Toronto - I love you, but I can’t stand fucking stomach you. A busted, broken city under a
the thin satin cloak of “Toronto ranked best in the world for..” perceived obsolescence. Quickly becoming a hollow city, friends. Vote please.
After months of waiting we learned today @cityoftoronto has denied our #CafeTO patio at Bar Volo this year. We are disappointed by the news after having a patio for 3 years w. no issues. There needs to be more support for small businesses creating culture & community in our city!
28
131
944
124,000
This should be plastered along the Danforth. Particularly in Banglatown where there is a tremendous amount of gaslighting taking place right now.
5
86
428
70,100
If you haven't been to Khau Gully Yonge St (davisville), I recommend you go for what is probably some of the best Indian cooking in the city right now. Many veg options -- I regularly crave the Kurkuri Bhindi- crispy okra fries. Anything paneer here is a home run.
16
18
399
53,595
The best food city in the world and the best time to experience it, despite its navigational challenges. Honoured that I got to host @onishinyt over a couple of food tours through the GTA.
Some of Toronto’s best dining options are mom-and-pop shops little known beyond their immigrant patrons, offering dishes that recall tastes from home or fuse new flavors together. nyti.ms/3YokvHX
19
51
387
64,611
Almost time. Very close to the start of 🥭 season. Currently Lone Tai is Scarborough is carrying 5 varieties. The sugar mangos from Colombia are the ones you should buying this week. Incredibly perfume-y, sweet and juicy.
15
20
376
53,188
Talking stuffed roti this week with @CBCIsmaila, and my favourite place to get it. Thursday on @metromorning
27
16
369
In the biryani renaissance we’re in, we’re seeing many regional styles of spiced rice. Here is one that is new. A young Tamil Sri Lankan couple making a specific Muslim style ghee-rich Colombo biryani in Scarborough. Knocked me off my feet. Under the radar. Go. Now. (Thanks mom)
15
24
377
I was super jealous of other kids that had anything Lego growing up. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for years. His first set. (Sorry staff at Fairview Mall for the tears).
13
2
314
A quick guide to eating through the second floor food court at Pacific Mall in Markham. Really happy to see that it is vibrant again, vendors were hit hard the past few years. I've noticed a number of new vendors recently, some notes --
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/p…
4
32
242
34,948
"A list compiled by people you’ll never meet will never be able to match dining picks from friends and family who have a lifelong mental dossier on what you like and don’t like to eat, or the knowledge of the neighbourhood shop owner who has eaten at every place on the block"
Here are the 13 Toronto restaurants that received stars in the renowned Michelin guide torstar.co/l4ov50KICNa
8
23
226
Find your local Mangosteen dealer asap. Exceptional, exceptional, fruit right now. Don’t buy it from a big box store, they’re all mediocre. If you’re in the gta recommend looking up fruter.ca/.
7
9
208
31,616
Dixie Square — one of the best plazas to eat through in Mississauga. Also 95% halal.
When you want to eat well in Toronto (especially the immigrant rich cooking in the ‘burbs) there’s only one guy to see: @Suresh. Today’s adventure in Mississauga.
10
16
187
We've been working on this for a number of months -- a web series that dives into the various pockets of Mississauga. Food, culture, and the faces behind the pulse of the city. The first episode is in the link below. Hope you like it.
Join renowned food explorer and culinary enthusiast @Suresh on an unforgettable journey exploring Mississauga’s hidden gems - Check out our first episode of NEXT TIME YOU’RE HERE 🥪🥘🍜
#VisitMississauga #DiscoverON
piped.video/watch?v=Hcqc6fI2…
7
29
192
27,401
So the new-ish Erin Mills Center plaza (not town centre) has become THE place for Indian, Pakistani & Egyptian restaurants. Like SO many Egyptian places opened recently (welcome back Mermaid!). must be one of biggest plazas in the gta? Dizzying. Packed with families dinner time.
