Amelie CameronChefs Hall in Toronto is undoubtedly a dream come true for foodies. Boasting 18,000 square feet, this place is home to a wide array of F&B outlets. You can’t walk any more than five feet without getting a whiff of delicious aroma and your stomach grumbling!
In my opinion, Chefs Hall is perfect to visit when you don’t know what cuisine you want to eat. Every time I come here, I don’t eat just once. I might start with a Detroit-style pizza, then I’ll move on to a chicken sandwich and end my trip with a cup of coffee.
If you’re visiting soon, here’s a guide to help you prepare for the trip.
Things to Know
Address: 111 Richmond St W, Richmond-Adelaide Center
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—11 am to 9 pm
- Wednesday to Saturday—11 am to 10 pm
How to Get Here
By Subway: Take the Yonge-University subway line and stop at the Osgoode Station. From there, you have to walk to Chefs Hall. It should only take about five minutes.
By Car: There’s paid public parking underground. To get to it, you must enter through York Street.
Where to Eat
Chefs Hall Bar
– From: chefshallto
If you’re just in the mood for a glass of your favourite alcoholic drink, then Chefs Hall Bar is the place to go. This place serves all the bar classics—from draught beers and cans to fun cocktails and fancy wines.
I personally love getting the cocktails. My favourite is the Skrewballtini, which has whiskey, Kahlua, and an espresso blend. It tastes like your typical coffee, though this one has a strong note of peanut butter, which I very much like.
Charcoal Biryani
– From: charcoalbiryani
I’m the biggest fan of Indian cuisine, so when I discovered Charcoal Biryani, I was overjoyed. Now, it’s one of my go-to spots whenever I visit Chefs Hall.
You have to get the Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani, which also happens to be one of the bestsellers. It’s super aromatic, and when you bite into the chicken, you can taste a wonderful combination of savoury, earthy, and spicy flavours.
Pour raita (a yogurt-based condiment) and pepper gravy onto every forkful, and you’ll get a strong kick of tangy and peppery!
Grateful Chicken
– From: chefshallto
If you’re a fried chicken lover like I am, then you’ll love Grateful Chicken. This restaurant serves both fried chicken on its own and fried chicken sandwiches!
I love getting any of the combo dishes. Personally, my go-to order is the hot chicken sandwich combo because I’m obsessed with how spicy and crispy the fried chicken patty is. It’s also served with thick, perfectly salted fries and a can of soda, making it a super filling meal.
Iwami Sushi
– From: chefshallto
Looking for a great sushi spot in Chefs Hall? Then, look no further than Iwami Sushi.
I always get the oshizushi (pressed sushi), which comes in six pieces. The Saumon à Trois Oshi is my favourite. I love how buttery and smoky the smoked salmon is, and the dashi aioli adds strong umami notes to every piece.
Grandma Loves You
– From: mjeatstoronto
If you’re in a rush, Grandma Loves You is your saviour. This spot specializes in cold-cut sandwiches and hot dogs that are always delicious and large in size, so you’ll feel full in no time.
You can’t go wrong with the 6” Chefs Choice. This one is loaded with grilled chicken strips, avocado, black olives, tomatoes, pesto sauce, and hot peppers. With all these ingredients, this sandwich is an explosion of spicy, savoury, nutty, and even a hint of briny. I can’t get enough of this!
Osteria Scossa
– From: chefshallto
Get a taste of authentic Italian cuisine at Osteria Scossa!
Pasta is understandably the highlight here, and my go-to recommendation is the Rigatoni Ragu. The sauce is made with San Marzano tomatoes and bechamél, so it’s super creamy and tangy. The pork and beef cuts are stewed for a long period of time, making them incredibly tender and rich.
For more flavour, dump as much pecorino romano cheese as you want, or order an extra burrata ball. This ball will make your pasta even more creamy and buttery.
Mary’s Brigadeiro
– From: chefshallto
If you love desserts, then you need to stop by Mary’s Brigadeiro. This chocolate shop specializes in brigadeiro, which is a popular Brazilian treat that’s kind of like a truffle.
I usually get a gift box of 12 brigadeiros—not to give to anyone else, it’s just for me. The flavours are assorted. The standout ones are the ultimate chocolate with sprinkles, white chocolate with coconut, and pistachio cream.
There are other sweet treats available here as well. Examples include colourful chocolate bars and fudgy cookies.
The Red Eye Diner
– From: torontoeaters
Sometimes, all I’m in the mood for is a good ole American-style burger, and fortunately, Chefs Hall is here to satisfy my cravings with The Red Eye Diner.
The spicy jalapeño combo is absolutely indulgent. The 6-oz beef brisket patty is rich and smoky, and it’s paired with melted Monterey Jack cheese, jalapeño slices, crispy bacon, pickles, tomatoes, and tomato jam. As such, every bite is a savoury-tangy-spicy delight.
Oh, not to mention, this dish comes with fries cooked in beef fat, so they’re even more flavorful. Ah, such a satisfying meal!
Telecote
– From: chefshallto
Mexican cuisine is one of my top favourites, and if it’s yours as well, then Telecote is a must-try.
The burrito is my most-ordered dish because it’s super filling. But more than that, it’s also loaded with flavours: spicy and savoury from the morita sauce, tangy and acidic from pico de gallo, and salty and milky from the cotija cheese.
Tempura Keisuke
– From: tempura_keisuke
Tempura Keisuke is a collaboration between Ramen Isshin and Ryu’s Noodle Bar, so you can expect classic comfort Japanese dishes here.
