2026 Birthday Series -- Stop #4: Jersey Mikes…read more I'm kicking off a series reviewing all the places I visited to redeem my birthday goodies in July 2026. Along with an overall rating, each spot gets scored on redeemability (how easy it is to claim) and actual value. Jersey Mike's Redeemability: 5/5 (requires sign-up up for the news letter) Actual value: 10/5 (A WHOLE SET OF ONE REGULAR SIZE FREE SUB (ANY) and a drink!) WOW! Aside from the fact that Jersey Mike gives out the BEST BIRTHDAY FREEBIES out of all the cafes and restaurants (with absolutely no convoluted process to redeem - the staff were extremely nice and friendly), the sub itself was freaking amazing. I got the big kahuna - the beef was freshly grilled with LOTS OF white American cheese that melts all over, and the delicious grilled vegetables on top. I swear to god, this was perhaps just as good as the Philly steak sandwich I had in Philly if not better (as a birthday present). The store was as also super clean albeit extremely popular, with freshly cut meat and cheese served in an efficient speed. Tho I got a free combo, I also saw that the sandwiches were very reasonably priced - the quality and the price were unbeatable and I'll def come back often. I'd say jersey Mike's is my FAV sub restaurant now, far surpass subway but also firehouse sub which I often found overpriced. Highly, highly recommended.

A sub sandwich chain in Markham. My first time ever trying this out and I was quite intrigued!…read more Opted for the #13 The Original Italian that came with provolone, ham, proscuittini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni. Love that they have different sizes for you to pick from, so we got their giant size and wow it definitely was gigantic! You can choose your toppings ranging from lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil, vinegar and spices, and more. Since it was our first time, we got it served the Mike's Way which had everything on it. Next time I think I'll opt out of the Mike's Way, since I didn't love my sandwich doused in vinegar - it also made it pretty soggy pretty quickly. However, the sandwich taste itself was amazing and so fresh! I can't wait to go back to customize another sandwich to my liking!

Super excited that the owners of Azyun Restaurant opened a NEW cafe & catering spot called Azyun…read moreAvenue ^^ Love the play on words - if you grew up with AsianAvenue, then you are my people ;) You can get Asian-inspired sandwiches and wraps here. They are all very delicious, and there are over 10+ items to choose from. Here are some of my favourites: - Turkey Banh Mi - Pho Spiced Pastrami - Bulgogi Melt - Egg Salad w/ Dill Kewpie Mayo You will also find baked goods (bagel, croissant, muffin, cookies, you name it), Hatch crafted coffee, PIuck teas, Savage cold brew coffees, smoothie, healthy snacks, and other hot food breakfast items! Highly recommended Azyun Avenue for all your catering needs!

This was very good. I love this place, their sandwiches are amazing, and I love their spicy chicken…read morebacon pickle extravaganza, it makes my toes tickle. It consists of chicken, bacon, pickles, and SUPER hot sauce that makes your whole body burn. The staff actually warned me about how hot it was! But i'm used to the spicy stuff because of all the fights me and my wife get into, she is probably gonna divorce me, the marriage counseling is failing and she might take the kids haha. Great sandwiches, I also love their pancake sandwich, they stuff pancakes into bread with syrup, and while it may sound weird it is actually very good. I give Azyun Avenue Café a 5 star rating!

Fresh, healthy and filling! I've been here a couple of times now and it's a fantastic option for…read moreanyone looking for a filling and substantial meal that isn't your typical fast food. First off - the food in the menu photographs beautifully. The menu looks SO appetizing! I got the vegetarian grilled panini and it was huge!! It also came with a soup (two options, I got the tomato and sweet potato), so at $14 it was a great value. My colleague got a steak and smoked cheese panini which looked incredible as well, and the toppings and sandwiches were just SO fresh. They don't skimp out on the good stuff either, lots of tasty goat cheese on my sandwich...I'm drooling just remembering it! There is a seating area so you can dine in, or take your food to go. The service was friendly and efficient, you can tell they care about the food they're preparing. One thing I will mention - it's MESSY! Make sure you get napkins!

Recently discovered Porta Via on ubereats when I was looking for a new and hopefully healthy place…read morefor lunch and I'm so happy I found this place!! Ordered the chicken avocado wrap with salad AGAIN for lunch and I still love it. The food feels clean and healthy, and the salad is actually a generous portion with a tiny dressing (to keep my calories in check) Wish they could add healthy smoothies to the menu tho.

