Playa Cabana restaurant empire headed to Corktown

Toronto's still cuckoo for Mexican food, even if the trend has lost a little steam to the rise of Middle Eastern restaurants and craft brewpubs in this city. For evidence of just how resilient the Mexican/taco trend is, just think of the little empire that is Playa Cabana. Already five restaurants strong (three Cabanas as well as Barrio Coreano and La Libre), an east side outpost is finally on the way.

Cocina Economica will open in the space previously occupied by the Berkeley Cafe sometime this spring, bringing Dave Sidhu's version of homestyle Mexican cooking to Corktown. With La Carnita set to open in neighbouring Riverside, that's quite the injection of Mexican options for east siders. There's no word yet if Grand Electric is headed east, but would anybody be surprised if that happened?

Photo of Playa Cabana Hacienda

by Staff via blogTO