A Walk in Toronto's Little Portugal

Spent an interesting day exploring a part of Toronto's Little Portugal today 😃 It's a residential district and businesses are dotted mainly along Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue.




There are quaint little mom and pop type eateries and shops dotted here and there along Dundas Street West.



St. Agnes' Church along Dundas Street West.

I marked this little bakery and cafe, Ella's Uncle, for a future visit.



Passed by Trinity Bellwoods Park covered with last night's snow.



Interesting restaurants along Dundas Street West near the junction with Ossington Avenue. First Choice and The Lakeview. I stepped inside The Lakeview for a look see - it's a very interesting old school diner which I want to come back to try.



Live Well and Grow Old - a good approach to life and living 😄 Don't you agree?



Stepped into a Portuguese grocer. The canned and bottled food were generic but that buffet of cooked food was fascinating.



Those pork tongue and chicharron (fried pork rind) are definitely my kind of yummae 😋 



The junction of Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue.



Stopped at Alex Rei Dos Leitoes along Ossington Avenue for lunch.



Alex Rei Dos Leitoes is well known for their churrasco chicken (charcoal grilled chicken).



It's a small mom and pop shop with only counter service. But, there is a ledge with seats by the window where we can eat our meal, if we like.



Churrasco chicken.

For CDN8, we got a aluminium bowl packed tightly with flavoured rice, potatoes, fresh greens (salad) and a charcoal roasted chicken thigh.

The BBQ chicken browned and crispy outside while inside it was tender and juicy. The spice was mildly savoury with a very subtle spiciness. It reminds me of Nando's Chicken which I had in Malaysia (though that was over 10 years ago).



I found out from the lady boss that her son has opened the more upscale Moliceiro right next door to Alex Rei Dos Leitoes.

Back on the streets after lunch, I spotted a few local coffee shop cum bakeries along Dundas West.



Not hip at all. Nice 😃

Locals catch up over coffee and cakes. I heard only Portuguese 😄



There was a wide range of bakes in the shop but I was most fascinated by the Portuguese eggs tarts. As I have never been to Portugal before, I have not idea what an authentic Portuguese egg tart is like. I have only tasted the Macau and Chinese versions of this Portuguese food icon.



The tart is deeper than the Chinese version I am familiar with. (This was from Caldense Bakery.)



When I bite into the tart, the crust is flaky though stiffer and less buttery than the Chinese interpretation. The custard is less eggy but sweeter. I need to try more Portuguese egg tarts 😄



Back on the street, this is Bellwoods Brewery, a microbrewery on Ossington Avenue. I imagine this is a nice lawn for a craft beer in the summer.

👉 If you like to try authentic Portuguese BBQ and egg tarts in Toronto, Little Portugal is the place 😄 The businesses are spread out and stretched along Dundas West. I need to come back again and explore the place further as there are definitely more things waiting for me to discover 😄

Date: 15 Mar 2017