Marathon Donut and Coffee

What is Marathon Donut and Coffee? Operating at 3300 Midland Avenue (Unit 32) within the Midland Finch Plaza in Scarborough, Marathon Donut and Coffee (widely known as Marathon Tea) is a hallowed landmark in Toronto's Chinese culinary scene. Despite its vintage donut-shop moniker, the venue is internationally celebrated as the gold standard for authentic Hong Kong milk tea in North America. The unassuming strip mall shop hums with early-morning energy, filled with longtime regulars reading Chinese dailies over steaming mugs and fresh pastries straight from the oven.

Marathon Donut and Coffee Menu & What to Order The undisputed cornerstone of Marathon is its silk stocking milk tea, brewed using traditional copper kettles and multi-stage straining techniques that yield deep malt complexity and a signature silken mouthfeel; many patrons take away chilled multi-liter bottles to enjoy at home. Pair your tea with a freshly baked Bolo Yau—a warm, sweet-crusted pineapple bun sliced and stuffed with a thick slab of cold salted butter. Breakfast traditionalists order the comforting Satay Beef Macaroni Soup topped with a sunny-side-up egg and buttery toast, while midday diners enjoy pan-fried pork chop buns, sizzling lemongrass pork chop noodles, or thick-cut Hong Kong French toast slathered with creamy peanut butter and golden syrup.

Know Before You Go The cafe opens early at 6:00 a.m. every morning and remains open until 9:00 p.m., catering to dawn commuters, breakfast crowds, and evening snack seekers alike. Strip plaza parking is free and plentiful directly in front of the unit. The 57 Midland and 39 Finch bus routes stop directly adjacent to the plaza. Note that cash or debit are the most practical payment methods, and expect weekend morning line-ups for both dine-in booths and fresh bottled milk tea pickups.