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    Hawker

    4.7 (61 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Hawker Photos

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    HAWKER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Hawker

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lunch menu
    Lauren C.

    After extensive research on Toronto's vegan and fermented food scene, Hawker was the restaurant I was most excited about. When we saw that they have an entirely different menu for lunch and dinner, we made a point to visit for lunch on our first day in Toronto, to allow ourselves time to return for dinner and try the full menu. As soon as we sat down, we asked about the house kombucha, which we were surprised to see was not on the menu. Our waitress was able to find a bottle of it in the back. We were disappointed that it was not fizzy at all and worse, tasted like apple juice. No real tea flavor or tang at all. We wouldn't have even guessed it was kombucha. We were so surprised since Hawker prides themselves on fermented foods - how did they get the kombucha so wrong? Next, the food. Vegan biryani is about as rare as homemade kombucha, so I couldn't resist ordering it. I was shocked when I saw the chef get out a frying pan and make fried rice that they were passing off as biryani. There also wasn't a single vegetable in it - just raisins, a few oily cashews, and a dollop of cashew cream. Didn't bother finishing this. We also tried the signature smoked sandwich made with smoked cabbage, fermented chickpea, and smoked date sauce. We were unable to identify any fermented chickpeas (maybe it was a spread? but not a key part of the dish). It was a good but not memorable sandwich. Overall, Hawker is just hype. Their menu is full of buzzwords that get you excited about things like spent grains, fermented spreads, and smoked vegetables, but they are serving greasy, average-tasting food that leaves you confused and duped in a dimly-lit cool environment. Needless to say, we did not return for dinner.

    Butternut squash
    Matt B.

    Really lovely vegan fine-dining. We were four of us and they recommend 2-3 dishes per person. So, we ordered all 10 items on their dinner menu, plus several drinks. Everything we ordered was really well-prepared, with wonderful textures, purées, reduction sauces, etc. The only substantive thing I'd want changed is that most dishes are vegetable-centric, with little in the way of complex carbs or protein, which means you don't exactly leave full--and for a meal you spend $100 on, that is not very attractive. Service was top-notch and everything was presented beautifully. All in all, really solid vegan fine-dining with some room for improvement in the aforementioned dish curation.

    Sunny W.

    3.5/5 we came here for the winterlicious 2025 menu and it was an overall good time! the dishes are unique and creatively put together. we tried the Summer, Sunset, and Earth appetizers. they were all solid apps! however, the entrees were pretty disappointing. the Starry Night biryani felt too fusion-y to me, with a lot of the south asian flavours getting missed. we tried the Sunrise which was a creative play on a vegetable dish that i enjoyed, but my company weren't big fans haha. for dessert, we tried Winter which was warm and comforting, but the Nature Cake had way too much cardamom and just wasn't super enjoyable. verdict: creative dishes and worth a try, but not sure if i would personally come back.

    Wine Menu
    Victoria S.

    I looooooved my meal at Hawker! I came in for the brunch tasting on a rainy Saturday morning and it was such a great experience. It's very intimate, cozy, and simplistic. The servers were very knowledgeable and attentive. I have no idea half of the food I had, but there were quite a few flavorful explosions happening. Highlights were the accompaniments with the dal, chai tea, eggplant, naan, biryani rice with lavender and the ice cream. Absolutely sensational. I'm visiting from out of town, so glad I could make a last minute resy on a Sat morning.

    Yusra A.

    With a selection of seven unique vegan sandwiches and a tempting selection of vegan wings, every visit will leave you wanting more. I tried the Wala Bahn Mi and couldn't resist upgrading with Fava Bean Tofu for just $5--adding 15g of protein! Without a doubt, the best banh mi I've ever had in Toronto (I dare you to prove me wrong!). So filling yet worth it. Plus, for another $5, you can upgrade your meal to a combo that includes a drink and light, perfectly salted root vegetable chips. And let me tell you about those mushroom wings! Typically, not my go-to, but I found myself diving in without hesitation--they're that good. And the mango chutney served alongside them? Phenomenal. I put it on everything. The shop itself is cozy, a great place to take friends to catch up or for an intimate night. The patio is nice during the warmer weather, tucked in the back away from the bustling noises of Kensington.

