Manotas Flavours

What is Manotas Flavours? For nearly two decades, Manotas Flavours (operated by Manotas Organics & Fine Latin Foods) stood as a beloved South American takeaway fixture within the lower level of historic St. Lawrence Market. Founded by a passionate Colombian family, the compact market stall filled its glass display cases with golden hand-pinched pastries, fresh salsas, and traditional Latin pantry goods. It provided market regulars, downtown office workers, and culinary explorers with an accessible gateway to authentic Colombian and pan-Latin home-style cooking.

Manotas Flavours Menu & What to Order The culinary draw centered squarely on freshly fried Colombian empanadas, encased in a shatteringly crisp, gluten-free yellow cornmeal crust. The traditional spiced beef and potato empanada reigned as the perennial crowd favorite, closely followed by tender shredded chicken, savory chorizo, and black bean vegan iterations. Each pastry came paired with generous containers of tangy house-made ají sauce or fresh crushed guacamole. Hungry patrons also gravitated toward sweet griddled corn arepas stuffed with molten queso blanco, alongside foil-wrapped Colombian corn tamales steamed inside aromatic plantain leaves.

Know Before You Go The vendor historically followed St. Lawrence Market's core retail operating schedule, staying dark on Mondays and drawing heavy foot-traffic lines during Saturday market mornings. While recent municipal market reconfigurations have shifted vendor tenancies across the lower concourse, the Manotas brand retains strong catering and wholesale ties across the Greater Toronto Area. King subway station and the 504 King streetcar bring visitors within steps of the Front and Jarvis market hall.