33 h. ago Toronto restaurant known for giving away free meals closing after 9 years

A Toronto restaurant that gained a reputation for offering free meals to the less fortunate will soon be closing after nearly a decade.Leslieville's Samaira's Kitchen has been a fixture on Queen East ever since opening its doors in 2016, whereupon it quickly became a staple for locals thanks to its fast-food favourites.While on the food front, the restaurant became known for its juicy, hearty burgers and gourmet pizzas, it was the owner's inventive solution for combating a growing food security crisis in the community back in 2023 that made Samaira's Kitchen particularly notable.In November of that year, Chef Rajish, the restaurant's owner, began printing meal tickets and posting them in the front window with a sign that promised anyone in need of a meal could take the receipt from the window, bring it to the front counter, and receive their meal for free.Patrons who could afford it were also encouraged to donate meals through the program, which allowed a custome...

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5 d. ago 5 new splurge restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once

Splurge restaurants in Toronto are the places you go when you really want to impress someone, even if that person is you.From sumptuous steaks to Omakase menus featuring fish flown in directly from Japan, these restaurants certainly aren't everyday go-tos, but they'll certainly hit the spot on a special occasion.Here are my picks for the new splurge restaurants in Toronto you need to try.

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5 d. ago Some of Toronto's best tacos can be found at this hidden pop

Tucked deep within an Italian restaurant, with limited hours, no reservations and a menu of Toronto-style takes on traditional Mexican fare, the city's hottest taco spot is wooing in-the-know diners to King East. A recent pivot from an admired hospitality team, Mikey Dreams of Tacos is creative and a little wild, with a killer menu of new and old faves.In the run-up to his current role as executive chef and co-owner (with Adam Teolis) of Amano Trattoria and The Berczy Tavern, Michael Angeloni has dabbled in American barbecue, rallied behind nose-to-tail cooking and, during four years running Grand Electric, made his fair share of tortillas loaded with braised and grilled proteins, as well as ceviche, salsas and guac. It's this specific part of Angeloni's past that has recently piqued the interest of new fans and inspired Mikey Dreams of Tacos, a pop-up taking place on the last Monday of every month inside Bar Notte Social Club."Word has gotten around,"&nbs...

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9 d. ago Entire Toronto neighbourhood will be taken over by epic food festival this weekend

Put on your stretchy pants and prepare to sample eats from some of the best restaurants in Toronto, because Taste of Little Italy is coming back this weekend.Whether you're a certified foodie or just enjoy a good summer street festival, you're in luck this weekend, because Taste of Little Italy is set to house over 200 local businesses from the neighbourhood and beyond, serving up droolworthy eats and unique treasures to treat yourself to.From long-standing local legends like Riviera Bakery and Bella Vista to trendy newer additions like Bear Steak Sandwiches, Susie's Rise and Dine and The Radici Project, there's truly something for everyone in the mix at this year's festival, but it's not only about the food.This year, the festival will also feature a brand-new main stage, which will serve as the go-to spot for live entertainment for the entire weekend. You'll be able to catch everything from cooking demonstrations to live DJ sets, and even...

Culture

1 week ago Indian buffet in Toronto permanently closed after decades in business

A long-standing fixture of Toronto's dining since has quietly shuttered its doors. Bombay Palace, the North Indian buffet, restaurant, and takeout spot at 71 Jarvis St., has officially shut down after over four decades in business. Known for its hearty Thursday and Friday lunch and dinner buffets, the restaurant was a go-to spot for families craving a wide range of Indian dishes, from street food classics and rich curries to grilled meats and an array of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Originally founded in downtown Montreal in 1976, Bombay Palace went on to become a globally recognized name, opening a Toronto location in 1979, along with locations in cities like New York, London, Kuala Lumpur, Budapest, Beverly Hills, and Washington D.C. Surprisingly, the closure of its downtown Toronto location came without an official announcement or farewell post. The restaurant's website has been taken down, its social media pages remain silent, and ...

Economics

2 w. ago Toronto neighbourhood favourite for fresh salads has permanently closed

A restaurant that served up fresh and simple salads in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood has officially closed its doors following three years in business.Founded in 2022 by chef Kyle Fisher, Pulse Salad & Restaurant, formerly located at 821 Gerrard St. E., took inspiration from European, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines to create hearty salad bowls. The menu included its signature mighty Caesar, fattoush, falafel and caprese dishes.Beyond salads, the restaurant carried its commitment to simple and clean ingredients into its entrees as well, which included falafel with tahini and pickled onion, roasted chicken and silken tofu.The restaurant took to social media last month to announce its heartbreaking closure, sharing with followers that "this is not how we expected Pulse to conclude." The last day of operation was May 30.    View this post on Instagram          &nb...

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2 w. ago The history of the Lick's Homeburgers restaurants in Toronto

If you've lived in Toronto long enough, you probably remember Lick's Homeburgers, not just for the burgers, but for the singing staff and that unmistakable "Guk" sauce.In a city that's now overrun with burger chains, it's easy to forget that Lick's was once a homegrown institution with more than two dozen locations across Ontario, and a place where ordering a burger almost always came with a spontaneous and probably off-key rendition of a pop song.Lick's began with a single location in 1980, when founder Denise Meehan opened the first restaurant on Queen Street East. With a few decades in the hospitality business under her belt, Meehan decided to use a $5,000 loan to open up the restaurant, with the aim to serve food that was fresh and easy on the wallet.Photo: Lick's.For the first few months of the business, the restaurant was operated by Meehan and one part-time employee. The founder worked tirelessly from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on most da...

