Chinatown and Kensington Market

By Lana Miljkovic, SLA Toronto Chapter

Chinatown

There are several Chinese neighborhoods across Toronto from the downtown core to the distant suburbs, but the best known Toronto Chinatown can be found downtown. Centrally located, Chinatown is readily accessible by foot from various Toronto landmarks such as the Eaton Centre, the University of Toronto, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

The heart of Chinatown is to be found at the intersections of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. This is the neighbourhood where Chinese Canadians first brought their unique mix of markets, shops, restaurants and theatres to Toronto during the 1960s and 1970s.

The sidewalks are crammed with open-air food stalls, vendors, and thousands of people from all imaginable backgrounds eager to shop, eat, and socialize. The neighbourhood is home to a variety of authentic Chinese cuisines from Dim Sum to Szechwan, Hunan, Mandarin, and Cantonese. In addition, you will also find an abundance of other Asian restaurants specializing in authentic Korean, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese cuisine. As you explore the neighbourhood expect to pass dozens of shop windows lined with barbecued pork, duck, steamed buns, and other more exotic fare.

Next to eating, shopping is the thing to do in Chinatown. Dundas Street and Spadina Avenue are lined with countless shops brimming with merchandise such as bargain priced clothing, shoes, eclectic jewellery and accessories, Eastern herbs, teas and medicines, and unique Asian inspired home decor items. If that is not enough, there are two large shopping malls - the Chinatown Centre (222 Spadina Ave.) and the Dragon City Shopping Mall (280 Spadina Ave.) for those who prefer an indoor shopping experience. Regardless of where you shop, you are sure to find something that will satisfy both your tastes and your budget.

However, be forewarned that Chinatown is a notoriously busy neighbourhood every day of the week but especially so on weekends. Don't let the intensity of the crowds overwhelm you. Instead, allow yourself to revel in the scene as you take in the sights, the sounds, and the smells of a truly authentic slice of Asia in the centre of Toronto.

Kensington Market

From Chinatown, as you continue your journey north of Dundas Street along Spadina Avenue if you veer slightly westward you will find yourself in what may well be Toronto's most eclectic and dynamic neighbourhood; Kensington Market. Kensington Market is the name commonly used to refer to the neighbourhood bounded by College Street to the north and Dundas Street to the south, between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street.

History

Kensington Market boasts a rich history dating back to the late 1700s when it was originally envisioned as a residential development for prosperous and conservative British gentry. Kensington's street names reflect this British heritage with College, Oxford, Kensington, St. Andrew and Wales.

In the early 1900s the British population began to move out of Kensington and a new wave of immigrants, many of whom were Jewish, from Central and Eastern Europe moved in. By 1931, 80% of Toronto's Jewish community lived in Kensington and surrounding areas. In Kensington, the Jewish immigrants built a cohesive community and established a lasting tradition by converting the first floors of their homes into shops. For years, Torontonians called Kensington Market the Jewish Market.

By the 1950's most of the Jewish population had moved out of Kensington, and the neighbourhood was filled with the next wave of new immigrants including: Italians, Ukrainians, Hungarians, and people from the Caribbean. Immigrants came to Kensington because it was considered to be friendly and secure, with a strong community spirit that reminded many newcomers of the homes they had left behind.

Kensington Market Today

Today, Kensington continues to attract new immigrants from regions such as the Iberian Peninsula, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. However, Kensington is increasingly becoming a trendy neighbourhood known for its unique atmosphere and eclectic coexistence of diverse cultures.

Kensington is Toronto's only year-round outdoor market. The area is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, some of which are lined with Victorian houses painted in bright, eye-catching colours. It is a place of organized confusion, where merchants sell their goods on the sidewalks and in Victorian houses converted into shops. On busy days, the market is alive with a cacophony of sounds and a diverse, sometimes counter-cultural, customer base. People are attracted not only to the great prices but also to the market's unusual variety of shops.

The neighbourhood boasts a wide assortment of shops selling everything from fresh baked goods, organic fruits and vegetables, and exotic spices from around the world to army surplus products, and funky accessories and jewellery. In addition, Kensington possesses a treasure trove of quality vintage and second hand clothing shops. A small sample I highly recommend include: Bungalow (273 Augusta Ave.), Courage My Love (14 Kensington Ave.), Exile (20 Kensington Ave.), Tribal Rhythm (27 Kensington Ave.) Flashback (33 Kensington Ave.) and Vintage Depot (70 Kensington Ave.).

To take a load off after scouring through seemingly endless racks of vintage clothing, there are a number of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Some eateries of note include: Moonbean Coffee (30 St. Andrew's St.) with a wide selection of coffees, loose-leaf teas, juice and smoothies, Patty King (187 Baldwin St.) with excellent beef and veggie patties and lots of other Caribbean pastries, Jumbo Empanadas (245 Augusta Ave.) for authentic Chilean cuisine, La Palette (256 Augusta Ave.) for French fare specializing in exotic meats and seafood, The Bellevue Diner (61 Bellevue Ave.) for fresh market cuisine, or the Hungary Thai (196 Augusta Ave.) for an unusual combination of authentic Hungarian and Thai cuisine. Of course, this is just a small sample of what this neighbourhood has to offer.

To experience the sights and sounds of an old world market in a modern eclectic setting, Kensington Market is certainly worth a visit.