Kandice VincentTop 5 Health Food Stores in Toronto
Changing your diet, maintaining your weight, or simply wanting to check out some healthy food options? Whatever your new goals are, we have just what you need to get started!
Featuring the best health food stores in Toronto, this review was made to help you make the right decisions. Choosing a go-to store can be a serious commitment, so we made things a bit easier for you.
Check out the cost of some common items at health food stores first so you can design a weekly budget.
The Best Food Stores in Toronto
We’re also moving towards a healthier lifestyle so choosing the best food stores came naturally to us. We used the criteria listed below to find the best shops with the best offerings:
The Cost of Items in Health Food Stores
Below is a table that shows the cost the the most common health food items in stores:
1. Organic Garage
| Range of healthy food items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fresh produce and grocery items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Vitamins and supplements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and beauty products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Operating hours | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Staff knowledge and assistance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Knowledge in healthy foods | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing and discounts | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Organic Garage is definitely a paradise for fitness buffs and health enthusiasts alike. With products including those made for infants, you’re almost sure to find everything that you’ll ever need here.
One of the first few things that impressed us was their wide selection of fresh produce as well as general grocery items. Their produce selection is perhaps our favorite since they also sell seasonal varieties and exotic treasures.
Unlike most health food stores, the place is also rich with prepared food stands in case your hunger kicks on. Other than that, they have a respectable selection on both their bakery and their health and beauty sections.
The place also offers reusable bags to customers. In addition, their produce bags are not made of plastic, showing that the store is dedicated to promoting sustainability and green practices.
Another thing we like is the overall experience and variety of options you can get. There is a great range of alternatives for those with dietary restrictions plus the employees are generally nice and helpful.
Pros
- Wide selection of health food items
- Solid range of product variety
- Reusable bags available
- Offers health and beauty products
- Sells famous supplement brands
- Has seasonal and exotic fresh produce
- Food stalls inside the place
Cons
- Closes earlier on Sundays
Customer Reviews
A hidden gem
Absolutely the best prices and selection for vegan goodies – mostly cheeses, dips, soups, milks, frozen items, and treats. This store is a hidden gem and more people need to know about it!! Highly recommended! – Katie Riccio
Amazing healthy store
Amazing healthy organic store!! So happy I ran into this store – if you’re careful about eating healthy then this is your place – salads sushi cold pressed juices, you name it! Wish we had more stores likes this in downtown – Musab Memon
2. Fresh City
| Range of healthy food items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fresh produce and grocery items | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Vitamins and supplements | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Health and beauty products | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Operating hours | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Staff knowledge and assistance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Knowledge in healthy foods | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing and discounts | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Fresh City has everything you can expect as a one-stop-shop healthy food store. From fresh produce to prepared meals, customers can basically source their weekly shopping list here – with just a few exceptions.
Let’s discuss their range of offerings first which range from boxed organic produce to general grocery items. They have a wide variety of everything including those with special dietary ingredients for health-conscious buyers.
There isn’t a shortage of snacks too although most are food bars and dried fruit bites of various flavors. Plus, there are gluten-free, vegan, kosher, dairy-free, lactose-free, and loads more options for sensitive stomachs.
The health store is also one of the few shops that offer delivery services within Toronto. However, despite the clear convenience, we arrived at certain issues, particularly with the handling of perishable goods.
On the bright side, when all things move slowly, the delivery service is an absolute delight. According to most customers, they only have to wait a maximum of two hours before their orders at their doorsteps.
Prices are pretty competitive too as nothing’s excessively expensive plus there are always sales available. You may not score some vitamins and other beauty-related products here, but the rest are just good as they are.
Pros
- Wide range of healthy food items
- Online ordering system available
- Fast same-day delivery
- Seasonal special items available
- Competitive prices and sales
- Offers healthy beverages
- Prepared and boxed meals available
Cons
- Issues with order handling for deliveries
Customer Reviews
Wide array of produce available
Superb quality and array of produce available. The staff are always very friendly and knowledegable. I personally love being able to get my Mabels bakery bread fix there too, the ciabatta rolls are off the charts. Great place! – Joe Peters
Hard-to-find organics offered
Was very, very happy when I found pancetta here. Limited selection of foodstuffs overall, but all very well-curated. I was surprised to learn they had two of their own urban farms, which was really cool. I’ll be back for hard-to-find organics and happy+healthy foods. – Richard KC
3. Essence of Life Organics
| Range of healthy food items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fresh produce and grocery items | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Vitamins and supplements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and beauty products | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Operating hours | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Staff knowledge and assistance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Knowledge in healthy foods | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing and discounts | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Unlike most of the stores on our list, Essence of Life Organics takes the healthy lifestyle in a different realm. It’s much less like a grocery store and more like a boutique where you can find special and unique items.
Naturally, you can still find grocery items here, although the selections are a bit underwhelming. Almost everything is canned, packed, or dry-sealed so it’s really not a place to go if you want to buy some fresh produce.
It is an ideal place though if you really want to invest in a healthier lifestyle from the food you eat to the shampoo you use. Plus, the goods are actually quite affordable, considering how everything labeled “natural” is pretty pricey.
One of the things that make this shop unique is its great collection of home, health & beauty products, and supplements. To give you an idea, you can buy plant-based or compostable household things here (e.g. kitchen sponges and scrub pads).
