Bus Terminal Diner

sooo hungover. we needed some greasy food to soak up all that alcohol.
this was the perfect joint. amazing friendly service. comfy old school diner booths. photos of my favourite old movie stars on the walls. the food was so legit. and all for a killer price point.
i know where i’m going next time i’m hungover.

Went there today for some late lunch, and I want this place to be my new home. The diner décor is absolutely on point, from the actual booths to the plastic condiments bottles. Overall, if you are in for an as-​seen-​on-​my-​fave-​movies vibe, it’s right on, with the exception of more modern (but undeniably quality) music. The service was absolutely incredible, It really doesn’t get better than that. Honestly, I really couldn’t find a single complaint even if i tried to.
As for the food, I ordered a beef burger with a side of putine, and while the latter was just fries in gravy topped with melted marble cheese, it was still pretty good. All i can say is that it’s much more than you can expect from a 10 dollar burger and fries anywhere else. My friends and i also had milkshakes (Vanilla, strawberry and chocolate) and my vanilla was probably the best milkshake I’ve ever had (and it was even served in a classic tall milkshake glass). Really, its the real life five dollar milkshake (actually only $ 3.75)
NOTE that that hours on Unilocal are currently wrong, and while i didn’t take a picture of the new times, I am pretty sure they are open until five for most days instead of 4.

Bus Terminal Diner is an awesome little «greasy spoon» in the East Danforth area, located directly behind Coxwell station.
THE GOOD:
— The quirky, mismatched décor inside gives the place a 1950s diner vibe and really just adds to the charm. The seats and booths are a turquoise vinyl, and I just love how obnoxious they are.
— What really compelled me to write this review was the service — our server, Amanda, was an absolute sweetheart. She checked on us every few minutes and was truly genuine. A filling breakfast combined with her positive energy was just what we needed to kickstart our day.
— This place is a great bang for your buck. You can’t go wrong with a plate of toast, eggs, fruit and peameal bacon for $ 9.
THE BAD:
— You get what you pay for. Bus Terminal Diner has hearty, home-​cooked food, but it’s not going to be the best meal you ever ate.
For those mornings when we are too lazy to cook and don’t want to break the bank, this is our spot.

I just love this place — the food is solid, the service is super friendly and efficient, and the vibe is charming /​eccentric. not everything seems to make sense décor-​wise, but that’s part of the appeal!
Alas, not open for dinner except Fridays.

Been here multiple times with friends and family and it has always been a great breakfast. Big servings, clean place, and the chocolate chip pancakes are always a treat! And the staff is friendly and prompt. Just a tip, maybe they could have blinds or curtains because the sunlight could get very uncomfortable especially if there is nowhere else to seat but the ones beside the windows.

One of my favorite place. Egg benedic is not good I had to say but their omlette and french toasts are the best! Owner is around serving but I rather waitresses to do serving part.

Who doesn’t wants to go to a retro diner straight out of Pleasantville? How about one with a view of a subway station with buses going around in circles? I was always curious about this place, so I tried it a couple times.
The appropriately named Bus Terminal Restaurant sits on the Danforth strip right behind Coxwell station, and probably has been around for as long as the Avenue had a subway line. A dragon’s head and other quirky dolls hang around alongside clutters of midcentury-​era portraits of celebrities and vinyl album covers. There’s a narrow patio with an unremarkable view of the adjacent municipal parking lot and the subway station. An outdated faded menu for nostalgia’s sakes hangs above the bar – you wish you can get a steak sandwich for $ 2 paying 2015 prices!
If it’s old-​school affordable roadside greasy spoon diner breakfast and lunch you’re craving like the movies, this place delivers. It’s not gourmet quality get-​featured-​on-​TV kind of greasy spoon food (honestly it’s kinda frozen), but it gets you going fine over boundless helpings of coffee and happy hospitality when you’re too lazy to make your own food. That’s fine for a lot of people here who plant their bums on the reproduction teal diner booth benches.
All floating around $ 10, the burger menu is a tiny section in their exhaustive current menu. Whether you go for good ol’ beef or the breaded salmon, they do have this frozen-​to-​grill quality to them. Done with builder’s basic toppings, but served with a helpful helping of yummy crispy fresh cut fries.
Beer selection is your average big brand bottle varieties, though they also have Steam Whistle. A lot of corporate chain bars like Shoeless Joe’s can’t even pull that off.
{TTC transit directions: you didn’t read this review wholly, did you? c’mon folks!}

I love this place. It’s my go to breakfast joint when I feel the pull of fried potatoes. Chantal, the manager, is the sweetest person who strives to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. The food is always fresh and delicious (the fries are fresh cut!), they allow customization without eye rolls or complaints, and most of the wait staff are wonderful (there was one pill, but it looks like she may have gone the way of the dodo). Their hollandaise sauce is tasty and their peameal is perfect. My only issue is the butter chicken which lacks the requisite punch, but it’s passable. Really though, you can’t go wrong here. There’s something for everyone!

Went out for brunch with my roommates and was very impressed with what looked like a hole in the wall from the outside. The inside was a mix of retro and quirky décor that somehow worked alarmingly well together.
The service was great. My very attentive server, who filled up my coffee cup without being prompted as I was reaching the end every time, had a charming, genuine smile throughout the whole service. I got the Eggs Benedict and it was delicious and a huge portion for the price I paid. I also stole a bite of my roomie’s waffles, which were equally as good.
Great service, great food, great atmosphere. Check it out.