    Pappadam- Eggplant
    Indo S.

    We were able to get a seating late on Saturday night: We were excited to try this Indian/Asian inspired Tapas restaurant. The entire menu is plant based/ vegan. Our server was nice and had our table ready for us when we arrived. He gave great recommendations. This is not traditional Indian. The chef prepared the food fresh. A few of the seats in the restaurant allow you to watch the food being prepared.The space is small and clean. The flavors were familiar but definitely unique. We enjoyed our meal. The desserts were tasty and a fresh cup of Chaa to finish the night was perfect.

    THE BEST VEGAN FOOD I've ever had - and I seek out vegan restaurants everywhere I travel. It's a sensory delight. Each dish I tried had a combination of savory and sweet, different textures, and visual artistry. I treated myself to the chef's table six course meal and highly recommend it. Here's what was on the menu last night: (1) Papadam: Chewy braised eggplant on a crispy chickpea cracker topped with a small slice of pickled fennel bulb. (2) Mushrooms: Meaty Lion's mane mushroom pressed on the cooking griddle, atop a puddle of carrot and foraged Labrador tea purée that adds a touch of sweetness, plus smoked shepherd peppers for very slight heat. (3) Sautéed Runner beans: Cooked to tender perfection. To me, they tasted like green beans and green peppers - presented in a red pepper and pine nut sauce (4) Sweet Purple Grapes: The small grapes are baked yet still firm and juicy, presented alongside savory sautéed brussel sprout leaves in a cashew yogurt. On the side, handmade flatbread - kind of like naan - that has fermented and which was lightly seasoned with herbs. (5) Large Perilla Leaf: In the middle of the leaf was a melange of smoked cabbage, pickled mushrooms, beet reduction, chili cream, and pistachio (6) Dessert: Ginger date cake topped with a thin layer of fermented pear and touches of fennel and marigold petals This tiny, understated, gourmet restaurant merits a weekend trip to Toronto, especially for vegan foodies.

    Biryani
    Elaine W.

    We had the weekend south Asian influenced brunch menu. We opted to sit inside to see the chef in action and were not disappointed. The mocktails was fun as we're the hibiscus and other teas The 5 course brunch includes a delicious bean course, two curries and their Biryani. We finished with a delicious ice cream dessert. Service and explanation was clear.

    Cynthia W.

    What a unique, charming tasting menu brunch! We came here for my birthday and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. $35 for 6 courses is such fantastic value for what you get at Hawker. It was a beautiful weekend, so we sat on the back patio. Though the plates seem small, we were quite full by the end of the meal. I was blown away especially by - Course 2 [God's Work]: Romano beans with pepper paste & pine nuts - Course 3 [Bushfire]: Baingan bharta, an Indian eggplant curry, paired with delicious roti - Course 6: Homemade juniper ice cream Only minor thing is we felt like Bushfire could've used more roti, which ended up being an extra $3. We also got the Epiphany & Deliverance drinks. My hot tea paired wonderfully with the fragrant flavours. My taste buds and stomach were very satisfied. Yum yum yum!

    EARTH oyster mushrooms, smoked corn broth, sesame
    Linh T.

    Went here for dinner with a girlfriend who is vegetarian. The space is cute and well utilized. The service was amazing, our server was very attentive and friendly. The food was both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. Everything was just so pretty like a work of art. I really enjoyed the oyster mushrooms, biryani, and chaga tea in particular. Definitely a good spot to checkout with a friend or even on a date.

    Andrew L.

