Fantastic dinner at Lunch Lady on Ossington. I was dining solo and grabbed a seat at the bar, which turned out to be a great spot to take in the energy of the restaurant. Started with the octopus skewers, which were excellent -- beautifully smoky and char-grilled, with a green chili sauce that had the perfect amount of heat without overpowering the octopus. The short rib rigatoni was divine. Tender beef short rib, spicy tomato demi and marrow butter made for an incredibly rich and flavourful pasta. Finished with the three-layer dessert, and it was the bomb! Pandan sticky rice cake, coconut condensed milk ice cream, strawberry-red bean purée and mung bean streusel -- unusual, delicious and a great way to finish the meal. The wine pairings were also absolutely perfect: Sancerre with the octopus and Barolo with the short rib pasta. Service at the bar was outstanding throughout -- attentive, knowledgeable and welcoming, especially as a solo diner. And then there's Ossington itself. The whole strip was buzzing and the crowd had that unmistakable Ossington energy. It's easily my favourite restaurant/bar strip in Toronto -- it has a little bit of that NYC neighbourhood vibe, with one great spot after another and people everywhere. Excellent food, excellent service, great atmosphere. Lunch Lady absolutely lived up to the hype. Highly recommended. read more

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Came here for a special date night and tried nearly the entire menu. The inside of the restaurant is gigantic and was fully booked. Unfortunately they did not have the soft shell crab dish so may need to go back as I hear nothing but great things about it. Thought we would be exotic and try their tamarind clams and we felt that it did not quite work. Must try dishes for us was the duck breast, beef carpaccio and the taro chips (sounds simple but my God they were so addictive) The fried rice with crab was also highly recommended to us but even with the sauce poured in, we felt it was a bland. Overall a dining experience with great service that I would highly recommend. They definitely have unique dishes that you wouldn't find at other vietnamese restaurants. read more

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I went to the Lunch Lady restaurant for lunch. I was by myself so I was seated in the front of the kitchen. To get a a seat at Lunch Lady, I needed to make a reservation. The menu is very limited. I ordered the prawn fritters and steak luc lac dishes. The prawn fritters was okay kind of bland. The steak luc lac was great and very tasty in a peppercorn sauce. The service was amazing and professional. There were a large staff and everything was well run. Would I go back? I am not sure, but the meal was very expensive. read more

Wow I don't have much more to say that than The grilled octopus and the green chile sauce were so good, but I don't think we really needed to order an app with how big the Pho ended up being!!! The pho was sooooo good! The broth had so much flavor, loaded with meats and given a side set with some veggies, herbs and sauce. We didn't even use the sauce because the soup was so flavorful! We left very full and satisfied. Definitely a treat. Would recommend making a reservation in advance as it is very busy. The staff was great and helpful. read more

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Went on a Tuesday night and the place was PACKED! Fortunately was able to get in right away by sitting at the bar. Definitely would recommend getting a reservation if you are trying to get in for dinner. Service was kind and helpful with tips on how the dishes are meant to be enjoyed. Started off with Grilled Octopus and the green chile sauce was such a good acidic counter to the spicy/smoky octopus. The Beef Noodle Soup was HUGE, definitely big enough to split between 2 people. The broth was amazing, 10/10 no complaints! If you are not into fatter cuts of beef it may not be your thing as there is bone marrow, oxtail, and beef cheek. Lunch Lady is worth a try and the hype! read more

Lunch Lady - WAGYU BEEF NOODLE SOUP rare Wagyu short rib, beef cheek, ox tail, bone marrow, slow poached egg, rice noodles, 24 hour beef broth - Vietnamese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I'm not sure what happened to this restaurant but the service really fell down hard. The food is still good but the service was a complete miss for a restaurant that's been opened for over a year. 1. They forgot two out of 5 orders. The first three came quickly and we had to follow up on the missing two. They clearly had to enter them. 2. The server clearing our dishes kept intruding into my space with the dirty plates. She was holding onto dirty plates and utensils trying to stack her plates but when she held the dirty plate and utensils they were right into my clothes and I had to get out of the way 3 times. I noticeably moved my entire body out of the way but she was still unable to adjust her positioning to not dirty my clothes. She should just be making multiple trips if she can't clean it on one go. 3. To apologize for the service she brought me free dessert only to charge me for it on the bill. I didn't notice it on my bill so luckily they voluntarily corrected the error. But now I'm waiting for a statement credit on something that shouldn't even be on the bill in the first place. This place was just a huge miss on service. read more

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Oh. Wow, wow. Talk about flavors galore. Service is tops. I love the decor. Feels like old Vietnamese settings. If you are in Toronto, must you go! read more

