5 Places to Eat Around Ryerson University’s Campus

One of the hardest things about being a student in Downtown is finding a place to eat. Sure there are countless places to eat like McDonalds and Tim Hortons, but you can get that anywhere. It’s time for a little variety. With variety though, comes an increase in prices. I’m here to suggest five amazing places to eat in Downtown Toronto, where there is both amazing food and low prices.

Fran’s Restaurant and Bar

33 Yonge St #104, Toronto, ON M5E 1G4

Frans has become a favourite in my group of friends. Every time they come to visit me in Toronto, we always go to eat at Franz. Franz has a variety of different foods. They have all day breakfast, homemade burgers, and a category of Fran’s favourites. My two favourite things at Fran’s though, is their killer chocolate milkshakes, and the fact that it’s open till 1 am! Here is a link to their menu so you can have an idea of what their food is like before heading over! 

Warehouse

232 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z6

336 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1R8

There are two Warehouse restaurants, Queen Street Warehouse and Yonge Street Warehouse. Warehouse has a $5.95 food menu all day, everyday, making it super affordable for university students. The portions are also big enough to fill you up despite the low prices. The food itself is amazing. I recommend the mac and cheese and the poutine. They are to die for. Another perk of Warehouse, is that it’s a bar! It welcomes all ages during the day, but at night they ID you to enter. They do serve alcohol all day though. Warehouse all offers vegetarian and gluten free options. 

The Keg Mansion

515 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2H7

I’m sure we’ve all heard about The Keg. This one has a special aspect to it though. My friend’s and I refer to it as the haunted mansion! Although the prices aren’t student friendly, you can always go for a special occasion or when you feel like fine dining. There are rumours of this Keg as being haunted. Here is a link to the origins of The Keg Mansion:

Aside from the cool and chilling haunted background of The Keg Mansion, it is very beautiful on the inside.

Carisma Restaurant

73 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1G3

I can actually vouch for the above three restaurants, as I’ve been there, and unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to explore more restaurants in downtown as of yet, but I do hope to go to the Carisma. It has been described as “Romantic, 1920s-inspired destination for traditional Italian cuisine, with an extensive wine list” by Google reviews. Carisma is a fine dining Italian restaurant but it’s on the more expensive sides of things, as the bill typically ranges from $31-$50. According to the website linked, Carisma “prides itself on offering impeccable real Italian food and quality service.”

Salad King

340 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1R8

I’ve not yet had the pleasure of eating at Salad King, but I’ve heard and read that it’s very good. The food is cheap and they offer Thai noodles, curries and salads. Salad King also has a total of 4.2 out of 5 stars on google reviews and the reviews themselves were generally in favour of the restaurant. Salad King themselves have said “Our Thai food is delicious and affordable, made with quality, homemade ingredients. Our service is fast and friendly. Our restaurant is vibrant and full of energy,” from their website, which you can follow the link to below. Because their service is fast and friendly, it is perfect for a busy university student looking for something a little more promising than just McDonalds.

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