Any suggestions for good restaurants in Toronto, especially medium to lower priced ones. Can anybody recommend a good Thai, Malaysian, and Korean restaurant as well? Cheers, <BR>Muni

Muni - it would be easier if you indicated some of the areas in Toronto you planned to visit. If you head out to the Beaches, try Thai House Cuisine, excellent food, good prices, also try Eric's Kitchen (also in the Beaches), far end though, almost to Balsam St. Excellent food, one of the best restuarants in Toronto for the prices. Anne is the wife and host, really nice person. You can find tons of Asian food at Eric's kitchen (Chinese couple), as well as a bunch of other stuff, always inventive.

We just returned from Toronto and ate at an Indian restaurant which we really enjoyed. It's called Dhaba. It's located at 309 King Street W. It's charming, service was good, food delicious and moderately priced. <BR> <BR>A fun place for breakfast is the Avenue Diner at 222 Davenport Road. It's been in business since 1944. Breakfast tasted great and the atmosphere was delightful. Eggs with ham, bacon or sausage is $5.75 (CAN). I had a conderful veggie egg white omelette for $8.45 (CAN).

Hi - following is a list of reasonable restaurants from www.chowhound.com - I haven't been to all of them but the fellow who posted this list is very knowledgeable about Toronto restaurants. Just tried posting in one message but it's too long so will try splitting it up. <BR> <BR>You might also want to visit the above site - follow the links to "Canada" <BR> <BR>Top 10 Chowhound Restaurants'. Arbitrarily set a limit of $50US <BR> for two ($75 Cdn), all-in including taxes and tip, (most are much lower) and <BR> including a couple of glasses of wine/beers as appropriate. As my favourite <BR> depends on mood, I'll list alphabetically. I encourage all others to put up <BR> their list too. <BR> <BR> Bamboo <BR> A mixture of Caribbean and Thai food. Wonderful outside dining area for warm <BR> days. Consistently serves the best Pad Thai in Toronto. Also serves Burgers <BR> for those Chowhounds who travel with the unconverted. BUT at night becomes a <BR> Reggae club (after 9:30) so there's sometimes a cover charge. About $40 with <BR> beer. Location Queen St east of Spadina, north side. 15 minute walk from <BR> downtown. <BR> <BR> Boccone <BR> My favourite lunch place. Serves gourmet Panini sandwiches, which I usually <BR> have warmed on their Panini Grill. Take-out or sit-down, the price is the <BR> same. Cappuccino is under $2. Around $20, more expensive with wine. Location <BR> Yonge south of St Clair, west side. <BR> <BR> Café Pleiades <BR> A neighbourhood Bistro-style place with a chef who used to work the fine <BR> cuisine circuit and now runs this small place (30 seats) with one waiter and <BR> one other kitchen helper. Continental with Greek touches in the evening, <BR> typical medium-fast food at lunch. The prix-fixe at $19.95 (two courses plus <BR> tea/coffee) is a bargain, but splurge for the asparagus appetizer (best <BR> preparation I've ever had). $75 including wine. Location Mount Pleasant south <BR> of Manor Road, east side (next to the cinema). <BR>

