Sheppard subway line's must-eat stops

From : Toronto Star  FOOD CRAWL  By Karon Liu

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/07/21/why-one-of-the-ttcs-loneliest-subway-stops-is-a-food-destination.html?source=newsletter&utm_sour

 

 1) Taro’s Fish (800 Sheppard Ave. E.)

The chirashi don at Taro’s Fish

Make fun of Bessarion, one of the TTC’s least-used stations, all you want, but those who appreciate good sushi and sashimi have been coming here for the last decade for Taro’s Fish. The husband and wife–owned Japanese fish market and takeout joint often has a lineup of people outside waiting for it to open. 

A quick grab-and-go option is the chirashi don, mixed pieces of fresh sashimi atop sushi rice. It’s under $20 — pretty good considering the price of seafood right now. The shop is busy, so fridges get replenished often throughout the day, which is what you want to see for bowls of raw fish.

 

You can also make your own bowl by choosing a piece of fish from the fridge. For an extra $3, they’ll slice it and put it on top of sushi rice. You can go fancy with a cut of tuna but there are also more affordable options like ocean trout, which has a taste and consistency similar to salmon, or tamago, the sweet Japanese omelet. The staff are super-friendly and can help you pick, too. Here’s more about what makes Taro's so popular.

 

Taro’s Fish is at 800 Sheppard Ave. E., in the Wycliffe Plaza just next to the MEC. It’s only open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and it’s not on the delivery apps. Instead, you can place orders on the phone or through the website.

 

2)  The khoresh karafs at Kourosh Supermarket’s hot counter

 

In the back of this two-year-old Persian grocer, there’s a small hot counter of stews served over rice. On one visit I tried khoresh karafs, a traditional celery and beef stew rich in herbs, with the complex flavours often found in Persian cooking. There’s a hit of bitterness from the celery and mint, a slight sourness from the dried limes and an umami punch from the beef. Here’s what else you can find at Kourosh.

 

Kourosh Supermarket is at 740 Sheppard Ave. E., just a few steps from Bessarion’s north entrance. The owner wants to expand, so he’s already set up an online shop and app for pickup and delivery. Be sure to check out the dairy and pastry counters, too

 

3) The scallops at Woodhouse BBQ

 

This gem south of Sheppard-Yonge station specializes in barbecue skewers, but one of my favourite things to order are the steamed scallops drizzled with hot garlic oil. Steaming preserves the delicate flavours of the seafood while the hot oil mellows out the garlic, giving the seafood flavour without overpowering it. Here’s what else is on the menu.

 

Woodhouse BBQ is south of Yonge and Sheppard at 4664 Yonge St., in the opposite direction of the bars and restaurants people usually visit. It also has a great sister café, Another Land Coffee, nearby.

 

4) The Cloud Yogurt Smoothie at Forest Cafe

 

For a long time, Tim Hortons and Starbucks have been the only coffee options near Don Mills Station and Fairview Mall. But in 2020, Forest Cafe brought some new options. I love the cafe’s creative seasonal drinks like this summer’s Cloud Yogurt Smoothie. It’s milk, yogurt powder, some blue syrup and ice blitzed together and layered with whipped cream clouds. It’s tangy, fruity in that generic slushy berry flavour and very filling. (It took me a while to finish.) It reminds me of the viral TikTok $20 coconut smoothie from Erewhon Market in LA. They both look like a dreamy summer sky — and, let’s face it, aesthetics are part of what’s fun about both drinks — but Forest Cafe’s version is a third of the price.

 

Forest Cafe is at 56 Forest Manor Rd., in the cluster of newish condos south of the mall and across from the Parkway Forest Community Centre. It's on Uber Eats, but I love the neighbourhood café experience as much as the drink itself.