Cheap Eats in North York: 11 Spots Under $20 (May 2026)
You don't need to spend $30+ to eat well in North York. From $7.25 crispy burgers at Fairview Mall to $10.29 soup-filled fried bao on Yonge — and a Michelin-recognized ramen shop with lines out the door — the neighbourhood is packed with spots where the price tag is small but the flavour is massive. Below, 12 cheap eats under $20, a side-by-side price-comparison table, and a budget crawl route around Yonge & Finch — every venue verified open as of May 2026.
Quick answer: The best cheap eat in North York is Sang-Ji Fried Bao at 5461 Yonge St — 4 crispy soup-filled bao for $10.29. For the absolute cheapest meal, Bingz Crispy Burger at CF Fairview Mall starts at $7.25. For the biggest portion per dollar, Khorak Supermarket at 6125 Yonge St serves Persian platters that feed 1.5 people for $15–24.
How We Ranked These
We visited every spot on this list and evaluated each restaurant on four criteria, weighted in this order:
- Under $20 per person — strict ceiling. If a filling meal costs more, it doesn't make the list.
- North York coverage area — Yonge corridor, Sheppard, Finch, York Mills, and the Eglinton boundary. No downtown spots.
- Recent verified social proof — TikTok, Reddit r/askTO, r/FoodToronto, XiaoHongShu, or Google Reviews aggregate within the last 12 months.
- Confirmed open — every restaurant was verified operational within 30 days of publish date.
Independence: We pay for our own meals. No sponsorships, no comped tastings — just genuine North York finds.
Top 10 Cheap Eats in North York (2026)
Across the 12 spots on this list, the lowest-priced complete meal is the $7.25 Signature Pork Crispy Burger at Bingz in CF Fairview Mall, and the highest-priced "cheap eat" still under $20 is the $18.95 Combination Soon Tofu set at Buk Chang Dong on Yonge near Finch — every venue below was verified open in May 2026.
Price-comparison table (all 12 picks)
Sortable mental shortcut: scan price column for the cheapest, neighbourhood column for the closest, cuisine column for the craving.
| # | Spot | Cheapest meal | Cuisine | Neighbourhood | Closest TTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sang-Ji Fried Bao | $10.29 / 4 bao | Shanghai | Yonge & Finch | Finch |
| 2 | Bingz Crispy Burger | $7.25 / burger | Chinese fast-casual | CF Fairview Mall | Don Mills |
| 3 | Khorak Supermarket | $15.99 / koobideh | Persian | Yonge, north of Finch | Finch |
| 4 | Chicken Quarter | $11 / quarter chicken | Rotisserie | York Mills Centre | York Mills |
| 5 | Allwyn's | $8.99 / patty sandwich | Caribbean | Yonge & Sheppard | North York Centre |
| 6 | Buk Chang Dong | $18.95 / tofu set | Korean | Yonge & Finch | Finch |
| 7 | Kajiken | $14 / abura soba | Japanese | Yonge & Sheppard | North York Centre |
| 8 | Hou Kee | $9.99 / pork knuckle rice | Chinese comfort | Yonge & Finch | Finch |
| 9 | Bao House | $5.99 / dumpling plate | Chinese dumplings | Yonge & Finch | Finch |
| 10 | Vietnoms Go | $10 / banh mi | Vietnamese | Sheppard, east of Yonge | Bayview |
| 11 | Kin-Kin Bakery | Stuffed buns under $5 | HK bakery | Yonge Sheppard Centre | Sheppard-Yonge |
Sang-Ji Fried Bao
5461 Yonge St, North York (Yonge & Finch)
$10 – $17 per dish
The viral budget king of North York. Sang-Ji's signature move is sheng jian bao — pan-fried soup dumplings with a crispy golden bottom, soft doughy top, and a burst of hot broth inside when you bite in. Four pieces for $10.29 is the best price-to-quality ratio on Yonge Street. The Duck Soup with Vermicelli is the sleeper hit — rich, warming, and absolutely massive for $17. Steps from Finch Station.
"Four crispy bao for ten bucks and you can still taste the broth inside. One of the best deals on Yonge right now."
Jason L. — Google Review
Hours: Daily, 11 AM – 10 PM (check Google Maps for current hours)
Parking: Street parking on Yonge, paid Green P lots nearby
Transit: Finch Station (TTC Line 1) — 2 min walk
Bingz Crispy Burger
CF Fairview Mall, North York
$7.25 per burger • $16–$19 combos
The absolute cheapest quality meal in North York at $7.25 for a crispy burger. Bingz takes the Chinese rou jia mo concept — shredded seasoned meat stuffed inside a flaky, griddled flatbread — and turns it into a fast-casual experience. The result is crunchy, savoury, and absurdly filling for the price. The 2026 Peking Duck Burger is a limited-edition seasonal hit. Perfect for a Fairview Mall shopping break.
