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Emporium Latino
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
243 Augusta AveToronto, ON M5T 2L8
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 351-9646
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 7 pm
Sat 8 am - 7 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
14 reviews for Emporium Latino
14 reviews in English
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Review from Dixie Q.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been going to this little gem for years and have neglected to give it its due.
It's a fine Salvadorean goods establishment. And by fine, I mean, you find Salvadorean goods - don't come in expecting high and/or ultra modern decor.
It helps tremendously it is owned by Salvadoreans b/c I can source my Salvadorean goods & needs with the ease of a local. Besides the homemade typical food they make, they also carry Goya products, although not a fan, when you are cooking a Latin American meal, they can come in handy. Although not associated with them, I feel such pride whenever I see a line-up of customers - they serve good food with a friendly attitude and seeing them do business is well deserved.
If you want to try Salvadorean food: pupusas, tamales, tortillas, semita & quesadilla (& even the paletas are a great treat!), and these are the ones I've noticed, this is your place!
The owner, Doña Cecilia, is one friendly and reliable grocer and if you order your comida tipica ahead of time, you bypass the line-up! -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2011
A great general market, awesome eatery and a King's coffers-worth of all that is Salvadorean and Latin American cooking ingredients.
They sell some great pupusas which in case you may not know, it is one of the most known and arguably best Salvadorean dishes. Delicious to the senses, however make SURE you always eat it with curtido (pickled cabbage, sometimes carrots) which is a necessity as it adds a refreshing taste to the experience as the pupusas by themselves can taste a bit dry if you eat to many without it. Also, they sell you the ingredients to make them home which I do, and are always a hit at my parties.
Aside that, remember this place is also a market and they sell most of what you would need for dinner or to make specifically Latin dishes.
I highly recommend checking this place out if you are in Kesington, want a inexpensive snack and you are on the go! -
Review from Jen S.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2012
The food here is amazing - pupusas, tacos, all of it. Any visitor to Toronto I have I bring them here! Top Notch and delicious - the only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is that it does take a while, and it is not comfortable to wait or eat. Of course, it is a grocery store and not a restaurant - the wait is worth it!!!
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Review from Robert K.
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favourite place to eat lunch in Kensington. Food is laughably cheap, made to order, and chock full of deliciousness. I generally feel a little lost at sea here, because I'm not sure what some of the menu items are, and I'm really not sure what some of the grocery items are; but it always turns out great. The tamales are delicious; the pupusas are delicious; really you can't go wrong. I like this spot approximately 10 times as much as I like Agave y Aguacate.
Also a great spot to pick up groceries of a Latino nature (hot sauces and the like).Listed in: Kensington Market
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Review from Blair M.
2/2/2012 6 Check-ins Here
every time I come to Emporium Latino I always find myself eating way too much. I really haven't found anything I don't like at this place and I always can't decide what I want so just end up ordering a bunch of stuff and walking out feeling like I'm going to explode, but always with a big smile
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Review from Teresa C.
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Emporium Latino serves some of the best pupusas in downtown Toronto. You know a place is good when it's a hole in the wall...and you're served by middle-aged mamas who look like they know their shit and can whip your butt with one hand.
The pupusas are so fresh. They make them to order, so it does take a little while to get your food. The pickled cabbage that comes with the pupusas is so crunchy, tangy and full of flavour. Adds a refreshing kick to the heavier pupusas. I usually order the pork pupusas or the beans-and-cheese. I haven't tried any of the other kinds, but I'm sure they are all very tasty.
One of my favourite places to grab a bite in Kensington Market. -
Review from Alan K.
London, ON
3/12/2012
This little grocery store has a kitchen at the back (you order your food at the cash register though) and they serve simple and homey Salvadoran food. I've tried their beef tacos and their flautitas pollo (fried chicken tacos). Neither were exactly mind-blowingly good but they were very tasty and satisfying. The lady at the cash register and the ladies in the kitchen are all extremely friendly and polite as well which is always nice so my experiences here have always been pleasant.
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Review from Erin S.
Toronto, ON
9/19/2010
This was the first place I ate when I moved to Toronto. I had a beans-and-cheese pupusa, and it it was so good - made fresh right on the spot. There are all kinds of good things on the menu - tamales, even! Definitely what I'll have next time.
The hot sauce was very hot. And the prices were very low. Definitely worth a visit! -
Review from Abby R.
