The high: Having laughs (and some very hot sauce) with Sergio at the Pico de Gallo stall.  
The low: Once the sun started going down, the temperature dropped drastically. 

There’s no denying that some of Toronto’s best Latin American food lives in the stalls of Kensington Market. Mandrea Bike spent an afternoon with Curly Guy and Young Matt tasting the offerings at various stands on Augusta Avenue. 

With all the delicious-looking options available but not enough space in our tummies to eat at each stall, we went to three each serving up unique items. The first was tacos, the second empanadas, and finally, tamales. 

Pico de Gallo
Country: Mexico
Dinner Guest: Curly Guy

Little did we know that our favourite part of the day was upon us when a taco-artist swayed us to his stall with promises of a daily promotion on tacos. Mandrea Bike is a sucker for a good deal, especially one involving tasty Mexican food. Three tacos, three people, the only thing left to do was to decide which would offer the most mouth-watering experience. Al Pastor was an obvious choice, and the tongue one was calling our name… 

The guy behind the counter, Sergio, was impressed at the quick decision to get a tongue taco so he prepared the third taco as a surprise for us. It was a crispy beef taco called Suadero. The three tacos were amazing and if we weren’t on a mission, we would have eaten there all day. Sergio even makes his own awesome hot sauce, but beware of the hot because it’s actually hot – it creeps up on your and overstays its welcome. 

Pico de Gallo is a top taco spot and even does delivery. 

Empanada Stall 
Country: Chile
Price: $
Dinner Guest: Curly Guy

This elusive stall was erect for lunch but nowhere to be seen a couple of hours later. Mandrea Bike certainly liked the air of mystery, as well as the empanadas that came along with it. There were several options, though we opted for two stuffing options – Beef & Cheddar and Chicken, Egg & Olive. Either one is recommended. 

If you can find this place, then you deserve an empanada. 

Ko’ox Hana
Country: Mexico (Mayan)
Dinner Guest: Young Matt 

This stall specializes in Mayan delights, which can come from a few countries in Central America, but the ladies holding down the fort here hailed from Mexico. Lucy Novelo is the brains behind this operation and serves up corn tamales. 

Tamales are usually made with ground-up corn with meat in the middle and wrapped in banana leaves. They’re served warm and it’s up to the individual to doctor it up with sauces. For the record, tamales can also be made with rice and potatoes as the base, and jump on those if you see them since they’re rare! 

We received perfect service as the food and sauces were brought outside to us to enjoy a Mayan-inspired tailgate in an alleyway beside the market. There was nothing but praises for Lucy’s tamales.

All the food made us thirsty and we finished the day off in the sunshine with beers at Kensington Brewery patio. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike 
(Mat & Andrea)