Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

A TikToker Compared The Food Scene In Toronto & Vancouver & Shots Have Been Fired (VIDEOS)

"Half of Vancouver has never heard of shawarma let alone eaten it." 👀

Aashim comparing Vancouver and Toronto's food.

Aashim comparing Vancouver and Toronto's food.

Senior Writer

When it comes to culinary delights, there's no end to great Canadian food across the country — but which city does it better?

Toronto foodie @amaara.aashim recently spent three weeks "eating like a madman" in Vancouver and he made two TikToks comparing which place comes in first place for certain foods.

When it comes to ice cream, he says the competition is "not even close" and gives that honour to Vancouver.

"You've got Earnest, you've got Rain Or Shine, our favourite gelato in Canada, Passione," said Aashim. "Toronto's ice cream is good, it just doesn't have that same creaminess and flavour experimentation."

As for who rates best for shawarma, he says that's "easily Toronto."

"Half of Vancouver has never heard of shawarma let alone eaten it," said Aashim. "Toronto, you can get everything: Iraqi, Lebanese, Syrian."

"Shawarma is like a go-to food for most people in Toronto," he continued. "In Vancouver, you struggle to find shawarma, there's just like mediocre donair." Ouch!

While he notes that Toronto has been catching up on the craft beer scene, Aashim rates Vancouver as the better city for brews.

"I think it's just a bigger part of the culture, everybody loves going to breweries here," he explained. "It's just like a thing you do. In Toronto, there's like the people that are into it and then there's just a lot of people that aren't."

@amaara.aashim

Visiting Vancouver rn and people always ask me about this. Do you like this type of series?? #canadafood #canadavlog #torontofood #vancouverfood

In a follow-up video, Aashim doles out more superlatives, and things get a little controversial.

In terms of sushi, he says that if you're looking for "the absolute best" in the country, he gives it to Toronto.

That being said, he says Vancouver is the overall winner.

"Even the cheapest sushi in Vancouver is pretty good," he said. "The seafood is high quality, there's just way more sushi availability in the city whereas in Toronto there aren't even a lot of Japanese restaurants."

@amaara.aashim

Part 2: Sushi, pizza, cocktails #canadafood #torontofood #vancouverfood #canadatravel

It's apparently "not even close" when it comes to pizza, with Toronto coming out on top.

As well as traditional style slices, he notes you can also get "incredible fusion" pies like butter chicken pizza, mutton curry pizza, Korean pizza and sushi pizza.

In terms of bars, Toronto again takes the win, with a particular shoutout going to the West end of the city as well as Mother and Civil Liberties.

"Vancouver, on the other hand, you know, never been a late-night city," he explained.

This article's left-hand cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

Explore this list   👀

    • Senior Writer

      Sarah Rohoman (she/her) was a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. She has worked at BuzzFeed Canada, Yahoo Canada, and CBC Radio in news, lifestyle, ecommerce, and social media. She has an MA in Journalism from Western University and a BA from McGill. She loves libraries, alpacas, and all things witchy.

    This enchanting small town set on a BC island was named among North America's 'most peaceful'

    Sandy beaches, ancient forests and a cozy town — anyone?. 🌲

    New data reveals the 'most peaceful' places to live and Canadian towns demolished US ones

    Five Canadian towns were named the most serene on the continent. 🍁

    This Ontario gem with waterfront towns and beaches is one of Canada's 'best' spots to live

    It has "large" homes "priced much lower" than major Canadian cities.