Emily Southey
Given that brunch is my favorite meal of the day, I made sure to live by nearby restaurants serving breakfast. I must admit that I’ve been to a significant number of brunch restaurants in the city of Toronto. And I’m here to say that the 6ix is home to some seriously top-notch spots when it comes to breakfast restaurants, whether you’re in the mood for a stack of fluffy pancakes, spicy huevos rancheros, or a modern spin on American Southern classics. Below is a list of my favorite brunch places in TO.
Beast Restaurant
One of the breakfast restaurants just off King Street West you’ll find Beast Restaurant. In and amongst the old houses on Tecumseh, it’s almost unrecognizable, but step inside and you’ll be assured by the aroma of all things delicious. Serving up Canadian fare with a twist, Beast is open for brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm. Beast’s brunch menu is on the smaller side but is packed with hearty, scrumptious dishes. My partner’s favorite is the Huevos Rancheros, made with Mexican-style chorizo, guacamole, feta cheese, crispy tortillas, refried black beans, and two sunny sides up eggs. (Be warned, the portion is massive – even he’ll admit to being stuffed afterward.) I’m partial to their biscuit sandwiches (buttermilk biscuits are made fresh on-site daily.)
My personal favorite is Mad Maple. Simple, (incredibly) filling, and oh-so Canadian, the Mad Maple is composed of fried chicken, bacon, and a fried egg sandwiched between a buttermilk biscuit and topped with maple syrup. Not going to lie, good thing it was one of the restaurants near me because the walk home post-Mad Maple is never an easy one, but definitely worth it. Other menu highlights include their duck confit French Toast, served with cranberry mostarda and whipped crème fraîche, and their Eggs Benedict with Tabasco Hollandaise and peameal bacon.
Baddies
This chill Australian-inspired café located near Lansdowne Station serves up hip, tasty, and majorly Instagrammable brunch on the daily. Their menu is vegan and vegetarian friendly with items such as Chia Pudding, made with coconut milk, cacao, and banana, or the Vegan Ting, a squash fritter with radish, mixed greens, and almond dressing. Less healthy options include The “Frenchie,” thick-cut French toast with honey-whipped ricotta and roasted fruit, and Sausage Sizzle Sammy, consisting of Baddies’ house-made sausage, coriander mayo, a sunny side up egg, and pickled veggies. More than yummy food, the place itself has a laid back vibe with white exposed brick and a small summertime patio. Get there early as it is one of the best restaurants serving breakfast with limited seating available!
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
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A staple among Torontonian brunch enthusiasts and with Instagram worthy pictures, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen has single-handedly become one of the favorite breakfast restaurants in Liberty Village. This expansive, modern restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows facing out onto King Street West serves, hands-down, some of the best breakfast dishes in the city. The menu is undeniably international, taking inspiration from Mexican, American Southern, English, French, and Canadian cuisines. Popular items include the Huevos Monty (black bean refritos with cheddar cheese baked inside a tortilla and topped with a sunny side up eggs, salsa, and avocado,) as well as The Big Brunch Skillet (spicy pulled pork, roasted onions, potato hash, sunny side up eggs, and piri piri salsa.) However, my personal favorite (and what you’ll constantly find on the ‘gram) is their iconic (yes, I said iconic) Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes. Mrs. Biederhof’s pancakes are as fluffy as can be and are served with organic maple syrup and a wild blueberry compote. They are the stuff of dreams.
School
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For a major dose of childhood nostalgia, look no further than School. A stone’s throw away from Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village, School serves up brunch classics with a distinctively youthful twist. The chic, industrial-inspired restaurant has clocks everywhere (to remind you of your grade school classroom), an apple on every table, and cartoons on the tv screens all throughout brunch. Meanwhile, the menu ranges from the “Sweet Stuff” such as Krispy Krunchy French Toast (rolled in “Snap, Crackle & Pop” with peach raspberry compote), and Apple Crumble Pancakes (drizzled in caramel with crushed pecans). “Salt ‘n’ Savoury” options include the Millennial Toast (sourdough bread with mushroom bacon, smashed avocado, artichoke, cannellini beans, basil, and cherry tomatoes) and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles, to name a few. No wonder why they keep getting rated as one of the best restaurants serving breakfast by Torontonians.
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