United Bakers Dairy Restaurant is a dietary-friendly spot in Yorkville, Toronto.
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.
Must 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.
Address: 506 Lawrence Avenue W, Toronto, ON M6A 1A1
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.
Avelo on St Nicholas near Yorkville is chef Fernando Anrango's vegan fine-dining tasting-menu room, fermentation and house-made cheeses anchor the menu.
Order: The 5-course tasting menu plus a glass from the natural-wine list at Bar Avelo upstairs.
Tip: Wednesday-Sunday only, two seatings nightly. Bar Avelo upstairs runs walk-in vegan cocktails and small plates.
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.
Avelo on St Nicholas near Yorkville is chef Fernando Anrango's vegan fine-dining tasting-menu room, fermentation and house-made cheeses anchor the menu.
Order: The 5-course tasting menu plus a glass from the natural-wine list at Bar Avelo upstairs.
Tip: Wednesday-Sunday only, two seatings nightly. Bar Avelo upstairs runs walk-in vegan cocktails and small plates.
The Hogtown Vegan on College Street runs Southern comfort vegan since 2010, the city's reference vegan fried chicken and waffles, plus weekend brunch service.
Order: The Unchicken n' Waffles or the Notorious P.I.G. sandwich.
Tip: Weekend brunch lineups run from 11:00. Sister Bloor location closed; College is the original.
Fresh on Bloor is the original Fresh Restaurants location since 1999, owner Ruth Tal's plant-based juice bar and bowl-led menu that built the GTA chain.
Order: The Power Bowl with the dragon dressing or the Tantric Wrap.
Tip: Six Toronto locations now. Bloor original opens 09:00 for breakfast and juice; Front and Spadina locations carry the same menu.
Rosalinda on Richmond West is Grant van Gameren and chef Aldo Camarena's plant-based Mexican kitchen since 2018, vegan tacos and a mezcal program.
Order: The mushroom carnitas tacos and a mezcal flight.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The bar accepts walk-ins from 17:00; dining room books on Resy.
