Quetzal (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | August 2018 |
| Founder | Julio Guajardo, Kate Chomyshyn |
| Defunct | February 2019 |
| Fate | Reopened under new ownership |
| Successor | Grant van Gameren (owner) |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
Key people | Steve Molnar (Head Chef, since 2020) |
| Products | Mexican cuisine cooked with open flames |
Quetzal is a Mexican dining establishment located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Initially launched in August 2018, the restaurant ceased operations after six months due to disagreements between the proprietor and the original co-chefs, Julio Guajardo and Kate Chomyshyn. It resumed service in March 2019 under the ownership of Grant van Gameren, with Steve Molnar stepping into the role of Head Chef in March 2020.
The culinary approach at Quetzal is distinctive, focusing solely on cooking with open flames, completely foregoing conventional stoves and ovens.
Recognition
In 2022, Quetzal was awarded its inaugural Michelin star and successfully maintained this honor in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Michelin Guide. It holds the unique status of being Toronto's only Mexican restaurant to achieve this accolade.
Within the list of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants, Quetzal advanced its position from #26 in 2023 to #12 in 2024, demonstrating its increasing prominence and high culinary standards.
Canada's 100 Best Restaurants Ranking
| Quetzal | ||
| Year | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23 | new |
| 2020 | 68 |  45
|
| 2021 | No List | |
| 2022 | 76 | 8
|
| 2023 | 26 | Template:Up 50 |
| 2024 | 12 | Template:Up 14 |
| 2025 | 8 | Template:Up 4 |