The last year was a a busy and exciting one for the Toronto food scene, in which we saw electric openings that ranged from highbrow to low, including modest local joints and grand, attention-grabbing eateries.
To highlight the standout newcomers, we asked esteemed chef Devindra Singh, recently awarded a Bib Gourmand for Indian Street Food Co. — an innovative culinary experience that draws inspiration from the vibrant street vendors of India— to tell us what he thought was the best new addition to the city’s dining scene. Read on to find out which exciting spot he selected.
Chef Singh’s pick: Kachiguda Junction
“My all-time favourite dish is the biryani, and the prices are very reasonable,” chef Singh recently told us.
Kachiguda Junction
Located on a sunny stretch in Greektown on Danforth Ave., Kachiguda Junction is the younger, flashier version of the restaurant’s OG Oshawa location, with the same delicious, expertly seasoned Indian food that has made them a favourite over the years. The menu explores regional cuisines as well as Indo-Chinese manifestations of classic Indian dishes and is named after one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Hyderabad, India, often called the City of Pearls. Kachiguda presents an extensive and affordable menu with vegetarian dishes that keep pace with the meat-bearing ones, including the paneer tikka masala (cheese tossed in an onion tomato sauce) and bagara baingan (eggplant cooked in a coconut, sesame and peanut sauce ). There are also a number of traditional Indian tropical drinks, like the mango lassi, a creamy and refreshing yogurt-based drink made with a bit of sugar and a sprinkling of cardamom — a perfect way to beat the heat in the warmer months. Diners are quick to point out the unfaltering service, where guests are treated as friends, and a strong emphasis on cooking as it’s done at home, including the standout gunpowder ghee dosa. 505 Danforth Ave.
To find out which new restaurant Michelin chef Eric Chong selected, click here, Â if you’re curious about what new spot Tobey Nemeth and Michael Cabello of Edulis chose, click here, And you’ll find chef Anthony Rose of Fat Pasha’s favourite new restaurant here.