Are you new to Toronto’s east end and not sure where to order food? As someone who lived in the west end of Toronto and then downtown for many years, I had to discover where to order take-out in my new neighbourhood when I moved here eight years ago. I have tried many of the restaurants in Leslieville, some of which, sadly, did not survive the Covid lockdowns. I want to share with you some of the best take out restaurants in Toronto’s east end including Leslieville, Riverdale and the Upper Beaches.
La Famiglia On The Danforth
If you live in The Beaches, you may be familiar with La Famiglia On The Danforth. They make the most delicious New York-style pizza, with a super thin crust. This is the perfect pizza for me since I try to restrict my carb intake. If you’re not craving ‘za, La Famiglia On The Danforth offers other Italian favourites such as lasagna, ravioli, linguini, spaghetti and hot subs. La Famiglia On The Danforth is located at 2318 Danforth Avenue. You can place an order through SkipTheDishes or Uber Eats.
Cumin Fine Indian Kitchen
Many Toronto east-enders rave about the food at Cumin Fine Indian Kitchen and I am one of them! We have ordered from Cumin Kitchen a few times and each time the food has been delicious. One of my favourite items is the Pakora Platter that comes with Onion Bhaji (fried onion fritters in a chickpea batter), samosas, kabobs and Aloo Tikka. We also enjoy their Royal Tandoori Shrimp – Black Tiger Shrimps in a yogurt chili-garlic sauce. For a vegan option, try their Channa Masala – a blend of chickpeas, tomatoes and garam masala. Make sure you order their garlic naan as it is crispy and light. The portions are ample for the price. Cumin Kitchen is located at 1820 Danforth Avenue (at Coxwell Avenue), 647-748-5522 and is open Mon to Sun. You can order directly from the restaurant or from Skip The Dishes.
Shish
I developed a hankering for chicken shawarma when my office was located near a hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern take-out restaurant. That was my introduction to this spicy roasted chicken in a pita and I have been a fan ever since. So I was thrilled to find Shish on Queen Street East at Leslie Street. I have tried other shawarma take-out in the east end including Sultan at Main and Danforth, which is not bad, but I keep going back to Shish. Shish offers a huge chicken shawarma for the money and they don’t skimp on any of the ingredients, which are always fresh. They also offer beef shawarma, chicken or lamb kofta wrap, falafel, souvlaki wrap and eggplant wrap. Shish is open Mon to Sun and is located at 1225 Queen Street East, 416-466-0404. They use Skip The Dishes, DoorDash, and Uber Eats delivery services.
Sandy’s Restaurant
One of the first foodie things I do when I move to a new neighbourhood is scope out the best Chinese food restaurant. I have ordered from Eden on Coxwell Avenue and had a good experience, but my favourite is Sandy’s Restaurant on Danforth Avenue at Woodbine Avenue. I always order their Cantonese Chow Mein because it is a good-size portion and stuffed with fresh vegetables, shrimp, beef and chicken and the fried Cantonese noodles I love. Their spring rolls are homemade with a light, but crispy batter and are a must-order. Another item I recommend is their Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables. The dish contains a generous portion of plump, juicy shrimp with fresh veggies including broccoli, peppers, carrots and mushrooms. Sandy’s Restaurant is located at 2003 Danforth Avenue, 416-699-8812 and is open Mon to Sun. If your order is over $40 before, you’ll receive a free food item (we received delicious chicken wings). Sandy’s Restaurant does not use a food delivery service.
Grill Gate
Craving a juicy burger? I discovered Grill Gate when I was shopping along The Danforth with my mother and sister. We had worked up an appetite and felt like something hearty for lunch so we decided to pick up burgers at Grill Gate at 341 Danforth Avenue. As we watched the burgers being cooked and served, we noticed that Grill Gate makes the mother of all burgers! They’re huge! I noticed that all of the burgers come with cheese, so I initially asked the server for Gourmet Cheeseburger without the cheese. I had second thoughts and asked her to leave the cheese on. Thank goodness I did because this burger was extremely delicious (and satisfying!) with the cheddar and mozzarella cheese topping. It’s also layered with onion chips and a special sauce. Some of the other items on the menu include Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Philly Steak Sandwich or Burrito and Eggplant Mushroom Cheeseburger. I don’t think you’ll find a better burger in the east end than at Grill Gate. Order through SkipTheDishes and DoorDash.
Samaira’s Kitchen
Samaira’s Kitchen, a family-run business offering gourmet pizza, calzone, panzerotti and burgers, is relatively new to the Leslieville hood. You can order from one of the 20 Chef’s Creation Pizzas or create your own. My favourite is the Veg Deluxe Pizza that comes with tomato sauce, mozzarella, tomatoes, mushroom, and bell peppers. If you enjoy all the toppings, you can order the Fully Loaded Pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushroom, bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, ham, bacon, and pepperoni. Samaira’s Kitchen does not use a food delivery service; you can order directly from their website. Samaira’s Kitchen is located at 1056 Queen Street East, 416-466-0888, and is open Monday to Sunday. Order from SkipTheDishes or Uber Eats.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best take out restaurants in Toronto’s east end. Let me know in the comment section if you have any to add.
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