Part 2 of 3 <BR> <BR> Harbord Fish & Chips <BR> Toronto's best fish and chips. Huge portions and almost tempura-like batter. <BR> Really a take-out, but has 4 stools inside and picnic tables outside. $20 <BR> including soft drinks (not licensed). Location Harbord west of Spadina, south <BR> side. <BR> <BR> Jing Peking <BR> Unbelievably low prices and open until 2 am. The menu is patchy (too many <BR> choices) but the Hot and Sour Soup is the best in town (I know I'll get <BR> competition on that!). And another must is the sesame biscuit (it's a <BR> northern dim sum item, but you can order it anytime). Make sure you ask for <BR> the sesame biscuit to come at the same time as the soup, and eat them <BR> together. I usually order the Moo-Shu pork here as they have 6 pancakes <BR> (other restaurants typically give you 4). Although I'm not an eggplant fan, <BR> others rave about their eggplant. If you're down to your last $5 the hot and <BR> sour noodle soup here is nutritious, filling and tasty. Around $20 including <BR> beer! Location College east of Bathurst, north side. <BR> <BR> Nataraj <BR> My favourite Indian. Often line-ups, but usually moves quickly. Mildly <BR> offputting as owners appear to be Chinese, but they were born in India. <BR> Tandoori Grill, but many of the dishes are cooked in a cashew paste, which is <BR> a little different. Very respectable - tablecloths - and always crowded. Best <BR> Onion Bhajia in town too (share one order between two, it's huge). Around $45 <BR> with beer. Location Bloor at Brunswick, north side. <BR> <BR> Peter's Chung King <BR> All around the most versatile Chinese in town. Predominantly Szechuan, but <BR> all dishes are well prepared. For a first visit, stick with their specials, <BR> then experiment. Wonderful green beans. Kids (of all ages) love the crispy <BR> rice dishes. Definitely the venue for groups as there's something for <BR> everyone. Even has tablecloths so Mum will feel comfortable. If it's not the <BR> best on any dish (see Jing Peking), then it's still in the top 5. Great <BR> choices include szechuan shredded beef, spiced chicken with peanuts, orange <BR> shrimp etc etc. $30-35 including beer. College just west of Spadina, south <BR> side. <BR> <BR> Rashnaa <BR> Sri Lankan food at bargain prices. Excellent choice for vegetarians, but good <BR> selection for meat lovers too. Excellent dhosas. Go exotic with String <BR> Hoppers. More conventionally try the Thali. Décor is minimal. No tablecloths <BR> but all food is freshly prepared. Outside patio in summer. Lunch is a buffet. <BR> $20-25 with beer. Wellesley east of Parliament, south side. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Part 3 of 3 <BR> <BR> <BR> Salad Garden <BR> Quite simply a University (Ryerson) hang-out. Packed all the time. Great Thai <BR> food at bargain prices. Line-up to order and they cook it fresh and call your <BR> number. In and out in 30 mins (plus line-up time). Unless you are very brave <BR> don't go above *** (they really ration their hotness stars). Orders include <BR> rice. Closest recommendation to downtown, being close to Eaton Centre. $20, <BR> including pop (small selection of beer). Although it has a Yonge St address, <BR> the entrance is around the corner on Gould (1 block north of Dundas, east of <BR> Yonge). <BR> <BR> Thai Shan Inn <BR> Noted for the worst décor in town - and that was after the repainting. <BR> Plastic table covers. You'll probably have to share a table. Pretty good Thai <BR> food, but notable for the best Tom Yum Goong (Spicy shrimp/mushroom <BR> lemongrass soup) in town. Make a pretty good green mango salad too, although <BR> a little sweet for some, and always serve orange segments to finish up. <BR> Bargain priced for the quality, but dress very casual for this one. Or, even <BR> better, call and order the Tom Yum Goong as a take-out (large size essential, <BR> no delivery). $20-25. Located on Eglinton West a few blocks west of Dufferin <BR> (south side). <BR> <BR> Also a limited-time offer #11 for those staying downtown. The Red Tomato <BR> wouldn't normally qualify, but they have a special 'off-peak' menu that is <BR> nearly all appetizers. Think non-chinese dim-sum and you'll get the idea. At <BR> these off-times the prices are cut around 30% and you can have a great meal <BR> for $50-60 depending on selection (3 appetizers per person is plenty). <BR> Location (in the theatre district) King St between John and Peter, south <BR> side. Offered late afternoon daily and mid-afternoon on Sunday. <BR>

Downtown: Try Joe Badali's businessmans' buffet lunch for $9.99. It's on Front Street. Best deal downtown.<BR><BR>Yorkville area: Have dinner at The Sultan's Tent...a Maroccan feast.<BR><BR>West: Dundas just east of Islington. Leonardo's Trattoria...Best Italian food in west end

Kiwi - How expensive is the Sultan's Tent - sound interesting - family place or not?<BR><BR>Thanks!

