I like this place because it reminds me of the old Jewish delis/bakeries back home in Vancouver. Stuffy, crampes, hot, delicious smelling. The goods themselves though can be hit or miss and the price you pay will be slightly higher than your premium grocer. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way for this bakery. But I also would never pass up going in if I were passing by read more

Quite simply -- overpriced for what one receives. I certainly won't be paying almost six dollars again for a filled croissant. Makes me want to continue baking for myself. I feel so nostalgic for the good old days of Toronto bakeries. Lottman's in Kensington Market was such a wonderful place. I don't feel that way about the Harbord Bakery. read more

Long-standing bakery on Harbord near Spadina and U of T. Solid selection of cakes and pastries. In general everything here is quite expensive- everything is fresh-baked (SUPPOSEDLY) and look at the location!!! - However I got particular sticker-shock re: the prepared foods. They charge by weight and two small cabbage rolls was $10!!! Inflation is well and strong at this establishment. DO NOT get the prepared foods here unless you're okay with CRAPPY VALUE for your HARD-EARNED dollars. Also, the customer service at the counter is NOT the best - make sure to SPEAK UP when you go to the cash, otherwise they might cash out the person behind you first, thinking that you are waiting for counter service. An acceptable oversight, but this might bother people who are in a hurry. read more

It's a decent sized bakery with quite the variety of baked breads. They have a good selection of yummy tarts and their pistachio cookies are to die for! I also had their almond croissant which was alright but I've had better. Service was quick and staff members are friendly. read more

I am really lucky to live within an easy distance of this phenomenal bakery. (Or unlucky if you're looking at my waistline!) They have a good selection of traditional Jewish baked goods (babka, challah, amazing Rye bread) as well as croissants, danishes, cookies, etc. They carry pints of Greg's ice cream, which is very handy (and cheaper than buying a pint of Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Daz, actually). Their quiches are amazing, and they have an excellent selection of prepared sandwiches and sandwich fillings, as well as teas, coffees, and artisanal cheeses. The debit minimum is $5, $10 for credit. read more

From the day it opened until to-day I have gone to Harbord for their delicious Chalah and rye bread. Always fresh, always good. Bagels hit the spot and although I am not big on sweets, their blueberry danish is a splendid treat. read more

Harbord Bakery is a Harbord St. institution. It has been here since the dawn of time. The staff are very nice and the quality of the product can't be beat. I wish they were open later but that is just my own selfishness cause everything is so good. Don't go too late because they can run out of stuff and are very very busy. They have a good selection of cheese, crackers and tea as well. They have a little tucked away corner with kids toys etc. GO GO GO! read more

Omg the donuts... heaven in a sweet shell.... oh the custard filling, light as a feather pastry, perfect amount of salty and sugary. Truly a beautiful creation. I really like visiting places where the skill is evident/ where things are being created that I definitely could not do myself (or I would need years of training to do). Granted, I'm not the best baker and maybe a lot of bakeries would meet that requirement, but Harbord Bakery blows that out of the water. Stellar. read more

Where to begin. 1. Service is the pits. 2. Baked goods are questionable. 3. Prices are absurdly high. 1. I was waiting in line for a cheese danish and a poppy seed danish. The "lineup" was all over the place, with customers drifting in and out, picking up pieces and goodies from all over the store and then wafting back to the main line to order 'one more thing'. The young lady behind the counter asked 'who's next?' That's me. I placed my order and the owner zips in ahead of my server and takes the poppy seed danishes, exclaiming they were the last two and had just been requested by one of those drifting-in-and-out customers. But I was right there! Not the first time I was pushed out by someone shopping while they were "in line", but it will be the last time. Not impressed. 2. I used to love their cinnamon raisin bread. It's addictive, like cake, and in my opinion, pricey at $6; so I usually scanned the 'day-old' bin in hopes of finding a loaf there. I used to score one every month or so, just often enough to satisfy my craving. But the last one was definitely off. It tasted weird and stale, and no amount of toasting would cure it. I decided to keep my memories of the good rather than risking another bad batch so I stopped buying it. On a related note, a friend ordered a birthday cake to be picked up on a Sunday morning which happened to be the first day of a major holiday. The bakery was jammed. He managed to get his cake which had already been boxed up, but when he opened the box later that day he found it was completely the wrong cake. The bakery did try and contact him to see why he had not picked up "his" order, but he was already out of town. They closed for the holidays, and when they reopened the following Wednesday, what did I see on the 'day old' tray but my friend's cake, now easily over 4 days old, cut into 4 pieces, on sale for $2.50 - $3.00 a slice. I knew it was his because the unique birthday name and inscription were still legible. What a joke! 3. I once brought a dozen chocolate/almond cookies as a gift. They came to $36 plus $1.50 extra for the plain white bakery box. Pricey to me. read more