Definitely has the décor, down the Dragon head at the entrance is unique. I had the 3 eggs and sausage, the eggs just had home style cooking to them but the interesting star was the home fries just had an unique Greek style roasted potatoe feel to it
Chantal the waitress, got to give it to her for service, seem to be just her and cook running the joint but two people for a small busy spot is great.
Was a bit empty but it seem to fill up since I got here. Just had that retro 60 diner. Got to chalk up another good find to Unilocal

Stopped by here on the weekend for breakfast after reading the fantastic reviews. What a gem! From the moment you step in there, it’s like being home. Friendly staff and the other patrons were all equally happy.
Our waitress was amazing. Very personable and friendly. I had the steak and eggs with some French toast and the wife had eggs with a side of beans. Delicious. While we were digging in, a waiter came by with a single sausage on a plate and said, «we shorted you a sausage». We all laughed. Apparently they always serve 4 sausages and there was an extra one there and the cook said he forgot to put it on our plate. How awesome!
This is my first visit here but it definitely won’t be my last. In fact we’re planning to make this our weekend thing. You won’t be disappointed.

Another neighborhood institution and a stone’s throw from Woodbine Station. All day breakfast and a full menu that has maintained its consistency for over a decade.
The décor is eclectic which makes it completely unique even with the original menu on the wall and dragon head to the side. Allot of the staff have been there a while and are very friendly.
I remain with my breakfast but my kids enjoy pasta, wings and the steak. A family meal that will not break the bank. Plus it is licensed.

Visited this place for the first time today and had the breakfast. Was a solid breakfast, one of the better I’ve had in Toronto. Staff are super friendly. Minus a star for being understaffed during the rush but more so for the bad coffee. Even just a slight improvement in the coffee would make this my go-​to breakfast joint.

I had 4 fluffy chocolate pancakes with bacon with on the side. yummy! The food was good/​average. The pancakes could have been a tad more soft.
It felt sweet and cozy, with lots of vintage photos plastered around the diner, and the bright green vinyl booth seats added to the retro feel. I’ll be back!

Old school diner. Old school hospitality. I was very happy with my BLT and home fries. A plain and simple review for a plain and simple place.

Really not great. The breakfast fare is always decent but today’s lunch experience made me vow I wouldn’t be back. I had a rubbery chicken Caesar wrap that was tasteless and insubstantial. How do you mess that up? But the fries were decent. So fries and breakfast are good, beware anything else.

I love this place the food is awesome and the staff are fabulous so helpful and friendly I love breakfast and lunch menu great value for money def worth going me and my friends would never pass it :-)

In my East York tenure of 3+ years, I have eaten here three times, twice for breakfast and once for lunch.
I think almost all of these kinds of breakfast places can be grouped into two camps. We will use nearby Sarah’s as an example.
BTD, in group A, has that same generic taste, selection of menu items, etc. as so many similar places in Toronto. My guess is that very little of their food is made in house. The kitchen is basically taking frozen products and turning them into food. You can taste this in the breakfast potatoes, cornbeef, bread, etc. The reason these places all taste the same is because they all get their supplies from the same places. I think Sysco is one of the big ones. It is a cheap and easy way to run a resturant.
Sarah’s, in group B, does things in more of «an old fashioned» way. The food tastes fresher and more individualized. I feel like there are dishes there, even at breakfast, that won’t be quite the same anywhere else. Or perhaps they are just using a higher quality supplier. But you get what you pay for and that is why Sarah’s is not as inexpensive.
But don’t read me wrong – there is nothing wrong with the Terminal Diner. They understand their market and their market is looking for a cheaper fuss free meal. They do a good job with this. I am sure everything here is totally fine, not more and not less. And often this is… well, just fine.
Service was good on all three visits. And the ambiance is a lot of fun.
I don’t eat breakfast out often (hardly ever) and when I do, I’m willing to spend a little extra. So, I will usually walk down to Sarah’s. But I’ll eat here again too. Very recommended if you are near Coxwell Station. Otherwise, you are probably better off finding your own place close to home.

I meant to go next door to Sunset Grill. Oops! Took a seat in the retro furnished diner and was a bit nervous. I order the Greek omelet. To my surprise it was fantastic! It was an plain egg omelet stuffed with goodness. It came with home fries that were amazingly yummy. With a coffee it set me back $ 10 which I thought was well worth it.

A great all purpose diner. We have family who live nearby, so after the long drive in from Montréal it was nice to be able to walk over and stretch our legs, and then sit down for some comfort food.
I had the breaded salmon burger. A thin square piece of salmon battered and deep fried, along with burger fixings. A little bit like a filet o fish done right. Alongside the burger were delicious fries: not thick, not too thin, a bit crispy but a bit soft, nicely salted.
On a previous visit we had breakfast here, and it was delicious as well. Just your typical diner fare, nothing fancy and priced right.
And an FYI, the restaurant has been renovated the pictures currently posted were taken. There are now bright turquoise booths to sink into. A real comfy sort of place, with lots to look at.