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Ginger
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
695 Yonge StToronto, ON M4Y 2B2
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 966-2424
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
43 reviews for Ginger
Review Highlights
"...includes grilled chicken on rice, spring roll and drink."
(in 6 reviews)
"Their Hot and Sour Tofu Noodle soup is heavenly."
(in 3 reviews)
"It's right next to The Brass Rail, which ads to the great..."
(in 3 reviews)
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2011
Ahhh Ginger...seems like eons ago that I popped my Banh mi cherry here and had my first taste of what could arguably be called Viet food and have subsequently fallen in love with Ginger's cheap, fast furious and seemingly endless array of Southeast Asian style delights.
Here's a list of menu items I've sampled over the years at Ginger;
#8-11 Paradigm Bahn Mi with a choice of chicken, beef or veggie - for $3.50 how could you not love this?
#S6 which is the Tofu & Veggies and lots of 'em, snow peas, broccoli and baby corn on a bed of rice $6.99
#20 Well done beef noodle soup - it has a nice zing of lemongrass and cinnamon and it's fantastic for cold and flu season $4.99-$5.99
#S1 Deep Fried Fish and Mango on rice with salad - a nice tangy Asian version of fish and chips also the fish is lightly crisp and not too greasy $6.99
#52 Grilled chicken on steamed rice - My "Holy Grail" Ginger meal of marinated chicken breast with rice and sauteed cabbage $5.75
#27 Vermicelli with Spring Roll & Grilled Chicken - ordered this by accident as I was mistakingly given this meal instead of my usual #52 but I was pleasantly surprised plus the spring roll was delicious albeit greasy!
All of the meals mentioned are in generous proportions and could easily become two smaller meals.
No fancy digs here, as it's more like a cafeteria with bad tropical scenery trompe l'oeil wallpaper like your parents had in the basement in '75. In fact I only do take-out from Ginger as it's rather ugly, I mean who wants to look out on Yonge street at the endless parade of "#winning" I find it does little to inspire my appetite atmospherically speaking.
Customers range from Ryerson students to Asian grandmas to hungry Brass Rail patrons and you may even catch a glimpse of the odd peeler itself taking a break from the rigors of working the poles (both animate and in-animate!) You can't miss them as they'll be dressed in the standard off duty uniform of Juicy sweats, Mukluks and scary nails and cheap hair extensions, yet another incentive to eat takeout unless maybe...you're Charlie Sheen? -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
For me there is only one reason to keep coming back here: Pho.
It is not the best and in fact, it has sort of been getting worse over the last couple of years, getting some more hints of MSGs, their meat seems to be fattier than it was before and the price has gone up a few cents. However,
A-) It is cheap
B-) It is cheap
C-) I live 5 minutes walk from this location.
Sometimes convenience will make you do silly things. As exhibit A I will submit the entire 'convenience store' industry as proof that people will buy something not because it is the best (or cheapest) out of sheer convenience.
The decour is hideous tropical colours and this place is next to the Brass Rail, plus a few office buildings so this location is generally always busy. However it does have large windows if you want to do a little people watching while having your pho. Although coming here by yourself it is outright depressing. So I recommend against it.
For the most part, I have not come here as much as used to as I have migrated my yearnings towards Pork Bone Soup than Pho, but I will still pop in here if I am hungry, have a few minutes to kill and feel an oncoming pho relapse. Most of their other dishes seem too generic to catch my attention.
As always, Ginger is best left for locals, relapsing pho-addicts, cheap artists and ass-broke students.
I simply cannot imagine anyone trekking here for any of their other menu items.Listed in: My Reviews, 30-Day Oct '11 Challenge &…
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Review from Natalie G.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2011
CHEAP MEALS!
This place is super cheap and the portions are huge. The grilled meats and chicken are great, and the $3 chicken sandwich is amazing.
Great food when in a rush and on a budget. -
Review from Xi Y.
Toronto, ON
2/3/2012
One of the cashiers always look very cool, I like the other guy that smile,haha. The food is good, and the price is reasonable. I think the wonton soup can be cheaper or at lease increase the quantity. My favorite is the beef chicken shrimp on rice with spring roll and the pho beef and beef ball noodle soup.
