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Lots of patio space, but the tables are small and rather sticky. The servers seem to speak minimal English, so we knew it would be authentic. The menu is extensive! I got the al pastor tacos and my friend got a quesadilla. The tacos were small, well seasoned. However, they were definitely dry and needed some sauce or something. The taco shells seemed doughy in a bad way, like they were raw??? Anyways, I was still hungry afterwards, and they were not cheap, almost $20 after tax and tip. My friend said their quesadilla was only ok. Probably won't go to this spot again, since other reviewers had a similar issue as me.
Was around the Kensington area on a Thursday evening and a lot of the places are closed by 7:30p. El Trompo was one of the few restaurants that were opened and we were able to get a seat right away, as they have a pretty big patio space. We got the al pastor tacos and chorizo tacos which came with 5 small tacos each flavour, about 2-3 bites each which is perfect. We also got the beef quesadilla which we loved. We got the jamaica and the horchata as well. Definitely will come back for some no-frills mexican food
Place we chose because it was crowded and had seating. I'd say okay food, but for the price definitely wouldn't come back. Admittedly we have high standards from Southern California but I'd try the other Mexican restaurants down the street. Don't get the Quesadilla or Torta. Pescado Taco is delicious but also small
This is another one of those highly rated restaurants on Yelp but ended up being a disappointment. Was super excited to check this place out and ordered the chicken tacos, pollo fajita, horchata, and a cocktail. The drinks were perfectly fine and that's about it. The chicken tacos tasted dry and bland. The tortilla also didn't taste fresh. The fajita was a bit better but still underwhelming without seasoning. I'm not a taco connoisseur but my friend loves Mexican food and mentioned it wasn't good at all. Honestly, not sure why there are so many good reviews. The place was also pretty busy. Won't be back because it was quite pricey. I think ~$34 after tax+tip. Am I missing something?
I came here for a work lunch on a busy weekday afternoon and my guest and I were able to get a table on the patio right away. While it was a bit cramped, it added to the ambiance of a busy lunch spot in a poppin part of town. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive from the moment we sat down to look at the menu and there were several great options to choose from. We decided to start with chips, salsa, and the fondito. I went with the fish tacos and they were much bigger than the street tacos and came with two, instead of four. The fondito hardened up rather quickly so we had to really get to it asap but other than that, we had no complaints. My tacos were great and I would come back.
Such a cute authentic spot in Kensington Market. There are 2 patios at the store front, they both belong to El Trompo Taco Bar. The tacos are small 2-3 bite tacos packed with flavour. You can get 5 mix and match ones for $12 - what a steal! However, you can only pick from 3 options for the mix and match: Al pastor, Chorizo, Tinga. Highly recommend the Al pastor. Get the pico de gallo. It's nice and refreshing. Feel free to skip the queso (molten cheese) as it was a little blank. Super stringy though and came with tortillas. Can't wait to come back to this restaurant for more tacos. Great bold taste for such a reasonable price. Staff were also super friendly!
I decided to get the bistec taco I was surprised this place was so packed, I wanted to try only one taco but that wasn't the case because the sell it at 5 minimum, oh well, it came pretty fast didn't have to wait too long, I squeezed the lime in there, honestly the taco didn't have much flavour, the tortilla was nice, it was a nice small cozy place but didn't dine in, just to go, the taco was flavourless, I've had better tacos at Wilbur Mexicana I wish they put some spices or something in the beef, it tasted very bland, one of the worst tacos I've ever had in my life
Tacos were decent. Almost $17 for 4 small ones. You'll be eating again in a half hour ;) Interior is cramped and you'll be a part of every conversation next to you.
If there are three words that will get me into almost any dining establishment it is this "Al Pastor Tacos". If nothing else, the value is great! Five tacos for ~$10 CAD is awesome. Maybe it's not that unusual, but a newcomer is allowed a little wiggle room, right? Anyways, I ordered the Al Pastor Tacos (surprise surprise), and the Jamaica. While the tacos were small, this kept them from falling apart, and 5 was more than enough to fill me up, but not have me loosening my belt. The Jamaica kind of reminded me of homemade fruit compote. Not too sweet, and just the right amount of tart. Overall, the flavours were extremely well balanced. Due to the complexity of them, though, I'd say it was borderline refreshing. Though thesis not a bad thing. The tacos didn't shy away from their authenticity. Nothing fancy-shmancy, just the traditional protein, onion, cilantro, and the pineapple that comes with Al Pastor. The flavours were well balanced, without too much of one or another flavour. However, my gripe is that the pork was rather dry. They did provide two hot sauces, and a lime, and to be fair, they helped, but didn't solve the underlying problem. Furthermore, they lacked anything (this is where sauces and general moisture come in) to help tie the different flavours together. Speaking of hot sauces: the red one was okay, and rather spicy. The green one though is rather undeveloped. I hate to say it, but it almost tastes like when I tried to make hot sauce by blending jalapeños and vinegar. The location has a cool vibe, and the service was very polite.
