It's great that Nature's Emporium is slowly expanding and opening new locations in the GTA, and…read morethis one downtown is certainly a welcomed addition. Everything here is organic - from the produce to ingredients in the ready-to-go meals and products. There are a wide variety of homemade soups, pizza station serving thin-crust pizza made of spelt flour (including vegan options), various salads, and more. Note that the hot food bar is only open on weekdays (to serve the office crowd), but they have other great and healthy grab-and-go options. Weekend grocery shopping here is quiet and not as crowded as in most other supermarkets, making it a pleasant experience. I love the variety of products they offer - lots of high-quality, gluten-free, organic, and vegan products and brands that are not commonly found in most other mainstream grocery stores. There are bulk nuts, tempeh, hummus, and the biggest variety of plant-based milks and nut butters I have seen in any supermarket. The bags they provide for produce are compostable. They have tables and seating areas for eating, and a gender-neutral and wheelchair-accessible washroom. Limited-time parking is available in the underground private parking lot. You can get the parking ticket validated by the cashier.

A brand new supermarket at lakeshore & york st area. You will find more healthy selections here,…read morebut it comes with a more premium price point, ouch. It is located on the 2nd level on the 1 York St corporate building, not visible from the street level. For those who do not have too much time for cooking, hey they have warm food to go too. 1 hour free parking for over $60 purchase.

(Dined 09/10/2025 WE @ 8:00pm): No views of a garden, but it sure was convenient!…read more After a day of brewery hopping, I was back in town attending the 50th Toronto International Film Festival when I came across Gardenview Convenience for a potential snack. I had a film to catch in about an hour's time, so I wanted something easy and quick that I could take away to eat that was a bit filling, and it wasn't going to break the bank. Everything in the area seemed so busy, but this place was a bit more manageable, and I saw through their large front windows prepared food on wooden table blocks with hardly any people inside, so I ventured in. Would I view this matter of convenience as a garden of feeding opportunities or was it relatively empty for a reason!? PURCHASE(S) Boscaiola Pizza Slice ($7.00CAD): Made with garlic, mushroom, smoked mozzarella cheese, and rosemary, this Detroit-style pan pizza with its rectangular shape had a thick chewy pillowy crust, a ton of fresh mushroom slices, and the aromatic bliss of garlic and rosemary that filled both your nostril and mouth, each bit was savored for moments at a time. Mind you, I returned from a brewery crawl having eaten minimal food, so I could've been a bit ravenous. However, this was a very tasty pie! SERVICE I initially walked the aisles just to see what I could find, but I eventually landed at the open prepared food area where a friendly young man was working. I simply ordered a slice of pizza, it was handed over to me, I paid, and then devoured it once I got outside on the sidewalk. Aside from the main cashier, if you bought any groceries and such from the actual store, I didn't see anyone else - easy-peasy! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): I was constantly in the area all day throughout the Toronto International Film Festival, so I simply walked. Otherwise, there were spots along the many main and surrounding streets, some nearby structures, numerous public transportation options, and rideshares - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE An enlarged mini-mart that tried to be a convenience store and kitchen, half of it was the "grocery" side with its cramped stuff aisles and cooler and the other half a bit more open with prepared food displayed mixed in with some random items such as plants and things - a true menagerie. I didn't recall any dining areas while a few promotional posters were hung on the walls. Plenty of natural lighting came in through the large glass windows and doors while electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while pop music played in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL The Gardenview Convenience filled my needs for a quick bite without the hassles, so I would check it out again. I think I was more intrigued by what was sold on the grocery side of things and wished I had more time to explore and possibly buy something there. Alas, the one piece of food I had was tasty and I wished I bought two or a different topping! The prices seemed comparable, they had a decent selection of items, and the service was efficient and straightforward. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $7.00CAD BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

A small, over priced selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, dusty dried goods, and a freezer…read morefull of Ben and Jerry's. Slurpee's- yup, they've got it. Snacks galore- organic, natural sugar cakes- got that too. I once saw a woman spend well over $100 to do her grocery shopping and walked out with what would have cost less than $50 at Loblaws. Convenience is the key factor here. If you recipe calls for crushed up pretzals, but you just polished off a bag (or haven't bought them in years) Gardenview has it.

This shop doesn't look like much (I thought it just looked like a fancy bulk barn), but my friend…read moreswears by it and insisted we pop by recently. The selection is incredible!! So much variety in such a small space. AND they let you sample stuff before you buy. I ended up with the dark chocolate covered blueberries (should've got more because I finished them at home within a few days -- sooo yummy!!) and dried chickpeas. Really great for healthy-ish snacks and gift baskets. I will definitely back when I am in this neighbourhood!

