El Trompo

If memory serves me correctly, it was a lovely Friday afternoon after work. Under sunny skies, my friend and I were chilling on El Trompo's patio, sipping on our cold, refreshing margaritas and nibbling on freshly made corn chips & guacamole. We would take occasional breaks every now and then to speak to one another, that is, to catch up on what's new or what's exciting in our lives (usually not much going on in my life) while watching people going about their business in the buzzing Kensington Market. What a great memory, my very first visit to El Trompo last summer. This post though details my second visit to El Trompo one dark and cold Wednesday night before the Christmas holidays. My friend and I sat inside, no patio this time around. Yah, I miss summer. I miss patios! However, despite my bitterness, the food at this tiny taco bar still remains pretty darn good regardless of the changing seasons.

One great thing about eating inside El Trompo is being able to soak in all its cheery and festive furnishings while eating tacos and fajitas. Its brightly coloured chairs, table runners and wall decor will bound to cheer you up, even in the midst of winter.

Red and green salsa at the table.

Mango Margarita ($6.75)

Guacamole - Avocado dip prepared with tomato, onion and jalapeno pepper. Served with corn chips ($7)

Chicharron de Queso - Crispy grilled cheese ($3.99)

Tinga de Pollo - Spicy chicken quesadilla. Hand made corn tortilla filled with cheese ($5.99)

Al Pastor - Mexico City style tacos - Pork meat marinated in the traditional sauce. Served on corn tortillas with pineapple, coriander and onion ($9.75)

I think the guacamole and tacos al pastor will be my two staples from now on at El Trompo . The guacamole was smooth, creamy, with a nice hint of jalepeno (I actually prefer a chunkier guacamole but this one still hits the spot). The corn chips are so addictive! As for the tacos, although the pork was a tad on the dry side, they were saved by the combination of sweet juicy pineapple, cilantro and onion. With a squirt of lime and a small spoonful of salsa, you'd be good to go for a nice, sweet yet spicy, delicious taco. The chicken quesadilla was tasty too; filled with hot, melted cheese and spicy shredded chicken, it packed quite a bit of heat - the only drawback was that for $5.99, I expected it to be bigger in size. The chicharron de queso had an interesting texture; a combination of crispy, soft, and even slightly chewy; taste-wise it was only alright. We skipped dessert; I wanted churros but they are only available on weekends.

Take-home message: Use that red and green salsa at the table. Trust me.