Checking out the Scadding Court Toronto street food experiment!

Although it has been around for three years now, altogether too few Torontonians have discovered the city's quirky and delightful experiment in creating a street food scene, Market 707, which is located in the heart of the city, at Bathurst and Dundas, just outside the Scadding Court Community Centre.

The market came about after the Community Centre's directors worked with local City Councillor Adam Vaughan to get it going and to add some flavour and ambiance to the intersection. Vendors are able to open at remarkably affordable start up costs by restaurant industry standards. 

Borrowing an idea tried in several other cities internationally, the food vendors are set up in re-purposed shipping containers, giving the market a really cool look and ambiance. There are tables along the road or you can retire with your food to the park just behind the Community Centre.  There is also a bicycle repair shop out of one of the containers, as well as two other non food vendors.

Reflecting the city's multicultural nature, everything from Japanese to Filipino to gourmet Mac and Cheese is available and all at very affordable prices.

Indeed many dishes are only a couple of dollars each and are truly street food sized, allowing you to try different things from different vendors in a single visit.


I went with my kids late one weekday afternoon. First we got Fried  Squid Balls from Kim A La Cart, a Korean food outlet (they also have a food cart at Yonge and Finch). These were perfectly cooked and presented on skewers. We got two orders of four balls each, one with a terrific mild and sweet sauce and the other with a very flavourful, slightly spicy sauce. At $2.00 an order for four pieces, the price for this snack is hard to beat.


We also tried  an order of Turon, dessert-style Banana Spring Rolls from Kanto, which specializes in Filipino food. These were crispy and delicious and also quite inexpensive at 6 rolls for $2.00.

There are plans to possibly expand the market as well as to add new seating and a patio. You can follow developments on the market's Facebook page. 

So next time you are downtown or visitng the city, be sure to make the trip. It is well worth it.

Market 707 is located at 707 Dundas St. W. at Dundas & Bathurst in Toronto. Its official website is  http://www.scaddingcourt.org/market_707