Munay Bolivian Food – 881 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 1C4
Country: Bolivia 
Seating: Takeout counter
Must-try dish: Salteñas
The high: The owner Rodrigo was welcoming and went through all the food options as he talked about his life in Bolivia. 
The low: It’s strictly a takeout place with five items on the menu, so other traditional dishes from Bolivia will have to be eaten elsewhere. 

Picture a chicken pot pie or a beef stew wrapped in a slightly sweetened pastry. That’s a Salteña and it’s a Bolivian version of a baked empanada. There’s a tradition that only a true Bolivian eats a Salteña without dropping any filling – an almost impossible feat. In order to do so, biting the top of the pastry and sucking the juice out before eating the rest seems to be the best strategy. Alternatively, standing up with your legs open wide and eating the Salteña over the ground is the recommended solution to avoid a mess, hence the title. 

Roderigo and his wife hail from this land-locked South American country and bring the most authentic Bolivian treats to Toronto’s diners. Not surprisingly, the chicken and the beef Salteñas are the most common, but Munay’s also offers vegan mushroom stuffed pockets for the Canadian audience. 

Aside from the Salteñas, the small menu includes Cheese Bread and Yuca Bread. Both are worth getting as they’re bite size and you’ll love the inside. The Cheese Bread are balls of dough filled with warm cheese, while the Yuca Bread are longer pieces of dough filled with a puree. Although yuca isn’t often served in North America, it’s a staple root vegetable in Latin America. 

The cafe is decorated with art and items taking you to Bolivia. It’s an excellent place to get a Salteña and a coffee, or one of the South American soft drinks on offer, and go for a walk in the vibrant St. Clair West neighbourhood. With the lockdown restrictions persisting into the Spring, it’s also a safe way to meet with a friend for some food and physical activity. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)