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Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
12/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Another cheap n' cheerful choice on Yonge Street. I can only comment on the Pho -- which, although it wasn't the best pho I've ever had, was pretty decent. My rare beef and meat ball pho came with lots of meat, though I found the broth to be a bit bland. They totally water down the hoisin sauce, though, so it's thin and runny. Not good. On the up side, food came out super quick and I was in and out in less than half an hour. Don't make Ginger a destination, but if you need cheap, quick eats in the area it's a pretty good bet.
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Review from Pascal P.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2011
as far as I'm concerned Ginger has the best pho in Toronto. The broth itself has an almost Cinnamon flavor to it. Their chicken rolls are out of this world. There is always a line up. They have a lot of different Vietnamese foods there. The only food I don't like from Ginger is their banh mi sandwiches. I am from Vancouver and nothing in Toronto even compares
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Review from Kelly K.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming here for years for the pho and have never been disappointed. Today though, I tried something new: lemongrass shrimp on pad thai. For $6.99 I expected more than 50cents worth of rice noodles, 5 shrimp and some shredded cabbage.
Lesson learned, with Ginger, stick with what you know. -
Review from Dana A.
1/3/2012
Yummy. Quick service. Reasonable prices
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Review from Fern H.
5/10/2011
Fast and cheap meals under $10. Great for those in a rush and on a budget. Not for those who need wait service or a leisurely relaxing meal.
Love the lunch combo for $6.99 that includes grilled chicken on rice, spring roll and drink. -
Review from Francis R.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2011
You can't go wrong here for a very quick shovel it down lunch for under $10 !!!
No it's not fancy, service is fast, you share tables ( that's fine), it does the job enuff said. Oh and the food is good...... -
Review from Gabrielle B.
Halifax, NS
5/24/2011
I LOVE this place. For years I have gone to Ginger for the same thing: Delicious food served almost so fast it's confusing. Ginger provides a wide variety of vietnamese meals averaging around 7 dollars each. I've never had anything there that didn't pack a lot of flavour, Ginger's staple spices being Curry, Lemongrass, Coriander and, well, Ginger. With these spices they offer a wide variety of combinations of marinated and grilled to perfection Chicken, beef, shrimp, rice, noodles, vegetables, pad thai, soup and vietnamese sandwich combinations all displayed with life sized and very accurate pictures on a giant board above the cash.
What you order and fall in love with today will taste the same every time you go there. Water, lemons, several different kinds of hot sauce and sweet sauces are available as well as any utensil you would care to use. Portions are generous, I have never left hungry.
The decor is unintrusive. It is usually full of people but in ten years I have never had to wait for a seat, I'm never cramped or uncomfortable in any way. It's not fancy but it's comfortable.
Ginger is perhaps a good place for a lunch date but not so much for a formal date as it is kind of a fast food( except with amazing food) kind of place.
(the other Gingers are not as good as this one) -
Review from Lynn C.
3/17/2011
The good: cheap, fasts, tastes very good
The bad: dirty, floor slick with grease, limited space to sit
You come here because you want a quick and tasty pan-asian meal to fill your stomach, without costing you too much money, especially when you're alone. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
1/24/2011 1 photo
Ginger is the last place I will be expecting myself going for a quick Pho fix. But when it is -20C outside and you are at Yonge and Bloor and having something warm and slurping delicious just sound too tempting to ignore! So we decide to give Ginger a try with an open mind.
Yes the noodle is not the fresh type.
Yes the Pho broth might not be the most balanced one with star anise
Yes that sweetening taste in the Pho broth might be a sign of MSG
Yes the rare beef might not be the best cut
Yes the self served area for utensils and chili might not be the most hygienic
But me and my friend both has an enjoyable dinner, stuffing ourselves with Rare Beef Pho and Hot and Sour Noodle Soup... and we did not regret that we eat here!
The service here was friendly and efficient!! In and Out with no fuss!
Cheap, Fast, Fulfilling, Reliable and Simple. Ginger really does well in all these departments... Sometimes that's what I want in my meal... or even in my life? -
Review from Michelle V.
Toronto, ON
5/24/2011
Cheap eats!
If you want meat and rice then this is the place - also if you ask for noodles instead you can do that too ;-)
Try the Vietnamese sub. It's SO good.