Might be my new fav taco joint. There's 5 pieces per order for the al pastor. Loved the pineapple with the al pastor. Def would come back to try other protein.
El Trompo has always flown over my head - I've walked by a hundred times but never noticed it. I'm happy I finally did, because the tacos here are amazing! These tacos are more "street" than Seven Lives', but there's definitely a time and place for them While the tacos here are great, I was incredibly disappointed that the chips + pico I ordered to start seemed to be store-bought tortilla chips - they reminded me of Tostitos. The pico was pre-made, and super cold out of the fridge, another disappointment. Plus, service is spotty.
A wonderful restaurant and longtime staple in Kensington Market. A place where locals go for GOOD reason. We were greeted with a smile and made to feel at home from the moment we walked through the door. Food is delicious, great portion sizes, and very reasonably priced. If you love good, homemade - authentic Mexican food we HIGHLY recommend. (Spice level is never "too hot" or "not hot enough" -- lots of hot sauces on the table for you to add to satisfy your heat level). read more
Service | Quick | filling Service - The service at the restaurant was incredibly efficient and helpful. We never had to ask for extra water or for them to take our meal orders. The entire staff was remarkably attentive, making it easy for us to thoroughly enjoy our meal. Quick - The restaurant's service was incredibly speedy and efficient. Our meals and drinks arrived promptly, and the attentive staff made our dining experience quite enjoyable. This establishment is an excellent choice for a swift lunch or a quick appetizer. Filling - I had the chicken tacos which came in a set of four and they were surprisingly filling. I was not hungry, but I could eat, and it was a perfect kind of appetizer to hold me over for a few hours. Pro tip: The restaurants in this super trendy area make it the perfect spot for leisurely strolls and browsing vintage stores. There are also great places to grab a drink. I highly recommend spending an afternoon or early evening in the area! read more
9 months ago
The food was great and everyone working was so nice! They even let me practice my choppy Spanish haha read more
Lots of patio space, but the tables are small and rather sticky. The servers seem to speak minimal English, so we knew it would be authentic. The menu is extensive! I got the al pastor tacos and my friend got a quesadilla. The tacos were small, well seasoned. However, they were definitely dry and needed some sauce or something. The taco shells seemed doughy in a bad way, like they were raw??? Anyways, I was still hungry afterwards, and they were not cheap, almost $20 after tax and tip. My friend said their quesadilla was only ok. Probably won't go to this spot again, since other reviewers had a similar issue as me. read more
Was around the Kensington area on a Thursday evening and a lot of the places are closed by 7:30p. El Trompo was one of the few restaurants that were opened and we were able to get a seat right away, as they have a pretty big patio space. We got the al pastor tacos and chorizo tacos which came with 5 small tacos each flavour, about 2-3 bites each which is perfect. We also got the beef quesadilla which we loved. We got the jamaica and the horchata as well. Definitely will come back for some no-frills mexican food read more
3 years ago
Place we chose because it was crowded and had seating. I'd say okay food, but for the price definitely wouldn't come back. Admittedly we have high standards from Southern California but I'd try the other Mexican restaurants down the street. Don't get the Quesadilla or Torta. Pescado Taco is delicious but also small read more
This is another one of those highly rated restaurants on Yelp but ended up being a disappointment. Was super excited to check this place out and ordered the chicken tacos, pollo fajita, horchata, and a cocktail. The drinks were perfectly fine and that's about it. The chicken tacos tasted dry and bland. The tortilla also didn't taste fresh. The fajita was a bit better but still underwhelming without seasoning. I'm not a taco connoisseur but my friend loves Mexican food and mentioned it wasn't good at all. Honestly, not sure why there are so many good reviews. The place was also pretty busy. Won't be back because it was quite pricey. I think ~$34 after tax+tip. Am I missing something? read more
6 months ago
I came here for a work lunch on a busy weekday afternoon and my guest and I were able to get a table on the patio right away. While it was a bit cramped, it added to the ambiance of a busy lunch spot in a poppin part of town. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive from the moment we sat down to look at the menu and there were several great options to choose from. We decided to start with chips, salsa, and the fondito. I went with the fish tacos and they were much bigger than the street tacos and came with two, instead of four. The fondito hardened up rather quickly so we had to really get to it asap but other than that, we had no complaints. My tacos were great and I would come back. read more
