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Experience The Best Of Toronto With These 10 Attractions (Halal Food Nearby!)

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Fatehah •  Jan 30, 2017

Big names such as Drake and Jim Carrey hail from Toronto, and though it's barely 2 hours away from New York, not many might know of this bustling city - and that's a shame! Especially when Toronto offers a plethora of attractions and even halal food for Muslim travelers. I'm not one to fancy city life, but the fact that Toronto offers a good mix of the city and country - it's truly the perfect place to be☺️

Credit: giphy

In case you've never heard of Toronto, here are 10 reasons why you should visit this city at once ✈️

#HHWT Tip: Plan your time well when exploring Toronto. Take note of the opening and closing time of the places, especially on Sundays as it's marked as their 'family days'.

1. CN Tower

Overlooking the city of Toronto, the CN Tower stands at 553m tall and is one of the most symbolic landmarks of Toronto! It offers you amazing views of the whole city, and there is even a section in the tower which has a glass floor. You can truly see yourself on top of the world here?

If being on the inside is not good enough for you, talk a walk outside instead. That's right! On the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant, at 356m above the ground. The tower offers Toronto's tallest extreme urban adventure where you will enjoy a 1.5 hour experience with a 20-30 minutes outdoor walk. Toronto can't get anymore stunning than this?

Credit: @davidsandoval89 on Instagram

Address: 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6

Opening Hours: 9am to 10.30pm daily

Ticket prices: Senior (65+) $30.00, Adult (13-64) $35.00, Child (4-12) $25.00

Nearest subway station: Union Station

Halal Food Near CN Tower

Baba Geddo

Tacos, shawarma and falafel are just some of Baba Geddo's specialities! Sink your teeth into the tender meat of the tacos, which makes the perfect companion to the crunchy nachos - all nicely wrapped. The best part of this establishment serving Egyptian food is that it has a full halal menu and is alcohol free!

Credit: @impulsivityapp on Instagram

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address: 69 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2C5

How to get there:15mins walk from CN Tower

Opening times: 11.00am to 10.00pm daily

2. Yonge-Dundas Square

Akin to Singapore's Orchard Road, this is the place to go for shopping in Toronto! Toronto Eaton Centre is the biggest shopping mall in the city and if that is still not enough, there are malls surrounding the Centre too.

Credit: Kat Northern Lights Man on Flickr 

There are many international and familiar brands there, and all at a cheaper price because many of these brands originate from America. Apart from these, some must-visit stores unique to the region include Nordstrom, J Crew, Ardene (really cheap and products are of decent quality), the Disney Store and Indigo (they have really amazing products and books)! And in case you're looking for brands such as Kate Spade, they are located at the top floor of Eaton Centre.

Credit: @haseef.a on Instagram

Address: 220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1

Opening hours: (Monday to Friday) 10am to 9.30pm, (Saturday) 9.30am to 9.30pm, (Sunday) 10am to 7pm

Nearest subway station: Dundas Station

Halal Food Near Yonge-Dundas Square

The Halal Guys 

While I was in Canada, the only place I could try this renowned food chain was when I crossed over to New York. But there's no need for that anymore as The Halal Guys opened a Canada outlet in downtown Toronto last year!

Credit: The Halal Guys (Toronto, Ontario) on Facebook

Try the chicken or beef rice platters, or if you're looking for something a tad lighter, choose their wrap. One thing's for sure - their signature white sauce is a must-try?

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address: 563 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z2, Canada

How to get there: 3mins walk from Yonge-Dundas Square

Opening times: 11.00am to 10.00pm daily

3. Casa Loma

Experience the grandeur Toronto has to offer at Casa Loma! This castle has 5 acres of garden, 98 rooms, secret passageways, stables and - wait for it - an underground tunnel of its own ? If you've always wanted to experience a tinge of royalty, this is the place for you.

Credit: @casalomatoronto on Instagram

Considering how the land surrounding the castle is as beautiful as the interior of it, you would definitely have to take your time in roaming around that much space!

P.S. Remember to take many photos to remind yourself of the few hours you've spent as someone of a royal descent?

Credit: [bastian.] on Flickr

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8

Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5pm daily

Ticket prices: Adults (18-59) $25, Seniors (60+) and Youths (14-17) $20, Children (4-13) $15, Children (under 3) free admission

Nearest subway station: St Clair Station

Halal Food Near Casa Loma

Steak and Cheese Factory

Poutine is one of Canada's local dish, and it's really delicious (I mean, i ate it at least once a week...) But this restaurant takes it a notch higher by adding steak and eggs to the cheese curds and brown gravy normally found in poutine. Yum! ?

