
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. It's more rewarding if you 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.com does not send notifications instantly.
Omakase
For some hikes, we offer omakase. This is an optional program where participants chip in a small amount of money and the organizer will use the pool to buy food for sampling. The food bought, 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 in omakase 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.
No refunds after orders are placed, even if you left early, got lost, or missed samples for whatever reason. Collected 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
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.
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, please 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.
To celebrate our anniversary, we're doing a hike along the entire length of Eglinton Avenue East. It's a summoning ritual for the Eglinton LRT. We'll cover the eastern portion of the line and beyond.
Most of the route is in deep suburbia territory. There are long stretches of boring houses punctuated by bursts of commercial activity. As we get closer to Yonge and Eglinton, building density increases dramatically. You'll get a first-hand look of how the arrival of the LRT is building up areas like Eglinton and Don Mills.
There's a strong Indian theme to the restaurants en route. Find regional cuisines like Gujarat, Punjab, Bengal, Andhra, Kerala, Tamil, and others. However, it's not just South Asian. We'll be passing by eateries and supermarkets from five continents.
You need to be in decent shape and have a good 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 Japanese fine dining restaurant and a katsu restaurant. Reservations are required for either and will be announced at a later date.
Highlights
Segment 1: Scarborough Village
- Start (or end) of Eglinton Avenue at Kingston Rd (depart 11am)
- Diamond Kabab House
- Falcha Restaurant / Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant
- Eglinton GO station
- The Nanglo Restaurant / Nakamori Japanese Restaurant
- Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant / Oruma Indian Take Out (arrive 11:50am)
- Shoppers Drug Mart at Eglinton Ave East and Brimley Rd (depart 12:45pm)
Segment 2: Golden Mile
- Aunt Elsie Caribbean Kitchen
- S Motiram Sweets and Restaurant
- Yal Market
- Kennedy LRT Station
- Al Premium Food Mart
- Centennial College Ashtonbee
- Adonis
- Chachee's Chai Cafe / Mutabak Karak / Chaiiwala of London / Food Court at the One Centre (arrive 2:18pm; depart 2:35pm)
Segment 3: Don Valley
- Minerva Tiffins / Janatha Bar and Restaurant
- Seafood City Supermarket
- Gatineau Hydro Corridor Trailhead
- Latvian Canadian Centre
- Views of Don Valley East and West
- The Ismaili Centre / Aga Khan Museum (arrive 3:55pm; depart 4:05pm)
Segment 4: Leaside
- Crosstown Place
- Former(?) Science Centre
- Toyota On the Park
- Charmaine Sweets
- Conspiracy Pizza (arrive 5:10pm; depart 5:15pm)
Segment 5: Mount Pleasant
- BanCan Kitchen
- Unique apartment buildings around Mount Pleasant
- Yonge Fresh Market
- Mount Pleasant station
- 155 Redpath condos
- Rudy / Bindaz Biryani / CopaCabana Brazilian Steakhouse
- Istanbul Kebab House / Bell Canada Switching Station
- E condos / Yonge Eglinton Centre (arrive 6pm)
Neighbourhoods
Scarborough Village > Eglinton East > Ionview > Golden Mile > Victoria Village > Wynford-Concorde > Leaside > Sherwood Park > Yonge–Eglinton
Map
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1YPko_A-05I8Y48kQLQ_qwqns3NPB2Jg&usp=sharing
We're walking westwards in the afternoon, so bring sun protection.
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.
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.
If you made it off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.
Please change your RSVP if you're not able to attend. Changing RSVP at the last minute does not give others enough time to react.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Pride of the Garden District (6.6 km)Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, ON
Attendance policy is enforced for this hike. See below for details.
Just off to the side of downtown Yonge Street, the Garden District and Church-Wellesley Village has soaring churches, restored mansions, crumbling mansions, a hotel-turned-strip-club-turned-condo, homeless shelters, and modernist skyscrapers. It's a fascinating mix. The centrepiece is Allan Gardens, which we'll be skirting around in this hike.
Church-Wellesley is the centre of Pride celebrations. We're visiting before it becomes too crazy at the end of the month. Historically, this area isn't known for food, but that's changing as good restaurants spill over from Yonge Street. Case in point: we'll end at a Thai restaurant that does an elevated seafood kai toon (savoury custard) and hoy jor (crab rolls) garnished with gold leaf.
Highlights
- Yonge-Dundas Square subway entrance (depart 6:30pm)
- Mackenzie House
- St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica / Metropolitan United Church
- Super Parsian / Panemor / Pink Elephant Creamery
- Filmores Hotel
- All Saints Church-Community Centre
- Hugh Garner Housing Co-op
- Sweet Addictions (depart 7:25pm)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
- The Keg Steakhouse (haunted) Mansion
- Many historic mansions
- Rogers Inc HQ
- Nani's Gelato
- The ArQuives
- The Blake House / Canada's National Ballet School
- Snowday Bingsu / Kintaro Izakaya
- Thong Lor Thai Grilled Bar (arrive 8:20pm)
Neighbourhoods
Garden District > Cabbagetown > Upper Jarvis > Church-Wellesley VillageMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1jw4j0tN2UcymOVYKMzbj6YW3OOxcO5U&usp=sharingWe'll be going faster than usual. Minimum speed is 5 km/h.