They delivered a dried out, stale cake for what was supposed to be a special surprise birthday treat. I could have gotten a better cake in the grocery store freezer for a quarter of the price. Don't bother. read more

my only regret is that i'd never been to this bakery before last weekend. perhaps with good reason since: a) i can still fit into my skinny jeans now, and b) it's a bit pricey when you consider how much i now plan to go. c) just cancel out a) so, on my first and only trip i bought for a potluck: i) 3 empanadas (veggie, chicken, and beef). The pastry for all is the same: really flaky and dry, in a good way. I preferred the veggie empanada because, when i forked into it, a small amount of savoury veggie sauce helped moisten the mouthfuls of crust. I found the chicken and beef fillings to be a bit dry to accompany the great pastry. ii) Two handfuls of spicy cheese & anchovy bread twists. They were very crisp and buttery. I was surprised that they were sold by weight, rather than by the piece. I asked the cashier to pack them inside the box of empanadas, otherwise the twists never would have made it to their destination without crumbling. The potluck people liked all of the items. Next time I go, I want to try the blueberry muffins. While I was there, a guy came in to purchase one, claiming to have 'come all the way from LA for these muffins'. Alas, the blueberry muffins were sold out. When told to come tomorrow, and mistakenly hearing 'come tomorrow at 4am', he wasn't at all fazed. Even though the cashier had actually said 'come tomorrow, call beFORE' so a few muffins could be held to the side for him, he wanted those muffins so bad that 4am was worth it! must.have.those.muffins. read more

We happened upon this bakery while visiting Toronto. We had the delicious challah, croissants, rugalach & blueberry tarts. Very fresh. I don't think it was expensive for the quality. read more

I'm an insanely picky eater because I was raised by parents who said, "If you don't like it, just leave it on your plate." Because of this I refuse to eat a whole manner of things and the majority of the time, I look at a menu and say, 'I have no idea what that is, I am not putting it anywhere near my mouth.' However, my little trip to Harbord Bakery was one of the rare times where I just wanted to try everything, no matter how odd it looked (the last time this happened it was with food carts and street meat, so consider this a step in a classier direction). I bought a few different things: Some chocolate roll cookies, some peanut butter cookies for my boyfriend and a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread. The cinnamon raisin bread is fabulous! It tastes a bit like a cinnamon brioche, I think. Light and fluffy and amazing toasted and smothered with my best buddy butter. The chocolate cookies disappeared in a scarfing-frenzy after a trip to the gym. They could have been a little chocolatier (word? I think not!) but I didn't exactly put the bag down to come write this review... The peanut butter cookies, I have no idea. Peanut butter and chocolate/any kind of sugar is not a cause I support, nor do I feel peanuts have any place on a dessert menu. It's nothing against peanut butter, me and peanut butter go way back, It's just a personal movement with little, uh, movement. It's something that has remained solid through my transition from 'picky eater' to 'grown-up that eats leaves and other green things.' My boyfriend liked them though! They sounded quite crunchy? Sorry I can't give you guys more than that! Minus one star because I found there wasn't enough labeling happening. I saw things I was tempted to try but didn't because I wasn't sure of what they were. "Is that caramel brown or PEANUT BUTTER brown?" See the first world problems I face? read more

