Hodo Kwaja is a korean restaurant in Koreatown, Toronto.
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.
Must order: A dozen walnut pastries hot from the mold to share at the counter.
Why locals love it: Korean walnut-shaped pastry counter on Bloor West Koreatown filling chestnut-shaped molds with red bean and walnut, sold in 12-piece bags for $5.
Tip: Cash and card. The counter sells out on busy Korean-festival nights at the Mod Club next door.
Address: 656 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L1
House of Gourmet on Dundas in Chinatown runs Cantonese roast meat and dim sum until 04:00 since 2000, a 30-page menu with BBQ pork rice the staple.
Order: BBQ pork over rice or a plate of late-night siu mai.
Why locals love it: Late-night Cantonese roast meat counter open until 04:00, the 30-page menu running from BBQ pork rice to dim sum at 3am.
Tip: Cash and card. The post-club crowd files in after 02:00; lineup outside on Friday and Saturday.
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.
Order: A Hong Kong egg waffle filled with The Bee's Knees and a salted caramel cookie sandwich.
Why locals love it: Ossington ice cream and bakery counter making Hong Kong egg-waffle cones filled with hand-churned ice cream, queues snake down Ossington in summer.
Tip: Closed Monday. Cash and card. Saturday line stretches a full block; weekday afternoons the calmest entry.
Rhum Corner on Dundas West is Jen Agg and Roland Jean's Haitian dive since 2014, pikliz cabbage, griot fried pork and a 50-bottle rum back bar.
Order: An order of griot fried pork with pikliz and a punch maison.
Why locals love it: Haitian dive bar by Jen Agg and partner Roland Jean across from Cocktail Bar, pikliz and griot the menu staples plus a 50-bottle rum back bar.
Tip: Closed Monday. Reservation through Black Hoof sister-group; the bar takes walk-ins.
The Real Jerk on Gerrard East is the Jamaican institution that has run since 1984, Lily and Edward Pottinger's jerk chicken and curry goat the canon.
Order: A jerk chicken combo with rice and peas and a side of fried plantain.
Why locals love it: Jamaican jerk chicken and curry goat institution since 1984; Rihanna and Drake filmed videos here in the old Queen East location, now moved to Gerrard East.
Tip: Cash and card. The Rihanna 'Work' music video and Drake's 'One Dance' featured this venue.
Swatow on Spadina has run Chiu Chow Cantonese since 1979, the salted-fish fried rice and a 200-item menu including clay pots and seafood, late-night kitchen.
Order: Salted-fish chicken fried rice and a clay-pot eggplant.
Why locals love it: Chiu Chow-style Cantonese kitchen on Spadina since 1979, the salted-fish fried rice and clay-pot dishes a Chinatown classic served late.
Tip: Cash and card. Late-night kitchen the city's reference for post-bar Cantonese.
The Done Right Inn on Queen West is the strip's reference dive bar, $4.50 domestic bottles, $6 pints and a century-old tree shading the back patio.
Order: A $4.50 domestic bottle on the back patio, BYO food from down the street.
Why locals love it: Queen West dive with $4.50 domestic bottles and $6 pints; the century-old tree on the back patio is the city's reference shaded summer dive.
Tip: Cash only. No food sold; bring your own. The century-old tree on the back patio shades the summer beer garden.
