I came here a while ago, so the menu items may not be current, but I believe some may still be there. I came here solo, and the staff was absolutely lovely. My waitress was so kind and helpful, and she was the perfect amount of attentive. The birria was good, but not the best I've had. It just lacked a little depth of flavor. The chicken skewers were well-seasoned but somewhat dry, but still enjoyable. For me the real star of the show was the popsicle dessert. It was floral, but in a pleasant way. This day was nice and warm, so the refreshing dessert was a perfect ending. A cute stop for a girls night out or a date night. read more

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Spain might be out of reach to the most of us, but not when you're going to Bar Chica. Situated along the hip stretch of Portland street. Chica is nothing but concentrated flavor. The server, Kerima, was absolutely amazing. My wine glass seemed to fill itself. The food was equal parts star with the croquettes and crispy eggplant leading the way. The imberico ham was melt in your mouth and the Beef Picanha was a nice way to round out the meal. The vibe is great with on point decor and a DJ spinning great tunes. In the game of life there are throwaway meals and memorable ones. Let Chica be the canvas for one of the good ones. read more

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We have bookmarked Bar Chica since they made the Michelin Guide, so we finally decided to take advantage of their Winterlicious offer at $65pp for 3 courses. We were so happy we made it, we absolutely loved their cocktails and appetizers! Pictured: Mucho Gusto, which is a mezcal drink woth just the right peppery kick, and the Nubosa - an herbal drink made with green chartreuse and pineapple-infused vodka; it was my favorite of the night. I was surprised by this cocktail because our server said there is nothing herbal on the drink menu (chartreuse is made with a few hundred herbs). For appetizers we picked the jambon croquettes and pan con boquerone to start We also enjoyed the sea bream and short ribs (though the ribs were a tad dry it was still flavorful). The basil tres leches and chocolate cake were also decadent. Overall we had a great night and will definitey return for their cocktails! . read more

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Aaron and all the staff are amazing! My favourite restaurant in the city. The food was absolutely amazing here and friendly service! I just can't get over how delicious everything was. Definitely try the Tartare de Carne, and foie gras tart. These 2 are my must every time I eat here. I'm here all the time and bring all my friends. Ambiance is great for dates or a nice dinner. Low light setting and chill music. read more

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This place is soooo vibey! Its pretty intimate and lowkey, which makes it really great for date night. The drinks were yummy and the appetizers that we tried were delicious! Will definitely come back for the drinks, appys, and the intimate setting. The service was also really great PS: Croquetas de Jamon Con Trufas is a MUST TRY read more

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Really enjoyed checking out this bar. Music was good and the menu/food was amazing. I liked what they did with the space provided and service was quick and staff were friendly. Ordered a couple of things to try and share. Each dish was delicious. Got a drink too and it was also yummy. They happen to have happy hour here as well! If you're feeling adventurous there's bottomless sangria. (I think during brunch hours) read more

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We were really looking forward to our night at Chica Toronto. We had a 9:45pm reservation and even arrived a bit early, only to find the doors locked. After knocking, a man came out and told us the restaurant was closed. When we explained we had a reservation, he looked confused and surprised. No apology, no explanation, just told us to "go somewhere else." It was honestly such a letdown. We had planned our night around this dinner, and to be turned away like that, without any attempt to make it right, was beyond disappointing. The website clearly says you're open until 11pm. If that's not the case, why even offer late reservations? Honestly it felt like we were just shrugged off. Really had higher hopes for this place! read more

Mediocre food that's small and expensive. I think the only thing I really liked was the cod and croquetas. Everything else had meh flavour. The service was pretty great though and it's got a nice vibe inside. I would say more of a place for drinks. Don't come here if you're hungry. read more

