Cheap Eats Toronto restaurant guide blog

Sun's Kitchen Hand-Made/Hand-Cut Noodles

One of the cool things we did this weekend with some of our visiting CheapEats Ottawa writers was to the Pacific Mall (and it's food kiosks!)

After getting lots and lots of suggestions of which places to try first, and lists of people's favourites, the first thing to hit us was the smell of fresh waffles wafting down the narrow aisles. The next thing we noticed was the smack-smack-smack sound of hand-made noodles being kneaded at Sun's Kitchen.

 
We decided to cruise all the restaurants, food kiosks and vendors in the food court before making a decision, but we all ended up in front of Sun's Kitchen ordering noodle soups anyway.

The noodles are made to order and with the smack-smack-smack sound of the noodles being stretched, and the guy across the aisle playing tunes on his small pipes, it really attracts a crowd.

If you listen carefully you can hear us ordering spring rolls and pan fried dumplings to round out our noodle soups.

Tip - the Noodle Soups are the way to go. Skip the spring rolls and pan-fried dumplings. While the dumplings come with a great honeycomb thing that's pretty to photograph, it's super greasy and not in the same class as the Noodle Soup.

Technorati Tags: noodles, markham, pacific mall, noodle soup, food court, cheapeats toronto, sun's kitchen

Sushi Train

Sushi Train
photo by Gordon Jennings.

Photos & article by Gordon Jennings

Where
Sushi Train
750 Yonge St. -- just south of Bloor near Charles St.

What
Sush Train, a modern version of the Sushi Boat as eaten in California and the rest of the world.

How
Cho Cho choose your dish. Priced according to colour. From 2.50 to 5 bucks. Pour your own free green tea using your own personal hot water tap. Miso delivered to the table.

Buzz
Has been open about 1 month* and is starting to get busy. Everyone wants to sit at the sushi bar. There are several booths for large groups and a private dining room in the back.
Fast and Cheap!

Hey!
where's the Tuna.  Apparently the SushiTrain changes passengers often.  I had trouble finding Tuna.

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Thanks Gord a copy of CheapEats is on the SushiTrain to your door.

* Gord wrote this in early October, and he's not kidding about the buzz.  By mid-October, Sushi Train had already appeared in NOW, Catherine had dropped by from CBC's Beyond Burgers, Martini Boys commented on it's opening and the gossip started on Chowhound in early August.

Introducing - Featured Reader Reviews

As you know, we love to hear about where your are eating and what you are eating.

We ask, we listen and we check them out.  But in making the final selection of restaurants that will  get recommended in a CheapEats Restaurant Guide one of the criteria is that the restaurant  have longevity and aren't just a flash-in-the-pan.  This means, we don't generally include restaurants that have been open for less than a year.

However, with this blog, we have the opportunity to spotlight some restaurant that have been recently opened and recently recommended to us.  So we are going to start a series of Featured Reader Recommendations sent to us through the website, this blog and the CheapEats flickr group.

If you have a restaurant you'd like to recommend to us, or that you have already written up on your blog, feel free to let us know about it here, or here, or here.

And as always, we'd love to hear what you think about any restaurant that is in CheapEats or on this blog.

Andrew Currie's T.O. Turkey Smackdown

As the first in our upcoming series of CheapEats' Celebrity Recommendations, we are keeping in season by presenting Andrew Currie's T.O. Turkey Smackdown. For Thanksgiving 2005 Andrew sampled the turkey dinner offerings at two of Toronto's old school favourites and provided us with his views on their turkey, 'taters, and pie.

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Andrew Currie's T.O. Turkey Smackdown'05

... Wherein your humble author declares the victor in the ages-old battle for turkey dinner supremacy between Fran’s and The Tulip.

First up: Fran’s

Toronto’s oldest surviving diner (I think) scored points right off the bat for serving up their Thanksgiving special all weekend long*. My lady friend and I took them up on it early Friday evening.

For $19.99 we got a three-course meal, including soup or salad to start. Knowing what was in store we both chose the salad, and were rewarded with a bowl of huge uncut chunks of iceberg lettuce soaking in a small pool of Italian dressing.

