
What we’re about
Explore food and trails in the diverse neighbourhoods of the Greater Toronto Area.
Foodie hikes are at a moderate pace of 4 to 6 km/h. They are neither walking tours nor strenuous workouts. We encourage you to research the route beforehand because we won't give much commentary. You should be prepared for unpaved trails, hills, and any weather. Dangerous weather like lightning and low visibility will cancel hikes.
Typically, hikes end at a restaurant. But we'll also pick up takeout and groceries along the way.
Timed hikes
Hikes run like trains. We depart on time and hit scheduled stops. If late or lost, you can refer to the map to find us at these timed checkpoints. You can join or leave at any point according to your schedule and level of fitness.
If you're going below 4 km/h or the minimum stated speed, you might be left behind because we have to keep a schedule. This ensures
- we arrive at food places before they close or get too busy
- we show up on time for restaurant reservations
- others that join in the middle won't wait long at scheduled checkpoints
- we end on time and respect those who need to leave punctually
The list of places on the route are those that we'll pass by or come close to. We'll not stop at all of them. You're free to break from the group and use the map to catch up when you're done.
While the hike is ongoing, organizers might not respond to messages. They will be busy leading the group and ordering food. Also, Meetup notifications can be delayed by a few hours!
Omakase
For some hikes, we offer omakase. This is an optional program where participants chip in some money and the organizer will use the collected funds to buy food for sampling. What food to buy, and where and when to share, is entirely up to the organizer. Omakase literally means "I leave it to you".
At some point in the hike, usually during the first leg, the organizer will ask who's interested and collect money. Payment by cash or e-transfer. Please mention dietary restrictions before signing up. We may not be able to accommodate and will advise if you should join. Latecomers are not eligible to sign up if we've already ordered food.
No refunds after orders are placed, even if you left early, got lost, or missed samples for whatever reason. The money would have been already spent on food. We do not make a profit. Leftover funds go to Meetup.com fees.
Situations where we will give a full or partial refund:
- the organizer didn't honour your dietary restrictions and you mentioned it before signing up
- you didn't get your fair share of food because there was not enough to go around
Limited cutlery provided. Bring your own cutlery and containers to save the environment.
Featured businesses do not compensate us. We recommend them because we think they are good or interesting.
Waitlist and attendance policy
If you're on the waitlist on the day of a hike, you can show up and hope that there's space. It's usually OK because of no-shows at free events.
However, if the event is over capacity, the priority is: those on the confirmed list, then the waitlist according to order of sign up. The rest will be asked to leave. We will strictly enforce the number of participants because of safety concerns.
For restaurant events, only those on the confirmed list can attend.
Hikes with a long waitlist may have an enforced attendance policy. This means that organizers will check who did not show up. It's selfish to deprive others of the chance to join. It's also inconsiderate to change RSVP at the last minute, because those moved from the waitlist may not have enough time to react. Of course, there can be legitimate reasons but repeated no-shows will be banned from the group. We will mention if we are enforcing attendance in the event description.
Pets policy
Pets are welcome but they may not be allowed into some buildings and businesses.
For certain hikes, there may be narrow and steep trails which may not be suitable for your pet. Only you will understand your pet's capabilities. Check the route in advance.
Finally, respect those who may be uncomfortable or allergic to certain animals by keeping them a distance from others, unless they're ok with it.
Photo policy
Photos are welcome but if you are taking pictures of other humans, please ask their permission if you intend to post or share them, including on Meetup.
Attendance policy is enforced for this hike. See below for details.
Back by popular demand, we're doing a mega hike along Yonge Street in Toronto. It's advertised as the longest street in the world. (It's not and never was). See how the landscape changes from strip malls to skyscrapers to golf courses to parks to colonial buildings as we approach the lakeshore. The restaurants along the way highlight the cultural diversity of Toronto. We'll be passing by restaurants from five different continents and checking out many more.
You need to be in decent shape and have a voracious appetite to do the entire route. However, as with other hikes, you are free to join and leave at any point.
Those who complete the whole route will be eligible to buy a commemorative T-shirt (expected price ~$23).
The hike ends at a steakhouse. Reservations are required. There are other high-end restaurants in the area for dinner: Miku, Harbour 60, The Butcher Chef, and Pearl Harbourfront. Unfortunately, cheap and moderately-priced restaurants in the area are not good.