Food court seating fills up fast at lunch rush (12–1 PM). The Peking Duck Burger is a rotating seasonal and may not always be on the menu — the signature pork is always available.
Hours: Mall hours — daily 10 AM – 9 PM (Sun until 7 PM)
Parking: Free CF Fairview Mall parking garage
Transit: Don Mills Station (TTC Line 4) — connected to mall
Khorak Supermarket
6125 Yonge St, North York (north of Finch)
$15 – $24 per platter (feeds 1.5 people)
The volume champion. Khorak is technically a Persian supermarket, but the hot food counter in the back serves restaurant-quality kebabs at supermarket prices. One Koobideh platter ($19.99) comes with a mountain of fluffy basmati rice, grilled tomato, and buttery saffron — easily enough to feed two. The fresh-baked Sangak bread (hot from the oven) is a $3 must-add that elevates the whole experience. Budget king for groups.
"You get a full platter for the price of a downtown appetizer. The sangak bread alone is worth the trip."
Sara M. — Google Review (4.4★, 4,100+ reviews)
The hot food counter is at the back of the supermarket — walk past the grocery aisles. Seating is limited; most people take platters home. Sangak bread sells out by late afternoon.
Order the Koobideh for two, add Sangak bread, and grab a cold doogh (Persian yogurt drink) from the fridge — total under $28 and it genuinely feeds two hungry people.
Hours: Daily, 9 AM – 10 PM (hot food counter closes earlier)
Parking: Free parking lot on-site
Transit: Finch Station (TTC Line 1) — 10 min walk north, or bus routes along Yonge
Chicken Quarter
4025 Yonge St, 2nd floor (York Mills Centre, inside the subway station mall)
$11 – $15 per meal
Literally hidden inside a subway station mall. Chicken Quarter at York Mills Centre is the kind of spot you'd walk past a hundred times without noticing — but the office workers and commuters who know about it keep coming back for the perfectly rotisserie'd quarter chicken with crispy skin, golden fries, and a homemade gravy that tastes like it was made by someone's grandmother. At $11–15, it's the best hot lunch deal for the York Mills crowd.
Hours: Mon–Fri 10 AM – 7 PM, Sat 11 AM – 5 PM (closed Sun)
Parking: York Mills Centre paid underground parking
Transit: York Mills Station (TTC Line 1) — directly connected to the mall
Closed Sundays. Cash and card accepted. The mall itself is small and easy to miss — take the escalator up from the York Mills Station concourse.
"Best hidden lunch in York Mills. The gravy tastes homemade and the chicken is always fresh off the rotisserie."
Michael T. — Google Review (4.5★)
Allwyn's
4750 Yonge St, Unit 135 (Emerald Park food court, Yonge & Sheppard)
$8.99 – $15 per meal
The reigning king of the $10 lunch at Yonge & Sheppard. Allwyn's has been the consistent community staple for affordable Caribbean food in North York for years. Their stuffed jerk chicken patty sandwich at $8.99 is a massive, spice-packed handheld meal that office workers in the area swear by. No fancy decor, no Instagram hype — just genuine Jamaican flavour at a price that hasn't kept up with inflation (in a good way).
Food court seating — no dine-in vibe, best for grab-and-go. The stuffed patty sandwich is the item to order; regular patties are good but not remarkable. Lunch rush can see 10+ minute waits.
Hours: Mon–Sat 11 AM – 8 PM, Sun closed (food court hours)
Parking: Emerald Park paid underground parking
Transit: North York Centre Station (TTC Line 1) — 3 min walk
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
5445 Yonge St, North York (Yonge & Finch)
$15 – $19 per set
The legendary Korean cheap eat of North York. Buk Chang Dong has been serving bubbling hot tofu soup in stone pots since before it was trendy, and it's still one of the most warming, satisfying meals you can get for under $20. Every set comes with rice and a generous spread of banchan (side dishes) that stretches the value even further. On a cold North York winter day, this is where you want to be.
"The banchan keeps coming and the stone pot is still bubbling when you finish. Korean comfort food done right."
Grace K. — Google Review
Hours: Daily, 11 AM – 10 PM
Parking: Street parking on Yonge, paid Green P lots nearby
Transit: Finch Station (TTC Line 1) — 3 min walk
Kajiken
4850 Yonge St, North York (Yonge & Sheppard)
$14 – $18 per bowl
The trending cheap eat of 2026 and the viral breakout of the North York food scene. Kajiken is a Michelin-recognized Japanese chain that opened on Yonge in November 2025, serving abura soba — a brothless ramen tossed tableside in umami-rich sauce with chashu, scallions, and a soft egg. At $14–18 per bowl, it's the rare cheap eat that actually delivers on both hype and price. Expect a line at peak hours, but it moves fast.
Arrive before 12 PM or after 2 PM to skip the worst of the line. Toss the noodles thoroughly in the sauce before eating — the tableside mix is the point of abura soba. Small dining room, solo-friendly counter seats available.
