The Dish: Turkey - Thanksgiving Edition

Unlike other holidays or the American version, there’s not much build up to Canadian Thanksgiving. Crammed between back-to-school and Halloween celebrations, it often feels rushed, with the pressure on to cram all of your turkey love into a day or two, until Christmas rolls around.

It can also be hard to enjoy it all, when you’ve got to shop, prep, cook, entertain, and clean up. So I pored over hundreds of Toronto restaurant menus for turkey dishes you don’t have to wait once a year for.  

Look beyond the turkey club and celebrate your love of all things turkey and Thanksgiving year-round with these +35 menu items

ON ITS OWN

Adamson Barbecue
176 Wicksteed Ave.

Turkey Breast ($22/lb.)

The authentic Texas-style barbecue pros put as much care and attention into their poultry as their brisket.

Beach Hill Smokehouse
172 South Main St.

Smoked Turkey ($12/half lb.).

This authentic BBQ spot allows you to customize the amount of Central Texas style bird to your occasion.

Little Anthony’s
121 Richmond St. W.

Turkey Meatballs ($16) 

Protein-packed orbs smothered in Pomodoro sauce, with a dusting of basil, gremolata crumb, and Parmigiano, are available to nibble on during lunch and dinner hour.

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Coach House Restaurant
574 Yonge St.

Turkey Omelette ($10.95)

Who would have thought you could get a paleo/keto-type brekkie at one of the oldest eateries downtown?

p.s. It doesn’t stop there. Try the Julian Salad ($12.95) featuring crisp lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ham, turkey, egg, and Parmesan, Sliced Turkey Sandwich ($7.95) or Hot Turkey Sandwich ($12.95). 

SOUP + CHILI 

FLOCK Rotisserie + Greens
Multiple locations

Flock Turkey Chili ($8 /$15.50) 

Hearty chili boasting a medley of turkey, black beans and poblano peppers, finished with feta, pepitas, and cilantro, will keep you feeling cozy all season long.

IQ Food Inc.
Multiple locations

Turkey Chili ($7.91 cup /$10.74 bowl, prices incl. tax)

You can feel good about this local, seasonal chili made with lean ground turkey from Toronto’s own The Butcher Shoppe topped with avocado, pico (pickled onions, jalapenos, and cilantro), and Hewitt’s Dairy sour cream made in Hagersville, Ontario. 

NishDish
690 Bloor St. W.

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

This traditional Anishinaabe warmup pairs well with the cooler autumn weather. 

Soup Nutsy
Multiple locations

Butternut Squash Soup with Turkey & Walnuts

Roast turkey and squash soup sprinkled with fresh California walnuts is basically Thanksgiving in a bowl.

SALAD

Le Gourmand Café
152 Spadina Ave.

Cobb Salad

LG, around since 2002, is famous for its chocolate chip cookies, so dessert’s a lock in when you go to order your Cobb, festooned with avocado, smoked turkey, tomato, bacon, and blue cheese.

p.s. Also available at lunch: the Mufulleta (salami, smoked turkey, shaved ham, provolone, black olive tapanade, and antipasto).

SANDWICH

Almond Butterfly
Multiple locations 

“GFT” Turkey Pesto Melt ($9.50)

Turkey sandwiches don’t have to be lame. Especially gluten-free ones. This one, featuring deli-style sulfite-free turkey, aged white cheddar, pesto, spinach, and tomato on a grilled gf bagel, can also be done without dairy.

p.s. The turkey sando love keeps going with “Dave’s Fave” Protein Packer ($9.75) all-day breakfast bagel (available at Harbord only) with deli-style gluten free turkey, egg, aged white cheddar, and spinach stuffed into a toasted gluten-free buttered bagel. And the Dundas location just added a Turkey Prosciutto ($12) bagel with avocado, tomato, and greens. 

BlackJack BBQ
Multiple locations 

Nashville Hot Turkey Sandwich ($16)

Turn up the heat with this Southern fried turkey breast covered in cayenne glaze, pickled cucumbers, and Alabama white sauce, accompanied by coleslaw and your choice of fresh-cut fries or Carolina mustard greens.

Maker Pizza
Multiple locations

The Bodega ($13) 

There’s nothing this dreamboat sandwich can’t do. Introducing Mortadella, ham, smoked turkey, genoa salami, mozzarella, provolone, tomato, white onion, iceberg, roasted red peppers, pickled jalapeno, pepperonicini, and sub sauce, barely contained on a classic sesame seed roll by The Drake.

Nook
469A King St. W.

