An East Asian Food Tour along Yonge Street

Treat your taste buds to yummy Pan-Asian snacks, coffee and bubble tea as you stroll down Canada’s longest street.

Canada’s longest street may also be one of its most delicious. With its wealth of East Asian eateries and unique neighbourhood history (the circa-1960s counterculture mecca is also the main drag of the annual Gay Pride Parade), Yonge Street between Dundas Street West and Bloor Street is the perfect avenue to eat and explore.

Start your tour outside Dundas subway station, home to Yonge-Dundas Square and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre mall.

Yonge-Dundas Square

This public space is surrounded by bright LED signs and pulses with energy during free concerts and other events. Across the street, the Eaton Centre, downtown’s premiere shopping mall boasts 230+ shops and services.

Walking north, you’ll hit World Food Market. This cluster of multicultural food stall vendors is across the street from Ryerson University’s Student Learning Centre at Yonge and Gould streets.

Start your pan-Asian feast with Nepalese momos from Karma’s Kitchen. Dig into Korean street food from Go Cup, home to crowd-pleasers like BBQ shrimp over rice, stir-fried veggies and kimchi. Or make your Instagram pop with the night market-style grilled squid skewer from Vietlicious—an entire squid, lovingly charred and served on a stick.

Bubble tea alert!

Don’t miss Taiwanese-style bubble tea at Tiger Sugar, Coco Fresh Tea & Juice or The Alley.

Carlton Street

After that starter course, get moving to make room for more food! Strolling north, look up at the buildings above the storefronts. Yonge is a hodgepodge of architectural styles, including Georgian, Italianate, Romanesque, Art Moderne, international—and beyond.

One of the unique things about Yonge is its quirky mix of retailers, which include indie clothing shops, games and electronics, books and more, including a few erotica boutiques that nod to Yonge’s decades-past risqué years. More recently, Yonge has been revitalized by an array of East Asian eateries and shops catering to locals and expats, including students from overseas.

The strip of Yonge between Carlton and Bloor is particularly rich in intriguing shops and food stops. Find J-beauty bath, body and baby-care staples at Rikuriku Tokyo (also known as Reiwatakiya). There’s more K-beauty at Pinky Floy and cool Korean candies and convenience foods at Galleria Supermarket.

Ready for more food?

Chow down on a baoger or the signature fried chicken from Monga Fried Chicken, a popular Taiwanese chain.

Jump on the K-hot dog trend with a battered, deep-fried frank from Chung Chun Rice Dog. The deluxe dawgs feature fillings like melted cheese or squid ink.

And finally, dessert.

If light-as-air cream puffs filled with matcha, vanilla, or Earl Grey cream are your jam, don’t miss Japanese patisserie Bloom Cafe.

Or try the custard-packed cube croissants or “raspberry bombs” at Kream Toronto, home to a variety of toothsome sweet and savoury treats.

Alternatively, consider a liquid dessert at Peacher Peacher —fresh strawberries blended with cold green tea and topped with whipped cheese foam, for instance.