40 cheap eats rooms in Toronto, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Toronto: the places editors actually return to. All Toronto food.
Carousel Bakery ★ 4.8
financial-district · 93 Front Street E, St Lawrence Market Upper Level 42, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
Carousel Bakery in St Lawrence Market Upper Level 42 has run the city's reference peameal bacon sandwich since 1977, the Biancolin family the operators.
Tip: Closed Mondays with the market. The kaiser is soft; the bacon stack mountains. Featured on Bourdain, Food and Wine and the NYT four times.
Carousel Bakery ★ 4.8
financial-district · 93 Front Street E, St Lawrence Market Upper Level 42, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
Carousel Bakery in St Lawrence Market is the home of Toronto's signature peameal bacon sandwich, the Biancolin family-run counter since the 1970s.
Tip: Closed Mondays with the market. The kaiser is soft; load on the mustards before the bacon stack.
Sam James Coffee Bar Harbord ★ 4.7
the-annex · 297 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M6G 1G7
Sam James Coffee Bar's Harbord original since 2009 is the city's third-wave reference counter, the espresso bar that trained much of Toronto's baristas.
Tip: No wifi, two chairs, takeaway by design. Over 20 Toronto shops serve Sam James beans; the King West PATH counter is the downtown branch.
Carousel Bakery ★ 4.7
financial-district · 93 Front Street E, St Lawrence Market Upper Level 42, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
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.
Tip: Closed Mondays with the market. Cash and card; the line moves quickly.
Pilot Coffee Roasters Te Aro ★ 4.6
leslieville · 983 Queen Street E, Toronto, ON M4M 1K2
Pilot Coffee Roasters Te Aro on Queen East opened 2009 as the flagship third-wave roastery cafe, named for a Wellington suburb, wood-fronted bar.
Tip: Pilot beans run across 100+ Toronto cafes. The Queen East mothership has indoor seating and a small pastry counter.
Hodo Kwaja ★ 4.6
koreatown · 656 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L1
Hodo Kwaja on Bloor West Koreatown bakes walnut-shaped pastries since 2005, fresh chestnut-mold red-bean and walnut pastries at 12 for $5, the counter view.
Tip: Cash and card. The counter sells out on busy Korean-festival nights at the Mod Club next door.
Mother's Dumplings ★ 4.5
chinatown · 421 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6
Mother's Dumplings on Spadina has run northern Chinese comfort food in Chinatown since 2005, Shenyang-born Zhen Feng pressing dumplings by hand.
Tip: Walk-in only; frozen dumpling fridge by the door for takeaway. Cash and card accepted, but cash moves the line faster.
Mother's Dumplings ★ 4.5
chinatown · 421 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6
Mother's Dumplings on Spadina has run northern Chinese comfort food in Chinatown since 2005, Shenyang-born Zhen Feng pressing dumplings by hand.
Tip: Walk-in only; frozen dumpling fridge by the door for takeaway. Cash and card accepted, but cash moves the line faster.
Tre Mari Bakery ★ 4.5
little-italy · 1311 St Clair Avenue W, Toronto, ON M6E 1C2
Tre Mari on Corso Italia has been the Deleo family's Italian bakery since 1960, cannoli filled to order, sfogliatelle and panettone at Christmas.
Tip: Cash and card. The deli counter at the back has hot porchetta sandwiches by the slice.
Pilot Coffee Roasters ★ 4.5
leslieville · 983 Queen Street E, Toronto, ON M4M 1K2
Pilot Coffee Roasters has run the Toronto third-wave canon since 2009, the Queen East cafe-roastery the flagship, beans across 100+ Toronto cafes and retail.
Tip: Cafes citywide carry the beans; the Queen East roastery is where you taste the cuppings. Subscription delivery available.
Sam James Coffee Bar ★ 4.5
the-annex · 297 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M6G 1G7
Sam James roasts in a small Toronto facility since 2009, Harbord original the flagship cafe, beans across 20+ Toronto shops plus an online subscription.
Tip: Sam James trained much of Toronto's third-wave bench; cafes citywide carry the beans. Five Sam James locations across the GTA.
Patty King Bakery ★ 4.5
kensington-market · 187 Baldwin Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8
Patty King on Baldwin Street is a family-owned Caribbean patty bakery since 1981, supplying Toronto convenience stores and cafeterias citywide.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The Scarborough location at 39 Progress Avenue is the chain's flagship factory; Kensington is the retail original.
