Updated: March 7, 2026
The Eglinton LRT Explorer: What to See, Eat & Do at Every Stop
Toronto's Line 5 Eglinton opened on February 8, 2026 and suddenly made 19 kilometres of the city ridiculously easy to explore. For North York residents, the Crosstown connects you to neighbourhoods you may have driven past but never stopped in — from Little Jamaica's jerk chicken joints to the Aga Khan Museum's world-class galleries to Scarborough's Golden Mile food scene. Here's your station-by-station guide to the best of the line.
The basics: 25 stops. 19 km. About 52 minutes end-to-end. Regular TTC fare ($3.35 with PRESTO). Connects to Line 1 at Eglinton, Line 2 at Kennedy, and GO Transit at Mount Dennis. Fifteen stations are underground; ten are surface-level.
Quick Picks: Best of Each Category
If you only have time for one stop per category, here are our top picks:
| Category | Best For | Station | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Caribbean Food | RAP's | Cedarvale | Widely considered the best jerk chicken in Toronto. A city-wide destination. |
| Best Museum | Aga Khan Museum | Aga Khan Park & Museum | World-class Islamic art, 17 acres of gardens. 77 Wynford Dr. Adults $20, under-6 free. |
| Best Park | Sunnybrook Park | Sunnybrook Park | 154 acres of ravine trails, riding stables, and off-leash dog park. Free. |
| Best Shopping | BMV Books | Eglinton | Toronto's biggest indie bookstore. New releases, used books, vinyl, and vintage finds. |
| Best Fine Dining | Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto | Wynford | One of the few authentic kaiseki restaurants in Toronto. Multi-course Japanese. Reservations essential. |
| Best Cultural Landmark | Reggae Lane Mural | Oakwood | 1,200 sq ft mural honouring reggae legends. 1529 Eglinton Ave W. The heart of Little Jamaica. |
| Best Budget Eats | Randy's Take Out | Oakwood | Decades-old patty shop. Flaky, peppery beef patties under $4. Cash-friendly. |
| Best Late Night | T-Bones | Kennedy | 24-hour diner. Steaks, burgers, and all-day breakfast. A Scarborough institution. |
Line 5 at a Glance
One top pick at every station — from Mount Dennis to Kennedy
Jump to a station:
West End: Little Jamaica & Beyond
Mount Dennis to Oakwood — Caribbean culture, patties, and vinyl records
Mount Dennis
SurfaceConnects to: GO Kitchener Line, UP Express
- V's Caribbean Restaurant Food — Vegan and vegetarian takes on Caribbean classics. The soups and curries are hearty enough that you won't miss the meat.
- Keelesdale Park Park — Green space just north of the station with a playground and basketball courts. Good stretch stop before boarding.
Keelesdale
Underground- The Jerk Box Food — No-frills Caribbean takeout with jerk chicken that packs real scotch bonnet heat. Cash-friendly prices.
Caledonia
UndergroundFuture connection: Barrie GO Line
- Lavrador BBQ Food — Portuguese-style charcoal chicken and grilled meats for takeout. The piri-piri sauce is the real deal.
Fairbank
Underground- Rincon Paisa Food — Colombian comfort food: empanadas, arepas, and bandeja paisa platters. A neighbourhood staple.
- Kingston 12 Food — Jamaican beef patties and oxtail that locals swear by.
Oakwood
Underground- Randy's Take Out Food — A decades-old institution at 1569 Eglinton Ave W. The beef patties are among the best in the city — flaky, peppery, and under $4.
- Reggae Lane Mural Culture — A 1,200 sq ft mural at 1529 Eglinton Ave W by artist Adrian Hayles, featuring portraits of legendary reggae musicians. The cultural heart of Little Jamaica. Free to visit.
- TreaJah Isle Records Shop — 1573 Eglinton Ave W. Vinyl collectors: this is your stop. One of Toronto's last great Caribbean record shops.
Midtown: Forest Hill to Yonge-Eglinton
Cedarvale to Avenue — upscale dining, comedy clubs, and bookstores
Cedarvale
Underground- RAP's Food — 797 Eglinton Ave W. Widely considered one of the best Caribbean restaurants in all of Toronto. The jerk chicken ($15) and oxtail ($18) are worth the trip alone.