And then, the main attraction…

All Night Noshes For Your All Night Art Thing

Trying to get to all 130+ installations at Nuit Blanche? You may need to stop for a bit to keep your strength up.

Get out there and eat!

24 Hour Places

• Fran’s - 200 Victoria St. & 20 College St. (pg.70)
• Vesta Lunch - 474 Dupont St. (pg.149)
• Owl of Minerva- 700 Bloor St.W. (pg.113)
• 7 West Cafe - 7 Charles St.W. (pg.30)
• Mr. Tasty Burgers- 348 Queen St.E. (pg.105)
• Mars Diner- 432 College St. (pg.98)  - note they are only open 24hrs on the weekends
• Mel’s Montreal Delicatessen - 348 Queen St.E. (pg.99)

Need A Little 3am Boost?

Eat Like a Pirate

Avast, me maties! Today be September 19th -  International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

I have been rackin' me brain t' come up with where t' drink me grog and fill me belly t'day without spendin' all me dubloons.

No barnical soup and salt pork today, here be my ideas on where t' Eat Like A Pirate:

   
• Yung Sing (pg. 154) and Akram's (pg.31) on Baldwin - so cheap tis like yer robbin' them! But you can leave yer cutlass at home.
   
• Fish Store & Sandwich (pg.68), British Style Fish & Chips (pg.45) or McNie's Fish & Chips (pg.99) - tis not chum, tis much much better.
   
• Athens Bakery (pg.36), Banh Mi Che Cali (pg.38) or Jumbo Empanada (pg.86)- great hook-food for when yer up t' crow's nest.
   
• Caribbean Dutchpot (pg. 51) or Albert's Real Jamacian (pg.31) - for a taste o' t' islands.

Lunch Money Day - Feb 23rd.

Today is Second Harvest's Lunch Money Day.

The idea is to brown bag it and donate what you would normally spend on lunch.

My friend, and CheapEats contributor AW sent me the following reminder: "As much as I'd hate to become known as a one-stop beg-a-thon, here I am, asking you to part with a buck or two tomorrow to help out on Lunch Money Day.

Second Harvest is my very favourite non-profit on earth - great people with great ideas doing great work - getting surplus fresh food that would otherwise go to waste, and delivering it into the mouths of Toronto's hungry and homeless. I just so happen to be volunteering for Lunch Money day tomorrow - if you're by the Exchange Tower, pop by and say hi while I sing for scheckels!"

It's a little late to brown bag it now, so to make it a little easier I've put a list of cheapeats where you can get lunch for under $5 below the fold.

Love will break your heart - but it shouldn't break the bank

You don't have to be rich to be romantic - check out cheapeats toronto Valentine's Day recommendations.

Toronto, Canada - Feb. 10, 2006 - Each year, men and women alike face the task of finding the perfect spot for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner.  It's even tougher for those of us who are last minute planners or on a tight budget, so cheapeats toronto has pulled together some great romantic and cost-effective spots for you to wine and dine your sweetie.

Winner - Teresa D for Thai Kingdom

Teresa D just won a copy of cheapeats toronto 2006 for recommending Thai Kingdom:

"The food is great, portion size is extremely generous and the price is amazing. The atmosphere is so-so, but it's decent, clean and the service is great."

Thai Kingdom
200 Marycroft Ave (Highway 7 & Weston - in Woodbridge)
905.264.1688 -- http://www.thaikingdom.ca/

CETO Note: They have some excellent takeout and delivery combos - Combo for 2 $14.95 to Combo for 5 - $39.95, which includes drinks if you pick it up yourself.

Congratulations Teresa!

The Fine Print

Winner - Kynan Cheng for Umi Sushi

Kynan Cheng won a copy of cheapeats toronto 2006 for recommending a Mississauga restaurant - Umi Sushi:

"Good quality sushi, authentic Japanese proprietors, $7-$11 for lunches, $13 all-you-can-eat lunch"

Umi Sushi
3960 Grand Park (Burnhamthorpe & Mavis)
905.615.9650

Congratulations Kynan!

