This is the Toronto Food Guide from my latest excursion out to Toronto. I’ve been out to Toronto a few times at this point, and although I have my comfort food, I still make an effort to try out something new every time. There are so many different types of food out in Toronto, whether you want something cultural, comfort, fast, or fancy. This is what I ate and enjoyed from my latest trip this past week!
Toronto Food Guide: Hana Don
Hana Don is the highlight of my trip, serving premium chirashi bowls. It was so good that I had to come back and dine here twice! I LOVE chirashi bowls, especially when you have plenty of options to choose from. Hana Don did a great job of offering a variety of combination bowls to choose from.
During my first visit, I ordered the Hokkaido Don, which comes with uni, ikura, Hokkaido scallop, and shiitake over rice. This cost CAD $45, which is worth the amount of toppings you get. I absolutely loved the uni. This bowl will fill most normal people up unless you’re jetlagged and barely eating your first meal at 5 PM.
During my second visit, I ordered the other rice bowl I couldn’t decide on the first time, the Toyosu Don, which comes with sweet shrimp, salmon, white fish, scallop, and ikura over rice. This cost CAD $32, less than the Hokkaido Don, but it is honestly more filling. I preferred the taste of the uni compared to this bowl, but this meal held me up for the rest of the night.
128 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON M5G 1C3
Canada
Molly Tea
Even though I try to avoid chains when traveling, I really wanted milk tea. There were SO MANY options in Toronto, but most of them are chains anyway. I ordered an Iced Snowy Jasmine (milk tea) and a Premium Jasmine Tea. The Snowy Jasmine comes in the iconic pink cup, but since I ordered it for delivery, the foam had scrunched up by the time it came to my door. That’s okay. I still enjoyed it and can’t wait to try it out in America! Now I’ll be stuck between this and the Jasmine Matcha (milk tea).
I think Molly Tea is going to be my fave.
604 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z3
Canada
Charlie’s Tea
Charlie’s Tea is also a chain, but it is considered a premium milk tea shop. One just opened back at home near Molly Tea, so I am excited to see how the quality differs between countries.
I ordered the Iced Jasmine Green Milk Tea and the Iced Jasmine Green Tea. The Jasmine Green Milk Tea comes in the cute paper cup, which I am now wondering why Charlie’s Tea and Molly Tea both use the flowers from the Louis Vuitton Monogram design, but whatever. I also absolutely enjoyed the milk tea here (also ordered it with the cream top and crushed hazelnuts). I am an absolute fan. I can’t believe I had Charlie’s Tea in Canada before even trying it in the US! For it to be open 24/7 in Toronto is wild, but I LOVED IT!
The real question is, which is better? Molly Tea or Charlie’s Tea? I love the smell of Molly Tea (YES, buy the Jasmine + Ylang Ylang candle/scent at Target), but they both taste the same, and I would be fine with going to whichever has a shorter line, unless I want matcha, then Charlie’s Tea does NOT have matcha.
546 Yonge St, Toronto
ON M4Y 1Y8
Canada
Toronto Food Guide: Frenchy Bar et Brasserie
Frenchy Bar is a cute French-inspired restaurant. I really wanted oysters at 10 PM ET, and this was the only open restaurant that checked the box. If you pair this with a Pain au Lait (warm brioche with butter), you will be good to go. Otherwise, you’ll still be hungry just having the oysters on their own. Ordering 2-3 sets will not hit any spots besides make you SICK of oysters (been there, done that).
145 Richmond St W
Toronto, ON M5H 2L2
Canada
Mike’s Fish Market at St. Lawrence Market
St Lawrence Market is expensive on its own, just like any other indoor farmers’ market. There might be a couple of oyster options, but Mike’s Fish Market is the safer bet. The staff was good at picking out the oysters. You can expect to see the staff inspecting the oysters and tossing them out if they don’t seem all right. The oysters here range from CAD $3.50-$5.00 each. I didn’t get sick from the oysters and absolutely loved the selection.
93 Front St E
Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
Canada