Highlights
Segment 1: Uptown (North York Centre)
- Galleria Supermarket (depart 11am)
- Khorak Supermarket
- Sang-Ji Fried Bao
- Sinjeon Topokki / Mary Bun / Egg Club
- Luna Bakery
- Lucullus Bakery
- Bake Code / Gimbap Shop / Hay Sushi
- The Fry / Bonjuk (depart 1:10pm)
Segment 2: York Mills
- Emerald Park
- Kinka Izakaya
- Chillax / 7 Noodles
- Auberge du Pommier
- Miller Tavern
- Tamada Georgian Restaurant
- Mumbaikar
- Bobbette & Belle / Patisserie Sebastien / Pii Nong Thai (depart 2:20pm)
Segment 3: Midtown (Eglinton)
- The Friendly Butcher
- Locke Library
- La Rocca
- Andrea's Cookies
- Benny's Barbecue
- Mizzica Gelateria / STOCK T.C
- Juicy Dumpling / Maki Mart
- Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine / Padaria (depart 3:35pm)
Segment 4: St Clair
- Circles & Squares Bakery / Flaming Stove
- Yonge and St Clair murals / El Inka Peruvian Cuisine
- Holy Chuck / Zelden's Deli
- North Toronto Station
- Nadège Patisserie / Terroni
- Poppadum
- Toronto Reference Library / One Bloor
- Naan and Kabob / Toro Toro Sushi / Nani's Gelato (depart 5:55pm)
Segment 5: Downtown (Dundas)
- Bloom Cafe
- Woojoo Bunsik / Kream Dessert
- Japadog / Hi Hoi Tod / Kati Thai Gelato
- Aura / Le Génie
- Toronto Metropolitan University / World Food Market
- Prehistoria Museum / Banh Mi Boys / Yonge-Dundas Square
- Brookfield Place / L Tower
- End (or beginning) of Yonge Street (arrive 6pm)
Neighbourhoods
Thornhill > Willowdale > Hoggs Hollow > Lawrence Park North > Lawrence Park South > Sherwood Park > Davisville Village > Deer Park > Summerhill > Yorkville > Bay-Cloverhill > Garden District > Financial District > Southcore
Map
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1s5DRurGHdHV8upmYIIy9MWTgoswLuHc&usp=sharing
Mostly gentle downhill. Some gentle uphill portions in segment 2.
How it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't join at the beginning? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.
We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way. The first checkpoint and the end of the hike are the only times when we can enjoy a leisurely meal.
See our homepage for more info.
Attendance policy
Please check in with an organizer when you attend. 24 hours before the hike, we'll check who is on the confirmed list. Those that don't show up will be flagged. Repeat offenders may be banned. Please change your RSVP if you can no longer attend.
If you made it off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- The Annex: Street Art and Street Food (4.9 km)Robarts Commons, Toronto, ON
Attendance policy is enforced for this hike. See below for details.
Graze through casual foods and admire street art at The Annex. This neighbourhood is a popular haunt amongst students and young adults, which explains the abundance of trendy eateries along Bloor Street West. Try everything from Hungarian to Japanese.
A little-known highlight are the murals that have sprung up over the past 5 years. In particular, on garage doors of laneways. It feels more like an outdoor art gallery than the famous Graffiti Alley. We'll also cut through the residential heart of the area and pass by buildings of architectural interest. See why The Annex is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods to live in Toronto.
There's a choice of deep-fried foods at the end: Japanese katsu, Korean fried chicken, Indian fried butter chicken, or Mexican chipotle fried chicken.
Highlights
- Robarts Common (depart 6:30 pm)
- Kokoro Japanese Sushi House / Yasu Sushi Bar
- Parquet / Rasa
- Garage murals along David French Lane and Alan Powell Lane
- Central Technical School
- Cong Caphe / Fuwa Fuwa
- Myeongdong Gyoza Kalguksu / Blanco Cantina
- Trinity-St. Paul's United Church
- Woojoo Bunsik / Zaad / LA LA Bakeshop
- Spadina Expressway in an alternate universe (depart 7:05 pm)
- Pretty houses along Spadina Rd: Alliance Française, subway station entrance at Kendal Ave, and more
- Walmer Road Baptist Church
- Toronto Fire Station 344 / Fat Pasha / Chadwick's Craft Kitchen (depart 7:40 pm)
- Royal St. George's College / Cathedral of St.Alban-the-Martyr
- The Fry / Mr Tonkatsu / Shelby's
- Lee's Palace (arrive 8 pm)
Neighbourhoods
University of Toronto > Harbord Village > The AnnexMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OPgm1mq3DyP_Leu8NX_xIJUotf-1Y0s&usp=sharingHow it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
Not sure what to try? Join our omakase for $5, which gives a tiny sample from different restaurants. Payment on the day of event by cash or e-transfer to globaltorontoeats@gmail.com. No refunds after orders are placed. Details of sampled food will be uploaded after the hike.
Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers.
See our homepage for more info.
Attendance policy
Please check in with an organizer when you attend. 24 hours before the hike, we'll check who is on the confirmed list. Those that don't show up will be flagged. Repeat offenders may be banned. Please change your RSVP if you can no longer attend.If you made it off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.