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. 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 About section 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.If you made it off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.
Please change your RSVP if you're not able to attend. Changing RSVP at the last minute does not give others enough time to react.
- Behind Humber Bay: cheese and other rich foods (9.6 km)Sunnyside Park, Toronto, ON
Attendance policy is enforced for this hike. See below for details.
Go on the path less-travelled around Humber Bay. Most people whiz through Humber Bay on the Waterfront Trail or the Gardiner Expressway. We'll skirt around the bay and find the food establishments hiding in quiet neighbourhoods and industrial areas. Spoiler: a renowned cheese market, soft serve, creamy pastries, schnitzels, pizzas, and other artery-clogging foods.
We'll end the hike at Mimico, a semi-historical neighbourhood. Sit down for Ukrainian cuisine at the top restaurant of its kind in Toronto.
Highlights
- Trans Canada Trail info boards at Sunnyside Park (depart 11 am)
- Humber Bay Bridge
- Hooked / Cheese Boutique (depart 11:30 am)
- Oculus Pavilion
- Ontario Food Terminal / Momo Dumpling Express
- Jeff Healey Park
- Tom's Dairy Freeze (depart 12:40 pm)
- Three Brothers Restaurant / Kovalsky
- Hadrien Verrier Patisserie
- Revolver Pizza / Sanremo Bakery (depart 1:20 pm)
- Former Mimico Train Station
- Churches in Mimico
- Amos Waites Park
- Mr Momo / Maurya East Indian Roti
- Pemako Kitchen / Barrel House Korchma (arrive 2pm)
Neighbourhoods
Sunnyside > Swansea > The Queensway > MimicoMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1H-z7h51ecn3qdztoByWh2MYMByfweYA&usp=sharingSlight gradient when climbing up and down the bridge across the Humber river.
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.
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 About section 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.If you made it off the waitlist less than 24 hours before the event, you won't be considered a no-show.
Please change your RSVP if you're not able to attend. Changing RSVP at the last minute does not give others enough time to react.
- The Meadoway North (12.5 km)University of Toronto Scarborough Student Centre, Toronto, ON
The Meadoway, when completed, will connect the zoo with the Golden Mile and the Don Valley at North York. This hike will cover the latest segment on the northern end, which is also the newest trail in Toronto. We'll be going through a densely forested part of Scarborough that's interrupted by a massive sports centre and educational institutions with contrasting architectural styles.
We'll be poking out to check out restaurants en route. The two notable clusters are at Markham Road and Painted Post Drive and around Cedarbrae mall. Find Indian desserts like gola (shaved ice) and shakes at the former and Afghan food at the latter.
There are many mediocre Indian restaurants in the neighbourhood but we'll end at a successful one that has spawned a few branches in Toronto.
Highlights
- University of Toronto Scarborough Student Centre (depart 2:30pm)
- Centennial College
- Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (depart 3:05pm)
- Gatineau Hydro Corridor
- Botany Hill Park
- Gola Palace / Milky Lane Cafe (depart 4:20pm)
- Eggholic
- Basir Azizi Bakery
- Cedarbrae library (depart 5:05pm)
- Cedar Brook Park
- Charcoal Kebab House
- Indraprastha (arrive 6:10pm)
Neighbourhoods
University of Toronto Scarborough > Highland Creek > Morningside > Curran Hall > Cedarbrae > Woburn NorthMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1YhXAyxFXwrRJiTgAkqTtjNYn5YmtkDc&usp=sharingSome moderate hills.
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.
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 About section for more info.
- The loneliest subway station (6.9 km)Kourosh Bakery and Sandwiches, Toronto, ON
Not all neighbourhoods have amazing food. The condo community between Bessarion and Leslie is another example of a poorly-planned development with amenities that lag behind residency. But hey, there's an IKEA and a large wooded trail.
Unlike previous hikes, we won't be eating along the route because of the lack of good food. The hike will also be at a faster pace than usual, with a minimum speed of 4.5 to 5 km/h.
We'll end with dinner at either Darband, Casa Manila. or Robo Sushi. Darband is a long-running Iranian restaurant with hard-to-find specialties like kaleh—lamb head soup with tongue, eyes, and brain. Casa Manila is a decent Filipino restaurant with traditional dishes and the atmosphere of an upper-class Manila home. Robo Sushi has robot servers. If there is still time, you can go Korean grocery shopping at one of the best-stocked supermarkets in the GTA.
Highlights
- Kourosh Sandwiches / Taro's Fish (depart 6:30pm)
- Ethennonnhawahstihnen Community Centre / Park
- Issai Japanese Eatery
- IKEA North York (depart 6:47pm)
- Betty Sutherland Trail Park
- Graydon Hall Manor (depart 7:37pm)
- Ontario Association Of Architects / David Duncan House
- Darband / Casa Manila / Robo Sushi (arrive 8:10pm)
Neighbourhoods
Park Place > Betty Sutherland Trail Park > Graydon Hall > Don MillsMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1RzfWfKWWAW2UKSAV4DDJv-XfJG4n-VY&usp=sharingModerate incline to Graydon Hall.
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 About section for more info.