Lai Wah Heen. Sek Dim Sum & Yum Cha in Toronto 麗華軒

When Michelle, Carol, and Mama told me about their plans to visit Toronto in August, we started to compile a list of restaurants. (Yeah..... we did not compile a list of tourist attractions, we are the eating-kind 😂 ). 

Gandhi Indian Cuisine. Gandhi Roti. List of Best East Indian in Toronto

Many things change on Queen Street West. Shops and restaurants that you frequent could very well be replaced the next moment due to high rent and competition. But one thing stays the same. 

Oyster Boy - Mollusks for the Masses @ The Best Oysters in Toronto Queen St. West

A dear friend of ours is visiting from Tokyo, Japan. She requested for Canadian oysters for dinner and her wish was granted 😄

Where else but Oyster Boy comes to mind immediately, when one thinks of oysters in Toronto.

Koh Lipe Thai Kitchen @ 35 Baldwin Street Toronto

Last Sunday late afternoon, after the rain stopped and clouds cleared, my friends and I went for early dinner on Baldwin Street. We walked by Koh Lipe and was drawn by its emptiness. I know, you would usually want to go for restaurants with a huge line up as that would be a sign of good food. 

Artisan Plus 老碗 Hand Pulled Noodles @ Dundas West Toronto

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For Saturday’s dinner, friends and I spoilt for choice near Toronto's Chinatown, decided on Artisan Plus 老碗 - it fits our 2 simple criteria: zero wait time for a table, and there was air-conditioning. On a sizzling Toronto summer day that felt like 40℃, you do not want to be baked outside a restaurant waiting for a table 🌞

Valens @ Baldwin Village, Toronto. Summerlicious 2019

For foodies, the annual Summerlicious (and Winterlicious) are the best times to visit Toronto. Each season, about 200 participating restaurants offer discounted prix fixe menus. Today, I went to Valens on Baldwin Street.

Harbord Fish & Chips Toronto

On the way to Royal Ontario Museum, we passed by Harbord Fish & Chips which is on every list of the Best Fish & Chips in Toronto.

The Keg. Amazing Prime Rib. Get it whenever you are Near an Outlet in Canada or USA

We had dinner at The Keg Steakhouse & Bar at York Street in Toronto's Financial District. The Keg established in Vancouver in 1971, now has nearly 200 outlets in Canada and USA. They are in 3 locations in Toronto - York Street, Yonge Street and The Esplanade.

Cluny @ Distillery District, Toronto. Summerlicious 2019

Our Summerlicious 2019 food trail took us to Cluny, a fine French restaurant in Toronto's Distillery District.

John's Chinese BBQ Restaurant in Richmond Hill Toronto 敍香園海鮮燒臘酒家

We joined Joyce's family for dinner at the popular John's Chinese BBQ Restaurant 敍香園海鮮燒臘酒家 at Richmond Hill - it's their favourite Hong Kong Roast place in Toronto.

Canoe. Summerlicious Toronto 2019

Today, our Summerlicious 2019 food trail took us to Canoe, a fine Canadian cuisine restaurant at level 54 of TD (Toronto Dominion) Bank tower. The annual Summerlicious (and Winterlicious) is a good time to be in Toronto, as we get to experience participating fine restaurants at budget friendly prices. Our 3 course lunch at Canoe costs CDN33++ per pax.

Auberge du Pommier Fine French Restaurant. Summerlicious 2019 Toronto

Went to Auberge du Pommier, a fine French restaurant set in a beautiful century old country cottage and garden in North York along Yonge Street, Toronto. The annual Summerlicious (and Winterlicious) is the best time to try the best restaurants of Toronto as participating restaurants offer prix fixe menus at discounted prices. We went for the Auberge du Pommier's Summerlicious 3 course lunch deal at CDN33++ per pax.

Famous Olde Yorke Fish & Chips @ Leaside. One of Toronto's Best

Gotta have another fish & chips before heading home to Singapore. We picked Olde Yorke in Leaside because we needed spices from the Indian spice shops in nearby Thorncliffe, so we can kill two birds with one stone 😄

Quinn's Steakhouse & Irish Bar. Summerlicious 2019 in Toronto

Each year the Toronto City Hall organises Winterlicious and Summerlicious where participating restaurants offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus from CDN23++ to CDN53++. This is a discount from the normal menu, so it is a good time to experience the higher end restaurants without stressing our budget too much. Running from today 5 July till 21 July, I picked Quinn's Steakhouse & Irish Bar to start my Summerlicious foodie trail.

Dagu Rice Noodles & Pork Soup 大鼓米线. Ancient Chinese Comfort Dish comes to Canada

Walking along Dundas Street West, we stumbled upon this large shop - it's Dagu Rice Noodle 大鼓米线. The glass windows were plastered with promotional posters. The claim that their pork soup is freshly made daily with 300kg of pork bones used for every barrel of soup drew me into the restaurant to check it out.

Aloette Restaurant. No Doubt the Best Diner in Toronto (& Inexpensive too)

Went to the popular Aloette Restaurant at the intersection of Spadina and Queen Street West in Toronto. Opened in 2018, ALOette is the little sister of ALO (located on the upper floor of the same building) which is listed in The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

Golden Turtle Vietnamese Restaurant ● Toronto's Most Famous Pho

Golden Turtle is Toronto's first pho restaurant and also its most famous.

Marathon Cafe Donuts & Coffee in Scarborough Toronto. Best Hong Kong Milk Tea in the World

After lunch at Yunnan Steam Fish Pot, Angel suggested that we walk across the parking lot to Marathon Cafe. Our mutual friend Joyce had tried the tea here and strongly recommended it.

Delightfully Delicious Yunnan Steam Fish Pot in Scarborough Toronto 云南蒸汽石锅鱼

Happy today, we had a nice eat together with friends and experienced a new way of eating steamed fish which I have never tried before. It's called Yunnan Steam Fish Pot which is delicious and healthful too.

Local Favourite Budget Vietnamese Restaurant. Pho Tien Thanh @ Ossington Ave, Toronto

So I was enjoying my pho yesterday at Que Ling Vietnamese Cuisine in East Chinatown, sharing a table with a stranger. My new friend David suggested that I try the pho at Pho Tien Thanh at Ossington Avenue. "The best pho in Toronto" David said.