bucks each, and cash only, por favor . The two filled me up well. The soft taco shells were strong enough even for their generous fillings. It helped that there were
I finally visited Seven Lives in Kensington Market and tried their seafood tacos. The place has very little seating so we ordered a few to go. I had the Pulpo On Mole Verde , an octopus taco with a pumpkin seed mole; and the Baja Fish , deep fried mahi mahi with cream sauce. They were both $5, but well worth the price considering I was stuffed from the two tacos. The fish was moist and reminded me of some of my favourite fish and chips (minus the chips). The octopus was not tough at all and I liked the texture of added pumpkin seeds and uh, CHEESE. Nash ordered the Gobernador with shrimp, smoked marlin and cheese; and the Mushroom and Cactus with grilled cheese. I’ve never had cactus before this but I tried a bite and it reminded me a lot of this Chinese pan-fried bean dish. Oh Seven Lives, I think I’ll definitely be back to eat everything else.
After about ten minutes my taco was ready and well worth the wait. Snuggled between two soft tortillas were six large shrimps that were piping hot and had a smoky heat from the chipotle sauce. Topped with gooey cheese and sautéed onion and peppers,
If you have a taco craving and you are in the Kensington area, definitely stop by and pick up a taco or two! If you are feeling particularly hungry after, walk around and get a churro for dessert! There are so many Mexican restaurants in Kensington market now!
...the taco was quite large, requiring me to use a fork to avoid creating any unnecessary mess. I spent quite a bit of time digging through the layers of diced tomatoes, onions, guacamole, help-your-self salsa, and the pork before I got the filling down to more manageable size. Size is not the only thing I was impressed with. According to a post on BlogTO, the ingredients are locally sourced from other merchants in the Market, and the taste was definitely reflective of that statement. Although I went a little crazy with hot salsa, the taco tasted great.
I really liked my Blackened Mahi Mahi, it was not spicy at all and the fish was well seasoned with the dry rub. I would definitely return for more tacos.
69 Kensington Avenue Toronto, ON http://www.sevenlives.ca Slowly making my way through the Taco scene in Toronto, this time I visited Seven Lives. My sister has been raving about this place since forever! This tiny shop is located in the heart of Kensington and is constantly packed, we were there on a Saturday around 3pm and the people just kept coming. Although the place was pretty busy, the tacos came out in a timely matter. There's only has one large table that can seat 6 comfortably and a bar table (no seats) along one side. So basically everyone was standing and it was just uncomfortable, annoying and I couldn't enjoy my taco to it's full potential! We got the Pulpo On Mole Verde , an octopus taco with a pumpkin seed mole; and the Baja Fish , deep fried mahi mahi with cream sauce. Both Tacos we're $5, their tacos range from $4-5 each and they only accept cash. Above: Pulpo On Mole Verde. The octopus was cut into small pieces, perfectly tender and had a nice kick of spice. The pu
Overall, I would definitely return (early!) to try their ceviche, shrimp cocktail, and to have more seafood tacos. The staff at Seven Lives were also really good with dietary restrictions, and would double check prior to topping each order. The attention to detail extended to larger orders – with the staff confirming if there was any preference to which combination of tacos were placed together in the baskets.
So much hype around this small taco place in Kensington Market that I finally made it there on Saturday Canada Day Long weekend. I knew that Seven Lives ( @SevenLivesTO ) is a tiny place but didn't expected it to be that small... there was less than 10 seats available and frankly I really don't mind eating outside during the summer but what about the colder days which by the way is more than half the year?! Definitely bad for business, but apart from the tiny space I got nothing to complain... Love the counter here with the tiny open kitchen $4 to $5 per taco which is pretty standard but then, they have huge portion compare to the other places. Warning, their hot is really hot ♥ Ceviche $7 ~ seafood of the day There was a mix of shrimp, fish and octopus ceviche sitting on top of a thick layer of guacamole on top of a crispy tostada. Love the bright pink pickled onions on top and the green guacamole peeking through. Apart from the presentation, we also loves how it's not overly mari
This placed turned over my very biased and unimpressed impression on "fish tacos". If its not that this places often is closed, I will be there picking up a taco for snack every so often. THEY ARE SO GOOD ! Its to the point, no bullshit kind of style is simply great.
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If there is one place that you'd go to get tacos, this is it. They specialize in seafood tacos, but there is a vegetarian option if you need one. Personally I always order (and highly recommend) the octopus one.
Some places often overcook octopus and make it difficult to chew and it'll feel like you're munching on rubber. But Seven Lives seems to know just the right amount of time to do it so that it's easy to eat and deliciously flavored. Just as a fair warning, a lot of their tacos are already spiced so don't go overboard with the seasoning afterwards!
And they don't fill up their tacos with veggies like the way a lot of other places too. Every time you take a bite, it's filled with meaty goodness, so no cheaping out on the protein here!
I don't recommend going in with a large group since there isn't much seating indoors, but if you're lucky, you'll be able to snag one of the tables by the window. Most people are content with eating their tacos standing up inside of the shop anyways so if you're too afraid to go back into the cold, it's perfectly acceptable to eat your taco there.
The batter on the fish taco was insanely light and fluffy. Perfect level of crispy. The daily special Suadero-braised beef belly was amazing. You only need two tacos, that will fill you up. But you always want to get three because they all look so good. This place is a must for any taco lover.
Always packed! Nothing beats their Baja fish taco!!! Super good and goes great with the hot sauces toppings they serve right by the counter to add to your tacos. Disappointed that we were there at 6 (1 hour before closing on a Friday night) and were looking forward to the $20 cash deal after traveling an hour to get there but they had run out of the deal. So again was upset we couldn't get to try their chips!
Went to Seven Lives today on the recommendation of a friend and I was very impressed! I enjoyed the corn tortilla and all the toppings on the taco- especially the fresh cilantro! But the star of the show was definitely the fish. It was perfectly battered and crispy! My only complaint is that I wish the taco was larger.
This is a very unique taco place in Toronto - don’t let the prices scare you as you are paying for a pretty big meal. I would suggest bringing cash as there is a cash only coupon that will get you a drink, two tacos, and chips on the side for $20 (and can probably be enough for two people). Flavours were amazing and I would definitely return!
Huge delicious taco spot in Kensington Market. I loved the fish but wasn’t a huge fan of the beef taco. The guacamole & chips were alright but I wont come back for it again.
Overall nice spot but I might come again to try a different taco next time but I honestly prefer authentic tacos.
Are the tacos delicious? Spectacular. Fresh? Very. Budget friendly? Definitely not. I got 2 tacos, a drink and my bill came to $25. So beware of that. It is worth it though, especially the blackened tuna taco — out of this world. Also there’s no chairs…you have to buss the table yourself and stand while you eat :/ don’t know what’s up with that!
We have tried the Baja fish and Pollo Asado (chicken) tacos here. It was Saturday, while the place can get very busy, they managed to serve pretty quick (less than 10 mins)
We really liked the Pollo Asado, the guac was perfect and the pico de gallo sauce totally gave the punchy flavour in combination for the chicken.
The Baja taco was alright. And yeah make sure to pair up one jarritos alongside your food :)
Would definitely visit again.
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