Best Low Cost Bets on Spadina

[john88]

Hello fellow Chowhounders. I've got a foodie friend coming up from NY who is staying downtown. I wanted to give him a taste of several quick, reasonably priced but good places as opposed to fancy places where we would need to linger (Chinese - SE Asian and/or Cantonese, Vietnamese). Any suggestions at all? The options I have so far are Pho Hung, King Noodle House and dare I say: Swatow. Choices outside of Spadina are also welcome, but we'd be in the downtown core.

Thanks for your input!

[spoonlette]

I would second Pho Hung or King Noodle. Also, on Queen near McCaul Ginger is extremely inexpensive, fresh Vietnamese with an ecclectic crowd.

[mikefly]

I really like New Sky.

[ctl98]

Gold Stone on Spadina south of Dundas. And Noble for dimsum on Dundas west of Spadina. Both great places!

[aser]

Pho Pasteur for their small pho special at $6.99. Yes the small costs more than their competitors but it is equivalent to a medium sizewise. Their broth makes the rest of the strip taste extremely bland.

Perola's taco stand, at the back of the store, in Kensington on Augusta, just a stones throw away from Spadina. Only open on Sat/Sun, great tacos, great consomme, great salsas, just great.

[num nums]

For northern Chinese there's Traditional Chinese Buns on Dundas just west of Spadina (across from Pho Pasteur). In addition to steamed buns and dumplings, they have some more unusual items. For example, hey have what is like a pulled pork sandwich - shredded braised pork served in between a toasted bread that is almost like an english muffin.

For outside Spadina, I think a trip to Caplansky's is in order. Sure, NYC has Katz's, Carnegie and the 2nd Ave Deli, but Caplansky's product is unique to T.O.

[Wahooty]

If bargains are what you're after, dim sum at Kim Moon Bakery is incredibly cheap. Nothing fancy, but all of the basics, and quick since it's menu-based instead of carts - no waiting around for the one item you still want.