Location: 584 Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto
Website: https://www.instagram.com/balamtoronto/

Chilaquiles is one of those dishes that can be really, really good, but can also easily go wrong.  It’s basically just tortilla chips tossed in sauce, so if the sauce isn’t tasty or if the chips are allowed to get mushy, it’s kind of a dud.

The version at Balam?  Not a dud.  Not even close.

The chilaquiles here can either be tossed in a red or green sauce (I went with red), and come topped with red onion (which I skipped), queso fresco, crema, and avocado.  There are also a variety of proteins you can get on top for an extra three or four bucks; I went with chorizo.

It’s a great dish.  The red sauce is zippy and satisfying, with a nice savouriness that’s quite compelling, and the chips retain their crunch despite being tossed in sauce.

The toppings all complement the dish perfectly, particularly the robust, meaty chorizo, which is easily worth the upcharge.

That’s not to mention the pair of mildly spicy sauces on the table, both of which do a great job of making the dish really pop.