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    Gale's Snack Bar

    4.3 (44 reviews)
    InexpensiveDiners, Sandwiches
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Gale's Snack Bar Photos

    Business Info

    GALE'S SNACK BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    JP M.

    I finally got to get some food from here. The clubhouse is definitely the winner. The fries are also great. Depending on the number of people, service will require you to be patient. Eda is not as young as before, but she sure is sharp as a tack. Do not expect any posh place. It is all about the food and prices. The atmosphere is very homey. Like visiting an old relative. I had been trying to come here for months and you can never tell l, unless you show up. You can't beat the food and prices.

    Grilled cheesed// hamburger // fries
    Helen T.

    This is an OG place for the east-downtown end. I've heard many good things about this spot, but it was my first time trying it for myself. When I stepped in, I felt like I was going back in time. The decors and price points, just blew me away! Service is extremely slow, as it's operated by a single person. If you're in a rush, I'd recommend driving down the street to Tim Hortons. If you're not in a rush and want to grab some great value food, this is the place. I got their grilled cheese, hamburger and fries for 6 dollars tax in! Note: Cash only.

    Side sign facing Carlaw Avenue
    Mary T.

    Whenever I drive downtown, I tend to backroad it along Eastern Avenue. For what feels like eons, I have spotted Gale's Snack Bar each time, and didn't know what it was. It wasn't until I had a chat with a friend who said that it was her hangout as a young adult that I needed to check it out. After having a huge meal at Medieval Times, what lingered was dessert. We got a small scoop of vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. It didn't sustain me. I needed more. I thought of visiting Gale's for my dessert fix. I parked on Carlaw Avenue, just south of Eastern Avenue. I walked over to the cafe and walked up the steps. It was around 2 pm. When you walk in, it feels like a museum from the late 60's or 70's. There was a booth that was free, so I sat down. I sunk into my seat. I don't think any of the decor has changed since it was first built. The Gale part of the business name is Gale Chan. She is a one-woman force and runs the entire show on her own. If you expect fast service, you are at the wrong eatery. I liked the slower change of pace in this I-want-it-now world. She came over to me and asked what I'd like. You look at the menu posted on the wall, which looks like prices have been frozen in time. I asked whether I could get a cream soda float. She didn't have any cream soda, but said that she could make me one with any pop. I went with orange. I also asked for a slice of apple pie. My orange crush float with vanilla ice cream came first. It was so good. The vanilla ice cream was creamy. The orange crush made it perfect. I was a happy camper. And, get this! It was only $2. What?! My slice of apple pie came over next. It was delicious and paired nicely with the orange crush float. My slice was $1.50. How?! One I was done with satisfying my sweet tooth, I went up to the counter and asked to settle my bill. The total was $3.50. She does not slap on any tax. It was mind-blowing and insanely cheap to me. I gave her cash, which is the only way to pay for items. She used an old cash register that still works to give me change. I tipped her generously, as I had a great time here. She appreciated it and asked that I come back again soon. I saw one man sit at the counter roughly half an hour after I had arrived. He ordered what looked like a club sandwich with fries. It all looked so good. I hope to order a meal when I return. After the couple next to me saw my orange crush float, they ordered the grape version of it. It looked pretty. I am such a trend-setting dessert enthusiast... haha! It's not the most stylish place when you plop yourself down. However, every item on the menu is done with love by a special woman. I am so glad that I dropped by. It is a rare gem of a place. I like when I am transported back to a simpler, happy time. This place does just that. (332)

    Club Sandwich
    Mariko M.

    Never heard of this place until it was suggested to me as a meeting point. There's really not much in the area so it's an unassuming joint. Family run, Gale's has been around for quite a long time (and looks it too!). The decor of this place could get a makeover. The clientele here are folks who look rough around the edges. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the food. The menu consists of mostly sandwiches and fries, but at extremely reasonable price points. I recommend the club sandwich with a side of fries. I'm seldom in this part of town, but I wouldn't hesitate to return to try their other menu offerings. Good for: cheap eats (super cheap), lunch

    red stools in front of the counter
    Dylan B.

    This is a magical place. I arrived an hour before Gale came to open the shop, she got out of a taxi carrying several gallons of canola oil and politely asked me to wait around while she opened. My friend and I wandered the industrial area and braced ourselves against the mid-March wind. When Gale opened the snack bar, my friend and I entered a cozy, warm, genuine time capsule. Prices unchanged from the 60's, great snacks and hot meals, excellent coffee, and great service. Gale is extremely friendly, a wonderful host, and a great cook. Can't wait to eat here again!

    Rakesh N.

    Yeah this place is cool. A hole in the wall, definition of. But I had an enjoyable experience. Very small. Two booths. Few bar seats. Very very old. The seat I sat in at the booth had a hole in the middle, literally, but was comfy as can be. Reminds me off my 1982 Chevy Malibu whose back windows wouldn't go down, ex cop car, and which over time had a hole in he back seatbelt where you could literally see the front! Crazy prices. Crazy cheap. Burger fries with gravy and a Coke's, just over five bucks. YOu get what you pay for but I enjoyed it. Old school kind of burger you're mom made for you when you were a kid. Very enjoyable. Have two! Fries with gravy were adequate. Not a place I'd specifically go back to but f I was in the area I would for sure. Just to try everything on the menu! Doesn't wow but doesn't disappoint. I can't tell you how many places pish me off but gales didn't and that is very respectable.

    Not sure what this is.
    V. S.

    Forget you, laws of physics: time travel IS possible. All you have to do is step through the rickety front door of Gale's Snack Bar at Eastern and Carlaw and you will be transported to a bygone era. This is a diner through and through, dripping with atmosphere, local characters and prices that will make your jaw drop. This is 1983 pricing. I mean, there wasn't anything on the menu more than three bucks. I'm serious. You can choose from hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, fish 'n' chips and other diner fare. You can also get shakes (for a mothaflipping dollar) and pies. The pies might have been homemade, but this was not confirmed. Every piece of furniture seemed to be at least fifty years old. That said, it wasn't grubby and the cheerful server behind the counter was quick to wipe down the counter as we sat down. Despite the rough appearance (and some salty customers) I didn't feel out of place there. I had a fried egg sandwich which was just a fried egg on toasted bread. It was perfect: the egg wasn't overcooked and the bread was toasted just right. That's part of the magic of a mainstay diner, over time they can elevate simple meals to an artform. This place is too far out of my way to be a regular haunt, but I can step a little lighter now, knowing that it exists. Obligatory Title Pun: You'll be BLOWN AWAY by the prices. Menu Readability: It's a hand-painted yellow sign above the counter. Need to mention: Two fried egg sandwiches, an egg salad sandwich, a coffee and diet Pepsi came to about $6.50. What this place teaches me about myself: I have tasted value; and it tastes like the intersection of Eastern avenue and Carlaw.

    Monsters K.

    Gale's is the pure essence of diner. Prices that haven't changed in 20 years, grotty interior, but good solid food. A hamburger costs $1, a slice of pie 80 cents. Make some time though, things don't happen fast.

    Bacon and cheese sandwich

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    14 years ago

    This place is unbelievable! Great home cooking at yesterday's prices. Try the hot turkey sandwich.

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    Lambo's Deli - Out front from the sidewalk. June 2024

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    Out front from the sidewalk. June 2024

    Gale's Snack Bar - diners - Updated May 2026

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