Cuisine in Toronto facts for kids
The cuisine of Toronto shows how big and diverse Toronto is. The city has many different neighbourhoods, and each one often focuses on food from a specific country. For example, you can find real Chinese food and Vietnamese food in Toronto's Chinatowns. If you visit Koreatown, you'll find amazing Korean dishes.
On The Danforth, you can enjoy Greek food. Italian cuisine is popular in Little Italy and Corso Italia. For Indian and Pakistani food, head to Little India. Many other foods from around the world are also available. These include Portuguese, Hungarian, Japanese, and Caribbean dishes. Toronto also has a large Jewish population, so you can find many Jewish restaurants and delis. Some of these follow special kosher rules. Besides all these international foods, Toronto also has many fancy restaurants and popular chain eateries.
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Food Neighbourhoods in Toronto
Toronto is famous for its many different neighbourhoods. Each one offers a taste of a specific culture's food. Here are some of the popular spots to explore:
- Eglinton West – Great for Caribbean food.
- Roncesvalles – Known for Polish food.
- Chinatown and East Chinatown – Perfect for Chinese food and Vietnamese dishes.
- Kensington Market – A mix of Latin American and other foods.
- Little Italy and Corso Italia – The best places for Italian food.
- Gerrard India Bazaar and Rexdale – Where you can find Indian and Pakistani food.
- Agincourt – Offers a wide range of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan dishes.
- Koreatown – The main spot for Korean food.
- Little Portugal/Rua Acores – Home to delicious Portuguese food.
- The Danforth – Famous for Greek and Turkish food.
- North York City Centre, Newtonbrook - You can find Korean, Chinese, and Iranian food here.
Fun Food Festivals
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Toronto hosts many exciting food festivals every year. These events are a great way to try different foods and learn about various cultures. Food tours are also becoming popular. They let you explore the city's food scene with a guide.
Some popular food events and festivals in Toronto include:
- Charlie's Burgers – A series of special private dining events that started in 2009.
- Summerlicious and Winterlicious – These events let you try special menus at many restaurants for a set price.
- Taste of the Danforth – A big festival celebrating Greek food and culture.
- Taste of Little Italy – A festival focused on Italian food.
- Toronto Wing Festival – All about delicious chicken wings!
- Vegetarian Food Festival – A festival for those who love plant-based foods.
Local Breweries
Toronto has a long history of making beer. Many years ago, Eugene O'Keefe, who started the O'Keefe Brewing Company, grew up in Toronto. His family moved there from Ireland in 1832. O'Keefe was the first to make lager beer in Canada. He also made traditional ales and porters.
The Toronto Beer Festival is an event held every year. It shows off beers made by local craft breweries. A microbrewery is a small, independent brewery. Toronto has many of these:
- Ace Hill
- Amsterdam Brewing Company
- Bellwoods Brewery
- Great Lakes Brewery
- Magnotta Brewery Limited
- Mill Street Brewery
- Steam Whistle Brewing
- Cool Beer Brewing Company
- The Granite Brewery
- Indie Alehouse
- Spearhead Brewery
- Kensington Brewing Company
- Black Oak Brewing Company
- Junction Craft Brewing
- Liberty Village Brewing Company
- Muddy York Brewing Company
- Left Field Brewery
- Halo Brewery
Street Food in Toronto
Toronto has many places where you can grab food to go. You'll find many food trucks around downtown Toronto. They often park near Toronto City Hall. These trucks sell popular items like french fries, hot dogs, and pre-cooked sausages. On the University of Toronto campus, some food trucks offer Chinese food.
Along Dundas Street West, you can find a unique spot called Market 707. Here, shipping containers have been turned into food stands. They sell a variety of international street foods. You can also find special food trucks at different events around the city.
During the summer, you'll see vendors selling ice cream and pops from bicycles. Ice cream trucks also drive through the city streets. Frozen yogurt shops are very popular in Toronto, with many new ones opening recently. Toronto also has a strong coffee culture. You'll find many independent cafes, especially in areas like Queen West and Kensington Market.
For a long time, only hot dogs and pre-cooked sausages were allowed to be sold by street vendors. The rules for selling street food were very strict. In 2009, a program called Toronto a la Cart tried to allow more types of food. This program let vendors sell halal foods like kebab, falafel, and shawarma. However, this program was stopped in 2010. This was because the rules were too complicated and expensive for the vendors.
Special Toronto Dishes
Toronto has created some unique dishes that you might not find anywhere else!
Peameal Bacon Sandwich
One of Toronto's most famous and unique foods is the peameal bacon sandwich. It's usually served on a Kaiser roll. Peameal bacon is a special type of back bacon that was first made by the William Davies Company in Toronto. This happened at the St. Lawrence Market.
Today, you can find great peameal bacon sandwiches at places like Paddington's Pump, Sausage King, and Carousel Bakery. All of these are located right at St. Lawrence Market. In the Leslieville area, there's a place called Rashers. It's known as North America's only bacon sandwich shop. They make a peameal bacon sandwich that many people say is perfectly done.
East Indian Roti
Another special Toronto dish is the "East Indian Roti." This is a twist on the stuffed Roti that comes from the West Indies. Toronto has many people who have moved from both South Asia and the Caribbean. Because of this, a new dish was created. It uses South Asian bread and curries as the filling for a West Indian-style roti.
Other Unique Foods
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- Pablum is a pre-cooked cereal for babies. It was created at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto in the 1930s.
- Sushi pizza is a mix of sushi and pizza. It was invented in the early 1990s.
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