The Torta Shop Opens in Bridgeport Serving Epic Mexican Sandwiches

Look at those layers! D’La Casa - ham, pork head ham, chicharron, guac, refried beans, Oaxaxa cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and jalapeños.

Go up or down Bridgeport’s North Avenue roughly a mile or so before or after the Fairfield town line and you’ll notice a neon blue awning with an emoji-like sandwich logo paired with the words “The Torta Shop” printed on it.

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. It wasn’t always there. In fact, The Torta Shop only opened up shop on December 16, replacing Zaachila Grocery Store.

Mariella and Jose said that previously owning the market gave them a built-in customer base, and that people driving or walking by see the bright colored signage and that they sell tortas has brought in some new faces, too.

Milanesa with a twist. Keep reading the article to find out.

What’s not new, however, are the owners. Mariella Garcia and her husband Jose Santiago previously owned the bodega since 2017. Around a year and a half ago, the couple decided to flip the concept into something different.

The “Cubana” is a big ol’ sandwich! A thick chicken cutlet, chorizo, ham, Oaxaca cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, refried beans, and mayo. Get yours spicy and ask for chipotle sauce.

“We’re originally from Oaxaca, then we came to Norwalk, and my husband and I moved to Bridgeport in 2016,” Garcia says. “In 2017 we got the grocery store and thought about switching it up over the years and wanted to make a bigger change. We wanted to bring this to Bridgeport. And there are a lot of Mexican restaurants here, but we wanted to focus on tortas, Mexican sandwiches. Other places do it, but we want to be known as a tortarilla.”

Some of the market “stuff” like salty and sweet snacks, fresh Latin American pastries, and some frozen foods are still in stock.

Al pastor - marinated pork loin, pineapple, Oaxaca cheese, cilantro, onion, guac, mayo, lettuce, and if you choose, mild salsa is their recommendation. Wondering about the bread? Telera rolls and bolillo bread are delivered fresh from a bakery in Port Chester.

But the two didn’t go into the torta business blindly. Not only has Santiago worked in restaurant kitchens for a long time, Garcia’s brother and nephews own TuttiMango, the juice bar that also serves some savory Mexican cuisine.

Via the TuttiMango connection, the couple was able to consult with Evelin Perez, who works with Garcia’s family at that restaurant to help read the market, streamline the menu, and give overall advice. “We would not have been able to go in this direction if not for her,” Garcia says.

Some people shouldn’t be allowed out in public.

In its intro stages, The Torta Shop serves eight signature sandwiches that are based in tradition, only with their own little twist.

“The Milanesa (chicken cutlet) is a popular one, but he (Jose) wanted to change it up,” Garcia says.

I interrupt her, “There’s something sweet in there that adds a nice contrast to the rest. What is that?”

“It’s caramelized onions,” Santiago says from behind the counter.

“Another one, the chorizo, we add tomatillo with the jalapeño sauce for a different flavor,” Garcia continues. “And our D’La Casa (ham, pig’s head ham, chicharron, homemade guacamole, refried beans, Oaxaca cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato), is like eating a chicharron taco, and you can choose if you want jalapeño slices or if you want it with mild salsa.” 

A fresh, frothy pineapple agua fresca that Garcia told us is a freshly juiced pineapple, filtered, with a little added sugar.

Aside from their tortas, quesadillas, tostadas, and memelas—handmade corn tortillas with pork rind spread, refried beans, Oaxaca cheese, and your choice of meat—are also served, but so is something called a torta wrap, basically all the torta fillings in a flour or wheat wrap for those who’d prefer to not have it on a telera roll.

The Torta Shop also has a $4.99 menu that consists of two different tostadas and four smaller tortas on bolillo rolls (similar to a petite baguette).

“Mr. Bean” - refried beans and fresh cheese is one of the tortas on the $4.99 menu. When coming up with a price structure, Garcia and Santiago knew they had to be an affordable neighborhood spot. “We knew we had to get the prices somewhere in between,” she says. “That guy over there (pointing), he comes in all the time for the bean and cheese.”

 While they open early every day at seven, there are no immediate plans to run a breakfast service, but it isn’t out of the question after they settle in a bit. For now, Garcia and Santiago are happy serving beautiful looking, delicious, and affordable tortas to the area.

 “I love it when families come in and everyone has a torta in front of them, and a few other things, and they can go home happy for like $60,” Garcia says. “We run this place with our 15-year-old son who we wouldn’t be able to do this without, and one other employee. I like to serve food the way I’m gonna eat it, not just because I want to make money and get the food out quickly. I want it to look pretty and I want the taste to be the same every time you come in.”

 1217 North Avenue, Bridgeport
203.333.3833, thetortashop.com