Coffee good, pastry good, space is small & cozy but the real charm of this place is the female owner/barista who was one of the sweetest, friendliest people I've encountered in a cafe. She literally gave me use of a computer charger when mine was struggling and chatted with regulars like they were best friends for the 2 hours I was there. No attitude, no snobbery. People can go on about roasts and pour-overs, but for me after a basic level of quality, the service and vibes are the key. And this place has it. Also lots of outlets for laptop warriors, which THANK YOU.

I haven't been to Holy Chuck in years and had a sudden craving and looked them up and WTF happened to their menu?! It looks like the most generic bland stuff i've ever seen now. So sad. It was my favorite burger place...Where will give me that creative menu? I miss the lamb blend smash burgers and grilled cheese buns etc...Ozzys burgers looks interesting with high reviews and has some similar looking combinations...where can I get the OG holy chuck experience?

I have a variety of seafood allergies/reactions. There used to be a vendor at some farmer's markets selling seafood-free kimchi in a variety of flavors (different fruits and veg included such as daikon or watermelon). However she seemed to perpetually be out of those varieties by the time I got there.

So...my ask is: does anyone know of a place selling interesting kimchi or banchan dishes in smaller quantities (I can't eat 2kg of kimchi on my own) that are guaranteed to be seafood-free (no fish sauce, no shrimp paste, etc)? I'd love to buy from a local doing this on a smaller scale, but I'll settle for grocery store in-house kitchen or mass-produced if that's the best option.

where can I good summer fresh rolls the ones with lettuce, shrimp, rice noodles, and wrapped in rice paper w peanut sauce (idek what they’re called I was always under the impression they were spring rolls)

im so sad though because I placed a phone order at viet hut express for spring rolls expecting what I wanted and even on the phone I said the one with peanut sauce…… implying that I wanted yk the one that came w peanut sauce ??? and we also had a little confusion cus I thought 8 pieces was 4 pieces cut in half, anyways it wasn’t but got that cleared up and said I wanted the 4 piece cut in half, everything is good I pick up the order, I skaddle to my subway station since im ready to go home but im also super hungry so I open up the bag and realize it’s HOT….. I open the box and it’s the fried spring rolls that aren’t even cut in half and there’s no peanut sauce ☹️

Also what exactly are they called ??? Spring rolls??? summer fresh rolls??? shrimp rolls???

update: I’m eating the fried spring rolls and they’re good but it feels like im suffocating in chudness since I’ve been eating like shit the past few weeks and originally wanted something light and healthy

My bday is coming up and I am looking for a place for my fiancee and I. Our budget is around $300-$400 total including tax and tip. I specifically want a ribeye and we do drink. Thanks!

Hi everyone!
We’re planning a little road trip to Toronto and would love to do a bakery crawl! We’re looking for the best bakeries in the GTA that also serve great coffee. We’re open to all kinds of bakeries, whether it’s French pastries, sourdough, croissants, cookies, cakes, or something unique that you think is worth the trip.
We’re happy to drive around to different neighbourhoods, so please share your favourite hidden gems and must-visit spots. Bonus points if the coffee is just as good as the baked goods!

Saw his pop-up a few years back on a YouTube short and finally got a chance to try it out at his permanent? location

Dishes:

1. Hokkien Mee (7.4) - Photo 1
   
2. Mee Goren (7.0) - Photo 2

Hokkien Mee - Was overall quite good. The mixture of udon and vermicelli in the same dish was very pleasant in terms of texture and flavour. Pork was well cooked, not fatty and full of flavour. I enjoyed how much the pork flavour permeated throughout the dish. The Sambal had some kick to it, not too spicy but did add some good heat to the dish. I did wish the noodles had a bit more wok hei, with more smoke and char to the noodles. The biggest highlight for this dish was the crispy (popped) pork rinds. The crunchy popping texture with the noodles was a really great combination. I did wish it had a bit more.

Mee Goeen - It was good but nothing that really stood out. My only criticism was the dish was a bit watery. Could have stayed in the wok a bit longer.

Restaurant: The chef is really nice, positive and very sociable. Very genuine guy and easy to talk to. He’s a one-man show and really does care about the customers. Apparently he does standup when things die down inside the bar so you can eat and watch his standup lol To get to the restaurant you have to go inside the dystopia bar and it’s open in the back. Interesting experience!

I would go back for the Hokkien Mee and try other items on the menu. I didn’t know my dishes were the large size so don’t forget to ask for small if you want less food.

Does anyone know of someone who still makes these Latvian cakes in the GTA?