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Great ambiance, friendly staff, delicious food! Came here to catch up with some old colleagues over drinks and dinner and wow I was impressed. Our server was amazing throughout the night and was able to recommend a drink to me based on a short description of what flavours I like. The drink he brought was spot on and I loved it! (Same with the second round of drinks after as well!). It's a little dark in ambiance but adds to the mood! We went with all the recommended dishes from our amazing server and again it did not disappoint! Hojaldre de Crema 10/10 - Uni on a cream puff. Amazing! Anything with uni is a yes! Atun Albacora Crudo 10/10 - A albacore tuna crudo that was so refreshing and beautiful to look at! The citrus pieces really brought out the refreshing taste of the raw fish. Croquetas de Jamon Con Truas 10/10 - A two bite croquette topped with manchego and truffle shavings. That's a yes and it was delicious! Filete de Carne 10/10 - A hanger steak with blistered shishito peppers. Great for sharing and great flavours Overall it as a great tapas style restaurant. Amazing drinks and great food! We went for a second meal after this since it's small bites. But I would still highly recommend and come back for a second time! read more

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Ambiance, service as very nice. Actually had a long day, Aaron was amazing. I didn't want to think, he recommended four tasty tapas dishes to start. The Tostadas con Boquerones sardines, cultured butter, garlic aioli, had many different flavours going on. The sardine flavour did not cover anything. Usually sardine flavours are strong. I don't usually order Patatas Bravas not a huge fan or potato dishes but the sauce was flavourful and colourful with the layer of potatoes. Surprisingly good! Hojaldre de Crema - 16 hokkaido uni, spicy uni cream, chives comes in two. I love uni (sea urchin) and with the spicy uni cream it gives a good kick to the puff. Layers of flavours. I wasn't a huge fan of the Vieiras Crudas - 24 scallop, coconut leche de tigre, dill, serrano, melon, only because I thought the melon didn't go that well with it. But just my personal preference. The Croquetas de Jamon Con Trufas - 14 ham, black truffle, manchego was piping hot and loved the shaved manchego cheese on top and the thin slice of ham was a hidden gem inside. I would order this again. Trucha con Pan - 26 trout, mojo rojo, scallion oil, pickled pearl onion. The trout itself was good, I find the sauce a little too overpowering and didn't taste the spicy from the mojo roso sauce. The slice of crouton on top gives a good texture. Last but not least, I am not a dessert person. The Tarta de Paté de Hígado - 19 duck liver parfait, sherry gelée, shortbread tart is a must try for people like me. Beautifully presented and tasted phenomenal. I wanted to shut the whole world off as I was enjoying every morsel of it. The duck liver parfait was a perfect marriage with the sherry gelée. It's elegant and thank you to Aaron who recommended this to us! Must try. If they were bite size, I want a box of them! read more

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Great music, great vibes. Staff were really attentive and had great suggestions. Spanish tapas style eats - everything tasted great and we really enjoyed each bite. read more

Bar Chica - Top: Croquetas de Jamón Con Trufas Left: Patatas Bravas Right: Gambas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Surprised date night at Bar Chica with amazing tapas, cocktails & service! We loved the whole late night vibe; Bar Chica opens 5pm til late! This is also the sister restaurant of Patria ^^ Our waiter recommended 5-6 plates to share, which was a good portion size for us! We ordered the bread with tomato butter, scallop crudo, Ibérico ham, ham coquette, smoked corn, and the mousse de pera dessert. Everything was delicious, and I really enjoyed my cocktail, the Coco Dorado... it reminds me of a pina colada ^^ I'd recommend coming here if you enjoy small bites and intimate atmosphere! P.S. Underground parking garage right beside restaurant, max evening fee $10-$15. The restaurant entrance is a little hidden from the outside, but you will figure it out ;) read more

Bar Chica - Mousse de pera with sweet potato ice cream - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I got to try this place with a friend. I found it underwhelming after the hype. 2 drinks and a Foi Gras Tart.. the bil came to 76$. Too dark and music was too loud. Service was friendly and timely. Just not my thing. read more

