The Best Tacos Restaurants in Baldwin Village, Toronto, Ontario

Baldwin Village is a centrally located Toronto neighbourhood with a rich history. Located near the Grange park neighbourhood in the west of the downtown core, this commercial area is largely the result of the conversion of residential properties to attractive and dainty restaurants and retail outlets. This area has changed markedly in the last fifty years. What started as an offshoot of Kensington Market which housed a number of Jewish restaurants and stores became populated by Chinese Canadians as Chinatown developed on nearby Spadina. The first café in this neighbourhood opened in 1978 and Baldwin village is now one of the best-known restaurant districts in downtown Toronto.
Popular among OCAD students and visitors at the Art Gallery of Ontario, this small neighbourhood is home to just a few dozen small eateries. Although few in number, these restaurants represent a diverse and eclectic mix of cuisine similar to that available in the nearby Kensington marketplace. Prices in Baldwin Village are somewhat modest with few upscale options, making this a great place for University of Toronto students and Queen Street hipsters to grab a bite after work or school while still living on the cheap.
Baldwin Village restaurants are often somewhat small but thrive on just a few specialties. Take "Hoosier Daddy's" for example: this hole-in-the-wall takeout stand serves up scrumptious and authentic tasting American Style BBQ sandwiches. The Hanoi Bistro at 23 Baldwin Street packs every lunch hour with OCAD students enjoying a hot bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup, served just a little spicy and accompanied by other favourites such as shrimp spring rolls and delicious fruit smoothies. You could also try a less well-known vietnamese staple - a cold glass of iced espresso with condensed milk - for a real taste of Vietnam.
Perhaps the best known eatery of Baldwin Village is Agave y Aguacate, a modestly priced eatery that serves Mexican-inspired street food with hardly a taco in sight. Stop by this popular lunch spot located just east of Henry St. and Baldwin to enjoy the rich flavours of lime, cilantro and pinto bean - just make sure to avoid the lunch rush if you're planning to sit.
Baldwin Village is also home to a number of popular Japanese restaurants including Konnichiwa, Kuni Sushi Ya, ND Sushi and Grill and Manpuku. With fresh and delicious sushi and maki offerings and a succulent grill menu, these locations know they're in competition for your business in the Baldwin Village and you'll have a hard time picking favourites.
Vegetarian cuisine has always been popular among the hipsters and art students that frequent the Baldwin Village restaurants, and several meat-less menus can be found in the village as a result. Vegetarian Haven is a popular restaurant that accommodates vegetarians with helpful staff and exceptional service. Here, the specials are constantly changing and your server won't hesitate to bring out a sample if you're unsure of what to order. Karine's is another vegan friendly restaurant with a Mediterranean twist. Although there's meat on the menu, vegetarians will find numerous protein-packed veggie options with extra beans and fruit. Brunch is served seven days a week and the Tuna melt is delicious!
Baldwin Village may be home to the best noodle restaurants in Toronto. Being next to Chinatown, there was bound to be some overflow of Ramen shops meant to cater to students on a budget and that's just the niche that's been filled by restaurants like Kinton Ramen and the recently opened Ryu's Noodle Bar. The perpetually packed Kinton music plays hip-hop music and boasts an energized atmosphere as the college-aged patronage slurps at enourmous bowls of vegetable or beef ramen. Ryu's Noodle Bar competes directly with Kinton, offering a serene décor which contrasts with the open bar concept at Kinton Ramen. Offering a full lunch menu which includes endless varieties of delicious Ramen bowls as well as tenderized char shu sides, Ryu may already be the premiere noodle restaurant in Baldwin Village. Why not try both of them and see which one you prefer?
Nestled beside Chinatown and Kensington market, Baldwin village has its own culinary identity - a place where competition is fierce and value reigns supreme as specialty restaurants and sushi bars compete for business from local residents, students and tourists alike. This trendy neighbourhood acts as a trial by fire for new restaurants who must carve out a niche if they want to survive. The real winner is the consumer when finding the perfect flavour, the right texture and the best price can mean life or death for a small local restaurant. It's no wonder that Baldwin Village produces some of the tastiest and cheapest meals available in the downtown area.