Credit: @steakandcheesefactorytoronto on Instagram

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address: 50 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5B 1J6

How to get there: Take a straight bus 97, 98 or 320 from Yonge St at Balmoral Ave, alight at Yonge St at College Park

Opening times: (Mondays to Saturdays) 11am to 9pm, (Sundays) 11.30am to 9pm

4. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

The name 'Ripley' itself is synonymous with astounding, and truly this aquarium is bound to amaze you with nine different galleries of marine life, and some 16,000 marine animals! This is one place which will really make you feel like you're in the sea - without getting wet. Perfect for those who are afraid of getting wet☺️

Credit: Chimpr on Flickr

Unlike many other aquariums which does not offer visitors any activities other than to view their marine life, Ripley's Aquarium has a myriad of activities for visitors to wholly immerse themselves in the experience. One of such activities is the stingray experience, where you can get up close and personal to stingrays (under safe conditions, of course!)

Credit: @ripleysaquaca on Instagram

Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9

Opening Hours: (Sat to Wed) 9am to 11pm, (Thurs - Fri) 9am to 6pm

Ticket prices: Seniors (65+) and Youths (6-13) $17.98, Adult $27.98, Child (3-5) $6.98

Nearest subway station: Union Station

Halal Food Near Ripley's Aquarium

Burger Factory

Apart from their amazing burgers and tornado fries, try one of the desserts only available in Canada, funnel cakes! It tastes best when topped with ice cream, powdered sugar and drizzled with chocolate sauce ?

Credit: @halalfoodie on Instagram

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address:  265 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4

How to get there:15mins walk from the Aquarium

Opening times: (Mon to Wed) 11am to 11pm, (Thurs to Sat) 11am to 1am, (Sun) 11am to 10pm

5. Hockey Hall of Fame

You can't say you've experienced true Canadian spirit without going for at least one of their ice hockey matches. It's almost like watching the NBA - live! And it's not just the game which would amaze you. The cheers of the audience, coupled with the entire ambience of the hall will leave you with an experience to remember.

Credit: @danitalari on Instagram

If you're not a fan of ice hockey, you don't have to sit through a whole game. The good news is, you can still experience the wonders of ice hockey at your own time - in an entire building dedicated to hockey! In there is a hockey museum as well as a one-stop shop for everything hockey?

Credit: @mexxwellington on Instagram

Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8

Opening Hours: (Mon to Fri) 10am to 5pm, (Sat) 9.30am to 6pm, (Sun) 10.30am to 5pm

Nearest subway station: King Station

Halal Food Near Hockey Hall Of Fame

Sukhothai

Now, this is not just any thai food. This is the best halal thai food in Toronto. I've lost count of the number of times I've eaten there ? Be sure to taste some of Sukhothai's unique dishes such as Panang Salmon!

Credit: @sukhothaifood on Instagram

Note: This establishment serves alcohol so dine at your own discretion.

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address:  52 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C7

How to get there:4mins walk from the Hockey Hall of Fame

Opening times: (Mon to Fri) 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10pm, (Sat to Sun) 5pm to 10pm

6. Canada's Wonderland

Acres and acres of fun await you at Canada's Wonderland! Scream your heart out on the roller coaster, but make sure you open your eyes to witness the stunning view surrounding you. With both the dry park and wet park for you to play in, it's a must to dedicate at least an entire day to this attraction ?

Credit: @canadaswonderland on Instagram

Address: 1 Canada's Wonderland Drive, Vaughan, ON L6A 1S6

Opening Hours: Varies according to season. Check out the schedule before visiting

Nearest subway station: Nil. Take GO Transit Route 60 instead.

Halal Food Near Canada's Wonderland

Teriyaki Experience

Located in the Wonderland itself, this restaurant serves Japanese food - in particular, sushi! One would not expect halal sushi in Western countries, but Canada never falls short of halal cuisine. All chicken and beef items served here are halal ☺️

Credit: @teriyakiexperience on Instagram

7. Toronto Island

If you need a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of city life in Toronto, hop on a boat and you'll reach almost a whole new world in a matter of minutes! Even if you don't, this place is still worth a visit - especially when it offers such spectacular views of Toronto for a cheap price?

One of the best parts of the island, apart from its beaches, is its amusement park! I really loved the old-school feel the park had. Children are bound to love this park too!

Credit: Norman Maddeaux on Flickr 

Also nestled in the heart of the island are boat houses which make for a pretty cool sight. I mean, it's not everyday you get to see boat houses up close. And if you're lucky, you might even see people building their own boat houses!