Bar Chica - Nubian Lisa and Mucho Gusto - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The food here is delicious. The flavours are well balanced and the portions are satisfactory. We dined on a Sunday evening when they had a special menu and the paella option. The restaurant was on the quieter side since it was late in the evening. The staff was attentive and service was excellent. The cocktails are also delicious however it's a bit on the pricier side. read more

Vibey atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food & drink. What else do you need? I don't remember what the names of the menu items we ordered were, but we loved everything we had. The Mezcal margarita was perfect too! read more

Bar Chica - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Part of a longer review... "At Bar Chica, roughly every other dish on the menu tempted my taste buds. While there were predictable dishes to nosh on, such as Almeddras Sazonadas ($8) and Jamon Iberico de Bellota ($37), an acorn-fed ham, and Vieras Crudas ($24), there were plenty more adventurous options. My guest and I shared four plates: Tabla de Quesos with fresh sourdough bread ($23), Patatas Bravas ($12), Croquetas de Jamon Con Trufas ($14) and Setas Fritas ($15). Of these dishes, only two were memorable: the Patatas Bravas and Croquetas de Jamon Con Trufas." read more

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Taking over the spot where Bar Buca used to be Bar Chica is a cozy dark venue with limited tables and bar seating. The service was amazing- I would actually give service 5 stars! The team was attentive but not in our space, casual, cool, and friendly. The menu is tapas style, as a pescatarian who was dinning with a meat eater I felt I probably ordered wrong. The scallop dish was fresh but unfortunately I can't have melon (and didn't read that it was in the dish) so I only had a tiny bite. The octopus was delicious and quite filling, the star was probably the salad dish! The flavours just worked so well together. My friend got a few other meat dishes that she loved!! Next time I'll Try the cod, I did with there were more veggie options but just a personal preference! read more

I was kind of excited to try a few of the paella dishes but I only enjoyed the veggie one. As much as I love seafood, that dish was okay. I really enjoyed the appetizers though! My favourite was the bread and cheese with the meat on top. Desserts were okay, and drinks were okay. It's a great place to go with a small group and share everything. I think the portions are decent and I was very full! Service was also good, no complaints here! read more

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We came here for my birthday and it was the best decision ever! Aside from music is a bit loud....the food was AMAZING! We ordered tuna tataki, gambas (shrimp), stracciatella and patatas bravas. The order was mistaken and we got the bikini (sandwich) instead of bravas. The server quickly corrected and we got to try the bikini too . We ended with a birthday shot and the entire meal was amazing. Highly recommend the tataki, can't go wrong very good in flavour and taste. Then the stracciatella was my second favourite, sweeter dish but delicate creamy flavour. Shrimp and bravas is a tie! Bikini was good too, I even ate the pickled pepper. We also had 2 drinks, they are standard. In love with the food and will definitely come again soon! read more

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Weird, but fun fact. The door is very heavy so it seems like they may be closed, but you just have to pull really hard You literally cannot go wrong! Everything we ate was delicious and the service was fantastic. Make sure to get a reservation - Bar Chica fills up. We got lucky and someone didnt want to eat there so we were able to take their reservation (call it universal luck)! The drinks were DELICIOUS! And the music is an entire vibe. We got a good amount of dishes. I love ALL of them, but I had some stand outs: - The Vieiras Crudas is one of the most incredible things I've ever eaten. It's very unique and a fantastic start to the meal. The melon and scallops were perfect pairs - my husband and I were basically drinking what was left of the sauce. - The Fideuà Con Calamar was so flavorful! Texture-wise, it is also an interesting combination with the pork, pasta and calamari. - Oddly enough, the Pan y Mantequilla was one of our favorites. It seems like toast with some tomato spread but it was amazing. - Patatas Bravas was very unique. I wish there was a little more. I've never had a quail egg on it before and it works so well. The cook on the potatoes was perfect and made for a delicious couple bites. - Oveja Con Trufa La Quesera another moment when I wish there was more! The cheese is so delicious and the honey matches perfect - Another good choice Croquetas de Jamón Con Trufas. Delicious, but not the most memorable for me. If you are open to trying some new dishes and exploring some delicious food, great drinks and having an amazing dinner - Bar Chica is a great option. If you want to stay comfortable in your tasting preferences, hate great service or want a very forgettable dinner- find somewhere else lol! read more