Lunch Lady - Vietnamese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The Lunch Lady ties the vibrancy of Vietnamese cuisine and culture with a modern twist. We were in a group of 13 so we made prior reservations and opted for the tasting menu so we literally tried everything on the menu and you cannot go wrong with anything. My top favorite items were the steak, Iberico pork ssam, and the clams with the pomelo chunks. The meats were cooked perfectly with the addition of the char and the citrus paired so beautifully with the cuttlefish (although I was a bit skeptical at first since I don't like warm fruits). For drinks, my top favorite was the night in Paris! The black sesame paired with the foamy egg white was delicious! Their Vietnamese coffee offerings were delightful as well as they paired it with some fun flavors like salted egg yolk and pandan. Another unique offering was the henessey tea. I highly recommend this as it was shockingly delightful and refreshing without the strong Henessey taste. Let's not forget to mention the amazing service! Mahli (apologies if I spelled your name wrong) was such an amazing server! She was timely, friendly and super engaging making the whole experience a blast! The interior is also beautifully crafted! The private dining table made you feel like you were sitting in a cart. This restaurant can cater to an intimate vibe as well as a more casual vibe ! The story behind how the Lunch Lady also became a restaurant is inspiring. If you want to know more, check them out and the story is behind their menu! read more

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TL;DR: An absolutely incredible dining experience from start to finish. Our group of 13 booked the full menu HAM CHƠI prix fixe in their private Rickshaw Room to celebrate my birthday, and it was the perfect first meal for our Toronto trip. Outstanding food, amazing vibes, and top-tier service. The Lunch Lady might be legendary for lunch, but their dinner service completely shines with some seriously awesome, experimental approaches to Vietnamese food. Because we had a group of 13, I called weeks ahead to reserve their special dining booth to experience the full HAM CHƠI menu. This family-style prix fixe serves up their entire dinner menu at a massive, horseshoe-shaped table inside the private Rickshaw Room right next to the main dining room. The space is beautifully decked out in traditional Vietnamese decor, and it was the absolute perfect setup for a large crew to sit comfortably. The multi-course feast was spectacular across the board, but the absolute highlights of the night were the BÒ TÁI CHANH beef carpaccio with its fresh herbs and bright lime vinaigrette, and the legendary BÒ LÚC LẮC. That steak lúc lắc featured a perfectly cooked 8oz ribeye with peppercorn sauce, crispy cassava, burnt scallion butter, and a rich piece of seared foie gras that took it completely over the top. Everything else was just as impressive, from the crispy taro chips, chargrilled octopus skewers, and caramelized duck salad, to the tiger prawns, tamarind butter Manila clams with a Chinese donut, and a red crab fried rice loaded with XO sauce and fish roe. We wrapped things up with a phenomenal three-layer pandan and coconut ice cream dessert alongside a Vietnamese coffee tiramisu. The staff was incredibly accommodating and attentive throughout the entire night. The cocktails kept flowing and our table managed to try every single drink on the menu. A special shoutout goes to their Hennessy Cold Tea table service, which was served up in a really cool Hennessy teapot and came with a quick, awesome history lesson on how the drink got its name. Since we were celebrating my birthday, the servers also brought out the desserts with sparkler candles, which was a great touch. Between the vibrant atmosphere, the A+ service, and the phenomenal execution of the food, The Lunch Lady gave us the ultimate welcome to Toronto. read more

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Absolutely delicious! The service was amazing and the chefs counter offers a great view of the kitchen. Our favourite were the prawn fritters which was a great combo of shrimp fried goodness with a very fresh wrap containing mint and Thai basil. The steak was perfectly cooked. The lemongrass was good but would have liked to have the sauce on the side so we can taste the hot sauce a bit more (it was put underneath the chicken). read more

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TLDR highlights: Had an amazing experience dining at Lunch Lady. Honestly some of the best Vietnamese food Toronto has to offer. The highlights I've sampled across the table is the flavourful pork tomahawk on rice and the umami packed wagyu beef noodle soup. For the apps, I recommend the duck salad. It's quite generously portioned so great for sharing. The egg coffee or pandan coffee is also a must-have treat during brunch. Though the pandan coffee comes with a taller glass, so if you need more of a caffeine fix that might be for you. Reservations highly recommended as they are booked well in advance. We wanted to change the reservation time and it seems like all the times are taken when I checked on Friday for Saturday reservation. Note 20% gratuity is automatically added for parties of 6 or more though they give you a 2hr eating window which is very generous and we never felt rushed. Rest of the review: The other dishes are great as well no complaints, I myself ordered the BÁNH CANH CUA (Saturday special), which is a noodle soup with this thick comforting seafood (and maybe pork?) soup similar to shark fin soup minus the shark fin. It's pretty good, though other restaurants do serve this dish as well, although not as common. They certainly load the dish with plenty of crab meat and shrimp. It's good but personally, probably way too steamy to enjoy during the summer. NOTE: I don't remember ordering the optional crab claw with the banh canh cua, which I think it was an extra charge. It terms of taste, it was okay, not as bouncy and delicious as some crab claws I had at Chinese restaurants and I could've passed on it since I was so full already from tasting the other dishes and delicious apps. We also had the prawn fritters and fried tofu, which was great as well, no complaints. I would've preferred soft shell crab as opposed to the crab claw, which was another option that I notice on the menu now but our server did not ask for our choice. We ordered two banh canh cuas at our table and they served us both the crab claw as default. The steak luc lac was cooked perfectly to our liking, medium rare though I think given all dishes we tried, the steak wasn't as special in comparison. The service was really attentive and they even offered a special pandan cake with ice cream for a birthday celebration on the house. The food quality makes it well worth it. Since this spot is at a more premium price point for Vietnamese cuisine and typically requires a reservation, I'd recommend it more for special occasions rather than casual meals. read more

