Restaurant

Maria's Tacos

Name: Maria's Tacos
Address: 221 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9M2, CA
Telephone: (613) 869-9615
Price range: value

Mexican•Ottawa•value

Maria's Tacos is one of the best mexican restaurants in Ottawa for group dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Ottawa.

Maria's Tacos is not a restaurant in any conventional sense — it's a window cut into the wall of Maverick's on Rideau Street, and that distinction is the whole point.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Maria's Tacos is not a restaurant in any conventional sense — it's a window cut into the wall of Maverick's on Rideau Street, and that distinction is the whole point. No host stand, no ambient lighting, no square footage to fill. What Maria has built instead is a compact argument: that Ottawa's most compelling taco doesn't require a dining room, just the right preparation and the discipline to show up on one of the city's more unforgiving stretches with zero shortcuts. By all accounts she runs the operation largely solo, and the consistency that diners report across visits suggests that single-handed ownership here translates directly into quality control, not compromise. The menu centers on three verified options, each representing a distinct register of Mexican braising and marinating tradition. The al pastor is reportedly the one people circle back for — known for a marinade that leans on achiote and pineapple in the way the preparation was designed, rather than a pre-blended approximation, with diners consistently noting the depth that comes from that combination done properly. The tinga, built on shredded chicken pulled through a chipotle-tomato base, is described as quieter in its complexity — smoky and layered rather than immediately loud. Barbacoa rounds out the trio with the kind of slow-braised richness that the cut and method are specifically known for when given adequate time. Three tacos appears to be the standard ordering format, priced accessibly at the lower end of Ottawa's taco landscape. Maria also travels the Taco Fest circuit and appears at events like the Navan Fair, so her calendar is worth following — but the window on Rideau Street is the primary venue and the right place to start. Order at least two of the three, eat immediately, and don't talk yourself into waiting for a festival date that may be weeks away.

Priya Sharma, Dining Editor

Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Group DinnerCocktail BarCheap EatsTacoscasual night colorfulsocial

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Taste Score 8.3/10

Rating (Google) 9.8

195 reviews

Ottawa

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The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.3/10

Taste Score

Google 9.8 from 195 reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Cocktail Bar

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Ottawa | 221 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M2, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.3/10

Phone

(613) 869-9615

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Maria's Tacos

1 photo

What to order

Signature dishes at Maria's Tacos

Tacos (3) - Al Pastor

Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken)

Tacos (3) - Barbacoa

Why go

What makes Maria's Tacos worth the move

Maria's Tacos is a strong mexican option in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Tacos (3) - Al Pastor and Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 195 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.8 from 195 Google reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Cocktail Bar

Style

Mexican in Ottawa

Spend

Good value

Best for

Group Dinner Cocktail Bar Cheap Eats Tacos casual night colorful social

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.8 from 195 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Tacos (3) - Al Pastor, Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken), Tacos (3) - Barbacoa

Phone number available

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for Maria's Tacos

Google snapshot

9.8 from 195 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

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Hintonburg dinnercasual nightcreative

207 reviews

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Quick details

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Address: 221 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M2, Canada
Phone: (613) 869-9615
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.3/10
Google rating: 9.8 (195 reviews)
Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood: Ottawa

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Maria's Tacos serve?

Maria's Tacos is a Mexican restaurant located in Ottawa, Ottawa. Maria's Tacos is not a restaurant in any conventional sense — it's a window cut into the wall of Maverick's on Rideau Street, and that distinction is the whole point.

What is Maria's Tacos best for?

Maria's Tacos is best for group dinner, cocktail bar, cheap eats, tacos, casual night, colorful, social. Maria's Tacos is a strong mexican option in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Tacos (3) - Al Pastor and Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 195 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Maria's Tacos?

Maria's Tacos is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.8 from 195 reviews

What should I order at Maria's Tacos?

Start with Tacos (3) - Al Pastor, Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken) and Tacos (3) - Barbacoa. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Maria's Tacos worth visiting?

Maria's Tacos holds a 9.8 Google rating from 195 reviews. Maria's Tacos is a strong mexican option in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Tacos (3) - Al Pastor and Tacos (3) - Tinga (chicken) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 195 Google reviews.

Where is Maria's Tacos located?

Maria's Tacos is located at 221 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M2, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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