Taste of the Danforth is arguably Toronto's best known food festival. It celebrates Toronto's fantastic Greek Town. Over the years the restaurant scene diversified and now boasts not only Greek restaurants, but also Asian food, Middle Eastern food, Caribbean food, Mexican food, etc. Taste of the Danforth is a great way to sample some delicious greek offerings like lamb skewers, calamari, spanakopita, Greek pastries etc. It's also a chance to try some other ethnic eats. We had tasty Tibetan dumplings from Momo Hut and excellent tacos from El Charros. There are also lots of tasty drinks like bubble teas. In addition, there is a festival stage which plays live music, and also a few rides for kids. Do be forewarned. The festival is very busy, so expect lots of crowds. This also means long lineups for food. Moreover, the food is not cheap. Expect to pay $5-$15 for a small sample of food. read more

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And the lord said unto Dan: "Come Forth, and ye shall receive eternal life." But Dan came fifth, and won a microwave. What to get: Honey Balls from Athens Pastries and a Gyro from Messini. Honey Balls?: You heard me. I had no idea Danforth St Festival existed. I dropped my mother off at Pearson and stopped in to visit a girl I knew from long ago (Toronto girls are amazing, although most aren't from Toronto). Then I was about to head back to Buffalo when I thought, you know, I'll give one of these late night Gyros a try, in Greektown. However, when I got to Greektown all the roads were closed off and thousands lined the streets. I navigated the back streets and found some (illegal) parking from which I was (not) towed away and then I went and mingled in the (massive) crowd full of (sexy) people. Ever since that (fateful) night I have been afflicted with the (unfortunate) compulsion to use (way too many) parentheses (like constantly). I don't understand how anyone can give this amazing street festival less than a 5. Masses of amazing food options (some overpriced, some cheap), free live music with hot Greek people dancing on stage, thousands of attendees of all ethnic backgrounds, adorable dogs dressed in sunglasses (well, one anyway), and the best Loukamades (Honey Balls) and authentic Athens and Chicago style Gyros (Messini) you could wish to taste. Accept no substitute for Athens Pastries. Other places sell the Loukamades at this festival but none compare to Athens. If this festival isn't a 5-star event then I don't know what is. And by the way, my fave friends in Toronto: Kris first, Jasmine second, Rhonda third, and Dan Forth. read more

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Since it's that time of the year again for taste of the danfoth! I decided it was time I write a review. I used to live in this greektown neighborhood, I loved it! so much great childhood memories and a fantastic neighborhood to live in. I never miss this festival, it's the best summer festival in Toronto! I can miss the other ones, but not this, I come here every single year and even miss vacations for this event. you have to be familiar (like me) with this neighborhood to be able to find parking, I never have any trouble cause i know all the streets. But if you hardly ever go DT and you don't know this place, I suggest you take the subway, there's 3 subways stops along this whole festival that goes from boardview to pape. SO MUCH food to try, you have to know which places to go to, don't get random food at places you never heard of, cause if you want souvlaki, they have it at almost every other stall. and don't get the gyros on a pita unless you are really really hungry or sharing cause it's huge and you will be full form it, you want to try the rest of the stuff! also it's a even better deal if you came on a regular day. Things to try: Kokoretsi & quails from zorba's Crab Au gratin Grilled corn Souvlaki Gyros on a pita w/fries inside Gelato Funnel cakes Calamari I have to say that the prices have been going up, but that's due to the economy. there's carnival games, random vendors, all the shops are open, and this lady that does an amazing free hand hanna tattoo. read more

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They have empty buses blocking major streets. Well-thought off. Good for strolling. Loads of samples, of alcoholic beverages (I have alcohol intolerence). read more

