CHEAP EATS
TORONTO
A HAND PICKED selection of RESTAURANTS FROM AROUND THE CITY, offering DELICIOUS MEALS for ABOUT $15/PERSON
Last Updated: APRIL 17/23
- Hand Bites
- TORONTO STAPLE
- PORTIONS
- Hand Bites
- UNDER $10
- EXPERIENCE
KNOWN FOR: THE VEAL SANDWICH. IT COMES SAUCY, SO DOn'T FORGET TO GRAB EXTRA NAPKINS!
KNOWN FOR: INCREDIBLE SELECTION OF TASTY FILLED BUNS, INCLUDING CURRY, BBQ PORK, & HOT DOG!
- Hand Bites
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- UNDER $10
- Hand Bites
- UNDER $10
- EXPERIENCE
KNOWN FOR: SMALL HOUSE WITH A VERY KIND HUMAN MAKING SIMPLE BANH MI. THE PATé IS EVERYTHING.
KNOWN FOR: SIMPLE PIZZA SLICES, ELEVATED WITH DELICIOUS SHAWARMA PILED ON TOP.
DAVE FAVE
- Hand Bites
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- LOTS OF OPTIONS
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- WORTH THE HYPE
- UNDER $10
KNOWN FOR: GReAT HUMAN MAKING GREAT SNACK FOOD. NOTHING FANCY, WHICH IS A GOOD THING here.
KNOWN FOR: MOMOS MADE BY INCREDIBLE HUMANS. TRY THE POTATO, and the HOT SAUCE!
DAVE FAVE
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- PORTIONS
- CLASSIC CHINESE FOOD
- Hand Bites
- UNIQUE ITEMS
- UNDER $10
KNOWN FOR: ANOTHER GREAT CHINESE BAKERY. AFFORDABLE AND HIGH QUALITY.
KNOWN FOR: BEING THE NICEST FAMILY ON THE BLOCK. CLASSIC FOOD MADE WITH LOVE AND CARE.
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- HIDDEN GEM
- FREE SIDES
- TORONTO STAPLE
- HAND BITES
- AFFORDABLE
KNOWN FOR: INCREDIBLE FREE SIDES WITH ANY ORDER. THE SPICY RICE CAKES ARE UNIQUE AND DELICIOUS.
KNOWN FOR: AFFORDABLE, OLD SCHOOL BURGER JOINT. COMBO IS STILL UNDER $15, GReAT ANY TIME.
DAVE FAVE
RECENT PRICE INCREASE
OFFICIALLY RE-OPENED!!
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- PORTIONS
- TORONTO STAPLE
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- FILLING
- HIDDEN GEM
KNOWN FOR: QUALITY INDIAN ROTI. BUTTER CHICKEN IS A CLASSIC, BUT DON'T SLEEP ON THE DAL + PAKORA!
KNOWN FOR: THEIR FAMOUS fried PANZEROTTI. GET SAUCE ON THE SIDE, and ENJOY!
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- PORTIONS
- HOME COOKING
- CHINATOWN STAPLE
- HAND BITES
- AFFORDABLE
KNOWN FOR: HIGH QUALITY ROAST CHICKEN, AND THOSE LIL POTATO BALLS EVERYONE LOVES.
KNOWN FOR: CHINATOWN STAPLE SERVING UP BAHN MI. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG.
LOCATION UPDATED
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- TORONTO CLASSIC
- AWARD WINNING PATTY
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- FILLING
- AUTHENTIC
KNOWN FOR: SOME OF THE BEST BEEF PATTIES IN THE CITY. YOU WOn'T BE DISAPPOINTED.
KNOWN FOR: THE BEST PUPUSAS IN THE CITY. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED. PERSONAL FAV.
DAVE FAVE
- Hand Bites
- ITEMS UNDER $10
- EAST END
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- PORTIONS
- UNDER $10
KNOWN FOR: SERVICING THE EAST END WITH QUALITY SAVOURY BAKED GOODS AT GREAT PRICES.
KNOWN FOR: HUGE PORTIONS OF AFFORDABLE FILIPINO HOME COOKING. GET THE SPAGHETTI.
- FAMOUS JERK
- HIGH QUALITY
- HAND BITES
- UNIQUE
- LESSER-KNOWN
- FILLING
KNOWN FOR: THE OKONOMYAKI, A SAVOURY CABBAGE PANCAKE TOPPED WITH YOUR FAV PROTEIN. GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL!
KNOWN FOR: HOMEMADE ROTI SHELLS, INCREDIBLE FLAVOURS, AND THE BEST DOUBLES ON THE PLANET.
DAVE FAVE
- Hand Bites
- ITEMS UNDER $10
- DISCOUNT
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- PORTIONS
- Experience
KNOWN FOR: DISCOUNTED COOKIES AND SNACKS FROM PEEK FREANS AND MONDELEZ. GREAT PRICES!
