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Mars Food
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
432 College StToronto, ON M5T 1T3
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 921-6332
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 7 am - 8 pm
Fri 7 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 7 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
19 reviews for Mars Food
19 reviews in English
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Review from Mickey O.
North York, ON
5/23/2012
I was at Mars yesterday at 7 am for breakfast. I don't know how many times I have been there since my first visit as a teenager since 1952. I keep coming back and am never disappointed. Bacon and perfect sunny side up eggs with a Toronto rarity, perfect home fries without that chemical/stored overnight or seasoned salt taste.
Those who claim it is less than tasty must be coming from some booze party and have destroyed their taste buds with anti freeze.
Mars is only about 10 feet wide and long like a bowling alley. It is shopworn but clean and cozy. The decor is perfect.
The staff is pleasant and efficient. The cook can really cook.
There is only one flaw. I find it charming. Although the name is Mars, their logo is Saturn. Note the rings. To be fair, I don't want an astronomer or astrologer cooking my food.
I hope Mars continues in orbit for at least another 60 years, -
Review from Susan G.
5/14/2012
Hangover heaven!
Mars Food knows why you're there at noon on Saturday. They know you're hungover as hell, and they want to make you feel better.
I called in advance to make sure they had a table for us, and once we got there it was ready. It's such a charming older place - it looks like it hasn't been changed at all since the 50s when it opened.
As soon as we were seated, two giant pitchers of ice water appeared for us. I ordered off the basic breakfast menu - 2 eggs, bacon, home fries and toast. It was around $5.50, and while nothing special, it was exactly what I needed.
A few in our group ordered poutine, and it was made with real cheese curds! The milkshakes also looked divine.
The only things to note are that:
A) Their coffee kind of sucks and it is not included with the breakfast - adds about $1.50 to your bill.
B) Jam doesn't come with your toast. I was too busy eating to ask for it, but it seems like something that would have cost extra.
Definitely worth hitting up to get you out of hangover hell! -
Review from Robert K.
10/4/2011
At 3am on the night of Nuit Blanch, after walking a hundred miles in the bitter cold, surrounded by assholes, bullshit, and everything else that accompanies the Nuit Blanche experience, Mars Food was like paradise.
Food was standard diner food, service was standard diner service, decor was standard diner decor. I had sausages and eggs. It was ok. We sat in a booth.
Well, it was what it was. Mars was there for me when I needed it, and for that I am grateful. When given the choice between all-night art installations and all-night diners, I choose all-night diners.Listed in: Greasy Spoons
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Review from Yi Qing S.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2011
It seems to me that saying that you go to Mars is a bit like saying that you watch The Real L Word; secretly everybody does (even if it's just for the sex scenes), but no one wants to admit it. The only difference between the two is that while both appear to be the epitome of trashy shit, Mars is the real deal (The Real L Word really is just trashy shit.)
As already mentioned by numerous reviewers, Mars is THE greasy spoon in Toronto. You go to Mars to refuel after a late night out or just late at night in general. You go to Mars when no place else is open and you just want to have someplace quiet to sit and have bacon and pancakes. You go to Mars early in the morning when you've just accidentally burned your breakfast because you were cooking it with your eyes half-closed and then stared at the smoking pan and thought, fuck it, let's go to Mars. You don't go to Mars to impress anybody; you go to Mars with the people you feel the most comfortable with and just want to eat food with before you move onto do other things. Sure, the lighting is ugly and fluorescent and the seats are so stereotypical of a diner that it makes you roll your eyes a little, but that just adds character.
It is the people who do not understand Mars that say it has horrible food, bad service, etc. Well, what were you expecting, people? A four-star dining experience? Hell no. Mars is straight up comfort food at low prices. It doesn't pretend to be anything else, and the haters are crazy for having expected anything otherwise (I mean, really. "Mars"? It's a frickin' planet! You mean you couldn't tell what it was just from its NAME?!) -
Review from Kent P.
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe the greasiest breakfast I've had in the city. Rivals Vesta lunch on Dupont for atmosphere.
Long row of diner stools against the bar, and maybe 8 tables / booths in the place.
For about $8 you can have a really weighted breakfast - pancake, sausages, bacon, homefries, egg, and coffee. The food isn't amazing or even that good - but no denying the charm of this place. The avg staff age is aprx 72.
Right across from Sneaky Dee's (and open 24hrs on the weekend) - it's a good spot to grab weekend brunch when you're hungover and don't want to wait in line...because there won't be one.
I guess that means I'll be back.Listed in: Brunch.
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Review from Soukia S.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2010
I have to give credit to Mars. The place has been around for ages and it is one of the few diners left. It's quite small and a large group would not fit in there comfortably.
The food is served super-duper fast and the price is so reasonable. My boyfriend and I will breakfast there on weekends and whenever we crave the occassional hamburger, Mars is the go-to place.
They have a great hamburger and french fries combo for around $5.50. Super tasty! They also have flap-jacks, aka pancakes, that are really yummy and I'm into their coleslaw as well.
Greasy. Yes. Good. Yes. Greasy and good! -
Review from Devyn G.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2010
I liked the fact that Mars, the "Muffin King since 1951," remains a College Street staple and serves a perfectly fine breakfast. But apart from this, I thought it was pretty unremarkable.
Yeah, the breakfast was fine, standard and inexpensive. It's always good to know a spot where that can be depended upon. I like the fact thet they still have those 1930s milkshake blenders. But othewise, you know, meh.
No, wait. There was one remarkable thing. The length of time I had to wait for my check.Listed in: Tea and Eggs Over Easy
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Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
Mars is the greasiest spoon around. It's cute in how authentic of a diner it is, it is dreary in how authentic it is, it is unhealthy, it is quiet, it is conveniently located, and on the weekends it is 24 hours.
