Pride Day chomping

Come Pride this year, you could just go to the same old spots to fuel up on edible goodies. We’re not judging. For those looking to shake things up, though, we trolled the parade route from top to bottom to find some of the tastiest new joints to hit the Yonge Street strip over the last year.
 
Hue’s Kitchen
(774 Yonge, 416-967-0404)
If you can think of it, there’s a good chance Hue’s Kitchen, sister store of Ginger across the street, has it. From gently spiced butter chicken roti rolls ($6.95) through to a plate of decadently refreshing caramel chicken with mango strips and Thai noodles ($6.50), owner Hieu Tran offers a carte that refuses to be pigeonholed. A surprisingly chic interior, with layered stone walls and shiny new hardwood floors, gives way to a stunning patio featuring a 20-foot live bamboo-lined wall — ideal for catching a bit of shade and downing an energy-boosting smoothie ($2.75) before heading out for more fun and frivolity.


 

Pizzaiolo
(707 Yonge, 416-966-0555)
Yes, it’s a chain — they’re serving up some damn fine pies here, though. With four white rounds and a dizzying array of thin and deep-dish slice options on display, the only problem you’ll have is deciding which kind to stuff in your mouth first. Carnivores will delight in the meat-fest that is The Godfather, topped with bacon, Italian sausage and pepperoni. My fave turns out to be The Casino, a delicately crisp slice jammed with roasted peppers and both black and green olives. A blackboard behind the counter reads, “Our aim is to make customers happy.” Considering a slice and pop sets you back a paltry $5.99, I’d have to say, “Mission accomplished.”


 

Cocina Lucero
(523 Yonge, 416-923-4545)
There are other places on Yonge to grab yourself a burrito, but you ain’t gonna find one better than the one they’re doling out here. The El Burro ($8) features a soft, homemade flour tortilla crammed with rice, flavourful black beans and a whack of meltingly tender beef along with some of Senora Lucero’s signature hot sauce made from roasted tomatillos and smoked serano peppers. The Chimichanga ($13) is an equally delicious choice (a filling one too — these bad boys are massive), with luscious pork in a crispy whole-wheat shell. Made from scratch, both take a little time to arrive after placing your order, but hey, most good things for your tummy do.


 

Lebanon Express
(439 Yonge, 647-351-0494)
Given it takes roughly 10 minutes to get myself a chicken shawarma ($4.19, a dollar extra to add mint tea), I’m not sure what exactly is express about this place. But by the time I’ve worked my way through this tasty wrap, with moistly sweet and garlicky chicken, loads of fresh tomatoes, lettuce and red onions, all topped off with a decently spicy hot sauce, I no longer really care. It’s good, especially for the price. With an assortment of fresh-squeezed (as in, right on the premises) fruit juice cocktails ($2.99) to choose from, along with a varied selection of salads and sandwiches, it’s a great place to beat the heat and eat before heading back out onto the sizzling hot street.


 

Wanda’s Belgian Waffles
(335 Yonge, 416-593-0999)
Nothing says waffles like the sweaty, carnival atmosphere of a good-old fashioned Pride parade. Good thing Wanda’s opened near Yonge and Gould — just south of the parade route so you can sneak away if the floats are underwhelming — just under a year ago then, eh? The little shop, with standing room for about two customers at most, bakes up (or irons) your bites fresh to order. Options range from your basic vanilla ($2.49) to cinnamon ($2.69) through to maple ($2.69) to chocolate-dipped ($3.99), any of which can be gussied up with ice cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream (or all of the above if you’re really in the piggy groove) for a modest extra charge. A long wait in line is pretty much guaranteed, so maybe wait for one the David Miller/Kyle Rae section of the parade to roll up before ducking out.