The Fine Print

Winner - Marina Dranitsaris for Gonzo's

Marina Dranitsaris' winning recommendation for Gonzo's included a note about their:

"great guacamole made to order! And you can order your food as hot or as mild as you like it.

Gonzo's
977 O'Connor Dr. (just "north" of St. Clair)
416.750.9424

CETO Note:  Gonzo's was originally founded by the sister/brother pair that run El Sol (1448 Danforth - pg 48 cheapeats toronto 2003/4) but they sold it 1996.

Congratulations Marina!

The Fine Print

Winner - Sue Beres for Rashnaa Restaurant.

This week's winner is Sue Beres for her recommendation of the ever-popular, recently-renovated, and always-flavourful Rashnaa Restaurant.

"Great flavours, even better prices!  Have been going there for years..."
307 Wellesley St. E (just east of Parliament)
416.929.2099 - www.rashnaa.com

Rashnaa Restaurant

CETO Note: It's no surprise to us that everyone wants to tell us about Rashnaa, their favourite dish, the renovations and why they love it.  We love it too!  In fact, it's one of our contributor favourites. 

On pg 95 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4, JP notes "The stringhoppers are excellent and the devil chicken will make you sweat and cry at the same time (and this is a good thing!)"

If you haven't had a chance to try Sri Lankan food follow Sue's advice and head over to Rashnaa immediately!

Congratulations Sue!

The Fine Print

Winner - Loretta Chang for Chinese Traditional Buns

When Loretta Chang recommended Chinese Traditional Buns she suggested we all try their

"Pork and chive dumplings -- the texture of the wrap is chewy-yet-comforting perfection."

Chinese Traditional Buns - 536 Dundas St.W. (just west of Spadina, down stairs)
416.299.9011

CETO Note: The only Chinatown restaurant West of Spadina which is downstairs from street level, Chinese Traditional Buns seems to always find a unique location.  Check out Chinese Traditional Buns on pg 38 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4 where GT says he is "always greeted by smiling faces and steaming baskets."

Congratulations Loretta!

The Fine Print

Winner - Satish Patel for Ritz Caribbean

Satish's recommendation of Ritz Caribbean won Satish a copy of the upcoming cheapeats toronto 2006.

"Great food at great value! The rotis are great!"

Ritz Caribbean Restaurant - 10 Roy Square (Yonge & Bloor), 450 Yonge St and 45 Overlea Blvd.
416.972.7480 -- www.ritzcaribbeanfood.com/

CETO Note: Ritz Caribbean offers an "every day special" $3.99 Jerk, but it's their Chicken Roti ($5.75) that gets recommended over and over again by our readers.

Congratulations Satish!

The Fine Print

Winner - Seth for Bright Pearl Seafood Restaurant

Seth's recommendation of Bright Pearl is this week's winning comment.

"Good, authentic Dim Sum in China town."

Bright Pearl Seafood Restaurant - 346 Spadina Ave., 2nd Flr. (@ St. Andrew, just N of Dundas)
416.979.3988 -- www.brightpearlseafood.com

CETO Note: Bright Pearl offers a 20% discount on Saturday & Sunday between 9am-11am.  Check out Bright Pearl on pg 34 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4 where Olivia Chow, City councillor for Trinity-Spadina, says Bright Pearl is also a "wonderful place to have banquets and affordable dinner with familes and friends..."

Congratulations Seth!

The Fine Print

Winner - AP for Dundas Pizza

AP has won his copy of cheapeats toronto 2006 for recommending Dundas Pizza. 

The pizza here is amazing, and it's ridiculously cheap."

"There's also interesting topping options (bamboo shoots!), and the owner likes to joke around with his customers."  AP recommends we try the "Pizza! I like broccoli and feta as toppings. The chicken skewers are also very tasty."

Dundas Pizza & Wings
3088 Dundas St W (W of High Park Ave)
416.763.2121

Congratulations AP!

