Supermarkets

Canadians call them "grocery stores". There's no bad options, but there are a range of price points. You can probably find some bargains and some rip-offs in any of these stores, so double-check the price tag on anything.

All Canadian grocery stores will have great vegan options. The food labelling in Canada is worse than Europe - they don't label things as "suitable for vegetarians" as a matter of course, so expect to read more labels than you're used to. Vegan-specific products are starting to be labelled more, though.

Ontario has restrictive licensing laws, which means most supermarkets don't stock alcohol. The few that do must sell Canadian products - so you'll find lots of good beers, but less inspiring wines. There's no spirits available. For alcohol you should head to the LCBO or Beer Store, both of which are official government outlets and sell all the usual brands.

  • Your cheapest options will probably be No Frills and FreshCo. I like FreshCo more, but often shop at No Frills too. I've never seen one which stocks alcohol.
  • Metro is a mid-market option. It's a bit glossier than No Frills and FreshCo, and often sells some alcohol.
  • Loblaws, Sobeys, and Farm Boy are just a smidge fancier than Metro, roughly equivalent to a Waitrose. You'll find the occasional bargain but you could get a cheaper shop elsewhere.

Some less common options include:

  • T&T Supermarket tends to be outside of Toronto, but there's a downtown location on College Street. This is more of an Asian grocer (though owned by Loblaws). You'll often find cheap produce here, as well as a wide range of Asian snacks and staples.
  • There are a few Independent CityMarket places downtown, which is - weirdly - a Loblaw's franchise. These tend to be pricey, but if you just need a snack or one or two ingredients it's not too bad.
  • Longo's is also on the pricier end of the market.

In a pinch, most Rexalls and Shopper's Drug Marts sell some food and fresh items. I would never do my main grocery shop here - it's expensive and doesn't have a wide selection - but if you just need a couple of items it's fine.