The Junction, Toronto: where to eat on Dundas West

The Junction sits in the west end of Toronto, around Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Runnymede Road, with the railway tracks that gave it its name running through it. For most of the twentieth century it was a dry neighbourhood, with sales of alcohol banned by local vote, and that history is part of why the food scene grew around cafés, bakeries and independent shops first. Today the strip has restaurants, taprooms and bars alongside them.

What is the Junction known for?

It is known for an independent main street. Dundas West here still has older brick shopfronts, and many of the businesses are small and locally owned. A walk from Keele to Runnymede takes about fifteen minutes without stops. You will pass bakeries, coffee shops, ice cream counters, antique and vintage shops and a mix of restaurants.

What can you eat in the Junction?

The range is wide, and it leans casual.

• Bakeries and cafés. Weekend mornings are busy, and baked goods sell out, so go early if you have your heart set on something.
• Casual restaurants. Small kitchens serve Italian, Portuguese, Asian and Latin American food, with a focus on neighbourhood regulars.
• Breweries and bars. After the end of local prohibition, the Junction became a place for craft beer. Taprooms are a good stop on a warm afternoon.
• Ice cream and sweets. Summer evenings bring queues.

When is the Junction at its best?

Saturday and Sunday mornings for baked goods and brunch, Thursday to Saturday evenings for dinner and drinks. A weekday lunch is relaxed. Many shops and restaurants close on Monday or Tuesday, so look before you commit to a visit on those days.

Is there a market?

The Junction has had a farmers' market, usually on a weekday evening or a weekend morning in the warmer months. Dates, hours and the location change from season to season, so check the Junction BIA's page or the market's own site before you plan around it.

How do you get there?

Buses run along Dundas West and connect with the Keele and Dundas West subway stations, so check the TTC for current routes. A short ride from the Dundas West station makes cycling an easy choice. Parking is limited and metered.

How do you eat well on a budget?

Look for bakery lunches, slices, sandwiches and shared plates. Weekday lunch specials are common, and some restaurants offer cheaper menus outside peak hours. Prices are shown before HST, so allow for 13 percent on top, plus a tip if you are served at a table.

How do you choose a restaurant when you are not sure?

Look at the menu in the window and see whether the dishes are described by ingredient rather than by adjective. Check whether the room has a mix of ages. And ask the person at the counter of the café where they eat when they are off shift.

What if you are visiting with children?

Most Junction cafés and casual restaurants welcome children, and several have patios or a back yard. Strollers are common, but many shops are small and doorways are narrow, so go at off-peak times if you have a larger stroller.

How do you pay and tip?

Debit, credit and mobile pay are widely accepted. Tipping at a sit-down restaurant is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill. At a counter, a tip is optional.

What does a Saturday in the Junction look like?

Begin with a bakery run before 10, when the shelves are full. Walk east along Dundas to Keele, then back west on the other side of the street so you see both rows of shopfronts. Stop for a coffee or a beer flight around noon, and keep room for a late lunch. If you are visiting a taproom, ask what the kitchen serves, because some pour beer only and welcome food from next door. Finish at an ice cream counter or a patio as the light fades.

What changes with the seasons?

Summer is the busiest season, with patios, the market and long evening light. Autumn brings harvest menus and a calmer pace. Winter is quiet, and a hot bowl of soup in a warm café is the best way to see the street. Spring brings the first patios and a rush of new openings, so the strip looks a little different from one year to the next.

If you try a dish worth recommending, Mosey is a simple place to rate it, so the next person can find the bakery that actually earned the line.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Trinity Bellwoods and West Queen West, Toronto: a food guide for a day on foot
• The Annex food guide: student favourites and Bloor Street eats

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.