The Guanaquita Restaurant — Restaurant in Kitchener

Amazing friendly staff, though I'm only in once a week or so for takeout, I'm treated like a regular! They are also happy to make suggestions on the menu, and have hit it out of the park each time.

They are an El Salvadoran restaurant, but also offer Mexican and Tex Mex. The food is very good, lots of gluten free options and has veg/vegan options. I just asked which parts of the menu have wheat and it's surprisingly little. I've never tasted beans as good as theirs!!! I've ordered chips and salsa with a side of beans, just to eat the beans on the chips. Yummy! Their meat fillings are always done to tender perfection, though I prefer the ones that aren't minced, as found in puposas. I like their salsa that comes with the meals, it's not very chunky, more like a thin dip, which makes it so much more practical for dipping or pouring on top. They serve a chunky version with chips and salsa orders.

A nice selection of drinks from made in house lemonade, horchada, and imported sodas made from real sugar in glass bottles. They also have a well stocked bar. Looks like they have a lot of night life, though I've only ever been for lunches. Grab a seat at the bar and watch the cooks in their impossibly tiny kitchen, or sit with a group in the booths. If you're only a small group, sit at the windows overlooking the street. The decor is on the old and worn side but is clean and tidy, tables have clean linens, etc.

Not a restaurant for the mobility impaired, they are reached up a long flight of stairs. Send someone up for takeout and enjoy it steps away in Victoria park.

Can't say enough good things...

Missing home? Well, we have another recommendation for authentic food, this time from the heart of El Salvador! On a hunt for a new place, we came across The Guanaquita Restaurant (273 King St W 2nd Floor, Kitchener, ON N2G 1B9). A delightful upstairs spot for Salvadoran fare, this delightful eatery has easily become one of my top choices for an affordable dinner in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

Onto what we ordered! The Vegetarian Enchilada plate was a true comfort. Picture a rich, cheesy filling of spinach and mushrooms wrapped in a soft tortilla, topped with a velvety tomato sauce and a drizzle of sour cream. The side of Mexican rice and beans added the perfect balance, and those two crunchy nachos? A delightful bonus! It was a hearty, flavorful dish that really hit the spot.

Then came the Chicken Tacos. Soft, warm tortillas cradled a mix of tender chicken, vegetables, sour cream, and guacamole – each bite bursting with fresh flavor. The tangy sauce served on the side took it to the next level, adding a delightful kick.

And, okay, we’ll admit it… we couldn’t resist dessert! The churros were served hot and crispy, generously sprinkled with brown sugar, making them perfectly sweet. The rich chocolate dip on the side was so decadent, I had to remind myself that I was full. But who can resist when churros taste like heaven in a bite? Certainly not us!

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We ordered* - Birria Tacos -3/5 Flaunts - 2/5 Horchata 3/5

*All items were only Vegetarian. Our feedback is only for the Vegetarian portions we were served.

We went in expecting authentic Mexican/ Salvadorian cuisine, maybe it was but it didnt appeal to our taste buds as much. Compared to my experience at other Mexican joints, this one was very okayish. All items lacked flavor with salt missing in everything, including condiments.

1. Birria Tacos - served with a very small portion of sauce, which again was missing salt, the taste was pretty bland. The fresh ingredients, like onions, coriander & radishes, which for me, bring life to the tacos, was overpowered by the oily cheesy filling inside the tacos.

2. Flautas - 3 pieces with different fillings in each- 1. loroco & cheese 2. Jalapeño & cheese 3. Spinach, mushroom Very very oily, only the jalapeño gave some flavor to the flautas, all other ingredients were overpowered by the oil.

3. Horchata - I had it at a Mexican joint on College St. for the first time & I had loved it. We made a big mistake of adding a flavor to the Horchata, which took away the authenticity of the flavors & reduced it to a normal drink. Please have it without any flavor added to it.

The best part of my previous experiences with Mexican food was the spiciness of the sauces & the fresh flavors in the tacos, both of which was missing here.

The atmosphere &...