The Fine Print

The Butler's Pantry - reader reco

Recommended by: reader - RE

The Butler's Pantry offers an "eclectic array of quiches, pies, sandwiches and main courses from different areas of the world. The bulgogi is excellent as is almost everything on their menu.  Also the house salad dressing is excellent"

The Butler's Pantry - 371 Roncesvalles Ave (S of Howard Park) - 416.537.7750 www.butlerspantry.ca
Bul go gi - $7.95
House Salad - $3.75

CETO Note: Check out The Butler's Pantry on pg 34 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4, where YD suggests you "bring your appetite because portions sizes are very generous.  It's nice to find a place that can successfully do quantity AND quality." 

The Roncesvalles location is unlicensed, but their other locations are full service - 591 Markham St (just S of Bloor) and 813 Queen St. (just W of Manning)

Winner - Rhoda & Barry for Dante's

It's hot as hell out there, so it's appropriate that Barry & Rhoda Kirshin won last week's free copy of cheapeats toronto 2006 for their recommendation for Dante's Italian Restaurant.  The delay in announcing their win was due to their recent trip to Europe. They said that Dante's has

"excellent food and service.  A half portion of any dish is more than anyone should eat, and it's cheap!" 

In fact, so cheap that they added (likely in jest) that they had "saved so much money at Dante's we were able to go to Europe"  Now that's a recommendation for a cheapeat!

Dante's Italian Restaurant - 267 Baythorn Dr. (just off Yonge, in Thornhill)
905.881.1070 -- www.dantes-italian-restaurant.com

CETO Note: Check out Dineaid.com's online coupons for Dante's - http://www.dineaid.com/dantes/coupons.asp. Dante's was also the cover story on the most recent edition of Pizza Marketing Quarterly. 

Congratulations Rhoda & Barry!

The Fine Print

Winner - Amber Lee Malik for Miss Saigon

Our last June winner is Amber Lee Malik, the second winner to recommend Miss Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant. Amber Lee described Miss Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant as:

"It is delicious, downtown, and fun!" 

Miss Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant
394 Spadina Ave (N of Baldwin)
416.597.9333

CETO Note: check out Miss Saigon on pg 79 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4 where GT points out their "interesting soups like the Lamb Noodle Soup and BBQ Chicken Soup." 

The other winner for Miss Saigon?  RW - read her recommendation here

Congratulations Amber Lee!

The Fine Print

Winner - Stewart Russell for the Detroit Eatery

We're currently running a weekly draw for a copy of the upcoming 3rd edition of cheapeats toronto 2006 (available in October). All restaurant recommendations and comments submitted via our website www.cheapeatstoronto.com or our cheapeats toronto Blog are automatically entered in every weekly draw until October 15th to win a copy of cheapeats toronto 2006.

Our May 10th winner is Stewart Russell for his May 8th recommendation of Detroit Eatery which serves:

"One of the best burgers I've ever had." (read more on his blog) 

Detroit Eatery
389 Danforth Ave (@ Chester)
416.461.0136

CETO Note: Detroit's Burger w/ fries is $8.95 (incl. tax), their milkshake - and they make a mean milkshake- is $2.75. Check out the Detroit Eatery on pg 42 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4 where JS suggests "if you like hockey, chat up Chris - but make sure you know your stats."

Congratulations Stewart!

The Fine Print

Canary Grill - reader reco

Recommended by: reader - SY

"I love the Canary. I am a regular who goes there every weekend with my wife. For us the weekend couldn't start without them. Besides their breakfast being delicious, the welcoming we get is great, it is like almost family. We highly recommend the Canary Restaurant."

Canary Grill - 409 Front St. E (@ Cherry) - 416.364.9943
pg 36 cheapeats toronto 2003/4

CETO Note: If you are headed to the Distillery District and want to grab a quick breakfast without any pretension, the Canary is the place to go.  It's been there since well before the area became trendy again, in fact the building was one of the first hotels in Toronto.  You might even recognize it from some movies.

Epicure Cafe

Recommended by: CEOT contrib - GO

"Love working lunches at the Epicure when visiting Toronto. Imaginative sandwiches with salad and fries (why doesn't everyone do that?). Feels like a thirties European cafe...really...even if the menu wanders into the trendy.  If they have the blackened catfish sandwich, go for it!"