Taste of Danforth - Festivals Near Me

One of the most fun food street festivals I have ever been to! The TotD covers restaurants from Broadview station on the west all the way to Donsland station on the east. Free entrance. Many free samples like Pure Leaf Tea, Bud Light Radler and Limeade, and Budweiser Prohibition ale!! My tip for any large popular annual food festival such as this one, it is always best to get there early to beat the crowd and avoid any major lineups. Near every station is a live music/performance stage, international, celebrity, Greek, and there was also a live Queen karaoke stage to promote the new biopic Bohemian Rhapsody! We saw a couple doing a Chinese fan dance to a Jay Chou's song, G. Pinto playing his violin with international hits, a Latino band singing Despacito, and by going early we covered the entire festival before the crowd arrived! No body to body pushing for us!! While there was a lot of stalls promoting Greek food, I really like that this was more of a multicultural event that promotes and celebrates everything and everyone that does their business on the Danforth!! So glad that we went early right around noon and left before 4 p.m., because it got so busy that it was hard to move around. From gelato to fresh orange juice, to free tea sample, limeade, majito, and fish taco, TotD was truly a memorable experience! Glad I brought my beau along and my god brother and his friend decided to join later on, so that was something. These kinds of event bring people and the community together! Perfect weather to walk and stroll down the barricaded path!! So many cool refreshments along the way! I like that this is a multi-station wise event and not just contained in one small area. There was hardly any smoke, excessive lines or confined space! Everything was out in the patio or you can sit in their shops too if you prefer or need an AC break! Greek food, Caribbean food, Mediterranean, Japanese, Mexican, Turkish pizza and many more! You and your friends will surely love the warm energy there, music, and definitely the food! I sure did! Enjoy! #DanforthStrong! read more

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I think the best time to go to a street festival is the opening day and as soon as it starts to avoid the crowds; BUT my partner in crime wasn't available till 4pm on the last (busiest) day of the festival. What is a crowd/long line phobic person to do? STREET FESTIVAL SURVIVAL TIPS: - Avoid the loooong lines, you'll waste a lot of time here. Look for short lines at the booths at the ends of the festival area: for Taste of Danforth it was Jones & Broadview. Also look behind the carnival stands and rides, for eateries blocked from view. - Don't use the nasty Porta potties, instead buy something small at a store so you can use their washroom. - Most people walk either on the right or left side of the road to be close to the booths on the sidewalk. Walk in the middle of the road for more elbow room. - Bring small bills and change to make your transactions faster. Most things will be in the $1-$6 price range. - When you need a quiet place to hang out, go into one of the eateries (they're still open for business) order a drink or appetizer and dine in. An excellent place to get away from the noise and crowds is on the rooftop of the Carrot Commons where there are tables, rooftop gardens and a relaxing view of the neighborhood. My friend and I had a blast at Taste of Danforth. We tried pide, kofta, loukoumades, pierogies, fresh Malpeque oysters, a blooming onion, and juices imported from Greece. We listened to lively Greek music, watched a stunt show promoting the new upcoming Kingsman movie, danced in the street along with the vendors and other happy people, observed snake handlers from a far, took pictures with a 6'8" talk Spock impersonator and smashed plates to the cheers of OPA! Free admission, close to multiple subway/bus stations, tons of affordable food, 3 stages for performances, carnival games for as low as 25 cents to play, and carnival rides: can't wait for next year's celebration. read more

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wooo! What a fun day to spend at. Pitas+ filo pastries, butter beer, ferris wheel, rock climbing, henna and lots of free samples! I went at 5-8pm on a saturday. Glad i came earlier, because around 7 is when it gets REALLY crowded! Washroom line ups take about 15-25 mins :/ I'm super glad I came to check out this festival. There are a lot of good quality food that isn't expensive! Line ups aren't long either. You can find spinach pies and gyros at almost every other tent, but there's also, juice pops, gelato, bbq quail, skewers, corn, lemonade, calamari, greek poutine (w/ feta), and a whole bunch of peacock feathers for sale. There are free samples of mint, astro and greek yogurt, sabra hummous, nature's path granola bar. I had an almond baklava (2 for $3), which is of course really sweet, but that's why they're in bite sizes right? Tried the margarita pizza slice ($3/slice) too from pizza libretto; nice thin crust and chewy mozzarella :) Lemon squares ($3) are okay, buttery, dense and bar-like. The honey balls taste like timbits rolled in honey instead of sugar. The custard pie is basically filo pastry with icing sugar on top. I didn't try the gyros or meat skewers; those are really filling and I wanted to try and many things as possible! My favourite item from this festival is the lamb spanakopita $3 (ground lamb wrapped in filo pastry) the outside is so light and crispy and inside filled with flavour, mushrooms and moist meat. That certainly made my day. I don't even like lamb but this doesn't have a strong lamb taste. Does anyone remember the name of the tent/owner? Great festival! Will definitely come down here again next year! read more

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This was my first time going to Taste of the Danforth and I will admit I was a little nervous to go by myself. I had heard about the crazy crowds but thankfully after surviving Italian Fest in Vancouver on Commercial Drive, this was not that bad. In fact I was quite comfortable most of the time. I never discovered where you can smash plates (look that stuff up ahead of time, I saw no map or signs for anything) but did see quite a few performers on my walk along The Danforth between Broadview and Pape. I was surprised at how many sport displays, games and contests there were. What did not surprise me were the very long lines to play them. Most of the lines for food were not terribly long. I only came across one booth giving out free samples of food (Galbani's fresh mozzarella skewers) and I purchased the all-time-messiest beef and lamb gyro of my life. Which tasted fantastic! I saw all lots of people walking around with these carved mangoes on a stick which looked fascinating. When I saw them in this display case I made a beeline to check it out. Then I discovered they cover it with hot sauce! For me the best part of the event was not knowing what to expect next. First I saw a bride on the way to her wedding, then a guy dressed up as a cob of corn and music was performed on two stages. The energy of the day I went was great, the weather was fantastic and the food delicious. I am so glad I finally got to experience Taste of the Danforth. Full review here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/taste-of-the-danforth-2018/ ~ Suzie the Foodie read more

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This place is definitely fun to check out. Price: pretty high, I think more expensive than what stores usually sell. I end up did not buy anything. Big crowd, blocked at least 3 blocks along Danforth. I don't think it is a festival to get food, but definitely fun to visit. I biked here with a friend, and it took us a long time to find a bike rack since for some reasons, they covered up most bike racks. In the summer time, there are a lot of food festival in Toronto. I have been to Waterfront Night Market and Chinatown Festival. Compare to those, even though they are all tourist traps and charge more than usual, I still think Taste of Danforth would be fun since it is large scale and actually local business are displaying here. I would definitely bring people who are visiting Toronto here. Maybe not for the food, but just enjoy the nice walk on the Danforth. read more

It's one of the marquee festivals that marks summer in Toronto. Many may come and go but Taste of the Danforth is one of the originals and will likely always remain. The sounds and smells of Greek town and it's endless vendors cooking on portable charcoal grills street side is something magical and worth experiencing. That being said you'll want to pick a day, get their early, get in and get out as fast as you can because once the crowds start filling in you can kids parking and even comfortable walking goodbye. Along with that once it gets hot and busy the crowds and lines for food get darn right frustrating. It's a street festival that's one of the oldest and most popular. It's definitely declined a bit over the years but it's still one of the best along with Salsa on St Clair! This summer check it out! read more

this is my 3rd or 4th year coming to the festival and I wasn't really happy this time around. I went on the Sunday evening hoping it would be less busier as it was in previous years but I guess the festival has gotten very popular. Note: if you can jump on the subway I would strongly suggest that - parking is a nightmare. I got on a Kipling station and got off at Broadview. now, the food. we went to many places that had long line ups assuming that would mean better food but totally not the case - my phone wasn't working otherwise I would have checked into the exact locations of where I had a strong opinion. I went with my boyfriend so we shared a lot of the food so we could eat more. the entertainment this year was okay, I've seen better in the past. go check it out, but don't have high expectations. read more

Taste of the Danforth a yearly event in the City whereby all the restaurants have a booth in the street and serve various Greek specialties. Lots of good food. With all the outdoor cooking there is much smoke in the air put that together with the hot sun and it becomes unbearable to breathe. This year it seemed busier, so many people, hard to walk around freely. Line ups were everywhere, for food and for those hopefuls who wanted to sit down inside. Some of the people cooking outside were dancing and singing to the beat of their Greek music. A lot of fun to watch. Always good times. read more

Taste of Danforth - Festivals Near Me

My third year in a row! I went on Sunday afternoon. It was busy, but it wasn't packed. Crowds weren't too bad and the lines were only long for free samples and a few food vendors. It was hot, so I avoided ALL lines and found myself some delicious chicken souvlaki at a less busy street vendor. The entertainment was lively with performances on all 3 stages. You could also be taught some Greek dances, buy sporting event tickets and try to score on a goalie. There were also fair rides for a nice break from the crowds. My highlight each year is Von's Doughnuts. They make ice cream sandwiches with fresh doughnuts and Greg's Ice Cream. The creme brulee doughnut with roasted marshmallow ice cream ended the day on a high note! I'll be back next year! read more

This year was the first time I went to taste of danforth and I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was a big Greek festival but its actually a festival if local restaurants and Greek vendors. I'm going to review the even in sub sections. Atmosphere: it is crowded but its not overwhelming. I think the most crowded areas are where the most popular vendors are. The street it blocked off for the festival and you can walk up and down the street and take in the smell of grilled meat and listen to some Greek music(in some areas). I didn't line up for longer than 5 minutes because I didn't pick long vendors with long lines. Food: although they had a pretty wide range of selection I wanted to stick to Greek food. Unfortunately no where had rice unless you dined in, so I settled for chicken Soulvaki on a bun. It was good and the bread was very fresh. Unfortunately my friend found a huge piece of plastic in hers lol but it still tasted good and the owner reimbursed her. I also tried the cheese pie and the Lokoumades. The cheese pie was good but it was not warm. I took home and had it for breakfast and it made a huge difference. The Lokoumades on the other hand are amazing! They literally look like imperfect timbits and they have fried chewy shell and when you bite in their is a burst of juicy honey (I assume its honey) it's addictive. Overall I had a great experience I just wish there was more music, dance and public interaction. read more

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A great annual tradition in greektown Toronto, the taste of the danforth has something for everyone. It's my first time there and it was an amazing experience. Trying out various Greek dishes including mainstays Soulvalki and Gyro. Vendors also veered away from the norm and started offering non-greek dishes so there is pretty much something for any tastebud. Most items were priced $5 and expect long lineups for some of the popular vendors. The place is always packed so expect to see lots of people of all different walks of life sharing the same passion, trying good food. read more

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Greek festival in Greek town. Great festival. I try to make it every year. Sexy people everywhere. Food booths here are mainly Souvlaki on a stick, Gyro on a pita, and Baklava. Parking is a headache here so I suggest that you take the TTC to Chester station. Shout out to indie88.com for giving out free SWAG shades and free Hi fives. read more

Granted that all street festivals sell products at a higher profit margin than at their regular stores, vendors at Taste of Danforth do it at a much more reasonable price. Coming here with a friend, our foodie haul for today included $5 for a chicken gyro, $5 for two fish tacos, $4 for pakora, $3 for two tiramisu cups, and $1 for a cold bottle of water - all of which were yummy and worth the price. The atmosphere was very lively with the cultural performances, music, nice weather, and eager faces of the many excited participants. Washrooms are easily accessible as there are a handful of fast food restaurants along the street (mcds, popeye's, timmies, etc). Note: there aren't any places to sit down so you would have to walk while eating or detour into a smaller road to eat under the shade of a building. Overall a very enjoyable festival. Will look forward to coming again next year. read more

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I have been going to the Taste of the Danforth since Day 1 & i have to say as a Greek, i was extremely dissapointed with how there was not enough activity in the center of the street, in terrms of vendors & what was even more dissapointing was the restaurants were not barbecuing outside of their establishment like they have done so in the past, which gave the individual an option on whether you want to purchase a souvlaki stick or 2 & continue walking on the Danforth. I believe this has to do with the bike lanes & & cement blocks seperating the bike lanes from the 1 car lane & the BIA telling the businesses what to do. Very dissapointed. In additions Athens Restaurant was closed to my suprise & they had a sign saying the are on vacation for the first time ever since the Taste of the Danforth Athens restaurant was not open, they are the center of attention every year with their barbecue grills, their music & all the attention. I don't believe they were on vacation, i think we all know the reason why they were closed, to send a strong message to the BIA. In any case, these are just my thoughts. But to feel like the vibe was not there at all was extremely dissapointing. read more

Huge decline over the years.. Avoid peak periods (most of the time!). Used to be a cool opportunity to get good deals on food, no longer. A tourist and resident trap! read more

Basically a complete sh1t show if you decide to go during the day. Hordes of people and not much to see or do, unless you want to wait 30 mins in line to get a $3 souvlaki. The Danforth is one of my favourite neighbourhoods but I can honestly say it's better enjoyed for the food if you go on a "normal" day and not the festival. However, if you're looking to party - Taste of the Danforth in the evening is wonderful. Many of the bars have extended bar hours (4am!) - Local Co, 417 and Kahlua Cafe to name a few. Music is pumping, places are packed and there is a lot of fun to be had. read more

I think taste of mediocre is a better description for this annual letdown. A few years ago when I lived in Etobicoke, I went to the taste of Danforth and had a blast. This year since I live in Greektown I vowed to go once again and bring mom and dad with me. It was a gorgeous Saturday without a cloud in the sky but that only made things worse in a way. The streets were packed and it felt more like we were a cattled heard than walking around a food festival. The lineups were ridiculous and the selection didn't vary much from booth to booth. Occasionally something amazing would be on sale but for the most part the lineups were over 30 mins long for those types of items and the steam rising from the concrete made standing in one spot unbearable. I am not sure what I was expecting but this certainly did not measure up to the experience I had a few years ago with entertainment booths, a beer garden and tons of activities. read more

I have been going to the Taste of the Danforth for quite a few years and I would have to say it's one of the more overrated festivals that occurs in the city of Toronto. It's a great for the businesses along the Danforth but I think it's become a victim of it's own success. Here's are the positives and negatives of attending the Taste of the Danforth and the negatives definitely outweigh the positives hence the two star rating. Positives: 1. The festival is very transit friendly since it's on the Bloor Danforth subway, you can got off anywhere from Broadview to Donlands station and walk right outside the subway station and the festival is right there. Negatives: 1. It's way too crowded and this is why I think it's become a victim of it's own success. Over the past 10 years, attendance has skyrocketed and now it's like a zoo, where it's so crowded, it takes forever to get anywhere. Most festivals in Toronto are quite busy but nothing like the Taste of the Danforth where it's very uncomfortable. 2. Food lineups are ridiculous, most places, the wait is a minimum 20 minutes and closer to 30-40 minutes. Go any other time and because it's so competitive on the Danforth and you won't have to wait at all. You shouldn't have to spend the whole festival waiting in line for food. They should allow food trucks to alleviate the long lineups. 3. Lack of portable washrooms, for the amount of people attending the Taste of the Danforth, you would think they would have a reasonable amount of portable washrooms but they don't which results in pretty long lineups. A fair comparable of what a really good festival in Toronto is would be the Beaches International Jazz Festival. read more

I have to admit, I did not go to the event last year, but went the previous year, but I've heard the same comments. It's crowded. With all the lines to the food stalls to manuvuer around, there's hardly any room to walk. They need to figure out some form of crowd control. Nevertheless, you can come down here to get some freshly made skewers of grilled stuffs (lamb, beef), flakey stuffs (skantopita), sweet stuffs (baklava and honey balls) among the usual corn and lemonade stands. It hasn't changed over the years really. I remember one of the best places, and best bang for your $ was at Avli, near Chester station. We also got some good deals at Second City at the festival. They have performances on the main station at Logan, or at Broadview and Danforth, usually occupied by Joy of Dance students (some excellent dance performances!). Parking can be found on the residential streets for free, but fill up quickly. All the lots in the area raise their prices, and some residents offer their parking spot for a cost. Take the subway here, but if you hate crowds, don't come. read more

Just came from the festival, and it was loads of fun. It was quite crowded, but what would you expect? It's laughable how many people here are complaining about it being crowded. Well, no shit. If you hate crowds, why did you show up at a festival? That's like me going to a party and complaining about the noise. Toronto doesn't have too many festivals, and judging by how popular Taste of Danforth has always been, it's bound to be packed. The food was great. They had freshly-made churros for $5. Also, $5 for a decent gyro; I wouldn't leave without trying that. Alcohol was expensive, but that's to be expected I suppose. There was plenty of cider and beer sampling. The "no open container" rule this particular festival has in place is really stupid. If Toronto has an exception that states you're allowed to have open containers during special events, why does Taste of Danforth have to be the one festival that has its own rule going against that? That takes a bit away from the fun. All in all, it's a nice festival that's worth experiencing at least once. read more