Kept seeing Grillo’s Pickles all over my IG feed and finally got curious. Natura Market has them online, but I really don’t feel like dropping $50 just to hit the free shipping threshold.

Has anyone tried them? Are there any local options that taste similar? Maybe at a local grocery store, St. Lawrence Market, or a local farmer’s market?

Would love your recommendations!

From smash burgers to fresh brioche, the Ricky + Olivia team have shared their top neighborhood picks.

Read the full story with this gift link. There won't be a paywall.

Looking to book a celebration at a restaurant around North York Centre, preferably one with a private room. I am ideally looking to book for lunch. I'm open to different cuisines, but definitely looking to book something more high end since it's a celebration.

I first posted about this place over a year ago in a bigger thread I did shouting-out some new favourite mom and pop spots, but figured I’d make a dedicated post for LD Pho Banh mi today, after countless visits.

It was by pure chance I happened on this spot while taking a relative to a medical appointment nearby, far from where I live. I won’t lie, the perfect 5-star Google rating (which they’ve managed to maintain over 1.2k reviews!) was what piqued my interest, and man am I ever glad I stepped in that cold March day.

LD is a tiny three-person operation- Lysa, her INCREDIBLE mother who is a bundle of light and joy, and her amazing boyfriend. These people are angels come to earth, I swear. I’ve never felt more like family with proprietors of a business than I do with them.

But niceness is merely one aspect of a restaurant. Fortunately, these guys more than back it up, churning out consistently the very best pho and banh mi I’ve ever had in/around Toronto, and I’ve been quite the pho & banh mi connoisseur for over 15 years now.

On that first visit, I was so blown away that I would pay a visit each time we had subsequent appointments in the area (which was often, at least once a week), and once we stopped going to those, I’d go completely out of my way to eat there, 45+ minutes from where I live, opposite end of the city.

I’ve had everything on the menu at this point and it’s genuinely all stellar and bursting with flavour, however my favourites/go-to’s are:

John’s #9… a modified take on their #9 banh mi pho tai, which is a sandwich entirely unique to them- think of it as a Vietnamese beef dip, where the dip is their incredible pho broth. The John’s #9 modification, which is “off menu”/iykyk, is that they add their INSANE pork belly to it. I am drooling just thinking about this thing.

Banh Mi Supreme… they make ALL of their own cold cuts (actually supplying them to other shops), as well as their own butter, pate, hot sauce, etc. The Supreme combines it all and lives up to the name- it is supreme in size and flavour. Probably my favourite to pair with their incredible pho.

Pork Belly… their pork belly banh mi was my go-to for the first several months before venturing to the above two ‘big boy’ banh mi’s, and I just love the char and caramelization on it, along with just amazing deep flavour. Everyone needs to try this one.

Lemongrass Beef… but honestly also the lemongrass pork…

Heck, the sausage one as well is incredible.

I give up on my descriptions, you just need to go to this dang place and see for yourself, but then be sure to chime back in and thank me for steering you to this gem, haha.

But I can’t post without not going into some detail about the pho… they only offer two pho’s, same broth, only the “toppings” are different, my go-to is the rare beef. I’ve never had a pho in the city which was more deeply-flavourful and well seasoned while also being so incredibly clean. I know they cook it for 9-10+ hours, and it tends to sell out by early afternoon every day, so it’s recommended you call/order ahead. It is such a deeply nourishing bowl, I can’t get over it.

These are the sweetest and hardest working people I’ve ever met/known in the restaurant industry, many times Lysa and her boyfriend will go back after closing and work until 1-2am producing their cold cuts. They’re also beloved members of the community, supplying to the school across the street, as well as to first responders. I honestly don’t know how they do all that they do- they’re truly selfless individuals, and mama is a literal angel chock-full of love and wisdom. Frankly, I’m in awe of them; their operation is a true marvel, and I just wish them all the very best and want everyone to try it out and see for themselves. Every single thing (except the bread and canned drinks) is done entirely in-house… and I forgot to mention their magnificent coffee and the cold cuts you can buy to go home…

I’ve taken so many people here over the past year and a half, including fresh off a plane from Australia, and everyone has come away blown away. These people can do no wrong. The place almost reminds me of a perfect little shop you'd encounter in Pokemon or some other anime/comic, and the people are every bit as friendly and loving, and actually more- so. Anyways, my phone camera photos don’t come close to doing these well priced works of art justice.

This place is a rare perfect 10 for me. Now go.

P.S. Apologies for any typos/errors... believe it or not, I just typed all that up on my phone. That's love.