3
6
170
🥭 update. This is the week, they are everywhere. Casescasescases. I stand by that the Kesar mangos are best rn— you can find them today/tomorrow; Bombay Foods, Nav Grocery. Blue boxes usually but also mom found the Kesar Shreeji ones - India town and spices (Markham / Lawrence).
Wow. Kesar mangos are here. They are SPECTACULAR. Peel and eat over the sink like a peach in August. Best place to get mangos right now — Scarborough, Brimley and Lawrence — SP importers and Bombay foods (behind the counter) where you will find the most glorious mango. Buybuy
8
12
164
50,865
Might be a hot take but.. is Ajax home to the best Tamil Sri Lankan food right now? no longer Scarborough? I don’t know, but yeah, I think so. Mostly driven by second gen cooks.
14
6
161
A very new S. Asian restaurant on Danforth east (2344, by Main Station). Menu is broad, but as its run by two young Tamil brothers, there are standout Sri Lankan dishes tucked in. Heavy curry flavour in biryani & kothu roti. They make their own mutton rolls, fried per order (!)
2
6
159
The international fruit selection is insane right now. So many things I've never seen before (thai sunrise mango, purple longan). I've been curating a weekly box with Etobicoke-based Fruter. It sells out quickly, a few boxes left. Best week yet. fruter.ca/products/suresh-do…
8
10
158
19,020
The Jamaican patty, is arguably the quintessential Toronto food, transcends age,culture, all demographics. We lose 2 iconic patty establishments (Randy's) within months of each other. sigh.
Bakery that makes Toronto subway station patties is permanently closing bit.ly/3x1WLz3 #Toronto #BusinessClosure
10
19
145
Over to you @Scarboroughspot
Wouldn’t be a trip to #Scarborough without a stop at Patty King!
1
21
129
14,927
🥭🧵Update. Best spots uptown — I think S.P. Importers Inc (Lawrence E) is the goldmine right now. 6 different varieties of mangos, but spread throughout the dizzying complex. That’s where I would go. Also great right now are june plums from the Caribbean, wood apple, nelli fruit
5
13
141
Everyone: What is your key policy or plan or strategy or platform?
Saunders: Can, I, arrest Olivia Chow?
cue, the curb your enthusiasm theme.
10
11
114
33,320
🥭 alert - Excellent selection of sugar mangos from Colombia at First Choice in Market. IMO these are probably THE most sought after mangos this spring. Incredibly aromatic, so juicy. Like a ripe peach — peel the skin off and enjoy.
3
9
132
If you love ramen, highly recommend you make the trek up to Aurora (trust me) to Ramen Yutaka. Really special, also if you don’t prefer pork broth. just finished renovations - counter, expanded “osusume” menu. Lobster bisque ramen special this weekend. cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s…
3
5
124
14,125
Toronto gets its first Japanese Kappo restaurant (as far as I can tell). Kappo Sato opened a few weeks ago ( 575 Mt Pleasant Rd), two tasting menus, fewer than a dozen seats -- inspired by Osakan kappo, courses oscillating between omakase - izakaya - kaiseki.
6
5
127
16,986
Dream Yunnan Chòng 云物舂 (Yonge/1 Byng ave) is one of the most interesting places to open recently. Former Sangji Bao spot in the Tridel complex. Two very young cooks presenting a specific southwestern Chinese cuisine historically influenced by Laotian, Thai, Burmese migration.
3
5
117
13,676
Happy Wednesday. 🥭🍈🍊🍐 Never such a selection of fruits like this in the GTA before. This year is crazy. This week in fruit Olympics - best bet is Freshway Supermarket at First Markham Place. Where to begin -- 🥭 from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, India. Beyond mango..
4
7
115
Char Siu Manor in Markham (9255 Woodbine Ave) - a new (3mth) Cantonese barbecue spot - is a special place for a few reasons. In the early 90s, there were many Cantonese barbecue takeout places in the GTA (Scarborough, Markham, RH, Mississauga). like everyone had their favourite.
