Kensington Market's most loved late-night institution — Jumbo Empanadas on Clinton Street has been turning out freshly baked South American empanadas until 2am for decades. The chicken, the beef picadillo, and the spinach-and-feta are the stalwarts; the pricing ($4–5 each) makes a three-empanada midnight meal one of the city's best cheap late-night options.
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market · Address: 245 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L7 · Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–1am | Sun 11am–midnight
Why Visit
Jumbo Empanadas feeds Kensington Market's ravenous late-night crews with hot, giant baked empanadas until the early hours. It's the rare spot where a fresh, filling meal after midnight still costs pocket change.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike most of Toronto's late-night eats, these empanadas are oven-baked, not fried, made from scratch on-site, and come out in piping-hot, back-of-the-oven batches even after last call. The empanada sizes live up to the name—one will tide you over, but regulars know three make a meal. The spicy chimichurri, doled out if you ask, is a house secret.
Jumbo Empanadas has occupied its Clinton Street location at the edge of Kensington Market for long enough that it predates the neighbourhood's current status as a Toronto destination. The restaurant has been baking South American-style empanadas to order throughout the evening and into the early morning for decades, serving Kensington Market's rotating population of students, artists, musicians, market workers, and late-night wanderers with a product that is simple, satisfying, and consistently made.
The empanadas are baked rather than fried — the pastry shell is golden and flaky rather than oily, which allows the fillings to be the dominant flavour rather than the cooking medium. The beef picadillo (ground beef cooked with olives, raisins, and spices in the South American tradition) is the flagship filling: savoury, slightly sweet from the raisins, complex from the spicing, enclosed in a pastry that holds its shape through the walk home. The chicken version (shredded chicken, peppers, and aromatics) is the lighter option; the spinach and feta is the vegetarian alternative and genuinely good rather than merely available.
The pricing has remained remarkably stable relative to Toronto food costs: empanadas run $4–5 each, making a three-empanada meal one of the best value late-night food options in the city. The restaurant accommodates walk-in customers at a small counter; seating is minimal and most customers take the empanadas to go, often eating them on the street outside or carrying them into Kensington Market's nighttime energy. A chimichurri dipping sauce is available on request and improves the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do empanadas cost at Jumbo Empanadas Toronto?
Empanadas at Jumbo Empanadas cost approximately $4–5 each, making them among the best-value late-night food options in downtown Toronto. A three-empanada meal is satisfying for most people; budget approximately $15–20 with a drink. The restaurant accepts cash and card.
What flavours does Jumbo Empanadas Toronto offer?
Regular fillings include beef picadillo (the signature — ground beef with olives, raisins, and spices), chicken (shredded with peppers and aromatics), spinach and feta, and rotating seasonal additions. The beef picadillo is the benchmark order on a first visit. Chimichurri sauce is available on request.
How late is Jumbo Empanadas open?
Jumbo Empanadas is open until 1am Monday through Saturday and midnight on Sunday. The kitchen bakes empanadas throughout the evening in fresh batches — ask what just came out of the oven for the freshest options. The late closing time makes it one of Kensington Market's primary after-midnight food options.
Where is Jumbo Empanadas in Toronto?
Jumbo Empanadas is at 245 Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market, a 5-minute walk from Spadina Station (Line 2). It is close to the intersection of Augusta and College, at the northern end of the Kensington Market pedestrian zone.