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I've always heard great things about The Lunch Lady and finally got the chance to try it. I definitely recommend making a reservation, as the restaurant is always busy. We ordered the beef carpaccio, crab fried rice, pork and scallop skewers and tamarind clams. Everything was delicious but the standout dishes for us were the tamarind clams and crab fried rice. The food was packed with flavour, super well seasoned and light despite the bold tastes. We also tried the egg coffee and sesame cocktail. The coffee was good but the egg foam wasn't quite as rich/fragrant as the ones I've had in Vietnam. The sesame cocktail was nutty and refreshing.. super easy to drink. The restaurant was lively and service was super friendly and attentive. Overall it was a great dining experience, looking forward to coming back again! read more

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The service is really good as is the ambiance. We got the following: Steak luc lac - the steak was good but the cassava seemed undercooked/too hard. (3/5) Garlic noodles - very rich. It does have a strong flavor profile (3/5) Morning glory - i wasn't a fan (1/5) Fried tofu - I loved this one. Lovely fried soft tofu - fluffy and really good (5/5) Three layer dessert - this one was excellent (5/5). read more

Very cute and hip Vietnamese spot with elevated menu options. There was a line and a wait but it was just me so I was able to be seated at the bar. It seems reservations are recommended even for lunch. Very nice ambiance inside and friendly and attentive staff. I order the pho special with oxtail, rare beef, flank steak, etc (a $30 bowl of pho) and while the presentation was nice, it was just average as far as pho goes in my option. Broth was good - not amazing. Hearty portions and it is a food place for drinks with friends or a nice fresh lunch. I'd go back and maybe try something less "jazzy" and huge on the menu but it's worth a visit. read more

Lunch Lady - Pho with oxtail, bone marrow, rare beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Funny enough, my friend Burgis, who's an excellent chef in Toronto, and I were recently talking about gentrification and the wave of influencer-driven restaurants in the city, especially around King West. But he told me there was one exception: The Lunch Lady. Ever since that conversation, I'd been meaning to visit. With Mother's Day coming up, I decided it would be the perfect place to bring my mom, so I booked us a table. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by a friendly hostess. Our server was friendly overall albeit I was hoping for just a bit more attentiveness. The restaurant itself was spotless, with a beautiful bar and an open-concept kitchen where you could watch the chefs expertly preparing each dish. We decided on the Bò Tái Chanh (beef carpaccio) to start, followed by the Cơm Chiên Cua (crab fried rice) and the Bò Lúc Lắc (8 oz ribeye steak). The Bò Tái Chanh was incredibly refreshing. The thin slices of exceptionally fresh wagyu were delicate and satisfying, layered with an impressive depth of textures and flavours. The nuttiness and crunch from the peanuts and fried shallots played beautifully against the herbal brightness of mint, basil, and perilla, while the pickled onions and lemon vinaigrette added sweetness and acidity that tied everything together. The best way to enjoy it was with chopsticks, rolling each slice into little beef wraps bursting with flavour. After the appetizer, there was about a 20-minute wait before the mains arrived together. The wait was worth it as they were absolutely PHENOMENAL. The Cơm Chiên Cua was wonderful. The moment I took my first spoonful of rice mixed with the generous chunks of red crab, the aroma of the sea washed over me like an oceanic wave. Every bite of sweet crab meat and popping fish roe felt vibrant and alive, balanced by the grounded peppercorns, like stepping on the warm beach sand of Ho Coc near Ho Chi Minh City. My favourite bite was with the poached egg mixed in: creamy, oceanic, sweet, savoury, and lightly spicy all at once. It was an incredibly immersive dish like swimming in the Biển Đông. I also want to applaud the portion size - there was an abundance of both crab and rice, making the dish feel genuinely generous and fulfilling. If I had one small suggestion, it would simply be a touch more wok hei for added smokiness. And then there was the Bò Lúc Lắc, a truly unforgettable dish. Everything about it reflected an extraordinary understanding of balance, technique, and ingredient harmony. The lightly marinated ribeye was sous vide and grilled to a perfect medium rare, melting effortlessly in the mouth while delivering deep umami and subtle sweetness along the crust. The foie gras added richness, creaminess, and a gentle smokiness that elevated the steak even further. What impressed me most, though, was how every component on the plate worked together. The watercress salad, lightly dressed in lemon vinaigrette, brought freshness, peppery bitterness, and acidity that cut beautifully through the richness of the steak and foie gras. The cassava chips were airy, crispy, and lightly spicy, adding both texture and contrast. Together, the dish delivered sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, acidity, spice, and umami in perfect balance. Anthony Bourdain once described Lunch Lady in Saigon as "discovering new neighborhoods every few mouthfuls," and I'd say this dish felt like an entire world tour. There were clear influences and techniques drawing from Vietnam, France, Hong Kong, and South America, yet everything felt cohesive rather than excessive. It was one of the most impressive steak dishes I've had in Toronto, if not around the world. To conclude, The Lunch Lady was an absolute sensation, and I truly think my mom had one of her best Mother's Days there. You can feel the vision and legacy of Nguyễn Thị Thanh (rest in peace) in the food, and the two executive chefs carrying that vision forward are doing something remarkable. We'll absolutely be back to explore more of the menu. (Also, a special shoutout to the expo/sous chef who came out to speak with us and explain the dishes - it genuinely elevated the experience even further.) read more