- Bayview Bestview (6.2 km)Son's Beef Noodle, Toronto, ON
Bestview Park is a small park with a minor network of hiking trails. Somewhere inside is a staircase to nowhere. We'll see if we can find it as we connect from other parks around Bayview and Finch. Along the way, we'll cross 3 creeks.
This neighbourhood has a large Korean community, so it's no surprise that there's good Korean food. We'll end with one of the best and cheapest jjajangmyeon (noodles with pork and fermented black bean sauce) in the GTA.
Highlights
- Son's Beef Noodle (depart 6:30pm)
- Cummer Avenue United Church
- Newtonbrook Park
- Finch Hydro Corridor
- Donut Counter (depart 7:17pm)
- Tyndale University
- Bestview Park
- Paik's Noodle (arrive 8:15pm)
Neighbourhoods
Newtonbrook East > Bayview Woods-SteelesMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=12vm80a3axKCNPhBU6cuFGs1tD75lJCQ&usp=sharingHow it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
See our homepage for more info.
- Downstream from York University: Naija and Vietnamese eats (8.25 km)York University, North York, ON
Hesitant to explore the Jane and Finch neighbourhood on your own? Now's your chance to discover the culinary highlights of the area. It's a hub of Nigerian and Vietnamese food businesses. Prices for the latter are cheap and some still accept cash only.
Find out what to eat at York University. See the new HQ of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. with several innovative sustainability features (from the outside; we're not entering the building). Go through the heart of Black Creek Parkland. Visit a slice of Nigeria on Eddystone Ave.
We'll finish, depending on appetite, either with a 7-course beef feast, central Vietnamese snacks, or Grenadian food like oildown.
Arrive early to check out the modern buildings around York University on your own.
Highlights
- York University Subway Station north entrance (depart 11 am)
- York Lanes Mall
- Allan Carswell Astronomical Observatory / Lassonde School of Engineering
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (depart 11:25 am)
- Black Creek Park / Finch Hydro Corridor
- Rudy's Garden
- Jane Finch Mall FreshCo (depart 12:20 pm)
- Pho Mi Viet Hoa / Debe’s Roti and Doubles / Banh Mi Tay Do
- Nigerian markets at Eddystone Ave
- Van Sandwiches
- Eddystone Meats
- Oakdale Community Centre
- Da Nang Restaurant / Grenada Rose Cuisine / Pho Cuu Long Mien Tay (arrive 2:00 pm)
Neighbourhoods
York University > Black Creek > Jane and FinchMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1AtueJDBWO8iJ-oCNjB1dpZhsXPyXv4k&usp=sharingHow it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. See the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers.
See our homepage for more info.
- Dixie and Eglinton Industrial Eats + Onam Sadhya veg feast (9.5 km)Centennial Park Conservatory, Etobicoke, ON
Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, in southwest India. Onam Sadhya is the associated feast, traditionally served on a banana leaf with 15 to 25 different items. This is a great introduction to the cuisine of Kerala, which features coconut in different guises.
The centre of this hike revolves around a cluster of Kerala restaurants at Dixie and Eglinton. It's also the perfect opportunity to explore the industrial area, which has become a food hub for South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, with the odd Balkan and Colombian restaurant.
Arrive early to check out the second-largest conservatory in Toronto.
Highly recommended to pre-order onam to avoid disappointment, whether you're dining in or taking out. See details below.
Highlights
- Centennial Park Conservatory (depart 11:00 am)
- Etobicoke Creek Trail
- Crown Pastries (depart 12:15 pm)
- Shawarma Alzaeem / Kolachi Inn
- Shawarnado Shawarma (depart 12:55 pm)
- Thanima Kerala Kitchen
- Yaseen's Shawarma / Shandra's Roti Shop
- Ocean Palate
- Taste of Malayalees (depart 1:45 pm)
- Mandi Afandi / Bamiyan Kabob / Kerala Curry House
- Chaiiwala of London / Balaji Ghughra
- Little South Bistro (arrive 2:10 pm)
Neighbourhoods
Centennial Park > Dixie and Eglinton industrial areaMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1AIxdSveksgf7D_Yzoe9BTGFD7zs_Xt4&usp=sharingThe Mississauga portion has no shade nor protection from rain.
How it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
See our homepage for more info.
Onam pre-order
Please pre-order your own onam sadhya in advance unless you like queuing up for an hour. Even if you pre-order, it can be quite chaotic at restaurants.These restaurants have onam sadhya:
- Thanima Kerala Kitchen: https://thanima.ca/onam. Takeout recommended.
- Ocean Palate: Call to pre-order. Dine-in and takeout available.
- Kerala Curry House. Dine-in buffet and takeout available.
- Taste of Malayalees. Takeout only.
- Little South Bistro. Dine-in buffet and takeout available.
We'll end the hike at Little South Bistro but you can pick up takeout at any restaurant or walk back to dine-in.
We'll have a small table for our group that you can sign up for at our companion event.