Introducing: Kanga, the Aussie-inspired pop-up’s standalone meat-pie shop
Introducing: Kanga, the Aussie-inspired pop-up’s standalone meat-pie shop
By Caroline Aksich | May 21, 2014
By Caroline Aksich | 05/21/2014
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Name: Kanga Aussie Meat Pies
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Contact Info: 65 Duncan St., 416-324-9174, eatkanga.com
Owners: Megan Chan and Erynn Mayes, who left their corporate jobs last fall to follow their meat-pie-shop dreams
The Food: It was while living in Australia that Kanga owners Chan and Mayes got the idea to bring the country’s national snack—miniature, meat-stuffed pies—back home with them to Canada. After spending a year selling their pies at pop-ups, they raised $16,575 on Kickstarter to fund their first standalone shop. Their palm-sized pies have buttery pastry crusts and gravy-soaked interiors, and they come in flavours both traditional (beef-and-Vegemite) and unconventional (butter chicken). Diners with unusually healthy appetites can opt to “poutine their pie”—i.e. smother it in gravy and cheese curds.
The Drinks: Propeller coffee and espresso-based beverages. Those aching for a pie-and-pint combo can purchase their pie frozen and heat it up at home.
The Place: Lux Design did the snug room up in neutral hues with punches of bold orange and purple. Lest you forget the Australian theme, there’s a surfboard on one wall and a constellation of suspended boomerangs dangling from the ceiling.
275009 <strong>Kanga’</strong>s first standalone pie shop is located at 65 Duncan Street, between Queen and Richmond (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k8.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k8/ k8 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275008 Neither of the owners is Australian, but they both spent time living there before launching their Aussie pie biz (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k9.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k9/ k9 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275007 The Aussie-inspired decor includes a wall-mounted surfboard and 28 boomerangs dangling from the ceiling (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k10/ k10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275011 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k5.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k5/ k5 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275010 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k7.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k7/ k7 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275005 The Canadian: Steak and bacon braised with Amsterdam Downtown Brown Ale ($7.75) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k12/ k12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275004 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k13/ k13 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275006 El Diablo: pulled pork with a mashed-tater top ($7.50) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k11/ k11 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275012 The shop also sells coffee and pastries, like these Billionaire shortbreads (inspired by <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/millionaires-chocolate-cake-ru332454.html" target="_blank">Millionaire cake,</a> a popular British dessert) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k3.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k3/ k3 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275013 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k1.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k1/ k1 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
275002 Kanga owners <strong>Megan Chan</strong> and <strong>Erynn Mayes</strong> (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Kanga https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k15_owners-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k15_owners.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/k15_owners.jpg 667 1001 [] https://torontolife.com/food/kanga-aussie-meat-pies-toronto-restaurants/slide/k15_owners/ k15_owners 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
I’ve tried Kanga pies a few too many times. They’re absolutely delicious and I’m always left craving some more !! A must try!!
Lux Design thoroughly enjoyed working on Kanga Meat Pies. The owners were a pleasure to work with and the pies are to die for! If you’re looking to open a business give us a call. The interiors and construction were done by Lux Design. http://www.luxdesign.ca