Epicure Cafe - 512 Queen St. W - 416.504.8942 
pg 49 cheapeats toronto 2003/04

What do you think?

Avenue Open Kitchen - reader reco

Recommended by: reader - TQ

"There's a lot to choose from and not all of it is 'greasy spoon' grub but all of it is good! The classic diner atmosphere is great and the best is introducing it to friends."

Avenue Open Kitchen - 7 Camden - (pg 26 cheapeats toronto 2003/04)

What do you think?

Bloor-Jane Restaurant - reader reco

Recommended by: reader - LH

"I have been going to this places for years. Great the morning after a night on the town. They serve breakfast all day and it's cheap. The breakfast special- eggs, bacon, toast, home fried and coffee all for $5. They have great pancakes as well and BLTs. Whatever you do order something with bacon - it's the best I have ever tasted- extra crispy! It's a very popular place for a late weekend Breakfast, so either show up really early or later in the afternoon. Service is fast and generally friendly. "

Bloor-Jane Restaurant - 2434 Bloor St.W.

What do you think?

Winner - Mark Walker for Utopia Café

June 14th draw brought us a Toronto newbie's recommendation.

Mark Walker recommended Utopia Café:

"Just arrived from the land down under, and you bewdy mate,

Utopia is the best thing since Vegemite!!!"

Utopia Café
586 College St. ( W of Bathurst)
416.534.7751 - www.utopiacafe.ca

CETO Note: Check out Utopia Cafe on pg 114 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4, where JS suggests trying the Tandoori Chicken Sandwich ($7.99 eat-in, or $4.75 take-out) at this "hip little spot on the College Street Strip."

Congratulations Mark, we hope you enjoy Toronto as much as we do!

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The fine print: We're currently running a weekly draw for a copy of the upcoming 3rd edition of cheapeats toronto 2006 (available in October).   All restaurant recommendations and comments submitted via this blog, or our website www.cheapeatstoronto.com after May 1st are automatically entered to win. (More details here)

Winner - Larissa Hogan for Bloor-Jane Restaurant

Our May 31st winner Larissa Hogan has been going to the Bloor-Jane Restaurant since she was in high school.  Not that is a recommendation:

"I have been going to this places for years. It's been a favourite breakfast spot since my high school days. Great the morning after a night on the town. They serve breakfast all day and it's cheap. The breakfast special- eggs, bacon, toast, home fried and coffee all for $5. They have great pancakes as well and BLTs.

Whatever you do order something with bacon- it's the best I have ever tasted- extra crispy!

It's a very popular place for a late weekend Breakfast, so either show up really early or later in the afternoon. Service is fast and generally friendly.

Bloor-Jane Restaurant - 2434 Bloor St.W. (@ Jane)
416.766.5383
Breakfast Special ($6.50 incl tax) - includes eggs, meat, homefries, toast & coffee.

CETO Note: While the breakfast special doesn't fit the breakfast under $5 criteria, it does fit the brunch under $10, so lounge in bed another hour and bing-bang-boom a cheapeats brunch is served... sometimes it pays to be a little creative. 

Check out the Bloor-Jane Restaurant on pg 31 of cheapeats toronto 2003/4 where BN points out the ever-relevant point that "they have clean bathrooms."

Congratulations Larissa!

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The fine print: We're currently running a weekly draw for a copy of the upcoming 3rd edition of cheapeats toronto 2006 (available in October).   All restaurant recommendations and comments submitted via this blog, or our website www.cheapeatstoronto.com after May 1st are automatically entered to win. (More details here)

Dundas Pizza - reader reco.

Recommended by: reader - AP

"The pizza here is amazing, and it's ridiculously cheap. There's also interesting topping options (bamboo shoots!), and the owner likes to joke around with his customers."

Order the: "Pizza! I like broccoli and feta as toppings. The chicken skewers are also very tasty." 

Dundas Pizza - 3088 Dundas St W. 

What do you think...

Winner - RW for Miss Saigon

Our May 17th winner is RW for recommending Miss Saigon:

"You can taste the French influence on the Vietnamese cuisine