Excellent organic products. Fresh and healthy. Friendly customer service - the owner is very nice…read more This place is clean and bright! I really enjoy shopping here!! Must buy products: pistachios, dried cranberries, roasted macadamia nuts, honey roasted peanuts, honey roasted pecans.

They have all the "hippy foods" as I like to call it, to support a healthy life. The only hard part…read moreat times can be finding it, as this place is filled with so many different organic goodies from cacao nibs to organic flours made from various different sources. They will also give you a discount if you bring your own container for bulk items. One main recommendation unless you like bland foods Is to stick to the aisles as the frozen foods are not the healthiest nor the most flavourful. But do try the salad bar as it is piping with flavour, and if you're thirsty you can even grab a drink at their kombucha/cold brew coffee bar.

It's a store like this that makes me wish I still spent a lot of time in the junction…read more They have really unique gourmet organic stuff that you don't find anywhere else. Stuff like Organic Meadow Strawberry Ice Cream! Or organic gummy candy or jelly beans! Just a really cool selection. I've never been unhappy with a purchase. The staff are friendly and helpful. Plus, the store is unique, well organized and fun to browse in. Just a great atmosphere. Miss this place.

I have been going to Essence of Life for years - literally probably 16 years at this point. Which…read moreis crazy! They have never lost their Kensington vibe or decent prices! You can always find a ton of products in here that are better priced then other health food stores. Staff are always lovely. I stop in here all the time even when I don't need anything. They have everything from fresh veggies, to dairy (and vegan dairy), meats (and vegan meats), drinks, snacks, oils, bulk pantry items, household cleaning and toiletries, and a large supplement section. It's amazing that they can fit all of this in one seemingly small store!

I randomly was looking for rosemary oil because I saw a trending video by a dermatologist that…read morerosemary oil is effective for hair growth?! (do your own research). A natural way to promote more hair growth? I'm down to try. I am amazed this little store in Kensington has so many essential to trendy natural products at such reasonable prices. You'll find anything from natural deodorant to vegan nail polish, essential oils, natural beauty products, cleaning supplies, and a grocery at the back. Wow! I can see why they are so busy. It can be tricky to find things you need through all the aisles of products, but the staff knows where everything is when you ask. Purchased Neem oil 100ml (Unbranded) $5.99 Rosemary oil organic 30ml (Now brand) $17.99 Their Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is a great price compared to buying online through Amazon. It's always a great bonus to save money while supporting local.

Always reliable, and good quality meat. I like the pickled cabbages for cabbage rolls.read more

I've been here years ago but since I don't live nearby I don't frequent the place. This review is…read moreon their turkey. I decided to order the Paul Martin turkey as I wanted the flavour to be similar to what I was used to. It was a tad cheaper per pound than the David Weber turkey which runs free and eats bugs. I think if they offered David's turkey in pieces I'd try that first to make sure I like the flavour before committing. So some tips in case you're a newbie like I was. You order a turkey in the size range and it's in reserve. However since they get what they get, the store can't guarantee you the exact size. So you gotta go in early. If you do that you can choose from the selection they have. If you go later, I went Saturday ( had been available for pickup since Thursday) then you'll get what's leftover. In my case I ordered a small but had a choice of extra small or large! The turkey itself is great tasting and I'd order again but with the knowledge that I should pick it up early so I have better choice of size. I ordered gravy which I was disappointed with, it's basically stock thicken with a roux. Instructions were to add it to my drippings! Next time I'll just buy some organic stock and thicken it myself. This is if you want extra gravy. Overall a good turkey.

Tip: The tiramisu is awesome!…read more The first Whole Foods Market that I ever visited was this one in Yorkville. It's kind of funny to me that I had a couple of job interviews in the area and then decided to grab lunch at a supermarket that doesn't exactly scream discounts. I need a job to support my love for organic avocados and croissants! Before I got my current job, I was looking for work. I had interviews that spanned a couple of months. I drove down to Yorkville both times and parked in a lot. I went to each interview. Afterwards, I was hungry and hit this Whole Foods. The salad bar had my name all over it. There was also tiramisu and I got a box for my rectangular slab. I then went to pay for everything. For some reason, I didn't dine there. I ate in my car instead, which has been my usual thing for years. I remember how happy I was that the interview was over and I could indulge in fresh mixed greens, some salad dressing that had the best citrusy flavours, crispy cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and sweet corn kernels. I also remember stuffing by face with the best tiramisu. The mascarpone was heavenly with the lady fingers, cocoa, and more. I was so happy. I should have bought an entire tray of it just for me. I returned after my second interview and had an egg salad sandwich. Simple. Yummy. Perfect. The bread was seedy. It was so good. It hit the spot. I haven't been back here since I landed my current job. It may be a good thing. I still love Whole Foods. Markham has been graced with its own and I frequent it often. Coincidentally, I was there this evening. I'm glad that this store is still alive and kicking. It'll always have fond memories of post-interviews and yummy eats. (462)

I was visiting Toronto and came here for snacks and to buy my husband's favorite sunflower seeds…read more The store has wide, albeit strangely laid out, aisles. The products are not intuitively arranged together and it as difficult to find certain things. However, the store was clean and as with most Whole Foods locations, there was a lot to choose from. I forgot how much I used to enjoy shopping at WF. Check out was easy and the cashier was friendly enough. I went there twice during my visit to Toronto because I fell in love with DJ&A dried mushroom snacks.

