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During a conversation regarding arts, food and culture around Toronto, the name “Scarborough” might not pop up quite as fast as its residents would like. Regardless, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is teeming with popular destinations such as the Toronto Zoo, Rouge Park and the Scarborough Bluffs. Outside of the places garnering a copious amount of footfall, there also exist quite a few hidden gems when it comes to food, shopping or even just hanging out and grabbing a coffee.
Scarborough, which was named after a town in North Yorkshire, is bordered by Victoria Park Avenue to the west, Steeles to the north, the city of Pickering to the east and Lake Ontario to the south. Being home to some of Toronto’s last farms, the city is greener than any other part of Toronto.
Since the end of the Second World War, Scarborough has been a popular destination for new immigrants in Canada, making it one of the most diverse and multicultural areas in the Greater Toronto Area. The most commonly found ethnic groups include Caribbean, Indian, Sri Lankan, Chinese and African. This kind of diversity lends itself to the type of food, shopping experiences and hangout spots that the city has to offer.
It’s a city built on diversity, vibrancy, acceptance and a shared sense of community. People flock east to get authentic foods from across the world and get in touch with nature in a way that downtown Toronto cannot offer.
4810 Sheppard Ave E
Knowing the sheer amount of West Indian folks, especially Trinidadians, that call Scarborough home, it is no surprise to see a roti shop as one of the best places to eat while in the city.
Mona’s Roti first opened business almost four decades ago in San Fernando on the island of Trinidad, becoming one of the most popular destinations not only in the city but nationwide. In 2003, after two decades of dazzling the twin-island nation with its tasty offerings, the family-owned business first opened its doors in Scarborough. In a short period, this roti shop became one of the go-to destinations for Caribbean cuisine in the city.
Since its first days, Mona’s has garnered and assembled quite a loyal client base who have been mesmerized by the curries that the roti shop has to offer, owing to its open-concept kitchen which allows the patrons to witness the theatrics and have their meals cooked just how they desire.
With its affordable prices; lip-smacking offerings like jerk chicken, goat and oxtail rotis; and a never-ending showering of love, Mona’s Roti is a true Scarborough institution.
4020 Finch Ave E
More high-end than the word “clubhouse” alludes to, Fishman Lobster Clubhouse is a Scarborough institution that has been serving consumers heaping — and we mean HEAPING — plates of Chinese seafood.
Seated in a large hall filled with endless rows of tables, the customers are surrounded by large water tanks filled with crabs and lobsters, waiting to be picked by you for a future meal.
While prices might be a little steep, much like the teetering towers of crustaceans on one’s plate, you do get a lot of food in return. From large family dinners for about 10 people that go much beyond $1,000 to scaled-down portions for smaller groups, Fishman Lobster Clubhouse is a great spot to go to with a posse. It’s easier to slay a lobster mountain with a trusty band of compatriots by your side.
If all of that wasn’t enough, Fishman Lobster Clubhouse is also one of Shang-Chi, a.k.a. Simu Liu’s favourite places to eat in Toronto — make of that what you will.
5631 Steeles Ave E #5
Over 500 kilometres away from Canada’s smoked meat capital Montreal, SumiLicious exhibits that same passion for the delicacy and hopes to spread its gift of tender and smoky meat across the GTA.
The love that goes into preparing every single piece of meat is evident from the first bite itself. With the meat cooked to juicy perfection with just the right amount of char and smokiness, the deli’s signature blend of spices sits on your palate in perfect harmony and provides you with an elevated smoked meat experience that you’re bound to come back for.
Whether you go for a sit-down meal or pop in for a quick takeaway option, the quality of the food never deters. The restaurant is committed to providing customers with only the highest quality deli meat.
SumiLicious offers a large variety of dishes, from deli sandwiches and smoked meat plates to poutine and even meat by the pound. In classic deli fashion, the sides include fries, coleslaw, pickles, olives and even peppers, giving the consumer plenty of options to create their meal.
And don’t worry, given the demographics of Scarborough, all the smoked meat, chicken and steak options are halal as well, so you can devour without having to worry about anything — except maybe your cholesterol.
325 Bamburgh Cir A103
Located on a corner in Bamburgh Circle Plaza in Scarborough, walking into Oo-Kinza Fish House feels like you’ve been transported to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the streets of Japan. Adorned with colourful paintings and serving dishes that complement the decor, this joint serves premium seafood like different sushi, lobster and even the prized uni, or sea urchin. Outside of just a place serving meals, Oo-Kinza also acts as a seafood marketplace where you can buy available fish by weight.
While it might have had humble beginnings as an eight-seater restaurant reminiscent of a Japanese alleyway, it has blossomed into something much larger. Outside of being a go-to spot for seafood, the joint has expanded and has transformed from Oo-Kinza Fish House to Kin Kin O-Ka-Ne. Now a long, vibrant passageway spotted with multiple made-up storefronts akin to the Dotonbori region of Osaka; the facade immediately takes any entrant from the eastern part of Toronto to the west of Japan.
1760 Ellesmere Rd
The hub for South Indian and Sri Lankan food in Scarborough, Canbe Foods has been serving the people of the GTA since its inception in 1994. A takeout-only joint, it features a large assortment of dishes from the southern part of the Indian subcontinent and even features one of Toronto’s best samosas.
This no-frills spot can always be found with a line during lunchtime — a testament to its taste and price. Even with inflation raising the prices for most things, a few dollars can still go a very long way at Canbe Foods, ensuring a hearty meal or a successful frozen food haul without breaking the bank. People might come for affordable prices, but they stay for the taste.
From kottu roti to chilli chicken and from spinach and cheese samosas to mutton rolls, the list of Canbe’s offerings stretches far and wide. It also has one of the best South Asian frozen food sections, with the freezers teeming with bags upon bags of different samosas, onion rolls and more. Featured on the far wall are shelves stocked high with sweet and savoury snacks, just waiting to be devoured.
While Canbe Foods is housed in some humble digs, it lets the food do the talking. And with a lineup to be found on most days, it’s clear that the people are listening to whatever the food has to say.
2570 Birchmount Rd
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