    I was a skeptic coming into this weekend brunch, as I generally do not eat vegetarian or vegan often. But I was pleasantly surprised. First off, there were various different dishes, I was afraid that we would not be full by the end. But it was so satisfying. The faves had to be the briyani with cashews, the flavours were awesome and the little dollops of sauce paired so well. The eggplant with the fresh, flavoured roti. And finally, THE DESSERT!!!! The pistachio, saffron and honey ice cream was unreal. The subtle sweetness and freshness... I could eat a whole tub of that!!! Honestly an incredible meal and deserving of the hype and 5 stars. The service was also excellent!! Forgot to mention, chai was $6 a cup... but it was very tasty too. Albeit not essential for the experience. Get a reservation, it can get busy and there's very minimal seating.

    Kate T.

    Beautiful small dishes at this new vegan, globally inspired restaurant. We Literally ordered the entire menu and each plate was entirely unique, flavorful, and surprising. The last trio are all 3 desserts. Highly recommend. Tip: sit on the back patio under the big tree at dusk - swipe to the last video to see why (you'll die of cuteness ).

    Iksheeta S.

    Holy moly the food was incredible!! The service was no less than a 10/10. I went to celebrate my birthday here and I couldn't have been happier! The ambiance is cute. Simple. Nothing "fancy" per se, but it's perfect. The food pricing was really really affordable as well. Can't wait to go here again!

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    7 years ago

    Vegan food done right. So flavourful and delicious. Hearty portions. Their bread is unreal too - will forever be a returning customer.

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    7 years ago

    Great people, amazing food. Order anything and you'll be happy! Check out the back patio for a quiet getaway!

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    7 years ago

    One of the most flavourful places I've been to in a while great people and curries to die for my fav vegan spot to go to at the moment!

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    Hawker Reviews in Other Languages

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    Aanch

    Aanch

    4.2(230 reviews)
    1.6 km•Entertainment District, Downtown Core, Waterfront Communities-The Island
    •$$

    My partner and I are visiting Toronto for the weekend from Buffalo, NY. We love Indian food and…read moreAanch was a must-try on our trip list. The ambience is warm and inviting but also elegant. The staff were so friendly and checked in often to refill water and ask if we needed anything. They have many options for dietary needs like gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegetarian. And the food is INCREDIBLE. I think I said incredible 15 times. Our food came out steaming and insanely fragrant. Beautiful presentation. We got the Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan and Chili Coriander Naan and the Tawa Kathal Masala with Gluten Free Roti. The chicken breast was tender like thigh meat and the jackfruit had the best flavor and texture I have ever had before. Our conversation completely stopped when the food arrived because we just couldn't stop eating and when we did it was to say "this is so good" or "this is incredible." We practically licked our plates at the end. And then our server Sri gave us complimentary Pistachio Kulfi! I love the texture of kulfi so much and the pistachio bits were a delightful added layer. The perfect end to the perfect meal. It was so kind. We aren't celebrating anything in particular, I think they're simply generous with their customers and want to give you the best experience. Absolutely worth a try if you're in the area. Note: We went on a Thursday night at 7:30pm so it was only about half full when we arrived and quiet. The staff were fully available to us and we had no extra wait times. Also, TIFF was happening two blocks away from the restaurant so that may have given us a different experience as well. Peak times might look different.

