In Riverside, you won’t just find Instagram-worthy spots; it’s chock-full of great deals too. From delicious food to dog treats to fresh produce, you’d be surprised by the stuff you can buy with 10 bucks in this neighborhood. This begs the question: what can $10 get you in Toronto’s Riverside?
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Riverside Market
Address: 720 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
This humble neighbourhood grocer carries a wide variety of fresh produce at fair prices. Here, you’ll find deals such as two avocados for $5, a pack of kale for $3, and a pound of onions for $1.99. It’s a great option for those who shop for their groceries in small quantities.
Photo credit: Pizzaiolo
Pizzaiolo
Address: 722 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
You can get a slice of pizza, a drink, and dip for only $7.49 from popular pizza chain, Pizzaiolo. Just take your pick from the selection of flavours you’ll see on display. This is such a good deal if you’re looking for a fast and filling yet budget-friendly meal.
Photo credit: Delhiites Indian Street Food
Delhiites Indian Street Food
Address: 717 Queen St E Unit 1/2, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
One of the more recent additions to the neighborhood, Delhiites is a no-frills restaurant serving a wide variety of Indian dishes. Try their Aloo Chat ($7.99), which is a flavor-packed vegetarian snack made with fried potatoes tossed in spices and herbs.
Photo credit: COPS
COPS
Address: 89 Lewis St, Toronto, ON M4M 2H2
For $5.75, you can get six pieces of one flavour from this cult favorite doughnut shop. Typically, COPS has three flavours on the menu: Cinnamon Sugar and O.G. Sour Cream as mainstays + a weekly feature flavour that changes every Monday.
Photo credit: Blackbird Baking Co.
Blackbird Baking Co.
Address: 635 Queen St E Unit 101, Toronto, ON M4M 1G4
Whether you’re into sweet or savoury, there’s plenty of freshly baked treats to choose from Blackbird, including the pain au chocolat for $4.75, lemon tart for $5.50, ham & cheese croissant for $5.75; but the best deal would have to be the massive $7 sourdough loaves.
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Arts Market
Address: 790 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H4
Priced at $8.75 a piece, these cheeky Blue Rocket Gifts keychains at Arts Market make for a fun little accessory. With designs like “Anti-Social Butterfly” and “Fur Fox Sake”, these are guaranteed to make you smile every time you bring out your keys. They make great gifts, too!
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Address: 630 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1G3
Dark Horse may be known for its delicious brews and house-made pastries, but did you know that they also make dog treats? For $8, you get a 250g bag of pumpkin & peanut butter flavored dog treats, aptly labeled with the brand… *Bark* Horse. Clever!
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Dirty Pawz Dog Wash
Address: 804 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H7
Here’s another one for the dog owners out there: Dirty Pawz has a new vending machine by the entrance, containing dog treats. A pack of Caru Baked Bites is $10 (tax-inclusive for this one) and it comes in duck, venison, wild boar, salmon, and lamb variants.
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Jimmy’s Coffee
Address: 806 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H7
For first-timers, Jimmy’s Very Own (JVO) is a must-try. It’s basically a vanilla latte with a caramel drizzle, making it a great choice for those who like their coffee sweet. It’s $6.25 for a large and you can add an espresso shot ($0.85) for a stronger cup!
Photo credit: Christian Jay B. Quilo
Better Way Dry Cleaners
Address: 724 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H2
Maintenance-wise, dry clean-only garments entail additional costs. However, by city standards, Better Way’s rates are pretty reasonable. Dry cleaning starts at $3 for regular shirts and go up to $5 for trousers, sweaters, blouses, and skirts.
*All prices exclude applicable taxes and tips, and are subject to change without prior notice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christian Jay B. Quilo, Riverside BIA Marketing Assistant
Christian is an international student from Cebu, Philippines, currently interning at the Riverside BIA. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and is currently taking post-graduate studies in Lifestyle Media at Centennial College. He has been writing professionally since 2018; his favorite subject matter being food, travel, and fashion. When he’s not busy as a student or marketing assistant, he goes full-on tourist, exploring Toronto one neighborhood at a time—most likely with an iced oat latte or bubble tea in hand.