Golden Star Restaurant

No-frills Cantonese diner that's been feeding Toronto's late-night crowd for decades. Cash only, fluorescent lighting, Hong Kong-style comfort food that arrives fast and hits every time. The city's answer to the question 'where do chefs eat after their shifts close?'

No-frills Cantonese diner that's been feeding Toronto's late-night crowd for decades. Cash only, fluorescent lighting, Hong Kong-style comfort food that arrives fast and hits every time. The city's answer to the question 'where do chefs eat after their shifts close?'

Area: Chinatown (Spadina) · Address: 256 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2E6 · Hours: Until 4am weekends

What to expect

Fluorescent, zero-nonsense, deeply authentic

Local tip

Congee and salt & pepper squid at 2am is a Toronto rite of passage. Bring cash — card machines don't exist here and there's no ATM on site. Order more than you think you need.

Getting there

510 Spadina streetcar to Dundas or Phoebe St. Or subway to Spadina (Line 2), then walk south 5 minutes on Spadina Ave.

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