6
6
123
19,687
Mom has embraced outdoor wok cooking (she was apprehensive at first bc high powered open flame). Channeling her grandma “and great grandma too, she loved the wok”. She was curious to see if our family crab masala recipe works with lobster. Surprisingly excellent if you undercook
3
115
Biryani served in a fast food, fried chicken spot. Seeing more QSR franchise owners in Brampton (about a dozen now)...ditching burger/pizzas for roti (dal, bangan bharta), desi breakfast options, large biryani presentations. I still don't know what to think..this is fascinating.
7
5
112
Mom introduced me to this fantastic new Sri Lankan takeout spot - Knob Hill plaza in Scarborough. Steamboat 2677 Eglinton E. Sinhalese cooking, quite rare even in TO. Two sisters making over a dozen traditional dishes in clay pots (only three meats). Excellent fish curry, cutlets
2
6
110
Non necessarily regional but awesome ; Itecate, El Pocho Antojitos Bar, El Nahual Tacos
Oaxacan/CDMX - Fonda Balam
Tampico- Puerto Bravo
Jalisco- Maria's Tortas
Yucatan/Mayan - Ko'ox Hana
Northern/Tijuana/Puebla - La cantina del pueblo
Northern - Pork Volcánes at Plaza Latina
2
7
106
17,511
This is the best food city. Support local food writing, local voices.
"The Michelin star guide is an...elitist system that rewards exactly the kind of behavior that needs to change in the restaurant industry," says @coreymintz. He and @NancyMatsumoto discuss the good & bad of the famed food guide as inspectors visit Toronto: cbc.ca/1.6454382
1
3
103
Extra spicy please. Really well made, small batch patties and pot pies. My favourite patty right now.
"It's where the patty is headed as we see a younger generation show their own remixes."
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/p…
5
2
115
There is a new food trailer at the Scarborough GO Station. Julian and his mom. Open Tue-Sun for lunch and dinner cooking Jamaican staples. The menu changes often. He’s just getting started. IG to track - instagram.com/thegoodeatsbyj…
2
23
103
10,746
My 199th segment on @CBCToronto @metromorning tomorrow - an outstanding charcoal lunch counter worth a trip, run by two Afghan brothers, set inside a Pakistani butcher shop. Also, updates on the map (rip Naniwa-Taro. I will miss you, A LOT).
bit.ly/cbcfoodguide
3
9
107
Support local writers — “the locals' opinion that matters above all else”
This evening, Michelin will unveil the Toronto restaurants that have won its coveted stars.
Ahead of the announcement, I examined what Michelin's arrival means to Canada's largest and most diverse city:
bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-cana…
4
7
97
The almighty hopper. I’ve been waiting to write about how freshly made appam — with perfectly crispy tops and a pancake centre — are now easier to find in the GTA. thestar.com/amp/life/food_wi…
4
14
92
First round of tastings today for Smorgasburg TO’s menus - Singaporean kueh. Regional indian Streetfood with vada pav, aloo tikki chaat. Sri Lankan string kothu.
4
86
A Scarborough gem — Christopher is a master wok technician, honing his craft for over 30 years around the GTA.
This Scarborough Hakka restaurant serves up incredible dishes from a family wok, writes Metro Morning food columnist Suresh Doss. bit.ly/3kK1EJf
3
8
79
14,842
No mango updates for a few days. It seems my 3yr toddler son is embarrassed by me taking photos in grocery stores. "daddy put your phone down now". I tried explaining service journalism, but he walked away. 🙄
8
82
5,027
Over the past 4 years I've noticed new Uyghur restaurants open in Mississauga/Oakville/Burlington corridor. There's something important and special happening, slowly. Some of the best meals I have had this year. I recommend a trip. TAAM - 1107 Lorne Park Rd #17, Mississauga
1
2
79
4,167
Hopeton! (6315 Netherhart Rd, Mississauga) A 15 min ride from the airport. Hidden in the industrial huddle. Please say hello for me.
