Explore the world in Kensington Market (Toronto, ON)

Kensington Market is one of Toronto’s most interesting neighbourhoods. Known for its eclectic and unique shops, artwork, and bohemian vibe, it’s no surprise you’ll find some excellent food here as well. Kensington was the first home for many newcomers to Canada - Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s, Portuguese and Hungarians in the middle of the 20th century, and later newcomers from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean - the result is a fascinating mix of cultures and influences. Walking through the area, you’ll see why Toronto was named the most diverse city in the world as you stop to taste street foods from China, Vietnam, India, Mexico, Chile, and more.

The City of Toronto is on the traditional territory of rhw Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples

Tour Map

En route to Chinatown you'll find the Sharp Centre for Design at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), with the landmark CN Tower in the background

Toronto’s Chinatown

Start at St. Patrick station (the corner of University Ave. and Dundas St.) Walk west along Dundas St. passing St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Sharp Centre for Design, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Grange, and many murals in the alleys along the way.
Turn right on Spadina Ave.

Take some time to take in the murals along Dundas St. 

The corner of Spadina and Dundas is the heart of Toronto’s Chinatown. Chinatown was originally located east of here, before the City of Toronto expropriated the area in the 1950s to build what is now City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The residents moved west and the area around here solidified as Chinatown in the 1950s and 60s. Although it remains one of the largest Chinatowns in North America, since the 1990s gentrification and the neighbourhood’s aging population has threatened the community, with many younger people moving to other areas further away from downtown.

Juicy Dumpling
280 Spadina Ave. (entrance on Dundas)
11am-9pm
Steamed Soup Dumplings

Soup-filled beauties at Juicy Dumpling

We’re starting off our international food tour with an authentic taste of Shanghai. For just $4 you’ll get six delicious soup-filled dumplings. Next to the dumpling shop, you’ll find a mural ‘The Hope in Chinatown’ at 525 Dundas St. W. It tells the history and shared experiences of the community. The three red-crested cranes are symbols of luck and longevity.

Walk a block north up Spadina Ave.

Banh Mi Nguyen Huong
322 Spadina Ave.
8am-7pm
Banh mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwich

Fresh lemongrass and other ingredients make for a delicious Vietnamese sandwich experience (July 2022)

Toronto’s Vietnamese population grew rapidly in the late 1970s and early 1980s with a number of refugees coming to Canada after the Vietnam War. This spot is known as as the original mom and pop banh mi shop. It was opened in the 1980s by the parents of the owners of the popular ‘Banh Mi Boys’ chain.

Turn left on St. Andrew St.
Turn right on Kensington St.

Welcome to Kensington

Unique sign posts indicating the entrances to eclectic Kensington Market (July 2022).

You’re now entering Kensington Market. While this neighbourhood was a residential area since the middle of the 1800s, the market really began in the early 1900s when Jewish immigrants began arriving in the city. The Jewish community settled in the area just east of here (‘The Ward’) because of its affordability, with many in the community generally working in clothing sweatshops in the area. The community began to move west into this area as the Ward became more and more overcrowded. By the 1930s, Kensington Market was known as the ‘Jewish Market’ with residents often turning the ground floor of their homes into stores and sold things like chicken and ducks on the street. In 1931, 80% of Jews in Toronto lived in and around Kensington. There were synagogues on almost every corner each catering to a community from a specific region of Eastern Europe. At 10 St Andrew, you’ll see the Anshei Minsk Synagogue, one of the remaining in the neighbourhood, dating back to 1930, founded by Jews from Belarus.

By the 1950s, the Jewish population declined as people moved further north. Around the same time, immigrants from Portugal began to arrive after Canada and Portugal signed an agreement for labour migration. Many of the new residents kept the tradition of storefront on their homes and also opened new bakeries and stores. Around the same time, Hungarians also began arriving in the area.

By the 1970s, most of the new arrivals to Kensington were from China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines., as Chinatown expanded west into the Market. They were joined by refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean in the 1980s.

Kensington Market continues to be the first home for immigrants to Canada, but gentrification has become an issue with higher rents forcing some businesses to move out. Nevertheless, the community continues to mobilize to resist changes to the character of the district.

Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos
72 Kensington Ave.
12-7pm Daily
Tacos

Seven Lives and its famous Gobernator taco (July 2022).

Seven Lives has been serving up a taste of Baja California since 2012. They are most famous for their Gobernator, filled with tuna, shrimp and cheese (you may want to share).

Turn left on Baldwin St.

