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We’ve scoured the city to find out where you can score some cheap eats.
Is there 20 bucks better spent than on a half-price, 60-ounce pitcher of domestic suds and a king-sized order of King’s Crown Nachos ($18.50 every Wednesday after 4 pm) at too-cool cantina Sneaky Dee’s (431 College, at Bathurst, 416-603-3090)? The Diseases’ dizzying version may be closer to pizza than corn chips nuked with radioactive cheese, but it still comes heaped with enough Monterrey Jack, refried beans, ground beef, tomato, onion, red and green bell pepper, jalapeño, guacamole and sour cream to feed four.
On Tuesdays you get considerable change from a fiver when none-more-modest Indian eatery Narula’s (1438A Gerrard East, at Ashdale, 416-466-0434) goes for broke with its $2.52 thali. Normally $4.99, this bargain-basement vegetarian Subcontinent smorgasbord comes simply plated on a stamped tin tray loaded with eggplant ‘n’ zucchini subzi, lentil dhal, basmati and papadam.
That’s also the day that It’s All Good (68 Wales, at Leonard, 416-504-0222) celebrates Taco Tuesdays. Located on the fringe of Kensington behind Toronto Western, this terrific café offers three of its blue corn tortillas stuffed with the likes of grilled veggies, chicken breast and sweet red chilies, or chopped steak with caramelized onion for six bucks ($2.25 each the rest of the week). All come garnished with organic leaf lettuce, sliced mozzarella, plus optional guacamole ‘n’ sour cream and as much sensationally incendiary salsa as you dare.
Even the most ardent of faux-hawked Market hipsters are afraid to enter Planet Kensington (1971/2 Baldwin, at Augusta, 416-341-0310), and the regulars of the grungy punk rock palace wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides its fantastic Black Metal Brunch on Sundays – vegetarian eggs Benny with wild mushrooms ($6.95), anyone? – a large plate of garlicky pasta sets you back $3 on Monday’s movie night, tacos and tequila go for $2 a pop Tuesday nights, and Fridays from 6 to 9 pm all domestic beer sells for $2.50.
Around the corner, before 11 am, veg-heads can knock back a $2.99 breakfast of two eggs with cheese, a toasted English muffin, home fries and coffee on the patio of the none-more-greasier spoon John’s (460 Spadina, at College, 416-944-2046) under the shadow of the El Mocambo’s neon palms. A few doors down, the Red Room (444 Spadina, at College, 416-929-9964) advertises something called Red Room Remix, all-day bacon ‘n’ eggs paired with a brewski for $8.50.
If you ever find yourself missing the “food” served by your high school cafeteria, you’ll feel transported back home at Master’s Buffeteria (310 Bloor West, at Madison, 416-924-7651), where students from UTS across the street chow down on its institutional cheeseburger combo ($6.25 with frozen fries) and daily specials like retro shepherd’s pie and cabbage rolls ($5.25 and up).
Friends of fiery food flock to Salad King (335 Yonge, at Gould, 416-971-7041), an already inexpensive Thai restaurant just off the Yonge Street strip across from Ryerson. Students get an even better deal weekdays from 2 to 5 pm when its legendary incendiary lineup gets discounted an addition 15 per cent if they pay cash.
But you don’t need a valid student card to take advantage of the value meals at Ken Ho’s Snack Truck on St. George just north of College, where a tax-inclusive $3.99 buys chicken, mushroom and Chinese chives in black bean sauce with Japanese eggplant, broccoli and fresh green beans over a bountiful bed of crisp chow mein noodles.
