So I write a Substack about the stuff I eat in Toronto, and as a mini-project within that, I'm trying to visit every library in the city and a corresponding place to grab lunch. I did not realize there were 100 TPL libraries in town, but here we are.
For the first one, I went with the Parkdale branch and Shambhala Kitchen for some incredible Tibetan food. I live in Parkdale, so it was an obvious (and delicious!) choice for me.
But I'll need some guidance as I expand this silly project farther afield. I have a pretty good handle on the West End and generally anywhere south of St Clair, but beyond that, I would love to hear your recs for particular lunch spots near your local libraries. Ideally places that are representative of the neighbourhood character, local institutions with loads of history, or places I'd be an idiot to skip. Also, if there are particular libraries that should be pushed to the top of my list, lemme know so I can expedite them.
(I eat literally anything so no dietary restrictions or cuisines are off limits! The more niche, the better.)
by shawarman
32 Comments
When you get to Junction Triangle branch you’ve got Dafina Pizza, Rancho Relaxo (recommend the brisket tacos) and the Emapandas at Columbia Street Food. Loads to choose from, those are just my faves. For St Clair Silverthorn Wing Saints next door is great, and the Vietnamese Place with the blue sign is fantastic. Spadina Road- Eat BKK for fantastic Thai. Dufferin St Clair Khamer Thai – take out only Cambodian.
Will you be ranking every library as well? 🤩
This is a great project! If you pick up the [Toronto Library Passport from the Spacing store](https://spacingstore.ca/products/toronto-library-passport), each branch will stamp it for you.
La Morena near Dufferin/St Clair branch… just check the hours first!
Long branch is a small library but good food options. 850 pizza is great and TJ Osheas has awesome pub food
There’s a library on roncensvalles and you can’t go wrong with sunny side provisions
Toronto Reference Library – go north to Black Camel Sandwiches. Best sandwich in the city!
Deer park- megumi mazesoba
For Parliament St. branch, I like Bisou (French cafe/bakery), Gorkha Palace (Nepalese), and House on Parliament (gastropub).
Regent Park Branch (Gerrard just west of Parliament): Hakka Bistro. Takeout only, so you’ll have to find somewhere else to eat.
If you’re going up to North York to the Fairview Branch or Brookbanks Branch, don’t skip on Umami House or Johnny’s Hamburgers (cash only!)
Bridlewood Mall Branch – Head over to Cake Talk on the second floor, other end from the library. Grab the special, 6.99 for a bun of your choice, HK tea or coffee and one of the best egg tarts around.
Near Riverdale is Que Ling, near Main Street is the OG Beach Hill Smokehouse, near Ashdale is Maha’s, near Coxwell Danforth is Bhojan Ghar or Pomarosa.
What a fun and delicious idea!!
I want to visit every library with you!!
Beaches Public Library – so many great choices on Queen E. Tiflisi (Georgian food), Inmigrante (Latin botanas and great cocktails), and Breakwall BBQ (I love their smoked jerk wings specifically). Wolfe Tone is one of the few places where you can get a spice bag, and their chicken is delicious.
Main Street Public Library – less restaurants around here, but there’s Beach Hill Smokehouse and Anima Romana Italian Bakery for yummy pizza. Their cannolis are also delicious.
When you are go to Yonge and Eglinton to the Orchard branch check out QUE BIRRIA TAQUERIA (not yelling google just had it in all caps). Small but really good quality tacos. I’d recommend the Quesabirria
Palmerston branch: Pour Boy on Manning, or one of the many awesome Korean restaurants
Pape and Danforth branch: Souvlike.
Not sure if you are doing satelite branches, there aren’t many options near the Todmorden Room, but check out Cafe Serano.
Last time I was near the Brentwood branch in Etobicoke, I stopped in at Henry VIII Ale House and I want to go back as soon as the weather’s nice for walking again. It’s just around the corner from the library, on Bloor, and they’re both a block from Royal York station.