@Suresh hello, I heard your wonderful review of a Jamaican restaurant that you visited near Pearson airport. Unfortunately I can't remember the name or find your review. May I have the name?🇯🇲
1
5
78
14,589
Every corner in the GTA owns a stitch in our cultural mosaic. few months ago, I was research eating in Mississauga. Alone, re-visiting places to request interviews. Places I had been before, now introducing myself. got rejected multiple times. I was frustrated, exhausted..
2
2
72
11,885
"But will Michelin, with its reputation for catering to more elite diners and awarding restaurants that don’t always reflect the diversity of its cities, adapt when covering one of the most varied dining cities in the world?" 👊 @karonliu thestar.com/news/gta/2022/05…
2
10
68
This city is now a mango capital. Like even the pulp selection this year, bountiful. (Ps these have a long shelf life)
6
2
70
First market is July 23rd by the waterfront (Yonge/Queens Quay). Same ethos as the NY/LA markets -- I'm curating with my favourite popups from across the GTA. I promise it will be delicious.
Saturdays this summer #AtTheWaterfront
@WaterfrontTO @WaterfrontBIA @Suresh
blogto.com/eat_drink/2022/05…
4
4
71
DT - Arisu Korea on Bloor. IMHO - the good stuff is now uptown. Sorry, Korean BBQ is not in the city anymore. Daldongnae but the location on Yonge north of 401. I really like Busan Galmaegi, SoJuBang, Kobi Korean. All on Yonge. North of the 401 to Steeles. This is it.
Does anyone know of a really good Korean BBQ restaurant in the GTA??
My wife would love to go to one for her birthday next month and I’d love to make it happen.
3
4
66
16,141
Often asked about Halal restaurants -- I usually respond with a list of places in Mississauga because it is the best place to get a range of cuisines. Here are three great spots thestar.com/life/food_wine/2…
2
7
63
Wow. Kesar mangos are here. They are SPECTACULAR. Peel and eat over the sink like a peach in August. Best place to get mangos right now — Scarborough, Brimley and Lawrence — SP importers and Bombay foods (behind the counter) where you will find the most glorious mango. Buybuy
4
67
58,393
🥭 update. As spring season is winding down lesson this year is how mangos have become undeniably ubiquitous. Everywhere in the GTA, woven into the zeitgeist now. your corner grocers will carry 1, 2 varieties, Asian markets will carry 8 to 12. And now -- the underground economy.
3
3
60
☺️
Our toddler’s reaction to eating his first berry picked off a bush was enough for me to realize this is something we can do together, writes @Suresh
Here are a few pick-your-own farms to visit this summer.
torstar.co/hZ5E50JWeO9
2
3
57
Happy Friday. We have reached peak 🥭. Downtowners, you should head to Nav Grocery on queens quay. Badami, Alphonso, Kesar. All excellent. Only store that lets you buy individual mangos. Uptown, Jian Hing has 11 (1!) varieties right now. Kohinoor has Alphonso. This is it
7
7
55
6,094
The vendor lineup is a dream list, It’s going to be great. (sorry if I upset any Drake fans)
Cool Q&A with @Suresh who is organizing the Smorgasburg festival by the water next month.
torontolife.com/food/im-hand…
2
8
57
Title is misleading. I will miss this place, however it is NOT the last. there is another excellent Hungarian restaurant still remaining in the city. Edit Cosma’s Budapest Restaurant — Danforth and Main.
maps.app.goo.gl/npxBycv1EZL9…
After 60 years in operation, Country Style Hungarian Restaurant will soon be serving its last schnitzel platter.
Closing as of Aug. 1, it is the last remaining restaurant that once made part of the Annex a hotspot for Hungarian cuisine. trib.al/nks9c5f
9
4
58
14,933
Alphonsos arrived yesterday, but as usual they’re tucked away. Ask for it!
Current Kohinoor Foods mango situation in @GerrardIndiaBaz. Picked up a case to welcome Spring. cc/@Suresh
ALT Boxes of various mangos on display at a famous grocer in Toronto's Little India
4
4
54
The best boat noodles in town, please try it. I love Paddler Thai, a unique standout in this city that takes me back to the wonderful floating markets in and around Bangkok. Wonderful people in this place.
