Jumbo Empanada – 245 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 1M5
Country: Chile
Seating: Limited indoor and outdoor seating
Must-try dish: Chicken empanada and beef empanada
Dinner guest: Curly Guy & Young Mat
The high: The vegetable empanada was impressive
The low: The cheese empanada was small

In the center of all the chaos of Kensington Market, there’s a charming little house that serves up Chilean empanadas, and they’ve made quite a reputation for themselves in Toronto. 

Jumbo Empanada is the go-to spot for these mouth-watering pastry pockets filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and spices. Specifically, the ones served up here are made using a family recipe back from Chile and differentiate from empanadas in other South American countries because of the unique spices used, the larger size, and a sneaky olive that’s cooked into the middle of each one.

With four types on offer, it’s impossible to make any decisions and Mandrea Bike went for the whole lot. In the end, the favourite depends on personal preference, and the group was divided into two groups when it came to the must-try chicken and beef. Interestingly, all four tasters preferred the vegetable empanada for their second choice. 

 The chicken and the beef varied in flavour, but the meat in both added a heartiness whereas the vegetable empanada offered the best seasoning of the four types. The cheese empanada was tasty, but much smaller and was bland in comparison to the other three. Anyone that loves a plain cheese pizza would be all over the cheese empanada! 

You can purchase the empanadas ready to eat, or keep them for later and heat them up in the oven for five minutes at 400F. They are an easy treat to bring to a picnic in a park, on a road trip or to fill you up on the go. 

As things slowly start to reopen across Toronto, restaurants are still struggling but are making impressive efforts and adjustments to be able to feed us. When you are deciding what to eat, don’t forget t consider some excellent takeout and delivery options that can make you feel like you might be somewhere abroad, even if you’re in your own home. 

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)