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Toronto Star
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
This indulgent $25 three-course beer hall dinner is the best thing I ate in Toronto this week
The options for dinner includes fried potato and corn balls, a smash burger and a warm brownie. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star For dinner, I start with the Corny Hugs — crispy fried balls of mashed potatoes, mozzarella, cheddar, and sweet corn, served with a jalapeño crema and a small salad for a creamy, tangy contrast. The main is a three-ounce smashed burger with lacy, crispy edges, served on a potato bun with shredded iceberg lettuce, pickles, American cheese, and Russian dressing. A lighter option is the kale and quinoa salad. For dessert, opt for the warm, gooey brownie square drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream — a step above the usual 'licious ice cream offering. Ordering the burger and brownie à la carte would normally run you $18, so this is a solid deal.
Toronto Star
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
This irresistible wok-seared $14 noodle dish is the best thing I ate this week
THE BEST THING I ATE THIS WEEK A $15 three-course pasta lunch in North York, an incredible $13 muffuletta in Etobicoke, and $2 buttery Uzbek samsas in Scarborough — each week, food reporter Karon Liu travels the GTA to bring you a trusted and affordable recommendation on what to eat while exploring the city. Fried Rice Noodles and Mock Beef, $14, from Greens Vegetarian at 638 Dundas St. W. Gta This mouthwatering $12 sandwich is the best thing I ate in Toronto this week Our food reporter explores the city in search of the most delicious — and affordable — dishes Toronto has to offer. Gta This mouthwatering $12 sandwich is the best thing I ate in Toronto this week Our food reporter explores the city in search of the most delicious — and affordable — dishes Toronto has to offer. THE DISH This flat noodle classic, often called Beef Chow Fun, shows up at just about every Cantonese restaurant and food court. It's the textbook example of wok hay — the smoky, seared flavour that comes from high-heat wok cooking. Traditionally, it features slices of beef tossed with onions, scallions, bean sprouts, rice noodles, soy sauce, and a pinch of sugar. At Greens, a vegetarian spot that has been around since 2010, the meat is swapped with chewy slices of seitan — an underrated, centuries-old meat substitute made from kneading high-gluten flour into a spongy loaf that mimics the texture of meat. Instead of onions and scallions, the dish leans on the earthier aromas of cremini and rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, with crunch from celery and sweet peppers. Eat it immediately while the rice noodles still have their bounce as they get clumpy with time. While many places rely too heavily on onions to bulk up a dish, Greens elevates the ingredient list with vegetables and fungi, all while remaining a satisfying main for under $15. Gta This cheesy, delicious, jam-packed $25 taco platter is the best thing I ate this week Our food reporter explores the city in search of the most delicious — and affordable — dishes Toronto has to offer. Gta This cheesy, delicious, jam-packed $25 taco platter is the best thing I ate this week Our food reporter explores the city in search of the most delicious — and affordable — dishes Toronto has to offer. THE CUISINE Greens Vegetarian is located on the southern edge of Kensington Market. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Many vegetarian Chinese (and Vietnamese) spots in the GTA follow Buddhist ways of cooking, which emphasize non-violence — so no meat or seafood — and typically avoid strong aromatics like onions, garlic, leeks and scallions, that are believed to distract the senses. Mindful eating is at the core, and Greens' location just west of bustling Chinatown — with its sunlit dining room filled with blooming hydrangeas — certainly enhances the sense of culinary zen. Seitan is a menu staple, first developed by East Asian monks centuries ago as a meat substitute. But the food here is far from bland—equally suited to the health-minded (think brothy vegetable noodle soups, fresh rolls) or the indulgent (spring rolls, fried rice). When people ask for vegetarian recommendations, I think of places like Greens Vegetarian, which serves a cuisine that predates veganism by centuries. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ALSO ON THE MENU The assorted seitan appetizer and wok-fried rice noodles with mock beef. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star A requisite appetizer at any vegetarian Chinese restaurant is a $14 plate of assorted wheat gluten: braised, steamed, and crisped seitan served as chewy puffs and tender layered strips. Wherever you order it, the dish always comes in a trio of flavours — ruby-red sweet-and-sour, mild curry, and oyster sauce. Greens serves theirs warm, but I find it's even better chilled at home, once the seitan firms up slightly. Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get delicious meals without breaking the bank. Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get delicious meals without breaking the bank. EXPLORE THE AREA Most people skip this stretch of Dundas West between Chinatown and Bathurst Street, but it's home to a trio of excellent East Asian vegetarian spots. Just a few steps west of Greens is Buddha's Vegan Restaurant (666 Dundas St. W.), a smaller spot also serving Chinese vegetarian fare. Closer to Bathurst, at the Scadding Court shipping container market, you'll find Omusubi Bar Suzume (707 Dundas St. W.), a Japanese food stall with a mostly vegetarian menu and seasonal specials for Japanese holidays. This is the Thursday, June 5 edition of Food Crawl, the Star's weekly food newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Toronto Star