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s…
4
3
57
next episodes, fewer dudes and dinosaurs please.
Holiday Monday=Good Listening to Good Eating on TORONTO LEGENDS podcast:
🍴Susur Lee 🍴 @chefmattbasile 🍴 @TedGrills 🍴Afrim Pristine 🍴Michael Rubino 🍴Sea-Hi Chinese
🎧podpage.com/toronto-legends/…🎧
@AntoniaZ @karonliu @Suresh @cnutsmith @coreymintz @chefbangerter @TheBlackHoof
4
43
Found a place in Bendale, Scarborough that has started serving really good coconut milk hoppers in the am. Opened a couple of years ago, I guess they’re doing it fresh due to demand. Hoppers IMO are rarely done à la minute, and done very well. Ahmutha Surabi — 2847 Lawrence Ave E
1
1
51
Week 4, that’s a wrap for Session ONE. New set next week 🕺🏽Full list Monday.
Well done @Suresh for the first half of Smorgasburg! (Next week it's all new vendors).
Nitty gritty: Foot of One Yonge, free admission, every Saturday for the next four weeks. Lotta non-meat options. Accessible ramps.
2
2
54
Momozone! new to East York with a fantastic menu of Nepalese/Indian/Hakka momos. I love everything on the menu here.
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/m…
@Suresh I missed the name of the momo spot you were talking about on @metromorning. They sounded amazing! Help a girl out?
5
3
49
12,463
My final show, on today till 6p. Hot Buttered Soul at 3pm. Thank you for all the love and support, Toronto.
Summer continues #AtTheWaterfront!
The final Smorgasburg market starts now! Congrats Suresh, Landon and @WaterfrontTO for 8 weeks of excellence.
And THANK YOU to a 24 deep community clean up crew in 3 parks.
44
Woburn, Scarborough. Now claiming the title of mango capital. If you want variety, head to Jian Hing Foodmart (Markham / Lawrence). A great selection of Jamaican, Peruvian, Indian mango. Also a great grocery store for specialty East Asian / South East Asian foodstuffs
5
1
46
7,652
The entire aquarium to himself, pretty much. @RipleysAquaCA is very quiet during the week fyi (esp morning).
2
44
You won’t find a better version.
Doner G on Wilson Ave sounds amazing (“best döner in the city”) courtesy of @metromorning and @Suresh
5
1
43
Adding to the list of Afghan restaurants have opened up in the Mississauga/Scarborough during the past few years that I've talked about - run by three brothers from Shamali. One I've been frequenting since they opened a day before lockdown in 2020. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/08…
1
3
46
Inner Circle is back. It has quickly become a favourite since we moved nearby. Tucked away in a size plaza off Kennedy Rd S. of Eglinton. Excellent Guyanese-style curries, Trinbagonian doubles. The bara is just right. cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/i…
46
Dominican mangos officially here. Wow, Maduro mango this year 💦. If you see, grab a box. So juicy, scoop it w a spoon. Good selection of mango at S.P. Importers (2863 Lawrence E). Ps: Maduros are always by checkout.
Ranking now;
1 - DR maduro mango
2 - Colombian sugar mango
4
5
40
6,888
Adding to this — Mamajoun’s mante is so good. Also new — jingalov hatz — fantastic (Available at The Oud and The Fuzz Tue and Thu in Kensington mkt). The hoppers were at Ahmutha Surabi, excellent.
Another massive food crawl, today in Scarborough, ON, with @Suresh. Started with Armenian lahmacun, manti; then mangoes, hoppers, doubles and…I’m done baby.
42
The showstopper is the lamprais. Presented like a platter, designed for 2-4 people with 12 different dishes. It is incredible. Baby jackfruit curry, banana flower, eggplant moju. Apparently even better on the weekend as they make special regional dishes. This place rocks.
4
3
43
DonerG, one of my top meals this year. Lots of new Turkish cafes/restaurants/shops have opened up in the GTA in the past 2 years. Don't skip on the Kalle pache/lahmacun.