Keisuke Tendon is the bestselling dish here, and it’s also what I recommend to you. The prawn tempura pieces are perfectly crispy, and the Hokkaido scallops are tender and subtly sweet. This dish comes with various vegetables and rice as well, so you’ll be full afterward!
Ramen Takao
– From: chefshallto
Another great spot if you’re craving Japanese cuisine, especially ramen, is Ramen Takao. It’s also perfect if it’s raining outside and you want a hearty noodle dish to warm you up.
I’m absolutely obsessed with their Signature Spicy Miso Ramen. The broth is rich in umami goodness, and the spices are no joke. I feel warm all over, making me sweat nonstop. The noodles are chewy and springy, and the pork cuts are savoury perfection.
Pokito
– From: chefshallto
It’s hard to find food spots offering Hawaiian cuisine in Toronto. Thankfully, Pokito now exists, so I can treat myself to Hawaiian dishes whenever I want to.
There’s a good variety of poke bowl flavours here. I’m personally biased toward the Teriyaki Unagi bowl because I love its savoury-sweet flavour combination. Sometimes, I like to order kimchi on the side just to add a bit of a tangy and spicy kick to every spoonful.
Palgong Tea
– From: chefshallto
Bubble tea is all the rage these days, so if you’re craving it during your visit to Chefs Hall, you need to go to Palgong Tea, a tea shop originating in South Korea.
I always feel overwhelmed when I come here because there are just too many options. That said, my go-to order is the chocolate milk tea. It’s sweet and rich, and the creamy consistency is addictive.
Lost Coffee
– From: chefshallto
If your preferred drink is coffee, then Lost Coffee is for you.
I’m a big fan of their iced mocha. The espresso in it is strong, and it’s complemented by the rich sweetness of the dark chocolate sauce. Aside from coffee, this spot also has hot chocolate and tea options.
Aphrodite’s Taverna
– From: chefshallto
When you dine at Aphrodite’s Taverna, you’ll feel like you’re walking the streets of Santorini. This spot serves beloved Greek street foods, and best believe they’re an explosion of flavours.
Be sure to get the Greek pita. The pita is jam-packed with grilled meat (I prefer chicken souvlaki), feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, bell peppers, and lettuce. This treat is savoury, tangy, and refreshing, and it’s quite hearty as well.
Other Fun Things to Do
Participate in Trivia à la Carte
– From: chefshallto
When: Every Tuesday, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Dining isn’t the only thing you can do at Chefs Hall. There are other fun activities as well, and one such activity is Trivia à la Carte. Basically, it’s a fancy way of saying “trivia night.”
The theme of the trivia night changes every week, so you’re always in for a surprise. Sometimes, there are special themes, such as the one inspired by the blockbuster movie Wicked!
Trivia night is always fun because it tests my and my friends’ knowledge about random things. We never won, but it doesn’t matter because we can just treat ourselves to the drink specials instead.
Watch a movie during Cinema Soirée
– From: chefshallto
When: Every other Saturday, from 7 pm to 10 pm
A dinner and a movie screening of a cult classic? If that sounds like fun, then you’ll like Cinema Soiree.
I’m not the biggest movie buff, which is why I love this event. It introduces me to films I’ve never seen before, and I’ve actually enjoyed most of what I’ve seen here. It made me realize I need to appreciate film as an art form more.
Plus, free popcorn and cheap wine and beer sound good as well.
Have your cards read during Tarot Magic
– From: tarotmagicco
When: Every Wednesday and Saturday, from 4 pm to 8 pm (Wed) and 1 pm to 5 pm (Sat)
Curious to know what the future holds for you? Then have your cards read during Tarot Magic.
This is such an interesting experience. I don’t really believe in this type of thing, but it’s still nice to pick cards randomly from a deck and have Monique, the lovely tarot reader, read them for me. I don’t treat it as a future prediction; instead, I take her words as a sort of guidance.
Dance all night during DJ Nights
– From: djclotoronto
When: Every Thursday, from 4:30 pm to 9 pm
Sometimes, you just need to dance the night away. And now you can, thanks to Chefs Hall’s DJ Nights!
What I love about this event is that different DJs are featured every week, so I don’t hear the same music over and over again. There’s also the fact that tequila specials are half-priced during DJ Nights. Now, the night becomes even more fun and exciting!
Attend a stand-up comedy show
– From: chefshallto
Prepare to laugh out loud during the stand-up comedy shows held at Chefs Hall. Comedy shows don’t happen often here, but when they do, you better score a ticket as soon as possible.
I came with my friends once to watch Andrew Packer, and we had such a blast. Watching his set live is definitely much better than watching his skits on social media.
Hosting an Event
– From: geer.than
Planning a special event like a birthday party or an intimate gathering with loved ones? Why not host it here? Chefs Hall comes with five different event spaces, namely:
- The West Hall: equipped with a large full-service bar, DJ ports, and a small podium for speeches. It has a standing capacity of 400 people.
- The East Hall: warm and welcoming, equipped with DJ ports. The standing capacity is 220 people.
- Courtyard Patio: open air, equipped with a full-service Airstream Trailer Bar and DJ ports. It can accommodate up to 200 people.
- The South Patio: open air, can accommodate up to 60 people. It’s connected to the East Hall.
- Chef’s Lounge: perfect if you want privacy. It has a satellite bar, and its standing capacity is 60 people.
No matter which venue you choose, you can customize it however you want to fit your vision. You can also book the Entertainment Package if you want to have even more perks for your event, such as photobooths, a private DJ, and standup comedy.
If you want to host a special event here, you need to fill out this request form.
