Tres Piggies Carnitas is Kensington Market's newest spot for authentic Mexican street food in Toronto.

Located near the corner of Baldwin Street and Kensington Avenue, the restaurant occupies a small, boxy storefront that once belonged to Seven Lives.

This should come as no surprise, as Tres Piggies is owned by the same team as the recently shuttered taco shop.

Co-founder Pedro Palafox explains that rising food and labour costs made it difficult for Seven Lives to continue operating. Despite this, the team was determined to maintain a presence in the market.

As such, Pedro describes Tres Piggies as a "more sustainable" counterpart to Seven Lives. Though their offerings aren't completely identical — Seven Lives' signature fish tacos are conspicuously absent from the menu board — the two restaurants share the same atmosphere and a similar range of options.

As its name might suggest, Tres Piggies places its pork products front and center. Almost every item on the menu includes some type of pork, while a butcher's diagram can be seen next to the walk-up counter, showing the different cuts of meat for sale.

Other pig-themed decorations include a neon sign above the kitchen door and a framed headshot of Miss Piggy.Despite the emphasis on meat, however, Tres Piggies also offers a wide selection of sauces and spices. Many of these items are displayed on wall-mounted shelves, with hand-written labels and price tags. Pedro tells blogTO that the majority of these products were either imported from Mexico or made in-house, like the agua frescas, which are made with Tres Piggies' very own tamarind and hibiscus syrup.

Other menu items take inspiration from traditional Michoacan-style cuisine.

Tacos can be bought individually ($6) or in sets of three ($15). Regardless of how many you get, each one will be filled to the brim with braised pork and Mexican spices. Additional toppings, such as peppers, onions and salsa, can be added upon request.Tortas ($15) are served on fresh telera bread, which is baked from scratch every morning. Carnitas, peppers, black beans and guacamole are just some of the ingredients you'll find between the thick, crusty slices.For those looking for a more substantial meal, consider trying the carnitas bowl ($15). Its contents are fairly similar to the tacos, but the portion size is significantly larger.Chicharron is sold by the kilo, allowing fans of the salty, greasy snack to buy in bulk. Pedro tells us that the team spent weeks perfecting their cooking process so that the meat would be crunchy and tender at the same time.

He also tells us that the dish tastes best when eaten with tortilla chips and guacamole, which help to balance out the pork belly's strong, salty flavour. Side dishes, desserts and specialty items rotate throughout the year. For Day of the Dead, Tres Piggies offers a selection of sweet breads, including sugar-crusted conchas and corn-shaped elotitos.

Future releases are set to coincide with major holidays, such as Christmas and New Year.Tres Piggies Carnitas is located at 72 Kensington Avenue.