COMO EN CASA (565 Yonge, at Wellesley, 647-748-6666, comoencasa.ca) Complete meals for $10 per person, including tax, tip and a soda. Average main $6. Open Monday to Friday 11 am to 9 pm, Saturday noon to 9 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. Unlicensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNN
The Yonge strip south of Bloor might be home to a gazillion fast food restos, but very few of them dish up anything other than heartburn, something you’ll likely discover come Sunday’s parade. The rare exception is this newly minted Mexican cantina in the former Pita Break, where eight bucks and change gets you one of the better burritos in town. The secret? Everything on owner/chef Carlos Rios’s short carte except the tortillas is made from scratch.
And so we get tender quarter-chickens in tangy adobo sauce correctly soured with vinegar, or slow-cooked tender beef stew (both $5.99 with rice and refried beans). Whole wheat quesadillas ($8.20) and tacos ($2.50) both come stuffed with moist pulled pork, beef or chicken as well as grilled veggies, melted cheese and shredded lettuce.
Unlike most local restos that outsource them, Casa’s shortcrusted chicken and eggy cheese empanadas (both $3) are baked on the premises. Load them up with one of five house-made salsas and a spoonful of fresh roasted corn for the tastiest snack on the route.
