Eats Toronto: A Roundup

20 cafes/restaurants in just 31 days. Amazing thing was, with all this dining out, I still managed to lose the 5 pounds I gained during the holidays in Manila. It must have been all the walking I did as a tourist in Toronto...and, with a dining companion who had turned completely vegetarian, these binges naturally did not include pork.

1. The Ethiopian House (in photo). Top of our list! Interesting decor, casual atmosphere and a helpful waiter who took time to explain every item in the menu. VERY generous servings of the injera bread, like we have the stomachs of a cow. I felt quite bad not finishing all that - catholic guilt about starving children in Ethiopia! 4 Irwin Avenue, +416-923-5438.

2. Magic Oven Handcrafted Pizza & Pasta on 788 Broadview (+416-466-0111). A gracious host even at age 5, Rama took me to her fav pizza place and did the ordering. (She knows her pizzas). For me, she chose one with fresh, green, healthy toppings. It was delish! Thin but chewy crust, oven-hot! There are only 3 branches in Toronto.

3. Tied for 3rd place are Golden Turtle Pho Restaurant on 125 Ossington and Hanoi Mooncakes and Restaurant on 1283 Queen Street W (+416-538-4963).

We sought out the Golden Turtle to try its pho, which food writers had recently voted to be the best. But just on Queen Street W, which we always passed going downtown, there's also this homey Viet restaurant, Hanoi, that served pho and Cha Ca (the same fish dish I so loved in Hanoi, Vietnam). Personally, I preferred Hanoi's pho over that of Golden Turtle. But don't even bother with their Cha Ca, if you've had the original in Vietnam. This restaurant, however, is famous for their mooncakes - good! good! good!

4. Beaver Cafe. Brunch place by day, gay women's hangout by night (or so we heard). Hefty fare but don't expect great service. Undermanned, harrassed staff. But do drop by for your daily supply of Fred's artisanal bread. 1192 Queen Street West, +416-537-2768.

5. Cafe 668. Chinese vegetarian fare (is that at all possible?) but even the carnivorous - me! me! me! - will leave happy. Good, clean, cozy ambiance. 885 Dundas Street West, +416-703-0668.

Good reviews also made us check out the following: Fare Bistro in Leslieville, 1097 Queen Street E: Frenchy, but no fireworks; Cowbell on 1564 Queen Street W: I felt there's no love in this place; Sassafras in Yorkville: people say we shouldn't leave Toronto without trying this uber-posh restaurant; unfortunately, we went there for the Winterlicious Festival and realized that wasn't the best time to experience their best in food and service.

Filipino food? There's Butchukoy on 1311 King Street West. No Cendrillon here, just your typical Pinoy turo-turo. Dropped in for a pork fix: Pata Humba and chicharon. +416-516-9564.