I'll admit that the one time I ate there I wasn't exactly in a proper state of mind, but after dancing at the Boat in Kensington for a few hours, it was the perfect fix for my drunken evening. Whatever I ordered was vegetarian and delicious. I probably got grilled cheese and a milkshake.
I know someone who swears by their French toast. I suppose it's better than swearing on your mother's grave, eh?
PS Did you know that there is a Mars uptown? 2363 Yonge St at Eglinton. It's much bigger. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2009 1 photo
My first trip here was to have a free lunch with Pluto, a Canadian indie band from 1996.
We ate on the record company's dime and royally pigged out, capping our fast food platters with lots of shakes and coconut cream pie. Delicious. In fact, I have fonder memories of the food than the actual lunch date with this band -- which makes sense, given which of the two has actually stood the test of time.
I still return to Mars and respect its old-school diner feel and its just as old-school dining staff -- something that's difficult to keep in tact, especially in this district.
Their cheeseburger, fries, and gravy meal gives me a particular sense of nostalgia that I can't seem to find elsewhere, and their breakfasts are good and hearty, too. Greasy, greasy, good.
Beats the Mars Diner - Uptown any day. -
Review from Jordan H.
8/27/2011
A great little diner with quick and friendly service. I had french toast, sausage, and coffee. It was good, not great, but the prices weren't bad at all. Definitely check it out if you're a diner fan!
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Review from Sophia K.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2009
Really short review coming at you! I'm gonna be honest here...Mars is only useful to me because it's open 24 hours on weekends. And when I'm craving some greasy food at 3 am, this little classic diner is my saviour.
But I don't so much enjoy this place sober. I'm not sure if it's just me, but sometimes I get a weird twilight zone vibe from the staff and just in general. But, for what it is, Mars is great. And the milkshakes are delicious and the breakfast is cheap! -
Review from Nick A.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2009
Mars is pretty much the definition of a greasy spoon. They serve all your basic breakfast foods along with burgers and other sandwiches. You can get a decent breakfast here for not a whole lot of money. The service is generally good. The food here is not outstanding at all, but it's not bad either.
The best thing about Mars is that it is open 24 hours on the weekend. Perfect for an after drinking meal. Unless it's 3 am though there are better places to get diner type food within walking distance. Still Mars serves a purpose and is good at what it does. -
Review from David M.
Toronto, ON
7/19/2010
I pretty much agree with the 2 and 3 star reviews above. The only point I'll add is this - there are probably only 2 reasons to go to Mars at this location.
First, you've never been there before, and want to be able to say you have. The second is you haven't been for 25 years and want a quick hit of nostalgia. It pains me to say it, because I have fond memories of this place, but there are dozens of other diners in Toronto equal or better than this one. -
Review from Rosemary H.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2009
When I think of greasy spoons in Toronto, Mars is always first to come to mind.
It was of course the prototypical 'American-style' I took friends to, when they were visiting from England.
Mars also serves fantastic cornmeal muffins. Notable for their fine-grained texture, these are a too rare delicacy I have never encountered anywhere else.
The one drawback of the place is its size: tiny! But a stellar establishment in the realm of greasy home-cooked food, nonetheless. -
Review from Jessica H.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2010
Mars is lovable because of the ancient staff, visible in the wall portraits and on some mornings; the affordable diner prices (as opposed to chi chi pseudo diner inflated prices); the atmosphere; the burgers; the availability of versht with standard breakfast; the corn muffins (raptures); the milkshakes and the location and hours.
People who deny the tastiness of Mars cuisine either haven't had a Mars burger or are unable to taste the authentic greasy goodness of a diner breakfast served at less than $7 all inclusive, because they think you get what you pay for. At Mars, you don't; you get ever so much more. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2011
A great diner. Had the corned beef hash today and everything about it was just right. The hash was flavourful, well-balanced and just generally tasty, the egg was cooked just right, the toast wasn't too dry, and the hash browns were made from real potatoes. The food is nothing fancy, but everything they do they do just right.
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Review from Lupillo R.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2010
Mars knows their niche, they stick to it, and they do it well. This is neither fine dine dining nor extremely tasty food but it's consistent. We were looking for a cheap, diner-style breakfast the other day and Mars fit the bill perfectly. The pancakes were fine, my eggs were cooked perfectly, and I loved the fact that they use real potatoes for their home fries rather than some processed, frozen, reconstituted garbage that so many places seem to use these days. The fact that a lady in a traditional diner-style uniform was our server added the kitschy charm we were looking for. I'll go back to Mars the next time I'm too lazy to make breakfast at home, but it's nothing out of this world.
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Review from Katie G.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2010
I wanted to enjoy my breakfast here, I really did. But it was impossible. From the waitress in sweatpants who was eating at the bar the whole time who didn't bring me the coffee I ordered, I had to get up and ask her for it(despite our table of 2 being the ONLY ones in the restaurant) to watching the cook microwave the 'hollandaise sauce' (if you can call it that-it was runny and tasted quite bad) to waiting longer for the bill than it took to receive and eat my luke-warm meal (again, only table there!) $7.95 in the end is really not cheap enough to make up for the poorly prepared and tasting food, or the lack of basic service. There are far better greasy spoons in Toronto, much better breakfast, and places just as, if not cheaper. Boom, on college for example. I will not return.
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Review from Brian C.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2010 5 Check-ins Here
This is another Toronto landmark that is better in your memories than it is day to day. It's like a '45 Chevy pickup; nostalgic, and will get you where you are going but you won't enjoy the ride. The quality here has been in steady decline for a long time, and It's time they changed the oil. Don't let them rest on their laurels. If you are heading here, hit the brakes. The neighbourhood evolved leaving this place far behind.
