Taste of Alley

What is Taste of Alley? Perched along Dundas West on the lively border where Kensington Market meets Chinatown, Taste of Alley is a stripped-back storefront catering to cravings for authentic Sichuan street fare. The casual room zeroes in on personal-sized spicy mini hotpot bowls and seasoned skewers flash-fried to order. Seating is purely utilitarian and casual, built for quick-turnaround slurping rather than drawn-out formal dinners.

Taste of Alley Menu & What to Order Mini hotpot is the main event here, where bubbling bowls like the Szechuan Spicy Hotpot W/ Beef or Sliced Lamb Roll arrive loaded with lotus root, tofu skin, and greens swimming in a fiery, numbing mala broth. Balance the broth's heavy peppercorn heat with fried street snacks, especially the cumin-dusted Signature Chicken Skewers and the crunch-heavy Fried Crispy Bone Pork Chop Tips. The Signature Beef Crispy Burger also makes an unconventional but deeply satisfying pairing for diners wanting extra starch and texture.

Know Before You Go Service is strictly walk-in, and the compact dining room fills quickly during evening rushes with local students and night owls. The kitchen stays open until 11:45 p.m. six nights a week, taking a scheduled pause on Wednesdays. Skip driving Dundas Street West and hop on the 505 Dundas streetcar, which drops you steps from the front door.