I had my first bagel here in 1970, after 25 years of wonder bread (as in, wonder if it's bread). The Jewish population which once supported a range of unique food shops had started moving north after the 1950s, and the stores catering to an older wave of Jewish immigrants were vanishing one at a time. But the Harbord Bakery has remained and adapted to new waves of immigration, intermarriage within the original family, and gentrification (or perhaps, Annexification) related to the U of T and downtown youth scene. The result is typically Toronto food fusion. A "calandria" (take out section) sells fast food that's not junk food -- empanada and spanakopita, for example (both excellent), as well as basic ingredients for prepared salads. But much of the old Yiddish cuisine survives, including bagels, challah bread baked for Fridays and lox and cream cheese and bagel for Sundays. Foods and cuisines are not frozen in time, and more than any other item of culture, but, as I argue in my e-book Food for City Building, acquire the character of the place the food inhabits, even as the foods lend their character to the place. Harbord Bakery is now co-evolving with Harvest Kitchen across the street, and with a range of restaurants catering to the young and restless. Adding yet another reason to linger in this area, and do an edible form of archeology, excavating layers of the city's history, while adding to the unique income and job creation stream of each village within the larger Toronto. read more

Favourite bakery in Toronto. The servers are almost invariably unsmiling and somewhat brusque, but it doesn't matter because everything found here tastes wonderful. Prices are steep but I believe this is because they use butter, cream, chocolate, nuts, etc. generously-- at least this is what the taste and undeniable quality of the ingredients suggests. Best bets: Cheese blintzes: to die for. buttery, very tender blintz, with sweet, light, creamy cheese filling that has the milky-sweat cream taste of ricotta as well as the faint tang of mascarpone/cream cheese. These are proof positive that God wanted us fat. - empanadas: (moist, well seasoned, consitently delicious, buttery pastry. I do not wish to know how much fat is in a vegetable number here, as I enjoy pretending they are healthy AND delicious). - chocolate pistachio cookies: wherever the country of origin for these is, I want to live. Now. - cinnamon rolls: limited quantity, as with much of their amazing inventory. they are just sweet enough, with no icing, but a super soft, impossibly pillowy texture. - bagels: do not need butter. are insane. I want one now. - seed loaf: puts Cobb's to shame. expensive though. omega three's aren't cheap. I could go on, but won't. Suggest immediate patronage. read more

Based on the recommendations of the reviews on this site, I tried an empanada, a butter tart and a blueberry muffin. All delicious! Thanks, fellow yelpers! I don't know how authentic the empanadas are, *as* empanadas. In the past, all the home made and store-bought (from specialty stores) empanadas I tried were rather different to these--on those, the pastry is drier and less flaky, and the filling somewhat differently seasoned in the veggie ones. These have been mostly Argentinean, Chilean and so on. People craving a taste of home with that specific kind of empanada may wish to check out one of the places that sells them at Kensington Market. But even if they're not like the other empanadas I've tried, the versions at Harbord Bakery do fall into the "filling surrounded by pastry" type of food genre (alongside savoury pastry puffs, samosas, empanadas, cornish pasties, etc. You get the idea)--and boy are they delicious! Next time, I'll try one of the meat varieties--I'm curious whether I will find them dry, as some others have mentioned. I'm also curious about the seasoning used for those. Regardless, suffice to say, the veggie ones were not dry at all (some of the previous reviews had pointed out that the veggie ones had some moisture to them, and it's true). They are fabulous!! The butter tarts were lovely too--decadent pastry, and the filling had formed a crunchy, teeth-sticking crust on parts, and a more gently crunchy layer elsewhere on the treat. Just the way I like them! The muffin had bits of oat on top and they were tasty--I'm not normally a big fan of muffins, but this was definitely a good one! All recommended. I've tried the shortbread and the cheese stick things from here before--also delicious! read more

Sprawling layout and confusing organization makes the Harbord Bakery a maze of desserts and baked goods. I selected a chocolate croissant and was not impressed. Perhaps it was old stock, but the item was lacking a certain freshness. In general, the selection of baked goods were poor. I asked for a blueberry bun and they did not have. Neither did they sell bubkas or rugelach!! Come on now. They can do better than this. read more

