DM Blog

There are so many great places to eat in Toronto that it can give you option anxiety. It's one of the biggest things I miss about Toronto – the culture and the numerous restaurants. Out here in Calgary you mostly find large chains and it's nothing like what you get from the smaller independent restaurants that line the streets of Toronto.

A colleague friend of mine recently moved from Calgary to Toronto and while he was here in Calgary last week, I was telling him about places he had to go to in Toronto. It made me realize that I should share this list with all of you. It's a list of places that I've been to relatively often in Toronto (at least more than five times). And while it's not intended to be a list of the "Top 10 Places in Toronto," they are the most memorable places to me. You could say it's a list of "The First 10 Places I Will Visit in Toronto" next time I'm there. Here's the list in no particular order:

#1 – Da Maria Pizzeria

4 Kenwood Avenue (St. Clair & Vaughan/Bathurst Area)
This place is very small and is busiest as a pizza take-out that operates out of the side/back of the restaurant. The dining room is small, old, intimate and feels very homey. But by old I mean full of character and you get the feeling that there's a lot of history here ? it's not run-down by any means. The service is attentive and you feel very comfortable while you're here – almost like a part of their family.

Da Maria is owned and operated by an old Italian couple in their 70's – the place has won numerous awards for the best pizza in Toronto over the years. Michelle and I lived across the street from this place (above the Mr. Sub) and our windows looked out onto their patio. It took us a while to finally try it but once we did, it became a regular place for us. We remember the vegetarian pizza here was so good we couldn't believe there was no meat! For the most part, while they do have an extensive pizza menu, (you have to try the vegetarian pizza), they usually just ask you what you want on your pizza and don't really stick to the menus all that much. The pizza crust is very authentically Italian and I believe they make it with a mix of durum semolina and whole wheat flour. It's different and absolutely delicious.

For what you get, Da Maria is very cheap. The portions are large and the meals are usually more than just one course, though you don't really get that information anywhere on the menu. You definitely won't leave hungry. Another thing to have here is the spaghetti with tomato sauce. They looked at me kind of funny when I asked for a plate of spaghetti once but it's because they serve it mostly as a side dish to their meals and it's not meant to be anything special. Their sauce tastes like there's a lot of TLC put into it but don't get me wrong, it's a very very simple sauce. It's that simplicity, however, that makes it to die for... You can tell that this restaurant has been, and is their life – you won't be disappointed.

#2 – Albert's Real Jamaican Foods

542 St. Clair Avenue West (St. Clair & Vaughan/Bathurst Area)
Albert's is open late and can get very busy at times. Michelle and I lived on the same block as this place and could tell/smell that they cooked all their food fresh, every morning. I used to feel a little intimidated every time I walked into this place, kind of like Seinfeld's soup nazi, but I kept going back because the food was well worth it. I'm not sure if they changed, or if it was me that changed, but I didn't feel that intimidated there anymore for quite some time...

Albert's is a great place to get some Jamaican food take out – on the walls you'll see pictures of countless celebrities that have eaten there. They do have a few seats if you want to eat there but we'd always get it to go. Albert's oxtail is great and Michelle says "you've never had Jamaican beef patties until you've had one at Albert's." Yes, they are that good, and they are that much better than the ones you can buy in the subway. If you're afraid to try the oxtail, don't be – they have three different sizes so you can always order the smallest portion... The prices are very reasonable and edging on the cheap side ;-) Many Jamaicans swear by Albert's and it has gained the reputation of being one of the best, if not the best place for Jamaican food in Toronto.

#3 – Pho St. Clair

781 St. Clair Avenue West (St. Clair & Christie Area)
There's not much to say about this place other than the pho is good and you have to order the spring rolls. Every time we went with Michelle we sat on the patio and the service was always good. Great pho.

#4 – Salad King

335 Yonge Street (enter on the side street across from Sam the Record Man)
This is not one of Toronto's best kept secrets because the place is always very busy. There are long lineups to eat-in and long lineups for take-out. But it used to be one of Toronto's best kept secrets back when I first got introduced to it.

Since then, they have renovated big time and the place looks much more modern – you can also tell that they were expecting to accommodate large numbers of people in a relatively small space. It's exceptionally clean, probably the best Thai food in Toronto and a lot of value for your money. In a word? Fresh.

#5 – King's Noodle House

296 Spadina Avenue (Chinatown)
I really miss this place a lot. It's by no means fancy and service is obviously not their forte, but the food is great, fresh and cheap. And did I mention that the food is great?

This place gets very busy (actually, it's busy all the time and it never seems to die down) so don't expect to get a table all to yourself. Michelle and I remember going to this place once and getting seated at a round table for eight, with three other couples. It was memorable because each of the four couples sort of kept to themselves and all four couples were speaking in four different languages, none of which were English nor Cantonese... I love Toronto!

