Budget BITES
Here are four places where you can find a good, filling lunch for less than $10
Nowadays, finding lunch for less than $10 is as rare as a weekend without subway closures. But good, filling meals can still be had around the city — if you know where to look. We’re not talking about the big fast-food chains (the deals just aren’t there anymore!), but rather small, independent takeout shops that may not have a splashy storefront or slick online presence, or any online presence at all, but nonetheless have gained loyal followings through word of mouth. Here are four of my favourites.
Corner Crepe Co.’s jian bing
This easy-to-miss takeout window next to a Burger King in Chinatown has become popular with students and nearby office workers, thanks to its affordable street snack that is enough for lunch on its own.
Typically eaten for breakfast, the Chinese crepes are always made to order, starting with an eggy wheat batter spread thinly on a griddle then wrapped around crispy baocui (similar to fried wonton wrappers), shredded lettuce and a squirt of hoisin. You can ask for a bit of hot sauce, too. Add-ons include sausage and shredded potato, but the base crepe for $7 is quite hefty on its own. It’s a savoury, sweet, spicy, crispy and chewy hand-held delight.
Where to get it Corner Crepe Co. is at 267 College St., Unit 5, at Spadina Avenue. It is closed Sundays. It is not on delivery apps, and there is no website.
Brothers Pizza and Wings’ chicken biryani
This halal pizzeria and fried chicken takeout joint in Pape Village also has a small menu of Afghani kebabs and biryani that’s worth a trip. For just $7.50, you’ll get golden, fragrant basmati rice piled high on a paper plate, concealing fork-tender, bone-in dark meat underneath. The biryani is not sweat-inducing spicy, but I’d recommend ordering a drink on the side, and the accompanying raita (cucumber-yogurt sauce) provides a cooling, sweet, tart and herbal contrast to the heat. Where to get it Brothers Pizza and Wings is at 976 Pape Ave., Unit A, at Floyd Avenue. It is on Uber Eats, or you can order for pickup and delivery directly from the website.
North Pole Bakery’s tomato focaccia
Open since 1974, this little Italian bakery on the Danforth has a daily hot table of softball-sized arancini, pizza slices and weekly specials; on a recent visit I found seafood risotto. But one of the highlights is the $5 focaccia, which is essentially a cross between a personal pan pizza and a supermarket pizza bun that can be eaten on the go. The fluffy bread is dotted with blistered tomatoes, which add a sweet acidity, and drizzled with olive oil, giving it a lush finish.
Where to get it North Pole Bakery is at 1210 Danforth Ave., at Greenwood Avenue. It is closed Sundays. It is not on delivery apps.
Mister Yummy’s stir-fried vegetables and tofu on rice
If you’re heading to the Roncesvalles strip, check out the Crossways complex right across from the Dundas West subway station. Inside this mini mall is a long-standing no-frills Korean spot serving rice dishes, barbecued meats and noodles. For $8.25, you can get a heaping mound of crunchy vegetables — mostly bean sprouts, broccoli and carrots — and tofu stir-fried in a spicy and sweet chili sauce over steamed rice. There are also meat options. It’s getting harder to find a lunch under $10 that is veggie-forward and isn’t deep-fried, but here’s one spot to hit up.
Where to get it Mister Yummy’s is inside The Crossways mall at 2304 Dundas St. W., at Bloor Street West. It is closed Sundays. It is on Uber Eats. There is no website.