This review is for their North York location…read more There is no seating at their North York location, so it is more of a grab and go establishment. At the moment, they're only selling their nana special banh mi with us equivalent to a supreme cold cut sandwich for $10 with tax. I wanted to like this place, however the sandwich felt off for me. I did appreciate them toasting the sandwich before serving, however something about their flavour seemed to bother me - it might be a personal preference. My partner said he tasted some coconut flavour in their sandwich, which might be the potential reason I didn't like it as much - I generally don't like coconut flavoured stuff. I also didn't like that they don't accept credit card, especially since they're charging tax. Most Asian operated banh mi places don't charge tax when you pay with cash, it almost seems like they're double dipping.

Banh Mi Nana serves two items: Banh Mi and Coffee…read more They have a little shop with about 8-10 seats and most people who order takeout. They are a cash/debit only business. Their Banh Mi is one of the best in the GTA, it's basically a double/extra meat Banh Mi with all the toppings. It also reheats well at home. We got one per person and it was a filling lunch. Would stop by again when in the neighborhood!

This place only has. 3.5 overall average star rating…read more So.... I'm going to support local businesses and give this place a 5 star rating. Because.... They deserve it!!! I can see why they have been in business this long. I ordered a regular size veal sandwich and added mozzarella cheese. Total bill came out to $10-$11 or something. A little pricey but "OMG" was this sandwich special. The employee (I gather who was also the owner) gave me suggestions and upon choosing the veal, I saw him bread it and cook it upon ordering. That's beyond fresh!!! The bun it came on had a hard crust and soft in the middle. The cheese melted upon opening the sandwich....Mmmm.... Cheese melt!! They well deserve this 5 stars And I will be back for more. I definitely recommend this place for your Italian sandwiches!!

Sometimes, you stumble on an eatery and you wonder why you hadn't discovered it sooner. East Street…read moreSandwiches is one such establishment. A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the weirdest veal cutlet sandwich that I have ever consumed. This experience made me crave real veal in a yummy sandwich with marinara sauce. My usual go-to veal sandwich place is California Sandwiches. I have the option of hitting Ajax, Vaughan, or Toronto to get my fix. I need at least half an hour to get to any of these locations. I found East Street Sandwiches on Ritual. My eyes zoned into the veal sandwich immediately. I added mushrooms to it, which is my usual way that I like it. I saw arancini on the menu. The last time I had some was last year and it was horrible. The rice was so hard that I peeled it off as if it were the shell of a hard-boiled egg. The filling wasn't anything to write home about. I ordered the meat and peas arancino here, hoping that it wouldn't suck. I had plans to hit Richmond Hill last Wednesday anyway. It was perfect to grab some takeout for dinner before heading home. The eatery is tucked away in a small plaza with Fat Bastard and a few other places. There were guys cleaning the parking lot, so half the spaces were taken. I waited for two cars to leave this parking lot so I could park. One got out quickly. The person in other one looked so confused and was so inexperienced as a driver that I had to wait until this person got her act together. I then backed into a spot and headed inside. The most comforting detail that I saw on the window was that this place has been kicking around since 1978. If a place has been in business for that long, the food must be great. I headed inside. I was greeted by Bruce Springsteen on the wall. It was cool. An older gentleman was behind the counter. He was so nice. I indicated that I had a Ritual order. He handed me a paper bag with my items with both hands. I thanked him. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was pleased to see a human being. I looked so forward to eating my food, wished him a great evening, and headed back to my car. I had one other errand to run. After I was done, I headed home to chow down. I had my veal sandwich first. Delicious! The veal as lightly breaded and had marinara sauce. I tend to like lots of sauce. This place doesn't smother the veal with tons of it. At first, I was concerned. However, the marinara sauce was so bright and flavourful that having less of it actually works perfectly. It was the first time eating a veal sandwich neatly. The bun was perfect. I normally look like a kid eating it without a bib. Not here. Yum! The meat and peas arancino was fantastic. The rice was lightly sticky and so good. I normally don't go crazy over rice, but I loved it so much. It's a decent size. The filling was yummy. The only negative that I can think of was that I did not see any peas. Maybe they were pureed? I couldn't tell. It wasn't horrible, as the flavourful meat filling made up for not seeing any peas. I am no longer afraid to get bad arancini now that I have found this place. Such a gem in Richmond Hill! It's much closer to get my veal sandwich fix here. Huge fan! I'll be back for more sandwiches and arancini. (353)

