Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Old Toronto, Ontario: Beef Brisket From ZACK | Varedelo
This guide turns La Streetfood Canadienne : Sous-cotée ou Surcotée ? from ZACK into a practical restaurant map with 8 saved spots around Old Toronto, Etobicoke, and Toronto. The mapped places include a butcher shop, a donut shop, a restaurant stop, and a market. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
ZACK was particularly impressed by the quality of smoked meats in Toronto, rating the brisket and ribs platter a solid 9.5 out of 10. While he found the shawarma at Shelby's to be good and trendy, he felt the smoked meat experience offered a level of tenderness and flavor that France currently lacks. He concluded that the stereotype of poor food quality in Canada is false, noting his own weight gain as proof of the good local cuisine.
What this map is good for
- Planning a halal restaurant stop or short itinerary in Old Toronto.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 8 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Dipped Donuts
Donut Shop in 161 Baldwin St #1, Toronto, ON M5T 1L9, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Rayah
Moroccan Restaurant in 507 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P3, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hours: Hours available - Sanagan's Meat Locker - Kensington Market
Butcher Shop in 176 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hours: Hours available - Habibz Corner
Halal Restaurant in 578 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2B7, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hours: Hours available - Chainsmoker Urban BBQ - Etobicoke
Restaurant in 5555 Eglinton Ave W Unit E112, Etobicoke, ON M9C 5M1, Canada, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Hours: Hours available - Shelby's Legendary Shawarma
Middle Eastern Restaurant in 416 Queen St W, Old Toronto, ON M5V 2A7, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - St. Lawrence Market
Market in Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada, Old Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - NomNomNom Poutine
Meal Takeaway in 707 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 2W6, Canada, Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Beef brisket
- Beef ribs
- Mac and cheese
- Fries
- Beef shawarma
- Chicken shawarma
- Spicy garlic sauce
- Msemmen
- 1 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- Visited Chain Smoker restaurant on Lawrence Avenue
- Filmed with his sister behind the camera
- Ordered a 60 euro mixed meat platter
- Visited Shelby's Shawarma after seeing them on Instagram
- Explored the Downtown Toronto area
- Visited a Franco-Moroccan cafe opened by a subscriber's sister
- Discussed the quality of Halal food in Canada
Planning notes for Toronto
Toronto's built heritage reflects its colonial history, beginning with First Nations structures and later incorporating French and English influences on city planning and public buildings. The architecture features a blend of historical styles, such as the 19th-century Gothic Revival design of Casa Loma, and modern construction like the 553.3-meter CN Tower, completed in 1975. Victorian sub-styles, including Queen Anne Revival.
Must-try foods nearby
- Seasonal Canadian Halibut
An exquisite representation of contemporary Canadian cuisine, typically served at Toronto's highest-end establishments, like Canoe. - Edomae-style Omakase Nigiri
The pinnacle of Japanese fine dining in Toronto, as demonstrated by the city's Michelin-recognized sushi temples. - Dover Sole in Chicken Velouté
A dish that highlights the new wave of sophisticated, high-ticket contemporary dining, such as at the recently opened Eloise (2026). - Upscale Poutine with Foie Gras and Truffle
An elevated interpretation of Canada’s iconic comfort food, transformed for a world-class palate. - Peameal Bacon Sandwich (Gourmet)
A Toronto classic and a quintessential taste of 'Hogtown,' traditionally served from St. Lawrence Market.
When to go: The best time to visit Toronto is during the shoulder seasons of late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) to enjoy mild, pleasant weather and fewer crowds than the peak summer months. While July and August offer the warmest.
Local tips
- Use your credit card tap or a PRESTO card on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) for easy payment, which includes a free transfer within two hours.
- Tipping is customary at sit-down restaurants, where the expectation is to leave 15–20% of the bill before tax for good service.
- Observe general Canadian politeness by being friendly, holding doors open for others, and saying 'sorry' even in minor situations.
- For personal safety, remain aware of your surroundings and stick to well-lit, populated areas when navigating the city at night.
What travelers are noticing
- New restaurants (Bello Pizza, Darna Middle Eastern Cuisine, Union Chicken) opening at the Waterworks Foodhall downtown.
- The debut of Pii Nong Thai, an integrated three-in-one concept featuring a restaurant, mini Thai market, and massage services.
- Winterlicious 2026, a major city-wide culinary event with 243 participating restaurants, including many newly opened establishments.
Extra place context
- St. Lawrence Market
Consistently ranked as one of the world's best food markets, this historic landmark is split into two major sections: the South Market (a permanent home to over 120 vendors and artisans selling specialty goods, meats, seafood.
food - Sanagan's Meat Locker
A premier full-service butcher shop and prepared food destination that exclusively sources quality meats and poultry from Ontario family farms.
food
Planning questions
What is this video map?
It is a crawlable guide to the mapped places from La Streetfood Canadienne : Sous-cotée ou Surcotée ?, with the creator video, a static map preview, and selected spots from the trip.
Can I save these spots?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save the places, keep planning notes, and revisit the guide from your phone.
Does this replace watching the video?
No. The video remains the source, and the map makes the places easier to scan, compare, and save while planning.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.