Famous Dishes: Worth It or Skip It
Three things come to mind when trying out new food around the city. One, it has to satisfy my stomach. Two, it’s got to please my taste buds. Three, it shouldn’t burn a hole in my pocket. It’s often tricky for every restaurant to cater to all three of those things for its customers.
However, some places in town do an excellent job, and others fall short of your expectations despite their popularity. Today, let’s explore famous dishes from various restaurants in and around Toronto and decide whether it’s worth your precious time. Without further ado, let’s jump right into our short article. Keep in mind that liking a specific dish is subjective. These are only suggestions.
Biryaniwalla’s Ghee Roast Kaju Chicken Biryani: Worth it
Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in South Asia. In Hyderabad, India, biryani is an emotion. Regardless of the day or time, a bowl of Biryani is all that one needs to forget all their problems in life. It is dramatic but true, at least for hardcore Biryani lovers.
With multiple branches in the country and over a hundred varieties, Biryaniwalla is a superb choice to take your taste buds on a ride. Biryaniwalla’s Ghee Roast Kaju Chicken Biryani is the most popular dish and is loved by many. There’s a caveat, though: it is boneless Biryani. Of course, you have options for bone-in Biryani, too.
The Ghee Roast Kaju Chicken Biryani comes with crunchy, boneless, juicy minced chicken pieces. Perfectly cooked aromatic rice and masala (spices), with the right amount of ghee and kaju (cashewnut) to savor, it’s worth all your money.
The Biryani comes in different sizes, ranging from a small box that serves 1-2 people to a large tray that serves as many as 5-10 people and more. Check with the restaurant for larger orders. For starters, try the small box for just 16.49 dollars plus taxes.
Available to order on popular food delivery apps.
Goat Coffee Co. Bacon and Egg’er Sandwich: Skip it
Located on Pape Avenue, Goat Coffee is a local cafe favorite. It is known for its coffee and all-day breakfast menu. I love the vibe of the place. The cafe can accommodate up to 30 people, and the seating area gives you enough room to glance at the busy street. The large transparent windows facing the curb allow ample sunlight and magically light up the space during the summer.
Bacon and Egg’er Sandwich, as the name suggests, is a simple sandwich with bacon, eggs, and cheddar cheese on multigrain toast. By no means is it a bad sandwich, but I’m sure that, considering the price (14 dollars plus taxes), better options can fill your belly and satisfy your breakfast cravings on a lousy summer morning.
On one of those lousy mornings before class, I ordered a bacon and egg. I'm not sure if it’s the case every time, but the day I tried the sandwich, I found the bacon too salty and the eggs not so runny. Maybe I’m doomed, but you can still try it if you’d like. If you’re on a budget like me, look for other options for breakfast.
Available to order on popular food delivery apps.
Number One Chinese Restaurant: Combo No. 2 and 4, General Tso’s Chicken, and Pan Fried Noodles with Mixed Vegetables: Worth it
This cute little Chinese restaurant is on Pape Avenue, beside Goat Cafe. Whoever named the restaurant ‘Number One Chinese’ was confident about their ability to serve delicious food. Imagine if it'd gone wrong. It is an excellent place to have a satisfying meal at an affordable price. Number One Chinese Restaurant is not flashy on the inside. However, it has a lovely ambience and is busy with customers and delivery people picking up their orders.
I ordered the combos No. 2 and 4. Their combos are for one person. Combo No.2 ($13.99 plus taxes) has an egg roll, chicken fried rice, and sweet and sour chicken balls. Combo No. 4 (14.88 dollars plus taxes) has an egg roll, fried rice, chicken chop suey, and sweet and sour chicken balls. The quantity is an absolute bomb with these two combos. If you’re starving, this is the meal for you.
Talking about Combo No. 2, the fried rice is rich in quality, and the chicken balls are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The egg roll is a bonus. The same is the case with Combo No. 4. The only new addition is an extra two dollars is the chicken chop suey. Avoid this combo if you’re not a fan of bean sprouts because the chop suey is loaded with them.
Next up is General Tso’s Chicken (17.50 dollars plus taxes). This dish comes with diced chicken fried in their special batter and topped off with their famous sweet and sour sauce. Savour this appetizer with pan-fried noodles with mixed vegetables (16.88 dollars plus taxes). Combining these two yummy dishes should be enough to fill two people.
Available to order on popular food delivery apps.
Moti Mahal’s Veggie Thali and Meat Thali: Worth it
Gerrard India Bazaar is the place to be if you’re craving South Asian food. Moti Mahal sits in the heart of Gerrard India Bazaar at Gerrard Street East. The place is always busy with repeat customers with happy faces.
The first time I visited the place, this older man of Indian origin next to me took notice of my confused face. He said he had been visiting the place for over a decade and suggested I order their veggie and meat thali. Excited, I ordered both of Thali’s. I must say, his suggestion wasn’t disappointing.
The Veggie Thali (15.99 dollars plus taxes) comes with bread or rice and three vegetarian curries. You can choose any three curries of your choice. The Meat Thali (16.99 dollars plus taxes) also comes with bread or rice, but you can choose only one meat and two vegetable curries. Although it’s worth it, I would still want the other two curry options to be fully non-vegetarian because that’s the whole point of a meat thali. For quantity, taste, and money, go for it without a second thought.
Available to order on popular food delivery apps.
Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill’s Chicken Shawarma: Skip it
I know I will get a lot of hate for this, but the day I ordered Sumaq’s Chicken Shawarma ($12.35 plus taxes) home, it didn’t live up to the hype. I chose pita for my bread and went ahead with all their toppings (hummus, garlic, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and turnip). We can choose up to 2 sauces from Tahini: Hot Sauce, Pomegranate Sauce, HP Sauce, and Amba Sauce. I played it safe and added the regular tahini and hot sauce. Shawarmas are generally loaded with meat, so I didn’t go with any extra portions. But if you have a big appetite, go ahead.
I liked the combination of sauces in my chicken shawarma, but I found the chicken to be a little undercooked as I kept eating it. Sumaq Iraqi Charcol’s Shawarma is one of the most popular dishes in Scarborough, but for some reason, it lacked the punch everyone boasts about. Perhaps you will love it. So, give it a shot and try it out for yourselves.
That’s all for this article. Until next time, try out the ones that are worth it. See you soon.