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The food was so great. We went in for a light lunch and it was perfect. The taro chips are good but the dip is what makes it 10/10! The duck salad was so refreshing on a hot summer day. It was quite loud but you can still talk. Would def come back read more

Lunch Lady - Taro chips and duck salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Phenomenal. I am writing this review a week later as I sit in the restaurant again. It's that good that we came back for lunch. Got here right at dinner open at 5pm. Joined the crowd but there were a few tables left. Great vibe. Cool vietnam inspired decor. We went crazy for two people and ordered the following: Soft shell crab fritters: large portion and exactly what it should have been. Nicely fried portions of crab with a variety of vegetables and leaves to wrap. Beef carpaccio: excellent and delicious. The vinegrette was very nice on it. Wagyu pho with pork cracking added was amazing. Wife loved it and will always order it. Generous amount of meat. Crab fried rice: solid. Lots of crab Steak luc luc: this was ok Pork tomahawk was incredible. Possibly best pork dish in the city. Excellent flavour. Was amazing the next day as leftovers too. Tiramisu was ok Celebration dessert also ok This is permanently part of the rotation. So good. Pork skewers were excellent. Great flavour. read more

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Finally made it out to the infamous Lunch Lady. We had to book our reservation way in advance but since we did, it was not hard to find a booking for a weekend. The restaurant itself has a really fun vibe that gives homage to the traditional food stalls in Vietnam. We got seated pretty quickly and service was very fast. There a seating limit due to how popular this place is. For the food we got the Saigon Street Tea, Pandan Coffee, Banh Canh Cua (which was the lunch special for Saturday), Prawn Fritters, Beef Carpaccio, Bo Luc Lac and Three Layer Dessert. For the lunches, the soups change daily. Banh Canh Cua is one of my favourite soups. Their version was very crab forward and came with a prawn meatball claw and fried donut. The soup was huge and for the price it's not bad. My only critique was that the noodles were a big mushy and prefer them more chewy. The beef carpaccio was super delicious and fresh and the prawn fritter was huge and came with lots of green. The three layer dessert (not a true Che Ba Mau which is a coconut based drink) was a Vietnamese Banh Bo Nuong with ice cream and a strawberry sauce. Very interesting combo that worked pretty well. I get the hype and I think the food here really highlights the diversity of dishes that Vietnam has to offer versus what people typically think of which is Pho. It's definitely a very trendy spot and a nice place to go with friends and try a variety of dishes. I think flavours could be punchier but I might just be biased as a viet person (hence the 4 star). Regardless my friends and I definitely plan on coming back for the dinner menu. read more

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ALL THE FOOD WAS SPECTACULAR. We were pleased from the very first bite. The star of the show was definitely the crab fried rice. It came with extra soy sauce, but we found it was Al really well seasoned. If you are bringing kids, the food can be little bit spicy for them. Service was excellent. Do make a reservation to guarantee a table. However, they have a separate time at their entrance for those who do not have a reservation, so you have a chance of getting a table that way! read more

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Came back for dinner and wow, everything we ordered was amazing. The crab fried rice was packed with generous pieces of crab and was incredibly flavorful. The short rib rigatoni was a standout. The meat was tender and fall apart, and the sauce was rich, slightly sweet with a subtle kick. The tomatoes added a perfect touch of freshness and sweetness. For dessert, the three layer dessert was excellent. The pandas chewy, rice cake paired perfectly with the ice cream and crispy topping, and it was just the right level of sweetness. We will definitely be back. read more