Toronto, ON
5/22/2009
Wow, I seriously never leave my neighborhood, b/c if I did then I would've known that:
a) this little gem existed
b) Kensington has all of a sudden* opened up a ton of latino places.
I went in there and ordered a vegetarian burrito and a churro. Mmmmm mouthwatering goodness. The burrito was a big size but manageable, I didn't have a food baby post burrito which is just the right size in my books. It also wasn't especially greasy which was nice. The churro was so delicious that I refused to eat anything else for hours just to help my mouth remember how yummy it was.
The only reason I docked it 1 star was because the seating is less than ideal, especially b/c I so wanted to sit on a patio. Still, definitely worth going in there. Yummy!
*by all of a sudden I mean since 2001. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2008 1 photo
I knew that Toronto had a Latino population (it has to, we are the U.N. of cities) but I didn't realize that there were so many Latin shops in Kensington Market. Emporium Latino is a very good Latino market, they have all the makings of a fiesta. Now the Emporium Latino is a very good market but where it really shines is with their food counter. I spent several of my formative years in Southern California and yearn for deep fried and spicy and Emporium has some of the best chili reanos this side of Baja and that is saying a lot. The batter is crispy and the cheese is gooey. I would highly recommend Emporium Latino to anyone who loves good Latino food,
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Ann L.
Markham, ON
3/20/2010
It's been awhile since we've been to Kensington and decided to check it out during March Break. My husband had been craving for authentic Mexican food and we decided to check out Emporium Latino.
When you first walk in, you will notice so many things to buy. Fresh vegetables, cacti, etc. You place the order to the cashier and then once you've paid, you give it to the lady at the back.
It was a long wait to get our food..about 20 minutes. But, it was good to browse around the store and look at all the items you can buy.
We bought vegetarian burritos and some fried churros. Amazing food.
We will come back again for sure! -
Review from Jason E.
4/6/2010 1 photo
This is not a restaurant, it is a latino grocery store. But what a store. They have a mavelous range of salsas, tortillas, beans, rice and everything else a latin kitchen needs. They also sell hot food, you order at the checkout, hand the ticket ot the lady cooking and then hope one of the stools against the high shelf or bench at the front of the shop stays vacant for when you food is ready.
This is very good food, not strictly Mexican, but very South of the Border, a little Salvadoran, a little Mexican, a little special. I started off with a Salvadoran style chicken tamal, basically chicken and pressed potato cooked in a broad leaf and a couple of flautitas, which for you gingos are flutes of fried corn tortilla filled with yumminess. They were very good, so good that I felt compelled to eat a pair of beef tostadas and two soft pork tacos. The food here is superb, not superb in a grand restaurant way, but superb in a seriously authentic Latin American way. Emporium Latino is now my second favourite Mexican (and El Salvadoran) restaurant in this fine city, Tacos El Asador, still hitting the number one spot.
I am also massively happy with the way that Kensington Market is turning into a little Mexico. Every time I'm here there seems to be another Latin American place open, which can only be a very good thing. -
Review from Susu H.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2011
recently discovered, totally a fan. We ordered the pork sopes with fresh pico cream and hot sauce....a little greasy but delish. Loved being able to see the old ladies making them by hand too. We also bought some corn tortillas and dried habaneros to make homemade hot sauce. Will definitively be back to try more. So far, hands down the best Mexican/Latin American cooking I've had so far in Toronto.
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Review from Jimi S.
ON
1/9/2009 10 photos
as if scooped up from the bustling streets of cuba or mexico or something spanish this little hut of a storefront is parked amongst a couple of empanada restaurants and its filled with traditional latin products.
on the outside there are tubs of different spices or vegetables, some unrecognizable to the eyes of a white boy like myself. so i popped in and continued feeling mildly goofy for taking photos of jalapeno peppers and such until the shy woman at the front asked me if i was looking for something. i wasnt, except pleasure, and not that kind of pleasure, latin pleasure, and not that kind of latin pleasure.
there were tubs of interesting things in their fridge. there was a tub of something that looked like it might have been cream cheese but then i thought it looked more like duck fat. who knows. beside that, looking much more palatable was a tub of something that looked like prepared tuna. latin styles.
i got none of what i was looking at but decided to be delicate about my first latin lover purchase and bought some chipotle powder for a mere buck sixty five.
next time i might buy that duck fat, but more likely the tuna, and perhaps if i can find a use for it, a piece of cactus.
or a pinata!
