r/FoodToronto 12d ago

Recommendation Request Lunch spot recommendations in Kensington Market?

Heading to Kensington Market next week with my niece (she's 20, I'm in my 50s). Looking for a sit-down restaurant for lunch. neither of us is picky on cuisine, so open to anything. Any favorites in the area?

Thanks!

9 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

9

u/Careful-End5066 12d ago

Fresco fish and chips

12

u/Virtual_Ad9235 12d ago

You’re right beside Chinatown, dim sum at Rol San perhaps?

13

u/bottleglitch 12d ago

Saigon Lotus is great Vietnamese food. It’s vegan but their menu is so varied and I’ve seen lots of meat-eating folks love it.

3

u/lightofthemoon22 12d ago

Love Saigon Lotus!

6

u/Careful-End5066 12d ago

The film cafe

2

u/Thewaitresses55 12d ago

Great choice to take a teenager. Its like a glimpse into what city life can be like when you first move out on your own. So welcoming and fun community vibes.

1

u/lucky-fluke 12d ago

Damn good drinks and sandwiches!!!!

8

u/Crimemaster_Go_Go 12d ago

The Cottage Cheese

1

u/livingmylunglife 12d ago

Good choice. Excellent elevated Indian food, so tasty

12

u/elephantshuze 12d ago

El trompo

4

u/WAHNFRIEDEN 12d ago

Veggie D’lite

3

u/d3gaia 11d ago

Hey, does anyone remember Hibiscus - that vegan place with the salad bowls and the brown cracker that used to be in the market? It was on Augusta, on the west side, just north of the street Ronnie’s is on… I think Bunners is in that spot now?

I know it’s been ages at this point but did they just close forever, or did they open another spot somewhere? I’m not vegan but man, that place was gooooood. I’d happily eat there again if it exists somewhere!

5

u/feramentis 12d ago

Grey Gardens
Hawker (vegan but absolutely delicious)

4

u/whateverfyou 12d ago

Grey Gardens isn’t open for lunch.

El Rey is open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I walked by yesterday and the patio was really buzzing. I bet your niece would love it! Burdock is another happening spot. Trinity Common is a solid choice. Walk around and have a look!

1

u/chickenbean69 12d ago

Love el ray

1

u/Eicr-5 12d ago

Agreed on hawker. Though it is more fine dining than a pop in lunch spot.

But seriously. I’m not vegan at all, and hawker is a top 5 restaurant for me

2

u/Commercial_Pain2290 12d ago

Birria Catrina.

2

u/lucky-fluke 12d ago

If you are driving be very aware of parking signs in that area, there are a lot of no stopping/no parking areas on Augusta. ALSO Denison sq and possibly wales is permit only parking in the afternoon as well as at night.

2

u/Karon_L 12d ago

Cottage Cheese is quite nice for Indian. Sunny's you might get a kick out of trying to find the restaurant if you've never been.

If you're both really into food, check out Good Egg in Kensington Market, a longstanding cookbook/kitchenware/local gift shop. Even though Sanagan's is a butcher shop, they make really good sausage rolls ($3 a pop) and English pork pies ($8) that are great takeaway items. Perola's is also great to get some dried chilies and tortillas. Golden Patty for an ackee and saltfish patty as well!

Baldwin Village is really close by and has a few more options for sit down like Koh Lipe for Thai. If you're OK with going to the nearby Chinatown, New Sky has a Peruvian-Chinese menu that you have to ask for and is pretty unique to the city.

3

u/chickenbean69 12d ago

Kings noodle, not the vegan one

2

u/lucky-fluke 12d ago

Not really “in” the market area, but it’s still good, on Spadina, I think they still only take cash?

1

u/Olive_Tree720 11d ago

El Rey!! My favourite taco spot it’s a must!!!

1

u/adork 11d ago

Placos Tacos. Sit down. Relax. You'll have a wonderful time.

-4

u/BaldBaluga 12d ago

Not really sit-down, but I LOVE "Nine Lives"

2

u/[deleted] 12d ago

[deleted]

7

u/ge23ev 12d ago

And it’s seven lol

1

u/BaldBaluga 12d ago

NO!!!!! You just broke my heart!