Caribbean Queen of Patties ★ 4.5
the-junction · 1294 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N9
Caribbean Queen of Patties on Bloor West runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties, the city's reference west-end patty counter under owner Georgie.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The line moves fast; cash discount under $10.
Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery ★ 4.5
ossington · 93A Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z2
Bang Bang on Ossington has been the strip's reference ice cream and Hong Kong egg-waffle counter since 2014, burnt toffee and matcha among the staples.
Tip: Closed Monday. Cash and card. Saturday line stretches a full block; weekday afternoons the calmest entry.
Mother's Dumplings ★ 4.5
chinatown · 421 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6
Mother's Dumplings on Spadina has run northern Chinese comfort food in Chinatown since 2005, Shenyang-born Zhen Feng pressing dumplings by hand.
Tip: Cash and card. The frozen dumpling fridge sells takeaway 50-packs for under $30.
Patty King Bakery ★ 4.5
kensington-market · 187 Baldwin Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8
Patty King on Baldwin in Kensington Market runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties for $4 since 1981, the family-owned bakery supplying Toronto convenience.
Tip: Patties $2.50 each, six for $13; the cocoa bread and bun-and-cheese combo doubles as breakfast on the College streetcar.
Caldense Bakery ★ 4.4
ossington · 1209 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X3
Caldense Bakery on Dundas West has run Portuguese pastries since 1968, the pastel de nata baked through the day plus full savoury counter with rissois.
Tip: Take a number from the dispenser at the counter. Multiple Caldense locations across the GTA including Symington, Eglinton and Royal York.
Sam James Coffee Bar Ossington ★ 4.4
ossington · 141 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z6
Sam James on Ossington is the strip's reference takeaway counter, a small room with a Slayer espresso machine and rotating Sam James single-origin beans.
Tip: Sister Harbord location is the original. Walk-up only; cash and card both work.
De Mello Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4
yorkville · 824 St Clair Avenue W, Toronto, ON M6C 1C1
De Mello roasts on St Clair West since 2014, an award-winning Toronto specialty roaster serving six Toronto cafes plus a Seoul retail outpost.
Tip: St Clair address is the roastery; cafes at 2489 Yonge, 21 Spadina and elsewhere serve retail. Public tours by appointment.
Blood Brothers Brewing ★ 4.4
the-junction · 165 Geary Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 2B8
Blood Brothers on Geary Avenue is brothers Brayden and Dustin Jones's brewery since 2014, the Geary strip's reference taproom for sour ales and German lagers.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Geary Avenue runs four taprooms in walking distance; pair with Burdock and Halo for a crawl.
Banh Mi Boys ★ 4.4
queen-west · 392 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A9
Banh Mi Boys on Queen West is the Pham brothers' banh mi counter since 2011, fusion fillings on Vietnamese baguettes plus steamed bao and rice bowls.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit upstairs. Sister Yonge location at 399 Yonge runs the same menu.
Buster's Sea Cove ★ 4.4
financial-district · 93 Front Street E, St Lawrence Market Lower Level, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
Buster's Sea Cove on St Lawrence Market's lower level has run fish and chips, lobster rolls and oyster po'boys since 1995, the market's seafood counter.
Tip: Lineup runs longest 12:00-14:00 weekends. Standing room only; eat on the market benches.
Caribbean Queen of Patties ★ 4.4
the-junction · 1294 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N9
Caribbean Queen of Patties on Bloor West in Bloordale runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties for $5, owner Georgie's reference Caribbean takeout counter.
Tip: Spicy beef patty plus the bun-and-patty combo $5; cash preferred, the takeout queue moves fast at lunch.
Lambo's Deli ★ 4.4
queen-west · 176 Bellwoods Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2P4
Lambo's Deli on Bellwoods is the takeout-only Italian sandwich counter since 2021, thinly sliced cured meats on a fresh roll, the Italian Trio the staple.
Tip: Takeout only, no seating. Cash and card. Queue can stretch onto Bellwoods Avenue at lunch.
Pho Hung ★ 4.3
chinatown · 350 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G4
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Chinatown Vietnamese counter the Nguyen family opened in 1985, with a 30-year broth recipe and the famous fried chicken wings.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Three locations in Toronto; Spadina is the original and busiest.
