Allen's is an irish restaurant in The Danforth, Toronto.
Allen's on the Danforth has run an Irish pub kitchen since 1987, 340 whiskies and 100 VQA wines, the strip's longest-standing pub two stops east of Broadview.
Signature dishes: Irish pub fare, Whiskey flights
Must order: A shepherd's pie or burger with a flight of Irish whiskey.
Tip: Walk-ins welcome. Live Irish music Tuesday and Friday nights; the back garden runs through summer.
Address: 143 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2
Fran's Restaurant at College and Yonge has run a 24-hour diner since 1940, the breakfast served at any hour the post-shift staple plus Reubens and burgers.
Signature: All-day breakfast, Reuben sandwich
Order: The all-day breakfast with two eggs, toast and bottomless coffee.
Tip: 24 hours every day. The College location the original; multiple Toronto branches.
Lahore Tikka House on Gerrard East is Little India's reference Pakistani halal kitchen since 1996, tandoor-grilled meats in a Persian-tile dining room.
Signature: Seekh kebab, Butter chicken
Order: A platter of seekh kebab, butter chicken and a fresh naan from the tandoor.
Tip: Halal certified. The summer patio the city's most colourful outdoor strip; bring cash for tips.
Centre Street Deli on Bay Street is the 2024 downtown outpost of the Thornhill original since 1988, Montreal-style smoked meat hand-sliced over light rye.
Try: Montreal smoked meat sandwich, latkes, matzo ball soup
Order: The classic smoked meat sandwich on rye with mustard and a pickle.
Tip: Order the lean-and-medium mix; pure lean dries out fast. The Thornhill original is at 1136 Centre Street.
United Bakers at Lawrence Plaza is the city's reference kosher-style dairy restaurant since 1912, no-meat menu with blintzes, smoked fish and split-pea soup.
Try: Kosher-style dairy: blintzes, split-pea soup, smoked fish
Order: The split pea soup with a potato latke and applesauce.
Tip: Kosher-style, not certified kosher. Closed Saturday and most Jewish holidays. The Ladovsky family has run it since 1912.
Pai on Duncan is chef Nuit Regular's northern Thai kitchen since 2014, the khao soi from Chiang Mai that set Toronto's modern Thai standard.
Signature: Khao soi, Pad see ew
Order: The khao soi, northern Thai egg noodles in coconut curry with crispy noodles on top.
Tip: No reservations; expect 45 minutes at 19:00. Lunch 11:30 and 14:30 the easier window; uptown sister at 2335 Yonge.
Khao San Road on Charlotte Street has run Bangkok-style street food downtown since 2011, the boat noodles and crispy pad see ew the city standard.
Signature: Boat noodles, Pad see ew
Order: The boat noodles with beef and the pad see ew with extra char.
Tip: Reservations the only way in for dinner; lunch walks in. Closed Sunday lunch.