A huge place, massive selection with stuff I've seen at many other places. They had a few items…read morewhich were new to me. The shelves were well stocked. Lots of oils, grains, dhals and pulses for vegans. Went in strictly for lactobacillus probiotic (yoghurt) which was on for a good price. Tons of "healthy" snack foods.

I heard about this Organic Store last week and wanted to try it. It is a very welcoming and…read morespacious grocery store that have organic stuff. They have everything from produce to dairy/meat and snacks and tea/coffee and health supplements and pantry items. I purchased few vegetables and fruits and also got organic rice cake. They also have a small grinder machine where you can make your own fresh peanut butter and almond butter. Just wow. The girl at the counter was very friendly and helpful. I asked if they also had unsalted version of rice cake and she said she will go and check and she actually found it for me. Very good experience, I will be a regular here!! I will recommend everyone to try this cool and healthy place!!

I'm giving high marks to this charming little storefront for its great selection and informative,…read morefriendly service from the staff member on duty. She carefully answered every question I had and promised to call me back for the one question she didn't know. They have a great variety of herbs in various forms (loose, powdered, tinctures etc.) and package your dried herb purchases in cute little sealable paper bags that are neatly labelled. The staff member assured me that herbs were either organic or wildcrafted and that they were fresh since the owner buys only small amounts at a time. This was good to know. I bought some coarsely ground Stevia leaf and I may come back for Dandelion root. The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review is that I have yet to test the quality of the herbs myself.

I've been coming to this shop for over 5 years and I can't say enough good things about it. I'm a…read moreregular client of the community acupuncture clinic and I've bought a few items from the store and the service and products are outstanding. I've also participated in some of their free workshops and info sessions and the care I've received there has been top notch. I love that they offer a sliding scale on their acupuncture and naturopathic medicine services. This place provides a real value to the community.

I recently purchased milk from Raise the Root and, regrettably, the experience was profoundly…read moreconcerning. Upon consumption, I immediately detected a flavor profile that I can only describe as distinctly raccoon-adjacent. To clarify, I do not possess prior experiential knowledge of raccoon milk. However, if one were to computationally approximate what milk extracted from a raccoon would taste like, I am approximately 97.4% confident that this product was within the acceptable margin of error. The taste was strange, vaguely woodland-oriented, and deeply unsettling. At several points, I found myself examining the carton for evidence that I had accidentally purchased a small-batch artisanal raccoon dairy product. I am not literally alleging that Raise the Root is distributing raccoon milk. I am simply stating that my sensory experience has provided me with an alarming amount of circumstantial raccoon-based evidence. Overall: unpleasant milk experience. Gross taste. Significant raccoon energy. Would not purchase again. 1/5 stars.

A few Friday nights ago, I had placed an order at Descendant Pizza. I had half an hour to kill. I…read moredecided to check the area out. I found Raise the Root Organic Market steps away. I love exploring a new grocery store, so I dropped by to check it out. There were so many fresh fruits and veggies at this place. The woman behind the counter immediately said hi. I reciprocated, intrigued by the fair-trade bananas from Ecuador and more. This store has a lot of vegan options. It also has gluten-free and keto items, but the vegan specialty items were prevalent. I loved seeing vegan meals in clear containers. I saw vegan marshmallows that aren't all that common. I was intrigued by the mushroom teas. I got one of the elixirs to try out. This place had coconut nog at a reduced price. I love the nog, except that it is super sweet. The price was right, though. You can get baking items and toothpaste here. I liked that the oral hygiene section was near the chocolate bars. Coincidence? I think not. I ended up getting a dark chocolate bar with coconut and skipped getting toothpaste. There was a bottle of The Good juice. It had celery, cucumber, and spinach in it. I liked the sound of that mix and got a bottle. I loved this store so much. I told the woman on staff that I loved shopping here. She was genuinely happy that I did. I paid with a debit card. All went well. I actually had my Yelp canvas bag with me that I got from Descendant. I used it to place all my goodies in it. Perfect! This market was a great find. I look forward to returning when I'm back in the area. The Good drink was indeed good! Same goes with the chocolate bar that I inhaled. (44)