Happy Canada Day! This long weekend always rekindles childhood memories of visiting my Granny’s house and enjoying a massive Polish meal, complete with all the fixins. Frequenting the Hastings Snack Bar brings me right back… Family run, Polish comforts with a throwback decor that feels just like home. This Mom-and-Pop-and-Daughter in the heart of Leslieville is…
Rusi ~ 7 King St E ~ (416) 977-4088
Rusi is a newish Sri Lankan lunch counter right outside of King Subway Station. I visited with friends recently and was introduced to Siva, who formerly ran Toni Bulloni. He tells me that he moved from Yorkville to manage The Office Pub and uses its larger kitchen to cook much of the food for Rusi (located…
Makkal Chon ~ 1979 Lawrence Ave E ~ (416) 757-3945
There always seems to be a small crowd congregating outside a sleepy strip-mall on the SW corner of Lawrence and Warden. I recently parked the car to try and figure out why. What I found was the best Korean restaurant in the city. What I found was Makkal Chon. Those who know me know that…
Toronto Food Blog Favourites…
#bigdata THESE GUYS ARE JUST THE BEST (a list)… Afghani Restaurant: Bamiyan Kebab (62 Overlea Blvd) Americano/Misto: The Cannonball (641 Queen St E) Arancini: Centro Trattoria (1224 St. Clair Ave W) Arepas: Pomarosa (1504 Danforth Ave) Bagel: Gryfe’s (3421 Bathurst St) Baguette: Ma Maison (4243 Dundas St W, Etobicoke) Bakery: San Remo Bakery (374 Royal…
Schnitzel Queen ~ 211 Queen St E ~ (416) 504-1311
Schnitzel Queen is the stuff of legend. A European diner located on Queen St E. in the heart of Moss Park, they’ve been serving-up enormous schnitzel sandwiches and scrumptious dinner plates for the past 25 years. And while new owner Karl Hubsch wasn’t able to woo any investors on the Dragon’s Den, he sure does keep…
Tabulé (Riverside) ~ 810 Queen E ~ (416) 465-2500
The word is out on Tabulé. The popular middle-eastern restaurant is rapidly growing, much like the neighborhoods they find themselves in. Their Riverside offering is a vibrant space with many of the menu items that made their uptown flagship so popular. It checks all the boxes for those seeking a quiet lunch or a lively dinner…
Salad King ~ 340 Yonge St ~ (416) 593-0333
With its large menu, reasonable prices and varying degrees of spice, Salad King (340 Yonge St) has been a Yonge & Dundas staple for some time. Over the years it has grown from a Ryerson student hangout to a legit lunch-hour hot spot… reminding us that healthy, well-priced food can be found smack-dab in the…
The Senator ~ 249 Victoria St ~ (416) 364-7517
The Senator is a Toronto institution; the city’s oldest restaurant (or so they tell me). Located on Victoria Street, just east of Yonge & Dundas Square, it’s the perfect place for a bite to eat before a show or after a long day of shopping. If breakfast is your thing, their Full English is on-point. …
Kyouka Ramen ~ 2222 Queen St E ~ (647) 748-6288
Kyouka Ramen is – dare I say it? – the best ramen in town. Located in the east end of the Beach, this is as authentic as it gets. Kenji is their head chef. A long-time apprentice at the famous Tokyo location, he has brought his skills and knowledge to Toronto. According to Kenji, his…
Pomarosa ~ 1504 Danforth Ave ~ (416) 462-2945
Pomarosa Coffee Shop & Kitchen just opened at Coxwell & Danforth, bringing with it a strong Latin American snack game to the east-end. Head chef Luis Hernandez is from Venezuela and has always had a passion for cooking. Fueled by a dream of owning his own restaurant, he worked in a number of Toronto kitchens…
Caribbean Sunset ~ 753A Queen St E ~ (416) 320-8967
Caribbean Sunset is one of the newest additions to the Riverside food scene. Owner Douglas Ling and head-chef Christopher Farquharson are churning out tropical favourites at all hours of the day, adding some much-needed variety and spice to the ‘hood. Mains range from $11 to $16 and come with your choice of any two sides….
Butchers of Distinction ~ 738 Queen St E. ~ (416) 466-9191
Butchers of Distinction is truly a hidden gem. As the lone butcher shop in the quietly booming Riverside neighbourhood on Toronto’s lower east-side, they claim to be the first meat specialty shop to offer only Ontario grown, raised or made produce. Their aim is to offer the very highest-quality products (free of hormones, antibiotics and…
