Gale's Snack Bar in Toronto

They are closed!!

The food seems to taste strange. I ordered a cheeseburger and it tasted so weird that I threw it all away. The ingredients are not fresh. The restaurant is not clean and it takes a long time for the food to come out.

What a Gem. Love this Place. Will be Back. Few draw backs but....Its a Keeper! it stays around Dont be in a Rush..Small but Mighty

I hope Eda can transport me back again soon.

Amazing sandwiches for $2

Not open at 1pm on a Friday why state you re open in the first place

Just an awesome little diner where you can have lunch for under 5 bucks

My question is is this place actually still open? I have gone here on three occasions and it has been closed. I can t even find a phone number for them.

Went down today after BlogTO article said they were re-opening. They never opened for 12 or by 1:30! Other people also left. What was the point of saying theyd be open?

Drove all the way to the Snack Bar..and was greeted with a closed sign...will it open soon? Wished it was opened Parking: U have to pay

Service is slow but friendly and the food is great. Loved it

Great portion for the price!

If there s any kind of line forget about it. It s one lady and she takes orders one at a time. That said the food is very cheap and good so worth checking out

I remember this place when I work Eastern Ave in the 70 at Brinks so Cool and great days years around that area to eat at amazing restaurants. Lots memoirs

Dont give up.

Amazing atmosphere, inexpensive but very tasty food!!!

Such a gem! I hope this place continues for a long time. The grilled cheese and fries were such a comfort food, for less than $4. The owner is very friendly. Definitely an experience!

I ve never actually gone here. But I really want to. Food

Classic. Timeless. Effortless. old school. Toronto. Comfort food, fresh and delicious. As a single mother I can keep food on the table and my kids happy. This place is about service and true love for food. Not greedy price guagers. Other bussiness can learn! Hats off to the owner who can easily hack up her prices 10 fold

Great affordable place in Toronto. The sandwiches are amazing.

Don t ever change.

If youre expecting something fancy, this aint for you. If you want exactly what is expected. Then you gold. Fair and affordable hells to the mother fükin yus. Especially after a TErheranna night of debacles(how Canadian can I make this sound???) Friendly and sweet lady serving! Such a jem

Got a sandwich, it was fresh and tasty. Great value for the money

Old school diner with some of the best prices around. Owner is very friendly!

Yes.

Phenomenal service! excellent quality food And you cannot beat these prices That being said, this is real food, real home-made meals Gale makes it all, all by herself. This isnt fast food, this is quality food. Sit down, relax, enjoy!

Unpretentious.. but a Toronto landmark for the people who know. Zero frills.. but overflowing with character, unbelievable value and heart. If you like Tom Waits...I think youll dig Gales. If you have no idea who Tom Waits is, or regularly dine in Yorkville.. maybe take a pass unless youre adventurous and easy going. I love Gales.

Love this place, been coming here for decades. Long Live Gales!

Absolutely love this gem of a restaurant. The owner is so nice, we chatted about how long the restaurant has been in her family and thank heavens she has no immediate plans to retire. We ordered the club sandwich, grill cheese, 2 orders of fries and a chocolate milk shake....all excellent! Im not a huge fries person, but these were so good I couldnt stop eating them. If you want to really step back in time and enjoy some great food made with love then you have to check this place out. Oh, did I mention all that food came to a whopping $12.50! Talk about stepping back in time!

It s a classic

Yummy yummy club sandwich and fries! Seriously! If you dont care about ambience(do NOT look closely at anything), or speed of which you get your food... this place is great. The owner is sweet. Food was great, but its a bit and miss for menu items! Kid-friendliness: My kid LIVED it!!

Went here today. Looks to be closed down. Looked in the windows and boxes everywhere. Was looking forward to trying it. Anyone know if it s actually closed down?

Great food, prices were amazing. I did take out and the staff was very friendly. I will be going back.

Great food, prices were amazing. I did take out and the staff was very friendly. I will be going back.

Basic and cheap. Good. A strange very oldstyle rundown but good place. Very small. Maybe 3 tables and counter sitting. Not many places like this left in Toronto. Had a good lunch here. Old old Style.

Good food , amazing pricing . Prices are from the late 80s. Example - $2.75 for a club house which I recommend with a serving of fresh cut frys. Club house and frys I believe it was $4.50 I live out of town and always stop here when I pass through Toronto. The old lady that runs it is super friendly as well.

cheap, fast, tasty.

I absolutely love this place. Yes its run down been there for 50 years. Does last good old place cheap food that I know of now all the other cheap food places are gone. I love this place to club out sandwiches on a milkshake $9

A great place with inexpensive properly cooked meals. The fish and chips I had were amazing and I intend to drop by more often to try the other menu selections. The staff are friendly and always make you feel welcome.

The place has excellent home cooked food. Any hot sandwich or even the Club will put a smile on your face. Dont forget with these low prices you can leave a bigger tip

Absolute must come. This is a historical part of Toronto, and should be a historical building. The owners continue on the trend of feeding and helping the community, when we need it most. Cheap, delicious food served by hard working Canadians. Please support this business at all costs, as I m sure in the eyes of not only mine, but thousands (if not millions!!!), a rare piece of Torontos heart.

Good place for food.

Knowing this is a mom and pop shop, the expectation should be delicious food. There was no disappointment here. The office is 2 blocks away and I plan to come by more often. Ive ordered a fish and chips as this is my first time here. The order was great as the batter was crispy and the fish was thick and no dry. It was very juicy still upon cutting it open. The owners are hard working people and I was lucky to find a time around noon such that there were no lineups. I heard the place can get really busy so I recommend calling before going . Id love to try other items on the menus and the prices have changed from photos online . Regardless, no complaints because the quality exceeds the price charged.. I was more than happy to provide a very generous tip.

Prices are unbeatable. Toronto staple! Like a time capsule. Keep in mind sometimes it may take awhile, usually there is only one person taking orders, cooking, amd serving all by themselves. Worth the wait!

Really old place run by a lovely elderly lady whos very kind and personable.

Food is decent but the price and portion makes it 5 stars

Sweet lady making sweet food for sweet prices

It was like stepping back into the 60s.

Pretty cool place! Bought a BLT and some Fish n Chips for under $10! This isnt fast food, its a diner so be aware of that and allocate your time appropriately. Food will be made on the spot when you order, not pre-made. The BLT was very good as well as the Fish n Chips, what a great chef! The original chef when the place opened in the 60s is still the chef there!

I ordered a burger that tasted like meatloaf and did not appreciate my bacon being put into a microwave instead of freshly cooked. I understand the price but come on. And the milkshake tasted like just milk

What an absolute gem I can not wait to go back. The best food and service Ive had in a while at amazing prices

Loved Gale s! The food is great and the prices are exceptionally good. Super friendly service and fun vibe. Highly recommend!

Absolutely cant get better than this. Classic.

Haven t been in a while. But from what I remember the place was adorable, the cute little woman who worked there was warm and welcoming. Pricing is sweet, cannot Complain for the quantity either. I just wish she had an extra set of hands to help her in that kitchen. Xo hope this place sticks around forever

My favorite Toronto diner and a must stop when I am in the cities east end Leslieville area. Mom and pop will always be the only ones in the kitchen and daughter Eda wins best server in the city. A surviving bastion of what Toronto family business used to mean. Cash only - no fluff just value and a great cup of coffee here.

Amazing food and Service! I actually suggested to raise the prices since they are veeeery low! Totally recommend it! (Got 2 hamburgers, 1 sandwich, fries, and a pop soda for less than 10 bucks)

Amazing to have this around! Incredible food and humble service. Wish parking was easier but thats city living.

One of a kind spot

i have literally never seen this place open

Great prices and tasty food

A very kind, friendly, and hardworking person served us delicious food at unbeatable prices. Highly recommend the fish and chips as well as floats and milkshakes. It is a family run business that is worth a trip to try. There is limited seating and it is cash only. It closes at 6 Monday to Friday and at 5 on Saturday.

Unforgettably pleasent experience

This place must be protected at all costs! You will not find these kind of prices ANYWHERE!

Decent food for cheap. The lady there was very sweet and accommodating. Had to wait for a bit for my food to arrive but considering there was just her working there its understandable. Very old diner which will take u back to old times.

Great hidden gem and friendly service!

soooooooo good cheap cheap cheap awesome food. Edit: Mon July 4 2022. Still so good love this place glad to see it survived the pandemic

Food

A staple of Toronto. Slow getting the food but it is worth the wait. I return whenever I can.

Food prices from maybe the 80s? Please do not change. The sign the fixtures...nothing. Im glad that this place did not close down during the pandemic and one of these days when Im on eastern, I will have cash with me so I can grab something!

absolute gem

Hotdog, Gingerale and fries for under $5. Not worlds best food but you get more than you would expect. Cake there is delicious.

Such great food prices and service with a smile!

Its cheap anyway! I stopped by because it seemed like it was a filming location for Hairspray, but it was really cheap and really nice! ? Thats what it felt like! It was run by an old lady and had the feel of an old-fashioned coffee shop. Are they famous for their sandwiches? However, the food I wanted to eat was out of stock, so I ended up having an oil sardine sandwich instead. Delicious and warm. Please note that we only accept cash payments!

Completely awesome. Ive enjoyed going to Gails/ Daves for 25 years. The service is kind. The food is delicious and it is always a very enjoyable experience. Thank you very much.

What a great place. Had lunch for two for under $10. Was like my grandma made lunch for me.

I have been supporting this family run business for many years. You always make us feel welcome. We enjoy the vintage feel here. It brings me back down memory lane. The prices are also affordable. I brought my kids here and they continue to come here as adults. It is abit of a wait for the food however it is worth it. Thanks again for your good service over the years.

An absolutely perfect, charming spot. A real gem of the city with delicious milkshakes and food that is just what you want, no fuss. Wonderful experience to visit. If youre in the area, highly recommend.

Oh, certainly a gem as other people said! Let me explain in details, its like a throwback in time. The ambience, the decor, the menu, the food everything feels like going back to a eatery in the 90s. The prices are also low. Definitely go there if you want a vintage like experience!

Love love love, that this is still here!. Im almost 50 and my Grandmother who lived at 56 Carlaw Ave always went here. I remember going there as a kid in the mid 70s when I was at Morse St P.S with her. I think the lettering is still the same too!!! Wow! Heritage site.

The food is good quality etc. But the wait is long. Even if Im the only customer and I order just fries, its at least 20 minute

Amazing prices for great take out food!! What place can match this? You have to look at their menu!

So cheap and so tasty! Love it!

It is a very old school place! Prices are unbelievable! Grabbed an burger an hotdog an fries for 545! Was tasty

Love this place food is excelent service is really friendly prices are exceptional always a friendly smile from patrons &owner check it out you will love it.

Real food at amazing prices. Proprietor is so nice & though small it just takes me back in time. No Styrofoam- sandwiches wrapped in wax paper ... takes me back to a simpler era

French fries and gravy for $2.00

Seems to be closed

Excellent. Snak. Bar. Very Clean great Staff.

You would think they would at least tidy it up a bit

10/10 would recommend!

Cheap food, hated it though

Love this place! Been going here for over 20 years. Eda, the owner and the only one you ll meet is friendly and great to talk to. She keeps the prices low as she wants people to be able to afford to go out. Selflessness. The food is also great.

I dont understand why this place has such high reviews. It was very dirty and grimy. Seatings were old and had huge holes in them, floor tiles were all broken, countertop was greasy and darkened with years of dirt building up. Food was barely tolerable. There were only two good things about this place hence I give two stars. Proces were very cheap and the lady who served us was very nice and friendly. If you are not on a really low budget dont go to this place.

Trip back to the 70s dont expect too much just loads of charm

SUPER CHEAP BUT SHOULD GET A BIT RENOVATED.

I have been coming here with my dad since I was a little girl , my dad also use to go there with his dad when he was a little boy . Now I take my children here ! Lovely owners amazing food and fantastic prices + huge portions. I love it here ! Currently just ordered a clubhouse sandwich

Everything and everyone about this place is amazing. 10 stars.

Stopped here today for the first time after reading online about this place not disappointed in the slightest! Excellent fast service at an unbeatable price, nothing fancy, but for the price you can t beat it! Will be back and will be telling everyone I know!

Never gonna get a better burger for $1.75

Vintage Toronto restaurant that has been around for many years. Family run. We ve been supporting this restaurant for years. Hard-working staff. Very kind as well. Great quality at a very fair price.

The prices are unbelievable and the food is great

Looked cute; sat for 10 minutes and left before having anybody acknowledge our presence

Love David and Edith !! Salt of the Earth.. great food prices from the 70s. A true old-school Diner , with locals. All the food is prepared the same way it has been for 30 years. Go and try it ...not when theyre busy.

Dirt cheap, home style good food! A relic of the past that must be preserved for future generations to witness a pre-instagram friendly dining experience!

Went last saturday with 2others.we all ate the hot chicken plates and drinks.it ended up being 18.00 dollars and it was awesome.also the lady working there was very friendly.would highly recomend this place

Inexpensive and decent food

Should be taken down years ago

Best place for fish and chips. Prices and nice. Old time place.

I give it 5, not 1, stars

Lunch for two $15 including tip. Not fast if its busy. Good food, at the price. Coffee and tea $1. Most sandwiches $2. Fries $1.75. its an old business and I hope it never changes.

Very nice place and excellent sandwiches.

Tiny, old, and cheaper than cheap. TorontoLife tagged Gales as a best+cheap joint: It has to be seen to be appreciated. There are combo plates here from $2.75. really.

Something different give it ago..

FANTASTICA !!! How can you not love a place that serves a hot chicken sandwich for 4.75

Tiny spot, but pretty damn cheap and great portions! Gale is very sweet, too.

Historic

Pretty grimy old greasy spoon, with tiles missing from the floor, cracked seats, and a pile of dirty dishes at the end of the counter. Food is very basic - white wonderbread sandwiches. The plus is that everything is insanely cheap and reasonably priced for what it is. Service is incredibly slow, with only one person working the entire place (she was too busy to make me a milkshake when I went). On the bright side, the server is really friendly and professional. Go if you have a soft spot for authentic vintage diners, skip if cleanliness or fast service are your priorities.

Prices from the 80, super friendly.

YOU CAN GO BACK IN TIME! Just stop in here....super low prices and looks the way it did when it opened in 1943. Food is ok...but slow.

Very cheap and portions are good too

Always good at it Gales. The price is right for sure!

Good food, good service and reasonable prices

I had the pleasure of getting lunch here this afternoon for my wife and I. This spot is the definition of a greasy spoon diner, but maybe thats what made our lunch so great. I ordered us 5 burgers plus fries and gravy and the whole order was under $12! The burgers while being small were incredibly flavorful and were clearly made with love. It did take a a little while to get my order but the entire place is run by one lady so it definitely wouldnt hurt to call ahead to place your order for pickup. I will definitely eat here again when Im in the area next!

Online its says its open at 10am. Showed up at 11am and theres a sign saying closed untill noon. Kind of disappointed since I heard great things about it this place and wanted to try it out

Lunch with coffee for two came to $10.75.

Such a great place to get some really good food at a decent price. A little hidden gem, amazing owner and fantastic old fashion place. Its not a fancy place by any means... But that seems to be the special part about it. They have left it the same, ever since it opened back in the late 70s or 80s. But you get more then you pay for and the owner is so nice. Her homemade soup is so good and the fish is home battered and everything is home made. Like I said... A tucked away, hidden gem.

Just one bar you all gotta share.

A real neighborhood gem - always good service, decent food for the price and a very quirky cool setting.

Eda, the current owner, runs the place like a charm. A true gem of old Toronto.

Good food at great prices and a trip back in time.

So the reason for a 5 is simple. Nowhere in this city will get you a lunch this decent for this price. Dont go in a hurry though, meals tend to take a while to come out.

Filling and Cheap

I love this place Ive been coming here for 40 years always been owned by the same family and the food is always good for a really good price

Definitely not some fun retro place, it just seems cramped and run down, and likely violating a lot of health code standards. Interior and counters are dirty, my sandwich had a hair in it, ugh!

Cockroaches

Best prices in town!!

Fantastic place with great food. You may have to wait to a little but its worth it!

On paper a cute nostagic retro kitchen counter But seriously bad food served really slow and the place is so gross i cringe just . Well i cringed

Great place to eat! The food was super cheap and very yummy. If you want that classic sandwich your mom or grandma would make you for lunch then this is the place to go. Dont let the super cheap prices scare you because the food is great. Its not trying to be anything fancy, its just 2 pieces of bread with classic sandwich toppings and non-processed meats. The interior is quite small only 3 booths and a few bar stools but is great for a quick stop. CASH ONLY, but if you dont have cash there are some ATMs nearby.

Cheap $$

I love this homey place. The owner is sweet, kind, personable & easygoing. It is close to me & the prices are perfect. The portions are hearty too. I highly recommend this place.

Feels like I go back in time 30+ years. The food tastes like back in the day yummy home cooked lunches and the prices are extremely low like how they were 30+ years ago. I guess inflation misses this spot in the early 1980s.

Best kept secret!

Saw this place online and really wanted to check it out because of the old look and the insanely cheap prices. I went in with pretty low expectations. I was amazed with overall how great this place is. Food was very very good with generous portions, service was quick, and the waitress was very friendly. Got a sandwich, fries, and a drink for under $5! Thats unheard of in 2018. My only complaint is in regards to cleanliness. Place was quite dusty, had rusty equipment, cracked floor tiles, and ripped seats. With all that being said, given the price and quality of the food, you really cant complain. I ll be back for sure.

Excellent everything

Cheap comfort food. Completely authentic old school diner with prices that havent changed for decades! A but rundown but thats part of the experience.

A East end gem! Dont expect anything fancy or even the.tiles to be stuck on the floor. Do expect an East end experience where two meals wont be over $10

For what it is, this place is 5 stars. The prices are ridiculously cheap and the food is surprisingly pretty great. The sandwiches are simple but good, the fries are good and the homemade pies can t be beat for $1.50 with ice cream. The lady running the place is super nice as well and I feel like I want to tip about 30% at this place just because you get about 4 dishes and enough food for two people for around $10. Definitely full of local regulars and the service is definitely slow but it s all part of the experience. Cool place; don t think I d come too often but every once in a while is cool.

The prices are unbeatable! The food.. Well.. I might have used a different bread and cheese.. But then again.. It was so cheap, and I didnt have to make it myself.. I liked it as a fun experience, but even though it was cheap, the food and the worn down interior made it a one-time-only experience.. But one thing is for sure, its an experience Ill NEVER forget.. And a great story for the future :)

Awesome prices!