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I have been sooooooo intrigued by their Saturday Lunch Special Banh Canh Cua which is a crab based soup noodle (different from Bun Rieu) with tapioca noodles. Living in the east, it has not been easy for us to visit here and try it. Finally, we got a chance today! My bad. I didn't know this place is this popular- we didn't make reservation and was told that wait time is up 35 mis. 14 groups ahead of us. The entrance was packed with people lining up. It was already 2pm and the last order is 3pm. Do we wait? Of course yes. The staff members were excellent in handling the line and waitlist, and we're seated in less than the expected wait time. Howeverrrrrr, our table server had a bad news.... they ran out of Banh Canh Cua already! I held my tears when I heard it! But the server told me their Wagyu beef pho is super good. Rare wagyu short rib, beef cheek, ox tail, bone marrow withspecial 24 hr beef broth? How can I say no. My hubby got regular beef pho. We also got soft shell crab. Wagyu pho was very satisfying. Rare wagyu was served in a separate plate so I can control the done-ness for my liking. Thank you! Those unconventional meat parts were so good, all cooked to the perfectly tender texture. I wished the broth were hotter but nonetheless it was a really special bowl. The regular beef pho was great as well, we liked their broth flavor. Delicate, savoury, well rounded and nothing lacking. Pleasant hint of natural sweetness. Delicious. Soft shell crab was delicious as well. Juice spills when I broke the thin crisp coating. :) We had pandan cake served with milk gelato and strawberry & red bean sauce, topped with mung bean crunch sprinkles. It's a hybrid of a sponge cake and mochi texture - but deep fried, so the edge was like a crispy fried french toast. Savoury and chewy, crispy - very unique and we liked it. Refreshing! Our table service (Tristan) was excellent. He turned my disappointment (of no Banh Canh Cua for today) into super satisfying experience. Efficient, attentive and personalized interactions (in this super busy environment) really made a difference. Many people say this place is expensive but with his services, I felt it worth the $. I will come back - next time for Banh Canh Cua!!! It is only for Saturday and tends to be gone by 2pm. Sure. See you soon Banh Canh Cua!!!!! read more

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An up and coming restaurant so I decided to give it a try! Everything was tasty and homey. They really executed their concept well, blending traditional Vietnamese dishes and flavour profiles with a unique twist. I wanted to try a variety of foods so I got the beef carpaccio, crab fried rice, and pork tomahawk at the recommendation of some friends, and none of them disappointed. After I finished each dish I was left wanting more. Price point was a bit high so definitely not something you could eat at everyday, but would be great for special occasions. It does get busy though so making reservations are recommended! read more

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I had heard mixed reviews about this place so I didn't go on with much expectations. Service was incredible and the food was served very quickly. As there were 6 of us, we shared the 2 person and 4 person Family Style menu. My favourite dish was the Beef Carpacio. I didn't read the description but one bite in and you get all the aromas of pho, what a pleasant surprise! The crispy taro chips are addictive. The rest of the menu was great too, minis the garlic noodles. It was way too salty. All in all our party really enjoyed the food and service and would come back. read more

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Finally tried Lunch Lady on a Sunday evening! I was able to snag a reservation for two 3 weeks in advance for 8pm. When we arrived, I was shocked at how big the restaurant was! and to still be so difficult to book speaks to just how popular they are! I had high expectations and they were met! Our waiter was attentive and funny. My partner dropped his chopstick and he appeared with a spare before I could even wave my hand to get his attention. As for the food, it was good value for the flavour and quantity. We ordered: - Beef Carpaccio ($24): Great flavour! Loved the fresh mint and crispy shallots and peanuts. The beef was thin and made the perfect bite! - Short Rib Rigatoni ($32): My partner took one bite and asked if we should order another LOL The short rib was truly melt in your mouth. The flavour was sweet and there was some crunch. The tomatoes also had a nice charcoal grill flavour. - Wagyu Pho ($36): A very comforting bite and classic flavour profile. There is definitely a higher meat to noodle ratio which is good bang for your buck. The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was the bone marrow. It was a very very small serving, there was barely any on the bone - Ube Cheesecake: Apparently a newer menu item. I didn't love the mango or mango sauce or puff pastry but the cheesecake itself was smooth and dense and very ube! I would 100% return if not just to get the short rib rigatoni! There are a handful of other meh items I have my eye on including the Garlic Noodles and Soft Shell Crab read more

Lunch Lady - beef carpaccio, short rib rigatoni, wagyu pho, ube cheesecake - Vietnamese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food here was fantastic. The waiter was also very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was also very nicely decorated and tables nicely spaced out. The shrimp fritters were probably my fav dish in the meal. read more

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Great experience, loved the sharing style meal it felt so fun and honestly the $70 price tag was not bad with all that came along with it. We ended up stuffed at the end! My favourites were for sure the crab fried rice and the sticky rice desert at the end. The duck was also phenomenal. I absolutely loved my Vietnamese iced coffee but it kept me up all night Service was very quick and informative. Overall it was a great experience and the new and upcoming place in Toronto! read more

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Higher end Vietnamese restaurant on Ossington in the Trinity Bellwoods neighborhood. Original location in Canada was in a Vancouver. Went on the recommendation of a Vietnamese friend who said it's the only place that has come close to her mother's food. Went at lunch on a weekday winter mid week - so happy I made a reservation beforehand on Open Table because it filled up very fast after opening. Had the special of the day - a seafood pho with a softshell crab fritter on the side. Generous amount of seafood - crab; two shrimp, crab meatball. The broth was amazing - so flavourful! I felt the pride was reasonable for the seafood pho. Would like to try other things on the menu in the future. Service was good read more

