Toronto’s Top Three All You Can Eat
Hungry? For real food this time?
Tanya fills us in — and up — with the best All You Can Eat dining destinations to be found in our fair city. So if you’re feeling peckish, give one of these places a try.
Little India
255 Queen St. W.
From 11 am until 3 pm
Little India is the best Indian buffet in Toronto, hands down; it’s available only at lunch for only $8.95. It isn’t the biggest buffet Toronto has to offer, but it boasts four or five main dishes, a wide variety of salads, and the little extras like mango ice cream and fresh fruit that make it a great choice. The quality of the food is amazing, and I believe it’s the best butter chicken I have ever tasted. Beverages are a little pricier than I’d like, but the Chai tea is freshly made with real ginger, and its spicy flavour really complements the food. The staff at Little India are friendly and beyond courteous, and they pay attention to the level of water in your glass (to me, that is of the utmost importance if you’re not having any other beverage). They also refill every item before it runs out, so that you’re rarely left waiting for a particular item. The naan runs out sometimes, but the waiters bring it fresh to your table when it’s ready. The only downside to eating at Little India is its popularity. The tables are almost always full, and you usually have to wait 5 – 10 minutes before being seated. But trust me, it’s worth it. Oh, and extra points for real tablecloths on the tables and cloth napkins, as well as the fancy water pitchers. Best Item – Butter Chicken.
Sushi Island
571 College St. W.
Sushi sushi sushi! Going to Sushi Island requires some planning. First, eat here only if you are definitely hungry, because for the price, you should get your money’s worth. The menu has three levels, depending on how many options you want. Pay $12.99 for a decent selection of sushi and vegetarian sushi options. The second, at $18.99 is the one I usually go for. It gives you a selection of anything on the menu excluding the sashimi and nigiri items. This includes appetizers (of which there are plenty delectable choices) and desserts. I recommend the bananas with green tea ice cream. I have yet to try the banana pancake for two, because I’m usually too full when the time comes to order. The third option at $20.99 is everything including the sashimi and nigiri, with a few exceptions for the fresh raw stuff. Take into account who you will be dining with, because the whole table has to pick the same priced option. Remember also that Sushi Island is all you can eat, but you have to eat everything you order. It’s best to go with at least one other person who will share with you, because most orders are 8 pieces, and you can become full without sampling a variety of options. The downsides — don’t be in a hurry because the service can be really, really slow, and it can take forever to get a refill on tea or water. Best item – Jade Island Roll (tempura shrimp and grapes, plus a few other things).
The Hot House Café
35 Church St.
Wednesdays starting at 5pm
For a great buffet when in need of some comfort food, or “down-home cookin’,” go to The Hot House Café on a Wednesday night. I can’t begin to explain how many great things they have to eat in this place. You walk up to the buffet and it’s sort of overpowering – it makes you want to hop from foot to foot with an empty plate in your hand, savouring the delight of eating so much. To start — soups, fresh rolls of various colours and flavours, cold salmon, and a selection of fruits and cheeses. There’s a really great pasta salad, and a really delicious potato salad — oh and the Thai salad! God, I wish it was Wednesday today. And for main courses – cheese lasagne, mussels, BBQ chicken, ribs, and roast beef. The buffet is $17.95, and they’ve raised their prices since I started going there. The service is usually really good, and the dining room is nicely decorated. They recommend that you make reservations, and I would also suggest calling ahead because it can get very busy. Bonus points for the crazy wax build-up candle sticks on the bar. Downside — it’s really far from my house, and afterwards I’m almost too full to walk back. Oh — and they have a Sunday Breakfast Buffet as well. I just haven’t tried it yet, because I’m afraid it would be so good that I’d have to go every Sunday. Best Item – Everything.ydennekaynat
hey there you may want to revisit your review of sushi island. many details including the price and what’s included in each price segment is inaccurate. For example you do not get sushi for 16.99.
