James AllenDuring my first year working and living in Toronto, I was so busy with everything that I barely had any time to sit down and eat something. I would’ve collapsed from hunger at some point if it weren’t for a friend who told me about street food spots in the city.
And wow, these street food spots are such a lifesaver!
If you’re also in a hurry during your stay in Toronto, here are street food spots that I recommend. These will keep your energy up and satiate your cravings at the same time!
Fruta Libre
Address: 335 Yonge St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—3 to 10 pm
World Food Market is a street food hub in Toronto, and one of my favorite stalls here is Fruta Libre, which offers a wide variety of Mexican snacks and drinks.
My go-to order is the Dorilocos, which is a bag of Doritos topped with shredded carrots, chopped cucumbers, peanuts, gummy candies, and more. It’s not exactly the healthiest snack, but it’s so addicting—savory and sweet with a kick of spice.
To wash everything down, I usually get a horchata, a Mexican drink that’s made with rice, vanilla, cinnamon, and milk. It’s such a refreshing drink, and the sweetness level hits the right spot for me.
| Pro Tip: When mango is in season, try the Mango in a Cup. The fruit is chopped and seasoned with chamoy and tajin. It tastes sweet but also kind of sour and spicy. It’s so good! |
Squares and Affaires
Address: 335 Yonge St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +12899252750
Squares and Affaires is another street food stall in World Market that I absolutely love. This one mostly has fried comfort dishes, but you can also find a good selection of desserts.
I really like the chicken on Liège waffles served here. It has an interesting combination of texture (crispy chicken and fluffy waffle) and flavors (savory chicken and a slightly sweet sauce). I can’t get enough of it!
I also treat myself to a sweet treat here. The cookies and cream waffle satisfies my cravings every time, and if it’s hot outside, I order a sundae with three scoops of ice cream to cool down.
| Pro Tip: If you don’t consume meat, ask the owners about vegetarian substitutes. They’ll be more than happy to accommodate your needs. |
Gold Standard
Address: 385 Roncesvalles Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 3 pm
If sandwiches are your jam, then you might like Gold Standard! This spot, in particular, specializes in breakfast sandwiches.
The variety is impressive here. There’s the Gold Standard Breakfast Sandwich (my usual choice), which has cheesy eggs, bacon, and aioli, but if you prefer something more indulgent, get the extremely cheesy and jam-packed Four Guys Burger.
For drinks, I usually go for Mexican Coca-Cola. I didn’t think there was a difference, but the Mexican version tastes more naturally sweet (I think it’s because it uses cane sugar). I also really like Zamalek, which is hibiscus juice with notes of mint.
| Pro Tip: If you’re vegan, you should get The Alternative, which is basically the vegan version of the Gold Standard Breakfast Sandwich. It has mushrooms, chimichurri, hummus, pickles, sprouts, and mustard. |
Tut’s Egyptian Street Food
Address: 567 King St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—11 am to 2 am
- Thursday—11 am to 3 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 4 am
Contact Number: +14165511050
Are you craving Egyptian street food? Then check out Tut’s on King Street West! It’s my go-to Egyptian street food stall in Toronto.
When I’m really hungry, I order the large bowl, which is filled with Egyptian rice with vermicelli (or Dukka fries), garlic tomatoes, turnips, pickles, crispy pita, and any of Tut’s sauces. It has something from each food group, so it satisfies my hunger in no time.
If I’m in a hurry, I get any of the sandwiches instead. So far, my favorite is the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken is perfectly crispy, and with the pickled cucumbers and spicy mayo, the sandwich has a kick of heat and zest.
| Pro Tip: Tut’s offers catering services for parties and any other special events if you’re interested. |
Gushi Japanese Street Food
Address: 296 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—11:30 am to 8:30 pm
- Sunday—11:30 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14372411710
Treat yourself to a wide variety of Japanese dishes at Gushi! This spot has two locations in Toronto, but the one I always come back to is the one located on Gerrard Street East.
The fried chicken (or karaage in Japanese) is the best-selling dish here. I tend to order the 6-piece or 10-piece because I just love munching on boneless chicken pieces while walking on the street.
Sometimes, when I’m with a friend, we get the snack baskets, which are filled with so many items that both of us will get full after eating. Our go-to basket is the one with four pieces of chicken, four pieces of takoyaki, and two pieces of potato croquette.
| Pro Tip: Gushi sells frozen karaage home kits. You should get a pack or two so that you have something to eat when you’re craving fried chicken at home. |
Omusubi Bar Suzume
Address: 707 Dundas St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11:30 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—12 to 6:30 pm
Another great spot that you should check out if you’re into Japanese cuisine is Omusubi Bar Suzume. Here, you can enjoy a great variety of omusubi (rice balls), donburi (rice bowls), and desserts.
My favorite omusubi flavors are chicken teriyaki and garlic shitake mushroom. For donburi, I go for either the ginger pork don or miso eggplant don.
As someone with a sweet tooth, I can’t pass up on the stall’s dango (skewered rice cake balls with sweet soy sauce glaze). I also enjoy kumquat, which is a citrus fruit that looks and tastes like an orange (it’s also rich in vitamin C).
