Crack'd is a halal brunch spot in Toronto owned and operated by two childhood friends.

Abisheik Devasathan and Shajeeth Srinesan have known each other since the third grade. Growing up in Scarborough, the pair would often go out to eat together, sampling many different types of food in the process.

One day, while reflecting on the restaurants they had visited, Shajeeth realized that Scarborough didn't have as many brunch restaurants as the downtown core.

Abisheik also noted that the few brunch restaurants they did have lacked the "fancy, fusion" elements seen elsewhere in the city.

With this in mind, the two friends set out to create a brunch restaurant of their own.Housed in a bright, welcoming space on Markham Road, Crack'd pays homage to its name in more ways than one.

The restaurant's walls are painted in shades of yellow and white, evoking the image of a cracked egg.The dining room is also decorated with pieces of chipped crockery, further emphasizing the connection.Since opening in March of 2025, Crack'd has drawn consistent crowds. Part of this is because of the team's casual approach to customer service, but the real reason for the restaurant's popularity is its unusual menu.

"We wanted to take traditional breakfast and crack it open like an egg," Abisheik explains.

Shajeeth elaborates that many of their friends and family members have dietary restrictions that limit the types of foods they can eat. As such, making the menu halal was a high priority.Steak truffle mushroom eggs benny ($25) is a unique take on the standard eggs Benedict.

Two poached eggs rest atop a toasted English muffin, garnished with triple-A steak, truffle mushrooms and sauteed onions. Spiced home fries and spring mix are served on the side.

You can also switch from standard hollandaise sauce to spicy hollandaise sauce for a dollar extra.Chicken and waffles ($22) is a simple but satisfying dish that blends sweet, spicy and savoury flavours.

Spicy batter is used to give the waffle a little extra kick, while maple syrup is used to bring some sweetness to the dish. A crispy fried chicken breast rests on top. French toast ($18) comes with all the fixings, including blueberries, strawberries, icing sugar and whipped cream. It also comes with a side of cinnamon cream, which can be spread over the toast for extra sweetness.Cinnamon roll pancakes ($19) were introduced as part of the holiday menu, but were popular enough to be added to the main menu.

It didn't take long for me to figure out why: each of the three pancakes is packed with cinnamon chips and topped with gooey vanilla glaze, making every bite taste like a fresh cinnamon bun.The smoked salmon bagel ($19) features smoked salmon, cream cheese, onions, capers and avocado on a bagel of your choice. We went with the everything bagel, reasoning that the garlic and poppy seeds would pair well with the salty salmon. The Biscoff latte ($5.50) is a warm, creamy drink, with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. Each cup is served with a Biscoff cookie, which is perfect for dunking.The Tiramisu iced latte ($8) is topped with cocoa powder and cream, giving it the same sweet flavour as the dessert on which it was based.
Crack'd is located at 3155 Markham Rd., Unit D3.