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La Morena

4.6 (17 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Arroz con menestra
Lenin B.

It's a tiny place, so be ready for limited seating. I drove an hour to experience Ecuadorian cuisine, which was worth the trip. The flavors are spot on; they remind me of being in Ecuador last year. My only complaint is that the Canadian meat doesn't meet my standards. Overall Good experience

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Matt A.

They get the most important thing right: the food is great. Everything else is a problem. This is the first time in my life I had to just give up on a restaurant because it is so poorly managed. The menu is always full of items that they don't actually have. They lack basic inventory management skills. That means if you travel to this place to get something in particular - they probably won't have it. And they won't coordinate holding it for you. Sometimes we called ahead to make sure something was there, only to waste time driving to the place and find it's not available. And it's NOT that busy. It's just very poorly run, I'm sorry to say. I hope the owner partners with someone who has actual business experience because it's just a shame to watch this place fumble the ball this badly. It would be a booming, neighborhood institution by now if it was just managed better.

Sofia P.

great place very good service, juice was incredible so sweet with no added sugar i could taste. tried the empanadas they were great crust but couldn't really taste the chorizo so well and salsa was lacking. overall great though would probably come back for a proper meal

Tamale, chicken, pepoer, peas and carrots plus their aji, one nore salsa style and the other mustardy (?)
Natasza O.

Definitely a top spot to get quality, authentic, traditional Equadorian food! Family run and owned business, which is always super sweet to support. Small, like I wanna say this is a micro restuarant, its so small. The ambiance is warm and inviting. It is very homey walking into La Morena. They had lovely Spanish music playing and a variety of Ecuadorian home decor all over the place. Its truly like walking into a family's arms and home. So cute. Their tamales and hemitas are delicious. At $14 they are definitely a meal. Very satisfying, filling and comforting. Exactly what Ecuadorian cuisine is all about. Their cheese empanadas are delicious. They hold the most nostalgia for me, as I remember when I would get them back in Ecuador and even making them here, in my dad's kitchen, when I was younger. Some cheese on the inside, fried dough (of course) and sprinkled with sugar on top.

Victoria M.

Everything was DELICIOUS!!! I wouldn't say "traditional", but trust me, it's very close to it, and the taste is amazing! I also had empanadas, they were delicious. I originally went for the Tres leches, but they were sold out. The manager told me to call the next time I come, so he could put one to the side for me. I will definitely be back!!

Lovely window and plant + devour
Camilo G.

I come here every day that it is open to get a Chilean empanadas, Colombian empanadas and Argentina beef empanadas. The ceviche is amazing and so are the soups and main dishes. I absolutely recommend trying the lulo drink or the soursop drink also known as guanabana. Also they make a really nice iced coffee!! (Try the tres leches and a ice coffee or soursop! Great combo)

Chicken tamale
Frances C.

Thank you, Suresh Doss, for tweeting about this place! This small family-run restaurant on St. Clair serves up some amazing South American food. It's some of the best food I've eaten in a while, and I can tell that they put a lot of love and pride into everything that they make. The service is very warm and friendly, and we were well taken-care of. I would give this place more than 5 stars if I could. The first time we stopped by, it was a Saturday evening around 7:30 pm and they had unfortunately sold out of almost everything, so we did not stay. We decided to try again a week later on Saturday around 6 pm and were delighted that most of their menu options were still available; however, by 7 pm, they were again sold out of a lot of options. So make sure to go a bit earlier if it's a weekend! Everything we had was delicious, filling and reasonably priced. The shrimp ceviche was excellent: full of plump, juicy shrimp, and the marinade was bright and refreshing without being overly acidic. It was served with two delicious plantain pancakes and some freshly fried corn chips. Note that it's only available on weekends. Both the arepa and empanada were delicious, especially with the house-made hot sauce. The arepa was overflowing with roasted pork, which was tender and juicy. Empanadas were well-stuffed, and were also available as a grab-and-go option. The sancocho de res (soup with beef short rib, cassava, plantain, and corn) was SO homey and warming. The broth was hearty and flavourful, and the meat melted in my mouth. Perfect for a cold winter day. We got the chicken tamale and it was HEFTY - definitely not like a typical Mexican tamale, which I think is smaller and flatter. It's definitely more of a main dish and not an appetizer size. It was hot, creamy, and filled with a generous helping of chicken and also some egg. The house-made salsa and hot sauce really elevated this dish to the next level. We enjoyed this amazing meal with a tropical passionfruit juice (more of a smoothie), which was very refreshing. We finished off with a slice of tres leche cake, which was soft, creamy, and not too sweet. It was the perfect way to end such a great meal. I would highly recommend this place, and I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes.

a chalkboard sign in front of a bakery
Anthony C.

Great little hole in the wall that sells the best empanadas in the city. The service is friendly and they also offer frozen options for those who want to buy in bulk. Highly recommended!

On special short rib beef stew
Alexandra S.

