Esto Es Colombia Restaurant

What is Esto Es Colombia Restaurant? Anchoring a vibrant stretch of Dufferin Street in the Yorkdale-Glen Park and MarkeTo District, Esto Es Colombia is a beloved family-run kitchen founded by Cali-born chef-owner Diana Arizala. The intimate dining room hums with warmth, featuring Colombian art, national flag colours, and a soundtrack of upbeat salsa that gives way to weekend dance energy. Seating is casual and straightforward, revolving around indoor dining tables and a small bar area that caters to neighbourhood regulars and expats seeking a taste of home.

Esto Es Colombia Restaurant Menu & What to Order Chef Arizala’s expansive menu covers regional home-style classics, anchored by the legendary Bandeja Paisa—a mountainous platter loaded with grilled steak, crispy chicharrón, Colombian chorizo, fried egg, beans, rice, and avocado. Seafood lovers should make a beeline for the rich Cazuela de Mariscos, a coastal seafood casserole brimming with shrimp and calamari simmered in a savory broth. Kick off the meal with crispy beef empanadas or Patacón con Todo (fried green plantains piled high with meats and rose sauce), paired with a cold Colombian Club Colombia beer or refreshing lulo and maracuyá juices.

Know Before You Go Reservations can be made by calling ahead for large groups or weekend events, but walk-ins are the standard for weeknight and daytime dining. Weekend lunch and dinner rushes get packed fast—especially on soccer matchdays and celebratory salsa nights. Street parking is available along Dufferin and adjacent side streets, and the 29 Dufferin bus drops riders right outside the front doors near Glencairn.