The food here, though not presented in the fanciest way, is very good. You must have the BBQ pork, BBQ duck and their Cantonese chow mien. You must. Their soups from the lunch menu, apart from being very tasty, are also very big and very cheap. Considering how busy this place is, they do a very good job of keeping it clean. Michelle and I ate here every day for a whole week at one point, but that's another story in itself ;-)

The service here at King's was always something along the lines of this: you walk in the door and are greeted right away, seated right away. They bring you ice water, tea and menus. They are quick to take your order and bring you your food and then... that's it. You won't see them again until it's time to pay the bill, and you might even have to fight to get your bill at all... They sort of expect you to order everything all at once (even appetizers and desserts) and will probably bring it out to you all at the same time too – they're way too busy to have it any other way. Just something to keep in mind ;-) Obviously, the great food and great prices are the reason to go here though, and that more than makes up for the under-par service. (It's not terrible service though, I'm just picky.)

#6 – Lee Garden Restaurant

331 Spadina Avenue (Chinatown)
This place is the cream of the crop of Chinese restaurants in Toronto. It's noticeably pricier than everything around it (and they're only open for dinner), but you get nice tablecloths, cloth napkins and impeccable service that more than justifies the higher prices. The food is remarkable as well, as is the presentation. (And there's no-msg here either.)

I recommend having the steamed pickerel (with ginger and green onions) as well as their baby bok choy with Chinese mushrooms. The latter is not on the menu, but if you ask for it they'll make it. I order this all the time but no Chinese restaurant I've been to anywhere seems to make it quite as good as at Lee Garden. The steamed pickerel is also better here than I've been able to find anywhere else, by a long-shot.

Apart from the great, unparalleled food, one of the other things that separates this place from it's many neighbors is that they always give you something for free. Be it their complimentary house soup before you start your meal, or a daily dessert that they've specially prepared, you always get something more. There are four words that I would use to summarize this place – exceptional food, exceptional service.

#7 – Sardinha O Rei Dos Frangos

942 Bloor Street West (Ossington & Bloor across from Long & McQuade)
If you walk by this place on an empty stomach, you'll end up eating here for sure. Right in the front window sits their rotisserie rack with usually 30 or 40 chickens roasting at any given time. The smells that come from here are enough to convince you that you're hungry, even if you just ate and you know you're not! Though they do have a couple seats to eat-in, it's mostly a take-out. Very comfortable atmosphere and very friendly staff. Prices are relatively inexpensive and you're sure to leave on a full stomach.

I recommend the 1/4 rotisserie chicken (of course) with the "hot sauce". They ask you if want the hot sauce or not, and it's actually not that hot so I recommend having it – it makes the chicken even more delectable. Oddly, the chicken is not at all greasy and it comes with these tiny Parisienne potatoes that are made in house (so good!) as well as rice with black olives and other great stuff in it. The combination of these three things is amazing.

#8 – Cora Pizza

658 Spadina Avenue (Spadina & Harbord)
Great award winning take-out pizza by the slice. Huge slices, very affordable, fresh and a wide variety of choices. Not your typical fast food pizza at all.

My favorite here is the spinach and feta pizza – I can't remember what they call it though. Cora's is open very very late. Just go!

#9 – 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower

301 Front Street West (CN Tower)
This place is not at all cheap, but with a reservation you don't have to pay to go up the CN tower so that's a bit of a bonus. I've eaten here enough times (more than five) to feel comfortable recommending it, plus Michelle and I got engaged here :-) The food is incomparable to anything and the presentation is equally great. The menu changes often but has always been good and diverse every time I've gone.

I mention this place because it's gorgeous of course, but also because it's a drastic contrast to what you find at the Calgary Tower. The food at the Calgary Tower is so bad you're better off eating at a greasy diner (seriously), but this is not the case at all with the CN Tower. It's well worth the price (yes, it can get pricey, but not exaggeratedly so) and the experience will definitely be a memorable one. Great food x10.

#10 – Dutch Dreams

78 Vaughan Road (St. Clair & Vaughan)
It would be a sin and a crime to not mention Dutch Dreams. For Michelle and I, it was a dream just to have this place a block away from our house. This is, unquestionably, the best ice cream in Toronto, period. My favorite ice cream is maple walnut but I have never had maple walnut ice cream like at Dutch Dreams. I can taste the creaminess in my mouth just by thinking of it and I miss it oh so much! I have yet to find anything that comes even half-close to this anywhere in Alberta.

In the summer, on a hot day, the lineups can get ridiculous – all the way down Vaughan and around to Albert's on St. Clair, (it's a sight to see!) but you won't find anyone in the lineup complaining or questioning if it's worth it. Though usually very young, you can tell that the employees are well trained and it's obvious that they strive for perfection. Each and every customer, no matter how long the lineup gets, is treated with patience and like you're #1 – I've never seen any employee there frazzled by the long lineups. We've waited in line many times and I can tell you – twice the lineup would still be worth it. Luckily, it's not always a long lineup though ;-)

On top of your ice cream, (go for the made-in-house waffle cones, of course) they put little pieces of fresh fruit – kiwi, strawberries, whatever's in season. It's a very nice touch. I wouldn't consider the prices to be cheap (we used to pay about $14 or so for two cones) but you'll still walk away feeling like you got a great deal. (And yes, you can buy their ice cream in pails too!) Wherever you go for dinner, skip dessert and go to Dutch Dreams for ice cream!

So, there you go, there's my list of ten places to eat in Toronto. Let me know if you know of other exceptionally outstanding, memorable places to eat in Toronto.

Post a comment below and let me know what you think!