- "Super Signals" Art Installation Culture — A colourful public artwork by Canadian author and artist Douglas Coupland, right inside the station.
- Cedarvale Park Park — A ravine park with off-leash dog area, tennis courts, and a natural ice rink in winter. One of the best urban ravine walks in the city.
Forest Hill
Underground- Jerusalem Restaurant Food — 955 Eglinton Ave W. Over 40 years in business. The falafel plate ($12), hummus, and kabobs are consistently excellent. One of the oldest Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto.
More Middle Eastern food in North York →
Chaplin
Underground- House of Chan Food — A Toronto icon since the 1950s. Chinese-Canadian fare and surprisingly good steaks. The neon sign alone is worth seeing.
Avenue
Underground- Crosstown Coffee Bar Food — Hale coffee and fresh-baked goods. A solid caffeine stop before diving into the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood.
Central: The Yonge-Eglinton Hub
Eglinton to Leaside — shopping, craft beer, and Michelin-recognized eats
Eglinton
UndergroundConnects to: Line 1 Yonge-University
- La Salumeria Food — 2445 Yonge St. Italian deli with house-made sandwiches ($12–$16) that have a cult following. Get the signature porchetta.
- Eglinton Park Park — Sports fields, tennis courts, playground, and an outdoor ice rink in winter.
Check today's skating schedules → - BMV Books Shop — One of Toronto's biggest independent bookstores. New releases, used books, vinyl, and vintage finds.
- Absolute Comedy Culture — Live stand-up comedy club with nightly shows. Check their schedule for open mic nights.
- Holika Holika Shop — K-beauty essentials. If you're into Korean skincare, this is the stop.
Mount Pleasant
Underground- Granite Brewery Food — Craft beer brewed on-site and solid pub food. One of Toronto's original microbreweries — the Keefe's Irish Stout is a local favourite. Great patio in summer.
Best patios in North York →
Leaside
Underground- Indian Street Food Co. Food — 1701 Bayview Ave. Michelin-recognized Indian street food. The chaat ($8–$12), dosas, and thalis are outstanding.
More Indian restaurants in North York → - Leaside Village Shop — Walkable strip of independent boutiques, bakeries, and cafes along Bayview Avenue. Great for a wander.
Don Valley: Museums, Parks & Fine Dining
Laird to Wynford — the Aga Khan Museum, Sunnybrook Park, and kaiseki
Laird
Underground- Kintako Sushi Food — Neighbourhood sushi joint with consistently fresh fish and fair prices. A hidden gem for the Laird area.
Best sushi spots in North York →
Sunnybrook Park
Underground- Sunnybrook Park Park — 154 acres of ravines, gardens, and trails. The riding stables, off-leash dog park, and picnic areas make this one of the best green spaces accessible from the LRT. A genuine escape from the city without leaving it.
Explore more nature in North York →
Science Centre
Underground- Ontario Science Centre (original site) Culture — The iconic Moriyama-designed building closed in 2024 and a new facility is planned for 2029. An interim location operates at Harbourfront Centre. The grounds and ravine trails around the original site remain worth exploring.
- E.T. Seton Park Park — Connected to the Don Valley trail system. Paved paths wind along the river — excellent for cycling or a long walk south toward the Don Valley.
Best hikes in North York →
Aga Khan Park & Museum
Surface- Aga Khan Museum Culture — 77 Wynford Dr. World-class museum with over 1,200 artifacts spanning Islamic civilizations — manuscripts, ceramics, paintings, and scientific instruments. The architecture alone, designed by Fumihiko Maki, is worth the visit. Regular concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions. Adults $20, seniors $15, students $12, children under 6 free. Open Wed–Mon, 10 AM–5:30 PM.
- Aga Khan Park Park — 17 acres of formal gardens, water features, and green spaces connecting the museum to the Ismaili Centre. Beautifully landscaped and one of the most photogenic spots on the entire line. Free to visit.
- Diwan at the Aga Khan Museum Food — Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian-inspired dining inside the museum ($18–$35 mains). The Courtyard Cafe offers lighter bites ($8–$15) if you're just passing through.