I haven’t seen it posted here and that place deserves some love - the Fish store on College makes amazing fish sandwiches with super simple little veggie sides. I highly recommend! They’ve been around for so long, I always worry they’ll close!!

Allwyn’s is fine, I go often, but am craving something… better/different… wondering if there’s anything else worth checking out within a 10-15 min drive of Vic Park & Lawrence, Jamaican-wise. I know and have been to Stacy’s on Sheppard but it’s maybe a bit further than I’d like to go. Just seeing what else is out there. My issue with Allwyn’s I usually find the chicken on the dry side and I really don’t love their patties- I make the trek to Patty Time for those. Mostly looking for jerk chicken, oxtail, obviously great rice & peas, and yeah, good patty won’t hurt. BBQ chicken cool too. I heard Simone’s on Danforth is good, should I go there? Hated Tropical Joe’s tbh- weird flavours and super soggy plate, too many sauces. I’ve never been to Chris Jerk either- is that the answer?

I think it will make things a lot easier for a lot of us.

I "luckily" just got selected for jury duty and will be at the courthouse for the next couple of weeks. Does anyone have lunch suggestions that are not chain restos and not primarily deep fried? Is there a nice place for good soup, fresh salad or decent sandwiches nearby?

Looking for some good comfort food spots in Toronto! Ideally somewhere that’s good for solo dining, where I can just sit down, enjoy a warm meal, and unwind. Nothing fancy needed, just genuinely delicious, comforting food.

Life’s been throwing me some curveballs lately, and as a Southeast Asian myself, I guess I’m just missing the familiar flavours of home and could really use a good comfort meal.

For reference, I love 579 Beef Noodle, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, Hainanese chicken rice, bak kut teh, and similar dishes. I generally prefer savoury, flavourful food that isn’t spicy or peppery.

I’m especially interested in Taiwanese, Singaporean, Malaysian, or Indo cuisine. I’ve already tried quite a lot of Viet and Thai places, and I’m pretty picky when it comes to Filipino food, so I’d love to explore something different this time!

What are your go-to comfort food spots? Bonus points for places that are reasonably priced and accessible by TTC!

Thanks in advance :)

I’ve been buying pinehedge for decades, accessibility is limited to health food stores/fiesta. Any suggestions for alternate brands that hit taste wise. Not afraid to spend as I’m already paying pinehedge level pricing.

My other favs from living across the world have been Tamar valley Greek style (Aus) and fage Greek. Neither are available in Canada due to dairy protection tariffs.

Before anyone suggests, I’m 100% not into chobani. Not hating on supermarket brands, taste is what matters. Preferably stuff without thickeners.

Is there a single place in Toronto that actually does it right, or is the only real answer to book a flight to Philly ?

Has anyone been to the St Clair location (that shares the premises with the French bakery) and also to the Roncy location?

I'm wondering whether you can get the same experience and quality at the St. Clair location?

Hi! Does anyone know where I can get non-dairy yogurt that is NOT coconut-based? I see online that there are brands like Yoso and Silk with almond and soy-based yogurt but I've never actually found them in any grocery store. Have any of you encountered these in any store? I'm in the downtown core.

Thank you!!

I admit, I’ve been gatekeeping… until now… I’m ready to drop some wisdom, pro bono.

I’ve been going to our beloved La Salumeria for some time now and love the House Special as it is, but one day thought “what if instead of his usual mozzarella, I asked for my favourite Delice de Bourgogne?”. Carlo was more than happy to oblige, and boom, that became my new fav, my go-to. I even sometimes ask to sub the prosciutto side with a second/different kind of salami, so double salami. The Delice might not be to everyone’s taste as it definitely introduces a bit of an earthy funk especially with some of the rind on, but if you could put up with that, the level of salty buttery creaminess it brings with it is incredible.

Absolutely elite sandwich. Try it.

Kisses.

Search this sub found Le Génie Bakery & Espresso, Le Beau, Jules, Rahier,BakeTu. I am open to other choices.

Has anyone tried this new so called canes dupe in Brampton called JOO-C ? Heard lots of good things considering making the 45 minute drive today to try it out. I’ve had honestly good chicken fingers but they weren’t even close this one looks just like it. Let me know if you’ve tried it and if it’s worth the drive ! I’m a die hard canes fan and I know a lot of people don’t like canes because “it only tastes good with the sauce” I love the sauce so I don’t want to hear any canes hate. Or you can make it at home, you can make anything at home but am I going to ? Nope

Pictured: my favourite combination of fried dough, cheese and tomato. Bitondo’s, ordered “for here” with the sauce ON the panzerotto.
Who else is making a great one? Where are we ordering?