Portovelo Cafe brings Ecuadorian-style entrees to Toronto's St. Clair Ave. W.

Helmed by Laura and Carlos, a married couple from Ecuador's El Oro province, Portovelo Cafe first opened its doors in September of 2023. The owners explain that they named the cafe in honour of their hometown, one of Ecuador's most prominent mining centers.

From 2023 to 2025, the cafe was located east of Dufferin, but in February of 2025, the team moved to new digs just north of Davenport Village.

Laura tells us that the move has helped the business immensely. Not only is the new location larger than their previous one, but it is also situated along a major thoroughfare, allowing more people to visit during peak hours. She also mentions that the Canada vs. Ecuador soccer match, which took place in November 2025, was a major draw for the cafe. As such, a banner commemorating the match can be seen on the wall, along with a number of South American souvenirs.Portovelo Cafe specializes in traditional Ecuadorian snacks and drinks, placing a particular emphasis on empanadas. All of the dishes are made from scratch, using the owners' family recipes.Each meal begins with a complimentary plate of plantain chips, served with cilantro mayo and salsa.

The fried cheese empanada ($4.50) is the cafe's signature dish. Though not as flashy as some of the cafe's other offerings, its crispy coating and hot, cheesy filling still managed to leave an impression.
Special baked empanadas can be bought individually ($6) or in sets of three ($15). We tried the spinach and feta flavour, the jalapeno chorizo flavour and the veggie flavour.

Though all three types of empanadas were delicious in their own way, I was particularly fond of the veggie flavour, which was filled with mushrooms, carrots, onions and bell peppers.
Ceviche de Camaron ($27) is a cold seafood dish, made with shrimp, onions, tomatoes, and sweet green peppers. A hint of lime juice gives the soup its signature tangy flavour, while a side of plantain chips helps to balance out its acidity.Cazuela ($30) is a thick, creamy soup cooked in an earthenware pot. The broth is made from peanut butter and ground plantains, with either fish or shrimp layered on top.

White rice and avocados are served on the side.

Bolon ($23) is a popular breakfast dish, consisting of mashed green plantains mixed with cheese, pork belly or both.

Though typically served as one big ball, the staff was kind enough to give us three smaller balls, so that we could try all three variations. Of the three, I liked the mixed bolon best.

This meal also comes with two eggs, whose soft, runny texture provides an interesting contrast to the heavy bolon balls.
Morocho ($9.50) is a hot, spiced drink, made with sweet corn and cinnamon. It has a thick, pudding-like consistency, which coats your throat, warming you from the inside out.

I particularly enjoyed this drink, as I happened to be visiting the cafe on a cold winter morning. Its comforting flavour kept me warm long after I had left.
Portovelo Cafe is located at 1669 St. Clair Avenue West.