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Chica was quite the splurge but no regrets. Between 2 people, we shared 6 dishes and had a cocktail each and it worked out to be $90~ after tips. Our server was friendly and made great recommendations for us. It's a small spot with spacious booths but the tables in the middle were packed close together. I got an early reservation so we were seated in the booth. I tried the Te Amo cocktail and would recommend this for those who prefer a fruity and sweeter drink. Highlights of the night: chuleton (tender and juicy ribeye pieces) and croquetas de jamon con trufas (perfect bite with full of flavour). The Hojaldre de crema was disappointing. The puff pastry had a hard outer layer and felt hallow on the inside. Ended the night with the tarta de manzana for dessert. read more

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Although this place has a very lively yet sophisticated atmosphere, I would say the food was only sub par. This place is hidden right off King St, and can be easy to miss if you aren't looking for their LED sign in the window! We started off the meal with drinks which were delightful. In terms of the food, they were good but were bordering on being too fancy/innovative if I may say. The dishes were definitely stunning but the taste did not always match that. The beef taratare was smothered in dill that completely masked any other taste, and the octopus dish was covered in a savoury foam that again, masked the flavor. The only main dish that I truly enjoyed were the scallops - this was an innovative and unique dish with flavor combos I have never tried before but would definitely eat again read more

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Maybe I'm getting old, I never understand why restaurants blast music as if it's a night club. Makes for such an uncomfortable dining experience -- straining to hear my wife throughout dinner is not my idea of fun. Next, the seating arrangement... high tops with tiny tables is really not ideal for tapas. The table could barely fit 4 dishes. Last but not least, the food itself was the biggest let down. The ahi tuna was fishy (if not for the heavy seasoning masking the fishy taste I could not have eaten it). The Bacahlau dish was the worst -- the mussels in that dish was not fresh I had a gag reaction after eating the first one. The rest went untouched. We complained to the server that the seafood was not fresh and just got a blank stare. read more

If you're looking for a great tapas resto in downtown Toronto, look no further than Chica. Located on Portland Ave. just off King St. this "little sister" to Patria opened in April, 2022 and has been rocking it ever since. Full disclosure, this was a special event dinner for someone who adores cocktails, and the reviews we checked out consistently mentioned their great cocktails. So yes, we chose a tapas resto because of their cocktails; fight us! But we were over-the-moon happy with the wonderful food we were treated to. The menu is organized in standard fashion: cold plates on one side, hot plates on the other. There are the standards (e.g.: patatas bravos; warm olives; Iberico ham), but there are also many other choices that we've not seen on other tapas menus. A lot of thought has gone into these dishes, and they were executed to perfection for our dinner. We started with two outstanding cocktails: a Ronda Sour and a Mucho Gusto. The reviews were not wrong: did we mention that the cocktails were outstanding? So good! Our server (more on the service later) recommended three cold plates followed by three hot plates. We upped the ante and ordered a fourth hot plate because we couldn't decide what not to have, and as it turned out that was the right quantity of food and allowed us to sample a reasonable portion of the menu. We also ordered a 1/2 litre of their 2014 Viña Valoria Reserva - a sinfully delicious Tempranillo - to accompany the meal. For our cold plates we enjoyed the warm olives, a cheese plate with hot pepper (with an additional side of their outstanding toasted bread with tomato butter - trust us, get this bread!), and a plate of the Iberico ham (because special dinner!). Everything was delicious, and set the stage perfectly for the hot plates to come. Our three hot plates were all outstanding. The Croquetas Jason con Trufa were perhaps the best croquettes we've ever enjoyed. The Maíz y Sobrasada (smoked corn, corn foam, scallion oil) was a revelation (get this dish!). The Patatas Bravas (prepared with black garlic and quail egg) were unique and delightful. And the Filete de Carne (Ontario hanger steak; pickled shallot; pepper bernaise; blistered shishitos) was a flavour bonanza cooked to medium rare, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. We ended the meal with two Portland cocktails - a perfect conclusion to an outstanding meal and fun evening. On that note, Chica has a great vibe. The staff are genuinely friendly and very good at what they do, and the space is clearly set up for people to enjoy both a lingering dinner or a quick pop-in for a couple of yummy plates and drinks. Dinner and drinks all in came to $380. While that's not a regular occurrence in our world this was a special dinner and worth every penny. We'll definitely be back (likely for the aforementioned drinks and one or two plates visit), and highly recommend Chica. read more