They even have zero waste laundry detergent strips and a healthy selection of skincare products. But overall, it’s their vitamins collection that really takes the cake in terms of variety – we reckon you’ll enjoy just browsing here.
Curbside pick-up and next-day delivery are available which you may want to check out (since the store’s kinda tight). Prices can be expensive for certain items but nothing too crazy as far as organic and natural items go,
Pros
- Reusable and organic-based items
- Solid selection of vitamins and supplements
- Great options for health and beauty products
- Affordable grocery items
- Curbside pick-up and local delivery available
- Reasonably priced food items
Cons
- Limited selection of food items
- Certain products can be pricey
Customer Reviews
Unbeatable product selection
For many, many years, Essence of Life has been my go-to for so many food staples, vegan treats, and eco-conscious products. The staff have always been helpful and friendly, their selection is unbeatable, and the store has a welcoming vibe — an amazing spot. – Jessica Blackwell
Highly recommended store
Love this health food store in Kensington Market. All staff is great, the selection of products is awesome. Love their own line of products (shampoo bar is the best I’ve ever tried)! Highly recommend, it is a must for me every time I’m in that area. – L Fortuna
4. Goodness Me! Natural Food Market
| Range of healthy food items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fresh produce and grocery items | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Vitamins and supplements | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Health and beauty products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Operating hours | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Staff knowledge and assistance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Knowledge in healthy foods | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing and discounts | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Goodness Me! combines the real delight of a typical grocery store with top-class selections of packaged healthy goods. The market chain has 13 locations in Toronto but we’ll feature this one due to better customer service.
Starting off with its product selection, we’re happy to find both fresh goods and processed grocery items. Basically, you can source your meat, fruits, and veggies here without having to drop by another shop for other goodies.
Additionally, you can also score a couple of vitamins & supplements here as well as body care products. We’ve recognized a lot of the brands they carry which include AOR, CanPrev, Garden of Life, Organika, and more.
The only thing that we think will be an issue for future customers is the prices. The thing is, a lot of the products are affordable, but there are certain items that cost $1 to $3 higher versus the ones sold at supermarket chains.
Fortunately, the shop is also quite generous when it comes to bundled items (the discounted prices are pretty good.). It’s not a lot but customers can save anywhere between $1 to $4 per bundle so you can look out for that.
The variety of gluten-free and organic products is respectable with occasional sale prices. This particular location is pretty convenient too so you can do some casual shopping or quickly pick up your order at the curbside.
Pros
- Wide selection of fresh and packed goods
- One-stop-shop for various organic items
- Carries many known supplement brands
- Discounted pricing for bundled items
- Curbside pickup at a convenient location
- Resources for health recipes available on site
Cons
- Certain food items are expensive
- Issues on customer service
Customer Reviews
Best selections of natural products
I always come here for the best selection of natural and organic products especially for my little one. I find the staff always super helpful in guiding me to the right product and what I need. Highly recommend to anyone. – Shira Wosnick
Quality selections
The staff are super friendly and knowledgable ! The best selection of natural food products in the city! I have been going to Noahs for years and would not go to another health food store. Quality products, knowledgeable and extremely helpful staff! – Rachel Silverman
5. Healthy Planet
| Range of healthy food items | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fresh produce and grocery items | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Vitamins and supplements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Health and beauty products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Operating hours | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Staff knowledge and assistance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Knowledge in healthy foods | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Pricing and discounts | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Despite the relatively small location, Healthy Planet didn’t lack when it comes to product variety. Carrying more than 22,000 products in their inventory, they have a lot of specialty items in store that may pique your interest.
Let’s start with its selection of grocery items that range from baking needs to rice and snacks plus a couple of international products. They also have a respectable stack of coffee and teas, seasonings, and canned seafood.
Basically, all these offerings can already make a decent weekly meal plan that you can make at home. And although not necessary for all buyers, we think it’s pretty nice that they have items for kids and fur babies too.
Above everything else, what we liked the best is their prices as we saw that most of their items are affordable. Other than that, they also have discounts available daily (though it can be a challenge trying to redeem them at the cashier).
Nonetheless, the prices are really good so we think you can buy bulk items here minus the expense guilt. On top of that, free shipping is available around Canada for online orders $59.99 and above.
The place is pretty tight so you may want to browse online first since all the information you need is there anyway. If you prefer a faster option, there’s curbside pick-up available as well if you don’t mind the drive.
Pros
- Wide range of grocery items
- Specialty items available for kids and for pets
- Various items on sale for discount pricing
- Convenient online shopping options
- Curbside pick-up and delivery options
Cons
- Issues with customer service
- Cramped and tight location
Customer Reviews
Excellent products and services
I love this store. I have been here multiples times and I always get served by Ray who is really awesome and helpful. He recommended me products according to my need. Excellent customer service – Daniel
Knowledgeable on products
A great neighbourhood spot for your health food needs! All the staff are so friendly. They’re also knowledgeable on the products they carry which is great when you need some advice. – Samantha
FAQs About Health Food Stores in Toronto
Staying healthy comes at a cost – but definitely not one bigger than potential medical bills! Keep your strong healthy body for a lifetime by moving onwards to our other reviews:
