After cleaning out my fridge this morning, from a 13.5 hour power outage, I needed to stock up on…read morecheese. Since I was in Kensington I decided to check out this place. A pungent odor hits you in the face as you open the door. It is a narrow shop not well suited to those ignoring the limits on number of customers at a time. Service is friendly. They have a small but good selection. I grabbed gruyere, emmenthal, Bonne Maman strawberry jam, Italian prosciutto and oddly some of my favourite chocolate dipped Hobnob cookies.

Amazing! I got a…read morereally good onion and parsley cheese from here. In my week long stay I visited 3 times! I wish they stayed open later or else I would have visited more. Everyone who works there is friendly but I liked the lady. She was so sweet and genuinely seemed to care about my trip to Toronto. I love this shop! The smell is really cheesy so be prepared!

Just fantastic! We had gone a few days prior to this to Frankenmuth and saw an advertisement for a…read morecheese shop, which was an utterly disappointing tourist trap. This place is a cheese temple. The beautiful aroma of all sorts of cheeses, the warm and welcoming staff. This is a beautiful spot, and I wish it were closer to me. Every single person here was amazing, friendly, helpful and made great recommendations. I highly suggest a stop here if you are in the area, and sample and purchase some lovely cheese!

I normally go to St. Lawrence Market to buy my cheeses and other deli products but since Global…read moreCheese is closer to me, I decided to try them. The cheese prices are nowhere displayed so when you want something you have to ask for them. Price wise some of the cheese is a little bit cheaper (sometimes $1 less per 100g) than St. Lawrence. You would think that you're saving money but when you're finally paying at the counter you will be taken aback because of how expensive it was but also wondering why the hell it looks smaller than it seems. I know they weigh them but who knows what's happening behind the counter coz you don't get to see the final weight of the cheese. The St. Andre cheese I bought also doesn't taste fresh at all. I guess I'm back to buying cheese from my fave St. Lawrence cheesemonger.

Amazing selection of all kinds of meat, deli, sausages, sauces, condiments, broths, prepared and…read morefrozen foods. Expect to pay more than the regular grocery store but you know you're getting good quality. Sanagan's Meat Locker is not just another butcher shop, it's a meat lover's paradise. They cater to diverse palate ensuring there's something for everyone including offering seasonal and local game meats. But beyond the exceptional quality of their meats, what truly elevates Sanagan's is their outstanding customer service. The staff is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly. They take the time to understand your needs and preferences and provide personalized recommendations. This is my go to place for when I need to buy quality meat to make a perfect dinner at home or impress guests for that special occasions.

I absolutely love Sanagan's Meat Locker. I've been going to Sanagan's for 5 years now and I can't…read morebelieve I've never reviewed it. Sanagan's Meat Locker is not just a Butchery, but also a market that showcases many high quality artisanal and local products. Their meats are always high quality and enhances whatever recipe you are using. There's also an educational aspect to Sanagan's. If you subscribe to their newsletter, or buy Peter Sanagan's book, you learn so much about what cuts of meat to use with what types of dishes, you discover hidden gems in cuts of meat, not to mention fantastic recipes. I had never heard of flat iron steaks (one of the most tender cuts of beef and very affordable) before Sanagan's and now it's a staple in my household. You are also able to order cuts of meat that are not available at the counter (I ordered duck hearts once) as well as order ahead online. The housemade sauces and charcuterie made by Sanagan's are also delicious. They might be slightly higher priced than supermarket brands, but they're highly worth it. Everyone is also super friendly and helpful at Sanagan's, you just know that they're being treated well there.

Of the three Kensington Market creameries, this is by far the cheapest. I'll compare some prices…read morefor your shopping convenience. presliced small packed of chease are $1 at Global, and 6 for $3 (¢50/pack) at Mendels. They come in mozzerella, provalone, cheddar and a few others. Mendels also does a good deal on stilton. If you buy it off of the wheel it's $5.99/100g But you get two 100g wedges prepaked for $6 flat. Half the price. They used to have $5/lb brie that came in big squares. I would stuff it with fruit and bake it. Cheap and fancy. Global, as far as I know, doesn;t sell large tubs of anchovies, but Mendels does. The giants tubs are $19.99, which I think cuts the price in half of the tiny ones that are $7.99. All in all, the cheapest in the market with a fine selection. The selection isn;t as big as at Global, and there are fewer of the fancy-smancy $14.99/100g seasonal tombes, etc, that you can get from Cheese Magic, but that's fine by me cause I rarely ever get those things. They also have a nice selection of cured fish, like herring on a pickle.

I have lived near Kensington Market for 5 years, and have shopped at all three cheese stores in the…read moremarket. I will no longer be patronizing Mendels Creamery. I have been attracted to their prices for cheese, but find that the perceived value is not actual. I suspected this for a while, but only gave in to confirming my suspicions after I acquired a calibrated digital scale. I weighed the cheese at home and found that on my last 3 purchases, I have been short-changed. The first time, I thought it might be a mistake, but this shortfall has been consistent. On my last [now final] visit, I asked for some of their "crumbled feta" and received a tub of cubed feta that was mostly brine. Yes, the whole weight *almost* reflected the quoted price, but paying 88 cents per hundred grams for mostly salty water guarantees that I will be shopping elsewhere from now on.

