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The Lunch Lady Toronto is the next chapter in the remarkable story of Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thanh—known around the world as The Lunch Lady—after her unforgettable appearance on Chef Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Her food, humble in origin but bold in flavour, moved Bourdain and went on to capture hearts across the globe. Our menu honours the cuisine that Ms. Thanh perfected over decades, while embracing the creative & vibrant energy of our new home on Ossington Avenue. From the streets of Saigon to the heart of Toronto, we are proud to offer a dining experience that is rooted in heritage, driven by innovation, and carried by the belief that a great meal can tell a powerful story.
Hours
| Wednesday | 12–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 12–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Friday | 12–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Monday | 5–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 93 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z2, Canada
Phone: +1 647-748-9550
Website: https://thelunchlady.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.ca
Related Web Results
Lunch Lady
“WORLD FAMOUS” VIETNAMESE STREET FOOD. Est. 1995 · Saigon, Vietnam. Quán An.
The Lunch Lady Restaurant – Toronto, ON | OpenTable
… M6J 2Z2. Make a reservation. A photo of The Lunch Lady restaurant. The … Yes, the Lunch Lady concept began in Saigon (the original ‘Lunch Lady’), and …
The Lunch Lady – Saigon’s Celebrity Street Food Stall – Migrationology
The Lunch Lady in Saigon is a street food restaurant that specializes in serving Vietnamese noodle dishes. Though famous, the food remains delicious.
Reviews
Joshua C. Savundranayagam
I’ve been meaning to come here for a while but wow this whole meal blew me away. Everything was so flavourful and it was hard to pick a dish I loved the most. I had to eat in silence just to savour how good the food was!
My favourite dishes were probably the beef carpaccio and the Che Ba Mau dessert. But you can’t go wrong I’d highly recommend the soft shell crab and the pho was excellent and definitely shareable for two.
Serena was a wonderful server as well shoutout to her! Atmosphere was lovely especially with all the decorations for Lunar New Year!
I’ve eaten a lot of nice food in the city but this is definitely one spot that left a really strong impression on me. I’ll definitely be back!
… moreMy favourite dishes were probably the beef carpaccio and the Che Ba Mau dessert. But you can’t go wrong I’d highly recommend the soft shell crab and the pho was excellent and definitely shareable for two.
Serena was a wonderful server as well shoutout to her! Atmosphere was lovely especially with all the decorations for Lunar New Year!
I’ve eaten a lot of nice food in the city but this is definitely one spot that left a really strong impression on me. I’ll definitely be back!
Ali F.
I tried Lunch Lady after hearing a lot of buzz about it. I usually don’t get too caught up in hype, but this time I was curious and booked in advance for lunch.
The ambiance is lively, fun, and a bit loud — definitely a trendy Ossington spot. I ordered the beef carpaccio, beef noodle soup, and lemongrass chicken with rice. The beef carpaccio was excellent and probably the highlight of the meal. The other dishes were just okay. Considering the prices, there are definitely other places on Ossington where you can find richer, more flavorful pho and Vietnamese dishes.
The Vietnamese iced coffee with coconut cream was also disappointing — it tasted more like a coffee dessert (almost like a café glacé) than a proper Vietnamese iced coffee.
What left the worst impression, though, was the service. The waiter repeatedly rushed me throughout the meal. Within the first hour we were interrupted multiple times, and right after finishing the appetizer I was already being asked about dessert and gently reminded about the time. It felt like the expectation was to order, eat quickly, and leave as soon as possible.
Overall, it wasn’t a terrible experience, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype. With a few other Vietnamese spots on the same strip that feel more authentic and genuinely welcoming, I’m not sure I would return.
… moreThe ambiance is lively, fun, and a bit loud — definitely a trendy Ossington spot. I ordered the beef carpaccio, beef noodle soup, and lemongrass chicken with rice. The beef carpaccio was excellent and probably the highlight of the meal. The other dishes were just okay. Considering the prices, there are definitely other places on Ossington where you can find richer, more flavorful pho and Vietnamese dishes.
