Piragua Colombian Specialty Store — Restaurant in Toronto

Tucked in the heart of West Queen West, Piragua is a Colombian treasure bringing all the sabor and soul of Bogotá to Toronto. From the woven mochilas on the wall to the scent of freshly brewed 100% Colombian coffee, it’s the kind of café that makes you say “me siento como en casa.”

We dove into a spread of warm, handmade comfort: golden arepas oozing cheese, crispy empanadas packed with flavour, and rich Colombian hot chocolate — Migao — poured over melty cheese with a side of buñuelo and crackers. Sweet, savoury, and totally nostalgic.

The iced dulce de leche latte? Creamy, smooth, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat without being too heavy. And don’t skip the Salsa Ajo — their house garlic dip is bold, punchy, and seriously addictive.

To hear more about this review, follow us @eatinontario on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, &...

We visited La Piragua to try their empanadas. The place is charming and beautifully decorated, offering a selection of typical Colombian products, including candies and beverages. We ordered the chorizo and chicken empanadas, they were good, but there’s room for improvement. The chicken empanada, in particular, had a texture more like a paste or filling rather than distinct pieces of chicken, which took away from the experience.

That said, the service was excellent, and the staff was genuinely kind and welcoming, which made our visit enjoyable overall. There are other food options on the menu that caught our eye, and we’re definitely planning to come back and try more on...

We have been coming here since they opened, and it is a magical spot.

The music and arepas are wonderful.

My personal favorite is the Arepa de huevo. If there is a list for best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto, this should be on the list.

There is wonderful flavor to the dough, just enough salt to taste, but not overwhelming. A nice chew with a delightful thin layer of crisp. The frying oil hydrates it all and makes it so you don't even need a sauce.

My only mild critique would be for lunch food: made to order is better than a heat lamp which can dry out meats and food. But the combinations in lunch platters are delightful.

Don't miss out...