Our Top 5 Must Try Lunch Spots This September

Let’s be honest. Nobody really looks forward to a sad desk salad or digging out a crushed granola bar between meetings. Whether your day is packed with calls or you’re hopping between workstations, having a reliable lunch spot for a proper meal isn’t just a nice-to-have… It actually matters.

A good lunch can be the difference between powering through your afternoon or mentally checking out by 2 p.m. When you’re well-fed, you’re not just full. You’re refreshed, focused, and maybe even a little inspired after the nourishing break. To help you feel your best (and look forward to your next lunch break), we’ve rounded up a few local spots near Workhaus that are totally worth stepping out for. Independently owned, consistently solid, and way better than whatever’s hiding in your desk drawer.

Brasa Peruvian Kitchen

📍 First Canadian Place, 2114 Bloor Street West, and 315 Queen Street West
🏢 Near our 212 King St W, 215 Spadina Ave & 181 University Ave locations
🎉 Exclusive offer for our Workhaus members, ask your community lead or look out for posters around your location.

Brasa started with Toronto’s Michel Falcon who brought the flavours of his Peruvian roots — street food and home cooking — to life. It’s a great pick if you want something quick, healthy, and actually filling. Their bowls are loaded with slow-roasted meats, aji verde, warm grains, and fresh Ontario produce. No sad toppings here.

The food is simple and full of flavour, giving you the kind of lunch that keeps you going without slowing you down. Try the Chifa Braised Beef with short rib, seasoned rice, sweet drop peppers, and their rocoto lime dressing. It’s a solid choice.

Market Street Catch

📍 14 Market Street (St. Lawrence Market) and 100 Yonge Street (Scotia Plaza)
🏢 Near our 212 King St W, 1 Adelaide St E & 181 University Ave locations

Market Street Catch is the sister spot to Buster’s Sea Cove, a St. Lawrence Market favourite for years. Since 2014, they’ve been serving fresh seafood in a fast-casual setting that makes a perfect spot for a lunch break. Whether you’re near the market or downtown, their menu has you covered — fish fry, grilled salmon, lobster rolls, poke bowls — all made to order, generous portions, and consistently good.

Try their Fish Fry. You get to choose from halibut, crab cakes, coconut shrimp, and more. Each comes with fries and your choice of coleslaw or salad. And if seafood isn’t really your thing (same here), they’ve got great non-seafood options too, like the 10-ounce sirloin steak with frites.

Marquin Venezuelan Delights

📍 100 King Street West
🏢 Near our 212 King St W, 1 Adelaide St E & 181 University Ave locations

Marquin is a family-run Venezuelan spot that’s all about sharing authentic flavours made with wholesome, natural ingredients. It opened in early 2023, built on recipes passed down through grandma’s kitchen. Since then, it’s become the go-to spot in the PATH for fresh, feel-good Venezuelan food.

Everything feels homemade in the best way. Their arepas are crispy on the outside and soft inside, stuffed with shredded beef and plantains or the creamy reina pepiada. They also serve golden, cheese-filled empanadas along with fresh juices and a strong coffee.

What to try: We recommend the reina pepiada arepa or a couple of empanadas with juice — perfect when you need a proper pause during a packed day.

Touch Indian Cuisine

📍 145 King Street West (PATH – First Canadian Place)
🏢 Near our 212 King St W, 1 Adelaide St E & 181 University Ave locations

This lunch spot is easy to miss but definitely worth seeking out. Hidden in the PATH, Touch Indian Cuisine is serving some of the most comforting Indian meals downtown. It’s been called the PATH’s best-kept secret by food writer Suresh Doss, and once you try it, you’ll understand why.

The food is warm, filling, and tastes like it came straight from someone’s home kitchen. Expect rotating daily specials like butter chicken, chickpea curry, and saag, all served with rice and fresh naan.

What to try: The daily combo plate with one meat and two veg — flavourful, generous, and super satisfying.

Porchetta & Co.

📍 Multiple downtown locations (including near King & Spadina)
🏢 Near our 212 King St W & 215 Spadina Ave locations

This spot has been a local favourite since 2010, thanks to chef Nick Auf Der Mauer’s love for sandwiches done right. Porchetta & Co. is known for their slow-roasted porchetta, crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, but their fried chicken is just as popular.

Each sandwich is built with care — soft buns, bold sauces, and meats packed with flavour. It’s quick, it’s hearty, and perfect when you need something that actually hits the spot.

What to try: The classic Porchetta with truffle sauce or the Fried Chicken Sandwich with hot honey. Definitely not your average desk lunch.

Help Us Find Our Next Favorite Lunch Spot

Thanks for reading! We hope you get the chance to check out one (or all) of these local gems soon. If you’ve got a favourite lunch spot we missed, we’d love to hear about it — tag us @workhauslife and let us know what keeps you going at lunch. Happy eating!