Such a cute authentic spot in Kensington Market. There are 2 patios at the store front, they both belong to El Trompo Taco Bar. The tacos are small 2-3 bite tacos packed with flavour. You can get 5 mix and match ones for $12 - what a steal! However, you can only pick from 3 options for the mix and match: Al pastor, Chorizo, Tinga. Highly recommend the Al pastor. Get the pico de gallo. It's nice and refreshing. Feel free to skip the queso (molten cheese) as it was a little blank. Super stringy though and came with tortillas. Can't wait to come back to this restaurant for more tacos. Great bold taste for such a reasonable price. Staff were also super friendly! read more
3 years ago
I decided to get the bistec taco I was surprised this place was so packed, I wanted to try only one taco but that wasn't the case because the sell it at 5 minimum, oh well, it came pretty fast didn't have to wait too long, I squeezed the lime in there, honestly the taco didn't have much flavour, the tortilla was nice, it was a nice small cozy place but didn't dine in, just to go, the taco was flavourless, I've had better tacos at Wilbur Mexicana I wish they put some spices or something in the beef, it tasted very bland, one of the worst tacos I've ever had in my life read more
2 years ago
If there are three words that will get me into almost any dining establishment it is this "Al Pastor Tacos". If nothing else, the value is great! Five tacos for ~$10 CAD is awesome. Maybe it's not that unusual, but a newcomer is allowed a little wiggle room, right? Anyways, I ordered the Al Pastor Tacos (surprise surprise), and the Jamaica. While the tacos were small, this kept them from falling apart, and 5 was more than enough to fill me up, but not have me loosening my belt. The Jamaica kind of reminded me of homemade fruit compote. Not too sweet, and just the right amount of tart. Overall, the flavours were extremely well balanced. Due to the complexity of them, though, I'd say it was borderline refreshing. Though thesis not a bad thing. The tacos didn't shy away from their authenticity. Nothing fancy-shmancy, just the traditional protein, onion, cilantro, and the pineapple that comes with Al Pastor. The flavours were well balanced, without too much of one or another flavour. However, my gripe is that the pork was rather dry. They did provide two hot sauces, and a lime, and to be fair, they helped, but didn't solve the underlying problem. Furthermore, they lacked anything (this is where sauces and general moisture come in) to help tie the different flavours together. Speaking of hot sauces: the red one was okay, and rather spicy. The green one though is rather undeveloped. I hate to say it, but it almost tastes like when I tried to make hot sauce by blending jalapeños and vinegar. The location has a cool vibe, and the service was very polite. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
Might be my new fav taco joint. There's 5 pieces per order for the al pastor. Loved the pineapple with the al pastor. Def would come back to try other protein. read more
El Trompo has always flown over my head - I've walked by a hundred times but never noticed it. I'm happy I finally did, because the tacos here are amazing! These tacos are more "street" than Seven Lives', but there's definitely a time and place for them While the tacos here are great, I was incredibly disappointed that the chips + pico I ordered to start seemed to be store-bought tortilla chips - they reminded me of Tostitos. The pico was pre-made, and super cold out of the fridge, another disappointment. Plus, service is spotty. read more
3 years ago
The best mexican food in this city. Authentic and delicious, and this is coming from four Latinx:) read more
5 years ago
Loved the food, specially the bean soup! The people were soooo sweet, like family. Loved the decor! Very reasonable prices! read more
Donald Trompo loves this place. But that doesn't mean you can't too. Just don't let him grab you by the taco. What to get: Um, Tacos. OK. It's not their fault that I am so picky about my Mexican food. Having had the best of the best in San Diego, Los Angeles, Houston, and in Mexico itself, I expect a lot from a Trompo taco. It's one of my favourite kinds. Comes from the Monterrey area, and is wildly popular in Houston, which is right at the top of the highway down to Monterrey. Never expected to find this kind of thing up in Toronto, but gave it a try. Massive brownie points for being fairly cheap (compared to Seven Lives around the corner), and for having absolutely wonderful service from the guy and the girl both. Cute people, too (hi!). The taste was good, it was nice and juicy, I was all about it. I suppose the only reason I dock 1 star is that it wasn't the best authentic Mexican, it was a little Anglicized, Americanized, or Canadianized if you prefer. Wasn't particularly meaty or filling, not that it has to be. And Trompo is usually sliced off the big rotating thing, as is Pastor, but they don't actually have Trompo, they sell Pastor (the more generic Mexican version heavy on the Pineapple). It wasn't sliced directly off the spindle thingy, and I've had much better pastors (such as at my church). Still, much closer to real Mexican food than anything else I've ever tried anywhere in Canada. Can't get much higher of a compliment than that. read more
8 years ago