Way too many people attend this festival. Has to be the most popular one of the summer. When I first went here I was thinking I was going to have a huge selection of food and just eat my way up the Danforth. Unfortunately they only sell 5 or 6 Greek dishes and repeat them the whole way up the street. On top of that your going to be in a huge line waiting for your food. The Danforth has great food and amazing restaurants just go any other day where your not crammed in and waiting for food the whole day. read more

Too many people and when they're drunk it becomes "ClownFest 20##". Nothing special in terms of food and beer - it's the same fare you can get any time of the year. Parking is a nightmare - do not drive there. You don't want to go, really... unless you're on a date and killing time before getting 'bizee' later in the evening. read more

I had a chicken with waffles from The Forth. The texture of the waffles were rubber like. And the chicken tasted like President Choice. I was there to grab a quick lunch... At the end, I went to the other side of Bloor to have lunch. This event is getting tired. The lines were obstructing the flow of pedestrian traffic. It was the same every year. PS I got 2 floss picks for free though. read more

My key recommendation is that if you're coming here, keep your hands empty and you get ready to take a shower afterwards. Unless you arrive really close the opening time, there's usually quite a large crowd of people. There a lot of food options, but there definitely repeats and a few discrepancies in pricing. It's definitely worth it to start from one end of the festival and work your way to the other, and to see two or three stands selling the same thing before you decide where to buy them. Many of the restaurants have stalls, and the range of food will include Greek as well as Japanese and American, amongst others. Beware that sometimes cheaper prices mean that the restaurant has reduced its serving sizes. If you have kids, you may want to budget in some extra for the midway section with a few rides and games. Don't forget to pack light, bring some water, leave your bulky camera at home, and have cash on hand! It can be expensive, and the changes from year-to-year are very slight. It can be a bit repetitive, but it's a nice night out if the weather is agreeable. read more

Amazing experience :) lots of greek food --- Chicken Pita, Greek yogurt, churros etc. I recommend this store called "Athens restaurant & tavern", their chicken pita taste amazing and portion is big too ($6 for one). read more

Taste of Danforth - Festivals Near Me

Greek town is great! There are Greek street signs below the English, and there are so many Greek restaurants and bars. The street was packed for this event and it was lively with bands, dancers, street performers, rides for kids and food....so much food! Most of the food is cooked over charcoal grills and taste great! I had the quail, which was nice and crispy, rosemary lamb pie (tasty), the spanakopita (flaky), the baklava (very sweet), an avocado Popsicle (not that sweet) and the bbq pineapple (taste superb). The street was lively and the vibe was good. read more

Been going here for 8 years! Every year, the line for messini's gets longer and longer. ..Hahah. Love the food in the danforth and I think this is a great annual summer event. Would love more restaurants to participate! read more

One of my most favorite festivals in the city, but every thing you read in the other reviews both good and bad is true. Over crowded, over rated, too many of the same vendors from other festivals, not overly unique. If you know where to go, some amazing treats though. I will usually spend a few hours each day at this festival. I just like it. read more

Great time. All kinds of foods and barbeque. If you live in toronto and have not been here you don't know what you are missing.

Taste of Danforth ia fun! You have to come to terms that it will be crowded and full of ppl. I spent 20 bucks and was able to try a lot of different things! Its nice to be be outside and sampling food. However, if you dont like crowds you might lose your patience! read more

I've been to most of the big street festivals now and I think this is one of my favorites. I went on Sunday afternoon/early evening. It was crowded but there was no problem moving around. I walked from Pape to Broadview and back and managed to pick up all the free samples and pay for food at three stalls and it took just a little more than two hours. Obviously if you don't like crowds or street festivals, stay home. This one won't magically change your opinion. I liked this one because it was huge and had a ton of variety. I thought it would be more Greek-centric but there was sushi, dim sum, pizza, curry, and more. That said, I stuck to the Greek stuff. I stuffed myself with chicken gyros, feta fries, cheese pie, and honey balls. The feta fries were so evil-good. Rounds of fried potato covered in soft, fresh feta and some delicious dressing with a good hit of oregano. I'll go back next year, but minus a star because a) it's near impossible to find booze (all the bars are full, lack of beer tents) and b) the entertainment was laughable. I was at the "celebrity" stage for a while and was embarrassed to watch. It seemed like they pulled in assorted karaoke-drunks off the Danforth and set them up on stage. At least the dancers down the street were pretty good. read more