Best of Toronto
The Best 24 Hour Restaurants in Toronto
The best 24-hour restaurants in Toronto are ones many of us have probably already passed some time in. What has to be difficult about operating an all-day, all-night joint is consistency, but the restaurants on this list seem to have the formula down pat.
Some of the restaurants here are obvious choices, close to places we stumble out of after last call and always with an all-day breakfast at the ready. But if there's one thing about Toronto, it's that we have a little something for everyone. If eggs over easy isn't your thing, how about all night mac and cheese, 24-hour a day veal parmesan or 6am butter chicken?
These are just some of Toronto's anytime-you-like-it offerings guaranteed to satisfy a craving for every hour of the day. Here is a list of the best 24-hour restaurants in Toronto.
The Lakeview
The Lakeview is the kind of place that doesn’t have to try hard to be kitschy. It’s a classic in its own right. Open since 1947 and under new ownership for a couple of years now, it’s fair to say the Lakeview has adapted to suit an evolving clientele (The Ossington Massive - 3 Eggs with house sausage, strip and peameal bacon $12). More »
7 West
The food is simple, but quiet tables and candlelit nooks will have you coming back for breakfast, lunch, drinks, dinner, or middle-of-the-night nosh on generously portioned desserts. A perfect date place, or to break up and make up, kick off or end your night. 7 West is all of those things in a 3 story Victorian, 7 steps west of Yonge. More »
Fran's
If there’s a diner in Toronto more recognizable than Fran's, I don’t know what it is. With near cult-like status amongst university students and night owl’s, Fran’s has the whole diner thing down pat at the College St. location, and a more upscale take on retro across from Massey Hall. New location opening up fall 2010, across from the Sony Centre. More »
Vesta Lunch
Since 1955, Vesta has tasted much how it looks from the outside. Quick, cheap, and delicious in the way only a 24-hour diner can be. Vesta is an Annex landmark, and service of the traditional diner menu is fast and friendly with generous portions. Come hungry, leave satisfied. More »
Commisso Bros. & Racco Italian Bakery
At first glance Commisso Bros. looks a bit like a convenience store from the outside and that’s because it is partly. But it’s also the kind of place you want to write home to Ma about, because you can get yourself a fresh veal sandwich on house baked fresh Italian bread, fresh pasta or satisfy your 3am canoli craving, all in one shot. More »
Owl of Minerva
It’s a bit hidden on a second floor in Koreatown. Apparently there are other things on the menu besides the famed Pork Bone Soup ($7), but I’m not sure what they are because that’s all anybody ever mentions when they talk about this neighbourhood's popular 24 hour spot. More »
Xe Lua
Without inciting a pho-induced war of words on where to get the most tasty, authentic etc. etc., I’d like to call attention to the fact that Xe Lua is open 24 hours, which in my books vaults it straight to the top 5, if not 3 - because when it’s 4 More »
King Palace
After relocating to Church street from some less than auspicious digs at Richmond and Sherbourne, King Palace doesn’t seem to have lost much in the way of popularity. Dozens of taxi drivers parked outside in the middle of the night must be onto something, perhaps the generous portions of naan served up fresh and hot. More »
Zet's Restaurant
It might be pushing the city limits but Zet’s is worth it if you find yourself starving and out by the airport. Huge, and I mean huge portions (could be enough for two!) of Greek food as well as burgers, breakfasts and chicken dinners are dished up lightening fast in this joint, decorated in Canada3000 memorabilia. More »
The Thompson Diner
Sure it considers itself a diner, but you won’t find a surly waitress and chipped formica here. It’s open 24 hours and the all day menu offers snazzy takes on diner classics like a $7 PB&J, and a Double Mac and Cheese with cured pancetta crisp and truffle oil ($12). More »
The Markham Station
The $4.99 all day breakfast might get you in the door of this restaurant, popular with night crawlers and the hungover alike. It’s open 365 days a year and even has it’s own Facebook fan page! 16oz t-bone classic reminiscent of that scene in the Great Outdoors where John Candy polishes off the ol’ 96’er. More »
Golden Wheat Bakery
Breads and sweets as far as the eye can see should be enough to entice you through the doors of Golden Wheat Bakery and Pastry, a Little Italy classic. Gorge yourself on platefuls of custard filled pastries, danishes and rumballs, or try out the famous grilled cheese - made with fresh baked bread, you can’t really go wrong. More »
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Proper names, such as the Sony Centre, even in an American publication would have the same spelling.
don't get me wrong I've had my fair share of Vesta grilled cheese and drunken mumblings as the sun comes up. I'm just curious what makes it the best other than it's age the the fact that it's open after 2am?
P.S. Fran's? rob already said it twice so I don't have to say anything. this is more of a simple list of places open 24 hours. I'd rather a shorter list of the "best" then including bad restaurants on it.
Good post otherwise!
You don't even explain why some of these places are good - go to the Lakeview because they have an evolving clientele? Because they have a big breakfast? Whoop-dee-fucking-do. Their food is not good. Even servers I've met have told me that outside of the restaurant. It might look nice, but come on.
As for Fran's (a near cult-status?) and Vesta, you've got to be kidding.
This isn't a "Best Of' list, it's a list. It's like writing about "The Best Places to Drop Off Chemical Waste" - much like 24-hour dining, it's usually only done out of absolute necessity.
I mean, for long-time readers such as yourself, who no doubt return day-in and day-out for these insightful little nuggets of information and recommendation, I can understand you'd be privy to the intricate, reader-based editorial workings of BlogTO. For the Luddites such as myself, please forgive my carelessness.
Drink less.
This place has the worst food, service and patrons I've ever experienced. I'm not even that picky.
BlogTO's commenters really scare me sometimes.
Now Vesta Lunch... ugh. That place, as others have pointed out, is just awful.
I was far too arrogant in mocking the rules and strict regularities of a daily blog that seems to pride itself on the casualness of its style and content. Alas, for in my shortsightedness, I assumed that one wouldn't need to traipse through such secretive informational roadblocks.
You've set me straight, old chum. I eagerly look forward to the next pointless "reader recommended" list as it comes up. Perhaps one on The Best Mediocre Variety Stores in Riverdale? or maybe the 10 Bestest Ladder Retailers in the City.
Perhaps you could write a list of the Ten Most Sensitive Posters on BlogTO! I bet you a scrumptious plate of Lakeviewian pancakes you'd be top 3 at least...
Oh, and 7 West when with a date and looking for somewhere at 3 am to grab some food and drinks with intimate surroundings.
I wish whenever someone on blogto would drop a negative comment on these list, they would put up one place as an alternative.
Just so you know, the links for the restaurants don't work. They simply link to the list.
Any site that seeks to be a legitimate alternative to mainstream media should either employ writers that grasp a basic grade-school level of Canadian grammar/spelling, or hire a copy editor who does. This, coupled with the original (since corrected) American spellings, smacks of laziness.
I am happy that the voters are smart enough to vote for something outside the city limits.
I know NONE of YOU would ever set foot in McDonald's, but I've noticed a lot of them are OPEN 24hrs. (not just the Drive Thru)
...the one I like, is on Avenue Rd. south of Wilson!
The best place to get chinese grub at any hour.