The Vietnamese iced coffee with coconut cream was also disappointing — it tasted more like a coffee dessert (almost like a café glacé) than a proper Vietnamese iced coffee.
What left the worst impression, though, was the service. The waiter repeatedly rushed me throughout the meal. Within the first hour we were interrupted multiple times, and right after finishing the appetizer I was already being asked about dessert and gently reminded about the time. It felt like the expectation was to order, eat quickly, and leave as soon as possible.
Overall, it wasn’t a terrible experience, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype. With a few other Vietnamese spots on the same strip that feel more authentic and genuinely welcoming, I’m not sure I would return.
Isaiah
Might just be my favourite Toronto restaurant. The XO garlic noodles alone are enough to warrant this reaction. The interior is very classy and authentic; there’s a mix of traditional Vietnamese decor, and the seating is very nice. The overall atmosphere is lively.
The food is absolutely spectacular, such a great fusion of Vietnamese flavours and dishes. The dessert is also great, such a nice Viet twist on common desserts, with traditional flavours and just incredible food. The service is also great. I have been about 3 times since I first tried this place a few months ago!
… moreThe food is absolutely spectacular, such a great fusion of Vietnamese flavours and dishes. The dessert is also great, such a nice Viet twist on common desserts, with traditional flavours and just incredible food. The service is also great. I have been about 3 times since I first tried this place a few months ago!
Maria S
My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary dinner here, and it was truly a night to remember.
Our server (I think her name was Jessica… I’m so sorry if I’m wrong!) was incredibly sweet and attentive, and honestly the whole team gave off nothing but good vibes. We were even asked if we had any feedback, which felt really nice and like they genuinely cared about our experience.
My favourite dishes were the pork belly skewers and the fried tofu. The pork belly skewers were probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten (I know this sounds super dramatic but that’s how I felt in the moment). It was a total flavour bomb when you stack the leaves and cucumber on top. (If you’re sensitive to rich/fatty food though, this might not be the dish for you — it’s definitely on the fattier side.) For mains, we had the garlic noodles and the beef short rib pasta, and both were delicious too. We also had the tiramisu for dessert which I highly recommend!
We also noticed how much thought was put into the decor and interior, everything felt intentional, and the atmosphere was buzzy in the best way: lively, warm, and really nice to be in.
Can’t wait to go back and try more of the dishes!
… moreOur server (I think her name was Jessica… I’m so sorry if I’m wrong!) was incredibly sweet and attentive, and honestly the whole team gave off nothing but good vibes. We were even asked if we had any feedback, which felt really nice and like they genuinely cared about our experience.
My favourite dishes were the pork belly skewers and the fried tofu. The pork belly skewers were probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten (I know this sounds super dramatic but that’s how I felt in the moment). It was a total flavour bomb when you stack the leaves and cucumber on top. (If you’re sensitive to rich/fatty food though, this might not be the dish for you — it’s definitely on the fattier side.) For mains, we had the garlic noodles and the beef short rib pasta, and both were delicious too. We also had the tiramisu for dessert which I highly recommend!
We also noticed how much thought was put into the decor and interior, everything felt intentional, and the atmosphere was buzzy in the best way: lively, warm, and really nice to be in.
Can’t wait to go back and try more of the dishes!
Diana Elias
Drove all the way from Buffalo durning what was just a major snow storm in Toronto. But I am so glad that we got the chance to eat here. First of all the service was top notch. Quick and all of the staff was very friendly and personable. I loved the ambiance, from the decorations to the hip music. Cool looking bar as well. The food and cocktails were very good. We shared several plates between the 3 of us girls. My favorite was the Wagyu pho, the beef carpaccio, and the octopus skewers. Our server was so nice and was surprised we drove all the way there in a snow storm that she let us sample their famous sticky rice cake dessert. Let me tell you it was delicious. From the cake to the homemade gelato. Little things like that made the whole experience more Memorable. I would return again, hopefully when the weather is better!