My go to place for coffee and quick bites for most days :)…read more It is conveniently located on the first floor of Park Place Corporate Centre (the blue-tinted building where Adrak Indian Restaurant is!) It is a small cafe that serves coffee, snacks, and quick bites. The father-daughter duo who runs the store were always welcoming, friendly and personable. They also seem to know regular customers' orders by heart ;) I usually order a medium coffee which is $1.50 tax included. You can choose the regular coffee blend or roasted hazelnut blend. The hazelnut one is my favourite, and it smells so heavenly ^^ For lunch, I usually get a freshly made sandwich for $4 tax included. The portion is huge (for me!), you can add sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and other toppings at no additional cost. My coworker and I usually enjoy the egg salad sandwich, tuna salad sandwich, and chicken salad sandwich :) Secret menu item (well, not so secret anymore!) Beef patty ($1.50 tax in.) is not on the menu but you can certainly order it. I always have random beef patty craving moments lol. You can also have it stuffed apparently! My coworker was telling me how delicious a stuffed beef patty was lol. You can stuff it with the usual - sliced tomatoes, cucumber, plus other favourite toppings. I shall order that another time ^^ Not sure how much it cost but I'm sure it can't be too far off. This cafe also serves a specialty Indian hot dish everyday. I often hear them offer butter chicken served with rice for lunch (I think around $6 or $6.50... can't rmb exactly). Huge portions with great affordable prices. I'm definitely a happy returning customer :) P.S. Hours of operation - Monday to Friday from 8am to 3:30pm - mainly during office hours.

Great way to start the work day! The gateway cafe is located…read moreon the ground floor of an office building in Markham. I used to come here everyday for lunch while I worked in the building. They have great sandwiches and breakfast items made to order. My favourite thing was the bibimbop which is a Korean dish made with rice and a mix of vegetables served in a sizzling stone pot. Pretty nice stuff for a typical work week lunch. They owners are very nice and friendly, prices are super affordable making this a great work lunch spot!

Came here for a quick lunch with friends and finally I got the chance to come inside. There aren't…read moretoo many tables so we got one on a 6-seater divided by cutlery and menu. The place is small so there could be a line-up usually. The butter beef was so tender it was a pleasant chew. They also gave drinks for free for each person which was unexpected. The drink was very sour though, it was very hard to drink. Staff was quick too and you pay at the front with cash or debit. The staff was so nice; they always said "friend". Would definitely come here again.

Been coming to Nam for quite some time now. Heads up - this…read morerestaurant does get busy! It's so worth it and so good. Food: - My personal favourite include the Bun Rieu with side of soft shell crab. Tomato based soup, with minced pork, and shrimp. Soup hits if you're craving soup! Personally don't like the blood jello, so I take it out. But I often come back for this soup.!! Must try. - The dual smoked rib & braided rib! Wow. Tried this when the Bun Rieu wasn't available as it was recommended to me by the server. It was amazing. Tender, soft melt in your mouth beef. Comes with beef pho soup, compliments the beef exceptionally well. The soup broth is light, yet super flavourful when eaten with the beef. - The chicken wings!!! A must. It speaks for itself. Just try it. Perfect crunch. Packed with flavour. Service: friendly, attentive and food comes out fairly quick (depending on what you order) Ambiance: casual, chill, a great spot for good food. 5/5, it does not miss, hits every time over the last few years.

Great place with great food and excellent service!…read more The barista took the time to explain the menu and the available deals, which I really appreciated. I ordered a Nutella croissant and an Americano, and the Americano was included in the price as part of the deal. I really appreciate when staff clearly explain the menu, the available options, and how the different deals work. It makes it much easier to navigate the menu and understand how to properly utilize the available offers, which makes the overall experience much better. I really enjoyed my visit and appreciated the helpful service!

This is one of my best Iranian sandwiches. Very nostalgic very high quality. The sandwiches are…read morebig. I've tried many of their menu items and everything is delicious. Highly recommended

Not a great looking place but very nice people, and they make all their croissants and baked goods…read moreon site (I'm currently eating a croissant they just took out of the oven. Whoops, it's already gone)! Their Medium Roast "Mountain" coffee is decent too.

A great burger needs great fries. A great burger and fries combo needs a good pop. This place…read moredelivers on all 3. The burgers; amazing. The fries; amazing. (Bonus points for really good poutine). The drinks; selection is amazing. They carry both Coca Cola and Pepsi products, so everyone will be happy. Quick service, and there is plenty of seating if you choose to dine in.

I'm from California and let me tell you, this is the closest thing in the GTA to an In-N-Out dupe…read more Buns, patties, sauce, and everything. I had Fresh Burger a while back and forgot the name (so glad it came back to me), but remembered just how good it was and how it immediately reminded me of my favorite burger chain back home. Fries aren't comparable because like most places, they're frozen (still good tho) but that was a damn good burger. Can't rate the service or ambiance because I had this via delivery but even after it sat for a bit the bun remained soft and the patties were so juicy yet crisp on the outside! I've literally only had this once but I think about it pretty often, lol. I'll probably stop by soon to upload photos. Would be amazing if they had a location closer to Oakville or Burlington.