so bad...yet so good...

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Ok. So as you can tell from my name, I love junk food. I have been even been known to go on fast food road trips (i.e. visiting the very first KFC). But its all good because I also run marathons.

But aside from the deep affection I have for waffle house and the food at small-town country fairs, I love the fast food in Toronto, particularly street meat (hot dog vendors), strawberry-filled timbits, and fries & gravy from Mt. St. Louis ski resort.

And now that I am back training for a new marathon & can up my caloric intake, I want to know: What else am I missing?

[Muffin__Top]

I'm going for a 8k run right now- then to the Blue Jays game tonight for ONE DOLLAR HOT DOGS YEAH

Before it was Big Stan's Burger with sweet potato fries after my long runs (but before their health violations)

[grandgourmand]

Guilty pleasure (i.e once a month) is a double cheeseburger at McD's "dressed like a mac". For 30c more (i.e. from $1.39) you get to almost the same level as full fledged Big Mac.

[OTFOODIE]

I tried this the other day & they didn't upcharge me for the sauce!

[Full tummy]

Which location????

[OTFOODIE]

7 between Bayview & Leslie.

[sleepy]

ok i tried this the other day at bayview and eglinton location, they put lettuce/tomato/mayo/bigmac sauce and didnt charge anything :o

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

This is good information to know. I tried the new Mac Wrap. Just so not the same. The bun is part of what makes it so good.

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Just told my class of pre-teens about the "dressed like a Mac" thing. I am now almost cool in the eyes of the middle school student.

[c_snapper]

infinite supply of chicken wings for me.

Mary Brown's Fried Chicken + Wedges is VERY VERY good

[deelicious]

where is this mary browns?

[morefoodplz]

Try: http://www.marybrowns.com/locator.html

[deelicious]

Sorry...I am just trying to find out which location comes highly recommended because I didn't like my chicken on Dufferin street at all because it was so greasy and slimy feeling. Was it a bad visit or is there a better location?

[Yongeman]

I've had the chicken at the Dufferin St. Mary Brown's a few times and it's always been very good...certainly never slimy--yuck.

[ttran88]

i go to the one on dufferin south of Yorkdale. I too have had bad experiences there but its only at certain times. ive been there numerous times after that situation and its been much better. i now go around 2- 4 pm. At this time its slow and the chickebn is fresh. never fails. hope this helps.

[Squeakycheese]

FUNNEL CAKE! not sure where you can procure these beauties other than Canada's Wonderland!

[hippotatomus]

I think I might have seen them at Ontario Place....not 100% sure, but I do know they have Beaver Tails at Ontario Place!!!! I love beaver tails!
They also had funnel cake during Taste of Danforth.

[phoenikia]

Not funnel cake, but equally tasty and deep-fried are the loukamades at Athen's Pastries on the Danforth- warm bite-sized balls of deep fried dough drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.

-----
Athens Pastries
509 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K, CA

[foodyDudey]

Or you can try the Indian version, which is called a "jalebi"

[hippotatomus]

I think I've tried jalebi, don't remember where but I remember it was too sweet for my preferences. Were you suggesting the jalebi is similar in taste to the loukamades? 'cause the loukamades sound really yummy, but if they're like jalebi then I can save myself a trip.

[phoenikia]

If you get them fresh, right out of the deep-fryer (and they make them fresh several times an hour) and freshly drizzled with honey, the honey hasn't soaked in yet and they aren't too sweet. If they're making a fresh batch when you get there, you could probably ask them for less honey.

But if they've been sitting in honey for a while, they soak up the honey like a little sponge, and end up on the supersweet side.

[hippotatomus]

I just googled them and they look delicious.. they look like bite-sized timbits~ I'll remember to check them out. thanks

[Full tummy]

I think the texture is quite different. You should definitely try the loukoumades!

[merlot143]

I also really enjoy the loukamades at Athens. They're great when paired with mint tea. I've had jalebi, and I don't like them. Loukamades at Athens are light, airy creations. Jalebi taste like honey-coated golf balls.

[Davwud]

Make sure they have cinnamon on them. One of the Greeks here at work doesn't like them with it. He brings them in and I thought they were okay. One day he brought them and didn't realize they had cinnamon on them. What a difference. They went from okay to great.

DT

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Speaking of delicious, unhealthy Greek treats, where can I get the best Baklava in the city without going all the way to the Danforth. Not too dense, somewhat flaky& fresh. I tried the ones a Pusiteri and it was not that fresh.

[LemonLauren]

not sure your 'hood, but Mezzetta on St. Clair West has my fave baklava in the city.

[goaneat]

try Arz Bakery on Lawrence Ave E at Warden Ave...the Baklava is
good and fresh...

[Wahooty]

Arz has unbelievably good baklava, but if Toronto Fastfoodie doesn't want to go "all the way to the Danforth" I'm guessing they REALLY don't want to go all the way to Scarborough. :)

For what it's worth, though, it is flaky, fresh, and delicious, and available in lots of varieties. But it's Middle Eastern-style, not Greek.

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Lawrence & Warden is not too far; it is on the way to a (pregnant) friend's house so I am thinking it will make a sweet housewarming gift we can both enjoy.

[Wahooty]

In that case, enjoy! I think Arz is a wonderful place. It's actually a little closer to Pharmacy than Warden. Also in that area (right at Pharmacy and Lawrence) is Patisserie Royale, which also comes highly recommended on this board.

[cupcakez]

Shoeless joes on the dessert menu...yummy!!

