Best Lunch in Toronto

You will be hardpressed to find a friend who will say no to a bowl of guacamole (and you must always be skeptical of these "friends"). Should you need to get your fix of healthy fats, Wilbur Mexicana is the place to go. Burritos and tacos are stuffed to the brim with sauces and toppings such as pineapple habanero, oaxaca cheese, chipotle cream and other things you didn't dream existed, let alone belonged in your mouth. Salsas are made fresh daily and run the gamut from pico de Gallo to ghost. You can help yourself in the self-serve salsa bar, treading carefully when it comes to the heat.

This is the real deal kind of pizza. You may find yourself enthusiastically affirming the taste of real Neopolitan Pizza at Pizzeria Libretto in Italian. Or, if words fail you, "Mmmm" works well in most languages. This pizza has a soft chewy crust that is beautifully blistered by the piping hot oven. Each pizza is made as a single serving and is not overwhelmed with toppings. Cheese and toppings such as buffala ricotta or house-made sausage accent the dough, allowing it to be melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The result is a lunch that feels lighter than it looks. Even people who are convinced they will just have a slice may find themselves downing a whole pizza. Perfect to eat and then take a nap. We mean...get back to work.

If you are looking for a unique twist on a filling Vietnamese sandwich, you certainly can't go wrong with Banh Mi Boys. On Queen and Spadina, this sandwich shop takes the Vietnamese construct and gives it multicultural twists, from Korean to Japanese. People line up out the door in anticipation, serving the grab-and-go style quite nicely. It is a skinny, hip and modern restaurant which serves its sandwiches on retro checkerboard paper. Banh Mi Boys was an overnight sensation for Toronto foodies who had no idea how great five-spice pork belly could taste. Other mouth-watering choices include duck confit or kimchi fries slathered in mayo, kimchi and slow roasted pulled pork. You may have a little bit of a food coma if you try everything, so order carefully.

If you are looking for fast food that is made of ingredients that you can pronounce, in general, you are out of luck. However, chef Stephen Gardner foresaw a need and in 2005 opened up Urban Herbivore in a small restaurant in Kensington. They now have two popular restaurants, including in the Eaton Centre. Expect vegan, local and organic food that is made entirely from scratch. Custom build a salad or grain bowl on a bed of quinoa, lettuce or black and brown rice (among others). Toppings are substantial, from artichokes to kimchi cabbage to marinated mushrooms. Or indulge in a hearty stew or soup, with exotic curry spices or subtle vegetable flavour. Sandwiches are also phenomenal, and you will be in and out of the door in no time.

Mexican food is amazing with a beer and a patio and a hot summer day, but it is equally as satisfying when you can hide under a warm winter sweater and eat your weight in tacos. Grand Electric has amazing tacos (and other stuff) for reasonable prices, so as you can imagine its popularity. The menu is displayed brightly in chalk. You buy per taco and toppings are as tempting as beer battered white fish with cabbage and mayo or crispy cauliflower with cauliflower mole. You can also get your guacamole and chips and your tuna ceviche - in fact, this place is known for having killer seafood. Expect communal tables and no reservations, as well as great margaritas if you don't have anything productive to do in the afternoon.

When The Burger's Priest opened in 2010, it catapulted in popularity. With restaurants opening all over Ontario, there is a cult following, because Torontonians love nothing better than overpopulating a hot spot. Luckily, the service is quick and even if it wasn't, the wait would be worth it. The griddle-smashed 4-ounce burgers can be loaded up with toppings or doubled up, easily overtaking the small white bun. Veggie burgers are by no means healthy (fried cheese stuffed Portobello mushrooms) but definitely delicious. If you are extra hungry, try The Vatican: two grilled cheese sandwiches encasing two cheeseburgers. You may not be able to fit into your skinny jeans after this lunch, but you won't be able to prevent a huge smile from overtaking your face.

The general mathematical rule is that the more kale a Toronto restaurant has, the more expensive it will be. Healthy doesn't have to break the bank now that Kupfert & Kim have set up shop right in the heart of the financial district. Healthy gluten-free and meatless meals offer substantial fuel for long days at the office. A hearty breakfast option is the toasts, with avocado toast and blueberry avocado toast ready to start your day right. Lunches come in charming takeout boxes and are filled to the brim with good stuff like brown rice, beans and chia seeds. Expect fresh ingredients that change with the seasons and expect your digestive tract to be very happy indeed.

With growing to-do lists, our brunch and newspaper-reading weekends may be replaced with visits to IKEA, the dry cleaner and the grocery store. It is no wonder that by the time Monday rolls around, we are grumpy. Maha's is a restaurant designed to rectify your weekend wrongs, with an Egyptian brunch open all weekdays but Wednesday. Maha is owner Maha Barsoom who runs the restaurant with her family. The amazingly delicious food includes crispy-on-the-outside falafel paired with soft boiled eggs and cumin house fries and the Egyptian street staple, foole, which is made out of fava beans and is stick-to-your-ribs fantastic. Even grilled cheese is dolled up with dates, three cheeses and a drizzle of honey. Weekend do-over?

If you are a person who hears the words "baby back ribs" and salivates, you must make a trip over to Roncesvalles for a spectacular lunch. Lucky for us, owners and childhood friends Jonathan Persofsky and David Neinstein left the corporate world to dedicate more time to their passion of genuine pit BBQ. Every piece of meat is treated like a work of art, and the word succulent doesn't even begin to do it justice. Nosh on the complementary popcorn with dipping sauces as you wait for the meal, and try your best not to drink the homemade BBQ sauce. Tuck into a sandwich with meats ranging from sliced smoked pork to blackened smoked chicken with candied smoked bacon. You may find yourself making socially awkward noises as you devour your sandwich, but it is rare that you find meat cooked to perfection. There is nothing wrong with enjoying it.

Take the "a" off of "Planta" and you will realize what this restaurant is all about (and it's not the hokey pokey). Marketed as plant-based cuisine rather than vegan, this fresh and airy restaurant specializes in delicious food from around the globe that any meat-eater would be proud to chomp. Planta burgers have queso, pickles, buffalo aioli and spiced fries. Lentil pate is served with a generous helping of crostini, grainy mustard and pickles. Enjoy cashew mozzarella, ranch dressing and cauliflower on your pizza. The creative and innovative dishes are plated beautifully. Get your Instagram feed ready.