Wynford
Surface- Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto Food — Authentic multi-course Japanese kaiseki. One of the few restaurants in Toronto doing traditional kaiseki — a special-occasion destination. Reservations essential.
More Japanese dining in North York →
East End: The Golden Mile & Scarborough
Sloane to Kennedy — bakeries, Hakka Chinese, South Asian flavours, and 24-hour diners
Sloane
Surface- Circles and Squares Bakery Food — Artisan baked goods and pastries. A welcome neighbourhood bakery in an area that's quickly evolving.
O'Connor
Surface- Ruby's Mediterranean Cuisine Food — Falafel, shawarma, and kafta done right. Generous portions and friendly prices.
Best shawarma in North York →
Pharmacy
Surface- Chatorey Food — Indian-inspired snacks and chaat. Quick, flavourful, and budget-friendly. A great introduction to Indian street food if you haven't tried it.
Hakimi Lebovic
Surface- Pho Saigon Food — Steaming bowls of Vietnamese pho at prices that won't break the bank. Straightforward and satisfying.
Golden Mile
Surface- Golden Mile Shopping Centre Shop — Neighbourhood shopping plaza at 1880 Eglinton Ave E with grocery stores, restaurants, and services. The area is undergoing a major redevelopment that will transform it over the coming years.
- Queen Seafood Cuisine Food — Chinese seafood and dim sum. Reliably good Cantonese cooking with large round tables — great for groups.
Best dim sum in North York →
Birchmount
Surface- Shaaz Indian Cuisine Food — A unique blend of Indian, Saudi Arabian, and Hakka Chinese flavours. The Indo-Chinese dishes (Manchurian, chili chicken) are standout.
More Indian food in North York →
Ionview
Surface- Chung Moi Food — Nearly 30 years of Hakka Chinese cooking. The chili chicken and Hakka chow mein are neighbourhood legends. This is Scarborough comfort food at its best.
Chinese restaurants in North York →
Kennedy
SurfaceConnects to: Line 2 Bloor-Danforth
- T-Bones Food — 2063 Lawrence Ave E. Open 24 hours. Steaks ($15–$25), burgers, and all-day breakfast. A Scarborough institution since 1979. Perfect end-of-the-line fuel stop.
- Kennedy Common Shop — Shopping plaza with a mix of chain and independent stores. Grocery, dollar stores, and quick eats for last-minute supplies before transferring to Line 2.
A Full-Day Eglinton LRT Itinerary
Here's how to turn Line 5 into a day-long adventure. Budget 6–8 hours at a relaxed pace.
- 9:00 AM — Mount Dennis: Start with a Caribbean breakfast at V's Caribbean Restaurant. Fuel up on soups and curries.
- 10:00 AM — Oakwood: Walk Reggae Lane, browse TreaJah Isle Records, grab a beef patty at Randy's.
- 11:30 AM — Cedarvale: Stroll Cedarvale Park ravine trails. Check out the Douglas Coupland art inside the station.
- 12:30 PM — Eglinton: Lunch at La Salumeria. Browse BMV Books. Window shop along Yonge Street.
- 2:00 PM — Aga Khan Park & Museum: Spend 2 hours exploring the museum galleries and walking the formal gardens.
- 4:30 PM — Sunnybrook Park: Walk the ravine trails or sit by the stables for a breather.
- 6:00 PM — Ionview or Birchmount: Dinner at Chung Moi for Hakka chili chicken or Shaaz for Indo-Chinese fusion.
- 7:30 PM — Kennedy: Late-night coffee at T-Bones, then transfer to Line 2 to head home.
More to Explore in North York
The Eglinton LRT connects to dozens of other things we cover on North York Guide. Here are some of our most popular guides:
- Best Korean BBQ in North York — Yonge Street corridor, accessible from Eglinton station
- Best Ramen in North York — top-rated bowls near the Yonge-Eglinton area
- Best Bubble Tea in North York — boba spots along Yonge Street
- Cheap Eats in North York — budget-friendly meals under $10
- Drop-in Swimming Times — pool schedules at recreation centres near the LRT
- Drop-in Basketball Times — court availability at nearby community centres
- Best Fall Hikes in North York — trails connected to Don Valley and ravine systems