You won’t go hungry in Toronto no matter what you’re in the mood for, but if you’re curious about what’s popular in the city in terms of what to eat, we have you covered. Here are a few of Toronto’s top food trends to enjoy.
Tacos
Torontonians have been on the taco train for a few years now, and the craving for this Mexican favourite is showing no signs of slowing down. Mexican food, in general, is a big deal in the city, but the emphasis has been on the humble taco. The Playa Cabana family restaurants (now up to five locations) churns out countless tacos, as does La Carnita, 7 Lives, Grand Electric, Mad Mexican and El Trompo just to name a few.
Ramen
The ramen trend has taken Toronto by storm. In just a couple of years, the amount of places in the city to get a heart, soul-nourishing bowl of this Japanese noodle soup has exploded exponentially (which, sadly hasn’t diminished the lineups). Get your fix of this rich, comforting noodle-filled dish at Kinton Ramen, Sansotei, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Kenzo, Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Bar (which happens to have a delicious vegetarian version of the slurp-worthy soup).
Food trucks
While not new to many cities, food trucks are just in the midst of their coming out party in Toronto. Not long ago the only food you could get from any sort of vehicle or cart was hot dogs or ice cream. Now? Options are starting to feel almost limitless. You can find trucks hawking everything from churros and grilled cheese sandwiches, to fish and chips, tacos, BBQ and even meatballs.
Vegan and gluten free foods
There are more and more places to get vegan and gluten free options in Toronto. In search of gluten-free bread that actually taste good? You can find it in Toronto. What about vegan ice cream or cupcakes? They have that, too. Craving vegan and gluten free macaroni and cheese? Not a problem. Try Bunner’s Bake Shop, Tori’s Bake Shop and Through Being Cool.
Juice
Thirsty? You’re options for something super-healthy to sip are on the rise in Toronto. Juice bars are popping up on every corner and the flavour combinations are getting healthier and more and more creative. Greenhouse Juice Company (try the Gold Rush), The Good Press, Bolt Fresh Bar and Sunshine Wholesome Market are all good places to grab a fresh juice in the city.
Seafood
Need a break from steak? You can find it in Toronto, especially now that the culinary tide is shifting more towards seafood. From delicate dishes of sparking ceviche, to bowls of steaming mussels, to plates piled high with peel and eat shrimp, there are numerous ways to get your seafood fix in the city. Check out Rock Lobster, Fishbar, Geraldine and Buster’s Sea Cove in St. Lawrence Market.
Lead photo: Andrew Currie used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