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, this store closes early because they sell out fast. So, I recommend coming here hours before the closing time. |
Chaska Indian Street Food
Address: 218 Adelaide St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +16474751279
Whenever I’m in the mood for Indian cuisine but don’t have time to sit down and wait a long time for my order, I just go to Chaska. My order comes out in just a few minutes, and it’s always such a flavorful delight!
I tend to get a roll here because it’s super convenient and filling. My favorite is the naan roll because it’s filled with my preferred protein (chicken), and grilled vegetables.
If I’m starving, I’d get a rice bowl because that will undoubtedly satiate my hunger.
Other than these filling meals, I also like to get little snacks every now and then. The pani puri is one I always come back to. It’s so satisfying to fill the puffed shells with chickpeas, potatoes, and spiced water, and then dump it into my mouth.
| Pro Tips: Download the Chaska app on your phone so that you can order ahead of time and pick up your order when you arrive at the store. If you’re planning a special event, you might be interested in booking Chaska’s catering services. |
Sector 17—Street Food Eatery
Address: 268 Dundas St E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 2 am
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 4 am
Contact Number: +16473660017
If you’re craving Indian-Desi cuisine specifically, then I just have the spot for you: Sector 17 on Dundas Street East.
This spot offers some of the most iconic Indian street foods. One that you should try is the veg masala chips. The golden rolls are perfectly crispy, and the vegetable filling is tossed along a Desi masala sauce, so it’s savory and spicy at the same time.
Some of the dishes are even a combination of Desi and Chinese cuisines. I really liked the Noodle Burger, which has a noodle patty in addition to the traditional patty. I never thought that noodles could work in a burger, but I was proven wrong.
| Pro Tip: If you’re interested, you can book Sector 17’s catering services for your special event. |
Chef Harwash
Address: 707 Dundas St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday—1 to 9 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—1 to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—1 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +16478091334
Chef Harwash celebrates Syrian cuisine, and it’s also certified halal, so Muslim foodies are more than welcome here.
I really like the chicken shawarma. The chicken breast slices are perfectly tender and juicy, and the homemade garlic sauce ties the whole dish together.
When I’m really hungry, I go for the triple-cheese beef burger because it’s loaded with so many things.
End your meal on a sweet note. I recommend trying the tamari, which has grape molasses, tahini paste, banana, and sugar powder wrapped in two layers of bread. It’s so indulgent and sweet, and yet I can’t get enough of it.
| Pro Tip: This spot has a charity that supports Syrian refugees. If you want to lend a hand as well, you can donate money. |
Tortería San Cosme
Address: 5 Mercer St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—11:30 am to 9 pm
- Thursday and Friday—11:30 am to 9:30 pm
- Saturday—12 to 9:30 pm
- Sunday—12 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14168502855
As the name suggests, Tortería San Cosme specializes in torta, a Mexican-style sandwich that’s stuffed with various fillings and pickled jalapeños, and then griddled to have a crunchy exterior.
The most popular dish here (and my personal recommendation as well) is Torta Cubana; it has sliced adobo pork, ham, smoked bacon, and then drizzled with chipotle sauce. Every bite is a burst of savory flavors, and the jalapeños add a slight kick.
Aside from torta, you might like to get guacamole and chips as a side dish. The guacamole tastes so fresh and zesty. Sometimes, I would even add a spoonful to my torta just to add some kind of zing to it.
| Pro Tip: If you’re sensitive to gluten or you don’t eat meat, you can ask the staff which items on the menu have gluten-free or vegetarian/vegan versions. |
Brick’N’Cheese Toronto
Address: 678 College St
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—5 pm to 12 am
- Wednesday and Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
- Thursday to Saturday—12 pm to 1 am
Contact Number: +14165335111
Have you ever wondered what French-style tacos would taste like? Well, now you don’t have to wonder anymore because Brick’N’Cheese Toronto specializes in this particular treat.
The Signature Brick is a great place to start. It’s filled with extra lean ground beef and crispy chicken and topped with fresh caramelized onions and cheddar. It also has fries and a cheese sauce, so you’ll really be full after eating this dish.
Another great taco is the Hot and Spicy Brick. It has jalapeño peppers and red hot sauce, so every bite packs quite a strong punch.
Aside from bricks, this spot sells bowls that are loaded with fries, your preferred protein, fries, and more. Personally, I think the crispy bacon chicken bowl is the best out of all the options.
There’s also a veggie bowl if you don’t eat meat.
| Pro Tip: Feel free to build your own Brick if you’re feeling experimental! |
NomNomNom Poutine
Address: 707 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 2W6, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11:30 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—12 to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16476360707
Poutine is a classic Canadian snack, and one of the best places to get it is NomNomNom Poutine.
There are only a few options, but all of them are great, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. If it’s your first time eating poutine, you might want to start with the traditional version. The cheese curds and the savory sauce coating the fries hit every time.
If you want more flavors on your poutine, I recommend getting the jerk chicken. It’s basically poutine with a Jamaican twist.
I also really enjoy the pulled pork or pulled beef. The meat is so succulent and pairs well with the crispy fries.
| Pro Tip: There is a table in front of the stall if you’re tired of holding your food as you’re eating. |