Benna's Bakery and Deli ★ 4.3
roncesvalles · 135 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON M6R 2L2
Benna's on Roncesvalles is the family-owned Polish bakery and deli, paczki and pierogi alongside in-house smoked meats and European groceries.
Tip: Fat Thursday before Lent (late Feb) is paczki day; lineup runs 90 minutes. Polish Festival in September anchors the Roncesvalles strip.
Brick Street Bakery ★ 4.3
distillery-district · 27 Trinity Street, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Brick Street Bakery on Trinity Street in the Distillery District has run rustic European-style bread and pastries since 2003, sticky buns and savoury pies.
Tip: Cash and card. The Distillery flagship is the original; smaller satellites at Roy Thomson Hall and Front Street East.
Dineen Coffee Company ★ 4.3
financial-district · 140 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1X6
Dineen Coffee on Yonge at Temperance occupies the 1897 Dineen heritage building, the city's reference financial-district espresso bar with restored Edwardian.
Tip: Two entries, one on Yonge and one on Temperance. Weekday breakfast service heaviest 08:00-10:00.
Fahrenheit Coffee ★ 4.3
financial-district · 120 Lombard Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1M5
Fahrenheit on Lombard is owner Vahe Tcheulian's tiny espresso counter in the financial district since 2010, a six-stool room with the Toronto-roasted Manic.
Tip: Closed weekends. The room seats six; most regulars order to go and stand on the sidewalk.
Propeller Coffee Co ★ 4.3
the-junction · 50 Wade Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1P6
Propeller Coffee on Wade Avenue in the Junction Triangle is roaster Chris Kessel and Geoff Polci's specialty cafe-roastery since 2014, single-origin focused.
Tip: Saturday morning cupping is free and open to the public. The retail counter sells micro-lot 250g bags.
Fahrenheit Coffee ★ 4.3
financial-district · 120 Lombard Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1M5
Fahrenheit Coffee on Lombard is Vahe Tcheulian's espresso bar and roaster since 2010, La Marzocco machines and a small-batch Toronto-roasted house line.
Tip: Closed weekends. Six-stool room; most regulars order takeaway. The roastery is at a separate Toronto location.
Sneaky Dee's ★ 4.3
little-italy · 431 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1T1
Sneaky Dee's at College and Bathurst runs the city's reference late-night Tex-Mex kitchen until 04:30 on Friday and Saturday nights since 1987.
Tip: Cash only at the till; debit card at the bar. Late-night kitchen the city's most reliable after-bar option for nachos.
Sneaky Dee's ★ 4.3
little-italy · 431 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1T1
Sneaky Dee's at College and Bathurst runs the city's reference late-night Tex-Mex kitchen until 04:30 on Friday and Saturday nights since 1987.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Live music upstairs runs weekends; food downstairs until close.
Rol San ★ 4.3
chinatown · 388 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G5
Rol San on Spadina runs Cantonese dim sum and roast meat until 05:00 weekends since 1994, the late-night post-bar dim sum the city's reference.
Tip: Cash and card. After 02:00 weekend the room fills with the post-club crowd from Queen West.
Pho Hung ★ 4.3
chinatown · 350 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G4
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.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Walks in any time; Saturday lunch the busiest.
Banh Mi Boys ★ 4.3
queen-west · 392 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A9
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.
Tip: Order downstairs, eat upstairs. Sister Yonge location at 399 Yonge runs the same menu.
Sneaky Dee's ★ 4.3
little-italy · 431 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1T1
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.
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.
Rol San ★ 4.3
chinatown · 388 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G5
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.
Tip: Cash and card. The late-night menu after midnight Friday and Saturday the city's reference dim sum.
Bitondo Pizzeria ★ 4.2
little-italy · 11 Clinton Street, Toronto, ON M6J 2N7
Bitondo Pizzeria on Clinton Street has run a Little Italy storefront since 1960, panzerotti and meatball sandwiches with hot sauce and sweet peppers.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The tiny room seats six; most customers eat on the curb.
De Mello Coffee Yonge ★ 4.2
yorkville · 2489 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 2H6
De Mello Coffee on Yonge near Lawrence is the award-winning Toronto roaster's flagship cafe, single-origin filters and a cold-brew tap on bar.
Tip: Multiple Toronto branches plus a Seoul outpost. The Yonge location has the most consistent crowd window for laptop work after 14:00.