Looking for budget-friendly dining in Toronto and wondering where to find the best affordable restaurants?
To dine here is akin to making a religious pilgrimage: It takes patience, practice, and prayer. The once-“secretive” spot in the gentrifying “mechanical-industrial” strip of Geary Street is no longer under wraps. Swarms of people congregate and wait at least an hour outside before opening, a fact not lost on owner and chef Leandro Baldassarre (formerly of three-Michelin-starred Dal Pescatore). With a collected demeanor and without gimmicks, Baldassarre offers what’s considered the city’s best fresh pasta, along with rustic Southern Italian dishes.
Check them out and watch the corresponding episodes to take the journey along with him — or to plan your own.
Yeung’s foundational dishes are also available here for fans as well, like toothsome house-made cuttlefish balls floating in thick laksa noodle soup, or cavernous bowls of fortified broth (so clear you can see your reflection) filled with glossy egg noodles and plump tiger shrimp wontons.
Fahrenheit Coffee, one of my fave coffee shops in Toronto, is on Ritual. They only take about 10% commission from restaurants, which is a lot lower than what other food apps charge.
Her three-tiered, frosted cakes are also wonders. The Pistachio and Olive Oil Birthday Cake is like a childhood confetti slice given a glow-up, while an entire summer romance is encapsulated in the Vanilla Sorrel and Raspberry Cake: a towering vanilla sponge cake offering bright mouthfuls of tangy sorrel buttercream, along with a tasty tango of vanilla pastry cream and raspberry coulis. Open in Google Maps
You can actually help the restaurants pay less commissions (they pay up to 30%) if you order on Uber Eats through the restaurant’s actual website!
Cheap drink deals in Toronto go beyond happy hour offerings. Many of the city's restaurants and bars offer drink specials that last all day long. From $5 brews to half price wine, drinking on the cheap in Toronto isn't as difficult as you might think.
On-campus eateries If you prefer to eat on campus, check out Oakham Café (external link, opens in new window) or the Hub Café and pay using your OneCard to save the tax! You can load your OneCard with funds on-line and present it when you’re ready to pay for your meal.
Prefer to order from restaurants themselves? These are Toronto restaurants doing their own delivery.
Copy Link Owner Dawn Chapman’s farm-forward philosophy stems from her childhood experiences growing up on her grandparents’ farm check here in Midhurst, Ontario. Her beloved brunch spot (with a newly minted dinner menu) has become a community pillar in the city’s east end of Leslieville (and beyond). People clamor for the legendary high-rise biscuit sandwiches, the stuff of down-home country dreams. These fluffy cushions embrace decadent fillings such as fried chicken with honey butter and jalapeno cheese, Mennonite smoked bacon cradling a runny egg and melty aged cheddar, or eggs with portobello mushrooms and vegan cheddar.
Kor moo yang (grilled pork jowl blessed with a generous fat belt) also leaves a tingling buzz on the lips, thanks to its ample endowment of red chiles. For those who can’t stand the heat, pad woon sen cha-om is a tame yet solid choice: Springy glass noodles are tossed with crumbled egg and garlic, then finished with bitter acacia leaf that’s strewn across the stringy landscape. Open in Google Maps
Her three-tiered, frosted cakes are also wonders. The Pistachio and Olive Oil Birthday Cake is like a childhood confetti slice given a glow-up, while an entire summer romance is encapsulated in the Vanilla Sorrel and Raspberry Cake: a towering vanilla sponge cake offering bright mouthfuls of tangy sorrel buttercream, along with a tasty tango of vanilla pastry cream and raspberry coulis. Open in Google Maps
Didn’t get enough gifts on your birthday? Here’s a list of some places in Toronto that offer freebies or discounts on your special day. - Dreamstime photo