The Pho is good if your looking for the flavour and experience. It's a great broth, just lacking in toppings. The beef for the rare beef pho is disgustingly fatty with little actual meat.
Cheap drink and keep beer!
All in all, its fast, its easy, and its worth standing in line (it goes by faster then you think!). Don't expect quality. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I can't add too much to the discussion - everyone agrees. They are super fast and the food is good.
The lunch specials are a great deal - big portions and delicious taste at reasonable prices.
It may seem a little overwhelming at lunchtime with the multiple lines of people, but trust me, they move fast. Look at the list up high, choose your number, and order. Once you've ordered and paid, they'll give you another number and tell you to wait. The wait won't be long. If you are dining in, someone brings your food directly to your table, and if it's to go, you'll be served at the counter.
Fast, efficient and tasty. Recommend: pho, chicken curry. -
Review from Downtown D.
Toronto, ON
5/2/2011
Cheap, fast and self serve water! You order and pay at the cash, you get a plastic card with your order number and the waitstaff brings out your food.
I ordered the lemon grass chicken with pad thai. The chicken could have been in smaller pieces and the pad thai wasn't authentic but if you're hungry and in the area for cheap fast food this place will do.
My friend ordered the beef pho - she thought the beef looked kind of weird - finely cut with some fatty bits. -
Review from Dishan W.
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars!
Really good Pho! I was very disheartened by the look of the place both from the inside as well as outside but the food is good enough to have made me want to check this place out (along with the good yelp rating).
Their menu seemed to be very typical for a Vietnamese place and the prices are not too bad either.
Not the most cozy of locations and I would only come here for a very quick meal and not a place I would take a group of friends to for a dinner out to.
I'm afraid I can't add too much else in to this review, pretty typical place. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2010 3 Check-ins Here
In university, I used to eat at the Ginger south of here, honestly like 4 times a week. Meal and pop was under $5. That one doesn't exist anymore, but its older grungier brother does, and it is steps from my office.
Ginger isn't epic, by any means, and its not really Vietnamese either. Its fusion which is admittedly something else entirely but really good value.
The price has increased slightly over the years, and the customer service is still of the quick and dirty variety. Line Up, view boards overhead, select, tell cashier, hand money, be given number sign, scramble for available seating, pick up chopsticks napkin and chili sauces, sit down and wait less than 5 minutes before your food is brought out.
Their fish sauce is super sweet, spring rolls are decent, their tofu dishes (tofu vermicelli with spring roll) are really good, and as I mentioned in the Hanoi 3 Season's post http://www.yelp.ca/biz... their Veggie Pho (Called Hot and Sour Tofu Noodle soup) Is the best that I have had in the city and is insanely inexpensive. In the $4 range.
Good sized portions. Lunch is always super packed so go another time or get there early. Be prepared to sit with strangers. Super fast, so quick turnover. The staff will accommodate you bringing your own "takeout" containers from home as well. 3 stars for food and experience, extra star for price. Great Cheap Lunch. -
Review from Jim G.
8/18/2011 20 Check-ins Here
Ginger is a staple in the Yonge and Bloor area for a lot of people. The lineups run down the sidewalk at times. This is Vietnamese cuisine with Thai fusion. The service is fast, and you order by the number off the wall and wait for your dish. Seating is limited, and if you get your food to go you'll have to stand around in the way of other diners. The food is decent, and it's cheap. A noodle or rice dish with meat will run you less than $7.
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Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
3/27/2011
Best Vietnamese subs out there!!
Found this gem when I used to work in Toronto. Back then the subs were $2 each. Grilled chicken was the best!
I don't give out too many 5 stars, but this one will take it for the sandwiches!
The soups are good as well and the dining is typical small serve yourself restaurant.
PS. I once grabbed a sandwich when I was waiting in the line for the B. Rail VIP. -
Review from Sandra T.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2010
Quick and convenient but food is only "meh"
Its fast food so expect that. Better tasting options do exist.
However, I am glad to see others enjoy the food here :) -
Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2010
OK, really not bad, not expensive, and really generous amounts in the plates/combo (including meat, and that is to be highlighted, yes).
but not so heavenly (a little bit too dry to my opinion).