Turkey Cranberry Panini ($6.99)

While you’ll find two turkey clubs on the menu ($7.61 ea.), it’s this holiday dinner-themed panini with provolone and whole cranberry sauce that you’ll want to get your hands on.

TuckShop Kitchen
1640 Dupont St.

Roast Turkey & Apple Sandwich ($8.75)

The Junction’s mashup takeout spot/convenience store does a classic turkey breast with granny smith, lettuce, and red onion sammie on multigrain (add Brie $1). The best part? The partridge berry mayo - which even your foodie friends have never heard of.

White Lily Diner
678 Queen St. E.

Hot Turkey ($15)

I’m just going to leave this right here: Smoked turkey, "Stuffing" French toast, peach chutney, gravy, and butter.

BURGER

The Pilot
22 Cumberland St.

Turkey Burger ($16)

Grab a grilled extra lean turkey burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, and sundried cranberry mayo on a toasted artisanal bun at the iconic spot in Yorkville celebrating 75 years in the biz.

Speakeasy 21
Scotia Plaza - 21 Adelaide St. W.

Turkey Burger ($18.50)

 Whether you’re a number cruncher, retail associate, or entrepreneur, this vitamin B-rich patty with chipotle mayo, tomato salsa, goat cheese, and arugula will help you power through your frenetic day in the Financial District.

Wish
3 Charles St. E.

Turkey Burger ($22)

Elevated toppings of smoked provolone, salsa verde and radicchio, keep this burger from any fast food connotations.  

PIZZA/PASTA

Gourmet Pastas ($12-$17) & Pizza (varies)

Pizza La Rosa
2555 Victoria Park Ave., Unit 19

For almost 20 years, this Scarborough restaurant has been serving Halal Italian pastas and pizzas with scratch made, vegan tomato sauce and dough.

Their Agnolotti Di Caruso (lunch $13/dinner $17) and Pollo Carbonara (lunch $12/dinner $16) from the ‘Gourmet Pasta’ section count turkey bacon as a main ingredient.

And you can add turkey to any pizza (+ $1.50 med/$2 lg/$2.50 xl/$3.50 party), which we both know is an extremely rare option.

MEAL

Farm'r
140A The Esplanade

Braised Turkey Meatballs ($12.99)

Head to the St. Lawrence Market for this gluten- and dairy-free Italian spiced-fare, made from scratch with local ground turkey (VG Meats, Simcoe), served with your choice of two sides (pick from eight selections including Grilled Peach, Corn & Quinoa Salad; Kale & Cabbage Caesar; and Market Mac & Cheese made with Bright's Farm cheddar).

Little Bavaria
3222 Eglinton Ave. E.

Turkey Breast Schnitzel ($21.95)

There are a lot of reasons to visit this South German restaurant in Scarborough, established 1965. Their extensive array of authentic Bavarian dishes is a good start. So is the unicorn dish of turkey schnitzel.

XO Bisous
60 Adelaide St. E.

Turkey Protein Box

This turkey breast, quinoa, roasted red peppers, corn, kale, black beans, and sweet potato repast with pesto dressing feels like a modern holiday celebration. Bonus: No prep or cleanup required.

CREPES

Crepe T.O.
52 Church St.

M.J. Crepe ($12.79)

The creperie at King and Church boast three turkey-centric options, including this savoury sensation of oven roast turkey, Havarti, tomatoes, and spinach, tucked in with Kalamata olives, walnuts, and basil pesto.

p.s. You’ll also find Turkey & Egg ($9.79) and TFC ($13.29) - roast beef, oven roast turkey, lettuce, kosher pickles, and mushrooms – on the menu.

POUTINE

Chew Chew’s Diner
186 Carlton St.

Thanksgiving Poutine (sm. $7.99/lg $9.99)

Holiday feels abound thanks to roast turkey, mozzarella, gravy and cranberry sauce atop fresh cut fries. Turkey and fries? What’s not to love? 

p.s. Poutines are available during dinner service, as is the Hot Turkey Sandwich ($11.99).

OTHER

Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
104 Portland St.

Likkle Jamaican Patties ($12)

Give thanks whatever time of year for the coming together of spicy beef, curry turkey, coconut greens and pepper shrimp, in convenient handheld pockets. 

Moldova Restaurant
5000 Dufferin St., Unit A1/A2

Turkey Perogies ($8)

If your looking for authentic Moldavian, Russian, Romanian, Georgian and Ukrainian fare, look no further than this sprawling destination in North York. They also happen to have why-didn’t-we-think-of-this turkey-stuffed perogies.

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Note: Menu items, prices, ingredients, and availability all subject to change.

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