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s…
2
3
44
I've been spending a lot of time the past few years in this stretch of Danforth. Banglatown, which now extends to Warden Ave. 15 or so Bangladeshi food places. There’s a sense of community here that reminds me of what Little India was like decades ago.
This week in the food section, @Suresh heads to the Danforth to check out some Bangladeshi spots!
thestar.com/life/food_wine/2…
1
5
41
Times Restaurant - Scarborough Favourite for 15yrs on Eglinton, closed suddenly before lockdown in 2020. Nicole & mom re-opened in this Ultramar-automotive- gas-station-plaza-strip last year (3220 Kingston Rd. It is so consistently good, my local go-to since moving to Cliffside..
2
1
44
Grab today’s Star — we tour through all the great street food vendors at market 707. This turned out great thanks to @SincerelyPriya.
5
40
Noticing something really interesting the past few months. Owners of fast food franchises (especially ones in food courts in burbs) veering off script - doing secret / not so secret menus. A desperate move I’m told — they’re tailoring the menus to compete and feed audience. Crazy
2
2
41
Brampton > A halal fast-food chain -- with a Pakistani street food popup within it (sign just went up a few days ago)-- and you can now buy mangos by the boxes, flown in weekly from small farms near Karachi. Straight from the airport. Few places in Brampton/Mississauga doing this
1
37
Also, street mango stalls are back (Lawrence E, Vic Park & Finch) -- this one on Midland ave (2250 ) Get this, "Lucky Printing & Sign Ltd. / FRESH MANGOS FOR SALE". A print shop that started selling fruit during the pandemic. Wonderful people that run it. Season is here friends.
2
4
39
If and when you visit this little shop, in the same plaza Ajwa Pizza, is great. Across the street a quick walk to Iqbal Halal supermarket. Inside the East York Town Centre, you must visit Shahi Rasoi -- great chana puri and veg platters.
Madina Nan Kabob is at 25 Overlea Blvd. in Thorncliffe Park. bit.ly/3UeEHew
2
4
37
This place is excellent. Word is out
#tacotuesday and our favourite lengua tacos north of Hermosillo can be found at Alebrijes Taqueria (2494 Dufferin St). Thick cut, heavy on the accoutrements, finished with some house habanero. Sneaky-good cantina! 🇲🇽 👅
1
1
38
For those asking about the t-shirt, Scarborough Spots -- great people. scarboroughspots.com/product…
3
3
41
Ranking now (clock position)
1 - East Indian Mango (Jamaican, 3p)
2 - Peruvian Inkanto Mango (superior Kent, 11p)
3 - DR maduro mango
4 - Colombian sugar mango (8p)
3
4
37
8,264
First bite, wanted to try the poblano tamales by Alma y Gil.
On the GO train down to Smorgasburg Toronto on Caribana weekend to visit dad. @Suresh we couldn’t be more proud of you ❤️
38
If you can, I highly recommend a visit to Ramen Yutaka for their chintan and patain bowls. Luis sets a very high bar with his chicken broth. He makes the noodles weekly, aged for a few days. One of my favourite meals this year. The veg ramen bowls are also excellent.
This week, Metro Morning food guide Suresh Doss talked about a ramen spot that's a great alternative for anyone looking for something other than pork. bit.ly/3Ap84Cy
1
1
34
This place has really, really good mutton rolls (made to order).
Chicken Kothu Roti at Fusion Kitchen (2344 Danforth Ave). Nice addition to the #DanforthVillage ‘hood, they met our request for extra spice. Laden with chillies, chook and a fried egg on top. This qualifies as #lunchunder10bucks as part of their Wednesday specials 🇱🇰 🌶️
2
32
On the topic of the patty, still great shops around (Tweedy's, Patty Cake, Crumbs). IMHO the future is places like Phamily Eats. Peter, of Vietnamese descent, launches popup patties during pandemic. Different from Jamaican style. Aces though. This is the legacy of the patty in TO
3
4
36
