Must Eats in Toronto?
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:21 PM
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Must Eats in Toronto?
Ok, so I wasn't taking notes when Rachel Ray visited Toronto in one of her $40 a day shows, but I am hoping that my fellow Fodorites can give me the low-down on must eat (and yet somewhat cheap) places in Toronto...
I love ethnic food...and am a huge fan of Asian, Indian, African, and Caribean food (sp?).
Would love your suggestions on best ethnic cheap eats, AND your favorite meal there and why!!!
Ok, I have got my pen ready!!
I love ethnic food...and am a huge fan of Asian, Indian, African, and Caribean food (sp?).
Would love your suggestions on best ethnic cheap eats, AND your favorite meal there and why!!!
Ok, I have got my pen ready!!
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:03 PM
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Hot dogs and fries from either Mr. Horvath, who has the smallest truck, in front of the convention centre, or the farthest east truck in front of Toronto City Hall.
Chinese food or old-fashioned grill food at the Peter Street Deli (lunch) on Peter Street, at Richmond.
BAK
Chinese food or old-fashioned grill food at the Peter Street Deli (lunch) on Peter Street, at Richmond.
BAK
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:39 PM
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ilovetotravel29,
There is a dumpling place that is just fabulous on Spadina. It's right across from where D'Arcy street intersects Spadina and it is called, "The Dumpling House". Their egg-drop soup was huge... A small bowl -- well, it is actually a serving bowl, served three of us nicely as an appetizer. We also ordered 12 steamed pork and cabbage dumplings and 12 pan-fried pork dumplings. With a good tip, this meal fed three hungry people quite nicely - total cost $14.45 Canadian, and to this we added a good tip. The service was absolutely splendid! I highly recommend this restaurant! I will be eating there on my next trip to Toronto, which I would like to be very soon.
FYI... the pan-fried dumplings and egg drop soup were the better than the steamed dumplings; however, that is only my opinion. There was nothing wrong with the steamed dumplings - it's just that the other items we ordered were so very good.
Sharon
There is a dumpling place that is just fabulous on Spadina. It's right across from where D'Arcy street intersects Spadina and it is called, "The Dumpling House". Their egg-drop soup was huge... A small bowl -- well, it is actually a serving bowl, served three of us nicely as an appetizer. We also ordered 12 steamed pork and cabbage dumplings and 12 pan-fried pork dumplings. With a good tip, this meal fed three hungry people quite nicely - total cost $14.45 Canadian, and to this we added a good tip. The service was absolutely splendid! I highly recommend this restaurant! I will be eating there on my next trip to Toronto, which I would like to be very soon.
FYI... the pan-fried dumplings and egg drop soup were the better than the steamed dumplings; however, that is only my opinion. There was nothing wrong with the steamed dumplings - it's just that the other items we ordered were so very good.
Sharon
Jul 6th, 2006, 03:56 PM
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Last year I had this AWESOME smoked meat sandwich at Rubin S (or Reuben S) - but I have been trying to find it online for the past 5 minutes and there is NO mention of it.
Just now I found a message board post that mentions Reubens on King West (I am pretty sure that's where it was) recently closed
Can someone confirm this?
Just now I found a message board post that mentions Reubens on King West (I am pretty sure that's where it was) recently closed
Can someone confirm this?
Jul 6th, 2006, 05:52 PM
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Oh my goodness Sharon, I just went to the Dumpling House yesterday and loved it.
I was just about to post about it and was so surprised to see you had written about it.
I usually do not like ethnic food and am very fussy.
We looked into different places in Chinatown and after wqaling past quite a few places, really liked the looks of Dumpling House.
The servers were wonderful at advising us what to oreder, adn even teh owner/chef came to our table to chat and to advise us.
We had pan fried dumplings and they were great.
The whole experience was great.
I would highly recommend this place.
It's at 328 Spadina in the heart of Chinatown.
I was just about to post about it and was so surprised to see you had written about it.
I usually do not like ethnic food and am very fussy.
We looked into different places in Chinatown and after wqaling past quite a few places, really liked the looks of Dumpling House.
The servers were wonderful at advising us what to oreder, adn even teh owner/chef came to our table to chat and to advise us.
We had pan fried dumplings and they were great.
The whole experience was great.
I would highly recommend this place.
It's at 328 Spadina in the heart of Chinatown.