Holy smokes. Ecuadorian food has never tasted so good. First time there I tried the humitas (corn cakes with cheese) with their in house made hot sauce which is the best hot sauce I've ever tasted. Second time I went I got the chicken empanada (with the hot sauce) and their special for the day, the short rib beef stew. The beef is stewed for five hours. You don't even need teeth for it. So many flavours I'm trying everything on their menu. Reasonably priced for the portion and quality. The guy at the cash knows his shit and will recommend something off the menu based on how you're feeling.

Gigantic pork tamal

Fantastic place! The food is excellent, and the staff are very friendly. The ceviche was super refreshing, and the empanadas are great. Their tamales are gigantic; definitely big enough for two people :)

Boloñés
Veronica E.

Literally some of the best boloñés I have ever had along with some of the best service I have ever had. I'll be going back there with a few girlfriends over the weekend to try some more delicious treats!

Nice decor

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Milou

Milou

3.8
(56 reviews)
3.4 km

After years of having this place on my radar, a friend and I finally came here for breakfast and we…read morewere not disappointed. We arrived shortly after they opened, the aesthetic is eclectic and simple. The seating arrangements are comfortable and available indoors and outdoors. We both got their classic breakfast with double smoked bacon; I opted for a beer ginger drink and my friend ordered a chai latte with oat milk. She really enjoyed her drink, and it was a decent size. Whereas my beer and ginger juice was delicious yet on the small side, especially since ice cubes took up a lot of space. As for the meal itself, the eggs with crème fraîche was out of this world! They were the most delicious eggs I've ever eaten. I wish the portion was slightly bigger. The double smoked bacon was perfectly cooked and not greasy. It was thick and not overly salty. They fill up the rest of the plate with 3-4 slices of sourdough and I appreciated that they butters the toast and offered us jam. Overall the plate was fresh and delicious. I' savoured each bite. The service was good, attentive and friendly. Towards the end of our meal, it was getting busy and the noise volume increased, so just a heads up to anyone who doesn't like loud spaces. The music was on point though and I can imagine on a warmer day, the patio would also be a cool vibe to experience. One note I feel is needed to mention is the bathroom. I almost missed the steps descending down to the bathroom because the area is poorly lit. This is a safety issue. Secondly, if you're tall like me, the stalls are very tight and claustrophobic. I barely had any room in the stall and it was very uncomfortable; be careful if you're bringing your purse/phone cause there's no space and I could easily see how things can drop in the toilet. I would highly recommend the business investing into this a little more.

Walking in it is cozy but loud. Ambiance is like a hipster bar. We didn't have any reservations but…read morethere was bar seating available. There is a standing coat rack near the entrance. The entrance is two sets of doors so no draft when people come in and out! They have a very extensive cocktail and wine menu. There are also plates du jour (an entree and dessert). I ordered the duck confit over crispy rice and orange sauce. My companions ordered the chicken with maitake mushrooms and the burger. We shared the crème brûlée and basque cheesecake. I really enjoyed my dish! The duck was cooked perfectly. Duck was moist and flavorful. The crispy rice gave it a nice texture and helped make it a more filling dish. The orange sauce is a classic pairing with duck. The basque cheesecake has some delicious cherries! But the cheesecake itself was a little more burnt than I personally prefer. The crème brûlée had a very thick caramelized layer on top. But the creme was smooth and sweet. It'd be a great spot for a date night. But those with sensitive ears should proceed with caution. For three people I think it was about $135 CAD maybe $160 CAD after tax and tip.

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Milou
Milou
Cool French bistro vibe

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Cool French bistro vibe
Antikka - cafe & records

Antikka - cafe & records

4.7
(15 reviews)
4.2 km

This is the coolest cafe I've been to. The decor is a mix of music lover, café and nightclub. The…read moremusic is played on the coolest record player I've ever seen. Food wise had an espresso, hot chocolate and some cookies. Here was an espresso where you could actually taste all the flavours. Hot chocolate was above average and cookies were alright. Staff was friendly. There is only a little bit of seating. Maybe 20 seats in the whole place. Highlight was the WiFi at 330/30. That's the fastest for any café I've ever tested. I saw a power outlet by my sofa seat so I think they've planned for working in the cafe. Definitely recommended. They've made it into the Toronto cafe list.

Rad coffee shop slash record store on Queen West. My husband and I stopped in out of curiosity…read more(anything that has "records" in it he has to investigate) and ended up staying for a good half hour talking music with the staff and sipping on delicious coffee. I had the flat white and it was fantastic. My husband had just a standard drip coffee and he reported it as quite good as well. They have plenty of seating, from tables and chairs to more lounge type couches and such. Wifi was also really solid, which we appreciated being in from the States (crazy data charges, you know!). Staff was beyond friendly and knowledgeable and we had a great time chatting with them. Great tunes played inside with plenty of fantastic vinyl to choose from to boot.

