La Perla, Toronto's latest Mexican pop-up, is now open downtown, featuring some traditional Mexican dishes.
The new concept is brought by the owner of the successful Milagro Cantina and San Cosme––Arturo Anhalt. The pop-up was born as a form of reinvention after the pandemic hit, according to Anhalt. After considering different ideas, they realized that Toronto was missing a cevichería––a place where people could enjoy different types of ceviche.
"In Mexico, we eat more than tacos. We needed a cevichería in Toronto," says Anhalt.
Ceviche is a popular dish in Latin America––at La Perla, you can find nine different types of ceviches inspired by traditional recipes from different regions of Mexico, like the 'Ceviche Yucateco', which comes with marinated snapper, chiles güeros, picked habaneros red onions, fresh orange juice and scallions.
La Perla also has a great selection of seafood tacos and on their menu––you can find beer-battered cod tacos, sautéed shrimp with pastor adobo tacos, sauteed octopus tacos and even 'Pescadillas', which is crab in crispy corn tortillas.
Anhalt shared that La Perla is also the name of the second floor of Milagro Cantina on Queen Street West, and received its name after cabaret La Perla in Mexico City.
La Perla’s pop-up is open at 5 Mercer Street. You can order via popular ordering platforms.
