Happy new year and happy Tamil Heritage Month! I have meant to write my review of this place for a while but I figured this would be the best opportunity to do so given the month. Sure, you will see several Tamil options in Scarborough, but how many do you really see in downtown Toronto? When I heard about this place back in September 2024 I had to go try it and actually went twice during my lunch breaks so make sure to read my review to learn more about the place, my thoughts, and helpful tips if you plan on checking them out! Also, before you read below, follow me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as I post more Toronto food content! For a preview of what to expect in this blog post check out the reel below!
About and Location
Jaffna Street Food is a quick-service restaurant founded by a father-son duo located at Village by the Grange food court (a four-minute walk from the Art Gallery of Ontario) that offers authentic and popular Tamil Eelam street food which invites people of various communities to be exposed to the Jaffna culinary culture and experience. My parents are from Jaffna, Sri Lanka and it was really cool to see that there was a food spot near my work plus the promotions and product offerings they were having were also enticing. The exact location of this place is 275 Dundas St West in Toronto, Canada which is easily accessible via public transit and driving with limited parking. I know from my CHIP Conversations interview with Mathusan last year, we talked about the Tamil community and the importance of embracing it in a positive light so seeing this made me feel proud to see this father and son embrace their culture and share it through their passion for food. Plus for those who know, you are bound to see a Tamil uncle at the back of any restaurant kitchen in downtown Toronto.
Price
The prices are actually pretty reasonable, and more affordable than other restaurants in downtown Toronto. The first time I went I got the Jaffna Kothu Roti combo which included the soya kothu roti (with egg), vegan patty, and a drink for $12.50 CAD, which is a steal since some places just charge $12 for the Kothu Roti alone. I placed the order on Ritual and I actually ordered the Jaffna Style Egg Roast Paan and 2 paal appams because I saw it on the site but only when I got there did I realize that the breakfast items weren’t all day and only available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thankfully, the staff working there were extremely nice and had a partial refund to give me for the order but also allowed me to get the necto (classic Tamil pop) as the drink. They were really busy but not once were they ever rude to customers from what I saw which is great and made me want to go again. This time, since I knew about the breakfast times I made sure to place the order and pick it up during those hours. I got two of the 2 for $5 paal appams special ($10 CAD) and the Jaffna Style Egg Roast Paan for $5.50 CAD. TIP: If you’re a student or healthcare worker you can save 10% off your order just show them your student ID or healthcare work ID to redeem the discount.
Taste
Now the most important part, is how does it taste? Well, I will say that there were a few things I enjoyed way more than the other. Firstly, the Jaffna-style egg roast paan was the best thing I ate here hands down. I love that the egg was grilled and prepared like an omelet similar to how my mom did it when I was younger with the fresh veggies, flavourful onions, and sauce but the crispy and airy texture of the two roast paans (staple Tamil bread) with the sauce just completed it. There was a lot of flavour that provided a nice savory yet homey feel with each bite. I will say with the paal appams (crepes with a milky centre) the milky texture isn’t bad at all but I wish there was more of it and when you eat it with the crispy exterior it tastes decent. It also comes with two different types of sambol (popular side dish to compliment the main dish) one that is traditional and made up of dried chillies and coconut and one seeni sambol which is essentially caramelized onions. I am not sure if it is because of the difference in each texture but both sambols have spice to it but the regular one definitely has more spice to it. It definitely adds to the sambol but for my personal preference, I usually eat the paal appams on its own. Speaking of personal preferences, I tend to like my kothu roti with more gravy/curry but this one is prepared in the dry version which is still flavourful. For those who don’t know, kothu roti is chopped-up roti pieces that are grilled and seasoned with veggies and spices. I still liked mine because the soya and egg on top gave it more substance but I love how you can taste the different spices in each bite of the kothu roti. The patties weren’t bad either and I remember had a good amount of potato stuffing inside. There are other menu items I want to try from them in the future including the rice bowl and Jaffna poutine.
Overall
All in all, I am really happy I went here and there is a Tamil food spot in the downtown core of Toronto. I love that they are authentic when it comes to Jaffna and more specifically Tamil Ealam culture through the branding (hence the Karthigai/Gloriosa superb flower on the packaging). I recommend if you can, try the Jaffna-style egg roast paan and the kothu roti to your liking (I might ask to see if they can make it more gracy next time). The customer service was great each time I went and I hope they keep that up. Would love to try them again sometime soon. Let me know if you have tried this place or want to try it in the near future in the comments below or on social media! Make sure to follow me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as I post more Toronto food and Tamil content!
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