Fonda Lola Mexican Independence Day Celebration : Toronto, Canada

Name: Fonda Lola
Address: 942 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G8, Canada
Website: Website
Instagram: @fondalola
Phone: (647) 706-9105
Wifi: No
Tender: Debit, Credit, Cash
Neighbourhood: West Queen West, Toronto
Type: Mexican

Fonda Lola is located in Toronto’s West Queen West neighborhood at the corner of Queen West & Shaw. Fonda Lola is known in Toronto for serving up authentic and tasty Mexican cuisine, so I was excited to have been invited for a sneak preview of their upcoming fiesta celebration for Mexican Independence Day on Thursday Sept 15, 2016.

The plan is that Fonda Lola’s interior and backyard patio will be transformed into an authentic Mexican strip with food vendor booths serving up street style favorite bites. Table seating will be unavailable for the evening in favor of standing-room only to enhance the street style celebration atmosphere.

Each dish at the event is priced at $5 CDN + tax. I was able to sample the following from the preview tasting of what will be available at the event:

Tlacoyos: Corn masa cake is stuffed with beans and topped with two salsas, cream, cheese, and avocado. The creaminess of the avocado pairs well with corn cake and beans, while the cream sauce added just the right amount of richness without being overpowering.

Quecas de Jamaica: Fresh corn masa tortillas stuffed with hibiscus flower and oaxaca cheese. These were perfectly crisp and resembled dumplings or empanadas. The crisp tortillas added a nice crunch while the hibiscus flower added a nice touch of sweetness. Definitely a favorite and I’d be keeping my eye out at the fiesta for this one.

 

I then tried some tacos:

Pollo Loco: Consists of chicken in adobo sauce, rice in a skillet, served with corn tortillas. Piles of shredded chicken slathered in adobo sauce make this a meaty and satisfying dish. Served with a side of house made hot sauce, it’s definitely a dish that would set your night and your mouth on fire.

Taco de Tofu Sofrito: Crispy cornmeal tofu is served with a smoky tomato Mexican sauce and topped with crispy kale chips and tajin. Surprisingly, this ended up being my favorite dish despite the fact that I don’t particularly care for tofu. Typically I find tofu to be flavorless, however the cornmeal topping and smoky tomato sauce  on the strips of tofu were intense and just downright tasty. The real standout on this dish though were the kale chips, which tied everything together. I would eat 50 of these.

Finally, I finish off with some dessert, the churros. Deep fried, and covered generously in cinnamon sugar it is served with a drizzle of dulce de leche and a dollop of cajeta (a combination of Mexican caramel and whipped cream) it’s the perfect way to end any Mexican fiesta celebration.

Quite simply, everything on Fonda Lola’s menu for the fiesta was fun and flavorful. After taking a quick peek at regular menu prices $5 CDN + tax per dish also makes for an outstanding value as the same dishes are typically priced 2X-3X as much during lunch or dinner service. This also makes the fiesta the perfect opportunity to try a nice variety of Fonda Lola’s dishes in addition to just being the makings of one hell of a party.

Tickets to the event are $10 CDN + tax and can be purchased in advance here, which can then be redeemed for 2 dishes at the event. In addition Fonda Lola will be providing the first 40 guests free tequila shots. Early bird really does get the worm, or in this case gets the perfect evening with tequila and tasty tasty Mexican treats. So much better than worms, obviously.

Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored, however the meal/items were complimentary. All opinions expressed are my own. All menu offerings and prices are accurate as of time of posting. Please refer to restaurant/shop for most up to date information.

*All images are copyrighted Allons.Y Styling & Photography. Please do not use or re-post without written consent and provide credit where applicable