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Lunch lady was amazing. One of the most amazing meals and dining experience I had in a long time. I came here to celebrate my friend birthday. It was her choice and to be honest I was really unsure of the place because I really haven't eaten a lot of Vietnamese food. First impressions, what a beautiful lively restaurant. I loved the look and feel of the restaurant I was really excited to see my friend and just enjoy dinner together and catch up. It was my treat so I suggested we do the Family style option for 2, that way we could try a few dishes. To start we got the chips and dip, beef carpaccio, and octopus skewers. Everything can out quickly. The crispy taro chips and green chili aioli were so delicious. Really enjoyed the beef carpaccio as well. Thinly sliced filet of beef, peanuts, crispy shallots, thai basil, mint, perilla, lime vinaigrette..what a combination of flavours. I didn't eat the octopus, I almost did because it looked delish! Maybe next time I'll get over my weirdness. Next round of dishes were the steak Luc lac and the garlic fried noodles. Drool! So delicious. I loved the crispy cassava and burnt scallions with the steak. I would have preferred it cooks a bit more. But, honestly it was great to enjoy it as intended. The crispy noodles were delicious as well with the fried garlic and the poached egg adds that creaminess. Last but not least was the dessert. We got the Three Layer dessert which was a sticky rice cake with coconut condensed milk, strawberry red bean puree and the most delectable mung bean streusel. It was such an amazing combination of flavours. One of the best dessert I've eaten. A few things which I didn't minus score for but was not great. I ordered the fries to substitute for the crispy cassava but they forgot I ordered that and we got the crispy cassava instead which I'm glad we did. Another thing is. Our leftovers never made it back to us because another server mistakenly threw it in the garbage. They did make up for it and offered a dish to go. Lastly, the women's washroom was gross, dirty, and honestly a bit off putting. Besides that. The mean was impeccable. Service could improve, I understand they were busy. And also just more upkeep to the restrooms is needed during busy period. read more

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The food here is really great! I it's a premium take on classic Vietnamese favorites! The beef pho is stacked with beef - brisket, raw Wagyu, beef bone marrow, and more, and the broth is amazing! The pork chop was also very memorable, it was a nice juice piece of pork and marinaded perfectly and grilled to perfection. The restaurant vibes were good, standard for a premium dining experience on Ossington. We are the kitchen bar and got to see the action and the kitchen staff looked like they were having a good time, well coordinated, in making all the dishes. The wait staff was attentive and accommodating and gave us some really good recommendations. Pro tip: if you're doggy bagging left over pho, ask for some extra broth! read more

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The place is certainly one of the "in" places. Hard to make reservations and no "walk-in". Maybe it was because it was Friday? Is it worth it? Probably not for me. The service was excellent and the vibe was good. The pricing was on the high side. For the most part the food was good. The crab rice and pho was excellent. However the beef carpaccio was not good. It all started with the first bite and the peanut (or whatever it was) chipped my tooth in the back! It was really hard-and it was not one isolated piece!! And the taste was nothing special and a bit salty. read more

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I had lunch here with a friend, good thing we made reservations cause there was already a line before it even opened. We got to our seats soon after (our reservation was a little after opening) too. Service was okay but a bit slow and seemed like they forgot about us a few times (asked for some things from multiple staff and didn't get them right away). The food was good, tasted really clean. I had the bun rieu and the popcorn coffee. My friend got the pho and we shared some tofu. I'd say the food were all 5/5, flavour-wise. A little expensive but portion size is big (lots of toppings and meat). It was really nicely decorated inside and very Christmas-y. It got really busy too and there's a huge lineup. Overall, I would come back and try the other dishes as well. read more

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Husband was super excited to try this place out as he said Anthony Bourdain had mentioned how much he loved the original Lunch Lady in Vietnam! First things first, make reservations ahead of time if you can! We started waiting in line about 20 minutes before they opened for lunch, and when we walked in, we had to put our name down as we didn't realize you could make reservations ahead of time. Our wait time was about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad. We ended up with seats at the bar when our name was called, which normally would have been okay if we hadn't ordered half the menu lol. For drinks, we got the - Lychee Passion ($19) - Dillon's No.7 gin, dry vermouth, raspberry syrup, lemon, lychee, egg white and PHỞ-SPICED OLD FASHIONED ($18) - pho-spice infused Bearface whisky, sugar, Angoustura bitters, house orange bitters. Both were really good! The Pho-spiced old fashioned did NOT taste like Pho and Bourbon, it tasted like an earthy old fashioned, which I liked! For food - BÒ TÁI CHANH - BEEF CARPACCIO ($24) filet of beef, peanuts, crispy shallots, thai basil, mint, perilla, lime vinaigrette BÁNH CANH CUA ($28) red crab, jumbo tiger prawns, crispy crab cake, pork hock, quail eggs, tapioca noodles, rich crab broth BÁNH TÔM CHIÊN - PRAWN FRITTERS ($18) tiger prawns & shredded taro root coated in a crisp coconut batter, lettuce, herbs, chili lime sauce PHỞ BÒ WAGYU - WAGYU BEEF NOODLE SOUP ($36) rare wagyu zabuton, beef cheek, ox tail, bone marrow, slow poached egg, rice noodles, 24-hour beef broth Yummy yummy in my tummy! All the portion sizes were bigger than we anticipated, and the flavors were great! They really don't skimp on the proteins. The Banh canh cua came with quite a few chunks of seafood, and the Pho had a good bit of beef cheek and oxtail. The bone marrow that came with the Pho was roasted really well and added a fattier flavor to the broth. The Banh tom chien was extra crispy, and they also didn't skimp on the beef carpaccio. Lunch Lady definitely charges more than one would be used to for Vietnamese food, but the portions justify the expense and it was a fun environment to be in. We also appreciated the nod to Anthony at the entrance! read more