KNOWN FOR: SUPER AFFORDABLE AND GREAT QUALITY DIM SUM. FROZEN BULK AVAILABLE TOO!
DAVE FAVE
RE-OPEN!
- HOME COOKING
- portions
- lesser-known
- UNDER $10
- BULK ORDERS
- HAND BITES
KNOWN FOR: INCREDIBLY KIND FAMILY MAKING DELIGHTFUL FILIPINO FOOD. GREAT PLACE TO EXPERIMENT.
KNOWN FOR: HIGH QUALITY BULK SAMOSAS. DO NOT FORGET TO GET THE TAMARIND SAUCE. NEXT LEVEL.
- STARTS AT $10
- LESSER-KNOWN
- REAL BBQ SMOKER
- LESSER-KNOWN
- HAND MADE
- HIDDEN GEM
KNOWN FOR: A BIG SMOKER OUTSIDE, WELCOMING YOUR TASTEBUDS TO A NO FRILLS JERK EXPERIENCE.
KNOWN FOR: Tucked away spot for low key dumplings and chinese fare.
- HOME COOKING
- portions
- FOOD COURT!
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- LESSER-KNOWN
- QUALITY
KNOWN FOR: SIMPLE FOOD COURT OFFERING A VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE AND DELICIOUS LATIN DISHES.
KNOWN FOR: My PERSONAL FAVOURITE PIZZA SLICE. THERE.
I SAid it.
DAVE FAVE
- STARTS AT $10
- FILLING
- HEALTHY
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- FILLING
- LESSER-KNOWN
KNOWN FOR: OFFERING PEA SOUP WHILE YOU WAIT. GREAT SERVICE!
KNOWN FOR: LOW KEY OPERATION OFFERING DELICIOUS AUTHENTIC MEALS.
- portions
- KENSINGTON MAINSTAY
- HAND BITES
- FAMILY-OPERATED
- LESSER-KNOWN
- QUALITY
KNOWN FOR: BUSY SPOT IN THE MARKET OFFERING LARGE QUANTITIES OF SMALL TACOS.
KNOWN FOR: SMALL OPERATION MAKING UNIQUE JERk. TRY THE CHICKEN!
DAVE FAVE
- freezer food
- PORTIONS
- heavy discounts
- CHINATOWN STAPLE
- FILLING
- HAND MADE
KNOWN FOR: HEAVILY DISCOUNTED FREEZER FOODS. INCLUDING NORMALLY HIGH-PRICED VEGAN FARE.
KNOWN FOR: watch as they make dumplings in house with love. try the shrimp/egg/chive.
DAVE FAVE
- homemade
- FILLING
- authentic
KNOWN FOR: quality European meals made from scratch in house, alongside baked goods.
PIZZA COMING SOON
Toronto has so many options for great dining, and that includes A number of diverse, DELICIOUS, AND HUMBLE spots, opened and MAINTAINED by incredibly talented humans from around the world.
BUT thanks to capitalism, and inflation (Thanks galen), many of us can't always afford expensive meals out.
so i decided to create this list from all the years I've been exploring the city, WITH A focus on good people making delicious food at reasonable priceS. every restauranT has been hand picked and AT THE TIME OF MY LAST VISIT, has a menu item that will fill you up for AROUND $15 all in (AND IF THAT's changed, THEY STILL DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT)!
ABOUT ME:
I LOVE FOOD MADE BY KIND PEOPLE AT RESTAURANTS THAT TELL A STORY.
i ALSO love the arts... live music, theatre, drag, galleries, wholesome video games, AND that bite of food that makes you HUM A LITTLE TUNE AND wiggle in your seat.
I CREATE THINGS WITH AND FOR PALS, PLAY SOFTBALL, TALK ABOUT FEELINGS, RIDE BIKES, And WRITE LISTS THAT become WEBSITES. I LOVE MY MUM AND MY FRIENDS AND YOU(!) FOR READING THIS.
this site was made TO help YOU find A new favourite bite, all while supporting local businesses. And that's WHAT WE IN THE BIZ CALL a WIN WIN, babbyyyyyyy!
*If you want to support local businesses, please consider these.
AND HEY, I'd love to hear FROM YOU! TELL ME YOUR FAV SPOT, YOUR LOCAL GO-TO, OR ANYTHING YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THESE DAYS.
THIS CONTENT IS FREE BUT IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT, PLEASE BUY ME A CROISSANT! YOU CAN DO SO HERE.
THANKS FOR READING AND PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR PALS, your LOVERS, and your Pets.
Dave Lock
special thanks to kendra thompson and isabella parks for their KEEN eyes and ongoing support, and to every human i've ever sat across from at a TABLE.