Toronto Street Food Highlights: 10 Dishes You Can't Miss

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Date Published

April 1, 2025

Last Updated

2 weeks ago

Alex Johnson

Alex is the author of the travel books A Long Weekend in Ulaanbaatar and Running the Milk. Between writing, he currently splits his time between the UK & U.S. expanding his knowledge of city escapes, small town USA and regional differences whilst researching his next books.

Canada’s largest city, Toronto is a multicultural hub. A melting pot of cultures for centuries, a staggering 57% of the city’s residents identify as part of a minority group. From Little Tokyo to Greektown and Little India to Ukrainian Bloor West, a journey through Toronto’s neighborhoods is an odyssey across the world.

Nowhere is Toronto’s diversity more evident than in its food scene. With everything from rustic food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants, whatever your style, a trip to Toronto won’t leave you hungry. If anything, it will leave you craving more. Toronto’s food offerings are extremely diverse, no matter how long you spend here, you’ll never try it all.

st lawrence market is a food and farmers market in toronto ontario canada — Toronto’s markets are a feast for the senses. St Lawrence Market is a must when seeking out the best Toronto street food (*Source: Destination Ontario*)

The best way to sample as many of the wonderful dishes on offer is the little and often approach. Opting for Toronto street food in place of sit-down meals will give you the chance to experience far more. Plus, it’ll leave you more time for sightseeing. Even then, with quality street food in abundance, you could be here for a year and still not scratch the surface. That’s why we’ve brought together our Toronto street food favorites.

Travel tip: To make the most of Toronto’s food scene, head to Kensington Market. I love this foodie market tour which offers you the chance to literally taste the world.

1. Poutine

As international a food scene as the city’s is, no guide to Toronto’s street food highlights would be complete without Canada’s national dish. Invented in Quebec in the 1950s, poutine soon spread across the country.

a bowl containing poutine the national dish of canada including french fries, cheese curds and gravy — Poutine takes its name from a Quebecois word meaning “mess” (*Credit: Taine Noble*)

A simple concoction of French fries and cheese curds slathered with brown gravy, poutine is the ultimate comfort food. Today, plenty of variations of the dish are available. Some have meats including brisket and pulled pork added, whilst others have been inspired by the latest food trends. Asian fusion and gourmet poutines with pepper sauce, truffle and caviar are amongst the most popular.

Best place to try poutine in Toronto

Wherever you search for Toronto street food, you’ll never be far from some amazing poutine. Even Tim Horton’s serve it. To try our favorite Toronto poutine, head to NomNomNom on North Dundas Street. Their menu is simple. Poutine is their only dish and that means they do it well. Along with traditional poutine, their double and triple cheese versions are hits with dairy fanatics, whilst meat-lovers will adore their bacon and smoked meat variants.

NomNomNom is a poutine restaurant serving toronto street food in ontario canada — Housed in an old shipping container, NomNomNom is a Toronto street food must (*Source: NOW Toronto*)

2. Toronto street meat

For decades, street meat in Toronto was limited to hot dogs for hygiene reasons. Thanks to modern technology, the Toronto street food scene was finally allowed to grow in 2007, when authorities removed the ban on other meat dishes. Of course, the humble (and delicious) hot dog is still a big part of Toronto street food, but there’s so much more to choose from too.

From cheeseburgers to sandwiches overflowing with juicy goodness, whatever your fancy, Toronto has it.

Best place to try street meat in Toronto

If you like sticking with tradition and are craving a trusty hot dog, head for Woofdawg Hotdog. A classic Toronto street food stand, Woofdawg’s dogs are anything but classic. With a focus on quality meat, their generous toppings set them apart.

a hot dog sausage in a bun with cheese and peppers from woofdawg hotdog a street food cart in toronto ontario canada — Woofdawg’s dogs are a meal in themselves (*Source: Woofdawg Hotdog*)

To sample some of Toronto’s more adventurous offerings, When The Pig Came Home is the place to go. Serving hot deli sandwiches filled to the brim, this high-end deli is one of the hottest new additions to the Toronto street food scene. Their meats are cooked fresh every day in small batches so the quality is never compromised. Get there early though; once they’re gone, they’re gone.

3. Peameal bacon sandwich

An Ontario staple, peameal bacon is a flavor sensation. Always unsmoked, the back bacon is rolled in cornmeal before being grilled, griddled or fried. When the dish was invented in the Victorian era, peameal was used in place of cornmeal, hence the name.

a white bread peameal bacon sandwich in a foil wrapper served from a toronto street food vendor in ontario canada — There’s no better way to start your day in Toronto than with a peameal bacon sandwich (*Source: Taste Toronto*)

Best place to try a peameal bacon sandwich in Toronto

The ultimate breakfast Toronto street food, peameal bacon sandwiches are never hard to find. When The Pig Came Home do an excellent one, but if you want to tick off as many Toronto street food venues as possible, check out Insomnia. One of the city’s most celebrated brunch spots, once you’ve experienced the atmosphere, you’ll have made a dinner reservation before you know it.

4. Lobster rolls

An East Coast favorite, lobster rolls were born south of the border but today are an icon of Canadian cuisine. If you’ve sampled a New England lobster roll, you’ll notice a few differences in their Canadian counterpart. Living in colder water, the lobster meat is denser and more meaty, with a slightly less sweet flavor thanks to Canadian lobsters having tougher shells.