Golden Patty
187 Baldwin St.
8am-7pm (9am on Sunday)

You can’t leave Kensington without trying a Jamaican patty, one of Toronto’s most popular snacks. Kensington was the centre of the so-called ‘Patty Wars’ in the 1980s. The Government of Canada’s Meat Inspection Act, said the type of patties sold here didn’t meet the criteria of a ‘patty’ (such as a hamburger patty). On February 23, 1985, the decision changed and a compromise was reached - they could be called ‘Jamaician patties’ rather than ‘beef patties.’ The date February 23 is still recognized as ‘Patty Day’ in the City of Toronto. The CBC documentary Patty vs Patty tells the story of the Patty Wars in more detail.

Backtrack and continue down Kensington St.
Turn right on Dundas St.

Little Sister Baking (LSB)
707 Dundas St. W
11am-7pm Wed/Thu, to 6pm Fri, to 5pm Sat

Grab a unique dessert at LSB, one of the many food purveyors surrounding the community centre (July 2022).

Little Sister Baking is located in one of the many containers selling food from the around the world around the Scadding Court Community Centre. Opened by siblings in 2021 (one of whom is a Cordon-Bleu trained pastry chef), LSB mixes traditional Indian street food and global baking techniques, for example you can try out a chai tiramisu.

Continue up Dundas
Right on Caryle
Right on Wales
Left on Bellevue

In the Bellevue Square Park (5 Bellevue Ave.) you’ll see a statue of Al Waxman, known as the ‘King of Kensington.’ This was a popular Canadian TV in the 1970s and was first time a CBC show showed a multicultural experience of Canada. Next door you’ll see the Kiever Shul (25 Bellevue Ave.), a synagogue founded in the early 1900s by Ukrainian immigrants. After extensive restorations, in 1970 it became the first Jewish building to be designated a historic site by province of Ontario.

Left on Augusta

La Chilaca Taqueria
214 Augusta Ave.
11am-8pm

This is a mini-mall full of delicious Latin American food. Feel free to skip if the Gobernator at Seven Lives was enough taco for one day.

Jumbo Empanadas
245 Augusta Ave.
10am-7pm (11am-6pm on Sunday)

Mini-mall full of delicious Latin American treats - tacos, churros, and more! (July 2022).

Jumbo started in 1991 selling Chilean-style empananas from a hot dog cart, introducing Torontonians to a taste of Latin America. You can try out a mini empanada (cheese only) for $2.50 if the full size one is too big.

A little further up Augusta, at the corner of Oxford St. you’ll see the Kensington Market Garden Car. Since 2006, this car has been one of the symbols of the neighbourhood.

Finish your tour with pie, coffee, beer, or take some time to explore the eclectic shops along Augusta Ave.

Wanda’s Pie in the Sky
287 Augusta Ave.
10am-6pm

Arch Café
293 Augusta Ave.
9:30am-8pm (to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, to 5pm on Monday)

Kensington Brewing Company
299 Augusta Ave.
11am-9pm (to 11pm Thu-Sat, opens at noon on Sat-Sun)

Turn right on College St.

On your way back to the subway, you’ll pass by the El Mocambo. Dating back to 1948, it is one of the city’s most important music venues. It is most famous for a surprise 1977 show by Rolling Stones where Pierre Trudeau’s wife Margaret was seen partying with the band.

Continue on College St. back to Queen’s Park Station (corner of University) or continue exploring Chinatown and Kensington Market.

Tour Summary

Start at St. Patrick station (the corner of University Ave. and Dundas St.)
Walk west along Dundas St.
Turn right on Spadina Ave.
1. Juicy Dumpling (280 Spadina Ave., entrance on Dundas)
Walk a block north up Spadina Ave.

2. Banh Mi Nguyen Huong (322 Spadina Ave.)
Turn left on St. Andrew St.
Turn right on Kensington St.

3. Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos (72 Kensington Ave.)
Turn left on Baldwin St.

4. Golden Patty (187 Baldwin St.)
Backtrack and continue down Kensington St.
Turn right on Dundas St.

5. Little Sister Baking (LSB) (707 Dundas St. West)
Continue up Dundas
Turn right on Caryle
Turn right on Wales
Turn left on Bellevue
Walk through Bellevue Square Park and turn left on Augusta

6. La Chilaca Taqueria (214 Augusta Ave.)
7. Jumbo Empanadas (245 Augusta Ave.)

Continue up Augusta Ave. Options include the following, or explore the n unique shops and art in the neighboruhood:
Wanda’s Pie in the Sky (287 Augusta)
Arch Café (293 Augusta)
Kensington Brewing Company (299 Augusta)

Turn right on College St. and continue to Queens Park Station.