This is a good as it gets in the world of baked good, rolls, buns and other treats and sweets. This bakery has Jewish origins, meaning there is a strong emphasis on bread and rolls and boy they do it right!. Have been going since the 70's, when I would bike over with my parents on early weekend mornings. Still, this 5 star rating isn't based on just nostalgia, it is the high quality, excellent standards and great recipes that keep Harbord Bakery firmly anchored in this part of the city. Truly a step above, if you are a bread person. The place is big and the selection is varied and vast, so be prepared to grab a basket while you shop. Newbies will often get distracted by the selection of sweets! Falling into the best I have ever had class are: 1) Their onion bun (clearly made for dunking in coffee) 2) Any selection of any their rye breads 3) The challah bread (dare you not to start pulling at it before you check out) Finally, I have to give credit to their bakery style chocolate chip cookie, which is not like many I have had in the past. Nothing too fancy, but it stands out. Harbord bakery has expanded greatly over the years with more selections and a large ready-to-eat hot and cold food counters. The Harbord Bakery is more an independent, gourmet, eatery AND a bakery at this point. TIP: Head over early because people in the know, line up to snag their fix from the moment the doors are opened. Worth the trip, even if it is late in the afternoon, when things have settled down. I could spend hours in this place just smelling the air, infused with the combination of freshly baked breads, ground coffee and awesome. read more

I stopped going to Harbord Bakery for months because I just got too frustrated with them, but I work near them, & today I thought I'd give it another shot on my way to work. It was a complete waste of time, & I ended up having to leave without getting any service. The main problem is that if you want salads or hot food, you have to wait at a different counter, & no one works at that counter. I've tried flagging people down & it never works. I'm usually just ignored, & one woman who works there actually told me she couldn't serve me, because she officially works in the back, & no, she couldn't fetch anyone else to serve me. & then if you do manage to get served at the salad/hot foods counter, you have to wait in a separate line to pay or get baked goods. It's completely ridiculous. Harbord Bakery, why do you make it so hard for me to purchase your food? I want to, I keep trying to, & I keep having to leave your shop without any service. read more

Very simple ... on a weekend afternoon, just stumble over to this place, grab some fresh baked goods, and carry on about your biznezz. All will be good. read more

The interior is superb, very open and welcoming. Not the usual cramped kensington bakery. Babka is constantly sold out...call ahead to reserve one. I favour the poppy seed danishes, knish and almond croissants. You can't go wrong here. read more

Love this place! I've had the chocolate babka quite a few times from here and it is to die for! I got the chocolate brownie and chocolate croissant for a change and they were both divine! The brownie was dense and rich, just the way I like it. Will be back for sure! read more

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My family has been coming to this bakery for years. I'd probably give it four stars out of nostalgia, but it really deserves just three. It's a hybrid of traditionally Jewish baked goods and some pan-Southeast Asian prepared foods. HITS: Excellent rye with caraway. Really good sweet and savoury gefilte fish. Cute gifts for children in the calandria. Cheese blintzes. Sprinkle cookies. French-style apple cake with custard and a sugared crust. MISSES: It's criminally expensive for challah. No itemized receipts, so you have no idea what you're being charged for (or if the price being rung up is accurate). Unfriendly staff. read more

I love bagels, one of the last bakeries in the world that really know what a bagel is. The black bread, caraway bread & cheese buns are to die for, I love to toast the black & caraway breads mmmmmm. read more

- great neighbourhood bakery. i wish i lived in this neighbourhood. - all i can say is come here for the challah, challah (makes me wanna sing the chorus to this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdtxoTjqNf0) read more

One of my favourite things in life is a good challah loaf and this is my go-to for that in Toronto. One particular experience I had solidified my loyalty to this place when on a Friday I called in to reserve myself a 'sweet' challah thinking this automatically meant a raisin challah. I eagerly got there to pick up my dream loaf and was devastated to learn that sweet didn't mean raisin and the last raisin challah had walked out the door just seconds ago. I was on the verge of tears (dramatic I know ) but the anticipation for this special bread on a Friday is just indescribable. The lady who worked there told me to wait a second.... and somehow she did a magical switch with somebody! My Friday was saved! read more

