PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN 

WHEN IT COMES TO DINING OUT IN THE REGION, WE’RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE USUAL SUSPECTS. YOU KNOW THE ONES: THOSE HIP AND SHINY CULINARY DESTINATIONS THAT ARE BUSY SLINGING JUICY SMASH BURGERS, OR SERVING KILLER TRUCKER FRIES, OR SMOKING PHENOMENAL BARBECUE, OR WOOD-FIRING PIZZAS – ALL PAIRED WITH THE LATEST CRAFT BEER RELEASE, OR FUNKIEST CIDER, OR FLASHIEST COCKTAIL. THESE ARE OUR REGION’S BASTIONS OF CULINARY COOL, TRAILBLAZERS OF GOOD TASTE, MECCAS OF INSTAGRAMABLE DELIGHT. 

WE’RE BIG FANS, TO BE SURE. AND, JUDGING BY THE READING MATERIAL YOU’RE CLUTCHING IN YOUR MITTS, YOU PROBABLY ARE TOO. WHILE THERE’S CERTAINLY COMFORT AND JOY IN THE FAMILIAR, THERE’S A CERTAIN TITILLATING DELIGHT IN EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY TOO – OF THOSE ‘AROUND THE CORNER’ SPOTS, ‘HOLE IN THE WALL’ MARVELS, ‘BLINK AND YOU’LL MISS IT’ GEMS. 

WITH THIS IN MIND, IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE TOQUE TEAM WENT SEARCHING IN DOWNTOWN KITCHENER FOR A HANDFUL OF FOOD SPOTS THAT EXIST (AND SUCCEED) BEYOND THE FAMILIAR – #DTK’S UNCUT GEMS. 

A HASTY MARKET WITH A FULL-SERVICE SHAWARMA BUFFET. A WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE WITH A FANTASTIC KABAB SPOT TUCKED IN THE BACK. A NON- DESCRIPT STOREFRONT SERVING KILLER BANH MI SANDWICHES. A BARE BONES SUSHI SPOT WITH A ‘BY THE PIECE’ À LA CARTE MENU. A RE-PURPOSED RESIDENTIAL HOME SLINGING MOUTH-WATERING BIRRIA TACOS. ALL FANTASTIC. ALL WORTH A VISIT – AND A TASTE. 

JOIN US FOR A TOUR. 

THE HUMBLE LOTUS 

388 KING ST E, UNIT B, KITCHENER HUMBLELOTUS.CA 

À la carte Dragon Roll Piece, Salmon Lovers Dream Roll Piece, Tequila Sunrise Roll Piece, Shrimp Tempura Roll Piece, Sir Loxley Roll Piece, Buddha Roll Piece, Camp Fire Roll Piece & Florida Roll Piece. Paired with Full Moon Spring Rolls (w/ blue plum & ouzo sauce) and a strawberry basil soda 

 BANH MI GIVRAL DELI 

210 KING ST E, KITCHENER 519-743-5558 

Spicy Chicken Satay Banh Mi Sandwich & two steam buns. Served with a can of coconut water 

YUM YUM KABOB 

27 SCOTT ST, KITCHENER 226-600-8312 

Joojeh Kabob Breast (one skewer of chicken breast w/ saffron basmati rice, grill tomato & pepper, and salad). Perfect with a Shams Tropical non-alcoholic malt beverage 

PUPUSERIA LATINOS 

25 EBY ST S, KITCHENER FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK 

Tacos Birria (beef tacos) & Plantain w/ sour cream. Pairs nicely with a bottle of lime Jarritos 

HASTY SHAWARMA EXPRESS 

103 ONTARIO ST S, KITCHENER 519-579-0754 

Special Combo (tandoori chicken, spicy rice, goat curry, spinach w/ beans, salad & naan). Together with a bottle of papaya juice