Toronto-based design studio +tongtong has unveiled the Mexican sandwich concept Torteria San Cosme in the city’s Kensington Market. Principal John Tong collaborated with founder Arturo Anhalt to craft the 700-square-foot space to mirror the Mexican neighborhoods Anhalt recalled of his childhood.
Handpainted, vintage-style signage from artists BrushBoys and patterned blue and white floor tiles radiate with color, contrasting a large, vivid mural. A multicolored webbed awning cantilevers the takeout counter, mimicking the designs of traditional puestos, or street food stands. The awning is crafted from industrial nylon strips woven by hand through chainlink fencing. Fluorescent tubing dangles diagonally above counter-height tables, a touch also inspired by the food markets of Mexico.
“The design of Torteria San Cosme has a kind of casual haphazardness to it,” says Tong. “But if you look for it, you can see it’s actually very controlled. It’s an urban twist on tradition.”