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The Lunch Lady located along the Ossington Strip near Argyle St. serves up "world famous" Vietnamese street food that is elevated. Since 1995, the late Nguyen Thi Thanh has served up daily noodle soups in Saigon to the locals. Her food stall was made famous when Anthony Bourdain explored Vietnam in 2009 on his show, No Reservations. It was during that time he dubbed her "the lunch lady" where she became well known throughout the world. This is The Lunch Lady's second location in Canada (the first in Vancouver). The menu is meant to be shared where there are small and larger plates of food. The food is supposed to mirror some of the offerings from her food stall in Vietnam, however, not everything is the same. The lunch and dinner menus are different, where the lunch menu has daily specials available. There is ample seating in the restaurant where there is also a chef's counter facing an open kitchen, where you can see all your dishes being made. They also have a private room as well for parties. Reservations are highly recommended as this place is all the hype right now! I decided to dine at The Lunch Lady on a Wed for lunch as I often look for bun rieu, a noodle soup dish that isn't found every where in the city. The bun rieu is the daily lunch special at The Lunch Lady on Wednesdays). I decided to make reservations despite being a solo diner as I was afraid that the restaurant would be full. A credit card has to be entered in order for a reservation to be made where you can could be charged a fee of $25 per person if you late cancel or do not show up for your reservation. Upon arrival at the restaurant at 12pm, there was already a line that formed outside where customers were waiting to enter. The few parties ahead of me had reservations and the hostess led them to their tables. When my turn came up, the hostess led me to the kitchen counter, facing the kitchen. It was fun to sit facing the kitchen, watching the cooks hard at work preparing everyone's orders. These are the following items I ordered: - Bun rieu (crab meatball, fish cake, jumbo tiger prawns, red crab, puffed tofu, pork collar, vermicelli noodles, tomato crab broth) - $24 - Ca phe sam dua sua (Vietnamese iced coffee, pandan coconut cream) - $9 Vietnamese coffee was good, not the strongest I've had but it was still good. The pandan coconut cream flavour isn't strong and very slight. The bun rieu was great - the broth was light and had flavours of tomato and crab. The ingredients in the noodle soup were abundant - loads of crab, the shrimp were nice and plump, and the pork collar was tender. Delicious! Service wise, the service was standard. The waitress was friendly but didn't feel approachable. My entire meal lasted about 45 min but service was nothing special. Overall, great bun rieu lunch special! I loved the kitchen counter seating where you could see the kitchen in action. You could tell that each dish was executed well and that the quality control was present. Definitely would love to return to try their dinner menu! read more

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first off, the restaurant design makes you feel like you are in a fusion type restaurant which sets the expectation of the dishes. the colour choices make it feel like Vietnam. We ordered the BÁNH CANH CUA. came with a deep fried battered crab claw and a fried dough stick similar to the ones ofen eaten alongside congee. The soup had very little veggies in it if at all. the flavour was very delicious. steak luc lap which is also known as beef dice. The cut is a 6oz ribeye cut of steak. cooked to a medium doneness but still very tender to the bite because of the high quality cut of meat. at outside had a micro charring texture that gives it that bbq flavour. the rice had some bits of crispness and scallion oil over it when mixed with the fried egg and steak makes those flavours of the vietnamese style rice dish pop. read more

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This place is amazing! Honestly, the decor is decent and there are many tables. Service was great! It seems as though you don't have a dedicated server or if you do, they all help each other. The food. O M G. To be honest the menu wasn't too large but the food is so delicious. I would say all around great balance of flavor. Beef Carpaccio: wow so full of flavor and if you eat it with the taro chips for some crunch. Augh I could eat that for the whole meal. Bun Bo: it's a BBH basically but the broth felt cleaner than other BBHs I've had! Com Suong: That pork is sooooo juicy and it was precut so it was easy to eat. Desserts: We got all three that were offered. I really think these were down to preference. I loved the tiramisu, the flavor was delicious although the viet flavor wasn't too strong. The ube cheesecake was also quite mild, I think it would've gone better with some ice cream as it was dry and a bit dense. The Che 3 mau inspired dessert had a really good balance of textures and flavors, though I personally felt the pandan was a bit thick. Overall had a great time. I do believe it's a bit on the pricier side but the food is quite worth it. Would def come back if I get the chance! read more

