Aguacate (Food Corner)

Trying to wrap my head around some of the best cuisines in the world. If I had to choose personally, I would always say Indian or Thai are the best. Those flavours work really well for me, but a good percentile probably cannot handle the heat that those flavours come with. Honestly, it is an endless conversation. There is a lot to talk about when It comes to discussing different cuisines. After giving this a lot of thought, I think it safe to say that Mexican is one of the rare ones where nothing bad comes to mind. It can either be that fatty, soul satisfying grub or the most humble meal when needed. The dishes can be quick and altering the spice levels doesn’t really mess with the flavour of the dish either. There is a lot of elevated Mexican food around but in its true essence it is that street side, food truck flavour mania.

I still have to go to Mexico to be able to say that I have had the most authentic stuff. The place that I think really channels that food truck Mexican energy in Porto, is Aguacate. There was a time when Porto only had two Mexican restaurants. So, Alejandro did really well creating this place. Ale is a chef from Uruguay and a really creative one. His love for travelling and decadent quick food got him working at pop-ups and food trucks all around South America. He got well-versed with Mexican food while working in Buenos Aires. I could sense it when I had the Guacamole at Aguacate. The most authentic one is just supposed to be avocados smashed with lime, salt and pepper. Even though their Guac has some other stuff mixed in, you can always feel the avocados shining through. Eventually, he moved to Brazil where he came across Diogo, who is from Porto. Ale was already thinking about moving to Europe and now with the knowledge about Porto, he decided to give it a shot. 

He took some time travelling around and after getting acquainted with the new surroundings he got back to working with food. But Portuguese kitchens are not where his passion lies. He did enjoy it for a while but ended up missing his old working environment. He found his groove back when Diogo introduced him to Rui, the owner of Aguacate (formerly known as Abacate). Shifting perspectives for a bit here. Abacate was a part of the ‘Food Corner’ which is an evolved version of a typical food court that you would find in a mall. It is this corner building hidden between three alleys amidst the most central area of Porto. Has 5 floors, each housing a different restaurant, you can sit anywhere and order to your liking, just like a food court. But the detachment from a mall and it’s ambience make it work well as a fun casual dining place. It is so much better for bigger groups because there are options for everyone. When I first ate here, I remember Abacate on the ground floor. It was a salad bar and apparently, it wasn’t doing that well. Rui was looking for a fix and that is when Ale came into the mix. (Good Rhyme!)

Ale had already noticed the lack of food diversity in Porto and suggested to remodel Abacate into a street style Mexican place. The kitchen reminded him of his food truck days and he took on the mantle of Manager/Head chef. They changed the entire aesthetic of the place, Ale’s wife Karen did all the logos and the artwork, he created a new menu and in 2019 Aguacate was opened. They kept the name similar but added a Spanish touch to it. The sous-chef is Ale’s sister-in-law and it is noticeable that the whole team works like a family. I am pretty sure that there has been his family’s influence on this menu because Karen is vegan and their vegan stuff is fantastic. Specially the burrito, the main focus is grilled veggies and mushrooms, so it doesn’t try to resemble meat, but in terms of flavour can go head-to-head with any meat dish on the menu. You can also ask for the normal cheese and have it vegetarian. Now, you can really see Ale working in his element. You will always find him engaging with the clients, offering them shots and just having fun. I am happy to say that they are doing really well. Ale has also opened a Poke place called ‘Kawaii’ in partnership with Rui right next to Aguacate. (Which is good in its own right.)

They have tried to do outdoor events with a DJ during the summers, to go along with whole South American Food truck vibe but the others owning parts of the Food Corner are not into it. Hopefully, they can get that going again. For now, there is a DJ who plays inside every other weekend and it really amps up the ambience. Anyway, their menu is extremely satisfying, I love the chilli and their burritos are dripping with flavour. I am sure you would enjoy eating here. Also, don’t forget to try the Margaritas and the spicy tequila shot. (Don’t make the mistake of trying the chilli-tequila concoction by itself though. I took a bit too much and trust me it is not a good feeling.)