Wychwood library is beautiful and lots of great places to eat around St Clair. Tacos Moras and Fleur du Jour are close by
Definitely Congee Queen if you go to the one on Lawrence/Don Mills.
When you make it out to Steeles branch, check out Sam Woo BBQ or Pho 88 in the same plaza
Jones & Dundas branch: Completo on Coady Ave!
S. Walter Stewart is in a bit of a commercial dead zone, but east york deli is great (though there’s usually no seating). A bit further north on coxwell is Little Coxwell, which is an excellent vietnamese/thai restaurant.
For coxwell/danforth branch you probably want Our Spot for lunch.
Bendale – Patty Time. It may not be the best branch in the city but Patty Time is often a top contender for best Jamaican patties.
Fairview Branch – cheap meal: the T&T outpost serving Taiwanese crepes / splurge meal: Som Tum Jinda inside the mall
Parkway Mall – cross the street to LAKAY Kusina. All day Filipino breakfast or entrees.
Agincourt branch – cross Kennedy to Oriental Congee. $12 for a bowl of congee plus steamed or pan-fried dumplings.
McGregor Park – Coffee In, Filipino comfort food
Bridlewood Mall – Nantha Caters on ground floor for Tamil snacks like mutton rolls
Steeles Branch (Bamburgh Circle) – cheap meal: Good Taste Casserole Rice or Sam Woo / splurge meal: KIN KIN O-Ka-Ne by Oo-Kinza Fish House
Goldhawk Park Branch – cross street to Alton Chinese Restaurant for classic Cantonese style stir fry or Annalakshmi for vegetarian Indian
Woodside Square – Big Way Hot Pot for customized soup (pay by weight)
Burrows Hall Branch – walkable when it’s warm but Markham Station and Ai Sushi are on Markham/Sheppard
Cedarbrae – walk up to Lawrence to Momo Station
Kennedy/Eglinton Branch – Chung Moi for Hakka food
Eglinton Square – Ruby’s at the food court
North York Central – you’re surrounded by Korean food, take your pick. If you want the street food experience, Kim’s a la Cart is up a few blocks from the library. Skewers + fish cakes.
Armour Heights Branch – Chang Rai for Thai
Don Mills Branch – Congee Queen
Locke Branch – Limon
Northern District Branch – PAI for Thai followed by Mizzica for gelato
Barbara Frum Branch – United Bakers Diary Restaurant, old school European diner
Do you have a distance limit between lunch and the library?
Might be worth doing a walking distance and a driving distance pick if you’re publishing a list for others to benefit from.
Or at least set up a consistent maximum radius
Jones library – go to completo
Primrose bagel (lox or smoked whitefish!) or DAM sandwiches (the brisket!) near the Oakwood branch.
Armour Heights (Avenue & Wilson) – Dave’s Genuine Deli. Corned beef & Reuben sandwiches, matzo ball soup, potato latkes. Get a jar of pickles before you leave.
Locke (Yonge & Lawrence) – Abbot Pub. Great pub food — schnitzel, fish & chips, a,hepherd’s pie.
Northern District (Yonge & Eglinton) – Burger Shack. Classic burger spot; also has peameal sandwiches and souvlaki on a bun. If you like Johnny’s then you’d enjoy this place.
Forest Hill (Eglinton & Vesta). Hmm, maybe St. Urbain bagels? Not as sure about this area.
Maria A. Shcuka (Eglinton & Dufferin). RAP’S for jerk chicken or oxtail. Also a few good patty shops in the area.
Mount Pleasant (Mount Pleasant & Manor). Shibui Eatery is my favourite resto in the area, but assuming you’ll have a lot of sushi places on your list and want something more unique, Instant du Palais, is Cote d’Ivoire cuisine.
Ashdale branch on Gerrard, between Greenwood & Coxwell):
– Maha’s on Greenwood (Egyptian)
– Tea’N’Bannock (Indigenous Canadian)
– Udupi Palace (Vegetarian Indian)
– Lazy Daisy (Brunch)
I would recommend Lake Inez, which is amazing, but it’s not open for lunch.