Where to eat in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood for $15 or less

The Annex has historically always been a very important part of Toronto: one of the city's premier neighbourhoods for architecture, celebrity homes, UofT professors, and iconic landmarks like Lee's Palace and the ever-so memeable (now departed) Fancy Induced Burger.

Something many turn a blind eye to, though, is the neighbourhood's food scene. Bordered by neighbourhoods like Little Italy and Koreatown, it can be tough to realize that just a few steps further could yield just as tasty results.

Not only that, but you can fill your belly for less than an hour of minimum wage work, all while exploring the beauty of the Annex as you hop from place to place.

After spending the last five years living in Toronto's Annex, I have now made my departure to Little Italy. It's less than a 10-minute walk from any of these spots, though, which means if you check them out, I might be there to give you recommendations in person.

Until then, here are the best eats in the Annex under $15.  

Daisy May's

This tiny slice of heaven popped up in the Annex, replacing the dearly loved Grapefruit Moon. It's a quaint, cozy, nostalgic spot that feels like walking into your grandma's kitchen — breakfast and liquor (maybe we had different grandmas... mine was awesome). 

A favourite among many is the breakfast sandwich. Standing at $11, it's got all the fixings you could ever need for a quick and filling morning bite: an English muffin blanketed with American cheese, fresh chives, manchego, garlic aioli, pickles, pickled jalapeños, and their house-made hot sauce. 

Big Way Hot Pot Bloor

This one you have to be smart about; the price is up to you. 

A personal favourite for late-night bites is Big Way Hot Pot, a do-it-yourself hot pot station with endless possibilities and a complimentary ice cream (usually either matcha or taro) at the end.

A perfect stop on your way home from the bar, an activity with friends, or just because you don't want to cook dinner tonight, make your own bowl and test your luck trying to get it under $15, with prices starting at just under $4 per 100 grams.

Cong Ca Phe Toronto

Here's another quick and easy classic that will provide you with two completely different options. 

The first is their coconut cream coffee; to me, it's more of a dessert than it is a caffeinated beverage. It reminds me of being 11 at the mall with my mom, begging her to let me get a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, except it's the adult version — rich Vietnamese coffee blended with creamy coconut for $7.85. Granted, it's not food.

If you're hungry rather than in need of something to tame your sweet tooth, Cong Caphe also makes a mean banh mi. Choose between their grilled pork with creamy mayo or lemongrass chicken banh mi with basil sauce, both for a forgiving $13.75.

Papamio's

If you need an option where you can eat half, unbutton your pants and then ask for a to-go container to finish the rest later, look no further.

Here, Italian sandwiches that drip out of the bun as the sandwich artists load them up to their fullest potential provide you with a wonderful bang for your buck. 

They have four sandwiches at $14.75: the All-Day Breakfast Sandwich dressed in Canadian back bacon, two eggs, tomato sauce, and hot sauce; Luigi's Meatball Sandwich; the Royal Bismarck Pork Schnitzel Sandwich topped with an egg; or the Succulent Chicken Sandwich. 

If you are really trying to stay under the $15 limit, Papmio's offers a hot Italian sandwich topped off with Italian sausage for $10.95.

First & Last Coffee

I still remember the day this spot landed in the neighbourhood, blessing the Annex with an adorable cafe perfect for coffee meet-ups or a sanctuary for the work-from-home folks. 

On many early morning days that had me rushing out the door after I hit the snooze button one too many times, the team's Sammie and breakfast burrito have been my saving grace. 

The breakfast burrito is loaded with scrambled egg, cheddar, salsa, and black beans for $9.25, while the Sammie consists of a fried egg, cheddar, pickles, pesto mayo, bacon optional, on an English muffin for $8.25, both panini-pressed to the perfect warmth.

Future Bistro

If you've ever been walking around the neighbourhood or haven't been sleeping under a rock, you know this is the place to be.

A draught beer on the patio on any beautiful summer's day after work, or the delectable selection of pastries and baked goods when you need a little pick-me-up, are staples for the average Annex resident.

You can get a hefty breakfast plate here for only $13.15, which is virtually unheard of in the city, with three eggs, toast, and what I would coin as some of my favourite home fries in the city. Welcome to your new favourite spot for every meal of the day.

Pizzeria Badiali Markham Street

There isn't much I need to say about Badiali; Toronto loves it, and if you haven't heard about it, you must have just moved to the city. 

Coined by many Toronto residents, and even some of the blogTO team, as the best pizza in the city, you could get away with getting two of their signature slices and still keeping within the $15 budget.

Ranging from $5 to $8 per slice, enjoy a classic cheese, margherita, or pepperoni pizza or opt in for something a little more wild with a cacio e pepe, burrata marinara or the grandma pie, which is only available at the newly minted Mirvish Village location.

Schmaltz Appetizing

Bagel spots are popping up everywhere, with new fun twists and never-before-seen elements being brought to Toronto, but this is one tried-and-true spot that will always welcome you in with open arms. 

Schmaltz is my bagel shop winner any day of the week. Always welcoming and always leaving my stomach happy, I have never been disappointed by the art they create (yes, if you ask me, bagel sandwiches are an art form).

The Kvetch is garnished with a fried egg, cheddar, cream cheese, tomato, and spiced up with the tang of mustard, starting off your day right with a full belly and only $13.99 taken from your pocket. 

Roti Cuisine of India

If you've ever been so lucky as to get off at one of the city's most beautiful subway stations, Dupont, after you've used your eyes and admired the beautiful artwork that cascades along the walls, switch your senses and use your nose. 

What's that smell, you may ask? Only the one and only Roti Cuisine of India. 

Just short of $15, this spot's ever-so-classic chicken curry roti, cooked with oven-roasted onion, clocks in at $14.99, leaving you enough left over for dinner and lunch the next day.

George's Deli & BBQ

If you haven't noticed from this list yet, I truly believe sandwiches in all forms are delicacies that are too often overlooked. If you aren't into all the fancy fixings (how could you not be?), you might as well dip your toes into a classic from our French Canadian neighbours.

This leads me to my final suggestion for you: Montreal smoked meat sandwich for $11.25. The friendly team will have you giggling and kicking your feet, and if you go enough, they'll know your order even before you do.

A stack of smoked meat piled so high you'll wonder if your eyes are bigger than your stomach and topped off with mustard — welcome home.