Toronto’s little ethnic enclaves deliver big on food and culture

Almost 47% of Toronto’s organization is foreign-born — astir 3.3 cardinal people. Solmaz Khosrowshahian is 1 of them. She came from Iran to study present 20 years agone and quickly decided to instrumentality around. Today, she’s champion known arsenic nutrient blogger nan Curious Creature. 

“Beyond having a ample migrant organization for illustration different awesome cities, nan diversity within our migrant organization is astonishing,” she said. “Here you’ll meet immigrants from a immense scope of countries, including immoderate from nan astir distant parts of nan globe.” 

So adjacent clip you’re successful town, why not spot nan world? Below we’ve rounded up Toronto’s astir intriguing taste enclaves.

Little Malta

A small speck of onshore successful nan mediate of nan Med, Malta is famed for its alluring mishmash of Arabic, Italian and English. But successful nan early 20th century, tens of thousands of its citizens escaped to Toronto. They settled astir Dundas Street and St. John’s Road successful nan Junction ’hood, creating nan mini municipality nicknamed Little Malta — arsenic signs now attest.

The modernist religion there, St. Paul nan Apostle, is tally by Franciscan fathers from nan island, and there’s a sports and civilization hub, the Melita Soccer Club, named aft nan aforesaid squad successful St. Julian’s backmost home. Stop by the Malta Bake Shop for a pastizzi — the flaky fist-sized calzone filled pinch either ricotta aliases spicy, mushy peas — or ftira, the pizza-like breadstuff topped pinch sliced potatoes, olives and tomatoes.

Make an assignment to position a curiosity shop-like postulation astatine nan Maltese-Canadian Museum on nan aforesaid strip.

Greektown

Astoria’s sewage competition. “The streets present are lined pinch Greek restaurants, barbers, churches, shops and parks wherever locals stitchery daily,” said Solmaz. “An early greeting locomotion tin often consciousness for illustration a stroll done immoderate Greek metropolis with yayas and papous out for their regular java meetups.”

This ’hood, besides known arsenic nan Danforth, is crushed zero for Greek goodies: Athens Pastries serves up slayer spanakopita and bougatsa, or spell to Mezes for nan namesake snacks positive a Greek java at Phyllo Cafe (come other quiet betwixt Aug. 11 and 13 for nan nabe-wide nutrient fest Taste of nan Danforth).

Catch a show astatine the Danforth Music Hall, erstwhile a Greek-language movie house, and prime up immoderate quirky souvenirs astatine the La Di Da Boutique.

Little Tibet

This is 1 of nan newer migrant nabes to emerge, arsenic thousands of Tibetans fled nan oppression successful their homeland during nan precocious 1990s. They settled successful Parkdale, clustering mostly astatine nan junction of Queen and Jameson. It’s now nan largest Tibetan organization overseas, and you’ll apt spot saffron-robed monks and women successful accepted robes known as chubas.

Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Buddhist Temple on Maynard Avenue is simply a organization hub, and you tin prime up everything from Tibetan singing bowls to cashmere shawls at Himalayan Creation. Steamed dumplings known arsenic momos are a staple of Tibetan cuisine — effort tangy jhol momo from Himalayan Kitchen, aliases classical steamed and fried momos at Loga’s Corner. 

Meanwhile, Tiny Cafe sells thing but six types of momos, including vegan options.

Little Jamaica

Look for nan black, greenish and golden flags and banners connected Eglinton Avenue West conscionable past Marlee Avenue, and you’ll cognize you’ve stumbled upon 1 of nan earliest Black communities successful Canada. Jamaicans arrived present successful immense numbers successful nan 1960s and while gentrification has started upending this ’hood, metropolis officially person designated it a taste district.

Snap an Insta-ready changeable aliases 2 astatine Reggae Lane, which depicts icons of nan genre successful a 1,200-foot-long mural aliases bargain classical reggae, ska and Rasta apparel at Treajah Isle Records. 

“Ask anyone successful nan vicinity which spot serves up nan champion patties aliases naughty chickenhearted and you’re bound to get into a heated debate,” said Solmaz. Start disconnected at Sheryl’s Authentic Caribbean Cuisine, past comparison it with Kingston 12. After, pick up a spicy, molasses-spiked bulla cake at Sun-Light Bakery.