Most people know Leamington, Ontario, for birding at Point Pelee National Park, its tomatoes and the greenhouses, but there’s something else that the small Southwestern Ontario town exceeds at: tacos.
While Leamington has a population of about 28,000, sees its population swell with the arrival of thousands of migrant workers who tend to the many fields and greenhouses in the region. How many? Well, the town (and its surrounding area) houses over 60% of Ontario’s greenhouses. In fact, the greenhouse acreage in Leamington is larger than the entire U.S. greenhouse industry combined, making it home to the largest concentration of greenhouses in North America.
In addition to the hard work they do, one of the many great things about the migrant workers in Leamington is the culture they add to the town. This is where the cuisine comes into play. There is likely no better place in Canada to eat amazing and authentic Central American and Mexican dishes, the most popular tacos.
Here are three places in Leamington we feel you definitely need to check out for your taco craving.
LA HACIENDA
The ranchero vibe is alive and well at Leamington’s La Hacienda. The tortillas are fresh, the salsa is homemade and the cuisine is an authentic representation of Chihuahua Mexico. The carnitas tacos are the most popular choice.
TACOS TONY
Tacos Tony is one of the original Mexican restaurants in Leamington and is still going strong. Located on the main strip, it has become a popular destination among locals and migrant workers alike. We recommend going for the lingua tacos.
EL COMAL
We’ve written about the quirkiness (read: awesomeness) of El Comal before. Tucked away in the back deck of a home, it’s worth visiting just for the ambience. The fact the El Salvadoran food they serve is amazing is an added bonus. We say try a beef taco to start.
