Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
French
Breakfast
Canadian
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Extensive menu offering breakfast all day and weekend brunch. For vegans there are vegan waffles, pancakes, and french toast with fresh fruit and toppings, tofu benedict, falafel plate, peanut butter and banana crepes. Open Mon 9:00am-3:00pm, Tue-Thu 8:00am-3:00pm, Fri 9:00am-3:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-3:00pm.
51 Reviews
First Review by nbuchana
CourtneyRaeJones
Points +76
Excellent breakfasts! - Edit
The pesto tofu vegan benny was awesome! Very filling. Plate came with a variety of fresh fruit and homemade fries. The tofu benny was not a typical Benedict, but came with a tomato sauce - which was quite tasty! My only complaint is the benny was cold, but that may be how it usually is served at this place. Great service though!
Read moreThe restaurant is actually inside a complex across from the OCAD where there is a food court. Seating is in the food court.
Pros: Lots of options, Fresh , Healthy
Guest
KristinMadeleine
Points +169
Will definitely come back - Edit
I would give this place a 5 star review if I could. I had a delicious breakfast here, and the staff was so kind and cheerful. Great start to a day.
Read moreGuest
oeyeel
Points +26
I love this spot - Edit
If HappyCow let me give this place 5 stars, I would!! Their vegan brunches are a great blend of sweet and savoury foods and I never feel like I'm missing out on anything for ordering vegan. My favourite is their vegan supreme with tofu pesto!! Also, their service is always great and they are always friendly and helpful despite being a busy spot!!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Delicious and creative, Amazing service
Guest
Drexel
Points +86
a great breakfast that happens to be in a food court - Edit
I enjoyed the food greatly, and like how most things some with fruit. I ordered the vegan French toast and was surprised by the way it looked, but it was very good and the fruit was super fresh. The people are nice and the service is fast. It is kinda hidden because it’s in a sorta food court, but I think it’s worth it. Especially great for eating with non vegans.
Read morePros: Has entire vegan menu, Friendly people , Good tasting food
Cons: It’s in a food court, Kinda hard to find at first
Guest
willg
Points +36
Awesome Vegan Breakfast! - Edit
4 stars because HappyCow doesn’t allow 5 for non-fully-vegan places. Waffles one day, back for pancakes the next - both fabulous!
Read moreGuest
Nadveggie
Points +202
Hidden Gem - Edit
The food court this place is in is not the nicest but Karine's is such an amazing place. The owner is the nicest woman I've ever met and automatically wrote vegan after she saw us looking at the vegan menu. The fruit was so fresh and the service was super fast.
Read moreGuest
bogosk
Points +37
Downtown Toronto hidden gem - Edit
Even though Karine’s is not strictly speaking a vegan/vegetarian eatery, they do serve over the top vegan/veggy meals, laden with tons of fruits, raw veggies, dips etc. My favourite is the ‘ful’ (egyptian fava beans). One meal is enough to feed two people. It’s in the Grange Food Court and is open late morning to late afternoons. Awesome.
Read morePros: Fresh food, Lots of it, Super friendly
Cons: Zip, Zip, Zip
Guest
Brittanyi
Points +106
Good vibe, good food - Edit
Lots of vegan options, friendly cool staff, most of the food was pre plated/prepped but hard not to in such a small space
Read moreGuest
AdrienPyke
Points +94
lots of options - Edit
Serves meat, but they have an entire seperate vegan menu with lots of good options. The woman who served us was possible the loveliest person I've ever met
Read moreGuest
stam
Points +2397
One of the top vegan brunch places! - Edit
It’s a bit hidden in terms of location, and you have to sit in the food court to eat but their brunch platters are amaaaazing and possibly the most affordable in Toronto. Very generous portions and the waffles with fresh fruit are delicious. I took my omni friend here years ago and she enjoyed it too.
Read morePros: Great value, Generous portions, Delicious vegan brunch selections
Cons: Food court seating is not very comfortable
Guest
Hgirlrice
Points +580
Amazing food - Edit
I would give this place five stars if possible. You walk into this unassuming kind of dumpy food court, but don’t let this stop you from going. When you get to Karine’s counter you will be greeted by the owner as if you are her long lost family. It is quite obvious she loves what she does! Everything that can be made/ is vegan is in pink writing, but just tell her your vegan and she will take care of you. We got her vegan waffles which were amazing (probably the best vegan waffle I’ve had). I got bananas and peanut butter sprinkled with cinnamon, sister got berries and banana with chocolate sauce and cinnamon. My mom got the vegan supreme (which was veggies and tofu) and we got a vegan crepe to share. The strawberry preserve in the crepe was a bit sweet, but that was the only flaw of the whole meal. The fresh OJ was great and they gave every dish a nice helping of fruit with our meals. Great breakfast and would recommend to anyone vegan or not
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Super nice owner, Great food
Cons: Food court atmosphere
Guest
MSVeganGal
Points +172
Great Vegan Breakfast Options - Edit
One of the hardest things for me to find when traveling is vegan breakfast options, and thanks to Karine's, I found some delicious ones for my stay in Toronto. The vegan french toast topped with apple cinnamon and fresh-squeezed orange were amazing! My only con for Karine's is the location: it is located in a food-court-like area, so the atmosphere is not the best.
Read morePros: Abundant vegan options, Excellent food, Friendly and knowledgable staff
Cons: Serves meat, Atmosphere, Expensive
Guest
LauraMu
Points +1324
Great food, lovely service - Edit
I went here several times while I was in Toronto and every time the woman who owns it greeted us like long-lost friends (I presume she's just really friendly rather than thought we were someone else!). We had the vegan gluten-free waffles with different fruits each time, which are both tasty and generously portioned. They also do vegan shakes and vegan gluten-free cakes and muffins. The muffins don't look like much but they taste amazing.
