Lunch Lady
This issue’s Hot Spot is a cool new restaurant in Toronto.
A fresh take on what Anthony Bourdain called “one of the best meals of his life” is now available in Toronto, by way of Vietnam and Vancouver. Lunch Lady, first opened on the West Coast, is named for culinary legend Nguyen Thi Thanh. Thanh was better known as Lunch Lady, the moniker given to her by Bourdain, who raved about the soups at her Ho Chi Minh City food stall. Sadly, she passed away earlier this year. But her legacy lives on. Lunch Lady co-owners Michael Tran and Benedict Lim worked with Thanh to perfect their dual-concept approach. The lunch menu is focused around Thanh’s rotating daily noodle soup specials, and features modern takes on classic Vietnamese comfort dishes. The dinner menu offers elevated Saigonese street food, meant to be shared “ăn chơi” (or family style). The two menus offer distinctly different experiences — both available at their new Ossington St. location.
(Clockwise from right) This image of the founder and “Lunch Lady” herself hangs inside the restaurant to honour her legacy; the semi-private Rickshaw Lounge — the design inspiration comes from Xích Lô, or “Cyclo”, which are the hand-pulled rickshaws of old Vietnam; the lunch menu-exclusive Cơm Gà Nướng — or Char-Grilled Lemongrass Chicken on Rice; for dinner, Steak Luc Lac with Cassava Fries.| PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LUNCH LADY
This image of the founder and “Lunch Lady” herself hangs inside the restaurant to honour her legacy. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF LUNCH LADY
Lunch Lady
This issue’s Hot Spot is a cool new restaurant in Toronto.
A fresh take on what Anthony Bourdain called “one of the best meals of his life” is now available in Toronto, by way of Vietnam and Vancouver. Lunch Lady, first opened on the West Coast, is named for culinary legend Nguyen Thi Thanh. Thanh is better known as Lunch Lady, the moniker given to her by Bourdain, who raved about the soups at her Ho Chi Minh City food stall. Sadly, she passed away earlier this year. But her legacy lives on. Lunch Lady co-owners Michael Tran and Benedict Lim worked with Thanh to perfect their dual-concept approach. The lunch menu is focused around Thanh’s rotating daily noodle soup specials, and features modern takes on classic Vietnamese comfort dishes. The dinner menu offers elevated Saigonese street food, meant to be shared “ăn chơi” (or family style). The two menus offer distinctly different experiences — both available at their new Ossington St. location.
The dinner menu-exclusive Steak Luc Lac with Cassava Fries; for lunch, Cơm Gà Nướng — or Char-Grilled Lemongrass Chicken on Rice; the semi-private Rickshaw Lounge — the design inspiration comes from Xích Lô, or “Cyclo”, which are the hand-pulled rickshaws of old Vietnam. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LUNCH LADY