People in Toronto already have mixed feelings about Canada's first Eggslut location
It's only been a week since viral U.S. breakfast chain Eggslut opened its first Canadian location in Toronto, and the city's residents are already sharing some deeply mixed reviews.
It was the crack heard around the world — or, maybe just downtown Toronto — when the first egg hit the pan at Eggslut's much-anticipated Toronto location on Thursday, April 30.
After spending the past 15 years building itself up to sensation status south of the border, the breakfast chain, lauded for its fulsome breakfast sandwiches centred around eggs served scrambled, poached and fried, caused quite the stir upon opening its King West imprint.
The reviews are in, though, and not everyone agrees that Eggslut is all it was cracked up to be.
Eggslut - thoughts?
by u/FromHereFromThere in FoodToronto
In a Reddit thread asking for members' thoughts on the new restaurant location, users were quick to criticize the chain's, admittedly steep, prices, especially compared to comparable local restaurants.
"[N]ever tried them. I'm sure it taste[s] great. But I'm not spending $35 for breakfast. Go support other local places like Dad's, Gold standard, Sleepy petes or even egg club," one user comments.
"I don't really understand what's so special about it. It's eggs meat and cheese on a brioche bun. The hashbrowns were crazy salty and I LOVE salt so that's saying something. I certainly won't be rushing to go back since it was pretty expensive and there's much better breakfast sandwich options in the city," another writes.
The restaurant's Google reviews tell a similar story.
"[I] paid $15 for 1 egg, 1 slice of cheese, sausage patty and a salad - the no bun option. It [is] way too expensive for one egg with nothing unique except for the brand, meanwhile EGGCLUB serves double the quantity for $13, this place is def OVERATED," one review reads.
In a statement, a representative from Eggslut tells blogTO that, as with any major opening, some level of discourse such as this is to be expected and explains why the prices at the restaurant are what they are.
"We understand that pricing is always part of the dialogue when a new restaurant opens, especially in a city with such a diverse and competitive food scene. At Eggslut, pricing reflects a deliberate commitment to quality at every level — from sourcing to execution," the statement reads.
"Eggslut uses high-quality eggs, fresh-baked brioche buns delivered daily, and thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, alongside a made-to-order approach focused on consistency, flavour, and quality."
The statement goes on to explain that Eggslut "isn't necessarily trying to be the lowest price point in the category, but rather to offer a more deliberate and quality-focused version of a familiar format that still feels indulgent and accessible."
It should be noted that, on the other hand, the restaurant has been getting a fair share of positive attention, too.
One five-star Google review claims that the staff were "all super kind and inviting," proclaiming them to be "on top of their game."
"The Fairfax with bacon is a must try honestly. The stuff is friendly and atmosphere is great," writes another.
Regardless of whether the reviews have been glowing or grumpy, Eggslut tells blogTO that they still see the immediate response to the restaurant as a positive one.
"We're grateful for the response so far and are excited to continue welcoming Toronto guests in to experience it for themselves."
If you're eager to test it out for yourself, you can visit Eggslut at 545 King St. W. You didn't hear it from me, but there's a Yonge and Dundas location in the works, set to open this summer, too.
Fareen Karim
