Favourite spots in Toronto to eat at, shop and go to for essential services
Last Update: September 26th 2013
GROCERIES
Organic groceries: They’re ranked from biggest to largest, but depending on what you want to buy, some stores may be cheaper than others.
- Herbs and Nutrition (generally the best prices in Toronto) (Bathurst / Yonge)
- Essence of Life (Kensington Market)
- Tutti Frutti (Kensington Market)
- Whole Foods (Yorkville)
- The Big Carrot (Danforth)
- Harvest Wagon (Summerhill)
- The Sweet Potato (Dundas / Keele)
- Evergreen Natural Foods (Bathurst / St. Clair)
Fancy groceries:
- Whole Foods (Yorkville)
- Pusateri’s (Yorkville)
- Harvest Wagon (Summerhill)
- Chabichou (French-from-France groceries)
Japanese: Sanko Trading Butcher: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Spices: The Spice Trader Alcohol: LCBO @ Summerhill Coffee: The Green Beanery Tea: David’s Tea
RESTAURANTS
My favourite restaurants with what to order: Brunch: The Senator – Blueberry pancakes are killer here Cafe:
- Soma Chocolatemaker – Just a good place to hang out and chat
- The Green Beanery – Another good place to hang and chat
Sushi – Traditional:
- Japango – Any kind of sashimi dish and the omakase (you have to order ahead of time)
- Asuka Japanese Restaurant – Any kind of sashimi dish (sashimi don, for example)
Sushi – Avant garde:
- Yuzu no Hana – Any kind of sashimi dish, and the sake cheesecake is really good.
- ND Sushi and Grill – Any kind of sashimi dish, and the omakase is not bad
Mexican: Chipotle – Chicken Burrito w/ Guacamole Thai: Khmer Thai – Tom Yum Goong soup, and the Spring Rolls Italian:
- Grazie Ristorante – All the pastas are good
- Terroni – The pastas are good
Japanese Ramen:
- Kenzo Ramen – Tonkotsu Miso Ramen or the Tonkotsu Ramen
- Sansotei Ramen – Tonkotsu Ramen (thin noodles)
Vietnamese Pho: Pho Linh – Their beef phos are excellent; choose any of them Chinese Food: Lee Garden – Deep fried oysters are killer here Vegetarian / Vegan:
- Fresh (10% off with the Live Green Card if you do takeaway) – Burrito was good; their drinks too
- Kupfert and Kim – Oaxaca Salad is the only thing I order
- Rawlicious – Thai Spring Rolls and their blonde macaroons
BAKERIES
Sweet & Savoury Pastries: Nadege (only on weekends) – Macarons only good on weekends
Cupcakes:
- Bite Me Bakery — Bite-sized cupcakes for $1.50 each (Tax included)
- Dlish Cupcakes — Full-sized cupcakes at $3.00 (plus tax) each; quite yummy
SHOPPING
NOTE: Sign up for the Toronto Live Green Card, at the retailers listed, you can get discounts. Organic / Eco-Friendly Items: Grassroots (10% off with the Live Green Card) Higher-End / Independent Clothing:
General Clothing Shops:
Canadian Designer-Centric Shops:
Consignment:
- Haute Classics
- Ex-Toggery
- LAB Consignment
Thrift:
- Courage My Love (Cashmere)
- Kali Vintage
Vintage
- The Cat’s Meow (Vintage 1950s clothing only; warning, it’s pricey)
- Magwood Vintage
- Cabaret Vintage
Maternity: Rhonda Maternity Canada Goose Jackets (Largest Selection): Sporting Life Jewellery and Bags:
Hats & Fascinators: Liliput Kitschy Gift Shop: Blue Banana Market Stationery:
Office & Art Supplies: Midoco Art and Office Supplies Bamboo Stuff of all kinds: Plaiter Place Shoes:
- Birkenstocks: The First Step
- Frye Boots: Getoutside & Ron White
- Aigle Rainboots (Made in France): Due West
- Taryn Rose Ballet Flats: Ron White
- High-End Designer Shoes: David’s Shoes
High-End, Good, Not-Cheap-Crap, Kitchenware:
- Degrees Kitchen Store
- William Ashley China
- Williams-Sonoma
- Nella Cucina
Sewing Supplies (Zippers, Buttons, etc) and Leather: Leather and Sewing Depot
BEAUTY
Natural Nail Spa (Pedicures / Manicures): Alma Spa (Eglinton/Yonge) Regular Nail Spa: NailSense Natural Spa for Facials and natural products: Pure and Simple (Yorkville, King Street, Eglinton/Yonge) Natural products in general:
- Whole Foods (Yorkville)
- The Big Carrot (Danforth)
Beauty products (not necessarily natural):
SPORTS
Bicycle Shop: Curbside Cycle
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Doctors: Patient Networks Dentists: Concourse Dental Centre Optometrists: Eaton’s Center Drs. Chung & Tse Dry cleaning: The Golden Hanger Shoe / Boot / Bag Repair: Sole Survivor Hairdresser:
- Civello
- Parlour Hair Salon
Massage: Sage Health
The Asian Pear says:
We need to go to Kinton together for ramen one day. omnomnom.
saverspender @ save. spend. splurge. says:
Kinton? *perks up*
Michelle says:
Awesome list! I love Asuka in Yorkville for sushi too! I recently found a great sushi place near Toronto General Hospital called Mt Fuji Epicure City. Weird name but it is awesome! Just don’t go to the washroom, yikes!
saverspender @ save. spend. splurge. says:
Asuka is on my list under Restaurants 🙂
Also, as for the bathrooms if they aren’t clean, I assume the kitchen isn’t either.. 😐
Michelle says:
I want that soba soup-NOW!! Fantastic list. I lived in Toronto for a short period of time and it was great. I miss it!
saverspender @ save. spend. splurge. says:
It’s becoming a dear city to me. 🙂 I didn’t grow up here but I like it all the same.
Tammy R says:
Ah, thank you, Mochimac. I have a friend who will be there for business next week and shall send this list to her lickety split!
saverspender @ save. spend. splurge. says:
I hope she has a wonderful time!