This is a piece I'm thinking of producing for the big Karmacake. A series of food adventures exploring the ethnic neighborhoods of the city. There will be lots of food posts - there are a few things Toronto does well.

1. We throw a great weekender party
2. We have great diversity of food - AND WE LOVE IT!

Surely every city has diversity, Toronto is no exception. However, it is the enthusiasm in which the city embraces it's multiculturalism that is second to none. From busy Chinese bakeries, bustling dim sum shops and overflowing pho stops, Toronto has a lot to offer in the way of Chinese cuisine. Here's my thoughts on where to eat in the busy strip.

Pho - After sampling pho shop after pho shop in Chinatown, it became clear that Toronto has a love for the steaming bowl of Vietnamese beef soup. For days on end, my friend Brady and I declared Saigon Palace (454 Spadina St) the best pho in Chinatown. The steaming bowls of broth and noodles with a side of crispy pork filled spring rolls were our favorite lunchtime meal.

Then on a tip, I discovered Pho Pasteur (525 Dundas St. W) a pho hotspot that's open 24 hours, located next to a parking lot with an $8 maximum and serves up massive bowls of pho. Everything about it was so good. The beef! Oh man, they carve up insane amounts of beef to top the soup with and it's cheap! A bowl rings in less than $10 and is enough to fill you up.

Dim Sum - Rol San is a stand by, but when the line ups are too long. I double back and hit up Noble Chinese Restaurant (530 Dundas St. W; Across the street from Pho Pasteur). I particularly like it for the noticeable lack of Westerners, and the dim sum is solid. Shu Mai are large three bite dumplings - juicy and tender. Har Gow are brimming with whole shrimp and the sticky rice in a lotus leaf always has a slice of sausage in it.

There will be more to come, but I just had to get it published...