I went last night based on your review and I was terribly disappointed. the service was rude, the rice was undercooked and the manager actually interrupted our meal to tell us specifically that we only have an hour 30 minutes to eat. That’s an understandable rule but who actually goes around telling people that?! It was a very unpleasant experience and I will not be back there again.
FYI we got the 20.99 menu just so we could try everything. needless to say that was a waste of money.
try Aji Sai on Queen Street — much better, I’ve switched completly
Oh oh — looks like you’ve got some ’splaining to do Tanya. Although, you do warn about the service.
Well Jimmy, I did truly warn you about the service. And sadly, Sushi Island did not enter into an agreement with me to keep their prices the same as they were when the review was written (last August). Those bastards.
Some friends and I went to Sushi Island.The service sucked so much that we left the restaurant without eating.Talk about unbelievingly rude waitresses and managers.
We chose the most expensive AYCE at $20.99 ($22.99 because we were there on a weekend) because we wanted sashimi.The manager was shockingly rude!One of the first sentences she said to welcome us was “You are given 1 1/2 hours to order & eat & then you have to leave because it is packed today”. We understood there is usually a time limit to AYCE but saying it in such a rude way before you even sit down is just plain rude!Then, we tried to order 30 pieces of salmon sashimi for 8 and the manager said, “I think 30 pieces is too much. Why don’t you try take 15 instead?” So we decided to be nice and was okay with the salmon and we proceed to order 20 pieces of red snapper on top of the salmon and she said, “Why don’t you order other types of sashimi and less of this because you have to take other customers and tables into consideration”. At this point, we were like “What?!”. First, we have to be told in a rude way that we have to finish 1 1/2 hours on the dot. Second, she cuts down the portion on whatever we want to order and third, we have to take other customers/tables into consideration on what we want to eat?Geez how ridiculous!Needless to say, at this point we decided that we had enough and walked out of the restaurant. I have never been to a restaurant that is so rude and arrogant in my life. When we told her we had enough and we were leaving she said “FINE!” like it doesn’t really matter anyways. Think twice before you go to this place! Even if the food is good, with such service you don’t really have any appetite left to eat at the end! And do not go there when you are celebrating a special occasion unless you want it ruined!
Well it seems like Sushi Island is not up to par these days. I withdraw my recommendation. Go to Hot House Cafe instead.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, “Pete” left the same review over at Resaturantica. His name was “Cheryl” then…maybe some gamesmanship between local businesses?
Wasabi
plaza south east of Pacific Mall nice
I was at Sushi Island last night and the service was formidable. I have never had bad service there. Perhaps the commenters have misinterpreted efficiency as rudeness.
For sushi buffet (or sushi in general) hit Annex….Mariko I think is the name of the buffet and is very decent and priced under $20.
well for sushi,, i knw this place..
NATURAL SUSHI ( yonge and bloor) all i did was walk on the left handside when i got off the subway…
i can guarantee the following.. for 11.99(lunch)
its a very homely place.. i mean great service..friendly chefs..very friendly waitresses. service is simply amazing.. and ofc the sushi is amazing too…
for 11.99 u get quite a few to order.. and ther is a 17.99 which practicallly gives you everytin including sashimi…
and Best part of all ther is no time limit haha.. i go ther almost 2 times a week. with friends.. and i stay ther for like 3-4 hrs max….( cuz we go ther to discuss assignments and ofc eat sushi)
regards
vik
Yes! I used to live in that area and have been to Natural Sushi many times. It’s on the west side of Yonge just south of Charles st.
I highly recommend it as well.
I also go there for a quick bite before I watch movies at Varsity. I recommend the veggie sushi platter – ooh and the deep fried banana fritters there are excellent.
Masi sushi all you can eat, on Isabella and younge street. All you can eat for between 17 and 20 dollars.
You never get rushed, and you can order anything off the menu from sushi to shrimp etc., I have seen some light attitude to BIG eaters, but they keep it coming.
They do make mistakes, and they “forget” things all too often, which I think is their cost cutting measure..>BUT, food is decent and atmosphere is good.
Avoid lunch, too limited menu, dinner best.