[Teffub]

A Funnel Cake restaurant will be opening up at Avenue Road and Melrose, taking over the Timothy's coffee location.

[Yongeman]

A funnel cake restaurant? That's all it serves?

[Teffub]

Yup - apparently. Its not opened yet.. web site isnt up yet either:
http://funlfun.com/

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Good news, Squeakycheese! A new funnel cake cafe is opening on Ave. Rd, south of the 401 & North of Lawrence. The sign promises the best funnel cakes in the world. We shall see....

[always_eating]

In the world?! That's quite the promise! :) I totally have cravings for funnel cake every now and then, especially in the Summer, so thanks for the info on this new place.

[piccola]

Definitely New York Subs on Queen St. West.

[Pincus]

Oh yeah, I had a jumbo mixed veg there Saturday. Not at all healthy with all the oil and sauce, but so tasty.

[sloweater]

Randy's beef patties on Eglinton near Oakwood.

[JamieK]

I wouldn't call this "junk "food (rmore fast-food than junk ) but for me, my greasy temptations are the samosas at Sultan and the fish and chips at Olde Yorke.

-----
Olde Yorke
96 Laird Dr, Toronto, ON M4G3V3, CA

Sultan Of Samosas
1677 O'Connor Dr, Toronto, ON M4A, CA

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

I had the Samosas today. So good. I bought a 1/2 dozen thinking I would have 1 on the way home and the rest for lunch tomorrow. Fast forward 20 minutes and I have ruined my dinner and have no lunch for tomorrow.

[food face]

Nice thread. Me, I'm into:
Pizza Hut ((Original with a thick Oily crust)
Smokes Poutine
a Pogo stick every couple years at a white trash travelling carny,
Chicken balls at the China House
A 10 pack of Chicken McNuggits with 2 sauces (spicy mustard and sweet and sour)
A good Hunk of Shnitzle

I've been on weight watchers for the last 6 months so you are all bad influences!!!

[abigllama]

Just a sad note on the McD's nuggets. They seem to have discontinued the Hot Mustard sauce at least in the GTA. I used it to dip fries and put it on McChicken sandwhiches too. I don't know if this is company wide but it's gone here.

[OTFOODIE]

That was at least Canada-wide and quite some time ago

[food face]

This shows how often I eat there! Shame, it was tasty sauce.

[torontofoodiegirl]

I'm no marathon runner, so try my best to avoid fast food (some days I do better than others), but one of my favourite guilty pleasures is Burger Shack on Eglinton at Oriole Pkwy. So bad, but so good....

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

Oh Yum! Thanks for the reminders! I forgot about Bitondos and The Shack; the best onion rings.

I think I am going to have to try Mary Browns. I had the fried chicken at Harlem a couple weeks ago, and while the outside was crispy and delicious, honestly, I have had a better balance between crunchy outside and juicy inside at Popeyes.

What about an awesom eclair with REAL whipped cream? I know that bakeries do not like to use it because it does not hold its shape the same way the fake stuff does, but it is all the difference between edible and inedible. I may love junk food, but I won't eat it if it doesn't taste good or if the place I am buying it from is not clean.

[thenextbite]

Eclairs with fabulous REAL whipped cream can be found at the Mrs. Bridges Bakery in Eglinton Square - Victoria Park and Eglinton on the Scarborough border. They are soooo good!!!! They don't always have them though, so check before you go:

Mrs. Bridges British Bakery
416-701-9851

Best of luck to you!

[Full tummy]

Woooahhhhh! That is exciting. Thanks for the tip. I'm so tired of éclairs with pastry cream or chocolate mousse...

[deelicious]

I think the fried panzerorri at Bitondo is the best fast food treat in all of Toronto. Fish and Chips is always good on Broadview. Swatow sweet and sour pork and fried rice! California Sandwich chicken with cheese! Those are my greasy fatty heart stopping pleasures! That's a good start.

[ziggystardust]

The panzi at Bitondo is good, but a bit dear at $6 considering there's nothing in it but sauce and cheese.

[ttran88]

mary browns fried chicken and wedges...mmmm!

[deelicious]

Where do you go for MB FC? I went to dufferin street a month or so ago and it was not special at all - greasy and slimy. Popeyes is much better than that. As a kid I ate at MB and it was good - where is the good location...or 2?

[pinstripeprincess]

i tired mary browns recently and don't get the fuss. though in the past i've only really known people to enjoy it in certain states of lucidity.

the shake and bake crumb type texture doesn't appeal to me more than a nice bubbly batter.

[sleepy]

deep fried mars bar :o

[Toronto Fastfoodie]

From where?

[phoenikia]

C'est Bon near Yonge and Lawrence has it on their menu.

Here's a recent thread on deep friend mars bars in TO:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5843...

[JamieK]

Olde Yorke on Laird does deep fried Mars Bars but I've only seen it marked on their chalkboard so don't know if it's part of their regular menu or not.

[wontonfm]

it's not on the regular menu but one day I asked for it and they had them.

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com

[fickle]

Had a deep fried mars bar and a deep fried easter creme egg last Saturday at St Andrews. It's good thing we only indulge once a year!
http://www.standrewsfishandchips.com/

[num nums]

i haven't tried it yet, but at the newish Reggie's Old-Fashioned Sandwiches they have deep fried mac 'n' cheese.

the "fresser" at caplansky's ordered fatty should also meet your requirements. wash it down with his poutine!

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Caplansky's
356 College Street, Toronto, ON M6J, CA

Reggie's
571 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V, CA

[JJLOVESFOOD]

Gandhi Roti on Queen St West