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CNE recommendations?

Hi folks,

I'm going to the Ex this weekend and am looking for some tasty recommendations.
I'm not into deep-fried butter or bacon-wrapped Mars bars or anything like that.
I just want good-tasting food.

So far I've heard that there's a vegan taco and a korean taco that are must tries.
I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

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  1. My recommendation: Stay Home! Finding tasty food at the EX is an exercise in futility. You have a better chance of finding tasty food at one of Toronto's Soup Kitchens and it's a lot cheaper.

    2 Replies
    1. re: Doctormhl1

      I think that's a bit harsh.

      To the OP I would say that the Food Building is like a gigantic food court, expect nothing unique (beyond whatever gross thing they're deep frying this year) or Chow worthy and you'll do fine. I haven't been this year so perhaps others can fill you in better as to what's toothsome there.

      1. re: ziggystardust

        i dont think that it really is that harsh considering the prices of the food there, for example you get a 6 pc chicken tender meal with fries for $16, A bucket of fries (almost the same amount you get for a McDonald's large fries) for $10, a single strip of bacon on a stick for $6, the only thing thats really affordable are the old standbys like subway subs if you want to try something different bring lots of cash..

    2. Yeah, heard good .things about the Korean taco spot in the food building. Friend had pulled pork from Pulled today and she enjoyed it. I hear the raw place is over priced. This weekend is the old truck rally at the CNE so you might want to check that our. Some food trucks that haven't been in Toronto before

      1 Reply
      1. re: ylsf

        Correction, talked to my friend more today and she said to skip the pulled pork from Pull'd. She said it was just "ok", not worth it.

      2. There is a perogie place that has a sampler plate for $4. You get 4 perogies and a mini cabbage roll that is quite good. Other than that there is the 99 cent spaghetti. Stay away from Bacon Nation. A bacon wrapped hot dog was $6 and it was just a hot dog with a strip of over cooked bacon stuck on top.

        1 Reply
        1. re: juliewong

          +1 to the polish place with perogies and cabbage rolls.

        2. Best thing we had were the Kimchi Fries from Far East Taco (fries, cheese, bulgogi, kimchi). For food trucks we hit up Buster's Sea Cove for fish tacos, and Gourmet Gringos for short rib mole tacos. Both were good. Also enjoyed some cupcakes from a truck whose name I forget.

          1. Just went tonight. I always have the Philippine shrimp patty. Two rather large shrimps in the shell (no heads) on a patty of veggies and potatoes and deep fried. It was better then the last time I had it but merely OK. Then had bhel puri but it was ruined by too much sauce therefore too salty. When leaving I saw the Dutch fries place which has 'Kroketten' which I would have tried if I saw it first.

            5 Replies
            1. re: Teep

              From which gate did you leave? Dutch fries and kroketten? Mmm--the Dutch fried fish from the truck was the last good thing to eat at St Jacobs...

              I've loved those Philippino fried-shrimp things for years--as long as that booth's been there--we never miss them! Glad to see someone else likes them.
              I'll definitely try the Buster's truck too; I had a great fish sandwich from them when they were in the food building.

              1. re: pearl3

                The Dutch fries I saw were in the food building. Didn't see or know about the food trucks unfortunately.

                1. re: Teep

                  Well, I tried the Dutch fries, and 'tho I liked the design of their operation [looks like people shilling a potential franchise to me], I thought the fries were okay + 1, no more. Yes, they were real potatoes, and yes, there were the North Euro mayos on offer, but the frying could have been better. I wanted to love them, too...

                  Someone up or down-thread mentioned the absence of Island Foods--I regretted that; their rotis were always dependable. Also missed Buster's presence in the Food building. But, the Philippino shrimp fry was just as good as always.

                  Causes of Potential Nausea: the Maple Lodge poultry booth offers a Hot Dog Eclair--and they mean "eclair," as in chocolate on the starch part [not chou paste] and whipped cream. Is it just me, or do those items not really blend well with a chicken hot dog?

                  1. re: pearl3

                    I was just there today and saw the maple Leaf "Hot Dog Eclair". And indeed I thought "why? why???"

                    1. re: rstuart

                      Ha - I mentioned it in my post below as well. Didn't realize it was a chicken dog - assumed it was a beef hot dog. And while any variation would be pretty repulsive to my mind, a chicken dog seems even slightly more icky (if possible). Why indeed.