Ariel: Re: The Sultan's tent... Not inexpensive...prix fixe... there are 5 courses... slightly higher Friday and Saturday nights. Re: Kids...There is a belly dance show around 9:00 P.M. but it isn't vulgar. With an American dollar things are not expensive in Canada. Canadians are now using the Canadian peso!

Kiwi - I am Canadian too - and yes I ahve too agree it certainly feels like we are using Canadian pesos! Thanks for the info.

There are many good recommendations of restaurants but since this is our first time in Toronto, seems like everything is so spread out. Can someone recommend some good restaurants around the City Hall area (that's where we're staying)? I want to get a good sampling of what Canadian food is all about since I've heard the food is great. I'm a huge sushi fan and my husband likes the Japanese noodles. Also, if I can get a really good upscale restaurant recommendation. Thanks so much!

In terms of distance, City Hall is 10-20 minute walk in a area bounded by Spadina, College, King and Jarvis which gives you a lot of choices. Dhaba, Bamboo, Peters Chungking and salad Garden are all inside this area. Remember the transit system, TTC, is pretty good in the downtown area, especially near subway stations.<BR><BR>A street to check out n. City Hall is ELm St. Variety of restaurants and prices. <BR><BR>More EXPENSIVE places<BR>Canoe (great view from 54th floor; walking distance)<BR>Avalon (walking)<BR>North 44 (Yonge n. of Eglinton; taxi) <BR>Hiro (best sushi; ok service; walking)<BR><BR>Sushi/Noodles<BR>Ematei (30 St Patrick; walking; authentic)<BR>Nami (55 Adelaide E; walking)<BR>Lots of noodle houses in Chinatown <BR><BR>Check out toronto.com or torontolife.com<BR>Enjoy!!

We absolutely loved the Esplanade Bier Market. It is on the esplanade next door to the venerable Old Spaghetti Factory (itself a great place if you have kids - very reasonable). We had the best mussels and frites I have ever had, including when we were in Belgium! And they have a wide selection of Belgian beers on tap! What a treat! Lovely ambience to boot. Ate there twice!

Could someone update this list, as to which are still good and/or open, as well as some suggestions for lunch, Sunday brunch and upper end/celebration dinners? We'll be staying at Sutton Place . . .<BR><BR>Can't wait to visit -- sounds like an incredible place to eat!

"Corner House" is a lovely special occasion restaurant (501 Davenport Road @ Madison 416-923-2604). Food, service, and ambiance are all excellent.<BR><BR>A great source for Toronto restaurant recommendations is www.torontolife.com - their restaurant ratings are quite well regarded. Using their website you can request a restaurant sort by neighbourhood, price range, etc. If you indicate a search of "Editors Choice" you will be presented with categories such as "Best Lunch", "Best Brunches", etc from which to make your selection.<BR><BR>Enjoy!

Not sure if it's still open, but Mata Hari Grill on Baldwin Street has great Malaysian food, terrific atmosphere, on an interesting street on the border between the University of Toronto and Chinatown.<BR><BR>If you're shopping in Yorkville, you have a terrific, inexpensive meal at the Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Hung, on Bloor St West (just a block or two West of Queen's Park Crescent, on the 2nd floor on the north side of the street).

Two we enjoyed-<BR><BR>Pearl Harbourfront in Queen's Quay Terminal and Movenpick Marche on the street level of BCE Place. (Sort of a very upscale cafeteria with scads of freshly prepared foods. Don't confuse it with the other Movenpick, a sitdown restaurant in Yorkville or the other Movenpick Marches which are essentially takeout establishments.) <BR><BR>For a quick (and cheap) breakfast, try the food counter in Hudson's Bay (baked goods/breakfast pastries/several varieties of coffee in a very clean and comfortable location.

not actually on topic but there used to be a wonderful Malaysian restaurant called the Old Malacca on Dufferin/oakwood but it has now closed - run by Mr. H. Lau and family - Ive been trying to find out if they are running another restaurant - does anyone know? they made the best Straits Chinese style Malaysian food - esp. rendang daging

ttt

Leaving Friday for first trip to Toronto - any last-minute don't-miss recommendations for three days? Many thanks!