Jul 7th, 2006, 05:03 AM
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Hi, Try any of the Springrolls chain; very inexpensive and good, mainly Thai. India Palace is my favorite Indian restaurant, it's on Queen West, south side just before Duncan St. (there are lots in a very small area). Lunch buffet and dinner specials. Baldwin St. Between Dundas and College Streets just west of McCaul (near the AGO) has a large varity of restaurants all with posted menus and prices, at least have a drink on John's Italian Cafe's patio while deciding - though their food is good as well. I love all of these, all reasonably priced, and tend to return to them often.
Jul 7th, 2006, 05:46 AM
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Here's a blurb about the Real Jerk for Caribbean food: "Local favourite, The Real Jerk is without a doubt one of the best Caribbean restaurants in Toronto. Decked out with palm trees, tin awnings, Jamaican red-yellow green vinyl tablecloths, and old school reggae sounds coming through the speakers, the mood is set the moment you walk through the door. Not to be outdone, the menu reinforces the mood, serving up a variety of Caribbean style meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes including Jerk Ribs and Oxtail, Ackee and Cod Fish, and its own Real Jerk Veggie Surprise. Service is friendly and attentive. Average cost per person including tip is roughly $30.
709 Queens Street East
Toronto
416-463-6055"
If not driving (parking at a premium around the restaurant), from Queen and Yonge, take the streetcar #501 east, the stop is in front of The Bay department store, get off at Broadview - the Real Jerk is on the southeast corner of Queen and Broadview.
709 Queens Street East
Toronto
416-463-6055"
If not driving (parking at a premium around the restaurant), from Queen and Yonge, take the streetcar #501 east, the stop is in front of The Bay department store, get off at Broadview - the Real Jerk is on the southeast corner of Queen and Broadview.
Jul 7th, 2006, 05:52 AM
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African:
QUEEN OF SHEBA RESTAURANT
Specializes in Ethiopian dishes, including vegetarian or meat platters, and Ethiopian coffee. Takeout. Lunch, dinner daily. Casual. Entrées: $7-$9. MC, V.
Location:
1051 Bloor St. W.
416-536-4162
Full access
Closest subway stop is Ossington on the Bloor/Danforth line - take a train heading west from Yonge Street.
Moroccan: The Sultan's Tent
Under a lantern lit tent, with belly dancers nearby, enjoy French-Moroccan style couscous with marinated chicken, lamb, spicy mergez sausage and vegetable root, or try the char grilled rack of lamb, and pan seared fish specials served with traditional Harissa based shermoula sauce and saffron rice pilaf. Café Moroc is adjacent to the restaurant where you can sample lighter fare. Lunch Mon.-Fri. dinner daily. Entrees: $13-$39. AE, DC, MC, V, Interac.
Location:
49 Front St. E.
QUEEN OF SHEBA RESTAURANT
Specializes in Ethiopian dishes, including vegetarian or meat platters, and Ethiopian coffee. Takeout. Lunch, dinner daily. Casual. Entrées: $7-$9. MC, V.
Location:
1051 Bloor St. W.
416-536-4162
Full access
Closest subway stop is Ossington on the Bloor/Danforth line - take a train heading west from Yonge Street.
Moroccan: The Sultan's Tent
Under a lantern lit tent, with belly dancers nearby, enjoy French-Moroccan style couscous with marinated chicken, lamb, spicy mergez sausage and vegetable root, or try the char grilled rack of lamb, and pan seared fish specials served with traditional Harissa based shermoula sauce and saffron rice pilaf. Café Moroc is adjacent to the restaurant where you can sample lighter fare. Lunch Mon.-Fri. dinner daily. Entrees: $13-$39. AE, DC, MC, V, Interac.
Location:
49 Front St. E.
Jul 7th, 2006, 06:01 AM
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Loads of good Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto - I like Mimi's on Gerrard, east of Broadview (which I guess is considered old Chinatown east) but there's lots of others that are good as well. I also like Springrolls when I'm down around the Eaton Centre. It's maybe not so 'authentic' but it's good. Queen Mother on Queen Street West is another one I like. Their patio in the summer is really nice, behind the restaurant, so off the street and shady and quiet. Their food is also ethnic (despite the name) - they have a wonderful chicken dish that I have everytime I'm there. I'm going to try Pizza Pide sometime soon - it's further east on Gerrard and features Turkish pizza (pide) which I loved when I visited Turkey last year. It's supposed to be pretty good. Lots of Indian restaurants here, and although I like Indian food, I'm not too familiar with the restaurants.