(have to try pho soup the next time) -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
5/5/2010
Not only is this place my favourite pho joint in Toronto, but this location is my favourite location of all the Gingers in the city.
Their Hot and Sour Tofu Noodle soup is heavenly. You can feel its warmth travel through your entire body and after a bowl of it, you're not only full, but you're full of healthy, nutritious and soul-fulfilling soup.
A bowl of this 'heaven in a bowl' goes for $4.99/small or $5.99/large. Trust me when I say that the small is HUGE. I have never ordered a large and anyone that I have ever been with that has, has never been able to finish it.
Tell ya what - start with the small and see what happens ;) -
Review from S K.
7/22/2011
Unless you're ordering the top 3 most requested items on the menu please stay away.
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Review from Alison B.
7/2/2010
Dirty, delicious cheap eats.
The veggie Vietnamese sub rocks my socks.
Springs rolls also do it for me.
Oh! and 3 dollar beer. That ain't bad... -
Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
8/1/2009
Oh Ginger, great if you're looking for a quick, tasty bite on the north end of the Yonge St Strip, something you can actually order, get, and eat in less than 10 minutes.
I'm a big fan of their Vietnamese Subs (3$) washed down with a devastatingly addictive Avocado Smoothie (3.50-4?) You can actually see them cutting the fruit and mixing the smoothie right there, fresh from the skin. -
Review from Steph L.
11/9/2009 1 Check-in Here
I've eaten at different Ginger locations, but this one has viet subs better than the rest.
This location actually gives you a lot of meat.
I usually grab a grilled beef sub and a shrimp roll for lunch.
Great lunch for around 5 bucks, can't go wrong.
- However, I don't find it the pho spectacular. ..But I'll eat it if it's cold out and I'm hungry.
It's a nice place for a quick bite. It's a bit like a cafeteria... you see a lot of people sitting here, eating by themselves. -
Review from Maureen P.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2009
Looks like everyone has mixed feelings about Ginger, but I know how I feel about this joint.
It's cheap cheap! And good!
I've only gone to this location and feedback from friends tell me this is the best one.
Want a quick, filling, tasty meal (appetizer & main) for less than $10? Then go to Ginger!
In the other reviews some criticize that Ginger's food is bland, but here's a tip. ORDER IT SPICY. Realistically, it won't be spicy, but when ordered spicy, their food becomes flavourful and it's good.
Order the vietnamese subs. Have you tried a vietnamese sub? It's delish. Try their "spicy" shrimp with rice. Try their "spicy" chicken with rice. Try their fruit shakes.
Quick, filling, tasty, cheap and good. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2008
I LOVE this place so much. Ever since I first tried Vietnamese food I was stuck, It's simple and the flavours are clear and distinct and basic. When I moved to Toronto I wanted to find a cheap and cheerful Vietnamese place to satisfying my endless cravings. Well, Ginger is it.
This location is especially popular and every time I go in here, there is a lineup. However, the guys behind the counters are masterful Asian magicians and move so quickly! I've never waited long for my food even if there were people out the door.
I always order the same thing - three cold shrimp spring rolls (the sauce is just so yummy) and the pork vermicelli. It comes with fried pork, thin rice noodles, shredded lettuce, mint, carrot and coriander and its topped off with this sweet vinegar sauce and a deep friend pork spring roll. It is absolutely delicious and all of this cost me $9! An appetizer and a main course for less than $10. You cant go wrong with that.
If you haven't had Vietnamese food, go to Ginger and prepare to get hooked! -
Review from Mika D.
Toronto, ON
3/12/2011
cheap and fast!
I see meat-eaters are loving it, so there might be something I'm missing... fills you up, however not sure it's more than a quick hunger fix.
I'll go there if I want something fast and won't have time to go anywhere else. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2008
There's a lot to love about the original Ginger in the chain.
1. It's like the quickest Vietnamese you will ever eat. For real, you can order, pay and eat in 15 minutes flat.
2. The prices are great. It's fast, cheap and easy. But still clean and there's tons of variety.
3. It's right next to The Brass Rail, which ads to the great street watching. Eating Vietnamese and seeing the peelers come and go from their shifts, is TO at its best.
