Top 10 Breakfast And Brunch Spots In King West, Toronto
King West, a hopping neighbourhood filled with restaurants, shops, and bars, has an abundance of spots offering breakfast and brunch that can satisfy any craving. This guide ventures into every nook and cranny of this downtown enclave, listing the 10 best restaurants for the perfect morning meal, from lemon ricotta pancakes to chicken and waffles.
1. Beast Restaurant
Restaurant, Contemporary
In the heart of King West lies Beast Restaurant, which has a brunch menu packed with flavor and a richness. Sweet and savory are mixed ever so elegantly in dishes like the challah French toast, which is topped with duck confit, or the breakfast sandwich, with grilled pork belly, pickled onions, sweet and smokey mustard, crispy lettuce, and a fried egg all piled high on an apple fritter. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for the famous ‘beastwich,’ fried chicken, pimento cheese, and a fried egg on top of a buttermilk biscuit and topped with sausage gravy. Simply put, you have to eat here, and don’t miss out on Rachelle’s Doughnuts, which are made in-house every weekend.
2. Lisa Marie
Bar, Bistro, Gastropub, Restaurant, Food Truck, Contemporary
Just off trendy Queen West, Lisa Marie serves up street food-inspired brunch with a fusion flare like lamb shank hash, porchetta tostada, and nacho tuna ceviche. The walls of this local restaurant are simple yet inviting with the soul and vibe of a pop-up. Go for their spin on chicken and waffles (fried cornish hen and jalapeño cornbread waffles), or dive into the bacon explosion Benedict, smoked bacon ‘explosion’ patties, two poached eggs, and a spicy hollandaise all on brioche. Don’t miss the pad Thai fries, Fidel Gastro’s most popular item, or the double pancake pork burgers, which are two pork patties, crispy lettuce, melted cheese, and sliced fresh tomato all piled on top of pancake buns and drizzled with maple syrup.
3. Portland Variety
Portland Variety
On the corner of King and Portland, you will find Portland Variety. Glass windows, modern décor, and hotshot baristas serving up pastries, fresh pressed juices, and dynamite coffee greet you as you enter through the door. The whipped house-made ricotta is always a hit, served with spice roasted plums, pistachios, and grilled sourdough, and is the perfect starter. Go for the fan-favorite lemon ricotta pancakes, fluffy flapjacks topped with a blueberry compote and a cream cheese mousse; or, opt for the eggs benedict served with prosciutto on a freshly baked croissant and creamy hollandaise. If you’re on a health kick, go for the smashed avocado toast topped with soft scrambled eggs, the perfect melt in your mouth combination. Don’t forget to pair your meal with a craft beer, specialty cocktail, or the house-made sangria.
Portland Variety, 587 King St W, Toronto, ON, Canada, +1 416 368 5151
4. Luckee Restaurant
Bar, Restaurant, Chinese
5. School Toronto
School Toronto
Located just inside the hip and young Liberty Village, School Toronto is a must visit for any brunch lover. This spot serves brunch seven days a week, so brunch goers can do their thing on any day they please. The menu includes dishes like buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, golden hash brown poutine, and cheesy bacon French toast, a glorious marriage of the sweet and savory. If you’re in the mood for the simply sweet, go for the ‘black ’n’ blue flapjacks stacked high,’ with a blackberry-blueberry sauce and brown sugar butter, or the s’more-inspired Belgian waffles topped with torched marshmallows, dark chocolate, and graham cracker crumbs. The inside is simple, with dim lighting, chalkboard-lined walls, dark wood, and exposed brick.
School Toronto, 70 Fraser Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada, +1 416 588 0005
6. Lou Dawg’s B-B-Q
Restaurant, BBQ, Canadian
7. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
Restaurant, American
8. Zoë’s
Bistro, Restaurant, Canadian, Fast Food
9. Colette Grand Café
Bistro, Diner, Canadian
10. Thompson Diner
Diner, Hotel Restaurant, Canadian, American
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