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I've been to the Vancouver lunch lady and it was so delicious that I had to try Toronto's new location to compare! We got the same prix fix menu as the one they have in Vancouver. We first started with the drinks (separate from the prix fix). Unfortunately they didn't have the Vietnamese horchata so instead we got a strawberry milky drink which was good but had too much of a yogurt crème taste, which as a personal preference, I didn't enjoy very much, but my boyfriend liked it a lot. The octopus skewers were the first dish to come out. It had 4 baby octopus on each skewer. The skewer I had, had two significantly smaller octopi compared to the other skewers that had bigger ones. I'd had wish they would put an extra octopus on my skewer since half my skewer were way smaller. The next appetizers were house made taro chips with a dill dip and beef carpaccio. Both were delicious. Next we were waiting for the mains: garlic noodles and steak. We're waited for quite a while. Finally they brought our garlic noodles and by the look of the Parmesan, it looked like it was sitting out for a while. When taking the first bite, we could definitely tell it did not come out right when it was ready, it was warm, not hot. By the time I had the last few bites of the noodles, it was cold :( The washrooms were dark but were designed so beautifully, I took pictures but I don't think it did it justice. Overall, comparing the two locations, we thought the Toronto location had a more elevated design, very gorgeous interior. The steak was so better here too The Vancouver location had better garlic noodles but that may be an inaccurate comparison since our garlic noodles that came out in Toronto, came out like they were sitting out for a while. read more

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Finally got to try Lunch Lady in Toronto after all the hype from Vancouver. They opened up in the busy Ossington strip, which is definitely growing with a lot of great spots and Lunch Lady fits right in. Managed to get a table for lunch at the counter overlooking the kitchen. It was almost like a meal and a show watching the kitchen team prepare all the meals which was definitely fascinating. Went with a bigger group so we managed to try most of the appetizers. Tried the Beef Carpaccio, Soft Shell Crab, and Prawn Fritters. The beef carpaccio was nicely balanced with the tender beef, the crispiness from the shallots, and the freshness from the herbs and the lime vinaigrette. The Soft Shell Crab was fried nicely and the green chili aioli was a nice balance. The prawn fritters might have been the least favourite of the group at least in comparison with the other appetizers, but was still cooked nicely. As for mains, the group mostly tried the Pork Tomahawk and the Lemongrass Chicken. The Pork tomahawk was nicely cooked with richness from the foot and balanced with the scallion oil. The lemongrass chicken was very flavourful and nice cook on the skin as well. Paired the whole meal with pandan coffee which was great for lunch. Definitely lived up to the hype and can't wait to try dinner with a bigger menu especially with what other friends have recommended. read more

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I rarely give 5/5 stars but honestly loved everything we ordered here! Went with a group of 6 friends and we booked this reservation about a month in advance as it gets very busy, so would recommend booking ahead. We ordered the family style tasting menu for 4 so we could try everything and added a few dishes. The family style menu came with: crispy taro chips with a green chilli aioli, beef carpaccio, octopus skewers, duck salad, crispy prawns, steak with scallion butter and foie gras, crab fried rice and coconut clams, plus your choice of 2 desserts - we got the Vietnamese coffee tiramisu & three layer dessert. We also added the xo noodles. Everything was excellent! The standouts would have to be the beer carpaccio, crab fried rice, crispy prawns and xo noodles. If you're going as a bigger group of 4-6, I would definitely recommend getting the family style menu and adding a few dishes as needed. It's $70 per person and you get a chance to try most things on the menu which we all really enjoyed. Can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu + their coffee menu as well! read more

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All the hype since Lunch Lady in Vancouver is such a staple and local gem. So excited that Lunch Lady is finally in Toronto, and it's so good that I've been back three times already! Serving both lunch and dinner, their menus differ based on the day and time you visit. Space is beautifully renovated with a modern interior, yet reflecting a Vietnamese touch. Servers were friendly and efficient, especially the hostess! Here are some of their standout items: Lunch: - Pandan Viet coffee 5/5 - Beef Carpaccio 100/5!! My absolute favourite dish. Topped with peanuts, crispy shallots, Thai basil, mint, perilla, and lime vinaigrette. - Duck Salad 5/5 - Pork Tomahawk on Rice 5/5 - Steak Luc Lac 5/5 Personally, I think their dinner menu is a huge standout compared to their lunch menu. And the dishes really speak for themselves! Dinner: - Chips & Dip 5/5 - Crispy Prawns 100/5!! My absolute favourite item from their dinner menu. Love that they use the entire prawn, shell and all, fried altogether, tossed in a chili lime sauce. - Crispy Soft Shell Crab 5/5 - Garlic Noodles 5/5 - Wagyu Beef Noodle Soup 5/5 - Three Layer Dessert 5/5 Can't wait to be back soon for their dinner! An absolute gem added to Toronto's West end! read more

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Got their Friday bun Bo special and the pork tomahawks rice. The pork was the star, very fragrant charcoal taste. The fish was blended perfectly, sweet, savoury and tangy. The bun Bo was missing lemongrass and spice, not your typical BBH taste. However they provided satay and shrimp paste to dip the meat. Unfortunately the cha, pork sausage had a piece of plastic in it. Everyone addressed the issue and some items were comp. Huge space, nicely designed but quite loud even during lunch. Food came out extremely fast, and I also did a walk in. Got seated right away at the bar. read more

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