I've never eaten street tacos in Mexico, but El Trompo markets itself as offering exactly those and I imagine that they're not wrong in doing so. These are "street" in the way "street" should connote - quick and simple. They won't blow you away. In fact, the might not even impress you much. But if you're looking for tacos at a reasonable price, these will do the trick. I got the Al Pastor. I'm not a big pork guy, but that's what the menu recommends so I thought I'd give 'em a try. Not bad! None of the porky taste I generally shy away from, and the pineapple is a nice touch. I was worried they'd be dry based on looking at them, but the pineapple substituted nicely for what could've (should've?) been fat. I asked for a shot of their cheapest tequila, which apparently was $7. So not cheap exactly. The truth is this place is underwhelming. There used to be a terrific place for tacos just down the street in a sort of makeshift food court, but it's since shut down. I give El Trompo 4 stars mostly because it's been there a while and I worry what might come after it. Kensington Market is a gem, and I'll be damned if it changes even more than it already has. read more
Huge disappointment. Seems deceptively cheap, but way overpriced for what you get. Lured in by the people on the patio with the huge, festive looking margaritas. I am a huge sucker for the alcohol + patio combo. Got roped into ordering food too. Their tacos aren't better than the mom and pop places across the street. Their nachos are pretty nasty - the pico de gallo tastes like it came out of a can, and there was barely anything on our nachos except sweaty cheese and maybe a spoonful of refried beans. Food gets a solid F. The margarita was also pretty disappointing - tasted like it came right out of a mix or a packaged margarita syrup. It had ice in it but it wasn't cold, which made for a weird drinking experience. Didn't have a lot of boooze in it either, which made me sad. Also, HORROR OF ALL HORRORS it was rimmed with sugar, not salt! eww One extra star for the patio - it was reallly cramped. They tried to fit way too many people into a small space. read more
15 years ago
I think I am ready to give up my search for authentic Mexican food in Toronto... I really wondering if they really exist!! El Trompo Taco Bar is one of the better Mexican restaurants I been to in Toronto.. but something is missing... The tacos are good.. small but good...but they did not wow me like the ones I have in Mexico... Al Pastor ($9.75) - Great for snacks.. I can just down those 5 tacos in record time without leaving any for my yelp friend... but I am nice.... - The pork is a little dry and blend... more fresh lime juice might help Pozole ($5.99) - pork and corn soup.. with garnish - really really bland... and the garnish on the side were tasteless too.. - chili pepper with zero hotness? - I almost want to spoon in all the hot sauces on the table to give it a kick!! I have to say El Trompo's food is a toned down versions for the real Mexican food... BTW, if you like me find those 2 salsa tasted like water with colours... ask the servers.. they have the REAL salsa reserved for the special someone that knows... just ask... and you will have the real thing! read more
3 years ago
After walking all day this was exactly what we needed. The staff was so friendly and helpful. I had the Al Pastor tacos and they were amazing. I would highly recommend. read more
3 years ago
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8 years ago
4 years ago
Love this spot, my friends and I come here pretty regularly during the summertime actually. It's a great spot in Kensington, great people watching. Food (5/5)- the tacos are amazing, very authentic. The sauces are great too. We always get the al pastor, delicious. Drinks (5/5)- Get the bulldog margarita. Just do it! Service (5/5)- Exceptional. Very warm and welcoming, super quick to set you, take your order and bring the food out. Vibe (5/5)- The patio is really cute, tiny but always fun! Overall (5/5)- Hand's down a great spot. I go every other Saturday, love it! read more
8 years ago
Just love el trompo Our server was nice, and their frozen margarita was awesome!! Be sure to get their guac. Very chunky, and even though their tortilla chips were a little soggy, I blame it on humid summer we had. Tacos? Awesome. Grab a seat on the patio and it's great for people watching ;) read more
5 years ago
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7 years ago
Their margaritas are excellent but their tacos aren't as good as they used to be. They are very simple - which isn't a bad thing *if* the few ingredients used standout and are prepared well. The pork was dry and the overall taco was flat - it didn't have the bright acidic flavours or freshness that I love in a taco. The fish was tender but the chipotle sauce was overwhelming and I couldn't taste much beyond that. The queso fundido with mushrooms and onions was delicious and flavourful - it reminded me of French Onion soup. This place used to have delicious tacos years ago- hopefully I feel the same way about it soon. read more
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More info about El Trompo Taco Bar
277 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2M1
Canada
Kensington Market
Directions
(416) 260-0097
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http://www.eltrompo.ca/
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