Jumbo Empanadas
Kensington, Toronto
Restaurant in Toronto, Canada
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$10–20per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Jumbo Empanadas is worth considering for a casual Kensington Market stop when the goal is speed, focus, and an easy plan rather than a long sit-down meal. It makes more sense for pairs and small groups than for a polished occasion; cross-shop Burdock Kensington Tavern, Pizzeria Via Mercanti, or Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos if the group wants a broader meal.
About Jumbo Empanadas
Should you book Jumbo Empanadas in Toronto? The venue is in Toronto, the dress code is casual, and the posted hours run daily. That is enough to place it on a flexible shortlist, but not enough to build a highly specific plan around it. Treat it as a casual Toronto option with a clear daily schedule. If menu details, reservation format, service style, pricing, or neighborhood matter to your plans, check directly before you go.
A casual Toronto choice with posted daily hours
The clearest planning detail is the schedule. Jumbo Empanadas is open Mon–Fri 10 AM–6 PM, Sat 10 AM–7 PM, and Sun 11 AM–6 PM. Those hours point to a venue that can be considered for daytime and early-evening plans across the week, with a slightly later posted closing time on Saturday. The dress code is casual, which makes it easier to fit into an informal Toronto day plan, especially when the group is not trying to coordinate around a more formal setting.
Plan with flexibility rather than assuming a specific experience. If timing, budget, dietary needs, group size, or a particular style of service matters, those details should be checked before the plan becomes fixed. For a broader Toronto search, compare it with 's full Toronto restaurants guide, or widen the day plan with Toronto bars, Toronto hotels, Toronto experiences, and Toronto wineries.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose Jumbo Empanadas when a casual Toronto venue with daily daytime-to-early-evening hours fits the plan. It works best in the research stage as an option for people who value simplicity, informal dress, and a schedule that is visible enough to compare against the rest of the day. If the group wants to compare other Toronto options, Burdock Kensington Tavern, Casa Morales, Pizzeria Via Mercanti, Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos, and Sunnys Chinese are natural names to consider alongside it. Cross-shopping is especially useful when the occasion depends on details such as reservations, seating, price, or service style, since another venue may better fit the decision at hand.
For readers building a fuller Toronto shortlist, keep the comparison broad unless you have the right details for the exact occasion. The safest approach is to use the basics, Toronto location, casual dress code, and posted daily hours, while leaving room to adjust if further details do not match the needs of the visit.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 10 AM–6 PM · Tuesday: 10 AM–6 PM
- Location
- 245 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L8, Canada
- Website
- jumboempanadas.ca
- Phone
- +1 416 977 0056
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Jumbo Empanadas settles into Kensington Market as a straightforward, no-frills counter that celebrates a pan‑Latin American street-food tradition. The market’s layered streetscape, vintage shops, bakeries and rotating vendors reinforce a casual, approachable energy. Rather than aiming for refinement or formality, the venue emphasizes practicality: portable, priced for pedestrians and built on recipes that span Argentine, Chilean, Colombian and other lineages. The result is a classic, charming spot where the food’s familiarity and the market’s bustle shape the experience more than a dining room aesthetic.
Best For
This is a place for quick, unfussy visits: solo lunches, snack runs and casual meetups while exploring Kensington Market. The counter format and pedestrian price point make it ideal for people on the move who want a substantial, handheld meal without a big time or financial commitment. It doesn’t present as a destination for formal or multi‑course dining; instead, it fits into everyday city life as repeatable, affordable comfort food. If you’re wandering Augusta Avenue, it’s the kind of stop that slots neatly into a market crawl or a casual afternoon out.
Ordering Tips
Order at the counter and keep it simple: the signatures, Jumbo Beef, Jumbo Chicken and Jumbo Veggie Empanadas, are highlighted as core options. Given the shop’s street-food setting and emphasis on portability, plan to eat on the go or find a nearby market bench. The shop emphasizes value and repeatability, so sampling a couple of different fillings across visits is a good strategy. Because service is counter-based and straightforward, arrive ready to order and grab your empanada quickly.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy, low-key hole-in-the-wall with familial atmosphere and limited seating.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Counter Service
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Intimate
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Jumbo Beef Empanada
- Jumbo Chicken Empanada
- Jumbo Veggie Empanada
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 245 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L8, Canada
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 10 AM–6 PM
- Tuesday
- 10 AM–6 PM
- Wednesday
- 10 AM–6 PM
- Thursday
- 10 AM–6 PM
- Friday
- 10 AM–6 PM
- Saturday
- 10 AM–7 PM
- Sunday
- 11 AM–6 PM
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the group wants a longer meal rather than a quick stop, choose Burdock Kensington Tavern. If the priority is another casual, high-focus market option, choose Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Kensington Market and Toronto
Burdock Kensington Tavern is the better choice for a longer, more social meal, while Jumbo Empanadas is the easier pick when the plan is casual, quick, and tightly focused. If booking friction matters, Jumbo Empanadas has the advantage as an easy-access stop; Burdock is more useful when ambiance and table time matter.
Pizzeria Via Mercanti gives groups a broader, sit-down Italian option, so choose it when not everyone wants the same format. Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos is the closer casual cross-shop for market eating: pick Seven Lives when tacos and seafood are the draw, and Jumbo Empanadas when empanadas are the point.
Sunnys Chinese is the stronger move for a planned dinner with a Chinese menu and $$ positioning. Casa Morales is another Toronto alternative when the group wants a different casual neighborhood meal rather than a single-format stop.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Jumbo Empanadas guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Jumbo Empanadas
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumbo Empanadas | Toronto | No published awards | ||
| Burdock Kensington Tavern | Toronto | No published awards | ||
| Pizzeria Via Mercanti | Toronto | No published awards | ||
| Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos | Toronto | No published awards | ||
| Sunnys Chinese | Toronto | Chinese | $$ | 2026 Chinese Restaurant Awards: Elite 30 Canada · #192026 Canada's 100 Best Restaurants · #942026 OAD Casual in North America RecommendedMichelin Guide Toronto & Region 2026Chinese Restaurant Awards Canada Top 50 Honourees 20262025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Casa Morales | Toronto | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Highly Recommended2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #1702024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #1892023 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #39 |
How Jumbo Empanadas Toronto compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Jumbo Empanadas in Toronto?
Other Toronto options to compare include Burdock Kensington Tavern, Casa Morales, Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos, Pizzeria Via Mercanti, and Sunnys Chinese. Choose based on the current details for your date.
Is Jumbo Empanadas good for a special occasion?
Jumbo Empanadas is in Toronto, has a casual dress code, and keeps posted daily hours.
Is lunch or dinner better at Jumbo Empanadas?
The posted hours support daytime and early-evening planning: Mon to Fri 10 AM–6 PM, Sat 10 AM–7 PM, and Sun 11 AM–6 PM.