Best place to try lobster roll in Toronto

Lobster rolls are so popular across Canada, even McDonald’s have their take on one on their Canadian menu seasonally. Having never tried one, I wouldn’t possibly want to suggest they’re not delicious, but I know locals all claim Lobster Burger Bar on David Pecaut Square do a better one.

a lobster roll with lemon wedges from lobster burger bar in toronto ontario canada — It’s official- this is the best Lobster roll in Toronto (*Source: Toronto Life*)

5. Jamaican patties

Traditionally prepared in Jamaican homes from ground beef and seasoned with Caribbean spices, it wasn’t until the 1960s that they were produced commercially. Similar to a Mexican empanada, the patties are coated with egg yolk mixture and tumeric powder, giving them their famous yellow tint.

Introduced to the Toronto street food scene by Jamaican immigrants, today’s patties come with a myriad of different fillings. Beef is still the classic, but chicken, lobster, cheese and soy are popular alternatives. As always, there’s only one way to discover your favorite.

jamaican patties are fried meat patties with a yellow colour from egg yolks and tumeric, these are served at allwyn's bakery in toronto ontario canada — Allwyn’s Jamaican Patties are true to their Jamaican roots (*Source: Destination Toronto*)

Best place to try Jamaican patties in Toronto

Jamaican specialist Allwyn’s Bakery on Queen Street is the top spot for patties in Toronto. Founded in New York in 1984, they may have grown but, still family-owned, their passion for the authentic tastes of Jamaica has never dwindled.

6. Korean Fried Chicken

We’ve all heard of KFC, but there are no secret herbs and spices here. Long before Colonel Sanders opened his first restaurant in North Cobin, Kentucky back in 1930, Korea had already perfected the art of frying chicken. 500-years before, in fact.

Available Tongdak – a deep-fried whole chicken – or sunsal (boneless), Korean Fried Chicken is seasoned with a variety of flavors. The original, huraideu, is closest to the western-style fried chicken we know and love. If you fancy adding some Korean spice, try yours yangnyeom-style.

a plate of korean fried chicken with salad served at sarang kitchen in toronto ontario canada — Korean Fried Chicken is a popular Toronto street food in Koreatown and beyond (*Source: Sarang Kitchen*)

Best place to try Korean Fried Chicken in Toronto

In 2024, South Korea’s favorite fried chicken shop, BHC opened their first location in Toronto. For decades before they came, though, local restaurants in Koreatown had put Korean Fried Chicken on the Toronto street food map. Sarang Kitchen is a long-time stalwart. Not only is their chicken delicious, they pay their staff a fair living wage and tipping is discouraged.

7. Kathi roll

Born on the streets of Kolkata, Kathi rolls (sometimes spelled Kati) have long been an Indian street food staple. Invented by Mughlai-chef Raza Hassan Saheb, migrants from the subcontinent brought this delicious dish to the Toronto street food scene.

a kathi roll wrapped in tin foil with masala fries from t.o.'s kathi roll eatery a toronto street food truck in ontario canada — Kathi rolls often come with a side of masala fries (*Source: T.O.’s Kathi Roll Eatery*)

Traditionally made with paratha dough, popular fillings include beef, chicken and lamb. Potatoes, vegetables and paneer are common vegetarian alternatives. The meat or vegetables, cooked on a skewer over hot coals, is mixed with onions, hot chillies and spicy sauces before being rolled in the paratha.

Best place to try a Kathi Roll in Toronto

For the most authentic Toronto street food experience, seek out one of T.O.’s Kathi Roll Eatery’s food trucks. With nine locations across the city, it isn’t hard to find one near you.

8. Elephant ears

Thankfully not made from any part of the world’s largest land animal, elephant ears are named for their size. That size is massive. Originating from a Native American dish known as fry bread, these carb-heavy treats are the ultimate Toronto street food snack.

elephant ears are deep fried dough served with toppings including strawberries, caramel and chocolate — Elephant Ears are one of Toronto’s best kept secrets (*Source: Allrecipes*)

Made with flour, sugar, lard and salt, the dough is deep fried and covered with sugar and cinnamon. To make them sweeter still, they’re often served with a chocolate, strawberry or caramel topping.

Best place to try elephant ears in Toronto

Unlike most of our favorite Toronto street food dishes, finding elephant ears takes a bit of searching. Pop-up bakeries in food markets are a great place to look, or head to BeaverTails’ food truck by Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.

9. Taiyaki

Another Toronto street food dish which isn’t quite what it seems, this Japanese delicacy translates as “baked sea bream”. Made from waffle batter, taiyaki are filled before being pressed in a sea bream-shaped mold. Anko (red bean paste) and custard are the most common fillings.

Best place to try taiyaki in Toronto

Devoted to all things taiyaki, Kevin’s Taiyaki, just down the street from the Royal Ontario Museum is the place to go. They’re located in P.A.T. Central Market; don’t miss the chance to pick up some Korean groceries whilst you’re there.

taiyaki are fish shaped waffles stuffed with custard or anko from kevin's taiyaki at p.a.t. central market in toronto ontario canada — Taiyaki are a truly unique Toronto street food (*Source: Taste Toronto*)

10. Butter tarts

As important to Canada as the pastel de nata is to Portugal, butter tarts are a Toronto delicacy. Made with egg, sugar, syrup and lashings of butter, these delicious sweet snacks were invented in Ontario in 1900. Usually filled with raisins, walnuts and pecans are common variations.

Nowadays, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to fillings. Salted caramel, maple, chili and pumpkin are easy to find, whilst more recently, savory choices including bacon have been added to the list.

deep filled sweet butter tarts are a canadian delicacy originating in ontario — Butter tarts are almost as deep as a pie (*Source: The Pie Commission*)

Best place to try butter tarts in Toronto

Sadly, many of the best places to sample this moreish Toronto street food closed during the pandemic. One long-running favorite which remains is The Pie Commission. Traditional raisin and pecan butter tarts are their specialties. They’re also famous for their savory pies, including small batch shepherd’s pie baked fresh every day.

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