The home of Toronto's most iconic sandwich: the peameal bacon on a kaiser. Since 1977, this St. Lawrence Market vendor has served the ultimate Toronto breakfast to prime ministers, celebrities, and locals alike.
Neighbourhood: St. Lawrence · Address: 93 Front St E (inside St. Lawrence Market), Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon: Closed | Tue–Fri 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Sat 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Price Range: $ · Phone: (416) 363-4247 · Editorial status: Not yet verified
It’s the original destination for peameal bacon on a bun, a true slice of Toronto food culture served from a market counter that’s been around for decades. Grab a sandwich and wander the legendary St. Lawrence Market with breakfast in hand.
Unlike most grab-and-go sandwich spots, Carousel Bakery hand-cuts their own peameal bacon and grills it fresh, with a recipe that’s basically unchanged since the ‘70s. The focus is narrow—peameal on a kaiser, stacked simple—without unnecessary toppings or gimmicks found elsewhere.
The peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery is not the most technically complex food in Toronto. It is a griddled slice of back bacon rolled in cornmeal (a Toronto invention, the peameal process preserving pork before refrigeration) served on a kaiser roll with mustard. That's it. And it's one of the meals that defines the city.
Carousel Bakery has operated inside St. Lawrence Market since 1977, which means it predates the market's current cultural status as a destination. The stall's line on a Saturday morning tells you exactly how many people visit St. Lawrence Market specifically for the sandwich: a consistent, often 30-minute queue that moves steadily as the griddle works at full capacity. The market opens at 5am on Saturdays; the devoted show up before 8am.
The peameal bacon here is sourced from a local supplier, sliced thick, griddled until the cornmeal edges caramelize, and placed inside a kaiser that's been pressed warm on the griddle. Confirm the current vendor price before budgeting; optional additions include egg and cheese, but the purist order is peameal, kaiser, mustard.
The broader St. Lawrence Market experience surrounds you: 120+ vendors selling cheese, fish, meat, produce, prepared foods, and specialty items across two floors. The Saturday farmers' market in the North Market building (across Front Street) runs simultaneously. A full Saturday morning between the two markets is one of the best ways to spend a Toronto weekend.
Carousel Bakery is a vendor inside St. Lawrence Market (since 1977) famous for Toronto's most iconic sandwich: the peameal bacon on a kaiser. Peameal bacon is back bacon rolled in cornmeal, a Toronto invention — griddled until crisp, served on a pressed kaiser roll with mustard. It costs approximately $7–8 and is considered the definitive Toronto breakfast.
Peameal bacon is a uniquely Canadian cured pork product — specifically a Toronto specialty. It's made from lean boneless pork loin, wet-cured, and rolled in golden cornmeal (historically pea meal, hence the name). The cornmeal crust caramelizes when griddled. It's similar to Canadian back bacon but with the distinctive cornmeal coating. It's not smoked and has a milder flavour than American bacon.
The South Market is open Tuesday–Friday 9am–7pm, Saturday 7am–5pm, and Sunday 10am–5pm; it is closed Monday. The Saturday Farmers' Market in the North Market runs from 5am to 3pm. Carousel Bakery follows the South Market schedule; check the official calendar for holiday changes.
Yes — the Carousel Bakery peameal bacon sandwich is considered a mandatory Toronto experience and one of the city's most iconic foods. Saturday mornings are busiest, so arrive early if you want a shorter wait. Confirm the current vendor price before budgeting.
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.