Read morePros: Such friendly service, Plenty vegan gluten-free, Amazing muffins
Cons: Not completely vegan
Guest
DM
Points +168
Tasty But Overwhelming - Edit
Lots of options but the menu is a bit disorganized. Vegan options are in pink. Tell them you're vegan when ordering and they'll make sure you don't accidentally order something not vegan. Loved the owner's personality. Food was really good too!
Read moreGuest
Nesa
Points +56
great vegan breakfast - Edit
Great service and great food! Yummy
Read morePros: lot of vegan options
Cons: the mal is not that cozy
Guest
veggiewoman
Points +378
hidden gem - Edit
I often stop by Karine's for lunch when I am in the University and Dundas area.
Read moreIt is located in a grungy old cafeteria but don't let that stop you. The food is good and the portions are generous. It is nice to be able to order something as indulgent as crepes.
Pros: Crepes (hard to find vegan), Friendly staff, Reasonable prices
Cons: In a grungy cafeteria
Guest
misohead
Points +15
Great vegan brunch - Edit
A plethora of vegan and vegetarian breakfast/brunch options. The $5.00 special is huge and the food is good. Great vegan pancakes and vegan crepes. All of my brunch orders came with lots of fresh fruit.
Read moreThe food court setting did not bother me. I was there for good vegan food on a budget, and I thought the atmosphere created by the mix of students, people with day jobs, seniors and tourists (among others) just made the meal more interesting. It was also fun to watch the interactions between customers (lots of “regulars” greeted by name!) and Karine’s staff.
Lunch and dinner also served, but I have only eaten breakfast/brunch there.
Pros: Delightful staff, Great value, Good coffee, reasonably priced
Guest
maulydaft
Points +700
It's a different place to eat your vegan food - Edit
I've been eating at Karine's for a few years now. There were some disappointing moments when I went into the food court and they were CLOSED and when I inquired they were bemused that they were closed, but when they are open you will get some tasty food that fills you up.
Read moreThere's always salad and wonderful fruit on your plate.
The new baked goods are cool because they are obviously done by an indie baker (as much as I love Sweets From the Earth they have a monopoly on baked goods in Toronto and that means BORING!)
I never crave the food so much as I crave the cheap prices, but it's made with love and it fills you up like I said.
It's a little weird that they serve meat as well (in the breakfast options) but I appreciate their heart.
Pros: cheap, baked goods, luscious fruit on every plate!
Cons: food court = slim seating , weird times closed?
Guest
Ken4057
Points +1200
Don't know how anyone could describe as 'just ok' - Edit
Karine is magic. Unfortunately it's located in an ugly, dingy, windowless food court frequented by often loud and rude students and weirdos, but it's totally worth the visit despite all that.
Read moreOrder any of the mixed item plates on the menu. My partner and I had the 'vegan tofu beni' and the 'vegan goodness' plates. Fresh, colourful Mediterranean-influenced deliciousness, beautifully plated. Wholesome homemade spreads and multigrain breads. I could eat here every day and live forever in a perfect world.
Viva Karine's!
5 cow even though I can only give it 4.
Guest
brentonagony
Points +83
Just ok.. - Edit
Location is a little odd (being in a food court).
Read moreWe had the pancakes and the vegan waffles. They weren't bad but they weren't exactly very good either. The portions were decent and I did enjoy my fresh juice.
One major positive is the staff. Very friendly and very positive.
Given the options available in Toronto I'd recommend finding somewhere else if you are vegan.
Pros: Staff, Portions
Cons: Location
Guest
Petesternz
Points +1447
Hell of a brunch - Edit
Karine's is a little gem. I liked it as much for the people and atmosphere as the food, actually, though the food was very good, and the portions are fairly ridiculous for the price. What's nice about this place is you can bring your confused non-vegan friends and not get any grief, as there are plenty of options for everyone, and the vegan options are seriously good. My French toast was lovely, and came with tons of fruit and sides. The pancakes were solid (not as good as my home made, but still)... and the $4 smoothie was very fairly priced. I will be back! By the way, be aware that this is in a "mall" and thus seating is "mall style".
Read morePros: value, amazing staff
Guest
beckett
Points +20
Good and friendly - Edit
I got the Super Vegan breakfast. Tofu scrambled up with olives and capers and mushrooms. Served with french fries and salad and fruit. It was fantastic. Unusual take on the standard tofu scramble, but it was good and seemed intuitive, rather than "lets make a crazy dish."
Read moreAnd it was a huge serving. So $10, sorta pricey, but its like two meals. Split it with a friend.
The woman also gave me a mint of gooseberries because I asked what the were.
And there was an old lady helping out wearing a bandanna with a skull on it which is pretty cool
Pros: skull bandanna old woman, Super friendly, Killer tofu scramble
Cons: food court
Guest
Ohkamp
Points +140
Nice to find vegan food in a food court - Edit
While the quality of the food doesn't extend much beyond it's non-vegan food court counterparts, it's great to find a place like this in that sort of environment. You should go just for the enthusiasm of the owner who treats every customer like an ex love.
Read morePros: Enthusiastic owner
Cons: Food is average
Guest
nbuchana
Points +72
Disappointing - Edit
"Vegan French Toast" should at least be toasted. Instead, it was uncooked drenched with berries and juice, with some sugar. For over $10!!
Read moreAlso, this is not really a restaurant. It's part of a food court, with self-service seating. That would be OK, if the food were not so disappointing.
Pros: Vegan choices
Cons: Bad food, High prices
Guest
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