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Late-Nite Food
Big Fat Burrito
529 Bloor W, at Albany, 416-792-4244. Mission-style wraps stuffed with steak, pulled pork or mashed yams where the Red Hot Chili Peppers (86) and Nirvana (91) made their local debuts. Open Thursday 11 am to 2 am, Friday 11 am to 3:30 am, Saturday noon to 3:30 am, Sunday noon to midnight. Unlicensed. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms.
Fran’s
20 College, at Yonge, 416-923-9867, fransrestaurant.com. Superstar classical pianist Glenn Gould – who shocked Hogtown back in the day by wearing mismatched socks and sitting on a phonebook while he played – used to eat here all the time, his order: plain omelette, white toast, glass of milk. Also: 200 Victoria, at Shuter, 416-304-0085, and others. Open 24/7. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement. Booth seating.
Ghazale
661 College, at Beatrice, 416-534-7441, ghazale.ca. Dirt-cheap Middle Eastern mezes and falafel. Also: 78 Wellesley E, at Church, 416-922-4417 504 Bloor W, at Bathurst, 416-537-4417. Open Thursday to Saturday 9 am to 4 am, Sunday 10 am to 4 am. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: one step at door, no washrooms.
King Palace
820 Church, at Asquith, 416-515-8188. Low-rent Indo-Pakistani diner next to a car wash popular with cab drivers, so you know it’s got to be good. Ignore the advertised combos and dig into that steam table for the truly good stuff. Open daily 11 am to 6 am year round. Unlicensed. Access: one step at curb, washrooms on same floor.
Lakeview
1132 Dundas W, at Ossington, 416-850-8886, thelakeviewrestaurant.ca. Art deco diner with vintage jukebox rocks around the clock to an extensive burger, poutine and 24-hour breakfast menu. NXNE trivia: co-owner Danny Greaves was the singer in the Watchmen. Open 24/7. Licensed. Access: two steps at door, washrooms on same floor.
New New Ho King
410 Spadina, at Nassau, 416-595-1881, newhoking.ca. Relocated Cantonese spot in the heart of Chinatown. We unequivocally recommend the Szechuan green beans with minced pork. Open Thursday 11:30 am to 4 am, Friday and Saturday 11:30 am to 5 am, Sunday 11:30 am to 4 am. No reservations. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Pho Pasteur
525 Dundas W, at Spadina, 416-351-7188. A bare-bones Vietnamese resto with what some say – okay, us – is the best pho in town. Our pick: #06 Pho Tai Nam, a meal-in-one bowl of aromatic broth brimming with rice noodles, rare beef, fatty brisket and Asian herbs. Open 24/7. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: steep ramp at door, washrooms on same floor.
Poutini’s House of Poutine
1112 Queen W, at Beaconsfield, 647-342-3732, poutini.com. Perfectly crisp Yukon Gold fries – don’t call ’em frites – finished with house-made roast beef or vegan gravy and super-fresh cheese curds. You were expecting crepes? Open Thursday noon to 3 am, Friday and Saturday noon to 3:30 am, Sunday noon to 9 pm. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: one step at door, no washrooms.
Shanghai Cowgirl
538 Queen W, at Bathurst, 416-203-6623, shanghaicowgirl.com. Sister to the Bovine Sex Club next door, this rockin’ roadhouse keeps it traditional with a comfort card – all-day/all-night breakfast, chicken-fried steak – served with a side of classic rock. Open Thursday 10:30 am to 1 am, Friday and Saturday 10:30 am to 4 am, Sunday 10:30 am to midnight. Licensed. Access: short step at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNN
Sneaky Dee’s
431 College, at Bathurst, 416-603-3090, sneaky-dees.com. Long-running Tex-Mex cantina beloved for its King Nachos, an Elvis-inspired pile of tortilla chips, lumpy refried beans, diced sweet peppers and volacanic melted cheese. Open Thursday and Friday 11 am to 5 am, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 am. Licensed. Access: short step at door, washroom on same floor.
The Morning After
Black Metal Brunch @ Graffiti’s
170 Baldwin, at Kensington, 416-506-6699. Don’t let this fearlessly grungy Kensington Market watering hole’s decor scare you away from one of the most accomplished Sunday brunches around. Besides, where else can you rub shoulders with hungover headbangers scarfing down steak ‘n’ eggs poutine to the sound of classic Venom. Open for brunch Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. No reservations. Licensed. Access: one step at door, small washrooms on same floor.
Dominion
500 Queen E, at Sumach, 416-368-6893, dominiononqueen.com. Rockabilly brunch in a historic Corktown pub. Open for brunch Sunday 11 am to 3 pm. Licensed.
Easy
713 College, at Montrose, 416-535-2222, easyrestaurant.ca. Parkdale’s favourite all-day breakfast and lunch spot opens a second location in old Little Italy. Open daily 9 am to 5 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at foor, washrooms in basement.
Free Times Cafe
320 College, at Robert, 416-967-1078, freetimescafe.com. Home of the all-you-can eat $19.95 klezmer brunch buffet. Open for brunch Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
La Hacienda
640 Queen W, at Palmerston, 416-703-3377, lahacienda.ca. Furnished in funky Goodwill castoffs, this dimly lit cow-punk café has been slinging no-nonsense Tex-Mex vittles for a clientele of musicians and artists since the mid-80s, among them Brian Eno, Jello Biafra and Joey Ramone. Open for brunch Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Live Bluegrass Brunch @ The Dakota Tavern
249 Ossington, at Dundas W, 416-850-4579, thedakotatavern.com. For $14, the happening honky-tonk dishes up substantial all-you-can-eat platters of flapjacks, scrambled eggs and bottomless cups of joe at communal tables to the obligato of a live bluegrass combo. Open for brunch Sunday 11 am to 3 pm. No reservations. Licensed. Access: 15 steps at door, washrooms on same floor.
NOW Lounge
189 Church, at Shuter, 416-364-1301, nowlounge.com. Three-course Grand Slam breakfast served up Saturday with live country ‘n’ western combo Big Tobacco & the Pickers and on Sunday with cool piano jazz. Open for brunch Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. Licensed.
Parts & Labour
1566 Queen W, at Fuller, 416-588-7750, partsandlabour.ca. Punk chef Matty Matheson takes rustic barnyard chic to the next level. Fancy fried eggs topped with seared pork belly in maple trotter sauce sided with potato hash and pancakes? Open for brunch Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
Sky Blue Sky
605 Bloor W, at Markham, 647-351-7945, sbssandwiches.com. If you’re a fan of Wilco and inexpensive but creatively assembled sandwiches, have we got the boîte for you! Not only is this muso-friendly café named for the iconoclastic Chicago-based indie rockers, but so is everthing on the card. Open Thursday and Friday 7 am to 9 pm, Saturday 11 am to 8 pm. Unlicensed. Access: 11 steps at door, washrooms on same floor.
