Happy Canada Day!!! Was walking through Moss Park on my lunch-hour recently. Just west of Parliament, on the north side of Queen, came a across a flurry of homemade signs pointing me to Art of BBQ, a new summer pop-up at the back of an empty lot. I was equally hungry and intrigued. Spoiler alert……
Animal Liberation Kitchen ~ 717 1/2 Queen St E ~ (647) 232-9790
Animal Liberation Kitchen is the newest addition to the Riverside lunch scene. Tanja Spasic and her family have spent years operating as caterers while also selling their plant-based snacks at food festivals, events and farmer’s markets. Their new bricks & mortar spot at Queen & Broadview proves that vegan eats can also be cheap eats…..
Latin World ~ 1229 Bloor St W ~ (416) 603-3311
The Toronto Food Blog has a real soft spot for the west-end neighbourhood of Bloordale Village. My wife and I lived on Lansdowne Avenue back in the day and thoroughly enjoyed all the diversity. One of the ‘hood’s best-kept secrets is Latin World. Half restaurant, half bodega, the name of the game here is cheap-eats. …
Loga’s Corner ~ 216 Close Ave ~ (647) 761-0965
Loga’s Corner is a popular Parkdale Tibetan restaurant & take-away. They draw large crowds, thanks to delicious food and reasonable prices. One of the best finds for cheap eats in the city, their menu is very simple yet kinda complicated. I spent some time chatting with Loga himself during my last visit. He shared with…
Hakka Chopsticks ~ 2940 Danforth Ave ~ (647) 352-4888
Hidden away at the very east end of Danforth, Hakka Chopsticks is a Mom & Pop that does great Chinese food with a distinctly Indian flare. Their menu is extensive, cheap and cheerful. It’s also Halal. Help yourself to hot & sour soup while you wait for your pick-up orders, and be sure to try…
Delina ~ 1891 Queen St E ~ (647) 348-2009
Delina Restaurant is a hidden gem at the west end of the Beach. Owned and operated by a mother & daughter duo, their smorgasbord is full of Mediterranean & Middle-Eastern classics with a distinctly East-African twist. I love hitting-up Delina for lunch, in large part due to the salad bar. Tabule, Coleslaw, Beets, Corn, Lentils,…
Best of 2018
Happy New Year! 2018 was a fantastic year for the Toronto Food Blog, filled with great meals avec friends and family. We tried a number of wonderful restaurants for the very first time, many of which were worth writing home about. Here’s a recap of some of the finer moments from the past year… BREAKFAST…
Que Ling ~ 248 Boulton Ave ~ (416) 778-4038
Tucked away behind the main drag of Chinatown East, Que Ling is a Vietnamese Mom-and-Pop that does a couple of things really, really well. A bungalow turned dining room, table seats are hard to come by at lunch hour. And it’s obvious why… these guys are doling out some of the heartiest broth in town. …
Gyoko Sushi ~ 2143 Danforth Ave ~ (416) 916-0901
Gyoko Sushi is the newest addition to the evolving retail landscape of Danforth East. From a supply-and-demand perspective, it’s easily the best sushi restaurant around. A welcome and needed addition to the ‘hood, this is a great spot for families with young kids and/or for picking up a little something-something on the way home. Gyoko…
Porchetta & Co. ~ 545 King St W ~ (647) 351-8844
Porchetta & Co. makes, perhaps, the best sandwich in town. Nick Auf Der Mauer’s cash-only, counter-service flagship on Dundas West is where I first imbibed. Now I can’t get enough. I’m selfishly thrilled they’ve scaled to open additional locations closer to my work. Their iteration at 545 King St W, for instance, helps satisfy my…
Bar Buca ~ 75 Portland St ~ (416) 599-2822
Bar Buca needs little introduction. It’s Chef Rob Gentile’s rendition of a snack bar, so you know it’s going to be good. Located a block south of his mothership, this Italian-industrial 40-seater is just about the best place you can have lunch on the westside of downtown… especially if you’re expensing it. The Toronto Food Blog…
M’Zaar ~ 668 Yonge St ~ (647) 350-0666
I’ve gotta be honest with you… it’s typically against my nature, in any city, to frequent restaurants located on the busiest street with pictures of their food in the window. M’Zaar is truly an exception to this rule, though. This place is something else. One of my favourite spots for a quick bite around the Church…
