Simon’s Wok Vegetarian Kitchen is a popular Riverdale hole-in-the-wall that does veggies really, really well. With over 100 items on their menu, Simon can whip-up just about anything you’d find on a typical Chinese food menu. He’s got a knack for texture, using an array of vegetarian ingredients in such a way that you often forget…
Tinuno ~ 31 Howard St ~ (647) 343-9294
In the Philippines, Kamayan means to eat with one’s hands. A military tradition, the mom & pop at Tinuno are bringing the Boodle Fight to a small patio in St. James Town. Come hungry and ready to roll up your sleeves… Banana leaves are used as a place mat and get covered with a layer…
Summer Pop-Up Edition ~ Art of BBQ ~ 320 Queen St E
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…