We walked past the counter and we loved seeing the empanadas…read more So we got a fried chorizo and cheese empanada and a fried corn Colombian empanada. Both were super greasy. The Colombian empanada was supposed to be chicken and she gave us beef. Not great. I have a stomach ache due to the greasy food.

Decided to try a few snacks from this place...nice assortment of Brazilian and Colombian empanadas…read more I found the fillings very salty and the kind of greasy. I would've liked more filling to pastry ratio otherwise. Overall not bad.

*** Buyer Beware *** I buy roast chickens a lot - and…read morerecently I bought my first roast chicken from the high end butcher #Cumbraes (Bayview). It was truly excellent but the next one I bought (queen St) was pathetic. The photo says it all. This was a tiny bird that they charge a premium price for ($233.72) !. I wanted to be discreet by sending them a direct message (on X) I tried looking up their contact info (email?) and none to be found on their website. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper.

Overpriced, tough cuts. Real cheap steak. Should be ashamed as to the prices they are chargingread more

I've been meaning to try out this place for the longest time, but since this is their only location…read moreand I live quite far away I was super excited when I was nearby one day. I got 6 macarons, hk milk tea, black sesame, Oreo, creme brûlée, matcha and pistachio. Came to $21, but 6 no taxes. Every bite was delicious as the next. I really enjoyed the black sesame. I also wanted the ice cream sandwich but decided against the mess my kids would make in the car so I will get it for sure next time! I love the variety of their flavours. Definitely made it hard to choose!

I've been a patron of Dainties for years and I always get their Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches! We're…read moretalking about a 1-inch slab of ice cream between two flawless palm-sized macarons. You can't go wrong with any of their premium flavours. Each one of them is tuned to perfection, with an emphasis on Asian flavours. I always feel like a kid in a candy store here. Perhaps it's because of the colourful display from the moment you step inside, or the seemingly endless list of flavours on the wall staring back at you, or maybe it's because the moment you swing open the door, a friendly storeowner readily appears at your service? Hm... what will I have today? Pro tip: as the store owner would tell you, wait a few min for the ice cream sandwich to thaw before biting in. About 5 min is good and enough time to take Yelp pics. The only unfortunate thing for me is that they're downtown and I'm uptown! Regardless, I always make an effort to drop by whenever I can. Their opening hours are not too friendly though... But I guess you can say that adds to their appeal. This little shop could really use more publicity. I believe we have to get more people eating macaron ice cream sandwiches this summer. I highly recommend!!!

Super, super slow! Don't come here unless you have an hour or so. They only make 2-3 sandwiches at…read morea time and they only allow about 4 people inside at a time. All others wait on the sidewalk. When I finally was allowed inside to order I attempted to order a hoagie (which is half of their menu) and only then was I informed there were no hoagies that day.! Unbelievable...I honestly would not waste my time, there are several other sandwich shops in the area without the hassle!

Awesome! The owner seems like a great guy. Highly recommend. Staple in the neighbourhood.read more

"Oxford Fruit" is one of my nicknames actually, because I am from Oxford in England, and well,…read moreanyway. In the heart of the overpriced and hipstery Kensington Market, this large and noticeable fruit shop with an awesome name, has plenty of good products. Their oranges and bananas were tasty and fresh, and their kale was crisp and not at all wilted or mouldy. I really appreciate that. It's certainly not cheap, but it's worth it considering the quality of what they are selling.

Few Brussel sprouts, 4 oranges, green beens and handful grapes and few cherry tomatoes... easily…read morepay $18-$20 bucks anywhere else.. stb this store it was $62!! ‍ this is a tourist trap in the truest sense of the term. RIPOFF

I have been going to Essence of Life for years - literally probably 16 years at this point. Which…read moreis crazy! They have never lost their Kensington vibe or decent prices! You can always find a ton of products in here that are better priced then other health food stores. Staff are always lovely. I stop in here all the time even when I don't need anything. They have everything from fresh veggies, to dairy (and vegan dairy), meats (and vegan meats), drinks, snacks, oils, bulk pantry items, household cleaning and toiletries, and a large supplement section. It's amazing that they can fit all of this in one seemingly small store!

I randomly was looking for rosemary oil because I saw a trending video by a dermatologist that…read morerosemary oil is effective for hair growth?! (do your own research). A natural way to promote more hair growth? I'm down to try. I am amazed this little store in Kensington has so many essential to trendy natural products at such reasonable prices. You'll find anything from natural deodorant to vegan nail polish, essential oils, natural beauty products, cleaning supplies, and a grocery at the back. Wow! I can see why they are so busy. It can be tricky to find things you need through all the aisles of products, but the staff knows where everything is when you ask. Purchased Neem oil 100ml (Unbranded) $5.99 Rosemary oil organic 30ml (Now brand) $17.99 Their Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is a great price compared to buying online through Amazon. It's always a great bonus to save money while supporting local.