Danforth is good for Greek. I love having a frappes (iced Nescafe coffee - sounds like nothing special, but it's great) while sitting on a patio on the Danforth.
Danforth is good for Greek. I love having a frappes (iced Nescafe coffee - sounds like nothing special, but it's great) while sitting on a patio on the Danforth.
Jul 7th, 2006, 07:14 AM
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Reuban's is gone, b ut all is not lost.
Widmer is the side street b eside the east side of the Holiday Inn on King.
Reuban's used to be where Widmer meets King.
One block north, at Widmer and Adelaide, is The Corned Beef House, which also takes smoked meat seriously.
Lunch only.
BAK
Widmer is the side street b eside the east side of the Holiday Inn on King.
Reuban's used to be where Widmer meets King.
One block north, at Widmer and Adelaide, is The Corned Beef House, which also takes smoked meat seriously.
Lunch only.
BAK
Oct 10th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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I just had lunch at the Dumpling House on Spadina -- and it was everything people have said. We had 12 fried pork and green onion and 12 steamed mixed. We chose pork, lamb and veggie. That's 4 of each. They were superb, esp the fried ones.
Oct 10th, 2006, 07:21 AM
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Two good noodle houses on the west side of Spadina: New World (about 1/2 block north of Dundas) and Goldstone (about a block south of Dundas). Both have excellent pork and chicken dishes as well as those big bowls of noodle soup with meat of your choice on top. Also, a couple of doors south of New World there's a Vietnamese sandwich place. Yum! A few doors south of the Goldstone there's a Chinese bakery with excellent sweets, breads and stuffed buns.
My sister likes the double lobster dish at Swatow on the east side of Spadina, north of Dundas, but I prefer it at Wah Sing on Baldwin. I also far prefer the ginger and green onion style to the black bean style.
Also on Baldwin, there's a great Chinese bun place on the south side (you can't miss it -- it's a short restaurant street). There's no seating on the inside but you can get them to go and just eat on the benches outside. I particularly like the tofu bun but if you're not a tofu fan, there are tons of other buns and other items to choose from.
My sister likes the double lobster dish at Swatow on the east side of Spadina, north of Dundas, but I prefer it at Wah Sing on Baldwin. I also far prefer the ginger and green onion style to the black bean style.
Also on Baldwin, there's a great Chinese bun place on the south side (you can't miss it -- it's a short restaurant street). There's no seating on the inside but you can get them to go and just eat on the benches outside. I particularly like the tofu bun but if you're not a tofu fan, there are tons of other buns and other items to choose from.
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:32 AM
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Ok, here goes---
I did not eat much actually in canada....but here is what I did eat:
poutine---very good, but not something I would eat on a weekly basis or before a big test or a marathon
sidewalk sausage carts---yum! I had an italian sausage that was seasoned perfectly, the bread had a healthy yellow tint from the egg yolk and was toasted as well. I ended up feeding some of the bun to some eager squirrels, but it was soooo yummy!
sushi pizza---soooo good!!! I have only found one place in my city that offers it, but I haven't tried it there yet.
caesars--a clamato and vodka drink with celery salt--no bad, pretty tasty actually.
pirogis(sp?)---very good and small and yummy!
I did not eat much actually in canada....but here is what I did eat:
poutine---very good, but not something I would eat on a weekly basis or before a big test or a marathon
sidewalk sausage carts---yum! I had an italian sausage that was seasoned perfectly, the bread had a healthy yellow tint from the egg yolk and was toasted as well. I ended up feeding some of the bun to some eager squirrels, but it was soooo yummy!
sushi pizza---soooo good!!! I have only found one place in my city that offers it, but I haven't tried it there yet.
caesars--a clamato and vodka drink with celery salt--no bad, pretty tasty actually.
pirogis(sp?)---very good and small and yummy!
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:58 AM
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ILTT29,
Were you asking for travel advice re what restaurants to eat at in Toronto? Or did you just want to compare our choices to what you've had in the past?
I got the impression from your original post that you were coming to Toronto and wanted suggestions. Now I get the feeling you were just after a discussion. You need to be clearer in your post. I'm not really up for a discussion today -- I thought I was helping you out with some suggestions.
Were you asking for travel advice re what restaurants to eat at in Toronto? Or did you just want to compare our choices to what you've had in the past?
I got the impression from your original post that you were coming to Toronto and wanted suggestions. Now I get the feeling you were just after a discussion. You need to be clearer in your post. I'm not really up for a discussion today -- I thought I was helping you out with some suggestions.
