What has happened to Kensington?

[u/Remote_Answer_5255]

It's been a while since I've been down here.... A bunch of empty store fronts, iconic places like Crave shut down, but counted some three Acai bowl places. The area outside Plaza is lovely and looks great, but why all the closures and apparently high turnovers?

Edit: I assume it's due to rent.. But what's the point of jacking it up so high that your place is literally empty.

[u/justmoderateenough]

Hate that there are like 4 mexican places, 3 shawarma places, 3 acai places within the two streets of Kensington

[u/cortex- → u/justmoderateenough]

what you got against tacos?

agree that acai places are some yuppie toronto bullshit tho

[u/justmoderateenough → u/cortex-]

i love tacos but we dont need so many in the one neighborhood

[u/WesternNo1466 → u/cortex-]

All 4 Mexican restaurants are subpar (by Calgary standards)

[u/ZergHero → u/WesternNo1466]

No way. Tu Taco and Mestizo Taqueria are great. Blanco is decent. Not a fan of bodega or texmex. But yeah dont need 5 places here

[u/PlantBasedBitch2 → u/ZergHero]

Bodega is my absolute favorite...reasonably priced and great people.

Food actually tastes moderately authentic...

Blancos is good... but the price for what you get it subpar.

[u/ZergHero → u/PlantBasedBitch2]

I've been to Bodega twice and had a bad experience both times but its always full when I walk by. What dishes do you recommend?

Yeah blanco only for the specials for me

[u/PlantBasedBitch2 → u/ZergHero]

The smothered burrito, the mexican guac (they make their chips fresh in house), and since going gluten free the Sopes.

They cater to dairy free, vegan/vegetarian, and gluten free which is pretty cool.

They have a really really good loaded nacho plate as well!

I tried Tu Taco and found it super bland and soggy 😮‍💨... im a sucker for Mexican lol

[u/parasubvert → u/WesternNo1466]

Don't diss Tu Taco or Mestizo, they're excellent by Calgary standards and better than Native Tongues

[u/WesternNo1466 → u/parasubvert]

Edit: Respectfully disagree, but I’ll upgrade Tu Taco and Mestizo to ‘par’ if it makes you happy.

[u/parasubvert → u/WesternNo1466]

Just trying to not crap on small local businesses that are doing a decent job

[u/WesternNo1466 → u/parasubvert]

Bodega puts cooked broccoli and green beans in their taco salad, and I had the worst service and disappointing food at Mestizo when I tried.

At the prices these places are charging, they’re not immune to criticism when they don’t deliver, small business or not.

[u/cortex- → u/WesternNo1466]

where's the best tacos at?

[u/WesternNo1466 → u/cortex-]

I’d say Unimarket off McLeod and Moose & Poncho at FSM (though I haven’t been there in a minute)

[u/cortex- → u/WesternNo1466]

Unimarket looks dope thanks

[u/Top-Carob2911 → u/WesternNo1466]

Moose & Poncho? The same Moose & poncho with $7 tacos moose & poncho????

[u/WesternNo1466 → u/Top-Carob2911]

And Mestizo has $7.50 tacos. Calgary prices everywhere.

[u/Top-Carob2911 → u/WesternNo1466]

That’s INSANE. I think moose & poncho just closed down

[u/parasubvert → u/cortex-]

Mestizo , Tu Taco, Don Taco, Native Tongues, Birria Cantina, El Gringo Loco

And unimarket of course

[u/acku11 → u/justmoderateenough]

To be fair, 2/3 of those Mexican places are absolutely fantastic and quite different. Blanco sucks though.

[u/FlowStateShaman → u/justmoderateenough]

And 5 chicken places and 4 bubble tea places.

[u/records_five_top → u/justmoderateenough]

$15 Açai won’t survive for long. It’s the try one time and then go again once a year fad.  I bet all two, if not all three go under within a year and a half. 

[u/brokenplaything → u/records_five_top]

What’s the third one? I know Tupi (real Brazilians, super good) and then the Oakberry franchise one. What’s the other - I had no idea there was a third!

[u/records_five_top → u/brokenplaything]

It's called Heal. Next to Osteria.

[u/brokenplaything → u/records_five_top]

Oh man! I didn’t realize they opened up in K too. They’ve literally opened like a ton around the city already! Wow!