Quick answer
Toronto's best street food lives in Kensington Market, with Seven Lives serving the city's top fish tacos. For a single essential food experience, the peameal bacon sandwich at St. Lawrence Market is non-negotiable. The Well is Toronto's most ambitious new food hall.
- Best overall
- Seven Lives Tacos — 4.6★ (1,850 reviews)
- Local favourite
- St. Lawrence Market — peameal bacon, essential Toronto
- Best budget
- Kensington Market vendors — CAD $5–$12
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Seven Lives Tacos: The best fish tacos in Toronto, possibly Canada. The scallop taco is legendary.
- St. Lawrence Market: Toronto's historic food market since 1803. The peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery is essential.
- Pai Northern Thai: The best Thai food in Toronto. The khao soi will change you.
Toronto's street food scene is one of the most diverse in the world — a direct reflection of the city's multicultural character. From Kensington Market's global vendors to Scarborough's Caribbean BBQ to St. Lawrence Market's iconic peameal bacon sandwiches, eating well in Toronto often means eating cheap and on your feet.
The city's food halls have also evolved significantly — The Well and other newer developments are bringing elevated food hall experiences to match the street-level diversity. Whether you're craving Baja fish tacos, northern Thai curry, or a breakfast sandwich from a 200-year-old market, Toronto delivers.
Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 80+ Reddit posts across r/FoodToronto, r/toronto spanning 2022–2026. Spots ranked by mention frequency, value, and uniqueness of the Toronto experience.
1The Well Food Hall
Food HallQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best food hall atmosphere in Toronto, diverse vendors, architecturally stunning space
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Stunning space · Diverse vendors · Central location · Indoor year-round
- Limitations
- Can be crowded and noisy. Premium food hall pricing. Some vendor inconsistency.
- What to order
- Explore the full hall before committing. The ramen and Korean vendors are consistently excellent.
2Kensington Market (Street Food)
Street Food DistrictQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best street food neighbourhood in Toronto, global diversity, budget eating, atmosphere
- Strengths
- 4.4★ · Best eclectic street food · Pedestrian Sundays · Global diversity · Very affordable
- Limitations
- Some vendors only open weekends. Weather-dependent for outdoor eating.
- What to order
- Explore on foot — tacos at Seven Lives, empanadas, European Delight sausages. Graze across vendors.
3Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos
TacosQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best tacos in Toronto, Baja fish tacos, Kensington Market must-visit
- Strengths
- 4.6★ · Best fish tacos in Toronto · Legendary scallop taco · Kensington Market location
- Limitations
- Always a queue. Takeout only. Limited seating.
- What to order
- Scallop taco + whatever seasonal special is on. Get at least 3 — they're small but perfect.
4St. Lawrence Market
Historic MarketQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best food market in Toronto, peameal bacon sandwich, weekend farmers market, food history
- Strengths
- 4.5★ · Since 1803 · Legendary peameal bacon · Weekend farmers market · One of the world's best markets
- Limitations
- Closed Sundays. Touristy. Can be very crowded Saturdays.
- What to order
- Peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery. Non-negotiable for first-time visitors.
5Electric Mud BBQ
BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best BBQ in Toronto, smoked brisket, Brockton Village neighbourhood
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Excellent wood-smoked BBQ · Brockton Village atmosphere · Great sides
- Limitations
- Sells out of best cuts early. Brockton Village location.
- What to order
- Brisket + mac and cheese. Get there before 2pm or the best cuts are gone.
6Rol San Restaurant
Dim Sum / ChineseQuick comparison
- Best for
- Chinatown dining, dim sum, classic Cantonese, value
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Great value · Classic dim sum · Chinatown location · Reliable quality
- Limitations
- Can be noisy and crowded. Service can be rushed.
- What to order
- Har gow, siu mai, cheung fun. Classic dim sum order — can't go wrong.
7Cora's Caribbean Kitchen (Scarborough)
Caribbean Street FoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic Caribbean food, jerk chicken, Scarborough food exploration
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Authentic Caribbean flavours · Excellent jerk chicken · Scarborough neighbourhood
- Limitations
- Scarborough location requires travel. No-frills atmosphere.
- What to order
- Jerk chicken with rice and peas + fried plantain. The curry goat is also excellent.
8Golden Star Chinese Restaurant
Chinese RestaurantQuick comparison
- Best for
- Late-night Chinese food, Hong Kong-style comfort food, Chinatown
- Strengths
- 4.1★ · Late-night hours · Classic Hong Kong dishes · Chinatown location · Affordable
- Limitations
- Not the most refined experience. Can be busy.
- What to order
- BBQ pork rice, wonton soup, or congee. Classic Hong Kong comfort food.
9Sneaky Dee's
Tex-MexQuick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Toronto nachos institution, College Street, late-night comfort food
- Strengths
- 4.1★ · Legendary nachos · Since 1985 · Late-night hours · College Street atmosphere
- Limitations
- Touristy. Service can be slow when busy. Not haute cuisine.
- What to order
- The nachos — get all the toppings. The portion is massive.
10Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Thai Street FoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best Thai food in Toronto, khao soi, northern Thai cuisine, Entertainment District
- Strengths
- 4.5★ · Best Thai in Toronto · Exceptional khao soi · Authentic northern Thai recipes · Excellent service
- Limitations
- Long waits, especially on weekends. Reservations fill up fast.
- What to order
- Khao soi — it's non-negotiable. The larb and pad see ew are also excellent.
FAQ
Toronto Street Food & Food Halls — Common Questions
What is a peameal bacon sandwich?
A peameal bacon sandwich is Toronto's signature street food — back bacon rolled in cornmeal, pan-fried, and served on a kaiser bun. The cornmeal gives it a distinctive crust. Carousel Bakery at St. Lawrence Market is widely considered the best version. It's a quintessentially Toronto food experience.
Is Kensington Market good for street food?
Kensington Market is the best neighbourhood in Toronto for diverse, affordable street food. Independent vendors sell tacos, empanadas, falafel, Korean, Mexican, and more in a walkable area. Pedestrian Sundays (when cars are banned) are the best time to visit. Seven Lives on Kensington Ave has the city's best tacos.
What are Toronto's best food halls?
The Well is Toronto's most ambitious new food hall with a beautiful space and curated vendors. St. Lawrence Market (technically a market but food hall adjacent) is arguably the best, with Carousel Bakery's peameal bacon sandwiches being the standout. Kensington Market functions as an outdoor food hall.
What is the most uniquely Toronto food?
The peameal bacon sandwich at St. Lawrence Market is the most distinctly Toronto food. Peameal (back bacon rolled in cornmeal) was invented in Toronto in the early 20th century and is rarely found elsewhere. Getting one at Carousel Bakery is considered a rite of passage for visitors.
How diverse is Toronto street food?
Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and its street food reflects this perfectly. In a single afternoon you can eat Caribbean jerk chicken in Scarborough, Baja fish tacos in Kensington Market, northern Thai curry downtown, and Hong Kong congee in Chinatown. No other Canadian city matches this diversity.
🎫 Book Toronto Experiences
Tours and activities hand-picked for this guide — book with free cancellation