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Food was hit and miss, the server was new and they wheeled in tvs to air love island, something I'm not interested at all. Didn't like the ceviche but the eggplant was good. Wouldn't go back. read more

The same owners of Patria just recently opened this spot and I must say the food here is MUCH better than Patria. The food was tastefully presented and overall delicious Jamon Iberico de Bellota: Iberico is deffinitely one of my favorite cured meats. The acorn fed pigs give a sweet and nutty flavor to the meat. But the portion size here was way too small to justify $35 price tag. I remembering smuggling packs of freshy sliced iberico from Spainfor like $20 Tartar de Carne con Cubierta de Chalupa: These were okay, I felt there could have been a bit more flavor/seasoning to go with the beef Vieiras Crudas: This scallop ceviche was to die for. I mean the flavors all worked perfectly together, fragrance from the dill, sweetness from the melon, creaminess from the leche de tigre.. yum Jamon croquettes: crispy on the outside and deliciously savoury and rich on the inside topped with fragrant truffles, what could be better Patatas Bravas: The flavors were a bit strange with this one, It was too tangy and something just didn't sit well with us Hojaldre de Crema: I literally came for this. Uni ontop of an spicy uni cream puff... We didnt eat this as fast as we should have so the puff pastry did get a tad soggy, but it was good nonetheless! Tarta de Paté de Hígado: Okay YUM. This was a sweet and savoury foie gras tarte with a sweet sherry jam (?), it was rich and creamy and sweet. I really enjoyed this Bikini de Jamón y Queso: This ham and cheese sandwich with truffle was simple but actually really good. The flavors worked well together Prucha con Pan: I felt the fish flavors were a bit flat. Plating was pretty but expected more Tuna Tacos (?): Off menu item but was pretty good! The tuna tartare wrapped with a shisho leaf and pickled radish worked well together It was difficult to find the entrance, as its all postered and black. However the decor and ambiance were unexpectedly sleek and sexy. The portions are very small (and priced accordingly) so its best to double up! Would definitely come back and try more of their menu read more

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Chica is a Spanish tapas bar that just newly opened about a week ago. From the street, you can identify the place by a yellow lamp on top of the door. Don't go into the actual numbered building. The inside is cozy and small with high tables and booths. Energetic music makes you want to dance, even if you are tired lol. The server was attentive, perhaps a little too much so as she kept circling back to us as we were looking through the menu. But she was helpful with her suggestions as to which tapas to order. For me, I loved: Vieiras Crudes - scallop, coconut leche de tigre, dill, serrano, melon. The taste was unique, light and refreshing. I could another plate easily. The Hokkaido uni was also interesting with the cream oozing out once you cut into the round puff. The surprise of the evening was the Arros Negre - squid ink bomba rice, charred squid, parsley emulsion, puffed rice. It was so tasty. Mind you, the black ink might become your new lipstick colour of the night ha! I wasn't too keen on Bikini de Jamón y Queso - peameal bacon, manchego, truffle. It literally was bite size sandwiches. Nothing special. For dessert, I really enjoyed the apple tart. Very light and easy to eat - somewhat fragrant to the palate. I wouldn't mind going back again to try their other tapas. Glad to see a Spanish tapas place opened, and highly recommend the restaurant stay close to the authentic tapas as much as possible. read more