4. And here's the best reason to love it: during the blackout, Ginger just kept on cooking like nothing had happened. They're on gas, not electricity so they weren't affected, and had a lineup a block long until they ran out of food.
The owners are women, and they are tougher than Martha Stewart on her tax attorney. They will get you in, ordered, paid and out in minutes, whether you like it or not.
No messing, it's the joint. -
Review from Bijan V.
11/10/2008
Ginger is a love and hate type thing. It is really cheap (full meal for $6-7) but it really is bland. I tried the pork vermicelli and a crispy spring roll and it wasn't anything great. It is cheap though so I can't complain - actually wait - the spring rolls are a rip off. They are a good 4 - 5 inches long but 3-4 inches of it is just the roll.. there's nothing in it! I got the shrimp spring roll and there were 2 tiny pieces of shrimp in the middle and that was it... good thing I only ordered one.
The food though is filling and super cheap but you can't really expect much for this price. -
Review from Emily E.
9/21/2010
I wonder how much better this place could really get. I mean, fast service, cheap food, and delicious...am I missing something? Oh yeah, that's right, dining room could use some work, but who cares when I'm downing a delicious bowl of pho! I was visiting Toronto with my girlfriends - everything was so expensive. 12% tax? And I thought Chicago was bad. But we stumbled upon this place - and safe to say I will be back...a 5 dollar bowl of soup? I'm in. And delicious? So in. I will definitely be back next time.
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/9/2008
Did someone saw off my taste buds without me looking?
I feel like I'm the eternal party pooper when it comes to Ginger. I agree, this place is cheap and fast, but you've got to wonder why you're getting such a deal in the first place.
This rapidly expanding chain is the McDonald's of Toronto Vietnamese food: the meat is bland and barely edible (my grilled chicken was paper thin and looked like a "food" item I had in my plastic kitchen set from childhood). The vermicelli was overcooked and bloated.
My vegetarian friends seem to be all over this place, so perhaps if I swung for the other team, I may be able to see the light. Until then, I leave with a hearty "meh". -
Review from Anthony D.
Burlington, ON
1/19/2011
Ginger is a great little hole in the wall type of restaurant. Huge menu very reasonable and quick! Not much to look at but the menu is vast with soups, noodles and curries. Good Vietnamese food.
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Review from Mark v.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2011
I stumbled in here looking for a cheap and quick meal, and was pleasantly surprised. All food is under 10 dollar and pretty decent. Don't expect any culinary surprises, but their pho and rice dishes are flavorful and more than worth the money.
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Review from Ella M.
Vancouver, BC
1/16/2011
I live up the street from Ginger and used to get it for takeout lunch at a couple times a week, because it's affordable, quick and the quality is pretty consistent.
However the last time I went I found a long, black curly hair in my noodles. I felt horrible because Ginger used to be a staple for me and now it's kind of ruined, because I was already back at my office when I discovered it and didn't really have time to go back....maybe I'll get over it and give it a try again but it was a pretty scarring experience. -
Review from Rom P.
9/1/2010 1 photo
Ginger is everything I ask for: delicious, quick and filling.
As soon as I order, my food is ready. They bring your order to the table fresh and hot. I had the raw beef and beef ball noodle soup. My oh my was it filling. Normally, when I have pho, it lacks noodles, but in this case the noodles were plentiful. And they gave me more meat than I expected (no homo).
The prices weren't bad. I have no issue with this place except for the fact that it is in Toronto and I live in NYC.
I'm definitely coming back to this place when I visit Toronto again. -
Review from Tyler b.
2/27/2010
good food, cheap lunches! their smoothies are particularly tasty, as well.
i was told the pho was amazing hear, but haven't tried it since i'm more of a bbq-pork-with-spring-roll-over-vermicelli kind of guy.
worth checking out! -
Review from Kat T.
11/9/2008
This restaurant has chained-out and is popping up all over the city. I'd heard one bad review, but decided to try it anyway on the new location on Queen. Any restaurant that has photos of every dish indicates, to me, that it is made for people who don't know 'ethnic' food. My suspicion stands. I found the dishes to be bland, simple, and not worth the cheap $8 it costs. I do see that it's often packed, but please keep walking- there are so many GOOD vietnamese restaurants.