    Short review/TL;DR version: Excellent Gushtaba. Great Dilliwala Butter Chicken. OK Pineapple Pakora…read moreChaat. Decent Naan. Toronto Review 11/Many: I went to this tiny Indian spot with another prior to going to the game at Rogers Center, so my meal was a bit more abridged compared to what I would normally do in an Indian restaurant. The service was fine, and it took a little while for us to sit, but soon enough we were in a nice corner overlooking the bar area downstairs. As I wasn't sure whether I'd have a beer at the stadium, I didn't bother having a drink, nor did the other person. Overall, the food was tasty and a bit more unique than a typical Indian spot. However, I didn't love the appetizer, and I found the naan just alright. Our only appetizer was the 17.99 CAD Pineapple Pakora Chaat with masala pineapple fritter chaat, lachha aloo, papdi, saffron-pineapple yogurt, mint-date chutney, and slaw. As with the rest of the dishes, the food was well presented. There was a nice mix of textures, which included crunchy, soft, and others. The best parts were the aloo and pineapple, and I wish there were more pieces of the latter. In terms of flavor, in comparison to other chaat I have had before, this was on the sweeter end for me, which made it a bit less balanced. Overall, it was good, but not great. My main dish was the very tasty Kashmiri Gushtaba for 28.99 CAD, consisting of goat meatballs slow-cooked in a rich Kashmiri white onion-cardamom gravy. The very soft meatballs were the easy highlight and my favorite part of any of the dishes I had that night, as they had a nice mélange of spices/masala. The gravy was thick and slightly buttery, with a complex blend of flavors, including, I believe, a hint of ginger and something smoky, along with the listed cardamom and other more subtle spices. This was delicious and was perfect over rice, though this isn't included and is an extra 7.99 CAD. The other person had the 26.99 CAD Dilliwala Butter Chicken, with said chicken enhanced with smoky ginger, garlic, and green chilies. The menu also has a milder option of butter chicken sans said extra flavors for a dollar less. I tried a bit of the chicken, and it was pretty tender with a little heat, but less so than my dish. The gravy was also complex, though I preferred my dish overall. They had some interesting bread options, but we stuck with a classic Garlic Naan for 6.99, which was pretty good. While lacking ghee, there was plenty of garlic flavor with some nice crispier edges. However, I found it a bit chewy compared to other spots. In terms of the number of Indian spots I've been to, I'd probably put it in the lower-middle to middle range. If I were to only rate the main dishes, I would probably leave a five-star rating. However, the appetizer was only just okay, and the naan was only decent. Also, our main dishes definitely needed rice, and that's an extra few dollars. In short, I liked the concept of the restaurant more than the execution, with this spot reminding me of a better version of Baar Baar in NYC. Excellent gushtaba, though.

    Photos
    Aanch - Bar area

    Bar area

    Aanch
    Aanch

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    Kothur Indian Cuisine

    Kothur Indian Cuisine

    3.7(127 reviews)
    1.9 km•Church-Wellesley Village, Church-Yonge Corridor, Downtown Core
    •$$

    The food was very mid…read more We got the Bhel Puri, the Chicken Tikka Masala, and the Goat Xacutti. I love indian food so I was excited to try the Goat Xacutti as it's something new but it ended up tasting exactly like the Chicken Tikka. And the Chicken Tikka didn't taste like what Chicken Tikka usually tastes like. They both tasted like and amalgamation of every curry all mixed together. It was flavorful, but there was no distinct flavor. The Bhel Puri was yummy, but they served us wayyyy too much for only a party of 2. The garlic naan was fine. I also ordered the sweet lassi, which was tasty. The seating was fine and they had a coat rack which was nice. It's open late (till 11pm) which is convenient and why I might come here again, but otherwise the food did not stand out to me at all.

    I first heard about Kothur in the most unexpected way--while trying to switch to a cheaper data…read moreplan at a Fido store. Midway through the painfully slow setup process, the entire store started filling with the scent of something glorious. Rich spices, buttery warmth... it was the kind of smell that stops conversations. Everyone working there was Indian, and they were all clearly just trying to wrap up my account so they could dig into whatever just got delivered. I had to ask--where's that food from? "Kothur," they said, almost in unison. That was the recommendation, and it stuck with me. I walked by the place once. The exterior didn't scream "hidden gem." Thought about ordering delivery a few times but never followed through. Life, you know? Today, I finally went. From the outside, still nothing to write home about. But walk in, and it's a different story. Clean, cozy, and exactly the kind of no-fuss Indian spot you'd expect to stumble upon in the heart of a big city. The food? Solid. Spices landed right. Everything was warm, comforting, and satisfying. It's not trying to reinvent Indian cuisine--it's just doing it well. If you ever find yourself sniffing the air near a phone shop and wondering what that divine smell is--it might just be Kothur. TL;DR Not flashy. Surprisingly good. Smelled it before I tasted it. Worth it.

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    Kothur Indian Cuisine
    Kothur Indian Cuisine
    Kothur Indian Cuisine

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    Hawker - vegan - Updated October 2026

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