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Bar Chica is Patria's sister restaurant. It has super innovative tapas dishes and beautiful interior! This place is on the pricier side so be prepared to spend a pretty penny. - The Croquetas de Jamon Con Trufas was good, basically a croquette with very strong truffled flavors and topped with shredded cheese. It was super rich and tasty. -the Tarta de Paté de Hígado is a shortbread tart filled with duck liver and topped with a sweet fruit based jam/jelly. I had high expectations but the sweet and savory combination didn't work out for me this time - the Hojaldre de Crema is essentially a cream puff filled with uni cream and topped with uni. He uni was a bit salty and bitter. Texture wise, it didn't blow my mind Personally I don't think I'll be returning, not because it was bad but because I've tried what I had wanted and dont have a strong inclination to come back. But again I appreciated the different take and unique tapas! read more

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I'll give my rating based on my most recent experience, but if rumours are true, my rating will be subject to change. As we all know, the restaurant is as good as the chef. Rumour has it, the head chef may have departed. Perhaps the rest of the kitchen staff is as talented and will not miss a beat, but I withhold judgment until future visits. Wait staff is pretty good, with the exception of our main server who was on the ball, all the time. She's a definite asset to the restaurant. read more

This place is so classy, sophisticated, and hip. The dishes are so creative and tasty. The staff are friendly. It's a perfect spot for a date. The scallops are incredible. This neighbourhood has some awesome places and this is one of the best. read more

Love this place - great food , staff and atmosphere! Joshua took care of us and we will be back! Don't be fooled by the unassuming entrance - this place is a gem read more

We went here last night and I loved the ambiance! it was young and happening! The service was just fine as well. I gave it a 4 stars because the food was good, just not excellent. I would definitely come here again for the vibe! read more

Wonderful small plates. When we talked about food allergies they were very helpful in making suggestions and making adjustments in the food. The most caring restaurant we experienced in Toronto. read more

Every single dish was so well thought out and the flavors were so unique! Can't even pick a highlight because the whole meal was wonderful! read more

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Great place for drinks, tapas, hip atmosphere. The portions are pretty small but the food is very high quality.

Loved the food, ambiance and service! My fiancee and I ordered several tapas, including the aceitunas, pan, croquetas, calabaza frita, filete de carne, and patatas bravas. They were all delicious but I especially loved the calabaza frita and filete de carne. They even had a dessert menu of which we ordered a delicious mousse cake. I would also recommend getting a cocktail from their extensive menu! read more

Great food But is so f'n loud in there is takes away all the enjoyment. Don't do there on a date or if you want to talk with anyone. The noise level undoes the good food sadly. I won't go back. read more

This is the best tapas bar in Toronto BY FAR! The food is incredible, the ambience is cozy & inviting yet hip/trendy (great music but low enough volume have conversation) and the cocktail selection is ample (the several my group and I tried were all knockouts). Looking forward to coming back! read more

What an incredible tapas experience. I have nothing negative to say about Bar Chica. I'm surprised this place wasn't busier. Definitely a gem. 10/10 will go back again. I hope their menu is on rotation because my partner and I almost had everything.. read more

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This place is so fire, I can't really say anything else. Bartender was on point with drunk recommendations, Spanish wine was delicious, I sat next to the kitchen and the chefs were BUZZIN' all night. Had the scallop and melon crudo, croquette (best I've ever had), steak tartare, and a simple hangar steak that made me yell into the kitchen "this food is F'in good". What a blast. Vibes are high, food is killer, just go here. read more

Bar Chica - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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