If you have $300 to spend on dinner and drinks, you probably don’t need help choosing where to go. The city’s splashiest spots — glitzy hotel lounges and luxury restaurants — already have the A-listers and publicists to prove it. But if your festival itinerary is packed, your budget more modest and your interest in celebrity sightings low, finding a quick, affordable and actually tasty meal near a screening takes a bit more effort.
Here’s a tip: skip the paparazzi and follow the neighbourhood’s office workers instead.
If you’re hungry between screenings, here’s where to start.
, 322 Adelaide St. W.
Ravi Raw Salad at RaviSoups.
Nick Lachance/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarFounder Ravi Kanagarajah’s Entertainment District restaurant made waves when it opened in 2007. Part of a recession-era wave of fine-dining chefs going solo with more casual, affordable spots in unexpected neighbourhoods, it appealed to diners with suddenly tighter budgets. Already known for his soups at Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, Kanagarajah drew a loyal following to RaviSoups in the heart of the nightclub district.
The soups are comforting but pack an extra hit of oomph, thanks to Kanagarajah’s fine-dining background and Sri Lankan heritage. The curried apricot and lentil soup blends fruity sweetness with the acidity of cilantro and lime. The porcini mushroom and wild rice bisque is a meal in itself, elevated by a drizzle of truffle oil. Kanagarajah’s wife, Tharmini Kandasamy, a former pastry chef at the Art Gallery of Ontario, makes flaky cheddar cheese biscuits to accompany every soup order.
The family behind RaviSoups: Aashwin Jeyakumar, left, Thanushane Jeyakumar, Apilash Jeyakumar, Pooja Jeyakumar and, in front, Tharmini Kandasamy.Â
Nick Lachance/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarFor something less spill-prone while dashing between screenings, the salads also deliver bold flavour. The Ravi Raw Salad (a wallet-friendly $10.99) combines spinach, napa cabbage, mango, pineapple, edamame, cilantro and crispy shallots, all tossed in a lime-cilantro aioli with a touch of heat. The roasted chicken wrap layers sweet potato, spinach, caramelized onions, tomato chutney and chipotle mayo. It’s $16 on its own, but the best deal is to spend a few extra bucks and upgrade to a combo with soup.
At its peak, RaviSoups had six locations across the city, plus a food truck. After Kanagarajah died of a stroke in 2013, most closed, leaving only the original Adelaide West spot. There, his family carries on his legacy, with the menu and recipes unchanged since day one. It’s now run by his sons Aashwin, Apilash and Thanushane, daughter Pooja and Tharmini. A ghost kitchen is planned for the west end this fall and Aashwin says he’d love to return to Queen West. For now, they’re gearing up for TIFF — their busiest time of year.
Here are four more reliable, quick-service spots within walking distance of TIFF screenings.
, 5 Mercer St.
Nopales Torta with panela cheese combo that includes a side of Mexican street corn and agua fresca from San Cosme, located inside Milagro Cantina.
Nick Lachance/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarThis Mexican sandwich takeout spot started in Kensington Market but now operates as a pop-up inside its parent restaurant, Milagro Cantina — open from noon to 9:30 p.m. daily, just across from Metro Hall. Walk-ins are welcome, but if you’re in a rush you can order ahead on major delivery apps for pickup.
The tortas are big and hover around the $15 mark (there’s also a kid-size version). Options include chicken tinga, pulled pork and the classic Del Chavo: mozzarella, refried beans, mayo, mustard, sautéed onions, tomato and avocado, with your choice of smoked ham, roasted chicken or panela cheese.
My pick is the vegan option: tender cactus sautéed with onions, topped with spicy tomatillo and serrano salsa, refried beans and avocado. Add the gooey panela cheese for an extra layer of creaminess. You can make it a combo for $8 more, which includes a side like esquites (Mexican street corn) and a drink — the pepino (fresh cucumber and lime) is especially refreshing.
10 Mercer St.
A spicy Jamaican patty filled with seasoned beef and fresh toppings, served in soft coco bread at Jamaican Spiked Patties.
Karon Liu/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarRight across from San Cosme (and next to Nobu) is this compact patty shop offering a uniquely º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøtake on Jamaican patties. It’s ideal for a quick lunch or dinner on the go — and a perfect intro to Toronto’s favourite street food if you’re visiting.
Start with your choice of patty (spicy or mild beef, chicken or veggie, all supplied by Kensington Market’s Golden Patty), then add toppings like arugula, tomato, onion, pickled peppers, and a mix of hot pepper sauce and sweet Thai chili. You can get it without the coco bread ($7.80), but the fluffy, slightly sweet bun helps contain all the fixings and is well worth the extra 35 cents ($8.15 total).
HoGa, 121 King St. W.
Juicy, marinated beef bulgogi with steamed rice and traditional sides like japchae and kimchi, served at HoGa in the Path.
Karon Liu/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarAnything in the Path can be tricky to find, but HoGa is worth the hunt (look for the sunlit underground atrium with a small food court). It’s one of the few non-chain options in the Path offering a full meal for under $10, even after tax.
The menu is now scaled down to just seven Korean and Japanese entrees like chicken or tofu teriyaki, tempura, chicken or fish katsu, and bulgogi, but everything tastes like home cooking. Each comes with steamed rice and two sides, like green salad or coleslaw. When I get the juicy, perfectly marinated beef bulgogi, I go for the traditional pairings of japchae and kimchi (though it’s more of a slaw here).
Service is fast, and while the portions aren’t massive, they’re satisfying enough to fuel a two-hour screening. Like most Path options, it’s open weekdays only and just for lunch.
, 145 Wellington St. W.
A simple but satisfying breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, cheese and tomato on whole wheat, toasted just right for a perfect cheese pull at Lite Bite, near Roy Thomson Hall.
Karon Liu/º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStarNear the southeast corner of Roy Thomson Hall, Lite Bite is a true independent sandwich counter — no branding, no frills, just real food. Office workers stop in for self-serve drip coffee, house-made pasta and grain salads, and single oranges to stash for later.
It’s open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., making it ideal for early screeners and long festival days. For breakfast (served until 10:30 a.m.), I go for the egg, bacon, cheese and tomato on whole wheat with a small coffee, which comes to just over $8. Toasted just enough for a proper cheese pull, it’s the kind of no-fuss sandwich that’ll have you skipping the big chains next door.
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