Credit: Tomatoes From Canada

How to get there: 8mins walk from Union Station, take the ferry. Check out the ferry schedule to plan your trip

Ferry rates: (Adult) $7.50, Students (15-19) and Seniors (65+) $5, Juniors (2-14) $3.65

There is no halal food on this island so if you're planning to stay the entire day (which you should!), it would be best to pack some food and have a nice picnic on the island.

8. Chinatown

This might not be the most aesthetically appealing place in Toronto, but it's appeal is in a different sense. This is the place to go to for cheap souvenirs! I think I bought most of my souvenirs here? And for Asians living in Canada, this is the place to go for Asian supermarkets and cheaper groceries!

Credit: @maritzamurcia on Instagram

How to get there: Alight at Dundas Station. Take bus 505 to Chinatown.

Halal Food Near Chinatown

The Burgernator

This restaurant lies in the Chinatown district and offers an eclectic array of burgers! To top off the amazing menu, the restaurant is owned by a really friendly Muslim☺️

Credit: @tburgernator on Instagram

Halal status: Muslim-owned

Address:  269 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2M1

How to get there: 11mins walk around Chinatown

Opening times: (Mon to Sat) 11am to 10pm, (Sun) 11am to 8pm

9. Kensington Market

Located a stone's throw away from Chinatown is Toronto's 'hipster' spot. Here, you will find many thrift shops and buildings decorated with cool-looking graffiti! This place is like the Western version of Singapore's Arab Street ?

How to get there: Alight at Dundas Station. Take bus 505 to Kensington Market.

Halal Food Near Kensington Market

The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles 

You might walk past this restaurant while you're in Kensington Market! The restaurant has a full-halal menu, serving amazing waffles among many other food items. And unlike great waffles which come with ice cream, this one tastes even better when topped with chicken and drizzled with sauce ?

Credit: @dirtybirdto on Instagram

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address: 79 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K2

Opening Hours: (Sun to Thurs) 11am to 8pm, (Fri to Sat) 11am to 10pm

10. Royal Ontario Museum

If you think the Art Science Museum in Singapore looks 'different', you must have not seen the Royal Ontario Museum. Now, this is unique.

Credit: Open Grid Scheduler on Flickr 

It has many exhibits but one of the main stars of the museum is the dinosaur exhibit! Go back in time as you see the dinosaurs up close and learn more about them. And of course, be sure to snap many pictures while you're at it☺️

Credit: @rojalaw on Instagram

Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6

Opening Hours: 10am to 5.30pm daily

Nearest subway station: St George Station

Halal Food Near Ontario Museum

Paramount Fine Foods

It's hard to find establishments which are halal-certified, as many of them are either Muslim-owned or have a halal menu. But this restaurant right here, is truly a gem! It serves one of the best halal food in the city and the ambience of the restaurant is perfect to bring your other half, or even family to dine. Each of their main course comes with a basket of homemade pita bread, straight from their wood-burning oven. I must say, sometimes I go just for the bread because it's that good ?

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Credit: @paramountfinefoodsofficial on Instagram

Halal status: Halal-certified

Address: 1250 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5R 2B1

How to get there:8mins walk from the Museum

Opening times: (Sundays to Thursdays) 8am to 10pm, (Fridays to Saturdays) 8am to 11 pm

BONUS: Toronto Botanical Gardens

Many of you might be thinking "uh..a botanical gardens? I have that back home." But don't dismiss this Garden just yet! This is one of Toronto's hidden gems, and is especially gorgeous during fall (September to early December).

Nature is your best friend here - and your natural backdrop for stunning photos. Lay down on a pile of leaves, or sit on the logs around the Garden. This garden is definitely worth a visit during fall!

Address: 777 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3C 1P2

Opening Hours: (Mon to Fri) 9am to 5pm, (Sat to Sun) 10am to 5pm

Nearest subway station: Eglington Station. Take bus 54, 320 or 354 to the Gardens.

Halal Food Near Toronto Botanical Gardens

Pizza Land Halal Restaurant

Though the name of this restaurant is alluded to pizzas, the star of their menu is their wings! Dipped in BBQ or honey sauce, the chicken here is often raved about. The entire establishment is halal?

Credit: @hungryhiba on Instagram

Halal status: Halal meat available

Address:  1801 Lawrence Ave E #4, Scarborough, ON M1R 2X7

How to get there: Take bus 54, 320 or 354 to Pizzaland (12mins ride)

Opening times: (Mon, Wed, Thurs) 11am to 10pm, (Fri) 11am to 11pm, (Sat) 12pm to 11pm, (Sun) 12pm to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

If you're going to Toronto for only a few days, I would recommend buying the Toronto City Pass to save money on attractions. The booklet you get will also contain many tips for visiting the different attractions! I'm sure you would find Toronto to be as amazing a place as I did☺️