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Bins of vinyl
Bins of vinyl
Antikka - cafe & records
Antikka - cafe & records

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+84 Cafe

+84 Cafe

4.7
(10 reviews)
3.0 km

I was in the area to check out another cafe but it was full so we came here instead since it was so…read morehighly rated. The hojicha latte is one of the best I have had recently. Perfect amount of sweetness, so strong, perfect temperature. I literally devoured it. I did not try the durian coffee but my partner got it. It was fragrant enough for me to point it out without getting too close to it. He did really enjoy it though! We also got the lemongrass banh mi. It was warm and toasty. Great amount of toppings inside. Made a perfect afternoon snack for the two of us to share. There are outlets to plug in laptops and complimentary fast wifi. It's a cozy little cafe. There's also a self-served water station. The service was great and very friendly! I would not hesitate to come back here.

Read glowing reviews of this cafe so I was so excited to try it and I also wanted to support a…read moreVietnamese coffee shop. We came today and ordered the durian coffee, Viet latte, and durian basque cheesecake. The order did take a while to come out maybe 15 minutes. The coffees came out quite warm and the lattes were very foamy (felt more like a cappuccino). The durian coffee had real sweet durian in it so I enjoyed that one very much that the flavours just worked. The Viet latte was tasty and not too sweet. For the dessert, I could not appreciate the durian taste but the cheesecake itself wasn't too sweet and quite rich. I think we maybe came here on an off-day and would come by to try it again. The actual store is quite pretty and I love how they decorated everything Vietnam-themed. There is one washroom as well.

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Serving bar area
Serving bar area
Coconut Ice Cream with Sticky Rice ($15.00)
Coconut Ice Cream with Sticky Rice ($15.00)
Interior

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Interior
The Good Neighbour

The Good Neighbour

3.9
(28 reviews)
2.6 km
$$

I have been here before and tried the lavender latte but this time I went there for a flat white…read moreand a almond croissant. God oh god, that cream filling inside the croissant was not expected. The croissant itself was sooooo crunchy and can see the layers through but that cream was a sweet surprise. I can't describe anymore that you should go try yourselves. The seating of the cafe is a bit darker inside but then it's probably very inside and no natural light coming thru - should be expected. Otherwise they have a seating (bar style) at the front to soak in the sun on sunny days and have a good read if you are a book worm. The customer service seemed ok, not so impressive. But meh who cares when the coffee and baked goods are this good!

The brick walls, bike on the wall, old school but classy ceiling tiles, original hardwood flooring…read morethrough most of this place makes it a cozy atmosphere for great conversation or working on your laptop. The place is spacious. With a mini assortment of baked goods -- croissants, scones, muffins, danishes -- you can grab something sweet to compliment your Americano, cappuccino, Cortado. At $2.75~ for the largest coffee, this place is affordable and trendy in Toronto'a Koreatown. Stop by with a good book or type out a yelp review and enjoy this comfortable coffee shop. My cortado and almond croissant cost just over $7.

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Bloor St (outside!)
Bloor St (outside!)
Inside the shop
Inside the shop
Flat white

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Flat white
Forget Me Not Coffee

Forget Me Not Coffee

4.4
(14 reviews)
4.0 km

Forget Me Not is a Korean coffee shop along the Ossington Strip. This is actually their second…read morelocation in the city where they offer your classic espresso based drinks as well as specialty drinks. They also have pastries that you're able to grab as well while grabbing a drink. This particular location is not accessible as there are some steps you need navigate in order to reach the entrance. However, the small patio at the back of the cafe is the perfect space to spend some time when the weather is warmer. Having been to Forget Me Not several times, their espresso based drinks are always great. However, I tried their banana bread matcha latte last year when it went viral and it wasn't bad. This year, they have their banana bread latte series again but they now have a banana bread hojicha latte. Being a huge fan of hojicha, I had the banana bread hojicha latte recently at Forget Me Not and it tasted pretty great! Price wise, it is on the more expensive side. Service wise, the staff at this coffee shop are always friendly and service is efficient where drinks are made at a reasonable time. Overall, a solid spot for coffee along the Ossington Strip! Definitely love the small patio they have at the back, the perfect place to escape to during the warmer months.

We were in the Ossington area to grab lunch, but first I wanted to find some cool coffee place I'd…read morenever tried before. Forget Me Not seemed quite promising, so we popped in and I began perusing the menu. I knew I wanted some cold, so I was immediately drawn to the Vanilla Dream Cold Brew ("cold brew brewed for 12 hours topped with house-made vanilla sweet cream"). It's delicious. The rich coffee and that vanilla sweet cream balance each other out perfectly. It's a refreshing, satisfying concoction that reminded me a little of the similar drinks I just quaffed at Disneyland. The fine folks at Forget Me Not Coffee obviously know exactly what they're doing. I'll be returning very soon, that's for sure.

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Forget Me Not Coffee
Forget Me Not Coffee
Iced Dalgona Latte yumm

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Iced Dalgona Latte yumm

La Morena - cafes - Updated June 2026

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