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3 w. ago Toronto restaurant and nightclub suddenly shuts down just months after opening

A Toronto restaurant and nightclub has closed down permanently, despite opening just a handful of months ago.Though the Entertainment District's Marked — a South American cuisine venture from Forthspace Inc., the people behind Coffee Oysters Champagne — was only open for about 4 years, it attracted enough of a following for its sudden and mysterious closure in 2024 to make a notable splash.The sign came down, and vague allusions to "something exciting" coming soon were posted to their Instagram, but Marked fans the city over were left to wonder what exactly would become of their beloved home base for bottomless mimosas.A few weeks, a new sign and a $300,000 investment later, Forthspace Inc. unveiled Runway06, the day-to-night restaurant-and-nightclub concept intended to fill in the gap left behind by Marked.Though conceptually murky, the restaurant served a comparable menu to that of Marked, and would transform into a nightclub complete with costumed go-go ...

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3 w. ago 5 new Thai food spots in Toronto you need to try at least once

New Thai food spots in Toronto are serving up your fair share of noodles, stir-fries and fried rice with tasty twists and unexpected additions.From a supermarket concept with kiosks from some of the city's favourite Thai eateries to a massive complex where you can get a massage with your Massaman curry, there aren't your average mom-and-pop shops — not that there's anything wrong with that.Here are my picks for the new Thai food spots in Toronto you need to try at least once.

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3 w. ago Restaurants Canada statement on Prime Minister Carney’s Mandate Letter

Toronto, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Restaurants Canada is pleased to see affordability and internal trade at the top of the list of priorities in Prime Minister Carney’s Mandate Letter released ahead of the Speech from the Throne. As part of its mission to make life more affordable for Canadians, we urge the government […]

Politics

3 w. ago Toronto restaurant explains why they're saying 'no' to takeout and patio service

Toronto's "est restaurant" made headlines earlier this year when they publicly stopped working with food delivery apps, and now, owner and Executive Chef Jordan Diniz is taking things a step further.In early 2025, Jordan Diniz told me that, while delivery had never factored into his desired concept for est, the Riverside restaurant he took over in 2022, it was a necessary evil nearly every restaurant in the city had to adopt as a means for survival in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.Opening a new restaurant (or, new-ish) while much of the city was still coming around to the concept of dining in person, indoors, was hairy enough as it is, so certain sacrifices had to be made.It was when those sacrifices began to negatively impact the quality that he and his kitchen worked so hard to ensure that he decided it was time to put the kibosh on Uber Eats, Skip and the like, explaining his stance in a post on Instagram.It may not have been a popular decision, but as...

Other

3 w. ago Toronto restaurant explains why it's saying 'no' to takeout and patio service

Toronto's "est restaurant" made headlines earlier this year when they publicly stopped working with food delivery apps, and now, owner and Executive Chef Jordan Diniz is taking things a step further.In early 2025, Jordan Diniz told me that, while delivery had never factored into his desired concept for est, the Riverside restaurant he took over in 2022, it was a necessary evil nearly every restaurant in the city had to adopt as a means for survival in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.Opening a new restaurant (or, new-ish) while much of the city was still coming around to the concept of dining in person, indoors, was hairy enough as it is, so certain sacrifices had to be made.It was when those sacrifices began to negatively impact the quality that he and his kitchen worked so hard to ensure that he decided it was time to put the kibosh on Uber Eats, Skip and the like, explaining his stance in a post on Instagram.It may not have been a popular decision, but as...

Other

3 w. ago ‘Lunch Lady’ street food chef dies in Toronto before restaurant opening

Nguyễn Thị Thanh, the renowned Vietnamese chef known as 'The Lunch Lady,' rose to fame after an appearance on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations

Events

4 w. ago Famed 'Lunch Lady' behind Vancouver, Toronto restaurants has died

Anthony Bourdain-approved The Lunch Lady, Nguyen Thi Thanh, was a 'quiet master of her craft'

Events

4 w. ago Famed 'Lunch Lady' who inspired Vancouver, Toronto restaurants has died

Anthony Bourdain-approved The Lunch Lady, Nguyen Thi Thanh, was a 'quiet master of her craft'

Events

4 w. ago Famous Vietnamese restaurant founder passes away moments after arriving in Toronto

Nguyễn Thị Thanh, affectionately known to the world as The Lunch Lady, passed away on Monday shortly after arriving in Toronto, a city that was preparing to welcome her next chapter.Her sudden death following a cardiac arrest at Pearson International Airport has left a deep void in the global culinary community. Despite efforts by emergency responders who worked tirelessly for over an hour to resuscitate her, they were unable to revive her.Starting from a humble street stall in Saigon in 1995, she shared the soul of Vietnamese cuisine with the world, with each bowl of warm soup reflecting her roots, care, and gift for bringing people together across continents.The tiny stall in Ho Chi Minh City where it all began became an international culinary destination after being featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, where Bourdain described Ms. Thanh's soups as "discovering new neighbourhoods every few mouthfuls."In 2020, The Lunch Lady opened its first f...

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