Iqbal Halal Foods Restaurant is a dietary-friendly spot in Little India, Toronto.
Iqbal Halal Foods in Thorncliffe Park has been Toronto's reference halal grocery and counter since 1993, the country's largest halal store with a hot bar.
Must order: The chicken biryani with raita and a samosa from the counter.
Tip: Halal Monitoring Authority certified. The hot food bar runs 12:00-21:00; the grocery store stays open until 23:00.
Address: 100 Thorncliffe Park Drive, East York, ON M4H 1L9, Toronto
Lahore Tikka House on Gerrard East is the Little India strip's reference Pakistani halal kitchen since 1996, hand-rolled rotis and tandoor-grilled meats.
Order: A platter of seekh kebab, butter chicken and a fresh naan from the tandoor.
Tip: Halal certified. The patio in summer the city's most colourful outdoor dining strip; bring cash for tips.
Lahore Tikka House on Gerrard East is the Little India strip's reference Pakistani halal kitchen since 1996, hand-rolled rotis and tandoor-grilled meats.
Order: A platter of seekh kebab, butter chicken and a fresh naan from the tandoor.
Tip: Halal certified. The patio in summer the city's most colourful outdoor dining strip; bring cash for tips.
Paramount on Yonge is the Toronto-based Lebanese halal chain founded by Mohamad Fakih in 2007, mezze plus shawarma and tagines in the downtown core.
Order: The mixed grill platter with hummus and tabbouleh.
Tip: Halal certified. Multiple Toronto locations; Yonge the downtown flagship.
Banjara on Bloor West Village is the strip's halal-certified North Indian kitchen since 2000, butter chicken and lamb rogan josh from chef Raj's canon.
Order: The butter chicken with a fresh naan and a side of palak paneer.
Tip: Halal-certified across meat, chicken, lamb and goat. The lunch thali the cheapest entry point; closed between 14:30 and 17:00 weekdays.
United Bakers at Lawrence Plaza is the city's reference kosher-style dairy restaurant since 1912, no-meat menu serving fish, blintzes and split-pea soup.
Order: The split pea soup with a potato latke and applesauce.
Tip: Kosher-style, not certified kosher. Closed Saturday and most Jewish holidays. Founded by the Ladovsky family.
Dr Laffa on Bathurst is the city's reference COR-certified kosher Israeli kitchen since 2008, family-recipe laffa bread baked to order with shawarma.
Order: A laffa wrap with shawarma plus a side of hummus and a salad pickled radish.
Tip: COR Toronto kosher certified. Closed Saturday. Multiple GTA locations; the Bathurst flagship runs the longest hours.
Tov-Li on north Bathurst is the city's reference COR-certified kosher Israeli dairy counter, pizza, falafel and bourekas the Willowdale staples.
Order: A Sabich sandwich with extra amba plus a slice of the za'atar pizza.
Tip: COR Toronto kosher certified, dairy-only. Closed Friday-Saturday. Takeout and delivery the fastest entry; eat-in seats half a dozen.
