Double play of Dominican and Salvadoran cuisine
There are less than five Dominican (the republic, not Dominica) restaurants I know of in Toronto. Sazón Latino has the best atmosphere for a sit-down meal. It even has Salvadoran food for variety too.
Mofongo to go
Don’t tell Puerto Rico, but the Dominican Republic (DR) also has good mofongos. It’s a simple but labourious dish to make. Plantains are deep-fried, then mashed into a paste with lard. It’s served with an assertive and tangy garlic sauce. A good mofongo should be smooth like mashed potatoes and the sauce should cut through the fattiness.
The food
I haven’t found a good mofongo in Toronto. The one at Sazón Latino is the best but even then, it pales in comparison to those in DR. There is a choice of proteins for mofongos at Sazón Latino. I went with pollo guisado (stewed chicken).
The good news was that the portions were massive. There were two shot put-sized scoops of mofongo. There was also a whole avocado, an ingredient that many restaurants are stingy with. The amount of chicken was enough for two meals.
The bad news was that the mofongo was chunky and dry. I hope you are a fan of garlic like I am because it was filled with it. Overall, the aroma and taste was great but the texture wasn’t. 6.5/10.
The braised chicken wasn’t half-bad. The components of sazón (onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes) gave a tantalizing taste. The chicken was stewed until the meat fell off the bone. It contrasted with the tough mofongo. 7.5/10.
Other than mofongos, there aren’t many must-try DR dishes at Sazón Latino. If you are feeling peckish, you can try their Salvadoran pupusas. They are ok.
The place
Sazón Latino is situated in a strip plaza in an isolated neighbourhood bordered to the south by highways.
It’s a family restaurant and designed as such. Neutral brown furnishings accented with some inoffensive potted plants. Natural light is lacking.
They have an adjoining space for hot table lunches, which wasn’t functioning during the pandemic.
Verdict
Respectable family restaurant with Dominican and Salvadoran favourites. 7.5/10.
Practical information
- Name
- Sazón Latino
- Rating
- 7.5/10
- Recommended dishes
- Pollo guisado
Pupusa revuelta - Prices
- Mofongo de pollo guisado: $20.28 ($17.95 excluding tax)
- Address
- 4 Bradstock Road
- Hours
- Daily 1100h – 2000h
- Date of visit
- June 2021