Hours: Daily, 11:30 AM – 9 PM (check Google Maps for current hours)
Parking: Street parking on Yonge, paid Green P lots nearby
Transit: North York Centre Station (TTC Line 1) — 2 min walk
Hou Kee Chinese Bistro
5 Northtown Way #7, North York (on Yonge, steps from Finch Station)
$9.99 – $15 per meal
The cheapest sit-down hot meal in North York. Hou Kee's $9.99 longjiang pork knuckle rice bowl arrives with tender braised pork, fluffy rice, pickled greens, and a soy-chili glaze — the kind of lunch that keeps commuters coming back. Steps from Finch Station, and confirmed by multiple TikTok food bloggers as the value pick of the Yonge corridor.
Hours: Daily, 11 AM – 9 PM
Parking: Northtown Centre paid parking lot
Transit: Finch Station (TTC Line 1) — 5 min walk
Bao House
5336 Yonge St, North York (Yonge & Finch)
$5.99 – $13 per dish
A no-frills Yonge & Finch dumpling shop where the whole menu is under $13. Bao House does handmade dumplings ($5.99 a plate), scallion-oil house noodles, and a respectable soup dumpling — the kind of budget lunch that TikTok food bloggers quietly keep going back to. Good for solo commuters or a quick pre-movie meal.
Small storefront, limited seating — often faster to grab takeout. Handmade dumplings can sell out on busy weekends. No frills on the decor, but the noodles and dumplings are the point.
Hours: Daily, 11 AM – 9 PM
Parking: Street parking on Yonge, paid Green P lots nearby
Transit: Finch Station (TTC Line 1) — 5 min walk south
Vietnoms Go
243 Sheppard Ave E, North York (east of Yonge)
$10 – $16 per meal
A family-run Vietnamese takeout where the portions are genuinely comical. The $15.25 pho tai is the signature — served in a bowl TikTok foodies compare to their own heads — and the banh mi is a solid $10 lunch grab. Not fancy, but honest value a few minutes east of the Yonge & Sheppard intersection.
Hours: Tue–Sun 11 AM – 9 PM (closed Mon)
Parking: Limited street parking on Sheppard
Transit: Bayview Station (TTC Line 4) or bus along Sheppard — 8 min walk
The Yonge & Finch Budget Crawl
Three stops, all within walking distance of Finch Station, total budget under $35. The Yonge & Finch Budget Crawl is the cheapest multi-stop food walk in North York — bao at Sang-Ji, tofu soup at Buk Chang Dong, and bubble tea on Yonge, all reachable on foot from a single TTC Line 1 station.
Sang-Ji Fried Bao (The Crispy Start)
Get: Share a plate of 4 Original Pork Baos ($10.29)
The vibe: Casual, fast, XiaoHongShu-famous. The crispy-bottom bao sets the tone.
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu (The Warming Middle)
Walk: 3 minutes south on Yonge to 5445 Yonge St
Get: Combination Soon Tofu ($18.95) — share if you want to save room
The vibe: Bubbling hot stone pot, banchan spread, Korean comfort.
Bubble Tea Finish (Your Choice)
Walk: 2 minutes to any of the Yonge & Finch boba shops
Get: A milk tea to balance the spice ($6–8)
The vibe: Sweet finish, walkable, done in under 2 hours total.
Total budget: $25–35 for a complete multi-stop meal. Transit: TTC Line 1 to Finch Station — all spots within 5–10 minutes' walk.
Honourable Mentions
Three more North York spots clear the under-$20 ceiling and deserve a place on any cheap-eats shortlist: Kin-Kin Bakery's stuffed buns under $5, YumYum Chicken's half-and-half Korean fried chicken boxes from $12, and Sababa Fine Foods' $9 falafel pita on Steeles.
Bingz Crispy Burger already claims #2 above, but if you're near Fairview Mall, the signature beef crispy burger (rou jia mo) now starts at $7.25 — still the single cheapest quality item on this list.
Kin-Kin Bakery & Bubble Tea (4841 Yonge St Unit 214, Yonge Sheppard Centre) — Stuffed buns under $5, including BBQ pork and chicken. The cheapest grab-and-go option in North York, founded in 2001 with 40+ varieties made fresh daily. "Dirt cheap and has some incredible stuffed buns" — r/FoodToronto.
YumYum Chicken (3238 Yonge St, edge of coverage at Yonge & Lawrence) — Korean-style fried chicken in 12 Asian-inspired flavours. Half-and-half large box ($12–18) feeds two. TikTok Yonge food tour stop.
Sababa Fine Foods (390 Steeles Ave W, northern edge of North York coverage) — Falafel pita ($9) and shawarma platter ($18) at a family-run grocery/bakery/restaurant that's been operating since 1987.
Chat Bar (North York) — Popular BBQ skewer spot. 4.4★ with 1,800+ Google reviews. Be warned: weekend lineups are long.
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