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
This cheesy, delicious, jam-packed $25 taco platter is the best thing I ate this week
THE BEST THING I ATE THIS WEEK A $15 three-course pasta lunch in North York, an incredible $13 muffuletta in Etobicoke, and $2 buttery Uzbek samsas in Scarborough — each week, food reporter Karon Liu travels the GTA to bring you a trusted and affordable recommendation on what to eat while exploring the city. The Caja Grande combo from Gorditas, $25, at 9 Milvan Dr. THE DISH I never say no to a sampler platter, especially when it saves me two bucks compared to ordering à la carte. The Caja Grande combo does just that: two gorditas and three tacos of your choice for $25 (normally, gorditas are $6 each and tacos are 3 for $15). For the uninitiated, gorditas are a Mexican street food similar to a thicker arepa: crispy masa cakes stuffed with meat and cheese. The most classic filling is chicharrón — fried pork skin stewed in a tomato chili sauce until silky-tender — paired with melted cheese. The unlimited toppings bar is well stocked with housemade salsas, hot sauces, pickled onions and peppers, as well as salsa macha. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star For the tacos, you can't go wrong with carnitas (braised pork shoulder), al pastor (spit-roasted pork or chicken), or the less commonly seen lamb. And don't miss the unlimited toppings bar, stocked with limes, hot sauces, fresh salsas, and pickled peppers and onions to add a bright, herbal, sour and sweet contrast to all that rich, slow-cooked meat and gooey cheese. My favourite? The salsa macha — a chili oil packed with peanuts, roasted chilies, sesame and pumpkin seeds for a nutty, spicy crunch in every bite. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. THE OWNERS Toronto may be a taco town, but it's still catching up on gorditas. That gap led mother-and-daughter team Laura Mena-Macias and Denise Romo-Mena to start selling the homemade gorditas they grew up making in Aguascalientes, Central Mexico. It began during the pandemic via online community groups. Demand grew quickly, and the whole family got involved, even rounding up the daughters' boyfriends to help with deliveries. When a space at Plaza Latina opened up, the family moved in to expand the catering business and take everyday orders. Mena-Macias and Romo-Mena run the day-to-day operations, while father Manuel Romo and Denise's husband Naqeeb Omar help out on weekends, especially when Gorditas stays open till midnight for hungry late-night customers. While pork features heavily, the lamb and chicken on the menu are halal. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ALSO ON THE MENU The no frills menu at Gorditas. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Other gordita fillings include potatoes with chorizo; eggs in a red chili sauce; ground beef with potatoes and carrots stewed in tomatoes; and refried beans. Gorditas' burrito, $18, keeps it simple with choice of meat rolled with cheese and refried beans in the flour tortilla (Omar says where his wife's family is from, burritos don't traditionally contain rice). Instead, it's a. To drink, $8 horchata is a great deal as it comes in a litre-sized container. Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get delicious meals without breaking the bank. Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get delicious meals without breaking the bank. EXPLORE THE AREA Plaza Latina is a great spot for a casual food crawl — the vendors don't overlap much, and they're all steps from each other. Venture into the heart of the food court for El Sabroson for Peruvian ceviches and chaufa (Peruvian-Chinese fried rice) as well as the adjacent El Comedor Popular Ecuatoriano for the hard-to-find sopa de pata (cow's foot soup) or cheesy empanadas. As the temperatures swell, swing by one of the oldest vendors, La Fuente Del Puro Sabor, for freshly squeezed juices. Outside, the stretch of Finch is lined with similar plazas specializing in Latin food, but right across from Plaza Latina is Bengali Sweet House (12 Milvan Dr.), a great place to fill up a box of beautiful mithai. This is the Thursday, May 29 edition of Food Crawl, the Star's weekly food newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Toronto Star
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
This mouthwatering $12 sandwich is the best thing I ate in Toronto this week
WHERE I ATE THIS WEEK A $15 three-course pasta lunch in North York, an incredible $13 muffuletta in Etobicoke, and $2 buttery Uzbek samsas in Scarborough — each week, food reporter Karon Liu travels the GTA to bring you a trusted and affordable recommendation on what to eat while exploring the city. Bangers and Mash Sando, $12, from Hot Pork at 932 Dundas St. W. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. THE DISH This delightfully messy sandwich starts with a four-ounce Irish banger patty made from Ontario pork, breadcrumbs and aromatics like allspice, mace, ginger and cloves. It's paired with a square of seared mashed potatoes — yes, an actual slab of creamy mash with a golden crust — plus caramelized onions and gravy made from smoked brisket drippings (add a double patty for $4). It's a saucy sandwich best eaten on the spot, especially when the mashed potatoes' delicate crust gives way and buttery, silky spud and gravy land on your fingers (there's a washroom downstairs). The potatoes bring butteriness, the onions a bittersweet smokiness, and the patty a gentle spice. Grab one while it's still on the menu — it's only around for another month before a lighter, warm-weather option takes its place. THE OWNER Hot Pork owner Michael Synowicki. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Toronto is in the midst of a breakfast-sandwich boom, and Hot Pork — which opened in early 2024 — is part of the new crop. Before launching the shop, owner Michael Synowicki cooked at hotels like the King Edward and the Toronto Marriott. Like many hotel chefs, when the pandemic hit he lost his job and had to pivot. Synowicki began making sausages, using equipment and recipes from his father's long-shuttered midtown gourmet food shop from the '70s. He supplied restaurants and grocers, popping up at the Junction Farmers' Market (he's still there every Saturday), and his popularity grew enough that he opened a storefront. ALSO ON THE MENU Bangers and Mash Sando with a side kale Ceasar salad. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Pair your sandwich with the kale Caesar salad ($8 for a small size, $16 for large): shredded kale tossed with a garlicky house-made dressing, lots of Parmesan, sourdough croutons from Lev Bakery, crispy smoked pork belly and ground fried chicken sprinkled on top. For non-meat options, there's a fried eggplant caprese sandwich, $13, a double egg breakfast sandwich, $8, and an egg caprese sandwich, $12. There's also a grocery counter of house-made pickled carrots, beets and onions, cured salmon, sausages and beef tallow. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get EXPLORE THE AREA Hot Pork is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., ideal for early risers that want to beat the brunch crowd in Trinity Bellwoods. The place is also right at the northeast corner of the park if you want to eat the sandwich al fresco. Right next door to Hot Pork is the charming indie horror book store Little Ghosts (930 Dundas St. W.) and Ella's Uncle café (916 Dundas St. W.) is just a few minutes away. Continue the sandwich crawl by heading to Lambo's Deli (176 Bellwoods Ave.) for Italian-style subs at lunchtime. This is the Thursday, May 22 edition of Food Crawl, the Star's weekly food newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
How much does it cost to 'protect Ontario?' + What happened to dogs seized by welfare agents
Good morning. This is the Friday, May 16 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox. Time is running out to see 'Sinners' in IMAX 70 mm at Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan. While you're there, food reporter Karon Liu has some recommendations of where to eat nearby. Here's the latest on the Ontario budget, seized animals who died on the government's watch, and a damning report from a municipal watchdog. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW DON'T MISS Doug Ford vowed to protect Ontario with his record budget The record $232.5-billion provincial budget includes a new fund for businesses affected by Trump's tariffs. Ontario budget adds funding for more teachers and gives a boost to skilled trades training Ontario pushes local cannabis, booze in budget as LCBO revenues slide Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford's bad news budget reveals why he called an early election Ontario seized dogs they said were in distress — then the animals started to die Here's what the Star learned from medical records, necropsy reports and legal records. How a Toronto dog rescue's quest to save animals has led to painful consequences for dogs and the people who love them A new report found the city did nothing to help these tenants The tenants endured 'torture' while their utilities were shut off for six months. Here's what happened. WHAT ELSE Protesters clash outside a Thornhill synagogue last year. R.J. Johnston Toronto Star Toronto shared long-awaited details of its proposed 'bubble zone' bylaw. Take a look. A former aide to Doug Ford has been sanctioned for breaking Ontario lobbying rules. If you're buying a new house in Ontario, you need to know about this rule change. A developer sued this student after he complained about construction. But he fought back. One of the girls who pleaded guilty in the swarming death of Kenneth Lee will be sentenced today. The Hockey Canada sexual assault trial continues today. Here's what happened in court yesterday. Who's going to Pope Leo's inauguration? Here's who's attending — and who's staying home. Canadian Tire will pay $30-million for Hudson's Bay name, brands and stripes. Here's what we know. Andrew Phillips: Donald Trump's oddities mask a real threat that lurks in plain sight. Katharine Lake Berz: Don't boycott the States — do this instead. The long weekend is upon us. Here's what's open and closed in Toronto on Victoria Day. Can the Leafs find a supply of on-ice desperation to best the Panthers tonight? Here's Dave Feschuk's take. POV Make housing cheaper without prices coming down? Mark Carney's new housing minister is talking in riddles. CLOSE UP A dog walker passes near a group of bird watchers at Marie Curtis Park in Toronto, May 15, 2025. Andrew Francis Wallace Toronto Star MARIE CURTIS PARK: A dog walker passes by a group of bird watchers on Thursday. Victoria Day long weekend starts today — for some heralding the unofficial beginning of summer. From fireworks to food festivals, here's what's going on this weekend. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