… moreLakshmi Nataraj
Absolute 10/10 ! We started off with the Crispy taro chips, the chilli aioli was so good. Then we got the octopus skewers, pork belly skewers and crispy prawns, everything was delicious! For mains, we got the Short rib Rigatoni , the sauce was so flavourful. My favourite was the Pork Tomahawk, absolutely delicious flavours, and with the lettuce, peppers and herb vinaigrette, this dish was easily the best. Ended up getting all the 3 desserts, but the three layer dessert is a masterpiece! The flavour combo was bomb!!
The service was extremely warm and pleasant. Highly recommend the place. Loved it!
… moreThe service was extremely warm and pleasant. Highly recommend the place. Loved it!
Elaine Kwan
I had heard mixed reviews about this place so I didn’t go on with much expectations. Service was incredible and the food was served very quickly.
As there were 6 of us, we shared the 2 person and 4 person Family Style menu. My favourite dish was the Beef Carpacio. I didn’t read the description but one bite in and you get all the aromas of pho, what a pleasant surprise! The crispy taro chips are addictive. The rest of the menu was great too, minis the garlic noodles. It was way too salty. All in all our party really enjoyed the food and service and would come back.
… moreAs there were 6 of us, we shared the 2 person and 4 person Family Style menu. My favourite dish was the Beef Carpacio. I didn’t read the description but one bite in and you get all the aromas of pho, what a pleasant surprise! The crispy taro chips are addictive. The rest of the menu was great too, minis the garlic noodles. It was way too salty. All in all our party really enjoyed the food and service and would come back.
Ivy Diec
We had an amazing time here! Irene was our server and she was so friendly and kind, as were all the staff. Loved the decor and music, it really added to a cozy yet fun vibe. We wanted to make sure to try some special items from the Tet menu and the ca phe sticky toffee pudding was phenomenal. I especially loved the chips and dip and bo luc lac. I definitely recommend coming here and will be back!
… moreCeline Ko
Lunch Lady is always busy for a reason—this was our second visit and definitely won’t be our last.
We did the $70 per person dinner set for two and everything was consistently excellent, with generous portions. The steak came out a perfect medium rare and was so, so good. Standouts for us were the pork belly skewers (fatty, juicy, and exactly what you want) and the beef carpaccio, which was fresh and excellent again.
Service made the night: our waiter, Tristan, was incredible—especially with our kids. He chatted with them, made them feel at home, and even took them to the kitchen for a quick tour, which they loved.
The vibe was fun and lively with R&B playing, and the space was decorated for Lunar New Year, which added a great touch. Also: the egg foam Vietnamese coffee was strong (just what I needed) and delicious.
Highly recommend—just be ready for a busy room.
… moreWe did the $70 per person dinner set for two and everything was consistently excellent, with generous portions. The steak came out a perfect medium rare and was so, so good. Standouts for us were the pork belly skewers (fatty, juicy, and exactly what you want) and the beef carpaccio, which was fresh and excellent again.
Service made the night: our waiter, Tristan, was incredible—especially with our kids. He chatted with them, made them feel at home, and even took them to the kitchen for a quick tour, which they loved.
The vibe was fun and lively with R&B playing, and the space was decorated for Lunar New Year, which added a great touch. Also: the egg foam Vietnamese coffee was strong (just what I needed) and delicious.
Highly recommend—just be ready for a busy room.
Le Yen Lam
Came here for the banh canh cua and it did not disappoint! The broth and tapioca noodles were the perfect texture, and I loved that I didn’t have to peel my own crab. There was generous amounts of crab meat as well. I liked the fried dough soaking in the broth, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the crab claw. Maybe it was because we had ordered the deep fried prawns as an appetizer and had a lot of fried food already.
Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the soup and the appetizer. Would definitely come here again and try some other things on the menu. Our server, Ozcan, was great too!
… moreNevertheless, I still really enjoyed the soup and the appetizer. Would definitely come here again and try some other things on the menu. Our server, Ozcan, was great too!