Paying this bakery a visit is an integral part of my daily morning routine. They have a vast selection of baked goods that are consistent in their high quality. The staff is also both helpful and nice! read more

The beef empanada , Chocolate mousse cake and cheese sticks were average at best. Haven't tried their bagels but I doubt they compare to the bagel shops in toronto. Service was friendly. Decor was non-existent and the food was overpriced. Unfortunately I don't have any childhood memories associated with the place nor am I a fan of overpriced average food to give it more than a star. read more

Products are tasty but way too expensive for what you get. I suppose they have little competition in the area so they can charge what they want. Too bad, would be great to have a bakery like this that didn't cost an arm & a leg. read more

Fig chocolates are my all time favorite. They inject liquid chocolate into the figs and then coat the figs with same chocolate from outside as well. It's wow.... You have to try it to believe it. Also macrons are good, chocolate croissants are good. The pistachio biscuits are great. Next time I want to try their quiche though. I always go to the bakery section and get stuck buying all the chocolates and cakes. read more

Go to spot at work for baked goods for office mtgs and parties. The chocolate croissants are delectable.

They've got a lot of different breads and desserts here, I gave their butter tarts a try and was very surprised and pleased. Very sweet and gooey without any raisins or walnuts, I'd come back for this one. read more

Harbord Bakery is not just an incredible community bakery but being there is a fabulous experience. The bread choices are amazing, all made with natural ingredients. The cakes and pastries are delicious. I especially love the chocolate almond cake, the cheese and poppy seed danishes and the rugelah cookies. They always have a cookie for visiting children. Yes they can be very busy at times, but that is a testament to how good their baked goods are. They also have delicious catering selections which we have ordered for many holidays and other events. This bakery is the best Jewish bakery in Toronto, welcoming everyone into its doors! read more

This is a nice little bakery in the Annex that serves a great selection of breads, pies, and other treats. The food is reasonably good and tastes home made, but my one complaint is that it is a bit on the pricey side -- be prepared to open your wallet here. read more

Extremely fresh and tasty selection of breads.. Also freshly baked cookies and biscotties of all sorts as well as non-sweet stuffed pies. Yesterday was my second time stocking up there and I really enjoyed everything I got. It is true that it is a bit pricy. Staff is friendly. read more

I just had their Cinnamon raisin bread and it was so good. They sure know how to keep their food fresh and good.

Now that ive gone back a few times i really appreciate the variety they have on hand, from smoked fish (which is great), to prepared foods, frozen items, cheeses, condiments, all good quality and a nice alternative to the big box stores if you live near by. Prices are reasonable too. read more

I love their challah and it's really the only Jewish-style bakery in the neighbourhood but I wish they would post their prices. I know they don't because some people are given discounts and others whom they don't recognize are overcharged so they can add to their profit but that's not ok. During my last visit I was handed my order of just challah (and only challah!!) by someone behind the counter and was told it was $13. When I walked over to the cash the guy charged me $26. I clarified the order and he insisted that was the charge. I asked for a receipt and was only given my debit receipt... I asked again for the price of the challah and was told by the man who charged me that it was $26 (for 2 loaves!!!). I was basically charged twice what I had initially been told. I could see other people being charged $30 for the same two loaves and many pastries, bagels and croissants. There is no way those additional items only came to $4... it's really not ok to take advantage of people whom you don't recognize as a "regular." I'd rather spend my money at an honest business. I don't understand how this practice is legal. read more

Harbord Bakery has the best sweet challah loaf I've had in Toronto. It tastes like bread, but I eat it like candy. Putting things on slices of this challah is nice but not really necessary. If you're as given to eat yummy things in your vicinity as me, I suggest a "challah share", where you split the challah with a friend or family member, and can therefore not eat more than half a loaf in a given evening. My other favorites include the blueberry buns, chocolate infused figs, veal patties, and chicken schnitzels. Be warned: they don't have everything all the time (aside from the challahs), so if you have your heart set on a particular thing, you can always call first. read more

High quality foods and desserts. Even gluten free options that are incredible. The bread is by far the most delicious. I've been going there my whole life and it's only gotten better. read more