Mother's Dumplings is a chinese budget eat in Chinatown, Toronto.
Mother's Dumplings on Spadina has run northern Chinese comfort food in Chinatown since 2005, Shenyang-born Zhen Feng pressing dumplings by hand.
Must order: Ten pork-and-chive dumplings and a green onion pancake to split.
Tip: Cash and card. The frozen dumpling fridge sells takeaway 50-packs for under $30.
Address: 421 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Nguyen family's pho counter since 1985, a 30-year broth recipe that keeps bowls under $16 with rare beef and tendon.
Try: Pho tai, $14
Order: A large pho tai with rare beef and a side of fresh chicken wings.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Walks in any time; Saturday lunch the busiest.
Rol San on Spadina runs Cantonese dim sum from $5 per plate since 1994, no carts but a tick-the-box paper menu, late-night service until 05:00 on weekends.
Try: Dim sum, $5 per plate
Order: Three dumpling plates plus a BBQ pork bun and a steamed rice plate.
Tip: Cash and card. The late-night menu after midnight Friday and Saturday the city's reference dim sum.
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Nguyen family's pho counter since 1985, a 30-year broth recipe that keeps bowls under $16 with rare beef and tendon.
Try: Pho tai, $14
Order: A large pho tai with rare beef and a side of fresh chicken wings.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Walks in any time; Saturday lunch the busiest.
Banh Mi Boys on Queen West runs fusion banh mi sandwiches for $9 since 2011, plus steamed bao and crispy steamed-rice bowls under $15 a plate.
Try: Banh mi sandwich, $9
Order: A five-spice pork belly banh mi and a side of kimchi fries.
Tip: Order downstairs, eat upstairs. Sister Yonge location at 399 Yonge runs the same menu.
Carousel Bakery in St Lawrence Market runs the city's reference peameal bacon sandwich for $9 since 1977, the Biancolin family's counter Key to the City.
Try: Peameal bacon sandwich, $9
Order: The peameal bacon sandwich on a kaiser with whatever mustards you choose.
Tip: Closed Mondays with the market. Cash and card; the line moves quickly.
Sneaky Dee's at College and Bathurst runs the city's reference King's Crown Nachos for $15 since 1987, the upstairs live music venue and downstairs Tex-Mex.
Try: King's Crown Nachos, $15
Order: The King's Crown Nachos to split with a Stella pitcher.
Tip: King's Crown Nachos $14 at 03:00; cash only after 02:00. Upstairs music venue keeps the kitchen rolling till 04:00 Friday/Saturday.
Patty King on Baldwin in Kensington Market runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties for $4 since 1981, the family-owned bakery supplying Toronto convenience.
Try: Jamaican beef patty, $4
Order: A spicy beef patty in coco bread, plus a Ting from the cooler.
Tip: Patties $2.50 each, six for $13; the cocoa bread and bun-and-cheese combo doubles as breakfast on the College streetcar.
Rol San on Spadina runs Cantonese dim sum from $5 per plate since 1994, no carts but a tick-the-box paper menu, late-night service until 05:00 on weekends.
Try: Dim sum, $5 per plate
Order: Three dumpling plates plus a BBQ pork bun and a steamed rice plate.
Tip: Cash and card. The late-night menu after midnight Friday and Saturday the city's reference dim sum.
